Call Me by Your Name is a 2007 coming-of-age novel written by Italian-American writer André Aciman. Set in the 1980s, the novel centers on the sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between student Elio Perlman and visiting American scholar Oliver, chronicling their relationship and the 20 years that follow. In 2017, it was adapted into a critically acclaimed film of the same name. A sequel, Find Me, was released in October 2019.

Elio Perlman recalls the events of the summer of 1983, when he was seventeen and living with his parents in Northern Italy. Each summer, his parents would take in a doctoral student as a house guest for six weeks, who would revise a book manuscript while assisting his father with academic paperwork. Elio resents the tradition, as it requires him to vacate his bedroom so the guest can use it for the duration of their stay.

Oliver, the guest for the summer, is carefree and detached—a stark contrast to Elio's introversion. Elio selected Oliver as a guest in the hopes of "instant affinities" between them and acts as his tour guide, though Elio's attempts to impress Oliver are met with indifference. Though Elio recognizes his own bisexuality and his attraction to Oliver—he is particularly excited by his discovery that Oliver is Jewish, seeing it as a bond between them—he doubts that Oliver reciprocates his feelings.

Eventually Elio confesses his attraction to Oliver, and they kiss on a berm where Claude Monet had supposedly painted some of his pictures. When Elio makes an advance on him, he rejects him.

Oliver and Elio grow distant in the subsequent days. Elio begins an affair with Marzia, his childhood friend who was madly in love with him. After going days without speaking, seeking reconciliation, Oliver slips a note under Elio’s bedroom door, with a plan to meet at midnight. Elio feels guilty about the encounter and decides that he cannot continue his relationship with Oliver.

The next morning, after some flirtatious interactions, Elio realizes that his attraction to Oliver persists, and that he wishes to continue their relationship.

Before returning to the United States, Oliver decides to spend three days in Rome, where he is accompanied by Elio. The two roam the streets, drinking and falling more in love despite the upcoming dreaded moment of Oliver leaving. Elio is extremely heart broken and upon returning from the trip, he is saddened to find that his belongings have already been returned to his original bedroom that was once filled with Oliver's things, and that all traces of his short visit have vanished. Clearly distressed, Elio has a discussion with his father about the pair's "friendship." His father is very supportive and understanding, claiming he wishes he had experienced such a thing in his lifetime. He fully approves of the friendship (and relationship) between Elio and Oliver.

That Christmas, Oliver again visits the Perlman family, and announces that he intends to marry next spring. Oliver and Elio fall out of touch, and do not communicate with one another between the time that Oliver leaves Italy, and the end of year holidays, when Elio returns to his family’s villa over the wintertime.