How lucky am I that I got to experience The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife. What a heartwarming, heartbreaking, and joyful read this was!!

Frederick Fife is down on his luck and about to be homeless. After spending all of his savings to try to save his beloved Dawn, he is no longer able to pay his bills. A chance encounter with an elderly man named Bernard, who happens to look exactly like him, changes his life. He is mistaken for Bernard by the staff at his nursing home and despite his objections, he is brought back to the nursing home and assumes his life.

I can't say enough wonderful things about this book - I raced home every day to read it! This book is filled with quirky characters, love, and an understanding that forgiveness and grace is one of the most freeing things you can do for yourself. Frederick is the father, grandfather, and friend we all need in our life - he is thoughtful, caring, loving, and will do anything to help. I will never forget this one.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife was a truly delightful read! It contains several tropes I enjoy, including found family and a lonely elderly protagonist.
When the book starts, Frederick has lost his wife to illness, his finances have been depleted on her medical care, and and he is being evicted from his home. He's not sure how he's going to manage and move forward, when out on a walk he witnesses a man falling out of his wheelchair. He attempts to help the man. It turns out the man is deceased, and he accidentally ends up falling into the river and is washed away along with Frederick's wallet. The lost man bears an uncanny resemblance to Frederick, and when he attempts to alert the staff of the nursing home where the unknown man lives, they mistake him for the man - Bernard - and bring him back to the home.

At first Frederick continues to try and tell people they've made a mistake, but having no family, friends, or place to go, he accepts his new life as Bernard. He makes new friends at the home, and throughout the story we learn of Bernard's back story as well as delve into a few of the other characters.

This book is tender, and despite moments of sadness ultimately left me with a warm and happy feeling in my heart.

I can’t remember the last time a book made me feel this much. I loved this book sooo much!!! Frederick Fife stole my heart from the very first page. His kind, quirky nature and hopeless optimism, even as he’s about to lose everything, made me want to reach through the pages and give him a hug. And when his life takes that crazy turn—swapping places with the grumpiest guy at the nursing home—I knew I was in for a ride that would keep me hooked until the very last word.

Fred is the kind of person we all hope to meet someday—someone who leaves a little bit of happiness everywhere he goes, even when he’s pretending to be someone else. His interactions with Denise, the overworked but deeply compassionate caregiver, were so genuine and filled with warmth. Watching her gradually open up to Fred’s unexpected kindness, even while being suspicious of him, felt real and incredibly moving.

This book made me laugh out loud (seriously, Fred’s inner dialogue is hilarious!), but it also hit me with moments of unexpected sadness and hope. I found myself cheering Fred on despite his little charade, because his heart was always in the right place. I loved how his small acts of kindness rippled out to everyone around him, slowly transforming not just his own life, but those of the people he met.

By the time I finished, I had tears in my eyes and a huge smile on my face. It’s rare to find a story that can balance humor and heartbreak so beautifully, but The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife does it effortlessly. This book deserves to be turned into a movie! I’m going to be recommending this to everyone I know. Anna Johnson has crafted something truly special here, and I’ll be waiting eagerly to see what she does next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. There is sweetness and grace but disappointment, devastation, and sadness. I felt the whole range of human emotions while reading this book and it's one that will stick with me for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this wonderful book.

I really enjoyed The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife. It is not a fast paced book, but it a book that pulls you in and makes you want the happy ending. It does show that meaningful connections between people are what really matters the most. Not everyone gets a happy ending, but if you have those connections, your life has meaning. If you love someone, you will be willing to sacrifice your own happiness to make them happy. This book is a testament that your "family" can be those you choose; the ones you care about and they care about you. Fred has had a few rough years. When he is mistaken for Bernard and taken back to the care home where Bernard lives, he tries several times to set things right. No one believes him because Bernard has dementia. They think he is just confused. He finally gives up trying to tell the truth. He begins making friends and he has been missing that for a while now. Fred lives with the regret of the deception and fear of being caught every day. He is so lonely that he craves the human interactions. Will he be caught or will he find his happy ending?

This novel is a big hug for the aging and those with Dementia/Alzheimer’s.

Frederick Fife literally has a new life fall into his lap, in essence. As he is grieving the loss of his wife, whom he loved dearly, he lives another man’s life for a short period of time. During this time, Fife finds a “found daughter” and has his eyes open to what really needs to happen.

The novel sheds so much light on life in a nursing home (with some SUPER repetitive phrases…) and how life affects those around us, as how to find compassion for someone who has not necessarily made the best decisions.

It starts out a bit slow, and I almost stopped reading, but I am ultimately glad I stuck with it, because the ending for Frederick is just chef’s kiss!

Approach with caution if Alzheimer’s and Dementia, along with elderly care are triggers for you.

This is my first book by Anna Johnston and I can’t wait to read more. I loved this heart warming and genuinely lovely book!! The characters were charming in this warm, funny book about grief, redemption and found family.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Delightful feel good fiction. Perfect for fans of Mrs. Quinn and Harold Fry. I had to suspend belief a few times but overall the story rang true with a lot of great reminders on how to live life with an open heart and mind.

