All Fours

by Miranda July
All Fours cover
Good Books rating 3.19
Contemporary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 442
  • Added: 2025-09-11
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9780593190272
  • Publisher: Penguin Group
  • Published: 2025-05-13
  • Formats: 12
  • Reviews: 4
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99 Hardback • £20.00

All Fours follows a 45-year-old semi-famous artist who, shortly after leaving her husband and child for a planned cross-country drive, impulsively checks into a motel and transforms the space into a private paradise. This novel explores her quest for a new kind of freedom through a mix of absurd entertainment and tender reinvention of her sexual, romantic, and domestic life, all conveyed with Miranda July’s signature wry voice and comic timing. The story delves deeply into themes of desire, intimacy, and self-discovery, portraying the narrator’s emotional and erotic awakening, including complex relationships and polyamory, without conventional rules or handwringing. It also touches on the pressures and fears women face at midlife, using vivid metaphors and poignant insights to excavate beliefs about life as a woman, making it a fresh, engaging, and profoundly alive novel that challenges expectations and celebrates human connection.

Reviews
Sam Still Reading · 2025-04-09
bold 4.25

A bold, unapologetic novel that explores middle age, sexuality, and identity with humor, candor, and emotional complexity.

The reviewer admires the novel’s fearless approach to difficult subjects like menopause, marriage breakdown, and monogamy, handled with a balance that keeps the story focused on the protagonist’s journey. They find the narrative style refreshing due to its blunt honesty and curiosity, which creates a wild, sometimes cringey but ultimately delightful reading experience. The book’s exploration of personal freedom and self-discovery is praised for being both funny and sad, with a narrator who is brave and unapologetic about her choices, making it a compelling and thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    July’s narrator is no holds barred, discussing everything and anything bluntly.

    The story is really bold, cutting no corners or hiding anything for modesty.

    This wild ride is a delight.

Goodreads · Paul Bryant2,389 · 2025-01-17
disappointing 1.50

The novel is described as irreverent, tender, and hilarious, with a unique voice that explores human intimacy and the quest for freedom in midlife. The reviewer expresses disappointment, feeling the book was terrible despite its ambitious themes.

Paul Bryant acknowledges the book's attempt to be a bold and surprising exploration of a woman reinventing herself, with a focus on sexuality, intimacy, and middle age. However, despite recognizing Miranda July’s unique voice and comic timing, he strongly criticizes the novel, finding it unappealing and poorly executed. The review conveys a sense of disillusionment with the book's style and content, implying that the narrative failed to resonate on a personal or literary level, despite its potential and thematic intentions.

Quick quotes

    Oh Miranda what did you do – I thought I was a fan but this was terrible.

    The semi-famous artist narrates this body-fluid-drenched tale.

    Part absurd entertainment, part tender reinvention of the sexual, romantic, and domestic life.

Reading, Writing, and Me · 2024-09-04
underwhelming 3.00

The novel is viewed as a compelling but somewhat flat exploration of a woman facing aging and stasis, with limited character depth beyond the protagonist. It raises important themes like perimenopause but does not fully deliver on their potential.

The reviewer finds the story interesting mainly because it tackles the protagonist's struggle with perimenopause, a subject often overlooked in fiction. However, the review criticizes the lack of depth in secondary characters such as the husband, child, and lover, which results in a somewhat flat narrative. Despite the potential richness of the novel's themes, the reviewer feels that these aspects are not fully realized, leaving the story less impactful than it could have been. This perspective suggests the book has merit but does not quite reach its full potential in character development and thematic exploration.

Quick quotes

    The book questions the realities of modern life that are taken as given.

    A similar flatness pervades the book.

    There’s just not much depth here in a world that had the possibility to be so rich.

Books on the 7:47 · 2024-05-23
engaging 4.00

The book is praised for its brilliant writing and nuanced exploration of human connection, portraying a tender and unexpected relationship with humor and poignancy. It is a character-driven, fresh, and engaging read that blends funny, erotic, and raw elements.

This review highlights the emotional depth and humor in Miranda July's phrasing, emphasizing how the protagonist's obsessive relationship is depicted tenderly and with nuance. The story is less about plot and more about the intricate details of human connection, making it a fresh and engaging experience for readers who appreciate character-driven narratives. The reviewer values how July eloquently conveys the protagonist's thought process, making even seemingly irrational decisions understandable and compelling. The blend of humor, poignancy, and rawness creates a unique reading experience that stands out for its emotional insight and originality.

Quick quotes

    Miranda July’s phrasing is just so brilliant, emotion laced with humour and poignant insights.

    Absolutely character rather than plot driven, All Fours was such a fresh, engaging read.

    Miranda July is all about delving into the small cracks of human connection.

Appears in Lists