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Four Squares
From the beloved author of The Old Place comes a tender, funny, and fresh novel spanning the 1990s and present day, about a young writer and the community he builds in New York City, and his lonely life 30 years later when an unexpected injury lands him at the local queer senior center.
Artie Anderson wouldn’t call himself lonely, not exactly. He has a beautiful apartment in the West Village, a steady career as a ghostwriter, and he has Halle and Vanessa, who—as the daughter and ex-wife of his former partner—are the closest thing he can call family. But when the women announce a move across the country, on Artie’s 60th birthday no less, Artie realizes that his seemingly full life isn’t quite as full as he imagined. To make matters worse, a surprising injury strips Artie of the independent lifestyle he’s used to and pushes him into the hands of GALS, the local LGBTQ senior center down the street.
Since the death of his ex-boyfriend, Abe decades ago, Artie’s intentionally avoided big crowds and close friends. So, he’s woefully unprepared for the other patrons of GALS, a group of larger-than-life seniors who insist on celebrating each and every day. They refuse to dwell in the past, but Artie, who has never quite recovered from Abe’s death and the loss of his dearest friends, can’t shake the memories of his youth, and of the chances he did, and didn’t, take.
Stretching across the 1990s and the present day, Four Squares is an intimate and profound look at what it means to create community and the lasting impressions even the most fleeting of relationships can leave. With Bobby Finger’s signature warmth, humor, and wit, it is touching reminder that it’s never too late for a second chance at truly living.
Artie Anderson wouldn’t call himself lonely, not exactly. He has a beautiful apartment in the West Village, a steady career as a ghostwriter, and he has Halle and Vanessa, who—as the daughter and ex-wife of his former partner—are the closest thing he can call family. But when the women announce a move across the country, on Artie’s 60th birthday no less, Artie realizes that his seemingly full life isn’t quite as full as he imagined. To make matters worse, a surprising injury strips Artie of the independent lifestyle he’s used to and pushes him into the hands of GALS, the local LGBTQ senior center down the street.
Since the death of his ex-boyfriend, Abe decades ago, Artie’s intentionally avoided big crowds and close friends. So, he’s woefully unprepared for the other patrons of GALS, a group of larger-than-life seniors who insist on celebrating each and every day. They refuse to dwell in the past, but Artie, who has never quite recovered from Abe’s death and the loss of his dearest friends, can’t shake the memories of his youth, and of the chances he did, and didn’t, take.
Stretching across the 1990s and the present day, Four Squares is an intimate and profound look at what it means to create community and the lasting impressions even the most fleeting of relationships can leave. With Bobby Finger’s signature warmth, humor, and wit, it is touching reminder that it’s never too late for a second chance at truly living.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published June 18, 2024
241 people are currently reading
12.8k people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 400 reviews
January 18, 2024
My mom has read it three times, so.
July 8, 2024
There is deep talent in making an ordinary life an extraordinary story.
Bobby Finger’s “Four Squares� moves between 1992 after Artie Anderson’s 30th birthday celebration and 2022 after his 60th. Artie, a ghostwriter living in New York City, finds himself immersed in life at the local LGBTQ senior center, GALS after an unexpected injury. The story explores themes of community, loneliness, aging, and the importance of connection.
The novel beautifully shifts between the 1990s and the present, intertwining moments of sadness, humor, and profound beauty. Artie Anderson is a well-developed character, with his complex emotions and personal growth vividly shown throughout the story. Artie’s journey through the AIDS crisis, close friendships, and grief is deeply empathetic, even as it remains uniquely his own. Finger’s writing is imbued with warmth, humor, and wit, making many of the storylines both heart-breaking and comforting. Four Squares explores the complexities of human connections and the indelible marks they leave on our lives.�
I loved this sweet story. One of my favorites of 2024.
Thanks to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and Bobby Finger for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Bobby Finger’s “Four Squares� moves between 1992 after Artie Anderson’s 30th birthday celebration and 2022 after his 60th. Artie, a ghostwriter living in New York City, finds himself immersed in life at the local LGBTQ senior center, GALS after an unexpected injury. The story explores themes of community, loneliness, aging, and the importance of connection.
