Kate & Frida

by Kim Fay

INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER

“A highly original, heart-warming story of an extraordinary friendship.” —Amy Poeppel, Award-Winning author of The Sweet Spot

A companion to the instant national bestseller Love & Saffron, this bright and comforting novel follows the surprising friendship between two young women in 1990s Seattle and Paris, illuminating the power of books to change our lives.

Sometimes a book can change your life...

Twenty-something Frida Rodriguez, daughter of Love & Saffron’s own Joan Bergstrom, comes to Paris in 1991, relishing the city’s butter-soaked cuisine and seeking her future as a war correspondent. But when she writes to a bookshop in Seattle, she receives more than just the book she requests. A friendship begins that will redefine the person she thought she wanted to become.

Seattle bookseller Kate Fair is transformed by Frida’s free spirit, spurred to kiss her handsome coworker, to believe in herself as a writer, and to find beauty even in loss. Through the most tumultuous years of their young lives—personally and globally—Kate and Frida’s friendship sustains and nourishes them as they show each other how to overcome self-doubt and the necessity of embracing joy even through our darkest hours.

A buoyant, mouth-watering oasis of a novel, Kate & Frida is a love letter to bookshops and booksellers, to the way stories shape how we perceive ourselves, to the passion we bring to life in our twenties, and to the last precious years before the internet changed everything.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Books About Books, Audiobook, Food, Friendship, Contemporary

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2025

About the author

Kim Fay is the author of the USA Today-bestselling Kate & Frida, the instant National Bestseller Love & Saffron, and The Map of Lost Memories, an Edgar Award Finalist for Best First Novel. She has also written a food memoir, Communion: A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam. She created and served as the series editor for the innovative To Asia With Love guidebooks, and was a Hotel and Travel Editor for the travel, food, and lifestyle website, Gayot.com, for thirteen years. She is currently the Managing Editor for The Animation Guild's Keyframe magazine and website.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“During the darkest times, not only is it possible to feel joy, it is your duty to embrace it fully, to share it far and wide, and to never lose hope that joy, along with compassion and love, will win in the end.”

How can a quote like this not give us hope in today’s world?

This book follows a typical epistolary style storytelling in which two strangers “meet” through letters in the early 1990’s. It follows a very similar format as “84, Charing Cross Road” by Helene Hanff and “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer. This author also wrote “Love & Saffron” in which she told her story of friendship through correspondence. If interested, see links below for reviews of the books just mentioned.

From the moment readers enter the pages, it is as if we are a voyeur to the intimate conversations of two playful twenty-somethings (Kate & Frida). We witness them enjoying life, books, food, people and figuring out what they want to be in their own personal self-discovery. And, as they chatter away in their rambling discussions, they encourage each other to be more – live loud, write their novels, travel, live-outside-the-box, and enjoy what life has to offer.

Kate works at The Puget Sound Book Company bookstore in Seattle, Washington. Frida, a transplant from Los Angeles is currently living in Paris, France seeking books to read while finding herself. It was suggested Frida find a book through The Puget Sound Book Company, and that is how Kate happened to find her first letter. And thus, this is how the correspondence between the two began.

Sometimes book recommendations are offered, which open doors for more books to be considered by many other readers/reviewers, like ourselves. As an example, did you ever hear of “Moon Tiger” by Penelope Lively? Or the American journalist, Martha Gellhorn, who wrote, “The Face of War?” Other books that I have also considered because of their discussions include:

“The Big Rock Candy Mountain” by Wallace Stegner
“The Debut” by Anita Brookner
“A Slipping Down Life” by Anne Tyler
“Happy All the Time” by Laurie Colwin

(Side note: since they all are older books, none of them are available at my local library. Darn. 🥲)

Moving on.

But that is not all that these two converse about. Boys. More Books. Delectable dishes. More food. Family. Overcoming panic attacks and anxiety. Music playlists. War. France. Travel to other countries. What more could girlfriends ask for?

The delightful correspondence goes back and forth across the states and countries from October 1991 through August – September 1994. And then it abruptly stops for a very good reason. (No spoilers from me.)

Readers will become enthralled with the adventures experienced through their letters. Making this a truly delightful, unhurried, engrossing, leisurely-paced, joyful read.

Be sure to read the author’s note, and consider enjoying the recipes at the end.

84, Charing Cross Road: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Love & Saffron: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the surface, this book checks every box for me: Epistolary (love), books/bookstores, food, Seattle/WA setting. Unfortunately, it didn't connect with me overall. Mostly because there is an over-abundance of pop culture, local, and 1990s references that kept pulling me out of the story rather than immersing me in their world.

It is a sweet read and I enjoyed my experience with the book overall, it just didn't reach me the way I expected it to. I learned quite a bit about Bosnia and the conflict that went on there. Although I was just out of college at the time when this book was set, I was definitely in my own world and didn't think globally too often.

I also learned that Frida's mom is the main character in this author's book Love & Saffron, so maybe I would have connected with it more had I read that one first.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

80% - This feels very much like the friendship version of The Love We Lost.

10% in - this is such a sweet book. I love that it's in epistolary format (letters back and forth) and it involves female friendship and books!!

I’ve heard amazing things about this one. Thank you Putnam and PRH for the gifted copies.

[JanB · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

An epistolary novel, told in letters between two friends in the ‘90s; one living in Seattle, one in Paris.

They speak of friendship, love, food, and their daily lives, but also of war and the tumultuous times.

My benchmark for epistolary novels is 84, Charing Cross Road, admittedly a high bar indeed.

I didn’t quite connect with this one as much as I had hoped. The elusive magic sauce just wasn’t there and I found my attention waning. No book is for everyone.

*I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own

[Brandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

After loving Love & Saffron a few years ago, I was excited to read Kim Fay’s newest book, Kate & Frida. This, too, is an epistolary novel, and it begins with an inquiry from Paris to a bookshop in Seattle in the 90s. Kate and Frida communicate through letters and begin to form a friendship by doing so. They frequently discuss books, food, and what they want to do next in their lives.

While I preferred Love & Saffron more, I still liked Kate & Frida. Even across great distances, the story highlights the importance and meaning of strong friendships.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.25 stars)
I loved Kim Fay’s earlier book, Love & Saffron, so I was very excited to read this new one, which is also done in the epistolary style (letters). This time the correspondence is between two 20-somethings in the early 1990s. One works at a bookstore in Seattle (Kate) and the other is an American currently living in Paris, attempting to be a writer (Frida) - she has her heart set on becoming a “war journal dame” like some of her heroines from earlier wars, such as Martha Gellhorn.

These two have a lot of growing up to do, whether it’s in regard to relationships or careers, but that’s natural, given their ages.

An emotional highlight for me was Frida’s experience reporting from Sarajevo in the middle of the Bosnian civil war. Very disturbing (of course). And as in Love & Saffron, food is important here, especially as something that can be shared across cultures.

Don’t miss the recipes at the end and definitely don’t skip the author’s note, which tells you a lot of the inspiration behind this lovely book.

I mostly listened to the audiobook version of Kate & Frida, which was beautifully narrated by two women, Kelsey Jaffer and Inés del Castillo. I confess that I couldn’t really distinguish the two voices all that much, but the characters had different styles of writing their letters, so I always knew who was “talking.”

Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to PRH Audio/Penguin Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice, heartwarming epistolary novel. Two girls become friends through letters that they write to each other. Taking place during the Bosnia war in the early 90’s, Frida, who's from L.A. is staying in Paris to pursue her career as a war correspondent. She writes a letter to a bookshop in Seattle to inquire about a book. Kate, an aspiring author and employee at the bookshop, is the one that answers the letter. What forms between the two of them, is a lovely friendship that carries them through some tough times in both of their lives. They share so much of their lives with each other through these letters. I enjoyed reading about these two friends…..the books, the food, relationships and experiences they went through. I found the little details of the war in Bosnia really interesting because that's not something I've read much about. Definitely an enjoyable read!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kim Fay's Love & Saffron was one of my favorite books of 2024 and Kate & Frida is going to be one of my favorites for 2025. In this gem of an epistolary novel, we follow Frida, a young woman in Paris, and Kate, a young bookseller in Seattle, as they become acquainted over books and become friends as the two of them share their joys, their heartaches, their triumphs, and their failures.

Full of friendship, food, books, laughter, tears, and a lot of growing up, this book took me right back to my early twenties. And if ever I have found a kindred spirit book character, it is Kate. It felt like art imitating my life! And as friendships go, Kate and Frida’s felt authentic and heartfelt. Those friendships we make as we are finding out who we are really are life-changing.

All the book references in this book had me seeking out pen and paper to make a note of all the titles and authors I now want to read. Book lovers, you have been warned! 😂 And Kim Fay’s love of Laurie Colwin is as much as mine and I would love this book for that fact alone except it’s so wonderful and there are a million other reasons to read it and love it. Plus there are recipes at the back! How can you not love a book with recipes?

If I could give this book 500 stars, I would.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy of this book.

[Lisa Leone-campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate & Frieda is a wonderfully beautiful empowering story about two women who accidentally meet by correspondence in 1991. Who would have thought one woman living in Paris who mailed a letter to a bookstore in Seattle requesting a book would lead to a friendship which will last till eternity. Written by the author of Love & Saffron, another story I highly recommend (with tissues!), you will fall in love with Kate and Frida, these two women who root for each other who give advice to each other and yes who cry with each other as they go on separate life journeys together although having never physically met.

Kate Fair has just started a job at a local bookstore in Seattle when she opens a letter from Freda Rodriguez who is living in Paris. Frida has requested a book. They are close in age. And as Kate sends the book to Frida one simple sentence she writes opens the door to the start of a deep friendship.

Frida is in Paris hoping to become a war correspondent in Bosnia. Kate wants to be a writer but believes she has already failed as she did write a book and stares at it on her home shelf every day. As they correspond, they begin to tell each other stories of their lives things that are happening at this moment in time. Kate tells Frieda she seems to be experiencing terrible panic attacks. Frida tells Kate she desperately wants to go to a war zone and write about it but fears she won't be good at it.

As Kate is falling in love with a coworker who is a serious writer, and her best friend, her grandfather begins to have issues, Frida goes to Bosnia. But Frida can't seem to write because of the terrible atrocities she witnesses. She sends her work to Kate who believes it's amazing. Both these women will begin to learn hard life lessons which they will share by letter. They give each other advice; they let each other vent. They learn so much about what their lives were before they met and the impacts on their present friendship.

For both, the journeys and each of their destinations in life and the consequences of the decisions will always be championed by the other. As they both question where their lives are taking them, they lift each other up although not physically near and give advice, love and solace.

Kate and Frida is an homage to any deep friendship anyone has ever had. A friendship where you can tell someone anything about a loss, feeling ready to give up, being scared or being in love. And because of one simple letter two women embrace an eternal friendship without even seeing each other in person. How fortunate is that?

Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam'sSons #KimFay #Kate&Frida for the advanced copy.

[Melodi | booksandchicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kim Fay did it again. Another epistolary book between newly found friends Kate, a bookseller in Seattle and Frida, an adventurer in Paris. They exchange letters in the early 1990's and share all the things from relationships, work, the world, books, food, and more. I loved watching this friendship bloom. I loved remembering my time in the 1990's. I loved the history of Bosnia. I loved the food in France. I loved the book recommendations from Seattle. So much goodness.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the gifted e-copy of this book.

[Karen J · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

A very delightful and thought provoking read…

[Holly R W · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Kate and Frida" is a novel about two young women who form a deep friendship through their letters to each other. They are both in their twenties. Kate works in a Seattle based bookstore and wants to be an author. Frida, who grew up in Los Angeles, is living in Paris and wants to be a war journalist. The time-frame is the 1990's. Frida first writes to Kate's bookstore, asking for a certain book that she wants. That is how their correspondence starts.

The book is many layered, encompassing their work, boyfriends, families and the historical events happening at the time. Frida travels to Bosnia to report on the war there. She is determined to write about it and then, gets personally involved with two young women her age who live there.

Readers who read the author's book, Love & Saffron will enjoy that Frida is the daughter of one of the main characters (Joan) in that novel. There are glimpses of Joan in this new book.

My Reactions

While reading, I found myself sometimes very interested in what was going on in the story and sometimes, bored. I don't know if it was me or the book.

The book was wholly written in letters. I think it would have been better if the letters were interspersed with other kinds of writing. Dialogue and other points of view from other characters might have livened it up.

Rating: 3.3 stars

[Jessica Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first one and I loved this one too. It’s a different experience reading, when each chapter is just Kate and Frida’s letters to each other.

[Sandra The Old Woman in a Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate & Frida is going to be one of my top books of the year, I am sure. First, I loved Fay's earlier book, Love & Saffron. Loved it. So when I picked up Kate & Frida, I was excited to read another epistolatory novel by this author and worried it wouldn't hold up to Love & Saffron. Oh, but it did. I loved both Kate and Frida. Both young women had compelling stories to tell. Kim Fay is your author if you love heart-warming stories about female friendship.

PLUS -- keep a notepad handy because this novel love-bombs book titles throughout. I have now added more books to my TBR list. I loved all the books Fay calls out that I've read, so I trust the books that are new to me will be good, too.

PLUS PLUS - there are RECIPEES1. Fay includes a few recipes at the back of the book. I want to try them all. I immediately baked her peanut butter cookie recipe. Now, I am a 64-year-old woman who has been baking cookies all my life - I am a serious cookie baker. And I have now replaced my standard peanut butter cookie recipe with Fay's. It's that good. Those cookies disappeared, and everyone wanted to know the recipe. It's super easy - but you have to get the book if you want the recipe. It's worth the price of a book just to be able to make these cookies. I just finished the last two while I wrote this review. MMMM

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ebook version of the novel in exchange for a review.

[Susan Tunis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked this book, but I wanted to love it. It's a "Novel of Friendship, Food, and Books." And Paris! And booksellers! And recipes! And it's an epistolary novel! It's EVERYTHING I love! And there is literally nothing wrong with the book. I liked it.

Okay, the prose isn't anything to write home about, but this is commercial fiction, not literary fiction. She actually does a nice job of capturing the two protagonists' voices through their correspondence. And they're very likeable girls.

And now we get to it. I'm twice the age of these characters. They're in their twenties; I'm in my fifties. They just seemed so... young. I really don't think "I'm too much of a crone to feel nostalgic for the folly of youth" is a legitimate literary criticism. Seriously, it's a very enjoyable book.

Set in Seattle and Paris (and a few other places) in the early 90s, Ms. Fay uses both time and place to good effect. Her protagonists deal with challenges throughout the book, some more commonplace than others. But their struggles and their growing friendship propel the story, which moves along at a nice pace.

In conclusion, this is a lovely, entertaining book. But, Ms. Fay, can we revisit Kate and Frida in twenty years? I guarantee you that they will be deeper, richer, more interesting women.

[Mitzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Love & Saffron, so I was curious to read KATE & FRIDA by Kim Fay, and it quietly delivered. Set in the ‘90s, the novel moves between Seattle and Paris, following two young women whose friendship develops through letters, books, and life’s big questions.

Frida heads to Paris with dreams of becoming a war correspondent, while Kate stays in Seattle, working in a bookshop and figuring out her path. Their thoughtful exchanges explore ambition, love, loss, and the impact of global events. It’s a warm, reflective story with enough grit to ground it. A gentle reminder of the power of friendship, connection, and of course, books.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very charming epistolary novel between two young women in the early 90s, aka roughly around the last time this snail mail relationship was realistic. Lots in here about books, food, family. Palate cleansed.

WHY aren't there more epistolary novels, though???

[Denise Deen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.......A few years ago I was recommended Love & Saffron by Kim Fay and of course I absolutely adored it. I don't know why but I love epistolary novels. It has something to do with the intimacy and sharing of feelings. You get to observe the forming of a friendship/relationship in the written word and it creates such a personal connection. This 2nd novel of Kim Fay’s is written the same way as Love and Saffron only in a different era - mid 1990's - and of course I absolutely adored it! It was impossible to put down and by the end, I was shedding tears and feeling ALL of the feels. From Paris to Seattle to LA to Sarajevo this is a sweet and wise story about the enduring power of books, food and friendship. I highly recommend this delightful, engaging and lovely lovely book.

[Rae | The Finer Things Club CA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kim Fray’s 𝘒𝘢𝘵𝘦 & 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢 is a heartwarming epistolary novel set in the early 1990s that follows the growing friendship between two book lovers. Financial writer Frida Rodriguez was raised in Los Angeles but is currently in Paris trying to find a way to break into international news reporting; she reaches out by mail to a Seattle bookshop a friend has recommended for some literary inspiration. Fellow American and aspiring novelist Kate Fair is the employee at Puget Sound Book Company who obliges her request for tomes.

Over a series of letters and packages and against the backdrop of significant American events and the Bosnian War, Kate and Frida write to each other and share more than just books. They exchange trinkets and give relationship updates. They discuss politics and divulge their hopes, dreams, fears, and anxieties. They dissect day-to-day happenings and their childhood memories and try to find meaning in it all. Both feel restless and grapple with how to find and fulfill their purpose.

I enjoyed reading about Kate and Frida’s lives and seeing their friendship blossom. While the pace is a little slow and the narrative a bit disjointed initially, the novel does eventually find its groove once the title characters’ bond is solidified and they each settle into their respective destinies. This is a lovely gem of story that shares the importance of sharing food and stories, leaning into kindness and curiosity, establishing found family, and cultivating moments of joy. 4.25 stars. Thank you to G. P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Carol (Reading Ladies) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve read Love & Saffron by Kim Fay, you know the enjoyment that an epistolary format can provide! A few of my favorite reads have been epistolary.

Kate and Frida begin a correspondence when Frida (living in Paris) writes to a bookstore in Seattle requesting a book. Kate is assigned to respond, and Kate and Frida discover that they are kindred spirits in many respects. While they both love words and books, Kate wants to be a novelist, and Kate wants to be a journalist.

Immediately, we are reminded of what it’s like to be twenty-something with big dreams and wild aspirations. Through correspondence, Kate and Frida demonstrate understanding of the other and offer support and encouragement in their goals and personal lives. Based on their conversations and confessions, Kate and Frida send books to each other. You will appreciate all the book talk! It’s the loveliest long-distance friendship.

Both young women face unique, personal challenges. Kate suffers from episodes of anxiety and lacks confidence while Frida worries about her journalistic aspirations. Frida’s life takes an interesting turn as she bravely and impulsively decides to follow a guy she’s dating to Sarajevo in an attempt to find the story she’s destined to tell. The reality of the Seige of Sarajevo in the 1990s is a rude awakening for her as she fears for her life amid the violence and tragedy of the conflict. She keeps a journal which she reworks into articles in attempts to find a story to tell.

Although both young women are avid readers and foodies and have a love interest and varying levels of family drama, their friendship and their search for purpose and meaningful life work drive the narrative.

Kate and Frida are thoughtful and engaging young writers and their letters are filled with warmth, witty banter, encouragement, book talk, poignant and expressive reflections, and humor. If you’ve ever been a twenty-something or are in your twenties now, you will find much relatable content.

Kate and Frida are memorable and captivating characters and represent the best of our kind, compassionate, thoughtful, and globally conscious young adults.

Thanks #NetGalley @PutnamBooks for a complimentary eARC of #Kate&Frida upon my request. All opinions are my own.

For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sobbing mess!! As Frida would say, this is the exact book a person needs at a certain time in their life. It’s me!! I’m that person!! To read a book of love through food, through letters, the mundane, the question of how we can situate ourselves in joy among the backdrop of a cruel and unjust world. To echo the author’s note and Mary Oliver, “Joy is not made to be a crumb.” Kim Fay, thank you for reminding me to gather joy in abundance and wear my tender heart proudly on my sleeve <3

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! Letter writing, books and bookstores, food, Seattle and Paris, new friendship, deep reflection, honest conversations, and learning to see your parents as human beings apart from you. So much to think about and so many quotes saved from these pages.

