Call Me By Your Name timeline.

The novel begins with Elio, the main character, talking about his first memory of Oliver, the deuteragonist. Every summer, Elio's parents invite a young academic to spend two months at their house on the Italian Riviera to "revise a manuscript before publication". Oliver, however, was an especially memorable guest, with his Americanism and casual confidence, and his typical farewell, "Later!", becoming a symbol of his charming discourtesy.

Failing to fully acknowledge his attraction, Elio finds himself pontificating at dinner one night in hopes of impressing Oliver. He speaks quickly about a musical transcription he’s been working on, and when he falls silent, he can tell that Oliver is watching him. When he lets himself return the gaze, he’s horrified to discover that Oliver is staring at him with “a cold and icy glare” that is almost “cruel.”

Soon, Elio begins to admit to himself that he would do anything for Oliver because he feels so strongly for him. While playing tennis one day, Oliver casually throws his arm around Elio and starts massaging his shoulder. Although this is meant as a friendly gesture, Elio flinches and pulls away, afraid he will give into temptation. He is now sure Oliver "must have already suspected something." He begins wondering why he is so afraid to reveal his feelings, and whether the outcome will be so bad.

Despite his feelings, Elio tries to further Oliver's and Chiara's relationship himself, hoping it will help him move past his attraction. This only results in yet another silence between them. Elio becomes very delighted, however, when Oliver says he remembers that Elio reads Paul Clean. Oliver later reveals that he never liked Chiara at all. When one night Elio goes into his fathers library and reads an old fairytale, he becomes struck by the question: "Is it better to speak or to die?"

Elio declines the dinner-invitation because he can't bear to face Oliver's family. Instead, Oliver takes Elio to his office and shows him the postcard of Monet's Berm. That summer Oliver returns to Italy, to B. Elio gives him a tour, and shows him where they scattered his father's ashes. "I call it his ghost spot," he says. In the end, Elio says, "Before you leave tomorrow, (...), turn to me, even in jest, and, as you did back then, look me in the face, hold my gaze, and call me by your name.”

Elio leaves a note under Olivers door. "Can't stand the silence. I need to speak to you." To which Oliver replies, "Grow up. See you at midnight." When they do meet at midnight, Oliver expresses his content to see him. They kiss, and Elio describes the feeling as "coming home". In their deepest moment of intimacy, Oliver tells Elio to "Call me by your name and I'll call you by mine." It's only the day after when Elio is filled with a sense of "dread and anxiety" he can't even "begin to fathom."

Elio and Oliver keep in touch for a little while, but then comes the "blank years." Nine years later, Elio's mother calls to say a previous houseguest has returned to them in Italy; Oliver. Their conversation is short, because Oliver starts crying. After another four years, Elio finds himself in New England, where Oliver so happens to be teaching, and pays him a visit. At first, Oliver doesn't recognise him because of the beard, but then becomes overjoyed and invites him for dinner.

While playing guitar one day, he senses Oliver staring at him. They start arguing about how the song is played. Elio plays the song on the piano instead, but a different variation. Their dispute resumes. Elio keeps presenting new interpretations, enjoying Oliver's growing exasperation. "We were -- and Oliver must have recognised the signs long before I did -- flirting." Looking back, it was only later when Elio recognised this complex relationship as experiences now embossed on his entire life.

Biking into town one day, a conversation about Percy Bysshe leads to Oliver asking: "Is there anything you don't know?" Elio realises this is an opportunity to reveal his feelings. "I know nothing Oliver (...)". Elio then says he regrets speaking, and Oliver says he will pretend he never did. Feeling this way, Elio suggests they go to his favourite place; Monet's Berm. There, Oliver kisses him. When breaking away, Elio asks, "Did I offend you?" to which Oliver replies, "Just don't," and leaves.

In the aftermath of Oliver’s “icy glare,” Elio feels stupid for having fallen for him. So in response, Elio returns this “wicked glance,” and they don’t speak to one another for two days, even avoiding each other on the balcony that connects their bedrooms. Some three days later, the silence between them is broken when Oliver asks if Elio wants to go swimming. Elio comes to learn just how quickly his relationship with Oliver can change. He starts wondering if Oliver is doing this on purpose.

Feeling as if he's just woken up from a nightmare, Elio wonders how he ever wanted this. Yet only a day later he finds himself stuck in his old ways; hopelessly craving Oliver. He continues his relationship with both Oliver and Marzia, enthralled by the both of them. When Oliver admits he wanted Elio from the start as well, just hid it better, Elio has an emotional reaction, knowing very well the boundaries between them are now torn. This becomes increasingly obvious to Elio's father, too.

After promising Oliver he would never utter another word to him again, an event at dinner makes him think otherwise. Oliver's foot briefly grazes his, and Elio describes a feeling of sudden giddiness, resulting in a bleeding nose. The next day, however, Oliver is acting cold again, so Elio calls Marzia. They bike together into B., to the bookstore, where a poet has just released his new collection, Se l'amore, If Love. Marzia confronts Elio about her feelings, and their relationship progresses.

In retrospect, Elio reveals he regrets none of it, not the risks, nor the shame. The summer was drawing to a close, yet Elio refused to conclude his relationship with Oliver. When a few days before Oliver's return to America he invites Elio with him to Rome to see his Italian publisher, Elio immediately accepts. As a "gift", Elio's father pays for their stay. Giddy with excitement, Elio tries hard not to think about the finality that is to occur in three days, still procrastinating his sorrow.

Elio returns to B. alone. Thinking about all the ways he will suffer now, he knows he is "anticipating sorrow to neutralise sorrow," yet can't help himself. After dinner that night, Oliver calls to let him know he has arrived safely in New York. Though their conversation is somewhat stilted, Oliver promises to visit in the holidays. Elio returns to his -- Oliver's -- bedroom to find he has taken a keepsake with him; an "antique postcard of Monet's Berm," given to Elio by a previous houseguest.

Upon arriving, Oliver's publisher invites them to a party at a bookstore for one of the press's authors. Before they leave, they shred that tiny bit of secrecy and shame between them, something suggesting Elio is finally accepting a part of himself. On the way to the bookstore, they pass a significant landmark: the place where Elio first intuited his attraction to men. When they reached the bookstore, the author in question is, Elio recognises, The Poet, author of Se l'amore, If Love.

When Elio is asked about his favourite piece from the collection, he answers, "The one comparing life to San Clemente." "The one comparing Love to San Clemente," The Poet replies, "The San Clemente Syndrome." The Poet, Alfredo, goes on to explain his book. After the reading, many of them go out to dinner, then a bar. Oliver and Elio finds themself drunken stumbling down a street, laughing, neither caring about being seen. "Tomorrow, let's go to San Clemente," Elio says. "Tomorrow is today."

Elio's hatred for their new semi-permanent house guest develops into something resembling awe. As the long, peaceful summer days goes by, Elio grows fond of Olivers brazen attitude and widespread knowledge. His ability to read Elio's mind appeals to him. Once again, Elio offers to take Oliver to San Giacomo, but is caught off guard when, in response, Oliver replies, "Later." In retrospect, Elio wonders how he possibly could not have recognised his attraction towards Oliver right from the start.

Elio becomes especially drawn to Oliver once he notes the Star of David hanging on proud display around his neck, symbolising his ability to be confident with himself. At the time, however, Elio was still in denial that someone else in his immediate world might "like what he liked", "be who he was." (For reference, the story is set in 1983.) Especially because Oliver is now spending a lot of time with many of the girls in the city, mainly a girl Elio was somewhat involved with last year, Chiara.

Elio joins his father downstairs who asks about their trip. Throughout the conversation, Mr. Pearlman's questions hint at Elio's relationship with Oliver. “You’re too smart not to know how rare, how special, what you two had was," he says eventually. When Oliver returns for Christmas, Elio can tell something has changed. Oliver breaks the news that he's getting married to his girlfriend. Still, Elio tries to kiss him, so Oliver officially ends things, though admits he doesn't want to.

Elio continues to reminisce of the early days of Olivers stay. Their first tour around B., also the first time they were alone together. His immediate impression of Oliver was that he seemed cold, indifferent, yet no one in town seemed immune to his charms. His own parents had also taken a liking to his witty, blunt manner of speaking. Yet Elio tried. When he once suggested they go see a monument in the city, Oliver simply replied: "Later. Maybe." This polite indifference cut Elio to the core.

Call Me By Your Name

I. If Not Later, When?

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X. Monets' Berm

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XIII.

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XVII. Ghost Spots

XV. The San Clemente Syndrome

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