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Book Review - The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife




Title: The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

Author: Anna Johnston

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Heartfelt Contemporary Fiction


Firstly, thank you so much to Tess of @prbookgirl for sharing her ARC with me after she read it. I’m so, so grateful!



This book gave me vibes to one of my favorite books, All The Lonely People by Mike Gayle. There’s just something about older characters for me and the found family trope. This book came together so well and was just so lovely. The author did a fantastic job balancing serious with humor.



“Enjoy every moment—life is not a dress rehearsal.”


Frederick Fife has one of the most caring hearts you’ll ever see. However, at the age of eighty-two he finds himself on hard times—lonely, broke and about to be homeless. In a bizarre mistaken identity (stick with it…it doesn’t make you suspend belief as much as it would seem) he finds himself taking the place of Bernard at a nursing home giving him a home, food and friends.



Frederick’s story parallels with a caregiver, Dawn, at the nursing home. Her crumbling marriage and issues with her daughter has her leaning on alcohol and ignoring the world and people around her.



“Asking for help isn’t failing, you know—it’s refusing to fail.”


Dawn’s story then sort of parallels with all the things about Bernard that Fred learns while he’s living in his shoes.



“We’re all human, love, and I have yet to meet a person in my eighty-two years who is irredeemable.”


Bittersweet. Funny. Feel-good. Found Family.





Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Five stars all the way for this Australian debut author. You’re going to love this story of grief, forgiveness, healing, second chances, and love. It’s just so heartfelt. It challenges the idea that as people age they feel unseen. The author uses her experience having a career in medicine and also as a social coordinator in her grandfather’s nursing home to bring this to life. Well done!

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