Call Me by Your Name: The Graphic Novel

by André Aciman, Sarah Maxwell (Illustrator), Mariella Manfré (Translator)

In deze prachtige graphic novel bewerking door Sarah Maxwell-McNicol komt internationaal fenomeen en prijswinnende bestseller Call me by your name van André Aciman helemaal tot leven. Met zinderende illustraties waarin de hartstocht én het Italiaanse zomerse leven van de pagina's spatten, wordt de ontdekkingstocht naar de diepe liefde van Elio en Oliver in beeld gebracht.

Elio woont samen met zijn ouders aan de Italiaanse Riviera, waar zijn vader iedere zomer een gast uitnodigt. Wanneer Oliver komt aanwaaien met zijn arrogantie en scherpe opmerkingen, weet Elio zeker dat ze elkaar zullen haten. Maar na verschillende zwoele middagen, zomerlunches, en tenniswedstrijden in de zon, bloeit er toch een verbinding op waar ze niet omheen kunnen.

Het mooiste queer liefdesverhaal in beeld, voor iedereen die geen genoeg kan krijgen van Call me by your name.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Romance, LGBT, Comics, Queer, Fiction, Summer

254 pages, Hardcover

First published August 11, 2026

About the author

André Aciman was born in Alexandria, Egypt and is an American memoirist, essayist, novelist, and scholar of seventeenth-century literature. He has also written many essays and reviews on Marcel Proust. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, The New York Times, The Paris Review, The New Republic, Condé Nast Traveler as well as in many volumes of The Best American Essays. Aciman received his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Harvard University, has taught at Princeton and Bard and is Distinguished Professor of Comparative Literature at The CUNY Graduate Center. He is currently chair of the Ph. D. Program in Comparative Literature and founder and director of The Writers' Institute at the Graduate Center.

Aciman is the author of the Whiting Award-winning memoir Out of Egypt (1995), an account of his childhood as a Jew growing up in post-colonial Egypt. Aciman has published two other books: False Papers: Essays in Exile and Memory (2001), and a novel Call Me By Your Name (2007), which was chosen as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and won the Lambda Literary Award for Men's Fiction (2008). His forthcoming novel Eight White Nights (FSG) will be published on February 14, 2010

Reviews

[Henk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe not as brilliant and emotionally crushing to me as either the novel or the movie, this is still powerful and nearly made me cry on the Eurostar
Please, don’t hurt me, which meant, hurt me all you want.

I absolutely love the novel and the way it captures being in love and young and the sadness that comes with loss and not being able to be with the one you love, which for queer people is a fairly recent phenomenon.

The graphic novel captures the 80s and sun infused nature of the narrative in a glossy way. Oliver is less buff and seems almost the same age as quite square jawed Elio, and I think it is well done by illustrator Sarah Maxwell-McNicol in how the characters are not photocopies of the movie actors. Also the ear for selecting some of the most poignant sentences from the novel is well executed.
A welcome addition that allows re-entry to Elio’s and Oliver’s world and sunny Italy!

Quotes:
”I know myself.”
It intimidated me.

You make me like who I am, and who I become when you’re with me, Oliver.

They always said I got too easily attached to people

Did I want to be him? Or did I just want to have him?

Do you like being alone?
No. Bo one likes being alone. But I’ve learned to live with it.

I’ll take it - I’ll settle for less, even, if only to live with these threadbare scraps.

I wanted it to last forever, because I knew there’d be no coming back from this.

He was not allowing me to forget him

Will you be okay?
I’ll be okay.

I knew that this might never be given to us again, and I couldn’t bring myself to believe it.

Think of the pain before the pain.

To feel nothing so as not to feel anything - what a waste!

Bu remember, our hearts and bodies are given to us only once.

We had found the stars, you and I.
And this is given once only.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, this book made me feel all the feels again. While certainly not as perfect as the novel, the graphic novel just a fine job adding emotion to the characters and capturing their feelings on page.

[Hope Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the original book, but I love this graphic novel even more. I’m blessed to know Sarah Maxwell McNicol personally, and I know the blood, sweat and tears & all the hard work Sarah has put in to make this book a success. Could not be more proud of her. If I could give it more than five stars, I would. It’s just incredible and so beautiful.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Zenitea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate how after many years it still breaks my heart. But now on a different level.