This book is about octogenarian Fred - after a mishap in a local park, he is mistaken for nursing home resident Bernard and brought back to the nursing home. After every attempt to assert his true identity is dismissed as dementia, he figures he doesn’t have much going on in his life so he’ll just stay and pretend to be the dead Bernard. Little does he know how much this will change not just his life but the life of everyone around him.

This book was just so wonderfully charming, funny but also made me cry. Fred is just such a great character and the supporting characters really come to life as well. I enjoyed this one so much I read it in less than 24 hours. Fans of other books featuring quirky older characters are sure to love this one too.

This was a jolly good one. From start to finish, there was never a dull moment. It was a good one and I’m glad I read it.

This follows the story of Fred, who was mistakenly assigned another identity- Bernard. Fred assumes Bernard’s identity, inherits his problems and generally takes over his life.

As much as this was humorous it touches on deep and sensitive topics- cancer, family dysfunctions, aging, dementia and geriatric care. Each topic was treated with the care and sensitivity it deserved.

I enjoyed how the author took us on a journey with the different characters without losing sight of them nor their issues.

If you are looking for a story that touches with a few laughs along the lines then this is your book.

Unable to face the reality of losing his apartment and becoming homeless, Fred decides to take a walk by the river to clear his head. Instead of a nice calming walk, he finds a lifeless body of an old man, and when attempting to take the body to the assisted living personnel nearby, ends up falling in the river. What ensues is a string of humorous misunderstandings and as he struggles to make his situation clear, it soon appears easier to just go with the flow and do what he's told.

Fred is a wonderful character, full of heart and heartache, love and loneliness. After multiple attempts at correcting those around him and trying to make things right, he realizes that it might not be so bad to borrow the life of a man who died. After all - he's not using it anymore. And while Fred never intended to hurt anyone, the next few months living a borrowed life become some of the most enriching times of his last 10 years, and he soon learns how to live again. But when he discovers that his borrowed identity may be hurting someone he has come to love, he has to choose which life to continue living.

This made me laugh, it made me cry, and it also brings all the feels for anyone who has experience working with healthcare and the elderly. What a great inside glimpse into the things they go through and how much life they still have to live, even if their world has become much smaller.

"𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦; 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺."

Is elder fic a thing? Because I love books with older protagonists - Ove, Eudora, Tova and Margot are just a few of the sassy seniors who've made me laugh and touched my heart. And now I can add Fred to that list.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗘 was our August Read Spin Repeat Book Club pick and it's a great one to discuss. AnnaJ ohnston has crafted a charming and touching story about a lonely, homeless octogenarian who is mistaken for a recently deceased man with dementia and brought back to the nursing home in his place. This may seem far-fetched (definitely read this one with your heart more than your head) but it also speaks to how older people can become almost invisible to those around them. Fred thrives with the found family he discovers at the home, but struggles with his deception - does he really deserve the second chance he's getting? With wonderful side characters and some interesting twists, this debut will pull you in like a big warm hug.

4.5 stars

Thanks to William Morrows for the copy to review.

"The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife" by @annajohnstonauthor follows the story of eighty-two-year-old Fred, who, after a life of kindness, finds himself lonely and on the brink of homelessness. His luck changes when he mistakenly assumes the identity of grumpy Bernard Greer at a nursing home, gaining a warm meal and shelter. As he navigates this new life, Fred's generous spirit and acts of kindness leave a lasting impact on those around him. However, he must maintain his poker face while hoping that Bernard never turns up, leading him to unexpected revelations and a chance for redemption.

I absolutely adored this book. It was such a wholesome and heart-warming tale about healing and redemption. Frederick is such a sweet soul. The combination of humor and poignant moments provided a rich reading experience for me. Not to mention, the inclusion of flatulence throughout the story had me cracking up. It was quite a unique storyline--I have not really read anything like it before. Fred's journey highlights themes of grief, forgiveness, kindness, and the importance of human connections. I absolutely recommend this book for anyone looking for a feel-good novel with depth and insight!

Thank you @williammorrowbooks and @annajohnstonauthor for allowing me access to this beautiful story via @netgalley

I loved everything about this book: the writing, the characters, and the story. This book is heartwarming and a beautiful story about second chances. I would highly recommend it to anyone, but bring your tissues.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.

Have you ever met a character in a book that you wish you could sit down with? Have a cup of tea and a cookie? The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston is a book that I didn't want to end. I'm mourning the fact that Fred isn't a part of my reading anymore.

About The Book:

Frederick Fife is an 82-year-old man who has known and lost love. He became homeless, and didn't have any family to help him out. Because of a mistaken identity, he ends up living in the Wattle River Nursing Home. Let the shenanigans begin!

Why I Loved This Book:

This book made me laugh out loud so many times. I don’t know how Anna Johnston did it. She was able to take a serious topic like dementia and turn it into a humorous book. She also showed the difficulties of a sad disease as well.

This is definitely a feel-good book, but it also shows the harsh realities of overworked carers in a nursing home. As a reader, we experienced the lives of some of those carers (or caregivers as they are also called). Fred touches the lives of those carers. His kindness shows that it's never too late to make a difference in someone's life.

