A review by trevorgrandin
Harvard Square by André Aciman

3.0

Having been accustomed to the writing of "Call Me By Your Name," I had lofty expectations for this book. First, this book is nothing like CMBYN. Although this is somewhat of a love story, it shares none of the passion that Elio and Oliver held, most likely because these characters are friends rather than lovers. Second, Aciman has a beautiful way of making every page pulse with a sense of yearning. From the character description to the simple choice of words, there's always something missing, whether or not the character finds it is never guaranteed. Finally, this book is the definition of a slow burn. Much like Aciman's previous works, it takes time to become invested in the characters. None of them are particularly likable, but the realness of their personalities is very impressive.