5/5 stars ★★★★★
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 serious topics like dementia and nursing homes, 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, William Morrow, and Anna Johnston for a free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
If you would like to read more of my reviews, you can find them at: judiholst.com/book-reviews/
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