The novel beautifully shifts between the 1990s and the present, intertwining moments of sadness, humor, and profound beauty. Artie Anderson is a well-developed character, with his complex emotions and personal growth vividly shown throughout the story. Artie’s journey through the AIDS crisis, close friendships, and grief is deeply empathetic, even as it remains uniquely his own. Finger’s writing is imbued with warmth, humor, and wit, making many of the storylines both heart-breaking and comforting. Four Squares explores the complexities of human connections and the indelible marks they leave on our lives.�
I loved this sweet story. One of my favorites of 2024.
Thanks to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and Bobby Finger for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2024
Really vibed with the themes of intergenerational trauma and connection, loneliness, and art and community-building in this book. I’m turning 30 next year and have been reflecting on some of the sad gay mess in my life, so I felt some solace reading Four Squares as it has a similar emotional valence. To me, there was gay tragedy in the book but not in a way that felt too exploitative or excessive. And, the messages of cultivating social support and purpose how you can were pleasant and moving.
Unfortunately the main drawback of this book for me was the quality of the prose. The writing was just too dry and unremarkable for me to give this one higher than three stars. So, I liked the themes and messages overall but on a sentence level it was a bit of a slog to get through.
Unfortunately the main drawback of this book for me was the quality of the prose. The writing was just too dry and unremarkable for me to give this one higher than three stars. So, I liked the themes and messages overall but on a sentence level it was a bit of a slog to get through.
February 8, 2024
This book loosely follows the life of the main character Artie during both his thirties and sixties, detailing his closest friendships, career changes, and relationship with the prickly Abe. It touches on some heavy topics, such as the AIDS crisis in 90s NYC and grief, but also more mundane ones, like loneliness, aging, and the challenges of making genuine friendships.
Somehow this book manages to be simultaneously heart-breaking and comforting, and I fully burst into tears when trying to describe it to my friends. I absolutely loved this and couldn't recommend it more.
I was a big fan of Bobby Finger's debut last year (and admittedly am a long-time fan of his podcast) and so I was excited to read another fantastic novel by him. Can't wait to see what he writes next. Many thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Somehow this book manages to be simultaneously heart-breaking and comforting, and I fully burst into tears when trying to describe it to my friends. I absolutely loved this and couldn't recommend it more.
I was a big fan of Bobby Finger's debut last year (and admittedly am a long-time fan of his podcast) and so I was excited to read another fantastic novel by him. Can't wait to see what he writes next. Many thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 11, 2025
Artie lives in NYC, works in advertising, and in 1992, turns 30. He meets Abe, a man his total opposite, who will ultimately change his life.
Four Squares shifts back and forth between the 90s, and 2022, when Artie is now 60. In the intervening years, Artie has built a successful career as a writer and has also experienced losses. Now, Abe’s daughter is moving across the country and that, coupled with an unexpected injury, force Artie to take stock of his life and make changes to combat the loneliness he wasn’t acknowledging.
Four Squares is a sweet story, both funny and moving, with prominent themes of community, friendship, grief, and found family.
Four Squares shifts back and forth between the 90s, and 2022, when Artie is now 60. In the intervening years, Artie has built a successful career as a writer and has also experienced losses. Now, Abe’s daughter is moving across the country and that, coupled with an unexpected injury, force Artie to take stock of his life and make changes to combat the loneliness he wasn’t acknowledging.
Four Squares is a sweet story, both funny and moving, with prominent themes of community, friendship, grief, and found family.
January 27, 2025
(3.75 stars)
Four Squares is a quiet story about a quiet man. Artie Anderson is a ghostwriter, a pretty successful one. His personal life hasn’t been the most satisfying - he came of age as a gay man in the 1980s, and watched a lot of friends die of AIDS. The book opens on Artie’s 30th birthday in 1992, with him trying to like his ad copywriting job. While out with his friends to celebrate (after he burns his own birthday cake!), he meets his future love, Abe. The book then moves to him turning 60. He lives alone, as his partner Abe died (not of AIDS) about 12 years before, leaving him alone in a lovely Manhattan apartment. Artie’s family doesn’t communicate with him at all, not since he left home decades before, which broke my heart. So the closest thing he has to family is Abe’s former wife and their daughter. He is very close with Hallie, the daughter. But on his 60th birthday, the two of them announce that they are moving across the country. And so Artie needs to find some new friends, but how?
