I couldn't get into this book. It was too slow and dull at the beginning. It didn't interest me, so I gave up on it.

I absolutely loved Bobby Finger’s debut The Old Place… and was so excited to get an early ALC of the authors sophomore novel Four Squares….no synopsis reading was needed. I just knew I would love it…

I’m having a bit of an Uplit moment and if you’re looking for a book that will warm your heart…here is another rec that will do the job! I loved these characters… the time period…early 90s NYC and alternating to 2022. This heightened my love for the city… it felt like a love letter to the times and a holy grail of nostalgia.

A story that shares deep relationships whether on a friendship level or something more romantic… the grief is heavy and makes you appreciate what little time we have on this fast planet. You may also rent a Shirley MacLaine movie…. Yes I did! However this books makes you feel… just know it it will feel like a hug!

Another one I’ll need for the shelf!

Bobby Finger… what’s next?!?

Thank you PRH audio and Putnam Books
Releases 6/18

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United States Publication: June 18, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

In the early 1990s, Artie Anderson was living in NYC surrounded by friends who had become substitutes for family. Artie arrived in the city at the apex of the AIDS epidemic, a disease that is stealing the lives of Artie's community one by one. A dabbling author, Artie crafts a fictional tale (sort of) about himself and his nearest and dearest, Adam, Kimberly, and Abe. The book doesn't sell. It has a small print batch and no real shelf life but Artie is proud of it just the same. Fast forward to 2022. Artie is the only one still alive. His days are solitary, especially in the wake of the global pandemic that just took everyone down a notch, with the exception of Halle and Vanessa, the daughter and ex-wife of his former partner Abe, whom he sees every so often. But on Artie's 60th birthday, Halle and Vanessa announce they are moving across the country to Seattle, leaving Artie truly alone. Unwilling to acknowledge his age but also concerned about his life of isolation, Artie decides to volunteer at GALS, the local LGBTQ senior center down the street. But his plans for volunteering rather than being a participant change when an injury forces Artie to switch nametags from volunteer to member. Artie's reentry into a social life resurrects the thoughts and ideas that formed his first book, so much so that he decides to write a sequel. Artie discovers that life isn't over and hasn't been, and there is still more love, friendship, and family to experience.

Gah. What a wonderful story—a truly wonderful, lovely, heartwarming story. Finger takes the reader back and forth between the early 90s and the present day (2022), sharing the story of Artie's early 30s and early 60s. We learn of the family Artie loses because of his decision to live his life as he is and the family he gains because of his decision to live his life as he is. We witness him let go of a life of steady income as a copyright in an ad agency and take a leap of faith in a writer's life. We watch him traverse falling in and out, and back in, love. We weep with him and we laugh with him. A beautiful tale. Thank you, Bobby Finger.

Penguin Group Putnam provided an early galley for review.

The allure of a story set in New York City is something I simply cannot resist. Combine it with an interesting, character-driven story and I'm ready to be entertained. That is certainly what is presented here in Finger's second novel.

The story moves along quickly, thanks in part to snappy yet natural dialogue. These were very honest, very believable characters. I felt comfortable jumping right into their world.

The dual narratives (1992 and 2022) can prove to be tricky. I get invested in one only to have the next chapter jump to the other. Part of me wants to read the chapters out of order just to stick to the time periods, but that's not what the author intended at all. Honoring the presentation is important.

All in all, a wonderful story about life, living and aging.

Four Squares is a refreshing take on life over many decades. We follow Artie in his life from his thirties to his sixties exploring live events like friendships, aging, relationships, the AIDS crisis, and career paths, amongst others. This was genuinely relatable and also heartbreaking. I loved following Artie and felt fully vested in his life and emotions throughout the ages. The shifting timelines, emotions, and characters were a fabulous five stars! Loved it!

"Four Squares" by Bobby Finger offers a poignant glimpse into the life of an aging gay man, resonating deeply with me as a member of the LGBTQ community in my fifties. This novel skillfully navigates themes of loss, resilience, and the complexities of growing older within our community, particularly against the backdrop of the early years of the HIV crisis.

