Thanks to #NetGalley and publishers for an #ARC of #AllFours.
I really struggled with this book unfortunately. It felt like the author was just writing whatever came into their mind without structure. The while book just annoyed me and I would have DNF if it wasn't an ARC.

Miranda July’s "All Fours" offers a captivating exploration of the trials and tribulations faced by women as they navigate the complexities of aging. The narrative skillfully delves into the nuances of premenopausal experiences, capturing the raw essence of grappling with unfulfilled desires and the inevitable passage of time. As a reader, I found myself deeply engaged with the characters' journeys, relating to their struggles on a personal level. July's insightful portrayal of these themes makes "All Fours" a compelling and relatable read, shedding light on the universal challenges faced by women as they confront the realities of life.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

I'm afraid I didn't think this was very good at all. I LOVED The First Bad Man (should I go back and reread it? Will it stand the test of time?). I am NOT a fan of 'quirky' literature at all, so the fact that that novel impressed me is a HUGE ACHIEVEMENT. I found it moving and bold, with wonderfully memorable characterisation and filled with surprises. I think July's work is best when it makes you see the world afresh and anew.

Why, then, did All Fours leave me so cold? I think the part where it first lost me is when the narrator paid the girl $20,000 to decorate the hotel room, I was like, uh oh, this is cartoony, and I need to accept that. Did part of me just... struggle to accept the cartooniness time around? After all, exaggeration has always been a big part of July's work! Did I feel jealous of how wealthy this character was, living in a house valued at 1.5 million dollars with seemingly no financial issue in the way of her sexual liberation? Yes, I know it's bitchy and pointless of me to resent a well-off character - there's nothing wrong with writing about rich people with stable real estate situations. But still - I just felt so tired and numb reading this! I'm the problem, it's me!

Another problem (apart from the cartooniness) is that I did not find Davey a very interesting , sexy, or desirable character, which became an issue (contrast this to the sexy merman in Melissa Broder's The Pisces). I kept comparing this book to Broder, which was perhaps unfair. People who think this book is 'rauncy' and 'out there' - dude. Other issues: I did not find the freshness and risk of The First Bad Man here (of either language or characterisation). I also felt the book was way too long and dragged.

Maybe the problem was me and my attention span, and this was just not the book for me at this point in my life, and I should try reading it again in the future (it will definitely find lots of other fans and be popular with other readers). It's definitely great that she's exploring these themes (pre-menopause and the female midlife crisis). I just felt really bored and tired when reading this, and not very interested in the character and her exploration of polyamory/open relationships. However, I will be reading reviews of this book once it's published because it's very likely that I just didn't give this a fair chance.

to be quite honest, i had started all fours back in september but didn't really feel the desire to pick it up so i forced myself to get through a good chunk of it while waiting for a concert to start. the concert? the transatlanticism and give up 20th anniversary tour. i don't know how to articulate this best but being in that environment made the emotions i felt more intense because all around me were people who got through whatever they were going through the last time the postal service toured. i felt small and connected to humanity in a way i haven't in a while.

although not a romance, july's writing here feels romantic in a way that a good concert might, like a more subdued or surprising hopefulness. it's also very observant and blunt about the power structures that hold women back which is refreshing. i particularly liked how the protagonist unlearned a lot of what she was expected to be throughout the novel, choosing happiness (even if it's temporary) and choosing desire (again, even if it's temporary). that's not to say she doesn't meet setbacks because the power age brings does not expunge the shortcoming of being a woman in society. however, there's a contentedness that feels earned by the end.