The writing is so beautiful, the characters are so thoughtful and the prose flows easily. The way that it paints Italy is so warm, it makes me want to sit on the steps of an old building with a book and a conversation on the way. The relationships aren’t as tragic, but they aren’t as collective either, they feel less explored even while there are plenty of breadcrumbs being left, it just doesn’t hook. 

It feels forced in some places

(The dad calling their son Oliver?)

. And finally I like the way it portrays cycles of life and love. But ...

the dynamic between Elio and Oliver?? Was so unnecessary. It was just bad. The way Oliver haunts Elios life and effects every relationship he has is sad. It feels more like an exploration of trauma and the effects grooming has on the victim, but realistically that just isn’t what was being explored. It leaves the book feeling pointless for the first half. Oliver isn’t a fun character to follow when you know that he used people the way he did, and the ending just doesn’t feel impactful. “Don’t leave me” is one of Elios last sentences and it’s more or less dismissed by Oliver as if that wasn’t what he did to Elio already”

As a sequel it failed to capture me like the first book, even if the writing was once again stunning.