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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
reflective
sad
fast-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nothing really happens yet everything happens. A man goes through life without much motivation as he navigates getting older, romantic relationships, friendships, and vices. Leo is all of us on a certain level, he is flawed but he is a very real character and Calligarich makes you genuinely care for him even when he makes gigantic mistakes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
dark
emotional
sad
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
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
4.5/5 ⭐️
If The Catcher in the Rye grew up, moved to Rome, and traded teenage angst for existential drift, you’d get Last Summer in the City. Gianfranco Calligarich delivers a melancholy, deeply quotable novel that reads like the cigarette smoke-stained diary of someone who’s already halfway out of their own life.
The story follows Leo Gazzara, a young man who’s allergic to ambition and perfectly content (or perhaps resigned) to float through the Eternal City with no real direction. Rome itself feels like another character—beautiful, tired, and indifferent to Leo’s aimlessness. He stumbles through parties, half-hearted affairs, and long walks that seem to go nowhere, and yet every page manages to say something sharp and true about loneliness, detachment, and the aching desire to feel something.
There’s a real elegance to Calligarich’s writing—clean, evocative, and filled with lines that you want to underline, screenshot, and tattoo all at once. The kind of book you can breeze through in a day but will sit heavy in your chest for weeks.
Perfect for anyone in their twenties or thirties who’s ever stared at the ceiling and wondered what the hell they’re doing with their life. Sad boi summer certified.
If The Catcher in the Rye grew up, moved to Rome, and traded teenage angst for existential drift, you’d get Last Summer in the City. Gianfranco Calligarich delivers a melancholy, deeply quotable novel that reads like the cigarette smoke-stained diary of someone who’s already halfway out of their own life.
The story follows Leo Gazzara, a young man who’s allergic to ambition and perfectly content (or perhaps resigned) to float through the Eternal City with no real direction. Rome itself feels like another character—beautiful, tired, and indifferent to Leo’s aimlessness. He stumbles through parties, half-hearted affairs, and long walks that seem to go nowhere, and yet every page manages to say something sharp and true about loneliness, detachment, and the aching desire to feel something.
There’s a real elegance to Calligarich’s writing—clean, evocative, and filled with lines that you want to underline, screenshot, and tattoo all at once. The kind of book you can breeze through in a day but will sit heavy in your chest for weeks.
Perfect for anyone in their twenties or thirties who’s ever stared at the ceiling and wondered what the hell they’re doing with their life. Sad boi summer certified.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief
Had a hard time connecting with the main character until 3/4 thru the book. Beautiful imagery of life in the city, and the character was still complex and made for interesting conversation.
beautiful descriptions of rome, of living in a city and being swept up by the affairs of others while being indifferent to your own fate and what the future holds. Leo’s self hatred is reflected on his mistreatment of the ones he loves, especially the women in his life. his tether to the sea was incredibly described, especially the last chapter with the dazzling castle and blue waters. the melancholy felt inevitable but also difficult to sympathize with when presented with a vicious cycle of self destruction
reflective
sad
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
reflective
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:
No