[Elizabeth Folks · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this. a beautiful story of female friendships as twentysomethings who continue to learn and grow throughout the book. two highlights for me were how food holds memories & that it’s our duty to feel joy— those are definitely pieces of this book that i will carry with me.

“We owe it to people who are suffering to savor everything good and beautiful we have in our lives. Not that we should deny bad things or turn our backs on them. But if suffering is contagious, then why isn’t joy?”

[catreadsabunch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Kim Fay's sense of place. I'm always transported and my senses are delighted by foods and cultures I do not know. She makes them real for me. I found myself rooting for Kate & Frida in their own journeys. Between the worlds of Seattle, Paris, & Sarajevo a story unfolds of life, love, the pursuit of happiness and asks the question: can we rightfully have that happiness when there is so much suffering around us? While I enjoyed this epistolary novel between two twenty-somethings I felt it lacked the balance of a mature voice that we got with Love & Saffron. Still a hit for me but not totally perfect.

[Leisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

✨This book is a love story to anyone who loves books and good food. It’s an ode to female friendship and a lovely example of epistolary writing done right.

✨There is so much depth here as the two main characters navigate their early 20s in the early part of the 1990s. It was such a refreshing throwback to a time before social media that I remember well.

✨Like the characters in these pages, books have been my companion my whole life – and I suppose that’s why this quote really spoke to me:

“I think that’s why I wrote what I did about being able to count on books. One time I ended up living in three places in a single year, but Sheila the Great and Harriet the Spy were up to the same old thing, no matter where I was.” (𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯)

🌿Read if you like:
✨Books about books
✨Books about food
✨Epistolary novels
✨Seattle settings
✨Paris settings
✨Female war journalist stories
✨Strong female main characters
✨1990s nostalgia

🎧I was absolutely mesmerized by the audiobook thanks to the narration of Ines del Castillo @ines_delcastillo and Kelsey Jaffer @kelat0nin. They brought Kate & Frida to life for me in a profound way. Loved it.

[Renée | apuzzledbooklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

This is the story of a friendship that develops between Kate, who works in a bookstore in Seattle, and Frida, an aspiring journalist who is living in Paris. They connect and share a love of food and books that then develops into friendship. 

Things I loved |
•90’s pop culture references 
•food
•history of Bosnia 
•nods to Mary Oliver 
•authors note 

Having read and loved the author’s previous novel, Love & Saffron, I struggled more than I anticipated connecting to this story and the characters. And I’m not entirely sure why. 

There are so many things to enjoy about it though, and I would still recommend reading it. I really do love epistolary novels, and it always reminds me of my teenage years when I had several penpals. 

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I didn’t like this at first: The place where the titular main characters start is so young and naive and painful reminders of versions of myself I’m ashamed of. But watching them grow turned out to be a really heartwarming experience that gave me more compassion for a younger version of myself. I think I read this book on the wrong side of my early 20’s, and if I’d read it younger it may have helped me learn some necessary lessons of that specific age. But as Kate says, we’re always learning, and there’s no place we’ll ever reach to be done with growth.

Also this is just love letter to food, books, female friendships, and the way they all weave together was gorgeous. It made me grateful for those things in my life (especially my friendships built on a mutual love for those things!)

[marissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book sounded like a cute read- but ended up being mid. You can tell it was written by a white woman. Her Latina character, Frida, mentioned chile rellenos like 20 times throughout the book…. also I get it supposed to be set in like the late 90’s early 2000’s but some things she said in the book were a bit dicey. Like how do you understand that Bosnian and Rwandan genocide are bad but then have the nerve to bring up Israel in a positive light. It was very brief but still…yikes. I would’ve given it a pass if it was an older book but this was released this year.

Listened via audiobook

[Darlene Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel to Love and Safron was - totally awesome! -did not disappoint. I loved the sense of connection and belonging that food and books created between both the characters and their circles of people. It reminded me of my own letter writing (via text, but would be so much better in the form of mail!) with the dear friend that gave me the book.

[Amy Grass Torres · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seemed like it was trying to be a modern day 84, Charing Cross Road. I didn't really find myself connecting with the characters, even though I wanted to. There were some sweet parts to this, but it ended up not being quite what I thought it would be.