I’m in a physical pain now

[Malena Hehn · Rating 3 out of 5]

LAS ILUSTRACIONES????? estoy anonadada con lo bellas que son

[Sławek (Żółwie Książkowe) · Rating 3 out of 5]

OCENA: 3,5 ⭐️ Nadal nie pokochałem tej historii, ale nieustannie zachwyca mnie jej klimat. 🍊⛱️ Choć i tak wydaje mi się, że dzięki powieści graficznej bardziej uwierzyłem w tę relację.

[Lars Dekker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two years later and their story still destroys me. Honestly, the movie never hit like the book did, but this graphic novel got it so right. The art captures that constant ache and yearning perfectly. It hurts to read, but it’s just a reminder that we, the queer community, deserve more than just yearning and deserve to experience a real love that deep.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chyba każdy, kto mnie choć trochę zna, wie, ze „Tamte dni, tamte noce” mają specjalne miejsce w moim sercu. Dlatego jestem zachwycona, że mam przed sobą egzemplarz powieści graficznej i mogłam się jeszcze raz przenieść do słonecznych Włoch z Elio i Oliverem. 🥺🌞
Sama najczęściej robię rewatch filmu, ale ta lektura jest świetnym dopełnieniem zarówno adaptacji jak i książki. Jesli jesteście fanami historii Elio i Olivera, po prostu musicie po nią sięgnąć. 🍑
Kreska jest tutaj przepiękna, oddaje klimat historii. Przyznaję, że na początku trudno było mi przestawić się na inny wygląd bohaterów niż ten, który znam z ekranu. Ilustrator jednak poradził sobie z tym wyzwaniem bardzo dobrze, i wraz z lekturą coraz bardziej przyzwyczajałam się do nowej wizji postaci.

Dla mnie jest to bezapelacyjne 5 gwiazdek, ta historia to moje comfort space i zawsze będę ją polecać. 🧡
[współpraca recenzencka]

[☆ Lara the Ninth ☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very beautiful, but this is a fanfiction, not an adaptation of the novel. The original is simply not a romance as it is portrait here. Pretty sad that the essence of such a beautiful book couldn’t be translated faithfully into this new medium.

[Tobias van de Sanden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ik las de NLe versie, maar ja, die staat nog niet op Goodreads...

[suonnahbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥰🥰🥰🥰

[Jen (Fae_Princess_in_Space) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh that was so beautiful and so sad; I knew from the original that the ending is bittersweet but seeing it rendered in Sarah Maxwell’s beautiful artistic style really got me right in the feels 🥺

Call My By Your Name is a story about a summer romance between two young men in the Italian Riviera. American student Oliver spends his summer in Elio’s family home, and they dance around their mutual attraction to each other until finally the weight of if comes crashing down on them and they have to give in to it. This book is all about fleeting moments and the transient nature of young love. Honestly, I was in floods of tears by the end; although the summer was transformative for them both, it also did irreparable damage in that there is no way either of them will ever find what they had again.

The book is told from the POV of Elio, and I think that a lot of Oliver’s character you have to read between the lines for, especially in this illustrated version. Maxwell captures both characters expressions so beautifully that you never have any doubt what they’re feeling, even if they’re not saying it.

The artwork style is just gorgeous and perfectly encapsulates an Italian summer and the emanations of the characters. This is one that I’m going to be picking up again and again 💕 Thank you so much to Faber for gifting me a finished review copy, it’s available on the 11th August 🌞

Read for:
✨ Beautifully drawn graphic novel
✨ A fleeting summer romance
✨ The transience of young love
✨ A slice of Italian heaven
✨ Emotional and heartbreaking
✨ Bittersweet and thought provoking

[Sara Kelemit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Galet vacker kärlekshistoria. Magiska bilder. Känner värmen. Och visst är det sorgligt med omöjlig kärlek- men när det genererar så vackra avslutande meningar, då är det väl ändå värt smärtan?

We both always knew, and the silence between us over the years confirmd it all the more.
We found the stars, you and I.
And this is given once only.
For, One day, if you come back and remember everything…
I’ll want to say, if you are really like me…
Then you’ll turn to me, and look me in the face…
Hold my gaze…
And call me by your name.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Maxwell’s stunning, dreamy illustration of my favorite novel is everything I could ask for. Her interpretation of Elio and Oliver was beautiful, her scenes of the Italian countryside simply serene. I was instantly transported to mine and Elio’s beloved B., falling over myself for /la muvi star/ all over again. Feeling every swell and crash of emotion within Elio, my fictional twin. While this didn’t tug at my heart as much as the original book or the movie, it didn’t need to. I loved this as a sort of separate thing. Absolutely worth the buy!

[Jannus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tja, was dit nodig?

[Marith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tekeningen zijn 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!

[nilo ྀིྀིྀིྀིྀི · Rating 4 out of 5]

the graphic novel is so beautiful

[Abbey Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give me Elio and Oliver’s story in any form and I’m certain I’ll love it. This was actual magic. Possibly my favourite book I own now 🍑

“Call me by your name and I’ll call you by mine” 🥹

[Erin Lohman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love cmbyn sm omg

[Flávio Mata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustration, beautiful details. Always and forever in love with this storie.

[Christopher Louderback · Rating 2 out of 5]

It isn’t that the art is bad, just that it is a strange juxtaposition alongside Aciman’s story. The style works against the tone of Call Me By Your Name and our protagonists look like Instagram Yaoi versions of themselves. Sarah Maxwell’s “retelling” of the source material reads more like YA than it does a fresh interpretation to complement the visuals. I’m certainly influenced by my, like many of ours, deep connection to the original novel, but everything here comes out strained and sterile. The heart of Elio and Aciman’s beautiful language is missing.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what he looks like but I can get past that because they included vimni sighhh
Very pretty illustrations though - quick read <3

[Diogo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Não só as ilustrações são belíssimas, como elevam a introspecção de cada personagem, onde cada frase transcende e toca no leitor de forma poética, sentida e, nesta história, sofrida.
Adorei a construção narrativa, assim como a jornada das personagens, onde o destino sela, desde o início, o que para as mesmas está destinado. Quero imenso ler a sequela.

[kim · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

this was gut wrenching and enthralling. the story is one that punches me in the gut. overwhelming love stories always do this to me

what carries this most is the original story. it’s told with a focus on Elio who is very young and very impressionable and very much crushing on the handsome man staying with his family for the summer.

and we understand elio!! we have had these crushes that consume us. at least i have. i remember when these feelings like this used to be so intoxicating, nearly more powerful than any drug. this person being on your mind 24/7 your mood depending on them your mind hung up on the questioning and the possibilities. i think it ultimately has something to do with intermittent reinforcement honestly but i sure do love romanticizing those mind bending feelings.

but at the heart of it we see an inappropriate age gap relationship. while the two are not in a hugely noticeable age gap (this book even starting out with barely ANY mention of the fact that oliver is a handful of years older than our teenage main character - but also it could be implied with the fact that oliver seems to be working on collage/graduate stuff) the power imbalance comes from their ages alone. sure, maybe oliver isn’t holding any real power over elio socially or financially or whatever, he does have the power of age. he realizes immediately what elio doesn’t. that this is wrong. that this means something different to both of them because of where they are in their lives

but the most gut wrenching part is how it seems like they did mean similar things to each other. it seemed like oliver is also consumed by longing for elio. and it all feels so innocent. but when you consider their life experience gap, it just isn’t. oliver is at a different place in his life, one where this is a make believe place far from his actual home. to elio, this is so much his home that it takes place in his bedroom. it was never fair for elio. elio was always doomed to be marked by this forever not able to just get away by thinking of something else.

and while elio is intelligent and realizing that he is more than just a straight male, he is also young and immature and confused. he is self depreciating and insecure. he is eager for validation and attention from someone he looks up to. he says things like “or you never have to talk to me again” and my heart breaks for him, because he’s just a baby after all.

one thing i will say is that with the pace of this, it went quick. so i don’t think readers were accurately able to feel the slow burn intoxicating lead up that consumers of the book and movie were maybe feeling as they felt the pull of the pair together.

it’s interesting though how this book is split into different sections that are clearly marked with different moods, all dependent upon the interactions between elio and oliver. when they finally get together, everything changes. i would even argue that things lead into their downhill movement. from the moment they get together you are plagued with this countdown for things to be over as well as a sinister feeling that this is wrong in the back of your mind.

another thing i really loved about this book was the ART!! the way it is highlighted and colored makes things look beautiful and glistening sparkling. it’s gorgeous and so fitting to the setting and story and characters.

*writing this as someone who has only seen the movie and now read this graphic novel, but i admittedly have not read the original book

[Małgosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ 𝑊𝑆𝑃𝑂𝐿𝑃𝑅𝐴𝐶𝐴 𝑅𝐸𝐾𝐿𝐴𝑀𝑂𝑊𝐴 ]

To była moja pierwsza powieść graficzna, którą czytałam, ale naprawdę miło się zaskoczyłam! Rzadko sięgam po takie książki, ale myślę, że dla takich warto spróbować.

