The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife - by Anna Johnston (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Frederick Fife was born with an extra helping of kindness in his heart. If he borrowed your car, he'd return it washed with a full tank of gas. The problem is there's nobody left in Fred's life to borrow from. At eighty-two, he's desperately lonely, broke, and on the brink of homelessness. Fred's luck changes when, in a bizarre case of mistaken identity, he takes the place of Bernard Greer at the local nursing home. Now he has a roof over his head, three meals a day, and, most importantly, the chance to be part of a family again. All he has to do is hope that his poker face is in better shape than his prostate and that his look-alike never turns up. As Fred navigates life in Bernard's shoes, he learns about the man's past and what it might take to return a life in better condition than he found it"--

Book Synopsis

"A funny, heartfelt story about found family and seeing the silver lining in life. Fans of A Man Called Ove and Remarkably Bright Creatures will especially enjoy this new novel."--Library Journal

A zany case of mistaken identity allows a lonely old man one last chance to be part of a family.

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

Frederick Fife was born with an extra helping of kindness in his heart. If he borrowed your car, he'd return it washed with a full tank of gas. The problem is, at age eighty-two, there's nobody left in Fred's life to borrow from, and he's broke and on the brink of eviction. But Fred's luck changes when he's mistaken for Bernard Greer, a missing resident at the local nursing home, and takes his place. Now Fred has warm meals in his belly and a roof over his head--as long as his look-alike Bernard never turns up.

Denise Simms is stuck breathing the same disappointing air again and again. A middle-aged mom and caregiver at Bernard's facility, her crumbling marriage and daughter's health concerns are suffocating her joy for life. Wounded by her two-faced husband, she vows never to let a man deceive her again.

As Fred walks in Bernard's shoes, he leaves a trail of kindness behind him, fueling Denise's suspicions about his true identity. When unexpected truths are revealed, Fred and Denise rediscover their sense of purpose and learn how to return a broken life to mint condition.

Bittersweet and remarkably perceptive, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is a hilarious, feel-good, clever novel about grief, forgiveness, redemption, and finding family.

Review Quotes

"Anna Johnston has created a wonderfully diverse cast of funny, flawed, and completely relatable characters, and she tells their stories with humor, honesty, and compassion. Fred is one of life's unsung heroes--a loveable rogue with a big heart for whom kindness towards others comes as naturally as breathing--and I was rooting for him from the start. It was an absolute joy to follow him on his poignant, hilarious and at times precarious journey to find the happy ending that he so richly deserved. What a glorious story, I absolutely loved it!" - Ruth Hogan, bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things
"Anna Johnson's funny and moving debut had me hooked from the first page. Fred is truly someone to root for, and with a cast of quirky characters at his side, this is the warm hug of a novel we all need in our lives." - Richard Roper, author of Something to Live For
"Warm, witty and heartfelt, Frederik Fife is a loveable character you'll want to cheer on from your armchair. This is a sweet, touching life-swap adventure you won't want to miss." - Phaedra Patrick, bestselling author of The Messy Lives of Book people
"I was completely swept away by Anna Johnston's charming and clever debut. Frederick Fife is an easy character to root for, someone warm and a touch mischievous, who can't help but improve the lives of those around him. A life-affirming and hilarious tale of mistaken identity, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife insists that it's never too late for a second chance." - Amy Meyerson, bestselling author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays
"A sweet story of mistaken identity and second chances.... Johnston places the painful realities of grief and aging alongside Fred's puckish antics and lands a convincingly hopeful ending. The result is a triumphant last act story." - Publishers Weekly
"Johnston gifts readers a story brimming with every kind of love--everlasting in marriage, buried in broken relationships, treasured among new friends.... This touching narrative explores themes of community, family, and the redemptive power of new beginnings, illustrating the impact of past choices and the potential for personal transformation." - Booklist (starred review)
"Johnston's first novel is a heartwarming story about growing old, grief, and learning to navigate life's many challenges....This book is the perfect summer read for those looking for a funny, heartfelt story about found family and seeing the silver lining in life. Fans of Fredrik Backman's A Man Called Ove and Shelby Van Pelt's Remarkably Bright Creatures will especially enjoy this new novel." - Library Journal