
Poets Square
A Memoir in Thirty Cats
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Narrated by:
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Courtney Gustafson
About this listen
An intimate memoir about the importance of community and care in a world that can feel impossibly broken—and a story about accidentally going viral while tending to a colony of feral cats.
When Courtney Gustafson moved into a rental house in the Poets Square neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona, she didn’t know that the property came with thirty feral cats. Focused only on her own survival—in a new relationship, during a pandemic, with poor mental health and a job that didn’t pay enough—Courtney was reluctant to spend any of her own time or money caring for the wayward animals.
But the cats—their pleading eyes, their ribs showing, the new kittens born in the driveway—didn’t give her a choice.
She had no idea about the grief and hardship of animal rescue, the staggering size of the problem in neighborhoods across the country. And she couldn’t have imagined how that struggle—toward an ethics of care, of individuals trying their best amid spectacularly failing systems—would help pierce a personal darkness she’d wrestled with for much of her life. She also didn’t expect that the TikTok and Instagram accounts she created to share the quirky personalities of the wild but lovable cats, like Monkey, Goldie, Francois, and Sad Boy, would end up saving her home.
Courtney writes toward a vision of connectedness, showing how taking care of the cats reshaped her understanding of empathy, resilience, and the healing power of wholly showing up for something outside yourself. She takes us from the dark alleys where she feeds feral cats to inside the tragically neglected homes where she climbs over piles of trash, and occasionally animals, and then into her own driveway with the cats she loves and must sometimes let go. Compelling and tender, Poets Square is as much about cats as it is about the urgency of care, community, and a little bit of dumb hope.
©2025 Courtney Gustafson (P)2025 Random House AudioCritic reviews
“Truly moving; a heartfelt exploration of the humanity at the heart of animal welfare. Courtney masterfully weaves together stories of cats with stories of her own life and the lives of her community members—raw, flawed, and striving for goodness in a complex world. Her journey from cat observer to dedicated caregiver and community builder is profoundly inspiring.”—Hannah Shaw, New York Times bestselling author of Cats of the World
“Cats are mystical beings, bridging the spiritual and the tangible. Courtney Gustafson’s Poet Square is a book that helps us connect to this spiritual world, offering a bridge to the ethereal.”—Ai Weiwei
“Courtney Gustafson writes with uncommon grace about the castoff, the abandoned, the invisible. This book should be read and treasured for its ability to make the reader more human and humane.”—Lauren Slater, author of Blue Dreams and Lying
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What listeners say about Poets Square
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- Megan Young
- 05-02-25
I laughed, I cried, I cried some more.
How beautiful you write. I’ve followed you for the cats stayed for the quirky voiceover goofball cat lover. Years later I’m so happy to listen through your book. What we see on social media and then what’s going on in real life. You deserve all good things coming your way.
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- RE
- 05-01-25
Realized you can’t spell charity without cat =^..^=
Cats are the medium for a story about human kindness and welfare. Beautifully told, honest and insightful. Even if the author is a pile of cats in a trenchcoat ;) , this is written by a wonderful writer.
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- Benn Parrish
- 04-30-25
Brilliant, emotional, poetic
This was incredible. I watched these cats every day on TikTok and it has been incredible to be able to read more of the story. Courtney weaves magic string with her words that stitched my tiny , tender, broken heart back together. Courtney narrates it in her soothing voice that I have become so familiar with from her voiceovers. This was the perfect way to experience this masterful memoir. Thank you
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- Rob Day
- 05-01-25
A Heartfelt Memoir of Cat Rescue
I just finished “Poets Square” by Courtney Gustafson, and found it to be an exceptional read. This memoir artfully intertwines her personal experiences and relationships with her involvement in TNR (trap-neuter-return), cat rescue, and life lessons learned through volunteerism. Gustafson’s writing is captivating and she excels in narrating the audiobook as well. If you have a passion for cats, have ever cared for a stray, or are involved in cat rescue efforts, you will surely appreciate this touching memoir.
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- Mary Maginsky
- 05-03-25
An Amazing tale of Love and Dedication
I follow the author on social media and have been since 2021. This memior was so raw and honest. She perfectly combined cat stories and life lessons. it was a pleasure to see behind the scenes of a true hero
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