Finger's straightforward writing style makes the narrative accessible, though some sections could benefit from tighter editing. While certain chapters captivated me with their emotional depth, others felt meandering and superfluous. Despite this unevenness, the core themes shine through, providing a compelling exploration of the challenges and triumphs faced by LGBTQ individuals.

The characters, especially the protagonist Arty, are well-crafted and relatable. Arty's journey through different time periods, from the height of the epidemic to later stages of life, is both heartbreaking and hopeful. However, while Arty is fleshed out admirably, some supporting characters lack depth, leaving me yearning for more insight into their lives.

The novel's shifting timelines add depth and complexity to the narrative, offering a nuanced perspective on the enduring impact of historical events on individuals and communities. Through Arty's experiences, Finger skillfully examines the enduring legacy of the HIV crisis and the ongoing struggle for acceptance and understanding in the LGBTQ community.

In conclusion, "Four Squares" is a compelling and thought-provoking read that offers valuable insights into the lived experiences of LGBTQ individuals. While it may benefit from some refinement, particularly in terms of editing and character development, its exploration of themes such as loss, resilience, and aging resonates deeply and makes it a worthwhile addition to the literary landscape.

I am giving this book four out of five stars. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishing company for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

A tender story of friendship, getting older, and chosen family told across decades. Bobby Finger's "Four Squares" was a truly touching gem of a novel about Artie Anderson, a gay man in New York in the 90s and the present day. Back then, Artie and his core group of close friends were on top of the world (or at least the West Village). Now, Artie is entering his sixties and is alone. After a minor accident draws him into a new(ish) community, he discovers that life still has a bit more to offer him than he may have initially expected. The parallel narrative structure was reminiscent of Broadway shows like Merrily We Roll Along or The Last Five Years, though each chapter was long enough to feel like a short standalone story. Ultimately this read like an old friend regaling you with tales from their "golden years" and I really loved it.

I was disappointed. Was hoping for another electric novel about gay life. And this is certainly about that community. But electric it isn’t. It’s a sober and sad story about loss and continuity. Fair enough. But it rests on the shoulders of one of literature’s less enthralling central characters. Indeed, Artie, for all his loneliness and insularity, for which he can be forgiven, is simply too bland to carry the role. He’s dull, unconvincing, impossible to see as the love object of charismatic Abe, or the brilliant ghost writer of other people’s lives.
Overall, the novel is readable and affectionate work, but it simply has something of a void at the center.

This book may take a minute to get into but stick with it. It's a beautiful story and the characters are fabulous.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Four Squares by Bobby Finger. Artie is a gay man in NYC, and he is a writer. We learn about his life in 1990, and then 30 years later when he is 60. A lot of his friends are gone by this time, and he is still trying to write his second novel. It’s kind of sad, but he ends up finding a new community at a Gay and Lesbian Senior Center where he starts out volunteering. It is a nice story, and a different than usual look at New York life. #foursquares #bobbyfinger #bookstagram #lovetoread #readallday #takeapagefrommybook #netgalley #advancedreadercopy

I've always love reading these kinds of book, where history, especially queer history is really contrasted with the present. Four Squares was captivating and immersive in both the history and the present- a survivor's tale of another plague. I found the choice of making Artie the narrator of the story very appealing. However, I wish I could have experienced the book entirely from his perspective, rather than the occasional third-person omniscient- largely because, to me, when the author spans back, it would disrupt the flow. I fucking hate Abe- his selfishness is so grating! However, I really really liked this book- it's right up my alley.

A deeply moving look at queer identity while aging, grief, and finding community later in life. Good to see a book about older queer characters.

"Four Squares" chronicles the life of Artie Anderson, alternating between 1992, when Artie is a recently turned 30 year-old gay man working as a copywriter at an ad agency in NYC, to 30 years later in the present, where he now works as a ghostwriter for celebrities.

