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The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

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The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

A Novel

by Anna Johnston

Narrator Tim Carroll

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Length 10 hours 48 minutes

Language English

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Bookseller recommendation

“This is so far, my favorite book of my 2024 reading. Sweet, funny, emotional and endearing. It left me in complete tears. I recommend this book to everyone.”
— Sherry • Roaming Pages & Blooms

Bookseller recommendation

“This is such a charming book, and I loved how Fred helped everyone he met and just exuded kindness. Learning his backstory and how things can just change was relatable. If you liked "The Authenticity Project" or "A Man Called Ove," you'll enjoy this book.”
— Sara • Roundabout Books

Bookseller recommendation

“The feel-good debut of the year. This zany story will have you laughing and crying. A case of mistaken identity leads to life changing actions. A touching story about second chances, the power of forgiveness, living life to the fullest, and finding "family.”
— Karin • Bookworm of Edwards

Bookseller recommendation

“What a beautiful story of forgiveness, and the affirmation of life on many levels, with many characters. Anna Johnson has written a story about real life circumstances any one of us could imagine being in. ”
— Sarah • Commonplace Books

Bookseller recommendation

“A feel-good romp through some old age mishaps, leaves the reader laughing one moment and crying the next.”
— Chip • Fable Book Parlour

Bookseller recommendation

“Are you feeling a little blah? Then this book is for you because Fred’s kindness, positive outlook on life, and good deeds will cheer you up! ”
— Samantha • Raven Book Store

Bookseller recommendation

“The characters in the book were so real to me I find myself thinking of them days after I finished the book. If you are in the mood for a heartwarming story, put this book on the top of your TBR list!”
— Ellen • Banter Bookshop

Summary
About the author

“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 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. But Fred’s luck changes when, in a bizarre case of mistaken identity, he takes the place of grumpy Bernard Greer at the local nursing home. Now he has warm meals in his belly and a roof over his head—as long as his poker face is in better shape than his prostate and that his look-alike 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.

Fiction Humor

Anna Johnston is a former baby, aspiring octogenarian and emerging Australian author with a love for the heartfelt and hilarious. She lives in Melbourne where she lives joyously with her husband and daughters by the beach. Anna left an imminent career in medicine to follow her heart into her grandfather’s nursing home where she became the activities coordinator, taking great delight in shaking up the usual program. Anna also developed an award-winning local government program teaching older widowed men how to cook. When injury left her unable to continue working in aged care, she began to write about it, channeling her love for older people onto the page. During the pandemic, Anna completed several novel writing courses with the Australian Writers’ Centre, where her debut novel, The Borrowed Life of Bernard Fife, was born. Anna has enjoyed a lifelong passion for positive ageing, creative writing, theatre, screenplay, and all things Australiana.