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cinnamorollcollects's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
csteidl93's review against another edition
DNF - sucks because a lot of the writing was beautiful (I highlighted a TON of stunning passages) but the main character was off putting in so many ways. If he wasn't such a little weirdo, I think I would have really enjoyed this book. I loved the stream of consciousness style of writing, how introspective and relatable he could be in the processing of his feelings, and how many of the plot points and character dynamics brought up fantastic discussion topics. But unfortunately this fell short for me.
I understand that the author may be trying to portray a relationship that is so deeply vulnerable and intimate that the lines between the two people as individuals are blurred, and that is a really fascinating topic that I personally haven't read about before. But I would've loved to read more about the emotional aspect of that topic instead of just mainly physical. I think certain actions by the main characters crossed boundaries and didn't support that narrative at all. I think it actually did the story a disservice as a whole.
I might pick this up again in the future just to see how it ends. But I need some time to recover from that peach scene lol. I might be better off just watching the movie.
I understand that the author may be trying to portray a relationship that is so deeply vulnerable and intimate that the lines between the two people as individuals are blurred, and that is a really fascinating topic that I personally haven't read about before. But I would've loved to read more about the emotional aspect of that topic instead of just mainly physical. I think certain actions by the main characters crossed boundaries and didn't support that narrative at all. I think it actually did the story a disservice as a whole.
I might pick this up again in the future just to see how it ends. But I need some time to recover from that peach scene lol. I might be better off just watching the movie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Rape and Excrement
marissab's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Excrement, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
Moderate: Excrement, Racism, Transphobia, and Xenophobia
Minor: Racism, Rape, and Transphobia
jem_carstairs's review against another edition
//CW S/A AND R*P*
This book. I knew it was problematic going into it but i didn’t expect a full on r*p* scene. In addition to the 7 year age gap, which would be fine if one character wasn’t literally a minor. Plus, the fact that the younger character (i really can’t remember their names) is happy about what happened and hopes for it to happen again. Can we please not glorify S/A?
In addition, I just hated the writing style. I don’t know what it was about it, it was just really boring. If it was just that I disliked, I’d probably try again but I have no desire to reread *that* scene. And I really don’t want to know what comes next.
To be honest, it horrifies me slightly that this has four stars and is so popular.
This book. I knew it was problematic going into it but i didn’t expect a full on r*p* scene. In addition to the 7 year age gap, which would be fine if one character wasn’t literally a minor. Plus, the fact that the younger character (i really can’t remember their names) is happy about what happened and hopes for it to happen again. Can we please not glorify S/A?
In addition, I just hated the writing style. I don’t know what it was about it, it was just really boring. If it was just that I disliked, I’d probably try again but I have no desire to reread *that* scene. And I really don’t want to know what comes next.
To be honest, it horrifies me slightly that this has four stars and is so popular.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
cynosure's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I love this book, I love how beautiful the writing is, I love how reflective the ending is, I love how it all comes full circle. Not a huge fan of their age gap. Also Elio fucking a peach and Oliver eating it. Does André Aciman have a foot fetish or something because the amount of times the word ‘foot’ was mentioned in only 248 pages is worrying. ‘Apricock’ made me giggle, Elio you little loser. He got so many hard on’s in the book it’s quite funny actually
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Rape and Suicide
clockworkstars's review against another edition
Livre très problématique et de plus très lent, aucune envie de le finir
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Sexual content, Self harm, Rape, Racism, and Toxic relationship
emmaoline's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I am left with one question after reading this book and that is how was this ever published?
Not just in terms of content but the writing seems like nonsensical drivel only found in a first draft. At times it felt like Aciman had recently purchased his first thesaurus when writing this book, but had yet to learn anything about punctuation. Whilst what is supposed to pass for plot feels more like horror than romance.
There are no likeable characters in this book. There are no people in this book, only aliens masquerading as people. Although I did enjoy the character Ada whose only purpose was to say "I am Ada," in a crowded room. If this was spoken to the main characters or not, or in the background is not really clear, which made it funnier.
But in the end, I am left reeling from the racist colonial ideology that came out of nowhere and had way too much time spent on it as if it were Shakespeare. This disgusting language was so disturbing I forgot the earlier passage where a peach was described as "bruises and damaged, like a rape victim,"[sic]
Not just in terms of content but the writing seems like nonsensical drivel only found in a first draft. At times it felt like Aciman had recently purchased his first thesaurus when writing this book, but had yet to learn anything about punctuation. Whilst what is supposed to pass for plot feels more like horror than romance.
There are no likeable characters in this book. There are no people in this book, only aliens masquerading as people. Although I did enjoy the character Ada whose only purpose was to say "I am Ada," in a crowded room. If this was spoken to the main characters or not, or in the background is not really clear, which made it funnier.
But in the end, I am left reeling from the racist colonial ideology that came out of nowhere and had way too much time spent on it as if it were Shakespeare. This disgusting language was so disturbing I forgot the earlier passage where a peach was described as "bruises and damaged, like a rape victim,"[sic]
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Transphobia, Sexual content, Rape, Racism, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Deadnaming, Antisemitism, and Infidelity
danielalange's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
cecestonier's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I was so disappointed in this book. I think some of it had to do with just how overhyped it was, and honestly I don't have much to say about it so this review will be short. Aciman's writing style seemed incredibly promising, with some thoughtful and descriptive moments that really did capture my attention, but beautiful writing does not take away from the problematic romanticism of pedophilia, obsession and themes such as sexual assault. This book was shocking — it's not that I shy away from such topics as I adored reading My Dark Vanessa, but this book was the ultimate disrespect to victims of such circumstance. Elio was entirely unlikeable. This book was a poor excuse to write an author's twisted fantasy, and the fact it is so hyped up concerns me. And after learning about André Aciman's own admittance to finding twelve year old girls attractive, I am well and truly turned off by this book.
This is the first and last time I will be posting about CMBYN on my feed. It was lucky to receive even one star.
This is the first and last time I will be posting about CMBYN on my feed. It was lucky to receive even one star.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
hannahmayhere's review against another edition
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
This book.... yikes. Where to even begin? The premise is something I just can’t get behind. Main character is 16. Older dude who is a college professor comes into the picture and a “romance” ensures. The entire book portrays their explicitly sexual relationship as this once in a lifetime love experience and I just have a fundamental issue with that.
Also, the completely weird and just not okay peach and toilet scenes. Unacceptable.
Add in the fact that the main character fantasizes about rape? And also about the “love interest” being killed to relieve him of his desires? And that at one point the wishes the other character would be in a wheelchair so that he would “be superior to him”?? And in one line the main character casually compares a peach to a rape victim? Wayyyy crosses multiple lines for me.
There are some ways the author writes that I appreciate and found some passages to be beautifully written - hence the 2 stars and not 1. But I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Also, the completely weird and just not okay peach and toilet scenes. Unacceptable.
Add in the fact that the main character fantasizes about rape? And also about the “love interest” being killed to relieve him of his desires? And that at one point the wishes the other character would be in a wheelchair so that he would “be superior to him”?? And in one line the main character casually compares a peach to a rape victim? Wayyyy crosses multiple lines for me.
There are some ways the author writes that I appreciate and found some passages to be beautifully written - hence the 2 stars and not 1. But I would not recommend this book to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
Moderate: Ableism and Homophobia
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
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