This character driven (and what characters they are!!!) story about ordinary lives lived simply is poignant, thoughtful and authentic. Sometimes sad and sometimes joyful, just like life tends to be. The author is great at writing characters that you feel for and empathize with.

While this is story about a gay man living life in NYC in the 1990's and 2020's, and I do not fall into this demographic, it was- at its core- a story about friendship, love, loss, aging and the trials and tribulations that come with all of life's little adventures. I was invested in Artie's life, and grew to care about him. I wanted to sit with him and complain about my life over a cup of coffee. I felt we would be friends.

This book also touches on some very serious topics having to do with LGBTQIA+ history; especially in the 80's and 90's, and while serious and important to the story, it didn't make it hard to slog through. I wanted to come out the other side with these characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ebook version).

It took me a minute to get into the story, but I ended up enjoying it in the end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this gifted arc.

I absolutely loved this book - Bobby has an incredibly specific writing voice that I love. It’s at once acerbic and incisive, but also the heart and emotion of his characters is so present.

This book is great at putting the pieces together of the life of the main character, Artie, and showing the blossoming of his “third chapter” while also showing the all-consuming people of his younger years and what happened to them.

I recommend this to people who love NYC, friendship and found family.

i enjoyed Bobby’s book The Old Place and wasn’t sure what to expect for this one. i thought the writing in this book was so beautiful and even better than The Old Place. i enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the message the book sent about never being too old to start over and start loving your life. i did find all of the A characters (adam, artie, abe, annabelle, ali) a little confusing at times, but i think that was more of a problem with my focus than the book. cannot wait to read whatever Bobby writes next!

I was lucky enough to win an e-ARC of FOUR SQUARES by Bobby Finger from a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you for the early look, and have a safe and happy weekend!

As a long time fan of Bobby Fingers podcast. When his debut , The Old Place, was announced I was over the moon excited and thankfully it did not disappoint! So when Four Squares came along and I was lucky enough to recieve an ARC of is I was doing backflips. Bobby's ability to weave heartbreak and resilience with laugh out loud quips is not surprising in the slightest. Can't wait to re read this once it's officially in the wold and many times after.

This was really good. Definitely character driven (and what characters they are!!!) about ordinary lives lived simply. It's poignant, thoughtful and authentic. Sometimes sad and sometimes joyful, just like life tends to be. After reading a plethora of thrillers, it was lovely spending time with Artie and his Old Fruits.

4.25 stars

4.25 stars

Bobby Finger's sophomore novel FOUR SQUARES is a great novel, just like his debut. In this novel, the reader is introduced to the main character Artie when he turns 30 in the first chapter, and he's working at an ad agency in a job he doesn't like. He is tight with his two friends Adam and Kimberly, and they go out to their favorite bar to celebrate, and he meets an elusive love interest named Abraham. Then the narrative flashes forward 30 years to Artie's 60th birthday, and we find him lonely without any of the friends we were introduced to in the first chapter and in seek of companionship but not knowing how to go about it. He decides to volunteer at a gay and lesbian senior activities center, and Artie soon breaks his foot. That forces him to stop volunteering and be on the receiving end of the services, and he meets some fellow older gay men. Will his cynical heart open up to accept friendship and possibly more?

The author is great at writing characters that you feel for and empathize with. I "got" Artie, even though I'm a heterosexual woman. I always enjoy an older protagonist who is a little stuck and trying to find their way. I appreciated the insider's view of gay culture in the 1990s (and 2020s).

I liked going back in forth in time. The chapters are fairly long, so you get enough time in each year that you can sink into it.

I did feel that narrative could have been a bit more cohesive. It felt like some things (Adam and Kimberly's disappearance as friends, for instance) were dangled for far too long, and then it was a little anticlimactic when the reader finds out what happened. Also, it was difficult for me to differentiate Jim from Ellis in the 2022 timeline.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, and I loved the message that it's never too late to find your friend group.