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

The drollest droll…+lol & very touching

Beautifully written, expertly plotted (if that’s even the right word for what happens in this amazingly intertwined story). I love what this author does with language, and the sophistication of her storytelling is always engaging. Even when the tale goes to places that may be frightening to explore, there is a big, courageous, and very honest human heart beating beneath the telling.

Original

Not always comfortable, but couldn’t look away. Insightful with words used like paint. Author does interesting narration.

Psychological, surreal and sublime

Miranda July’s prose are like surreal psychological poetry, She has a gift for elevating mundane details into sublime unsettling beauty.

Remarkable

July’s reading of this remarkable tale, that is so very much of the moment and could only be written by a member of her generation, is a visceral experience. July weaves the best elements of performance art, music, dance, poetry, drama, comedy, romance, horror into a peace of art all
its own, that should be treated as a separate text from the book itself: her spoken voice adds another dimension to it. This story, like life, is at turns absurd, infuriating, joy inducing, heart breaking, embarrassing, admirable. In listening I had to confront my own inner narration, the voice of judgement that I for too long mistook as my own voice, which I have come to recognized as an internalized defense mechanism. The listener is tempted to grow angry with the protagonist, for being so self-involved- until one realizes, it is this very essence of introspection, of being “selfish” with one’s time to commune with the Divine Creative from which humanity’s greatest works spring— as such this has historically been a “character flaw” only admissible for men. Thank G-d July is who she is, that she is as well versed in culture and theory that she was able to overcome the crippling “need to be liked.” This is their finest, most profound work yet, and I truly feel July has taken the form of the novel to new frontiers. I am sure I am not alone in hoping that this may evolve into one in a series of novels- because what July has tapped into here? This is it.

riveting, bizarre and poignant

This is yet another incredible work by Miranda July. Unlike anything else that you will ever read, hearing her describe Life and thoughts and experiences as if you were an alien who just arrived and are taking note. spectacular and disorienting the way only a special novel can pluck you right out of reality.
Highly recommend.

Amazing Talent and Insight

After listening to this book, I could hear Miranda’s voice off and on as I went through my day. It’s calming and reassuring to think that someone else is so very real.

Perfect as an audiobook

Miranda July should win an award for her performance. Her reading of the story totally made it come alive.

Gripped all the way through

The graphic intimacy of the writing and July’s asmr delivery whispering in my ears was irresistible even as I cringed at the shameless vulnerability of what she reveals. Buckle up buttercup, you’re about to witness a genderqueer quest for liberation in the present time of the dying throes of the patriarchy.

Story was not relatable

Maybe I’m in the minority, however, I found myself wondering who on earth thinks like this narrator. The story is odd at best, and completely not relatable in its entirety. There were tiny parts that were enjoyable but I found myself bored to a point of wanting to fast forward chapters just to get it over with. Sadly, just not my cup of tea

Great listen!

Funny, sexy, really quick listen. I got annoyed when I had to take breaks during my listening time!