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3.12 AVERAGE
3.12 AVERAGE
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I’m not entirely sure why I even read this, given that I absolutely despised the first book with my entire being. I think it may be an act of self hatred that should later be discussed with my therapist. Still, it wasn’t as bad as the first book, as it is my belief that nothing could be as bad as the first book. It was utterly meaningless and added pretty much nothing but a little bit of meaningless fan service.
Slightly more deserving of the singular star I’ve given it than the first book, but still the second worst book I’ve ever read.
Slightly more deserving of the singular star I’ve given it than the first book, but still the second worst book I’ve ever read.
So, let me just start with the fact that when I read Call Me By Your Name over two years ago, I loved it. I loved Elio and Oliver and the intensity of a first love so pronounced in a story. Find Me, however, did not bring up those same feelings. This novel was still heart breaking but in a more mildly disturbing manner. I personally try very hard to separate the author from the novel but in the case of this novel, I found that next to impossible. In Call Me By Your Name, there is a pronounced age gap, one that I find to be, agreeably, a bit off putting but generally neglectable because the passion was realistic and personally, I didn’t find it extremely irrational of an age difference either. In this novel, the age gaps are a focal point on purpose which, combined with the manner in which these age gaps are expressed, comes off more stomach turning. I found myself feeling very uncomfortable reading Elio’s part specifically. When he is speaking with his love interest, a man his father’s age, things such as fatherly love are expressed between the two, the man saying Elio reminds him of his estranged son or how he wants to take care of him. It comes off almost as a grooming mentality and personally, I just couldn’t get past it. The initial part, about Elio’s father, focuses a lot on the shame felt by pursuing a woman half his age which again, just comes off as unappealing. Because of these reasons, it was something I personally could not read and ignore as if it wasn’t upsetting, but all that being said I have to give credit to Aciman’s writing ability still. He is a strong writer with a lot of passion (however misplaced) and evokes strong feelings either way. Plus, I highly enjoyed the revisit of Elio’s and Oliver’s relationship that was built in the first novel. Overall, the quality of writing is still very good, but the content was no longer veiled or appropriated in a way I could entertain as unobjectionable.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very slow but without tension. Lacking the buildup and tension that makes a romance interesting. Personally disappointed by the deepening of certain characters. Confused as to whose perspective we were reading from for most of the book. Much less Beautifully written than the first one
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A wonderful fallow up to call me by your name. A great story of new love in unexpected places. How people in your life change you and shape you.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think the return to the writing style from the first book was brilliant—it’s both beautiful and unique.
That said, focusing so much on his father, despite the first book stating he had already passed away, felt odd. Miranda and his father’s dynamic also seemed too similar to the other couples, leaving me wanting more originality compared to Elliot and Oliver.
The repeated use of age-gap romances was overdone and made me crave a different connection.
Lastly, the timeline was confusing: Elliot’s father’s death, his reappearances, Oliver’s constant shifts between past and present, and the rushed reunion at the end disrupted the atmosphere the book had built. The final chapters, in particular, felt confusing and broke the flow
emotional
funny
sad
tense
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:
Yes
2,5⭐️ an unnecessary book but glad they ended up together
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes