A Novel that Sparked Conversations and Outrage

Miranda July’s latest novel, ‘All Fours’, has taken the literary world by storm, sparking heated debates and conversations about the female midlife experience. The book, which has been described as “life-changing” by some and “hateful” by others, has dominated the cultural conversation since its release last spring.

At its core, ‘All Fours’ is a story about an unnamed narrator, a 45-year-old semi-famous artist and married mother of one, who embarks on a cross-country road trip from Los Angeles to New York after receiving a windfall of $20,000. The trip, which was meant to be a transformative experience, takes a dramatic turn when the narrator meets a younger man, Davey, and becomes embroiled in a passionate affair.

The novel explores themes of desire, ageing, ambition, creativity, mortality, motherhood, and marriage, raising questions about the expected path for women in the second half of their lives. Through its unflinching portrayal of the female midlife experience, ‘All Fours’ has captured the zeitgeist, sparking conversations about the transformative, messy, and sometimes magical nature of this phase of life.

The book’s impact has been significant, with many readers praising its honesty and candor. Treena Orchard, an author and associate professor at the School of Health Studies at Canada’s Western University, has called ‘All Fours’ a “groundbreaking” novel that “pushes back against the heteronormative frames that seem to seep into every aspect of our lives.” Orchard believes that July’s novel is helping to create a new mythology and meaning around the female midlife experience, designating it as a culturally important rite of passage.

However, not everyone has been won over by ‘All Fours’. Some readers have found the novel’s portrayal of the narrator’s moral choices, including her pursuit of an affair with a younger man and her decision to opt for an open marriage, to be off-putting. Others have criticized the novel’s privileged domestic situation, which some see as unrealistic and inaccessible to many readers.

Despite the criticisms, ‘All Fours’ has been hailed as a success, with many readers praising its ability to spark conversations and debates. The novel has been optioned for a TV series, nominated for several prizes, including the National Book Awards and the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and has been named one of the 100 most influential people of 2025 by TIME magazine.

For Miranda July, the author of ‘All Fours’, the novel represents a desire to turn the intimate exchanges she was having with friends into a public dialogue. “I was writing with the sense that I was in conversation with a lot of other women, if not all women,” she said in an interview.

As the paperback release of ‘All Fours’ approaches, the conversations about the novel look set to continue, with many readers eager to discuss its themes and ideas. Whether you loved it or hated it, ‘All Fours’ is a novel that has undoubtedly captured the zeitgeist, sparking debates and conversations that will continue to resonate with readers for years to come.