While Tondelli’s prose is poetic and intense, the narrative can feel disjointed at times, leaving certain character arcs underdeveloped. The book’s candid treatment of love and sexuality is both its strength and its weakness, depending on the reader's expectations. While the story resonates with emotional truth, its fragmented structure left me feeling disconnected. Overall, it's a compelling but uneven read that captures the turmoil of coming-of-age, even if it doesn’t always tie everything together in a satisfying way.

NOTHING makes me happier than a literary romance. I think love, especially love under oppression, is too big and too important to be frivolous about. As a big A. Aciman fan, this book definitely checked all those boxes. It took its time, unfolded as love truly does, and gets into the scary, uncomfortable intimacies that grief and love often share.

Highly recommend.

In Separate Rooms, we follow Leo as he reflects on the love he shared with this lover Thomas who has died in the 1980's, from what the reader assumes to be AIDS. THe style of the novel is not linear, so it was a bit hard to follow at times and I found my mind wandering for long chunks of this books. Where the book shines however is the writing. During the more plot-driven parts I was really hooked and on almost every page I was hit by the most beautiful sentences I've ever read. By the end I felt a little tear roll down my cheek. I can't wait to reread this when it comes out in a physical copy so I can underline everything. Wow!

At times, I did not feel smart enough for this book. That being said, I do think it was a beautiful portrayal not only of loss but of love. I think I read somewhere that this is and is not an "AIDS" novel, and I agree. It is, I guess, in that the author died from AIDS shortly after its publication and in that the love interest of our main character also dies, presumably from AIDS. But I don't think that is what the book is ABOUT. The book is about their love story. About how they make their relationship work despite having few relationships from which they can model theirs. They are a gay couple in the 80s. While gay men were certainly out and prevalent, it was not in the way it is now. There's a heartwrenching scene when Leo visits Thomas on his deathbed at his parent's house and he realizes that there is no recognition for his grief there because there is no recognition for his love.

One thing I will say though, I thought Leo was an absolute shit. He treated Thomas terribly and then went on long philosophical rants as an explanation/excuse for why he treated the love of his life like shit.

Overall, would recommend this book to those who are ok with a book with very little plot and a whole lot of vibes. I also wish I could read it in its original language as I feel there was something of its magic lost in translation.

Really gorgeous writing, I can see fans of Aciman really enjoying this as it’s similar in vibes and themes. I will definitely check out more by the author!

Great writing and a strong story. The main character was fascinating and held my attention throughout. The shifting timeline didn’t bother me—it actually added an intriguing dimension to the plot. I can’t wait to see the movie.

Excellent writing. Solid story. I found the main character very interesting. Didn’t mind the flip flopping timeline.

I loved SEPARATE ROOMS, and really do hope Luca ends up adapting it. Need more books like this!!!

Thanks to the publisher for the e-galley!

I requested this book since I'm a huge A. Aciman and O. Vuong fan but I feel like it's a bit unjust to compare Separate Rooms to modern-day authors' work.

The book itself was deep and sad. Main character, Leo, lost his lover and went on a journey to basically find the meaning of life. The grief described was raw, all-consuming but I was rather thrown off at times by the sudden change of time: there were lots of time-skips and memories, reflections.

I didn't really like Leo nor Thomas as characters. Many of their descisions, actions felt selfish and hurtful. I did feel like their relationship towards the end of Thomas' life was good, but overall the relationship seemed rather toxic. Maybe it's the time, 1980s, maybe it was as a norm back then, I don't know.

Separare rooms is a touching story, though, not very action-packed, more slow-paced with lots of reflections and meanings.

At times this was so beautiful it made me want to cry, and other times I was just following along on this slightly confusing journey.

Leo was in a relationship with Thomas, and now Thomas is gone and Leo doesn't know how to deal with it.

Often I felt confused by the time-jumping and place jumping, but overall this was an emotional book.

