This sweet, sweet story is definitely a heart-warmer. If you're a fan of up-lit, you will enjoy the story of Frederick Fife who accidentally ends up taking over the life of Bernard and then proceeds to change the lives of everyone around him, including his.

It's never too late for forgiveness, family, and friendship.

with gratitude to netgalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Heartwarming story about an elderly man who is homeless, broke, and has no family. Through a surprising twist of fate, he is mistaken for a nursing home resident who has disappeared and starts to live this other man's life. While I found the situation to be somewhat implausible and I disapproved of some of the characters' decisions, in the end everything worked out for the best for everyone--so I can't complain too much! Also, I just enjoyed the story as well as the characters and their development.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

What a fun book! I definitely would recommend as a light hearted book that will take over a busy mind. Relaxing, rewarding. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

Fred is going for a walk one day, after finding out he's about to be evicted, when he comes upon another elderly man seemingly asleep in his wheelchair. While pushing the man back toward the group of people from the nursing home nearby, he not only realizes the man has died but also has a mishap that leads to him being mistaken for the dead guy and whisked off to the nursing home as Bernard. He tries to make himself understood, but Bernard's history of dementia means no one believes Fred and since Fred had nowhere to go anyway…he becomes Bernard. Somewhat unbelievable but a nice, feel-good sort of story in the end. 3.5 stars rounded to 3.

This book was like reading a warm hug. The characters are wonderful and it is a feel good about life book. I cannot wait to read more books by Anna Johnston! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

I loved everything about The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston. Sometimes a book comes along with a character that just touches your heart. The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife was that book for me. As I read this brilliant story, every one of my emotions were awoken, challenged and put on high alert. I was very impressed with Anna Johnston’s ability to weave such a deep story and create such a meaningful and memorable character. It was hard to believe that The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife was her debut novel.

Frederick Fife was an eighty two year old man that had hit rock bottom but was in the right place to be offered a second chance at a better life. No one was more deserving than he was. Although the circumstances that led to his life altering changes were far from conventional, I was glad that he had been in the right place at the right time to make them work. Fred had recently suffered from Dawn’s, his wife and love of his life, death from cancer. The costs that were incurred as a result of Dawn’s illness were astronomical and had resulted in making Fred homeless. He wouldn’t have had done it any differently despite its outcome if there was the remote possibility of saving his Dawn. Fred had no regrets. Needing a place to contemplate his next move, Fred ended up down by the river when he noticed a man in a wheelchair at the river’s edge. Fred decided to see if the man needed any assistance. The next thing Fred knew, the man had fallen into the river along with Fred’s wallet. Before Fred had a chance to explain what had happened, one of the caregivers from the facility that had brought the man that had fallen into the river’s current and was heading downstream, mistakenly mistook Fred for Bernard Greer. The two men looked uncannily similar. Bernard Greer had recently been diagnosed with dementia so the caregiver ignored Fred’s efforts to explain that he was not who they believed him to be. Fred was taken to Wattle River Nursing Home. His life was about to change drastically but the impact he was about to have on so many others was to become a blessing in disguise.

Anna Johnston, in my opinion, is a masterful storyteller. I can’t wait to see what she writes next. She did an excellent job including the topics of dementia and alcoholism within the confines of her book in such a realistic and believable way. Besides the character of Frederick Fife, the other characters were engaging and well developed. The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife touched on family, loss, grief, friendship and the acts of kindness, patience, and selflessness. It was one of those books that is hard to forget. I must have recommended it to every one of my friends. I am highly recommended it to you as well.

Thank you to William Morrow for allowing me to read The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get through this one, but the payoff was worth it. Lots of heartwarming scenes and unconditional kindness that feels simply quaint these days.

The compassion that Fred shows even after years of heartbreak is inspiring, and I found myself in tears several times toward the end. (Good tears!)

Warning: Lots of body “humor” buried in these pages. Seemed unnecessary, especially the frequency.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an early review copy!

A beautiful, heart-warming story of mistaken identity, this book will make you laugh and cry, sometimes on the same page. The author uses humor to push the reader to examine the way we as a society treat our elderly citizens, while also exploring themes of forgiveness and redemption. A must-read and a most enjoyable one.

Looking for your next cozy read? Frederick Fife to the rescue. In fact, that’s just the kind of thing that Fred…um Bernard… would do. This reads as the most charming case of mistaken identity ever written, and you will finish the final pages reaffirmed in the goodness of humanity, and the kindness that exists in the world. While it is not always an easy read (some of the subjects handled are quite difficult, but handled with tenderness), it ranks among the most charming books I’ve ever read. Five big stars for Frederick Fife! Thank you to William Morrow Book and NetGalley for my gifted ARC!

This was a heartwarming book that follows an old man, Frederick Fife, after he loses his beloved wife to cancer along with all of their money. Fate intervenes when he finds a man deceased on the beach who just happens to look like him. Due to a misunderstanding, Frederick finds himself adopting this man's identity. He struggles with his conscious while he enjoys the simple pleasures of food and sleeping in a warm bed. The story is well written and the characters likeable. There were some nuggets of advice and words of wisdom throughout that really touched me. Overall, a great book from the author. Thanks to the publisher, William Morrow, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is a heartwarming tale of mistaken identity and finding meaning while making others’ lives better in ways big and small. I enjoyed this quirky tale from start to finish.

Thank you Anna Johnston, William Morrow, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is just the type of book that I love. A cast of quirky characters that come together and realize that life is better together.

Frederick is down on his luck and is lonely since the death of his beloved wife, Dawn. On the brink of eviction, Frederick takes a walk along the river and notices a group from the local nursing home out on an excursion so to speak. Frederick notices a man who is in a wheel chair off by himself and is slumped over and sadly has passed away. After a series of events, the man in the wheel chair, who looks freakishly like Frederick, falls in to the river and is swept away. When the nursing home discovers Frederick, who they mistake for their resident, they quickly brush off his repeated attempts to tell him that he is Frederick. The staff believes that Bernard, who has dementia, is just confused and won't listen to Fred.

After many attempts to correct the staff, Fred finally decides to continue to live the life of Bernard because it isn't hurting anyone and he is lonely. Thus begins the tail that is The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife.

Anna Johnston has a devoted reader in me. I highly enjoyed this book. It made me laugh out loud and made me get a knot in my throat.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Some books just touch your heart, y’know?

Such is the story of Frederick Fife, a lonely, almost homeless widower and all the people whose lives he makes better.

Fred has just been evicted and is out walking when he comes upon a deceased man in a wheelchair. Through a series of events, he ends up being taken to a nursing home and told his name is Bernard. He tries to correct them, but Bernard had dementia. No one even listens to what he’s saying.

Faced with homelessness even if he could make someone believe him, he begins to lean into his new life as Bernard which comes with plentiful meals, something he hasn’t had in many years. Honestly, the parts where he discusses his food insecurity are probably the hardest for me to read even though the author handles it deftly.

So, while there are many serious topics within, including the food insecurity, potential homelessness, cancer, dementia, and grief, there is also so much humor and light. It feels a lot like life.

Fred is so incredibly likable and sweet, you fret for him and want nothing but joy for the rest of his time on earth. You’ll also meet other residents and staff of the nursing home and love them too.

I’m just overall delighted by this book which brings a lot of chuckles and a few tears too.

I received this book via #netgalley and @williammorrowbooks. All thoughts are mine alone.

#theborrowedlifeoffrederickfife #annajohnston #contemporaryfiction #books #bookrecs #bookreview #fivestars #fivestarbooks #bookstagram

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is an intriguing concept, and I wanted to love it, but it didn’t live up to its potential for me. The idea is compelling, with themes of second chances and mistaken identity when Bernard is mistaken for his doppelganger Frederick. While some moments pull on your heart strings, the pacing is slow, and the supporting characters lack dimension. I thought some of the twists were predictable, but there was just enough originality to keep me reading. Overall, it’s a decent read with some memorable and heart-warming moments, but it fell short for me. Thank you to William Morrow and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is a heartwarming, feel-good novel about Fred, an 82-year-old man who, through a case of mistaken identity, ends up at a nursing home and takes the place of a grumpy resident. As he brings kindness and joy to those around him, Fred's life intertwines with Denise, a caregiver struggling with her own challenges.

Charming, funny, and bittersweet, this book explores themes of human connection, redemption, and second chances. Fred is a wonderfully endearing character, and his journey will make readers laugh, cry, and reflect on the power of kindness. A must-read for fans of quirky, older characters.

I absolutely loved this little gem of a book! Frederick is a sweet and lonely old man. At 82, he finds himself broke and almost homeless but still has a heart filled with kindness. A case of mistaken identity lands Frederick in a nursing home with the identity of a disagreeable man named Bernard Greer. At first, nobody seems to listen to him that he is not Bernard. But after a few days of warm meals, new friends and kind staff members, Frederick seems to think this new life might not be so bad after all. And as is true to his nature, he just can't help but be his kind lovable self, bring joy and positivity to the lives of all those around him.

Thank you so much to William Morrow for an early digital copy and a physical review copy of this delightful story.

This filled me with all the warm fuzzies. It’s great if you like a story with quirky characters, overcoming family trauma with a bit of humor thrown in, and happy endings. This is my wheelhouse for sure and so I thoroughly enjoyed this read!

82-year-old Frederick Fife is on the brink of homelessness due to medical debt incurred from his wife’s cancer treatments. While contemplating his next steps, he encounters a deceased man in a wheelchair who he attempts to assist, but instead Frederick stumbles, causing the man and Frederick’s wallet to wash away in the river. Bernard Greer, the deceased man, was suffering from dementia, and so despite Frederick’s objections, the group whisks him back to the nursing home, thinking he is Bernard. This utterly delightful book demonstrates what a difference a kind person makes in the lives of others, and readers will be wanting a Frederick in their lives. The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife hits all the right notes; it is funny, hopeful, poignant, touching, and engaging. It will appeal to fans of stories about found family and older protagonists.

It took me two tries to really get into this debut story featuring 82 year old widower, Frederick Fife who finds himself evicted and with no where to go and no money. When he's mistaken for Bernard, and unintentionally assumes his identity and place in a care home, Frederick finally finds a group of friends and a found family he had always been wanting. This heartwarming story touches on some difficult topics, from gambling addiction, death of loved ones from cancer, miscarriage, grief and homelessness and loneliness (among others). Highly recommended for fans of books like The brilliant life of Eudora Honeysett or The Autumn of Ruth Winters. I am really enjoying the popularity of stories told with older main characters! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Heartwarming, lovely hug in a book. I loved spending time with Fred and the others at the home. This was a fast read and enjoyed my time reading it. Gave it 4 stars