After seeing so many glowing early reviews of this one, I knew I had to read it! I was gifted a copy from @williammorrow and @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a heartwarming, hug of a story about Fred, a sweet 82 year old man who is rather down on his luck. Due to a strange and unexpected situation, he is given a second chance at finding love and family.

This one was at times laugh out loud funny with the antics of the nursing home, then it would turn tender or sad. This one gave me so many feels and I really enjoyed it!. Another great story with an older protagonist, and one that wasn't a crumudgeon either. Read it this Fall if you need a feel good story with found family!

Thank you William Morrow for allowing me to read and review The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston on NetGalley.

Published: 09/10/24

Stars: 4.5

Delightful from the first page to the last.. The author touches on the elderly, loneliness, childhood illness, death, widows, divorce and much more throughout the story seamlessly. The characters are likeable. There are funny lines/moments as well as incredulously awkward periods. However, it all works.

Why does it work? The borrower and borrowed are elderly and live in a nursing home. The patients have dementia. In any other setting the story would not work.

This is reminiscent of The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons. Both books touch on societal shames, however, while not sugarcoated, they do represent best case scenario.

I recommend this for all readers.

This latest addition to the feel good genre featuring older characters is solid, but not all is light and frothy. Poverty is not a common topic in adult fiction. Due to the cost of Fred’s wife’s cancer treatments, he is left destitute in his retirement. As the story progresses, a bit slowly at times, Fred deals with guilt, regret, and hope. He turns out to be a friend and ally to all.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

X ♾️

This book is positively wonderful and heartwarming. I cried so many happy/sad tears. We have found family, also a twist that had me gasping out loud. A fantastic well written book that hooked me immediately and I had to finish it in one day.

If you liked Tuesday’s with morrie or aj fickery you’re going to love this book. Written from two perspectives-Fredrick and Denise- this touching bstory of found family will make you feel all the feelings. I loved the character development and the blossoming friendships. It made me laugh and cry. Fast read and so worth it. Thank you net galley for the digital copy. 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'Heartwarming' is an understatement for this thoroughly charming novel about an elderly man who lucks into a strange case of mistaken identity, only to use his new, 'borrowed' life to spread joy. Is this book believable? Absolutely not. First, Frederick is impossibly lovely. While I'd like to believe there are people like him who exist in somewhere in the universe, I can't say I've ever met anyone like him. And the only thing less realistic than his kindness is the manner in which he finds himself taking over Bernard's life. However, author Anna Johnston manages to convincingly suspend disbelief with clever crafting of plot, a whimsical tone, and emotionally engaging characters. In a politically polarized and economically tumultuous times, this book is like a nice little vacation, allowing an escape to a happier, less jaded world.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is a charming and heartwarming story about found family, about forging connections with others, about the many ways compassion and kindness can positively influence others. I feel like I've been reading a number of stories over the past few years with older protagonists - is this that there are more such stories or is this simply the fact that I'm getting older? While I don't think all depictions are necessarily accurate or realistic, stories can be an escape. Anna Johnston creates a world of characters who have their own quirks and idiosyncracies butwhere everyone has some redeeming qualities if you dig a bit deeper to find them and ultimately it's authenticity and kindness that really shine. This was a light and fairly quick read, but not overly simplistic. There's enough weighty and dark books out there, sometimes it's nice to mix it up with something where you can immerse yourself in a community that you hope really does exist out there. 4.5/5

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the e-arc.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

This book was easy to love. Frederick was an endearing character who finds himself near homelessness when he stumbles into Bernard’s life, literally.

The writing was humorous, even laugh-at-loud funny. The characters were lovable. Frederick’s attitude toward his new life and good fortune are refreshing. He changes the lives of people around him by loving them well. In short, there was much to enjoy about this book.
The reason I gave it four stars instead of five was due to the language. It was a bit cruder than I would have liked, but I understand that is a personal preference. I do think the author could have achieved the same effect without the four-letter words.

If you are a fan of lovable characters, clever plots, happy endings, and funny situations, you will enjoy this book. I am grateful to HarperCollins Publishers for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I'm so happy I picked this book up. I absolutely loved it. It's a heartwarming, emotional debut and just pulled me in. I will say though that some parts really hit hard. The things that happen in senior facilities and the parts about aging ughh, that hurts my heart! 😭 So get those tissues if you are going to read this. There are definitely some fun (funny) parts as well. I always enjoy books about found family and kindness to others and this was really well done. A beautiful story!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a heartwarming story about a lonely man, Frederick Fire, who lost his wife to cancer and all of their money trying to save her.

