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kvelpr's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I am conflicted, I enjoyed the beginning, disliked and was uncomfortable with so parts in the middle, and loved the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Vomit
kaadee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
After reading other peoples reviews, I have come to a conclusion. I think it’s important that this book was made because it gives a glimpse into the the thought process of the groomed. We as readers know that it’s gross, uncomfortable and upsetting and while Elio also realizes this, his feelings are much different. Through Elio’s thoughts, we are also being groomed by Oliver to care for their relationship (see other peoples reviews calling this an amazing love story) it’s a good story, but not one about love. It’s about obsession, it’s about craving an experience but ultimately it’s about the power imbalances teenagers have with adults. How teenagers are easily taken advantage of and made to think they are in love. I honestly don’t think the writer wrote it to have this kind of meaning whatsoever which makes it worse for me. The deep dive into Elio’s sexual thoughts was disturbing. I mean, I really didn’t need to know what a 17 year old was thinking while he was going at it into a peach. I think it’s important to understand his thoughts but the amount of detail into the desires was gross. Also the writing style??? What pretentious person decided they would just add every word from the dictionary, put it into run on sentences, and then publish it? Some quotes were good but it’s too much philosophy without actually making any sense. People who praise this book for the writing and the feeling that you get while reading are weird. Honestly, the writing just made me want to finish it 10x faster just so I could be done. I love the movie compared to this. Also the fetish for Jewish people, GROSS!!! The author isn’t even Jewish which I didn’t know while reading. I was weirded out but I just went along with it because maybe he was just being expressive of his faith/background BUT NO, he just fetishized Jewish people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Antisemitism, Death, Death of parent, and Transphobia
maess's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Self harm, Alcohol, Death of parent, Cancer, Child death, and Death
lex_r's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.5
This book has some really intense moments where the inner dialogue makes you question the sanity of Elio and his thoughts and character. I wasn't sure how I felt about the aggressive sexual language, the graphic thoughts, or the age gap between the two characters. But I gave the book some grace and continued, framing the uncomfortable intense moments as intrusive thoughts as the novel is told from the inner perspective of Elio. In the end I am happy I stuck it out the book developed into a beautiful love story that really pulled together in the last 100 pages, but forewarning the ending is gut wrenching.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Vomit and Excrement
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, Rape, and Death
kashby's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
first book ive cried to
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Antisemitism, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
onthelam's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
i was confused and uncomfortable at some points. Like fucking a peach i could still bear but then comparing it to a rape victim was just ugh and ofcourse the creepy underwear scene. But the writing was amazing, everything was beautifully worded and some parts made me feel like i understood myself better. the characters were complicated as was the story and the ending left me feeling sorta empty but in a good way?
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Excrement, Grief, Homophobia, Rape, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Vomit
sonoma's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Vomit
Moderate: Death and Alcohol
notactuallyharry's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Death
Minor: Vomit
lapinbergeron's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
This book was... something else that I wasn't quite expecting. I like to go into books knowing as little as possible, the only thing I knew about this one was that there was a movie adaptation with Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer. Boy oh boy.
This entire story felt like a breeze on a hot summer night or like the waves crashing on a rocky beach. It felt like a hug and a slap. It swallowed me whole and when I finished it it was like part of me was left behind, or a part of me had been lifted out of me.
The love that is described in this novel is uncontrollable, it's beautiful and it's somewhat tragic. It's complicated and has many twists and turns, the character (Elio) is conflicted yet so completly sure. Following his train of thoughts, his attemps at understanding his universe while also having the intuition that he knows everything in advance, that the surprises are only half surprising. That's how I felt anyway... he had a way of living, a way of loving that felt empowering and magical.
In the end, what will live with me from this novel is the feeling that came with this book, the heart full and, maybe, just a little bit hurt..
This entire story felt like a breeze on a hot summer night or like the waves crashing on a rocky beach. It felt like a hug and a slap. It swallowed me whole and when I finished it it was like part of me was left behind, or a part of me had been lifted out of me.
The love that is described in this novel is uncontrollable, it's beautiful and it's somewhat tragic. It's complicated and has many twists and turns, the character (Elio) is conflicted yet so completly sure. Following his train of thoughts, his attemps at understanding his universe while also having the intuition that he knows everything in advance, that the surprises are only half surprising. That's how I felt anyway... he had a way of living, a way of loving that felt empowering and magical.
In the end, what will live with me from this novel is the feeling that came with this book, the heart full and, maybe, just a little bit hurt..
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death and Terminal illness
grayisasleep's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
i was around 14-15 when i first read this book and i wanted to reread it now, when i’m 18 to see how my opinion has changed. i plan to do this again in my 20s. when i first read it i rated it a 5/5 easily. i thought it was the most beautiful, emotional, raw piece of writing on intimacy ever written. but i was 15.
looking back on this story now i have many mixed feelings. my love for this book was so strong that it has deepened how i feel about it now. i want to resent this book— and i do, i just wish i did more. this is not a love story. it is a story of grooming, and it is difficult to see that because we are in elio’s mind. i was so deeply infatuated with this book at 15, and while rereading it i felt those feelings come back. the giddiness, the “beauty” of this book— of this “relationship.” reading this at 15 has my warped perception on it just as elio’s perception of oliver was warped. i hope by my next reread in my 20s i’m over it.
i’m not going to write a whole essay on this book because hundreds of people already have but there’s just so many problems with it. the author adds in incredibly gross scenes because he thinks he can just excuse it as “complete and total intimacy.” like no dude it’s just straight up gross.
the writing is what really saved this for me the second time around though. it really is the most beautifully written book i’ve read in my life (thus far that is.) i need so many quotes from this book engraved into me.
but yeah, in conclusion; pretty writing but oliver is a disgusting, manipulative person and i wish more people saw this book for what it really was.
looking back on this story now i have many mixed feelings. my love for this book was so strong that it has deepened how i feel about it now. i want to resent this book— and i do, i just wish i did more. this is not a love story. it is a story of grooming, and it is difficult to see that because we are in elio’s mind. i was so deeply infatuated with this book at 15, and while rereading it i felt those feelings come back. the giddiness, the “beauty” of this book— of this “relationship.” reading this at 15 has my warped perception on it just as elio’s perception of oliver was warped. i hope by my next reread in my 20s i’m over it.
i’m not going to write a whole essay on this book because hundreds of people already have but there’s just so many problems with it. the author adds in incredibly gross scenes because he thinks he can just excuse it as “complete and total intimacy.” like no dude it’s just straight up gross.
the writing is what really saved this for me the second time around though. it really is the most beautifully written book i’ve read in my life (thus far that is.) i need so many quotes from this book engraved into me.
but yeah, in conclusion; pretty writing but oliver is a disgusting, manipulative person and i wish more people saw this book for what it really was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Antisemitism
Minor: Child death, Death, and Death of parent