(Rating is for sampler only, I have not read the whole book)

Intermezzo, as everyone surely knows, is the fourth novel from Sally Rooney, about two brothers who have just lost their father. The sampler was quite long, of the first two chapters, and I thought it was most similar in structure to Beautiful World, Where Are You, but without the letters/emails, which is a Rooney staple. I found the first chapter harder to get into, about Peter who is the older brother, but I still was enjoying myself until it switches to Ivan, who is the younger brother and overgrown chess prodigy and I was absolutely hooked. Even in just the two chapters I felt really grounded in the characters and the setting and that Rooney was really setting up her pieces in an interesting way, which is something I've always liked about her novels - they do feel like a set piece in which she can explore thoroughly and thoughtfully so many elements of human experience. I of course can't wait to read more.

Wow the sampler of Intermezzo gives so much depth to the story in only 52 pages. I’m preferring Ivan and Margaret’s characters so far to Peter, but I feel there is a lot more to come from Peter’s story. Emotional with so many conflicting feelings between all the characters. The intimacy between Ivan and Margaret is powerful, real and poignant.

I’m really looking forward to receiving my preorder at the end of September. Thank you to Netgalley and Faber & Faber for this sample.

Thank you for letting me read The first few chapters, I absolutely adored the start of intermezzo. Can't wait to get the book on release day

I am incredibly grateful to Netgalley and Faber and Faber for my sampler. It is a great read that leaves me wanting to read more!!!! I can't wait for this to be out, I won't walk, I'll RUN to get it.

Thank you to Faber and Faber, and Netgalley for an advanced reader sample of Intermezzo. It was certainly interesting to dip my toes back into a Sally Rooney novel; the lack of quotation marks is always difficult to adjust to!

I wasn’t a big fan of Peter’s character and had to convince myself to keep reading, which I’m glad I did because I enjoyed reading from Ivan and Margaret’s perspective! I would continue reading this book when it comes out, and yet could understand why some may not be a fan of this book due to the unique writing style.

Thank you NetGalley and Faber and Faber for providing me the e-arc sampler of this much awaited book.
Just two chapters in and I can't wait to read more.
None writes contemporary fiction like Sally Rooney does. The first glimpse of the characters are what you would except from Sally to create and write about.
I'm also very intrigued by the possible neurodivergent representations.
CANT WAIT TO CONTINUE!!

What a lovely little snippet to make me super excited for my preorder! Sally Rooney will always be my queen

This sampler was a great introduction to Intermezzo and made me curious about the lives of the two brothers and where their stories will go in this book. I enjoyed their distinct voices, noticeable even in this short sampler, and the way the writing differs for each point of view. The prose is beautiful, through I find Sally Rooney's writing style a little clunky as the lack of speech marks makes it more difficult to read.

Thank you NetGalley & Faber for the sampler.

Very interesting sampler that leaves readers wanting more.

I really enjoyed the distinct feeling between the two voices of the brothers, I enjoyed that their chapters had different rhythms and flows to them.

I found the writing focusing on Ivan to be especially strong. Not to diminish the focus on Peter but I really enjoyed the set up and writing flow that came through when the focus was on Ivan.

Overall, interested to read more!

I don't always love Sally Rooney's writing. Sometimes it's self conscious and laboured. The sampler of Intermezzo shows she is back on form. I loved the tender love scene between socially awkward Ivan and Margaret, 14 years his senior. I disliked intensely Ivan's older brother, who expects to turn women's heads. I can't wait to find out how the story develops.

50 pages in and I am already drawn in by; complex family relationships, complex romantic relationships & grief. But honestly, I can't really expect anything other than greatness from Sally Rooney.

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Thankyou to Faber for sending over the first 50 pages, although now I feel teased I need the rest asap pls

I loved this sample. Super compelling story and characters. The writing style is very unique and effective. I'm looking forward to the release of Intermezzo this month.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

I can't wait to read the whole book and see how the dtory unfolds!
My only criticism is, that this is just a sample of the first 52 pages. 😃

Cannot wait to get my hands on this book at the end of September. Reading the sampler has just made me more excited.

Thank you NetGalley & Faber for providing me with a sampler of this book ahead of its release in exchange for an honest review!

I haven’t read a Sally Rooney novel since 2021 when Beautiful World, Where Are You came out. I definitely forgot what her style of writing is like and this caught me off guard! I am not used to the lack of quotations & such a packed format, which made the sampler slightly difficult for me to read.

However, I think that this is book is shaping up to be exactly what Rooney’s readers love about her novels. It’s intimate, emotional, deep and very psychological. I love how she writes sex scenes between the characters, intimate (again) is really the only word I can think of for it!

“A very strong feeling comes over him then: something inside himself warm and spreading, like dying or being born. He has no idea what the feeling is, whether it’s good or dangerous. It’s related to her, the words she’s saying, his feeling about her words. She said it was perfect.”

If you enjoy complex and multilayered characters with a lot of trauma and flaws and at the core of it, characters who are just seeking a connection and love, then you’ll enjoy this!

I absolutely adored this sample. Sally Rooney strikes again. I really liked the opening and how this book starts, an unfortunate situation for the characters but written very well. Sally Rooney slowly creates a picture of these characters, their situations and the tone of the book is set. I also am interested in reading more about the chess aspect of the book, it reminds me of the Queens Gambit. I cannot wait until the release date and I can read it all, This sample already has me hooked on the characters and hopefully the full book will not disappoint .

This was just a sampler but I am a massive fan of Sally Rooney and this has just got me in the mood for the upcoming novel

I really didn't get on with ' Beautiful World, Where Are You?' after loving Rooney's first two novels. On the basis of these opening two chapters, Intermezzo appears to be a return to form with the second chapter - focusing on the younger brother, Ivan - being especially strong. One of Rooney's key strengths is her ability to write characters who are immediately relatable and well fleshed out; this was clearly the case with the 5 characters we meet in these opening chapters. It will be interesting to see how the brothers' grief at losing their father impacts them as the novel progresses. This has now become a day one purchase for me.

sally rooney is SO BACK with a bang!! i absolutely adore rooney’s writing and intermezzo just feels like a complete step up for her. the writing is so beautiful. i can’t wait to get my hands on a copy when it is published!

I got only the sampler and now I am left wanting more. the sampler give me a short glimpse into the life of the different narrators. Sally Rooney has a very unique way of captivating her readers and I am going to be thinking about this book until it comes out and I can read the rest