On the verge of being homeless, Fred takes a walk along the river and comes across a recently deceased man in a wheelchair. In Fred’s attempt to wheel him back up towards Nursing Home van, he trips, falls, hits his heads and the body is thrown into the river along with Fred’s coat/wallet. When he comes to, he is helped into the wheelchair and back to van. Despite his efforts to explain he is not Bernard, he is taken back to the nursing home in Bernard’s place. Upon arriving, he finds out that Bernard and Fred have uncanny resemblance and he figures a few good meals won’t hurt anyone, right?

The trials and tribulations of walking in another man’s shoes while in a nursing home keeps it interesting especially when you have to take pills for their medical conditions or even wear their underwear.

The book gives an interest perspective on elderly people in nursing homes, grief and kindness. I’ll admit the sadness throughout the beginning of the story was heartbreaking but I’m glad I kept reading because what it was wonderful to see the effect that Frederick’s kindness had on everyone around him. The world needs more people like him.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was published September 10, 2024.

This was a charming and delightful story about mistaken identity, second chances, loss and forgiveness. Ultimately it offers up a new definition of family. Highly recommend.

“Would you mind terribly, old boy, if I borrowed the rest of your life? I promise I’ll take excellent care of it.”

I would give this book ten stars if I could! I laughed, I cried. Don’t miss an opportunity to read this heartwarming story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Anna Johnston, and William Morrow for this ARC!

In The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, you will meet a kind elderly man who is caught up in a case of mistaken identity, but it just might be the solution to his problems.

Quirky characters + mistaken identity + acts of kindness + found family = one unique read.

Frederick Fife is desperately lonely and is about to be homeless. At the park one day, Federick notices an unresponsive man in a wheelchair. In a set of extraordinary circumstances, Frederick assumes this man’s identity and is taken back to the local nursing home. He feels a bit guilty about the impersonation, but he’s enjoying the warm meals, a roof over his head, and the companionship of other residents. The staff remark on his transformation from grouchy to kind and considerate. He also doesn’t need adult diapers or the meds that the man he’s impersonating required. Fred makes many friends in his new life as “Bernard.” Things become complicated when one carer, Denise, grows suspicious of his identity but she has her own secrets and they agree to protect each other. When Bernard’s daughter visits, Fred’s deception becomes incredibly complicated as he’s never had children and begins to care about her as a daughter. Can he keep up the charade? What are the consequences of telling the truth?

What I Enjoyed:
* I always love quirky characters!
* I love older characters!
* Fred is a lovable character, and I love his kind heart.
* I appreciate the theme of kindness and Fred’s attitude, and his practice of Kindness is a good reminder for all of us.
* I adore a found family theme, and this story provides a special one.
* I appreciate the issues raised such as grief, invisibility, loneliness, and support services for the elderly.
* The story gets better and better the more you read!

Other Things I Noticed:
* Suspension of disbelief is required at the beginning of the story as the events that lead up to his “borrowed life” play out.
* I suppose it’s realistic to portray some carers as less than kind or professional, but a couple of instances were troubling. If you have an elderly relative in a nursing home, it might cause worry or concern.
* There’s a danger when writing humor that it can cross the line of gentle and kind to poking fun at another’s expense. Or the characterizations can become stereotypical. A couple of times I felt a bit protective of these dear elderly characters.

Content Consideration: Cancer (in the past), grief, elder abuse (minimal), unplanned pregnancy

Overall, there’s a great deal to love about this quirky story! I’m recommending The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife for fans of older characters and who love themes of kindness and found family. I’m adding this to my book list of favorite older characters. I’m eager to read more from this debut author!

Thanks #NetGalley @WmMorrowBooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheBorrowedLifeOfFrederickFife upon my request. All opinions are my own.

This was a sweet and heartwarming story! I was surprised by the twist that came a good way in.

The only things holding it back from being a five star read for me were that it felt a bit trite or sappy at times and that I didn't like all of the flatulence/incontinence humor.

I will recommend this book to my followers and fellow readers!

