Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Chiamami col tuo nome

I suddenly realised that we were on borrowed time, that time is always borrowed, and that the lending agency exacts its premium precisely when we are least prepared to pay and need to borrow more.

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grayisasleep's review against another edition

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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.

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amandaoestreich's review against another edition

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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

5.0

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onion's review against another edition

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mysterious sad slow-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

3.0

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carolinasbooks's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The way I cried-

THE LAST PAGE OHMY—
Seriously, so much better and more painful than the movie- I just- chef’s kiss

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luluslittlelibrary's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

I did not like this book. First, the age gap is really concerning. This book is definitely supposed to be a "first love" story (especially for Elio) but it isn't written correctly for that kind of story. It might have worked better if they were older (and had a smaller age gap) or if they had even a drop of chemistry. There relationship feels very forced and is clearly written by a straight man. The only good thing about this is the author's ability to write a beautiful setting and atmosphere of Italy.

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tearonnling's review against another edition

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emotional reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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mettenikkessen's review against another edition

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emotional 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

4.0

This story entails a lot of passion and almost obsessive romantic and sexual desires. It describes dealing with a first love and the shame. To me it felt real and raw, but at times it was really intense to read - a little bit too intense. I loved the atmospheric scenery (perhaps also because I saw the film). At times I was really invested in the book and I could not put it down, but some scenes or parts of the book were a bit too slow paced for my taste.

“Perhaps we were friends first and lovers second. But then perhaps this is what lovers are" (absolutely love this quote)

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