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'Sincere, heartfelt and laugh-out-loud...genuinely delightful...'

- The Australian

'Warm, life-affirming and endearing...'

- Better Reading

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Cover illustration of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife
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Available now

Australia / New Zealand

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUSTRALIA

Available now

USA / Canada

HARPER COLLINS US

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

‘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 and polished, with a full tank of petrol. The problem is, he has no one left to borrow from. At 82 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 cranky Bernard Greer at Wattle River Nursing Home. Suddenly he has a roof over his head, warm meals in his belly and, most importantly, the chance to be part of a family again. 
Fingers crossed that his poker face is in better nick than his prostate and that his lookalike never turns up.

As Fred walks in Bernard’s shoes (and underpants), he discovers more about the man’s past - and what it would take to return a broken life to mint condition.

 

Bittersweet and remarkably perceptive, The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife is a hilarious and heart-stirring novel about forgiveness, redemption and finding family.

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'What a glorious story it is – I absolutely loved it! Anna has created a wonderfully diverse cast of funny, flawed, and completely relatable characters. It was an absolute joy to follow Fred on his poignant, hilarious and at times precarious journey.' 

Ruth Hogan

AUTHOR OF

THE KEEPER OF LOST THINGS

Praise & Reviews

'I adored this big-hearted novel. Tender, wise and laugh-out-loud funny, it is a tonic for the soul.' 

Joanna Nell

AUTHOR OF

MRS WINTERBOTTOM TAKES A GAP YEAR

'Johnston crafts a poignant tale of second chances and the lies we tell…. 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.'

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STARRED REVIEW

About Anna

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Anna Johnston is a former baby, aspiring octogenarian and emerging Australian author with a love for the heartfelt and hilarious. She grew up in country Victoria before moving to 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 social support coordinator, taking great delight in shaking up the usual program. When injury left her unable to continue working in aged care, she began to write about it, channelling her love for older people onto the page. Anna has enjoyed a lifelong passion for theatre, screenplay, travel, and creative writing.

Contact

CONTACT

Get in touch

Anna is represented by

Pippa Masson at Curtis Brown Australia.

pippa@curtisbrown.com.au

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