The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

By Anna Johnston and Anna Johnston

Book Overview

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

"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.

Be sure to check out Anna Johnston's next book, When Lemons Give You Life, available on August 4.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0063397293
• ISBN13: 9780063397293
• Release Date: September 2024
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.2" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

a story that hugs you back

The first thing that struck me was how lonely Fred was, still grieving the loss of his wife to cancer ten years earlier. But the story quickly transforms into a feel‑good journey about forgiveness—of absentee fathers, of past mistakes, and of the very human flaws tied to gambling and alcohol addiction. The nursing home’s quirky cast adds so much charm: Patricia, who channels Blanche Devereaux energy; Albert, convinced Fred is his long‑lost brother; Val, his devoted wife of more than sixty years; and sweet 101‑year‑old Ruby with her treasured bottle of pear liqueur. As the daughter of an absentee father myself, I was especially moved by Hannah finally getting the chance to experience a father’s love—and by Fred discovering what it means to have a daughter. It made the story resonate on a deeply personal level. My favorite passage was: “How could he think that leaving was the answer? That his absence would make things better? That money meant more than love?”

The Kind of Assisted Living We All Hope For

This book chronicles the lives of 2 men, similar in likeness but not in the life they each have lived. It's full of humorous senior living hijinks but also very heart touching. An easy read that leaves you feeling good at the end. Highly recommend

Warmhearted tale of mistaken identity

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for a digital advanced reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own unless otherwise noted. This was a sweet, heartwarming story about family, grief, loneliness, friendship, and forgiveness. I was drawn in by the title and cover, but it was the entertaining and poignant story as well as the excellent writing that kept me turning the pages. I highly recommend this warmhearted tale of mistaken identity and finding a place to love and be loved.