You might have heard of it already, because this book is equally a cult classic, representative of a generation of millennial women facing middle age, but also an almost caricatural depiction of midlife crisis.

As a work of fiction, it’s comical, laugh-out-loud hilarious in fact, often absurd and deep down not taking itself too seriously. The main character, a once successful 45-year old artist, is, in true millennial hipster fashion, selfish, self-centred and obnoxious, predictably bisexual (because it’s become such a common theme) and raises her child non-binary, of course. She is equally unlikable and endearing, her life choices are more often than not infuriating, but you can’t help but root for her.

Be warned, the overt conversation around sex and desire is one of the most obvious tropes, including some truly bizarre and a little bit disturbing scenes meant to grab attention with a nonchalance that very few novels do. Beyond this, it also deals beautifully with the challenges of motherhood, female friendship and the existential dread of menopausal hormone crash. One of my favourite scenes is when the protagonist discovers weightlifting, a ‘revelation’ that we’re now all embracing more than ever, but her take on it is so funny, refreshing and relatable.

As a nearly 40-year old mum of three (out of which two are newborn twins), I saw this book as a great depiction of the complexities of midlife identity. Who am I beyond motherhood, family and professional life, what defines me, what’s left of my old self and what will post-menopause bring? What makes me me? 

All Fours has the potential to become THE cornerstone menopause novel of our generation, an empowering and compelling depiction of the highs and lows of this transformative stage. Unlike our mothers 20ish years ago, we’re lucky to have a growing amount of tools and resources to navigate this process, and Miranda July’s unique voice adds a touch of lightheartedness to this experience.