Call Me by Your Name: The Graphic Novel

Rizzoli Bookstore celebrates the release of Call Me by Your Name: The Graphic Novel, a beautifully illustrated adaptation of André Aciman’s beloved modern classic. Reimagining one of the most celebrated queer love stories of the twenty-first century, the graphic novel introduces Elio and Oliver’s unforgettable romance through expressive artwork while preserving the emotional depth and lyrical spirit of the original novel.

First published in 2007, Call Me by Your Name became an international literary sensation for its intimate portrayal of first love, longing, and self-discovery. Set during a summer in northern Italy, the story follows seventeen-year-old Elio as his life is transformed by the arrival of Oliver, a charismatic American graduate student staying with Elio’s family. Their relationship unfolds gradually, capturing the exhilaration, uncertainty, and heartbreak of a romance that leaves a lasting imprint on both of their lives.

The novel’s influence expanded even further with the acclaimed 2017 film adaptation directed by Luca Guadagnino, introducing the story to a global audience and cementing its place as one of the defining works of contemporary LGBTQ+ literature and cinema. This graphic novel offers readers a fresh interpretation of Aciman’s timeless story, using the visual language of sequential art to highlight the emotional intimacy and quiet beauty that have made the book a queer classic.

The event will explore the creative process behind adapting such an iconic novel into graphic form, offering readers an opportunity to discover how illustration can deepen and reinterpret one of literature’s most enduring romances. Whether you’re revisiting the story or encountering it for the first time, this celebration honors a work that continues to resonate with readers across generations.