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And there it came, roaring back. An experience they would never grow numb to, even decades after it became a central fact of their lives: the realization that their friend was gone, and they remained.

Four Squares, Bobby Finger

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I didn’t anticipate crying about a middle-aged man when I started this book, but here we are. Four Squares tells the story of Artie Anderson’s life over the span of the 90s to the present, chronicling the changes in his NYC-based life. In the 90s, Artie is an aspiring writer with a group of close friends and a potential new love interest named Abe. In the present, Artie has been forced to realize he’s not truly living life anymore, and pushes himself to volunteer at the LGBTQ senior center in his neighborhood. There, he meets an array of queer seniors who show Artie that even at their age, they all have so much to celebrate.

As a narrator, Artie immediately grabbed my full attention. He’s equal parts no-nonsense sensibility, self-effacing, and dry wit. His observations are hysterical and cutting, and made me feel like I was gossiping with a friend at a bar. Over the course of the book, we get to see his transformation from guarded to damaged to healed, and it’s such a joy to experience. 

I think the beauty of this book was its simplicity. There’s no extra drama or fluff (except Annabelle, in the absolute best way possible), just a man coming to terms with the fact that he deserves to be happy. We meet a variety of characters who bring life and joy to each page, even while dealing with heavy topics like the AIDS crisis and the loss of loved ones. By keeping the plot clear and focused, the emotions within the story carry a huge amount of impact. The result is a book that’s simultaneously heart-breaking and refreshing.

This is the type of story that stays with you for far longer than you expect, which is a testament to Bobby’s skills as a writer. It’s perfect for a summer read, just make sure you have some tissues ready because you will cry at some point! Also, if you’re a Wholigan, it’s your duty to read and review this!!

Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!