Four Squares really worked for me.
The structure of following the life of the main character, Artie, both as he’s turning 30 and 60 was so entertaining. It’s full of heart with loss and the reality of being gay in the 80s, but also humor and quirks. I could have spent more time in both eras if I’m honest. I wanted some of the characters to be fleshed out more. Four Squares was ultimately a hopeful story and I would recommend. Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC through NetGallery.

Three and a half stars

I enjoyed reading this book--Finger excels at writing stories where the occasionally grim subject matter doesn't overwhelm the reader. It's a story about a man who has lost so much and needs to find a way back to the world of the living.

"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. Across the years, some things haven't changed for Artie - he still lives in the West Village and continues to love books and literature - but many things have, including the passing of Artie's ex-boyfriend Arthur and the slow withdrawal of friends and people he considers his family, including Vanessa and Halle, the ex-wife and daughter of his former boyfriend. The novel jumps across time periodsx giving insight into Artie's past and present, his relationship with Arthur, and his continued growth in the present when he unexpectedly finds himself at the local LGBTQ center and a welcoming community of seniors.

I was initially drawn to this book given its setting in NYC (where I am now) and personally loved the references and descriptions of the neighborhoods and businesses, and the accurate depiction of what it was like to live and work in the city. Artie was a unique character for me as well, and I enjoyed seeing how the time periods converged - with the past shedding light on the events that continued to linger with him in the present. There's a fair amount of historical detail given to the LGBTQ events in 1990s, including the increase of AIDS, and the physical and emotional toll it took on so many individuals.

The novel was difficult to get through for several reasons though, including a slow and uneven pacing, a writing style that felt fairly simple and too reliant on dialogue (there's a lot of telling, but not a lot of showing), and characters that didn't feel well built or complex. I found it difficult to get invested in the characters and while the overall story was heartwarming, felt a little too predictable and didn't quite have the build-up I was hoping for.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I quite liked this book! It's cute and devastating at the same time. I have to say, however, that the start was a bit convoluted for me. I did start it on a bus, so maybe I just needed to read it somewhere quieter, but there were a ton of characters and I didn't know about the time jump before I started the book. Since this is an ARC, I expected the formatting to be odd, but there were sections of sentences in very large print (they didn't always line up) in a lot of pages. While I didn't know about the time jump, I think it was the perfect way to tell the story of Arthur (and his whole friend group's) whole life without going chronologically. The scenes at the beginning/end of chapters were chosen well, and the time jump always happened at a good moment. Back to characters, another thing that i think could have been explained a bit better was Abe/Halle/Vanessa/Arthur's relationship. I know it's supposed to be revealed as the book goes on, but when Halle and Vanessa showed up I had no idea who they were. I like that Ali got a redemption ARC, and them being the vegan that Kimberly talks about on the phone is a thoughtful touch. However, I still don't really like them. Anyways, I'm so glad that Artie finally found a group of friends in the end (and Carson), that made me really happy.

The book's description called to me because I enjoy reading about older people finding a new gear. Unfortunately, this didn't resonate. The characters weren't that compelling and I struggled to get into the book.

What an excellent read. In "Four Squares," Bobby Finger builds off of the project he started in "The Old Place"- to build empathy. For someone in their twenties, it inspired a lot of reflection on the reality of the AIDs crisis, and how different the experience of LGBTQ folks who are in their 60s and 70s is from those of us who were born in the late 90s.

I didn’t know this was going with end with no HEA, I know it was about more than the romance, but that broke my heart with no warning beforehand. It would’ve been nice to have some sort or TW for that ending. I’ve never had that happened before, so I was even more shocked.

Good read. Story of a gay man living in New York in the 80s and 90s when the HIV epidemic was at its peak. Story told in first person by Artie, an openly gay man whose life has been traumatized by the loss of those closest to him. Lots of introspection which I always enjoy. Character development was excellent. I felt I I knew the characters, particularly Artie, the main character. A bit slow at time, but overall, a provocataive and engaging read. I liked the hopeful ending. Recommend the book

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of this 'stages of life' story following Artie, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and his time living in NYC. The story switches between Artie's life when he was in his thirties as well as in his sixties. A heartfelt story full of life, relationships, work, family, loss, belonging. I feel like this story has something for everyone to relate to. The author was able to address the AIDS/HIV epidemic with decency and I only wish we could have dove deeper into the characters that surrounded Artie.

Thanks first to NetGalley, Bobby Finger, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for an ARC of this novel.

Four Squares is the story of Artie, initially a young 30 something gay man and later a 60 something gay man and his life during two periods 30 years apart - the early 90s and the early 2020s. Artie is gay, a writer, and a New Yorker. The specific plot is not terribly important for purposes of my review. Instead, what was important to me is the way Four Squares made me feel, the perspective it gave of the lives of queer New Yorkers during the heights of the AIDS crisis, the loves and losses experienced, and the effect the passage of time/maturing/aging can have on one's perspective. I loved Artie and his perspective and feel as though the discussions about what "survivors" of the AIDS crisis felt and dealt with were exceptionally well done. The only thing really keeping this from a five star rating to me is that the great "love story," the relationship that was most important to Artie, did not feel fully fleshed out to me. I didn't feel like Abe was a fully drawn character or that I could fully understand what it was about Abe that had such significant effect on Artie. Artie says he did, and talks about Abe being so unique and inevitable, but I just don't feel as though that comes through in Abe's character in the novel. But this complaint aside, I would fully recommend this novel.

