Bobby Finger’s new novel, Four Squares, is a beautifully woven story about Artie Anderson, a Gay ghostwriter living in New York City, and the two very different chapters of his life: one set in 1992, the other in 2022. Through these two timelines, Finger explores themes of community, grief, aging, and the surprising ways love can find us.

In 1992, Artie is just turning 30. It’s a difficult time for Gay people, who are shadowed by the AIDS crisis. On his birthday, he encounters Abe, a man who seems like his opposite in almost every way. Their brief connection sparks something deeper, offering a glimmer of hope amid the uncertainty of death.

Fast-forward to 2022, and Artie is now 60. He lives in a West Village apartment alone, having lost many friends to AIDS and other tragedies. When his close friends move across the country and an injury sidelines him, he finds himself drawn to GALS, a lively Queer senior center. There, he begins to reconnect with the community — and, ultimately, with himself.

Finger’s storytelling flows effortlessly between these two moments in Artie’s life, balancing heartbreak with warmth and humor. The dual timeline adds richness to the story, showing how love, friendship, and resilience endure over decades. The ending is hopeful but earned — never forced — and leaves the reader feeling inspired.

Finger, based in Brooklyn, is known for his sharp humor and cultural insights as cohost of the popular podcast Who? Weekly. His debut novel, The Old Place, received critical praise and won the Crook’s Corner Book Prize. With Four Squares, he proves once again that he’s a voice worth watching in contemporary Queer fiction.

If you’re looking for a heartfelt story about love, loss, and second chances, Four Squares is a wonderful choice. It’s a warm and honest novel that celebrates the importance of community, resilience, and hope.

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Four Squares celebrates love, loss, and second chances