The book goes back and forth between the early 1990s and 2022 (the chapters are clearly labeled so there’s no confusion). We meet Artie’s 1990s friends and eventually we find out why they are no longer in his life in 2022. We then meet an array of people who go to a senior center with the unfortunate name of GALS (Gay and Lesbian Seniors). The novel ends with a hopeful feeling.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Four Squares is a quiet story about a quiet man. Artie Anderson is a ghostwriter, a pretty successful one. His personal life hasn’t been the most satisfying - he came of age as a gay man in the 1980s, and watched a lot of friends die of AIDS. The book opens on Artie’s 30th birthday in 1992, with him trying to like his ad copywriting job. While out with his friends to celebrate (after he burns his own birthday cake!), he meets his future love, Abe. The book then moves to him turning 60. He lives alone, as his partner Abe died (not of AIDS) about 12 years before, leaving him alone in a lovely Manhattan apartment. Artie’s family doesn’t communicate with him at all, not since he left home decades before, which broke my heart. So the closest thing he has to family is Abe’s former wife and their daughter. He is very close with Hallie, the daughter. But on his 60th birthday, the two of them announce that they are moving across the country. And so Artie needs to find some new friends, but how?
The book goes back and forth between the early 1990s and 2022 (the chapters are clearly labeled so there’s no confusion). We meet Artie’s 1990s friends and eventually we find out why they are no longer in his life in 2022. We then meet an array of people who go to a senior center with the unfortunate name of GALS (Gay and Lesbian Seniors). The novel ends with a hopeful feeling.
Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 20, 2024
Loved loved loved LOVED.
July 9, 2024
Long time listener, long time reader!! And now a long time supporter of the old fruits!!
I REALLY liked this book, which is a perfectly paced, genuinely moving story about friendship, love, and growing older. The story takes place in two periods of Artie Anderson's life, thirty years apart, and I enjoyed reading both timelines (this is hard to do, so it's impressive). In one timeline, Artie is falling in love, and in the next he's trying to figure out how to live after the death of his partner. Even though you know the death is coming from virtually the first page, the emotions feel very real, and I liked how the story was pieced together. I have some minor complaints about the ending, but I'm willing to forgive since those elements are so integral to the story.
The writing and the story worked a lot better for me in this book than they did in the author's last book, The Old Place, which I think is because the pacing and length are better. The omniscient narration even works better since you're mostly in Artie's head.I liked all of the other characters, especially Annabelle and Jim, and I liked how the West Village is so present as a setting. I just thought this book was sweet and funny. I recommend it as a great summer read.
I REALLY liked this book, which is a perfectly paced, genuinely moving story about friendship, love, and growing older. The story takes place in two periods of Artie Anderson's life, thirty years apart, and I enjoyed reading both timelines (this is hard to do, so it's impressive). In one timeline, Artie is falling in love, and in the next he's trying to figure out how to live after the death of his partner. Even though you know the death is coming from virtually the first page, the emotions feel very real, and I liked how the story was pieced together. I have some minor complaints about the ending, but I'm willing to forgive since those elements are so integral to the story.
The writing and the story worked a lot better for me in this book than they did in the author's last book, The Old Place, which I think is because the pacing and length are better. The omniscient narration even works better since you're mostly in Artie's head.I liked all of the other characters, especially Annabelle and Jim, and I liked how the West Village is so present as a setting. I just thought this book was sweet and funny. I recommend it as a great summer read.
July 12, 2024
Aw I loved this one! Such a tender, funny, lovely story. It was giving Steven Rowley if he set out to write The Great Believers or something.
March 31, 2025
4/5
Tokia šviesesnė, smagesnė ir tiesiog visaip kaip lengvesnė Little Life versija. Irgi yra skausmo ir liūdesio, tačiau akcentas ne ant to. Akcentas ant tiesiog gyvenimo, ant draugystės, laiko tėkmės, humoro, švelnumo ir gerumo, found family, gyvenimo po AIDS ir išgyvenusiojo kaltės, rašymo ir rašytojų, gėrio ir tiesiog noro padėti šalia esančiam, jį palaikyti ir mylėti. Nežinau kaip būtų buvę, jei būčiau skaičiusi per keletą dienų, o ne klausiusi per kokią savaitę (gal net būtų labiau patikę?), bet knyga tokia pasirodė žaviai niujorkietiška, pagrindinis veikėjas toks mielas ir geras, net jei vietomis ir bandė mane įtikinti, kad kažkodėl jis nėra toks jau geras, koks atrodo. Man pasirodė net labai geras.
Todėl bendrai, tokių istorijų (keli žmonės dideliame mieste ir maži/dideli jų gyvenimai) kontekste, man skaitėsi puikiai, įtraukiančiai, o svarbiausia � švelniai. Toks pagrindinis žodis, kuris su Four Squares asocijuojasi. Švelni knyga. Graži knyga. Jautri. Nebūtinai ją labai ilgai prisiminsiu, bet ta nuotaika pasirodė labai primenanti apkabinimą. Ir nors vietomis atrodė, kad autorius peršoka svarbius dalykus ar kad papasakoja juos per greitai, užsibūdamas ties ne tokiais svarbiais dalykais kiek per ilgai, rekomenduoju skaityti. Man buvo gražu.
Tokia šviesesnė, smagesnė ir tiesiog visaip kaip lengvesnė Little Life versija. Irgi yra skausmo ir liūdesio, tačiau akcentas ne ant to. Akcentas ant tiesiog gyvenimo, ant draugystės, laiko tėkmės, humoro, švelnumo ir gerumo, found family, gyvenimo po AIDS ir išgyvenusiojo kaltės, rašymo ir rašytojų, gėrio ir tiesiog noro padėti šalia esančiam, jį palaikyti ir mylėti. Nežinau kaip būtų buvę, jei būčiau skaičiusi per keletą dienų, o ne klausiusi per kokią savaitę (gal net būtų labiau patikę?), bet knyga tokia pasirodė žaviai niujorkietiška, pagrindinis veikėjas toks mielas ir geras, net jei vietomis ir bandė mane įtikinti, kad kažkodėl jis nėra toks jau geras, koks atrodo. Man pasirodė net labai geras.
Todėl bendrai, tokių istorijų (keli žmonės dideliame mieste ir maži/dideli jų gyvenimai) kontekste, man skaitėsi puikiai, įtraukiančiai, o svarbiausia � švelniai. Toks pagrindinis žodis, kuris su Four Squares asocijuojasi. Švelni knyga. Graži knyga. Jautri. Nebūtinai ją labai ilgai prisiminsiu, bet ta nuotaika pasirodė labai primenanti apkabinimą. Ir nors vietomis atrodė, kad autorius peršoka svarbius dalykus ar kad papasakoja juos per greitai, užsibūdamas ties ne tokiais svarbiais dalykais kiek per ilgai, rekomenduoju skaityti. Man buvo gražu.
February 12, 2024
4 ⭐️: I loved this story. I’ve realized I love following a main character and their story, it's so mundane but I love it. this story follows Artie and his life from the early 90’s in NYC following the AIDS crisis, it follows his friendships & relationships, his work life, and grief all the way to the present day. I just loved my time reading it, and watching Artie explore life in both the past and present timeline.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley.
This ARC was provided by NetGalley.
June 17, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
Four Squares by Bobby Finger
Thank you so much @putnambooks @prhaudio for the gifted copy and the free audiobook.
Blurb:
From the beloved author of The Old Place comes a tender, funny, and fresh novel about a gay writer in New York City whose life is irrevocably altered, and then again thirty years later.
✨My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this story. I started reading the physical book and I knew it was one I wanted to experience as an audiobook if I could. Luckily I was able to and it was exactly how I imagined and was able to get through it rather quickly. We’re given two timelines, when Artie was in his early 30s and then in his early 60s. I really enjoyed seeing Artie’s life both then and now. It’s very much a character driven story and I always find audiobooks the most enjoyable for this type of story but honestly I really liked both versions. It will make you cry a time or two but you’ll also laugh. It’s heartwarming and will leave you with a sense of hopefulness, trike the best feeling. I thought the audiobook translated perfectly from the book and David Pittu did a wonderful job narrating. If you’re looking for a novel that’ll tap into your emotions and remind you that second chances are real, if you’re willing to do the work, and that it’s never too late to live a life that’s true to yourself, this is the book for you! Four Squares is out tomorrow, 6/18/24.
Happy reading 📖
Four Squares by Bobby Finger
Thank you so much @putnambooks @prhaudio for the gifted copy and the free audiobook.
Blurb:
From the beloved author of The Old Place comes a tender, funny, and fresh novel about a gay writer in New York City whose life is irrevocably altered, and then again thirty years later.
✨My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this story. I started reading the physical book and I knew it was one I wanted to experience as an audiobook if I could. Luckily I was able to and it was exactly how I imagined and was able to get through it rather quickly. We’re given two timelines, when Artie was in his early 30s and then in his early 60s. I really enjoyed seeing Artie’s life both then and now. It’s very much a character driven story and I always find audiobooks the most enjoyable for this type of story but honestly I really liked both versions. It will make you cry a time or two but you’ll also laugh. It’s heartwarming and will leave you with a sense of hopefulness, trike the best feeling. I thought the audiobook translated perfectly from the book and David Pittu did a wonderful job narrating. If you’re looking for a novel that’ll tap into your emotions and remind you that second chances are real, if you’re willing to do the work, and that it’s never too late to live a life that’s true to yourself, this is the book for you! Four Squares is out tomorrow, 6/18/24.
Happy reading 📖
August 3, 2024
Four Squares by Bobby Finger is a coming of age tale about a man trying to find his place in the world across decades in New York.
This was somewhat slow and more of a slice of life than I’m used to. I’m used to CRUISING through a thriller or having a high amount of action from a fantasy. I’m not used to reading such slow burn novels and I usually don’t like them. I really felt like dnfing this about 30% through because it just didn’t grab my attention. I hated most of the characters and they let you know where the story is going so quickly.
However, I stuck it out and I ended up enjoying it! It was inherently sad and depressing, but I felt a lot of joy watching Artie finally let himself experience new things. He eventually had the joy in his life he was always looking for, even though he was in his 60s. It made me so so sad but in the happiest of ways.
Do I recommend this? Idk. But I felt so complete after reading it. It gave me a lot of inspiration and desire about life that I feel like we sometimes forget about as we age.
This was somewhat slow and more of a slice of life than I’m used to. I’m used to CRUISING through a thriller or having a high amount of action from a fantasy. I’m not used to reading such slow burn novels and I usually don’t like them. I really felt like dnfing this about 30% through because it just didn’t grab my attention. I hated most of the characters and they let you know where the story is going so quickly.
However, I stuck it out and I ended up enjoying it! It was inherently sad and depressing, but I felt a lot of joy watching Artie finally let himself experience new things. He eventually had the joy in his life he was always looking for, even though he was in his 60s. It made me so so sad but in the happiest of ways.
Do I recommend this? Idk. But I felt so complete after reading it. It gave me a lot of inspiration and desire about life that I feel like we sometimes forget about as we age.
August 13, 2024
So, so charming!
August 14, 2024
Oh, what a nice surprise this was! I wasn't familiar with Bobby Finger but learned of this book from Eric Cervini's (Very Gay) Book Club. It's everything he said it would be - a heartwarming portrayal queer friendship and chosen family as the years pass.
Our hero is Artie Anderson, who we experience in alternating timelines on his 30th birthday and the years following, as well as his 60th birthday and the months following. One timeline exists amidst the tumolt and grief of the AIDS crisis, the other in near-present day when, although much in queer culture hasn't changed at its core, Artie and the people who surround him have. And, what's more, he is experiencing one of the most unfortunate realities of often youth-obsessed queer culture: increasing invisibility as we age.
I've been thinking a lot about this. You almost can't blame a generation who watched scores of people die well before their time for being obsessed with youth and vitality. And it was the very plague that took so many people that taught those remaining just how important their chosen families and communities are - for providing comfort, shelter, and helping affect change. Four Squares illustrates this beautifully—while parts of who we are physically may change, our desire for friendship, closeness, and to be seen doesn't. Artie's journey teaches us some simple lessons: you will be OK, even in the face of repeated, heartbreaking losses. It's OK to lean on other people and ask for help. And you're never too old to try something new and put yourself out there.
Friendship, community, grief, love, loss, different kinds of family, and New York City herself—it's all here and makes for a really enjoyable read.
--
If I were running a book club, there are two points I would first raise for discussion [low-impact spoilers ahead]. I won't call them critiques because my overall experience of the book was too positive to really have any.
* The 60+ characters in the present-day sections seem to have a remarkably good grasp on contemporary queer culture and gender identity. Most 60+ gays I meet IRL range from, "I don't understand it, but I support it" to flat-out disrespecting pronouns and identities. Is this portrayal optimistic or realistic?
* At some point, when talking about his own novel, Artie thinks, "If this were a real queer novel, it needed to have real queer sex." There is no queer sex in this novel, but Finger seems too smart to include this contradiction obliviously. Why, then?
Our hero is Artie Anderson, who we experience in alternating timelines on his 30th birthday and the years following, as well as his 60th birthday and the months following. One timeline exists amidst the tumolt and grief of the AIDS crisis, the other in near-present day when, although much in queer culture hasn't changed at its core, Artie and the people who surround him have. And, what's more, he is experiencing one of the most unfortunate realities of often youth-obsessed queer culture: increasing invisibility as we age.
I've been thinking a lot about this. You almost can't blame a generation who watched scores of people die well before their time for being obsessed with youth and vitality. And it was the very plague that took so many people that taught those remaining just how important their chosen families and communities are - for providing comfort, shelter, and helping affect change. Four Squares illustrates this beautifully—while parts of who we are physically may change, our desire for friendship, closeness, and to be seen doesn't. Artie's journey teaches us some simple lessons: you will be OK, even in the face of repeated, heartbreaking losses. It's OK to lean on other people and ask for help. And you're never too old to try something new and put yourself out there.
Friendship, community, grief, love, loss, different kinds of family, and New York City herself—it's all here and makes for a really enjoyable read.
--
If I were running a book club, there are two points I would first raise for discussion [low-impact spoilers ahead]. I won't call them critiques because my overall experience of the book was too positive to really have any.
* The 60+ characters in the present-day sections seem to have a remarkably good grasp on contemporary queer culture and gender identity. Most 60+ gays I meet IRL range from, "I don't understand it, but I support it" to flat-out disrespecting pronouns and identities. Is this portrayal optimistic or realistic?
* At some point, when talking about his own novel, Artie thinks, "If this were a real queer novel, it needed to have real queer sex." There is no queer sex in this novel, but Finger seems too smart to include this contradiction obliviously. Why, then?
August 29, 2024
crunch crunch
June 18, 2024
Touching, tender, and a wonderfully cozy book!
Four Squares, through dual timelines, tells the story of Artie in his 30s and in his 60s. It's a book about friendship. About the pleasures of finding your people. When we meet Artie in his 30's he is young and unsure of himself, however, he has the three most wonderful friends anyone could ask for. Flash forward to Artie in his 60's and he's on the cusp of losing the last few people he calls family. This forces Artie out of his shell and presents an opportunity to welcome new people into his life!
I could not get enough of this book! Bobby Finger's writing is as smooth as butter! The pages were so fluid that I easily lost myself in the narrative. You will feel like you're in the room, at the table, with these characters. Laughing with them, crying with them, and cheering them on every step of the way. Each character is written so realistically that I guarantee you will feel like you know/have known these people. Sit with them and listen to them.
At one point Artie mentions that he never wanted his book to become a best seller, that he just wanted more of his people to read it, and I can't help but feel like this was the author putting some of himself into the story. I don't think this story is groundbreaking or anything. But it's beautiful and genuine. I think an "everyday" story that can make you feel all of the emotions is such a triumph and this certainly is that for me!
I've always been an old soul, and I know I'm still very young, but I related with Artie so much. There's plenty to take away from this story but a big one is to never be afraid to put yourself back out there! The key to more socializing is to socialize a little. Invitations beget invitations. Parties beget parties. Friendships beget friendships.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eArc. It is easily a new favorite!
5/5 stars!