A dual timeline tale about queer writer Artie living in New York City, starting from his 30th and 60th birthdays. One timeline takes Artie through the late 80s and lands in the early 2000s, while the other timeline only lasts for several months in 2022 and concluding on New Year's Day of 2023. The early timeline bears the heavy presence of the AIDS/HIV epidemic that decimated the queer community and the losses suffered, particularly in the context of Artie, two of his closest friends, Adam and Kim, and a new friend/lover Abe. The later timeline focuses on Artie struggling with loneliness and his attempt to form new connections in the elder queer community.

I really wish the story would have been deeper. I feel like the book only scratched the surface on the characters and their stories.

But for a quick a glimpse into the queer community at different times, it's a decent read.

4.5 stars for Bobby Finger's Four Square. I finished it last night and it's still rumbling through my mind today.
On the surface, the book is about Artie at his 30th and 60th birthdays and those in his life. If I just read the novel on a surface level it would have been good, but covert way Finger writes about the relationships is what drew me in.
I liked the character of Artie from the start. A little bumbling and awkward. You are introduced to his 2 best friends and learn a bit about their backgrounds. I was very interested in learning what happened to them.
It's difficult to write too much about the book without giving too many spoilers.
I did not like Artie's love interest. I felt he was selfish and I was a little confused at the end if he knew the truth about his daughter. Probably the most damaged and disliked character was Vanessa. I felt she lied to keep Artie around because he was her only connection to her ex-husband.
Oh, and Artie contining to write to his parents just broke my heart. I appreciated the points of view about the 1980s HIV/AIDS epidemic and what a loss to a generation.

Set in New York City, "Four Squares" spans a thirty year period and several key moments in Artie Anderson's life and the people in it. The story switches back and forth between the past and the present giving the reader insights into how Artie has come to be the man he is. I enjoyed the story and cried several times, which is saying a lot as I don't normally cry while reading. However, the character development could have been better and more well rounded. I feel as if several more chapters would completely fix this issue. I didn't enjoy some of the fade to black moments in regards to things that happened in the past. If it had been done once, I would have been okay, but it was a technique implemented several times. I appreciated the AIDS epidemic being spoken about in a LGBTQIA+ novel, but it felt...academic. The points talking about it were very spotlight soliloquy instead of woven into the narrative. I could see readers skimming these imperative parts because of how formal they felt.
Overall, this book was good, but I never felt compelled to pick it up. Because of this, I am rating it a three. There was nothing imperatively wrong with it and I would suggest others pick it up. Its just not a book that I will be constantly thinking about.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ebook version).

FOUR SQUARES ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5. What a great read! This is a story of Artie Anderson, a gay man who came to NYC in 1986 during the peak of the AIDS epidemic, his life in 1990s during his 30s, and then in 2022 during his 60s. To me this is a story about chosen family, identity, love, acceptance and friendship. This is one of those books that I will think about fondly, and won’t forget.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of Four Squares by Bobby Finger due to be published June 18, 2024.
As Artie Anderson celebrates his thirtieth birthday in 1992, he meets Abe, who will change his life. Abe pushes Artie to want more for himself, along with Artie’s good friends, Adam and Kim. Thirty years later Artie is alone but finds new friends at GALS (Gay and Lesbian Seniors).
Four Squares was a very emotional book – talking about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and how many friends people lost during those years. It brought it to life how truly sad it was to lose so many close to you. It follows Artie’s life in his thirties and again in his sixties and all the loneliness he felt as he was aging.
There were many emotions involved in this book – both happy and heartbreaking – Bobby Finger tackled the complex issue of AIDS and losing loved ones with dignity and grace.
This will be a book I will long remember.
#NetGalley #BobbyFinger #PenguinGroupPutnam #FourSquares

From the outset, I struggled to engage with the characters, finding them to be thinly drawn and lacking in depth. Their actions felt contrived, and their motivations remained elusive throughout the narrative. Without a strong emotional tether to the characters, I found it challenging to invest in their journeys or care about their outcomes.

Similarly, the storyline failed to captivate me. While the premise held promise, the execution fell short, with the plot meandering and lacking a clear sense of direction. Key moments that should have been impactful felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving me feeling disconnected from the overarching narrative.

Despite my efforts to immerse myself in the world of "Four Squares," I couldn't shake the feeling of detachment that persisted until the final pages. While every reader's experience is subjective, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book to others seeking a deeply engaging literary experience.

In conclusion, "Four Squares" by Bobby Finger left me feeling unfulfilled and disconnected, earning it a two-star rating in my estimation. While it's possible that other readers may find more resonance with its themes and characters, I found myself longing for a more compelling and immersive storytelling experience.

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.

It was a warm story with a good premise, but ultimately I liked the idea of it better than the implementation. I like books that go back and forth in time, and the suspense they create of how the past version of the main character turned into the present version. But the character development was lacking, and the writing was just ok.

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 both 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.

Read it ASAP. 5/5 stars.

I love being queer and books like this remind me of why. The history, the love, the mixed emotions -- all of it on display in this book. Strong writing and a great story. It wasn't necessarily plot-heavy, it was just a peek into Artie's life, past and present. Each character, no matter how minor, had a backstory, which I appreciated.

I read this while reading "And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic" and it just made this book more impactful. Knowing the history behind the era Artie and his friends grew up in made this book better.

I hope this becomes a book that people talk about, not just in queer spaces.