Frederick Fife is a heartwarming, sweet character! Frederick has been lonely for many years. His wife and dog died ten years ago, and he has been heartbroken and alone since then. He lost his house due to all the medical debt that was accumulated trying to save his wife. He had been living in a rental, but now couldn’t afford even that and has to leave with no home to go to.

Frederick finds himself along a river when he spots an older man, Bernard, fall while feeding the seagulls. Frederick goes to help but the man falls from his wheelchair into the river, and his body washes away. The man was on a field trip with the nursing home he was in, and the employee that came over thought Fredrick was Bernard. They looked identical to each other. Frederick tried many times to say he wasn’t Bernard. However, Bernard had been diagnosed with dementia, so no one believed Frederick.

From here the story evolves as Frederick settles into his new life as Bernard, living in the nursing home. He realizes Bernard has no family, so he decides to borrow Bernard’s life. He enjoys the good food, companionship, and attention that had been missing in his life for so long. Frederick is such a sweet, likable character that I kept wanting to see how things progressed for him. There were a few twists I didn’t see coming in this cozy book. It also switches points of view with 2 other people. Overall, it is unique and a really great read.

Thank you to William Morrow, Anna Johnston, and NetGalley for allowing me to read to this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is destined to become a top seller. I adored Fred Fife and his friends and was amazed at how the author could even make the antagonists in this story into sympathetic heroes. This story is uplifting, but not simple or simply moralistic. The plot is complex, weaving together the stories of a variety of characters into a narrative complete with a history and a future. Fred's emotional intelligence and caring nature are credible. His inner monologue had me giggling as I read. The subtext is a commentary on aging and how our society treats the aged and infirm, but it is not preachy. A beautiful redemption story, I will recommend this book heartily once it is published.

This was a very sweet and heartwarming story about a lonely 82 year old man who is contemplating his impending homelessness when he comes across a deceased man who happens to be his doppelgänger. While trying to return the previously wheelchair bound man to his nursing home group an incident occurs and he is mistaken for the other man. Since no one will believe him when he says his name is Frederick, not Bernard, he decides to borrow the other man's life.

I really enjoyed this story except for a couple of things. First, while some of the humor was cute, there was far too much potty humor. It got to the point were I would roll my eyes at the fart jokes. It was unnecessary and too immature for the story. It ended up being an annoyance instead of humorous.

I also didn't like the repetition of some of the thoughts. I felt that we were beaten over the head with it. I understood that Fred had regrets and he missed his wife and was lonely, etc... However, I feel that this was all just repeated a bit too much.

Otherwise, I loved the story. I was ok with suspending my disbelief, I expected that going in. I was also ok with knowing mostly where the story would go. No spoilery details, but I really liked the tricky bit. Johnston got me there for a minute! I thought the story was sweet and uplifting. I love the overarching themes of kindness and forgiveness. I was happy for the little found family.

Overall, a beautiful story that reads like the debut it is. I expect Johnston's writing will only improve with time and if her stories continue to be this heartfelt she will be in for a wonderful career. 3.5★

This is a delightful story about a widowed octogenarian, Fred who borrows the life of his doppelgänger, Bernard, a nursing home resident. I really enjoyed this story centered on found family. It is humorous but emotional read and you will be rooting for Fred the whole way. The nursing home setting and its cast of characters seemed spot on. I particularly loved Patricia, the horny old woman on the ward that Fred frequently has to hide from. Pick this up if you’re looking for an uplifting read.

Anna Johnston's THE BORROWED LIFE OF FREDERICK FIFE dropped me immediately into the plight of freshly homeless Frederick, 82 years old with the memories, griefs, and joys of a long life. From the years when borrowing came easily to him and he returned things better than he received, Frederick is without resources, relationships, and now out of a home. As broken and lost as he is, Frederick still sees the plight of others, offers what he can and when he lucks into a nursing home because of mistaken identity, he borrows that life and enjoys a roof over his head and food to eat. Caretaker Denise Simms feels there is something different about Frederick--and through her own struggles to keep her own life together, gets to know the man and his kindness. Up against terrible realities, the pair of them connect to surprising and fascinating results. My heart went through the wringer on this one, both broken and warmed, throughout this wonderfully original and well-written novel. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

This was a warm and sweet story and I really enjoyed it! It was heartwarming and I was routing for the main character to get their happy ending. The pace was great and it was well written!


Thank you to a NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review, thank you!!!