This is a book that tries to be profound but is in fact inconsequential and shallow. A group of old college friends find themselves stranded in a hotel on the Amalfi coast while they wait for their boat to be repaired. Intrigued by an elderly mysterious stranger sitting near them, they invite him to have lunch with them. It soon becomes apparent that he has some sort of psychic powers and knows everything about them. The novel then becomes sillier and sillier as a story of lost love is revealed and the mysterious stranger becomes more and more enigmatic. Pointless and pretentious.

I really loved Call Me By Your Name and so keep trying Aciman's books but again this one didn't live up to the first one.
For me I think that there is a good short story in there but that it has been stretched to a short novel and suffers for that.

A breathtaking journey from enemies to lovers, where the connection is not just romantic but profoundly poetic, deeply sensual, and spiritually transformative. A relationship that transcends the ordinary, weaving together passion and soul in a dance that is as beautiful as it is heart-wrenching. Each moment shared is a delicate blend of tension and tenderness, building toward an all-consuming love that is both healing and soul-crushing.

I was keen to read this book as I've lived the author for years. It was really written and left me wondered about it until the end (no spoilers!). Very evocation of the time and place, and left me thinking...

I loved Call Me By Your Name, but Aciman’s other novels have never quite got to the same tenderness and emotional height. This is his best work in years and, though not perfect, it was very enjoyable to read by the beach.

Beautifully written, surreal and intimate. I enjoyed reading Andrè Aciman's latest title but at times struggled to connect with it. Aciman's prose is, as ever, gorgeous and a pleasure to read. On finishing this, I felt that I might have enjoyed it more if it were expanded to a longer novel rather than being a novella - I was left wanting more.

In this short, quirky story, Andre Aciman conjures the beauty and charm of the Amalfi Coast. When a group of young tourists encounter, Raul, an elderly guest at their hotel, they are intrigued by him. Their interaction develops into an enchanting, unusual experience. His charisma and enigmatic charm having a profound affect on their lives.

Call Me By Your Name was so powerful, it was a tough act to follow... which is exactly what The Gentleman From Peru tried to do, but lacked some innovative traits to be able to. Yes, Italy, summer, romance : everything was there to recreate an atmosphere so beloved by Aciman's readers.

A novel I was really forward to, but unfortunately, fell short.

If you want summer vibes , if you want to be sipping a drink on the Amalfi Coast and if you want a book with White Lotus style vibes then this novella is one you should read.
It's mesmerizing, atmospheric, a little weird but with a poignant meaning and will leave you reflecting on life , loss and childhood memories . It's perfect for a summers afternoon , I only wish it had been longer !
Also, i LOVE this cover !

A brilliant, evocative novella. Reading it you feel like you’re standing on the Amalfi coast, soaking up the sunshine and warmth of a magical, bittersweet story.
Meet Raul and the power of love and destiny, no more can be said without giving away the magic that is hiding behind the pages. This will stay with me for a long time.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This short novel starts with this mystical figure revealing the truths behind people's lives, truths he could not possibly know- this angers and upsets people around him, and he seems to enjoy that.

However, this book quickly started to lose me as it seemed to be more focused on having 'a message' about life and love, and as a result, the plot started to suffer for me, and the book felt like it did not fully know who it was.

I liked the writing style and the nostalgic summer feeling the book left me with. I felt like it would have been better if the story had been longer so I could feel more connected to the characters

very much riding the rich people are horrible satire bandwagon, on the lines of white lotus. not a bad novel by any means but a boring one, one that i felt quite removed from

This novella evoked beautiful imagery of the surrounding scenery and setting the mystery to behind the main character. It was a quick read. Having read the previous novels by this author it was not what I expected.

ANDRE ACIMAN – THE GENTLEMAN FROM PERU ****

Having read the author’s previous novels, this one comes as a disappointment. Not that it’s badly written or not interesting, but it is very slight. It concerns the gentleman from Peru, Raul, who seems to have mysterious powers and has knowledge about a group of young people in his hotel. He makes all manner of predictions, many of which prove correct even though there is no apparent way of gaining his information. Are they under his spell?

It is too complicated to give away more of the plot without spoilers. It’s a short enough book, so it’s worth a punt if you enjoy quality writing and thought-provoking ideas.

This was a peculiar little book; so much so, I initially wasn’t sure quite what to make of it. It’s very short — just over 100 pages — but it has somehow lingered, tugging repeatedly at my consciousness.

It can’t be pigeonholed into any particular genre, and for the greater part doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, but the overall effect is of something mystical and other worldly, disorienting even.

Set on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, the story opens with a group of young Americans, passing the time at a luxurious beach hotel while their boat is being repaired. Their attention is drawn to an elderly guest, a distinctive but enigmatic presence, who eats alone every evening.

When this gentleman introduces himself to the group, it becomes evident that he’s an individual with extraordinary powers. Raúl can vanquish pain, see into the future and change the course of the present. And, unsettlingly, he also knows intimate details about each of the Americans.

He seems to be especially interested in getting to know Margot, and what follows, as he shows her around some of the favourite haunts from his youth, makes for a curiously absorbing read.

Aciman’s prose is sparse and taut but headily evocative of the Amalfi landscape. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes almost dreamlike in its telling. I had the sense that something momentous was happening, just beyond my grasp.

The realization what, exactly, didn’t come until the last few pages. But when it did, it gave me goosebumps.

And then came the hangover.

Since finishing this, I’ve found myself reflecting on many things, including loss, loneliness and regret, as well as on love: lost love, missed love, love rediscovered. But also, perhaps even more deeply, on metaphysical questions, such as the possibility of living multiple lives, the existence of parallel universes, and time as a fourth dimension.

It speaks volumes for Aciman’s writing that he can elicit such a profound reaction from a scant 114-page story, about a fleeting friendship between an old man and a much younger woman.

The only thing that stops me giving this five stars is the ending. It’s ambiguous and provocative and suggestive of a place I didn’t want to go to. Then again, it could also be the very thing that sparked my ruminations.

The evocative scenery and sensory descriptions of this novella were beautiful and captivating. But the storyline left me cold. I couldn't feel where the author was trying to lead me. Maybe it was just too short. Or maybe I wasn't able to suspend my disbelief enough. But this didn't do much for me I'm afraid.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

This book started well. It is well written and from the start I was interested. I enjoy speculative fiction and felt that this would be a clever addition to the genre. However for me it never delivered. The clever ideas never really paid off and in the end it was just another novella. There are far more interesting books that I can press into peoples hands, so I'm afraid I will not be hand selling this one.

The Gentleman from Peru is a beautifully written story with vivid imagery and descriptions of the Amalfi coast. I’ve always enjoyed Aciman’s scene setting and the way he describes the living world around the characters. This book is no exception.

I enjoyed the cast of characters employed but would have loved to have seen more development with them rather than the sole focus revolving around two. I enjoyed their story and its development but found it slightly difficult to vibe with them, possibly because the story develops quickly. Certain aspects of the link between them could have been developed further, particularly how the gifts developed beyond their original discovery.

Definitely worth a read over the summer if you want to be transported to Southern Italy!

A short novel or a long novella, a book about memories of youth, the esotic and sultry atmosphere of Amalfi coast. Aciman delivers another work about youth and how intense is living when you're young.
Well plotted, great storytelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine