If, for any reason, a reader did not see this book when it first came out, take a look now. I imagine that there are people on holiday gift lists for whom this would make a perfect read.

Life has not been going so well for this novel’s older protagonist. Frederick is lonely and alone. When a chance event, allows him to take on the identity of Bernard, he is grateful. This takes Frederick to a care home where he is delighted to, in fact, be cared for. He also uses his lovely personality to offer some joy to others.

One employee at the home, has many reasons to be unhappy and mistrustful. Will Frederick successfully cast his magic over her? What will happen to these two and others in the home? Will Frederick’s deception be discovered? Find out in this book. It does take on some difficult issues but also offers an emotional and uplifting read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

One of the best stories I’ve consumed all year. At times laugh-out-loud funny, at others completely devastating, but wholly heartfelt. I did not want my time with Fred to end. He’ll forever have a home in my heart next to Ove and Marcel.

This was the happy, hopeful read I needed after some more difficult reads.

82 year old Frederick Fife is widowed after his wife dies from cancer. He doesn’t have money for rent and goes for a walk by the river. When he gets there, he notices a man in a wheelchair who looks like he has died. Fred tries to wheel him back to the caretakers, but the man falls in the river and floats away. Fred is assumed to be this same man (they look remarkably alike) and is hastened back to the retirement center. He quickly befriends some residents in the most quirky ways. He learns the man he replaced, was not as friendly and made some mistakes with his family. What life will Fred live now?

The plot, when I started, seemed so over the top, but Fred is so lovable and I enjoyed every page of this book.

I can sometimes be talked into a sweet book about an elderly person, and I am glad I was in this case. Frederick was so endearing- if you like character driven stories that slowly unpack more about their lives and about life in general, this could be a win.

"I never understood how a heart so broken could go on beating and I never understood until now. It was so I could love you."

Thank you to Netgalley for a free ARC and for giving me an excuse to ugly cry in public lol

Please excuse any typos in this review, I'm currently attempting to write it behind a waterfall of tears lol this book was incredibly beautiful and it just makes me want to give my own dad a big hug.

It's a story about second chances, found family, forgiveness, and how a parent's love for their child exceeds all limitations including distance and death.

This book had me laughing out loud (an extra 10 points because we love a good fart joke lol) and then balling my eyes out the next. The quotes in this book were like a gut punch and it made me pause to reflect constantly.

I knew this book would hurt my feelings and I don't regret a damn thing lol I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Ps. Patricia is the most underrated side character lol I want to read her story next 🤣💅🏻

#IndigoStaffMember

I loved this book. Homeless, an 82 year old man takes finds himself unwittingly now living at a nursing home in a case of mistaken identity. Trying to convince others about his true identity is futile because who believes someone that old when they think he has dementia? What ensues is a sweet story of how one man's approach to friendship and kindness can affect the lives of others. Rich in character, this was a heart warming story and a true delight. Many thanks to #netgalley #the borrowedlifeoffrederickfife #annajohnston for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am absolutely enchanted! This book is a beautifully crafted tale that explores identity, love, and the unexpected twists life can take. From the very first chapter, I was drawn into Frederick's world. His journey of self-discovery and the way he navigates the complexities of life had me hooked. Johnston’s writing is both poignant and witty, making it a joy to read. I found myself laughing, crying, and reflecting on my own experiences along the way. What I loved most was the depth of the characters. Each one felt so real and relatable, and their interactions were filled with warmth and authenticity. The themes of connection and the impact of our choices lingered with me long after I turned the last page. If you’re looking for a book that will tug at your heartstrings and leave you with a sense of hope, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is a must-read!

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is one of the very few books that has an outrageous premise, yet you can absolutely immerse yourself in it without having to suspend belief. Sweet and warming, yet painfully emotional.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, but it was a bittersweet read.

This was one of those books where I sometimes found myself laughing and just as quickly found myself tearing up. There are so many funny situations that Fred finds himself in throughout the book. However, there were also so many places where the plight of the elderly came through. I struggle with nursing homes. Culturally, they aren't really a thing for me, although the prevalence is increasing in recent years. In high school, I regularly volunteered at nursing homes, so I've seen the realities of what life can be like there. And while everything isn't all bad, it's sometimes a very sad tale. I appreciated that we got to see a mix of people who are sad and lonely because of their actions earlier in life and those who are still supported by their loving families.

There are a lot of places where you have to sort of suspend belief. Sometimes I find that hard to do, but I urge you to do that here because the story is so much more compelling if you just let it flow over you.

This was a beautiful book that I'll remember for a long time.


