Intermezzo (novel)

Intermezzo is the fourth novel by Irish author Sally Rooney, published by Faber & Faber on 24 September 2024. Set in Dublin and rural Ireland, the novel follows two brothers in the aftermath of their father's death: Ivan, a 22-year-old former chess prodigy who begins a relationship with Margaret, a 36-year-old arts program director, and Peter, a 32-year-old human rights lawyer navigating complicated relationships with both his younger girlfriend Naomi and his ex-girlfriend Sylvia. The novel explores themes of grief, age-gap relationships, sibling dynamics, and power structures in romantic relationships.

The book marked a departure from Rooney's previous works through its focus on male protagonists and fraternal relationships. Rooney developed the story from an initial scene of a chess exhibition at an arts center, drawing inspiration from her experience watching chess tutorials during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The title "Intermezzo" references both musical interludes and chess terminology.

Released with Faber's "biggest trade campaign ever", the novel received largely positive reviews from critics, who particularly praised its treatment of grief and family relationships. It became the fastest-selling book in Ireland in 2024. While some critics found aspects of the novel's tone precious or its gender dynamics problematic, most viewed it as a successful evolution of Rooney's literary style, with several considering it her most mature and philosophically ambitious work to date.