Scan barcode
ams5x9's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
2.0
I really wanted to like this book, however despite being well written, it lacked substance.
I’m here for a timeless, devoted love story between two men that transcends age and culture set in a time period where such thing was taboo.
However, this book fell flat. The characters lacked dimension and several parts of the book felt like I was imposing on the mind of a very anxiously obsessed adolescent who throughout the novel *rapes* a peach and prizes *literal* shit.
I didn’t find it to be arduous admiration—it felt creepy.
I think other reviewers, particularly gay men who have similarly rated this two stars or lower, do a great job at describing the problematic parts of this novel, so I would defer to their sentiments and opinions for more extensive commentary that echos or matches my experience reading this novel.
I’m here for a timeless, devoted love story between two men that transcends age and culture set in a time period where such thing was taboo.
However, this book fell flat. The characters lacked dimension and several parts of the book felt like I was imposing on the mind of a very anxiously obsessed adolescent who throughout the novel *rapes* a peach and prizes *literal* shit.
I didn’t find it to be arduous admiration—it felt creepy.
I think other reviewers, particularly gay men who have similarly rated this two stars or lower, do a great job at describing the problematic parts of this novel, so I would defer to their sentiments and opinions for more extensive commentary that echos or matches my experience reading this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
tadiwa_e's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I cannot really express the experience I went through reading this book. Almost DNFed it 3 times… I am still processing. But I will say. What a beautifully written piece. I would not call it a romance but maybe a recollection of Elios memories. It was intimate and sometimes really intense.
However I cannot get behind the age gap and power dynamics in the relationship. No matter how much Aciman tries to present it as something to be praised. For that I cannot give a higher rating. Some parts of this book also were disgusting… sorry… there’s no way THAT scene is going to be skipped past like it never happened.
Overall I loved a lot of quotes in this book and it was thought provoking especially Elios Fathers speech at the end.
However I cannot get behind the age gap and power dynamics in the relationship. No matter how much Aciman tries to present it as something to be praised. For that I cannot give a higher rating. Some parts of this book also were disgusting… sorry… there’s no way THAT scene is going to be skipped past like it never happened.
Overall I loved a lot of quotes in this book and it was thought provoking especially Elios Fathers speech at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Cancer, Child death, and Death of parent
greyreadss's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
zackarinareads's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
andi00's review against another edition
what can I tell you man the book is just straight up pedophilia.
I'll give the writer some credit due to the fact that his writing did reach an ammount of lyrical level- but that's it. No other redeemable quality. As I mentioned, the plot is about a young boy getting subtly groomed and Italy I guess.
The plot isn't even as compelling as people here make it out to be- I'm not even sure how I managed to finish 200 pages.
It's not "beautiful and heartreaking" - it's sick and mostly- as the kids say nowadays- mid at best. I've read fanfiction better than this.
It's sad to see people buying and hyping the book just because the movie was aesthetic.
If you want queer stories- you should check out queer writers and our own voices books:)
I'll give the writer some credit due to the fact that his writing did reach an ammount of lyrical level- but that's it. No other redeemable quality. As I mentioned, the plot is about a young boy getting subtly groomed and Italy I guess.
The plot isn't even as compelling as people here make it out to be- I'm not even sure how I managed to finish 200 pages.
It's not "beautiful and heartreaking" - it's sick and mostly- as the kids say nowadays- mid at best. I've read fanfiction better than this.
It's sad to see people buying and hyping the book just because the movie was aesthetic.
If you want queer stories- you should check out queer writers and our own voices books:)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia
lacey_wi's review against another edition
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia and Sexual content
shayh's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cancer, Rape, Excrement, Vomit, and Death of parent
jg34's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
2.0
The writing was ok but not my kind of book. It was slow and repetitive and confusing and contradictory and trying to hard to be deep but was just weird to me. Many part seriously just freaked me out FOR EXAMPLE boy masturbating with a peach and then Oliver EATING IT and them wanting to look at each others poop????!!?? Is that romance???? I cannot. Also could not get past the fact that the main character was a minor thirsting after an adult and the adult eventually consented to the relationship. seriously this is bit fucked up but fearless I guess
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual content
Moderate: Pedophilia and Toxic relationship
Minor: Death, Rape, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism, and Death of parent
The entire book is about an adult/minor relationship, graphic sexual toneskysss's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
didnt read the book, didnt need to. its a MINOR and a ADULT!!!! what is WRONG WITH PEOPLE!!!!!!!! if you enjoyed this book as an adult, especially when it comes to the character's relationships, i am going to assume that you have pr are grooming a minor and you are using this book to find something to relate to! Lets not normalize a relationship between a 17 YEAR OLD KID (A MINOR) AND AN 24 YEAR OLD MAN (ADULT)
Why is this an lgbtq romance, this can make homophobes continue to have the idea that gay people are bad and are all pedophiles and groomers. Please unpublish this!! and quit your career, Andre Aciman!!' Thanks!
Why is this an lgbtq romance, this can make homophobes continue to have the idea that gay people are bad and are all pedophiles and groomers. Please unpublish this!! and quit your career, Andre Aciman!!' Thanks!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
mittymyers's review against another edition
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? Yes
2.75
This book was a wonderfully poetic read that had the exact feeling of slow molasses summer in a book until you hit the bit where the TEENAGER starts banging the FULLY GROWN ADULT. Elio says at one point that he knows nothing (paraphrasing) and that is the only way I could enjoy the rest of this. It was just taking the whole relationship and following story in the context of a teenager romanticising something he truely does not understand.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia
Minor: Cancer