Sally Rooney is one of my favourite authors and this is why. She writes so so well and you can always rely on one of her books to hook you in, couldn’t put it down!

As per, Sally Rooney is the absolute master of blending big, bold themes with the minutiae of the every day - though it doesn’t top CwF as my favourite Sally Rooney novel, it is a very worthy second.

this was such a good start to the book, i adore sally rooney!!! can’t wait to read the full book! super excited

Long awaited Sally Rooney and she does not disappoint. Complex characters that really make you think and look deep.

Rooney's signature prose, characterized by its simplicity and depth, effectively delves into the complexities of human emotions and relationships. The alternating perspectives between Peter and Ivan provide a nuanced understanding of their internal struggles and evolving dynamics. The novel's title, referencing an unexpected move in chess, aptly symbolizes the unpredictable and transformative nature of grief and personal growth.

While Intermezzo excels in character development and thematic depth, some readers might find the pacing in certain sections to be slower, potentially affecting engagement. Additionally, the introspective nature of the narrative may not resonate with those preferring more action-driven plots.

Overall, Intermezzo stands as a testament to Rooney's literary prowess, offering a profound and intimate portrayal of life's interludes and the enduring bonds of family.

Incredible - as always I adored the complexity of the characters and the depth of Rooney's unique writing style. So looking forward to reading the rest!

Unfortunately, based on the sample, this book isn't for me.

I've enjoyed other stories by the author, her sometimes it just doesn't click.

As this is a sampler I will wait until I have read the entire novel before reviewing. It seems Very Sally Rooney - which is a compliment!

Sally Rooney strikes again! Can't wait to read the whole book. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this sampler!

I found Rooney's run on sentences hard to read.at the start of the book.

I found myself enjoying the book more after the first 50 pages or so.

Rooney is a singular voice on love and loss.

Loved it, teared up a few times. Had never read anything of Rooney before and was pleasantly surprised as I did not have high hopes based on Rooney stream of consciousness writing style. Too relatable at times, similar to poetic prose at others- just perfect for a fall night.

Rooney's style and tone seem different in this book. I persevered but did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would

I just LOVE sally rooney! Once again, her writing is unmatched!

This sampler really makes you want to read more of the book and thankfully, I now have!

If you want to feel lost in a story with impeccable writing, characters and setting, you need this.

You don’t just read a Sally Rooney book, you experience it!

Thank you to NetGalley for the gifted sample!

Can definitely see why everyone raves about this book! Not my favourite writing style as takes me longer to focus and understand what’s going on but seems like a beautiful story and one I will more than likely pick up!

Brilliant! I cannot wait to read the entire book. Beautiful from start to finish, with such sharp prose and intriguing characters. Feels different from other Rooney books preceding it but also so familiar and comforting for fans of her books like myself.

Thank you to Netgalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for this sampler!

I LOVE Sally Rooney's writing and reading this sampler made me even excited to receive my pre-order or Intermezzo!

Will be picking this book up next and will post my full review on my goodreads!

I only got a sampler, or should I say teaser, but by now I have read the full book.

“Sometimes you need people to be perfect and they can’t be and you hate them forever for not being even though it isn’t their fault and it’s not yours either. You just needed something they didn’t have in them to give you.”⁣
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From: 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘻𝘻𝘰 by Sally Rooney⁣
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I have read all Rooney’s books and even though I really liked them (I think my ranking would be: NP > CwF > BWWAY), I wasn’t AS starstruck by her books as I would have thought (or hoped?) with all the attention they were getting. And her latest book came with an unprecedented amount of hype. ⁣
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But let me tell you: this is BY FAR my favorite. After the first discomfort of getting used to Peter’s syntax (with fragmented, staccato thoughts without regular sentence forms), I was completely swept away by the characters in this book. Two brothers deal with the grief of the death of their father and they are both in opposite age-gap relationships while going though this. The juxtaposition of the brothers, who are very different from each other, and their relationships is quite cleverly done without being too on the nose. ⁣
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All these characters feel so real. They are flawed and develop over time and went straight to my heart. I loved how Ivan finds Margeret and they, despite her being much older than him, feel a kinship that transcends that age gap. They seem “to belong to the same camp”. As opposed to Ivan’s brother who never seems to connect with him and is even caught thinking: “Never really know what he’s talking about, do you. Pointless even to try.” and later “like talking to a dog”. It is an example of how different people need different things from each other and that a real connection between people is hard to force.
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Rooney’s prose is beautiful and recognizable in Ivan and Margeret’s chapters and less so in Peter’s, but I loved how she sort of references that in one of the later chapters when Peter thinks: “Thoughts running rapid with broken phrases” and that’s exactly how it felt.

The opening chapter of Sally Rooney’s fourth novel was fascinating and has me hooked! I haven’t purchased the book yet, but it’s on my TBR list, and I can’t wait to dive in. The first meeting between Ivan and Margaret was especially captivating, setting a promising tone for the rest of the story.

This was an excellent, intriguing opening to Sally Rooney’s fourth novel which I have now read in full and much preferred to Beautiful World, Where Are You. I particularly liked the depiction of Ivan and Margaret’s first meeting.

An interesting chapter. I haven't yet bought the book but I have added it to my tbr list to read soon!