Beautiful writing style with a very touching story. It's a very slow paced book, but I still found it very enjoyable. I can't wait to see it on screen!

This was a beautiful book. Tondelli's writing style is beautiful and the story was touching. Slow and steady the character evolve and the story progesses in a way that it was beautiful to read and I enjoyed it

(3.5 rounded up) To be real, my introduction of both this author and this novel was via the news that Luca Guadagnino is adapting this for the screen. I sought it out, only to find it is out-of-print in English, so imagine my delight to find that it’s being re-published in April. The story involves Leo, an Italian man grieving the loss of his younger lover, who dies of AIDS-related complications in the first section of the book. After this, Leo goes on both a physical and philosophical journey, traveling through Europe, searching for answers on life and death. This is an extremely low-plot book, with a lot of meandering discourse and lush descriptions. I found myself both struggling to remain engaged at certain parts and highlighting like a maniac at others. This is a book where I’d be curious to read it in it’s original Italian, not because I think the English translation is bad, but because this is such a vibey book, I felt like concepts and thoughts were occasionally lost in translation. Also, the cover is stunning. I’m interested if the film version of this will ever come to fruition!

One of the reasons I wanted to read this book is because of the news that Luca Guadagnino is going to adapt it into a movie, and oh boy, from the very first page you can tell why it's going to be as good a movie as the book is.

Tondelli has an uncanny ability to draw you into the book, to transport you inside the scenes and bring you closer to the characters, their joys and their pains. I can perfectly imagine every moment, every scene he relates, and that is one of the book's greatest strengths. The book grabs you and sucks you in, a skill that Tondelli has mastered to perfection, however difficult it may be to achieve.

Still, I think the reason why this book will be among my favorites of the year is its main character, and I can't help but carry Leo in my heart. Sometimes you love him, sometimes you hate him, but he's written in a way that you can understand him and, in the end, you want the best for him. He is a complex and convoluted protagonist, so human that you still love him even when he frustrates the hell out of you.

All in all, I think it's a great book for all fans of Guadagnino and writers like Baldwin, or for anyone who wants to read a sad, painful story, but one that will touch your heart.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

this was absolutely fantastic. i loved everything about it – from leo’s complicated, deeply human view on romantic relationships to his silent grief for thomas’s untimely death. i am beyond excited to see what luca guadagnino does with it in his upcoming adaptation – i could see it very vividly as i read, and i think it will be absolutely phenomenal. i am so, so glad it is finally being published in english, as it will give it all the hype it deserves!

"Separate Rooms" by Pier Vittorio Tondelli is a semi-autobiographical novel that follows Leo, a gay Italian writer in his thirties, as he copes with the death of his German lover, Thomas, who died of AIDS. The narrative unfolds in three parts, incorporating flashbacks and reflections that explore their relationship alongside Leo's journey of self-discovery and healing.

The novel delves into themes of love, loss, and self-acceptance within a society that struggles to embrace their bond. Leo's grief after Thomas's death leads him on a path of cathartic self-reconstruction, where he confronts loneliness while cherishing their memories. Tondelli portrays non-traditional love, highlighting the characters' struggles and flaws within societal constraints. Instead of being plot-driven, the novel serves as a rumination on the past, grief, and the quest to understand one's present and future.

The story's structure mirrors Leo's emotional phases, resembling a symphony of experiences, with the three acts representing different movements. Leo, acting as Tondelli's alter ego, navigates through grief and introspection, while Thomas's presence profoundly influences Leo's journey. Set in the 1970s and 80s, the novel also touches on themes of drug use as a means of escapism, as well as the concepts of found family, community, and counterculture in opposition to heteronormativity.

Overall, "Separate Rooms" poignantly explores the complexities of love and identity against a backdrop of societal expectations. Fans of "Tin Man," "A Single Man," and perhaps Andrew Haigh's films may particularly enjoy this read. Thank you to NetGalley and Zando for the ARC.