4 a.m. (novel)

4 a.m. is a novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, published in 2024. It marks Foer's return to novel writing after a 17-year hiatus. The novel explores themes of family, guilt, loss, and the complexities of relationships.

The narrative centers on a divorced screenwriter in his forties who unexpectedly becomes responsible for his children again. He navigates the challenges of fatherhood, grappling with his past mistakes and anxieties about the future. Woven into the main storyline are explorations of insomnia, mortality, and the enduring power of memory.

Reception to 4 a.m. has been mixed, with some critics praising Foer's lyrical prose and insightful character development, while others have found the narrative fragmented or self-indulgent. Regardless, the novel represents a significant addition to Foer's body of work and a meditation on contemporary life.