The characters that Fred lived with were my favorite parts of the book. Patricia always made me laugh, and the love between Val and Albert is something to strive for in life.

This book reminded me a lot of The Five Wishes of Mr. Murray McBride and A Man Called Ove. They are all heartwarming stories where the main character sticks with you. I wish I had a Frederick Fife in my life.

Do I Recommend This Book?

I HIGHLY recommend this book. It's like a nice, warm hug while reading it. I gave this book five out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Anna Johnston for a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.

In a Nutshell: A heartwarming contemporary drama with a geriatric lead character. Amazing characters, great storyline, a couple of wow twists along the way. As impactful as Ove, but not at all like Ove. Read with your heart and not with your head to enjoy it better. My heart cooperated, for once.

Plot Preview:
At eighty-two, Frederick Fife is all alone in the world. Lonely, broke, and on the verge of losing his home, Frederick has nothing to look forward to. But in an unexpected turn of luck, a case of mistaken identity leads him to be taken for Bernard Greer, a grumpy resident at the local nursing home. Now Frederick has all that he wanted: a roof over his head, food in his belly, and most importantly, companionship. But how long will this last? What will happen when Bernard is found?
The story comes to us in three third-person perspectives: that of Frederick and of two other key characters: Denise and Hannah. (Discover their identities through the book!)

First things first!
These day, it is de rigueur for any book with a geriatric male lead to be compared to Fredrik Backman’s ‘A Man Called Ove’. While both books are brilliant, the comparison isn’t correct. Frederick is as similar to Ove as an apple is to red bell pepper. This isn’t the story of a grump who learns to open his heart again to love. This is the tale of a man whose heart is overflowing with love but has no one to share it with.

Bookish Yays:
🐨 Frederick. Dear sweet Frederick. The kind of man who makes the best husband and the best dad and granddad. He will warm the cockles of your heart.
🐨 The other characters at the care home. Loved so many of them, especially Kevin and Lin. A special shoutout to Patricia – never seen any senior citizen such as her in any book (and in real life too, thank heavens! 😂)
🐨 Hannah’s perspective – perfect as per her age. Loved how her emotions always come across realistically.
🐨 The themes. Quite a few but never overwhelming. For once, a debut work that does fill the kitchen sink but only up to capacity. My favourite was the found family one, but the others were great as well.
🐨 A separate yay for two of the themes - alcoholism and dementia – for being portrayed in a true-to-life manner. When you see me support alcoholism as a theme, you know the author did an awesome job.
🐨 The connection across the character perspectives. I can’t remember the last time my jaw dropped like that!
🐨 The genuine depiction of the issues faced by senior citizens inside and outside of care homes. (The author’s GR bio will tell you why her writing is so accurate.)
🐨 The myriad life lessons sprinkled throughout the plot. Lots of learnings here on friendship, responsibility, marital commitment, professionalism, and parenting.
🐨 Many emotions gets somewhat maudlin at times. But the writing is such that the sentimentality suits the plot well.
🐨 Though the book is emotional, the approach is balanced by a good dose of humour. The situation of the individuals isn't funny, but it is refreshing to see them approach challenges with a smile.
🐨 The Aussie setting comes out well.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
🦘 The implausibility of the identity confusion and the multiple coincidences later in the plot. It might be better if you pack away your logical side as this book requires much suspension of disbelief. Your heart will find the book better than your head might. My heart adored it; my head liked it a lot.
🦘 The potty humour. Works decently but goes over the top many times. This might not bother many readers, but I found it a bit annoying after a point. It sullied the wholesomeness of the story.

All in all, this is a novel that delivers well on multiple factors. Some might label it ‘sweet’ and ‘sentimental’. Others will call it ‘saccharine’ and ‘schmaltzy’. The book is all of these. If the first pair of adjectives attracts you and the second pair doesn’t bother you, this can be a delightful read with some appealing twists along the otherwise straightforward path.
Much recommended to anyone looking for a *mostly* wholesome read (as long as you don’t mind potty humour.)
4.5 stars, happy to round up as it is a very promising debut. I’d love to read more by this author.
My thanks to William Morrow for providing the DRC of “The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Full of humor and heart, this is both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story that centers on grief, community, forgiveness, and the way society treats the elderly. Fred is a gift to those around him and deserves the world.

I give it 4.5 stars and one box of tissues.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book, which reminded me a bit of A Man Called Ove. Definitely gave my tear ducts a workout.

This is a sweet, touching story about a lonely, elderly man who gets a second chance to have love and companionship. I see many reviews comparing Frederick to Ove but I don’t agree. Ove was a cranky, curmudgeon while Frederick is the kindest, loveliest man.

Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy

4 ⭐️

What an absolutely delightful and heartwarming (and heartbreaking too) book about growing old, the lives of elders, and found family. Even though you know what Fred is doing is inherently wrong, you can't help but root for him. He is goodness to his core, and we need more like him in our lives.

This was such a lovely read. I can't wait to share it with my fellow readers