All Fours

A Novel

By: Miranda July

Narrated by: Miranda July

A NEW YORK TIMES TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR

A WASHINGTON POST NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR

ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE’S TOP 10 FICTION BOOKS OF 2024

ONE OF NPR’S “BOOKS WE LOVE” 2024

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY:
THE NEW YORKER ● VOGUE ● FINANCIAL TIMES ● OPRAH DAILY ● VULTURE ● VOX

The New York Times bestselling author returns with an irreverently sexy, tender, hilarious and surprising novel about a woman upending her life

“A frank novel about a midlife awakening, which is funnier and more boldly human than you ever quite expect . . . nothing short of riveting.” —Vogue

“All Fours has spurred a whisper network of women fantasizing about desire and freedom. . . . It’s the talk of every group text."—The New York Times

“All Fours possessed me. I picked it up and neglected my life until the last page, and then I started begging every woman I know to read it as soon as possible.” —The Cut

A semi-famous artist announces her plan to drive cross-country, from LA to NY. Thirty minutes after leaving her husband and child at home, she spontaneously exits the freeway, checks into a nondescript motel, and immerses herself in an entirely different journey.

Miranda July’s second novel confirms the brilliance of her unique approach to fiction. With July’s wry voice, perfect comic timing, unabashed curiosity about human intimacy, and palpable delight in pushing boundaries, All Fours tells the story of one woman’s quest for a new kind of freedom. Part absurd entertainment, part tender reinvention of the sexual, romantic, and domestic life of a forty-five-year-old female artist, All Fours transcends expectation while excavating our beliefs about life lived as a woman. Once again, July hijacks the familiar and turns it into something new and thrillingly, profoundly alive.

©2024 Miranda July (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“An irreverent and brilliantly touching story of a woman’s quest for freedom.”—Oprah Daily

"Atmospheric, sexy and totally unexpected."—People Magazine

“July’s candor, her fearlessness, in describing the unwieldy emotional and biological nuances of this time of life is refreshing...reading her new novel, as a so-called woman of a certain age, I felt seen in a way that is rare. It was invigorating.”—Wall Street Journal

I can’t believe this happened!

I fell in love with Davey too listening to this. Was often struck by the way she described simple things we all experience but don’t talk about out loud. Lovely character arc who finds herself intimately in the end and has great friends along the way of all her adventures

Infinite

I don’t know how to describe the way this book hit me in the solar plexus with the force of the universe in the most perfect and timely way

Stream of consciousness

Interesting concept and important POV - we don’t get a lot of stories told from the perspective of middle aged women who are close menopause. A woman’s worth seems to be (on a societal level at least) directly tied to her youth and fertility… but there’s a. WHOLE LOT of life left (about 40 years if all goes well) to live after your fertility window closes - what do we do with ourselves in those years? The story was told in a stream of consciousness style - disjointed and unique - it was enjoyable. A bit pretentious and self important.. also the narrator / protagonist was pretty unlike able (cheating on her husband with zero remorse and prioritizing her own fantasies and crushes over her husband and child) but I appreciated the fact that the author gave a voice to women of a certain age.

midlife sexual and emotional awakening

July spoke vividly of midlife stories that people typically take to their graves or are cremated and spread out at sea. Midlife awakenings, doldrums of a good marriage, barely escaping a birth tragedy, roles of partners & friends, and exploring sexuality for self preservation. A great read for those humans in marriages and/or partnerships that feel unseen/unheard, maybe stuck or lacking momentum, and for those like me that are ever curious.

I listened to July read their words while I commuted to work, washed dishes, walked in the early morning Atlanta humidy, and while I slowly sipped coffee at a local shop while my wife and kiddos slept soundly. Alone spaces where I could savor her words, let myself ponder what I might do, and empathetically feel the raw sexual energy. Take care where you listen, where you read. Find spaces where you can...react to their words.

Oh, what a great book club book. (bites lip, heart pounds)

I devoured it

Was absolutely hooked on this book and devoured it within days. The only negative marks go to the author’s narration, which often felt melancholy. I still loved it and would recommend it to every woman who rejects convention and wants to be free.

Honesty

Excellent story of a moment in so many women’s pre menopausal lives. Excellent writer. For the deep smart girls.

Descriptions—in ways I would have never dreamed describing things. And so resonant.

The ending—I’ll have to audit again. Maybe I was multitasking too much. I didn’t get it.

Absolutely stunning

A raw and authentic narrative of the female experience. Honest, hilarious and beautiful, my favorite book of 2024.

Exquisite

Opened moods, ideas, feelings I didn’t know there were words for. Some of the most astoundingly gorgeous writing I’ve ever heard.

Fascinating theme

This was really a good book. Upon first listen, I kind of blew it off, but I've relistened to parts of it and developed quite an appreciation for her writing skills.