January 3, 2025
Simply perfect IMO. I loved the writing style but the story was even better. It was heartbreaking but so so beautiful. In short, it’s a story about a gay man who lived in NYC during the AIDS epidemic and it flips back and forth between his life in the 80s/90s and life in the 2020s (bonus points for NO COVID storyline!!).
Fastest I’ve read a book in a while and not because it was a ~I must know what happens next~ type of book, but because I loved every second of reading it. Started 2024 off strong with this one and will definitely be reading more Bobby Finger.
Fastest I’ve read a book in a while and not because it was a ~I must know what happens next~ type of book, but because I loved every second of reading it. Started 2024 off strong with this one and will definitely be reading more Bobby Finger.
February 22, 2025
Lovely and sad and hopeful. Being in a book club is fun
March 1, 2024
Suck a beautiful, tender, funny, thoughtful, wonderful book
May 17, 2024
While I love Bobby dearly, I’m a little mad at him for making me cry multiple times while reading this!!
January 26, 2025
This novel was amazing, although I have some opinions I need to share lol
We have Artie, who in some chapters is in his 30s, and other chapters in his 60s. Artie has dealt with a lot in his life. From death of people he loved, to not having his biological family by his side due to him being gay. We get to explore what his life was life in the 90s and how he’s doing now in 2022.
I have to say, the 90s chapters, LOVED them! While I wish it was a little more fleshed out, I have to say Bobby Finger did a great job capturing captivating and realistic characters as well as making a very truthful protagonist that I feel many can relate to. With the chapters that take place in the past, we see the sadness and heartbreaking reality that we are all faced with, which is death of loved ones. This is a major detail in the novel as many people at the time died of AIDS. To me it was heartbreaking in many chapters, and I also found myself with the similar fears that Artie had throughout the book.
The present chapters started great, then got a little boring, then got great again. What I loved is that it didn’t give too much detail for us to know everything happening. There were parts I was upset, but when I paused and thought about it, I was only upset because some of the issues I had with the book were simply things that are very much real and topics we don’t really talk about that much.
It’s a sad, heartfelt, and even funny in some parts kinda book and I highly recommend it.
We have Artie, who in some chapters is in his 30s, and other chapters in his 60s. Artie has dealt with a lot in his life. From death of people he loved, to not having his biological family by his side due to him being gay. We get to explore what his life was life in the 90s and how he’s doing now in 2022.
I have to say, the 90s chapters, LOVED them! While I wish it was a little more fleshed out, I have to say Bobby Finger did a great job capturing captivating and realistic characters as well as making a very truthful protagonist that I feel many can relate to. With the chapters that take place in the past, we see the sadness and heartbreaking reality that we are all faced with, which is death of loved ones. This is a major detail in the novel as many people at the time died of AIDS. To me it was heartbreaking in many chapters, and I also found myself with the similar fears that Artie had throughout the book.
The present chapters started great, then got a little boring, then got great again. What I loved is that it didn’t give too much detail for us to know everything happening. There were parts I was upset, but when I paused and thought about it, I was only upset because some of the issues I had with the book were simply things that are very much real and topics we don’t really talk about that much.
It’s a sad, heartfelt, and even funny in some parts kinda book and I highly recommend it.
July 4, 2024
Four Squares tells the story of the protagonist, Artie, through two different lenses/stages of his life. Told simultaneously (every other chapter), we see life through Artie’s eyes during his early thirties and early sixties. At the beginning of the novel, Artie has just moved to NYC amidst the AIDS epidemic. Artie is losing friends due to the sickness, is stuck in a mediocre job in advertising, and relies heavily upon his three closest friends as they navigate life in their early thirties. As Artie leaves his job to pursue his dream of writing a novel, we journey with him as he loses.
Flash forward to 30 years later, and we explore Artie’s late adult life amidst the loss of his partner and finding out that his step-daughter is moving across the country, leaving him alone in the city once more. This forces Artie to reflect on his relationships (or lack thereof) and find a new purpose late in life.
This book is filled with beautiful moments that made me laugh and weep (often at the same time). Finger does an excellent job weaving the past with the present, reminding a younger generation that what we have now did not come without sacrifice.
A special thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. I loved it so much that I had to buy a phsyical copy for my library.