Powieść bardzo szybko się czytało, bo jest napisana bardzo przyjemnym językiem, co sprawia, że nie wiesz, nawet kiedy, a jesteś już w połowie! Same obrazki są przepiękne i aż ułatwiają czytanie, co jest ogromnym plusem.

Mogłoby się wydawać, że tekstu w takiej powieści może być mało, ale akurat w tym przypadku wcale tego nie odczuwałam. Jedynym minusem jest to, że czasami jest on chaotyczny i nie wiadomo, od której strony zacząć czytać.

Było też dosyć sporo podtekstów seksualnych (scena z brzoskwinią też), co też sprawiło, że moja ocena lekko spadła, ale nie jest to jakiś wielki minus, który moje nastawienie do tej książki, bo wciąż z wielką przyjemnością skończyłam czytać książkę.

Napewno bardziej jest to książka dla osób, które chcą poznać Olivera i Elio z innej perspektywy niż film, czy oryginalna książka. Mimo to polecam to osobom, które chciałyby dopiero poznać ich historię, czy zacząć czytać powieści graficzne.

[bookfromdream_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cudownie było wrócić do tej historii🥹🫠

Dla mnie jako dla osoby, która dosyć dobrze zna książkę i film to było idealne uzupełnienie obrazu tej historii. Spojrzałam na tą fabułę z trochę innej strony, zauważyłam trochę inne atuty i istotne rzeczy zawarte przez autora, a piękne ilustracje cudownie dopełniły całość.

Czy byłaby to dobra pozycja dla osoby, która ma po raz pierwszy styczność z tą książką? Szczerze mówiąc, nie wiem. Jakbym miała wymazać z pamięci to co już wiedziałam i opierać swoją wiedzę tylko na tej graficznej wersji tej historii to uważam, że nie było w niej tak mocnej głębi jak w "oryginale" po prostu dla mnie całą kwintesencją tej książki są opisy.

Mimo wszystko była to świetna przygoda, pojawiło się sporo emocji, ilustracje idealnie wpasowywały się w klimat i niezwykle dobrze uzupełniały to co nie było napisane.

[Jenniferleest · Rating 2 out of 5]

Call Me By Your Name heb je vast al eens voorbij zien komen. Ik in ieder geval wel, maar ik heb zowel het boek als de film nooit gelezen of gezien. Toen er een graphic novel werd aangekondigd, vond ik dat het perfecte moment om daar eindelijk verandering in te brengen. Ik besloot er blind in te duiken, zonder de synopsis te lezen. De illustraties zijn werkelijk prachtig: kleurrijk, warm en zó levendig dat ze tot leven komen. Bovendien is de graphic novel uitgegeven in hardcover (altijd een pluspunt, als je het mij vraagt). Het verhaal wist mij echter niet te overtuigen. Bepaalde scènes lieten mij zelfs met mijn wenkbrauwen fronsen. Behalve de scène met Elio’s vader, die vond ik oprecht heel mooi en ontroerend. Eén ding is zeker: Elio’s verlangen wordt duidelijk neergezet. Ik kan er kort maar krachtig over zijn, ook omdat ik spoilervrij wil blijven: dit was simpelweg niet mijn boek.

[belliebooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ten eerste, wauw wat een illustraties! Dit is zo mooi geïllustreerd. Het hele boek voelt aan als een zonovergoten Italië en past perfect bij de sfeer van het boek. Het verhaal zelf moest ik even in komen. Het verhaal start vrij traag, waardoor het grootste gedeelte van het boek er niet zoveel gebeurde. Dit zette natuurlijk een emotionele lading vooral rondom Elio's verlangen, maar dat haalde niet weg dat het boek voor mij vrij traag begon. En toen kwamen de laatste hoofdstukken. Prachtig! Een mooi einde, vol emoties, en als je eenmaal denkt dit was het dan wordt er nog een schepje bovenop gedaan. Ik vond het een prachtig boek om te lezen, door de artwork en het einde, maar het volledige verhaal wist mij dus niet helemaal te pakken. Ik raad hem zeker wel aan voor LBTQIA+ romance lovers!

Bedankt voor het recensie-exemplaar Blossom Books

[dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

never read the novel but i enjoyed the film. after reading this i might have to reconsider and pick up the book. the art is phenomenally beautiful. i would spend minutes on each page just looking over all the details because holy moly.

obviously this book has its negatives which i do find gross but this was such a lovely story. just the coming of age and the fleeting lingering love that comes from elios side was a tale done well. this book has some of the most brilliant and iconic lines which was translated so well in this graphic novel.