Review of “Cat Person” by Kristen Roupenian

Bianca Cruz

“Cat Person” by Kristen Roupenian unfolds the dating story of Margot, a

20-year-old girl, and Robert, a man she gradually becomes interested in. Having
casually met at her workplace, an artsy movie theater, they soon began to text and
occasionally date. The narrative takes drastic turns in tone and ends up making the
readers face the reality of what dating as a woman feels like.
As Roupenian’s story went viral readers shared controversial opinions and
emotions about it. Some thought it was brilliant merely due to its rawness and
simplicity, others argued that it lacked deepening and a more clear shocking fact.
Unsurprisingly, the majority of negative reviews the story got were written by
middle-aged men.
What’s compelling about the narrative is its accuracy. Roupenian unveils
dating nuances that are often not talked about even amongst women. How awkward
yet exciting it can be. How unsafe and yet reassured it can make a 20-year-old girl
feel. The imagery is deeply constructed by the descriptions of the conflicted feelings
Margot seems to have. The power dynamics are constantly altered between her and
Robert and that adds layers to the story that cannot be ignored.
Robert’s brief point of view would have been welcome, given that the reader
doesn’t really know anything about his background (as Margot doesn't). It is
understood that this is a story shared exclusively through the woman’s point of view
but since it is fiction the reader could use his perspective to fill the lacunas left by
Margot’s imagination.
Regardless of whether or not “Cat Person” is innovative or just another short
story it shows us what women are put through out there. The story is relatable and
raw, which makes the readers purposely uncomfortable at times. Nonetheless that
only illustrates how important those stories are and how beneficial it can be sharing
them.