Flash forward to 30 years later, and we explore Artie’s late adult life amidst the loss of his partner and finding out that his step-daughter is moving across the country, leaving him alone in the city once more. This forces Artie to reflect on his relationships (or lack thereof) and find a new purpose late in life.
This book is filled with beautiful moments that made me laugh and weep (often at the same time). Finger does an excellent job weaving the past with the present, reminding a younger generation that what we have now did not come without sacrifice.
A special thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. I loved it so much that I had to buy a phsyical copy for my library.
February 6, 2025
I get that some people don’t like reading realistic fiction because they feel they want reading to be an escape. For me though, reading has always been about comfort. Trying to find stories with characters I can relate to in even the slightest way. This book gets better with every turn of the page, I promise. The build up is similar to that feeling of what it’s like when you’re getting to know a friend more and more.
I’ll be honest this book was a solid 4 stars for me, until I got to the very end and began shedding tears. Everyone in the queer community needs this book right now. We all need reminders of hope for getting older, for belonging, for the importance of the fight, and community. We aren’t alone, and books like this one have a beautiful way of reminding us of that.
I’ll be honest this book was a solid 4 stars for me, until I got to the very end and began shedding tears. Everyone in the queer community needs this book right now. We all need reminders of hope for getting older, for belonging, for the importance of the fight, and community. We aren’t alone, and books like this one have a beautiful way of reminding us of that.
March 19, 2025
FIRST BOOK OF 2025 YAY
wowowow I really liked this book. It had wonderful things to say about queerness and friendships and relationships all while making lovely nods to all things New York related. Artie was kind of a hard narrator to get accustomed to but I really liked him by the end, especially after everything he goes through both past and present. Some of the plot points towards the end didn’t hit the way I think they were intended just cuz it involved people that I wasn’t attached to/didn’t know I was supposed to be attached to, BUT it was still an impactful and enjoyable ending.
ALL IN ALL- it was a great read that showed wonderful perspective of both being gay during the AIDS crisis in 1990s NY and what getting older can look like as a queer person <3
wowowow I really liked this book. It had wonderful things to say about queerness and friendships and relationships all while making lovely nods to all things New York related. Artie was kind of a hard narrator to get accustomed to but I really liked him by the end, especially after everything he goes through both past and present. Some of the plot points towards the end didn’t hit the way I think they were intended just cuz it involved people that I wasn’t attached to/didn’t know I was supposed to be attached to, BUT it was still an impactful and enjoyable ending.
ALL IN ALL- it was a great read that showed wonderful perspective of both being gay during the AIDS crisis in 1990s NY and what getting older can look like as a queer person <3
January 27, 2025
I loved this book so much! It has all my favorite elements in a book -- New York, friend groups, books about writers -- but it is so much more. Bobby Finger has such a way with words, I felt for every single character, both major and minor, and loved all his descriptions.
Told in alternating timelines, we follow Artie at two pivotal moments in his life. In his younger life he is grappling with friends dying from AIDS, is writing his first novel and trying to figure his life out. We meet him again as he's turning 60, when he's once again at a crossroads.
I loved Artie, and I loved how we saw his story unfold -- the way it was told was so well done. I loved all the important people in his life, and I loved all the new friends he met at GALS.
This book is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking -- it is overall so good. I highly recommend it to everyone! Can't wait for more by Bobby Finger!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
Told in alternating timelines, we follow Artie at two pivotal moments in his life. In his younger life he is grappling with friends dying from AIDS, is writing his first novel and trying to figure his life out. We meet him again as he's turning 60, when he's once again at a crossroads.
I loved Artie, and I loved how we saw his story unfold -- the way it was told was so well done. I loved all the important people in his life, and I loved all the new friends he met at GALS.
This book is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking -- it is overall so good. I highly recommend it to everyone! Can't wait for more by Bobby Finger!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!
September 3, 2024
so charming! I think about the experience of aging as a queer person a lot, often with trepidation. this book helped me resolve those anxious feelings a little bit. there is so much love interspersed among the tragedies of an ordinary life! and there are always new connections to be made.
August 18, 2024
3.5 rounded up!!
March 18, 2025
more of a 3.5 methinks but i enjoyed this!
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