A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. it was really nice to have a book with an elderly main character and not be a miserable, done with life type of character. there was humor and a joviality to the character and it made the story not as depressing as it could have been.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy.

This book was full of charming characters and had such a creative plot. I didn't want it to end. I wanted to follow Hannah and Bernard/Fred until her daughter was much older to see what adventures they could have.

Fred is about to get evicted from his apartment for back rent and goes for a walk. He comes to a man sitting in a wheelchair by the edge of the river. He is attempting to get the man back to his group from a care home when the wheelchair falls tips and the man falls in. Fred realized that the man was deceased, but no one else had noticed. Fred's wallet and his jacket end up with the man.

Fred is quickly helped into the wheelchair by Denise one of the staff from the care home and he is pushed into the van back to the home. Fred doesn't understand what is happening for several hours. He sees some photos of Bernard who he was trying to help and realizes they look almost identical.

Fred panics for several days that the police will come for him and they never do. He settles into his life in the home and makes new friends. He has many adventures with his new friends.

He also has a visit from Hannah Bernard's daughter when she comes to share the news of her pregnancy and try to reconcile with him after years of no contact. Hannah struggled through the loss of her older sister when she was only 9 and the family fallout resulting in Bernard's poor choices during the stressful time of her sister's illness.

Fred helps so many people in his time as Bernard and then he learns that Hannah is struggling to pay bills. He checks Bernard's bank balances and finds there is a large account with a co-owner. He contacts the lawyer and makes a plan to make Hannah's life richer than it is.

The ending was bittersweet, but still sweet in the end when the truth of everything comes out.

I look forward to more books by this author.

I loved this book so much. Fred may now be one of my new favorite book characters! I couldn't put it down, definitely recommend.

A mix up by a harried nursing home staff leaves Frederick Fife with a second chance he never thought he would get - a warm bed, yummy meals, and a second chance at friends and family. When someone says a story is heartwarming, this is exactly the type of novel that comes to mind. Yes, it got cringy at times, but overall this book made me so happy. To see that Frederick is a genuinely warm, kind, and caring person helps those around him to be more genuine and caring, and his love touches his fellow residents, the staff, and the family of his new self. This is one of the best books I have read in 2024 and I cannot wait to recommend it to others. It's exactly what many of us need during the holiday season - kindness goes a long way!

Reading this book is as comforting and sweet as a pot of tea and homemade cookies. Just warmed my heart and soul from start to finish, and so good I put of chores and life for a day because I just couldn't tear myself away.

DNFed at 17%

The premise of this book sounds both funny and sweet, and I have read such good reviews about this book! However, there is way too many descriptions of pee and other bodily fluids for me. I know this is part of life and getting older, but I don't want to read about it.

5 gigantic stars for this book…one of the sweetest stories I have read in a long time! If you love Ove, Arthur Truluv, AJ Fikrey you will adore this story of Frederick Fife.

A case of mistaken identity lands Frederick in a nursing home where he quickly becomes one of the favorites. This story was filled with so much kindness and love and doing for others…things I definitely needed to read about this week.

I can not recommend this book highly enough. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the honor to read and review this book.

Very cute and kept me reading. I would recommend to those looking for a happy read. I would read more from this author in the future.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is such a treat--like a warm mug in book form! I couldn't believe this is a debut novel--well done to Anna Johnston. Can't wait to read anything she writes next.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a really sweet (albeit kinda predictable) story about a lonely old man who, due to mistaken identity, ends up living in a nursing home under someone else's name. The book was filled with a ton of incredible, implausible coincidences, but I chose to overlook them and just enjoy Fred's new lease on life as an octogenarian.
Thanks to #netgalley and #williammorrow for this #arc of #theborrowedlifeoffrederickfife by #annajohnston in exchange for an honest review.

When I'm very interested book.It had a lot of different takes on it. I like how fred had Ha no where to go because he was still upset about his wife D Dying. Bernard was in a nursing home and went on a field trip one day and ended up dead. Fred tried to help but the body fell inthe water. The nurs.
Ing home thought fred was bernard , but he was not. Fred was becoming homeless so this wasn't golden opportunity for him. He en.
Joyed this immensely and then you find out the story behind bernard and how he was trying to connect with his daughter named heather. There's all we'll be very interesting.Story about helping and compassion when things seem to get out of place. This was like a love story.A murder mystery all rolled into one. Bernard had a gambling problem, and that's why he walked away from his family because he was trying to pay.For his older daughter cancer treatment , but she died. This is a very important part of this story and you'll find out why.