Kate & Frida

A Novel of Friendship, Food, and Books

By: Kim Fay

From the author of 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...

Twentysomething Frida Rodriguez arrives in Paris in 1991, relishing the city’s butter-soaked cuisine and seeking her future as a war correspondent. But then she writes to a bookshop in Seattle, and receives more than just the book she requests. A friendship begins that will redefine the person she wants to become.

Seattle bookseller Kate Fair is transformed by Frida’s free spirit, spurred to believe in herself as a writer, to kiss her handsome coworker, and to find beauty even in loss. Through the most tumultuous years of their young lives—personally and globally—Kate and Frida sustain and nourish each other as they learn the necessity of embracing joy, especially through our darkest hours.

This mouthwatering oasis of a novel is a love letter to bookshops and booksellers, to the passion we bring to life in our twenties, and to the last precious years before the internet changed everything.

©2025 Kim Fay (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"I loved this wonderfully thoughtful and thought-provoking tale of a friendship forged through letters. Confiding in each other about romance, family, work, and ambition, Kate and Frida move through the murkiness of youth and its inevitable mistakes, cheering each other on with friendship's greatest gift: a sense of being found. This is story deftly told, full of wisdom and heart, and a reading experience as memorable and satisfying as a great meal with good friends in a fascinating new place."–Natalie Jenner, Internationally Bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society and Every Time We Say Goodbye

“I devoured Kate & Frida in one lovely, leisurely weekend. It’s the kind of book that wraps you in a warm, cozy hug. The story transported me back to the early 90s when I was coming of age and writing long letters to friends as we scattered in all directions and tried to carve out our little piece of the world. From the turbulence of war to struggling with anxiety, loss, and finding their own narratives, Fay masterfully weaves Kate and Frida’s adventures, challenges, and triumphs together in one delicious bundle of letters with just the right touch of delectable food (it is Paris after all). The story is a poignant reminder of the enduring power of books, food, and friendship. This is a must-read!”—Ellie Alexander, author of the Bakeshop Mysteries

“From Paris to Seattle to Sarajevo, this effervescent, poignant story radiates joy and hope. A savory tale of two young women navigating the tumultuous events of the early 90s with the help of great books, food, and friendships, Kate & Frida explores the sometimes rocky path to finding love, facing loss, and discovering your voice and purpose. I devoured every word!”—Rachel Linden, bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie