If only life were as intense, as calculative, as predictive as chess.
Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo brings us another deep dive into human relationships, but this time with a heavier, more serious tone than her previous works. Definitely more reflective of your own lives and relationships. If you’ve read Normal People or Conversations with Friends, you’ll find the familiar Rooney style — smart dialogue, complex maze of emotions, and people struggling to navigate their lives and desires.
However, Intermezzo feels like a step forward, offering a richer and more introspective story.
At the heart of the novel are two brothers, Peter and Ivan. Peter is a successful lawyer in his early 30s, while Ivan, more than a decade younger, is a chess player whose career hasn’t lived up to its potential. Their father’s recent death brings them back together, but their relationship is full of tension and unresolved feelings. Rooney focuses on how the brothers process their grief differently, and in doing so, she digs deep into their lives and personalities.
Peter’s life seems perfect on the outside, but he’s a mess inside. He’s torn between two women: Sylvia, his ex, who is struggling with chronic pain after an accident, and Naomi, a much younger student who is still figuring out her life. Peter’s interactions with both women show his inability to find real emotional connection, as he flits between guilt, desire, and confusion.
Ivan, on the other hand, is more quiet and introspective. A physics graduate working a melancholic job, earning just enough to support his love for chess. He’s the odd one out, unsure of his place in the world and lacking the confidence that Peter seems to have. Ivan meets Margaret, a woman in her mid-30s, and their relationship gives him a sense of connection that he hasn’t felt before. Margaret, too, finds herself questioning her life, realizing that there might be more for her than she had imagined.
Rooney’s characters are flawed, vulnerable, and endlessly fascinating. What she does so well in Intermezzo is shift the narrative style to reflect the personalities of her characters. Peter’s sections are chaotic and fast, filled with short, punchy sentences that reflect his emotional turmoil. Ivan’s sections, meanwhile, are slower and more deliberate, mirroring his thoughtful, unsure nature. This contrast between the brothers adds depth to the novel, making their different paths feel even more significant. The brothers’ strained bond feels raw, and their contrasting personalities make for some of the novel’s most powerful moments. Rooney shows us how grief can bring people together, even when they’re worlds apart emotionally.
Beyond the personal stories, Intermezzo ponders on themes like grief, family dynamics, and the search for meaning in everyday life. The novel asks big questions about how we cope with loss, how we connect with others, and how we deal with the passage of time. There’s a weightiness to these themes, but Rooney keeps the story grounded and engaging.
If I had to describe my relationship with this book, it’d be ‘complicated‘ – just as Peter and Ivan’s love arcs. The novel might be denser than her previous books, but it’s all the better for it. It’s a story that sticks with you, long after you’re done turning the pages.
Special thanks to Penguin Random House India for sharing an ARC of the book.
Buy Intermezzo by Sally Rooney here.
