Admittedly, it always takes me a minute to settle into Sally Rooney’s writing. Being such a unique author, she is able to beautifully convey an intricate plot and well developed characters through showing, rather than simply telling. Even throughout this small insight into Intermezzo, it is easy to see the varying reactions to grief and family. I look forward to delving more into the lives of the brothers and their dynamics when I am able to read their story in full.

Rooney's signature style is seen throughout this sampler - in general I have enjoyed several of her previous pieces. This sampler, I struggled a little bit to get into the writing and didn't feel the characters were that relatable.

However, this review may definitely change especially with only being 50 pages in.

I was only given a sample of this wonderful book to read and review making me even more disappointed that after a couple of months, I am still on the waiting list to see Sally Rooney at Waterstone’s Piccadilly on Monday. I would love to hear what she has to say about yet another beautifully written book with complex characters with lives that draw you in. I look forward to reading the whole book. Thank you Netgalley for letting me sample what I am sure will be a best seller!

This is phenomenal. I cannot WAIT to get my preorder copy now! Sally Rooney is one of my automatic purchase authors now and Intermezzo might be my favourite novel of hers.

Thank you so much to Faber & Faber for letting me read this sampler of Intermezzo - such a dream come true!

5/5 so far - only 50 pages in and I already have so many thoughts about this beautiful addition to Sally Rooney's work.

‘Didn’t seem fair on the young lad. That suit at the funeral. With the braces on his teeth, the supreme discomfort of the adolescent.’

Two brothers, Peter and Ivan. 10 years apart. Struggling to exist in the wake of their father’s death.

Opening with Peter’s internal consciousness bleeding through the first chapter of the narrative, his character is cleverly built into Rooney’s chosen shift in her narrative style. In sparse, Joycean style, Rooney jarringly splices information about the entanglements of Peter’s love-life and little fragments that build an initial image of his character. It is clear there is a vivid disconnect between the two brothers, which is beautifully mimicked by Rooney’s prose that she envelopes the two brother's narratives with in different ways. Peter’s initial part of the narrative is stilted and jittery, Ivan’s is cautious and bashful. Peter’s opening chapter paves the ground for his ongoing struggle, its prosaic style weaved together by a stranglehold of Peter's conflicting thoughts.

The second chapter flicks to Ivan. As a socially reclusive 22-year-old chess player and recent graduate, he is a very real depiction of how difficult life in your twenties is. He struggles to verbally communicate without second-guessing himself, and the character that is initially presented to us seems to have dissolved into chess itself, Ivan guiltily recognising how much this has become the case. The narrative voice that Rooney adopts for Ivan, however, is also kind and understanding. We enter the novel at a point that makes it clear how much the death of Peter and Ivan’s father has flattened both brothers in different ways, and Rooney’s skill at building characters full of depth, reality, and painful honesty, that I enjoyed so much in her other works, is clearly and excitingly sustained in Intermezzo.

I can’t wait to read and post a full review when Intermezzo is officially released on 24th September!

I received the sampler via Netgalley from Faber and Faber.

I absolutely devoured it, Sally Rooney’s writing is like a flow of consciousness directly from her brain to mine. I wanted to read it all in one sitting and was quickly invested in the characters, particularly Ivan. I can’t wait to receive my copy of the full book on release day to see where things go.

I mean it’s Sally Rooney. It’s wonderful and emotional and my heart is feeling so deeply for the beginning of the relationship between the protagonists.

It’s always nice to come back to Sally Rooney’s world. I can’t think of any other authors right now that have such a distinct and recognizable writing style. It truly feels like you’re in the characters’ brains.

I can’t wait to read the rest of the story on the 24th.

Thanks to NetGalley and Faber for this sampler!

Thank you Netgalley and Faber for providing me with this sample.

Sally Rooney is back with a sharp writing and a complex narrative -as always. This sample is 50 pages long, but the first five already draw you into the lives and the world of the characters. I can't wait to experience the range of greys -and blues- in this book. I'm so ready for it to have me staring at the ceiling.

absolutely what i needed and i’ve just read 2 chapters…

dare i say that it could be my fav from her?

seriously i’ve already underlined a lot of quotes…

*rtc when i will fully read the book*

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

I’ve always admired Sally Rooney’s work—Normal People is a masterpiece in my eyes—but I found myself struggling with this new book.

While her signature introspective writing style is present, I had a hard time following the plot and connecting with the characters in the same way I’ve done in the past. I’m hoping the full book offers more clarity, but for now, I’m left feeling a bit disconnected.

Hooked from the very first page. Can't wait to read more. Have a feeling I will love this! Such beautiful writing and a story that is fully immersive. Have loved all her books and this looks to be another form favourite.

Intermezzo captures the nuanced interplay of relationships, conversations and emotions in a writing style that is both introspective but also simple and lyrical. Althought not being very familiar with Rooney’s work, I was delightfully surprised by her gorgeous writing.

The characters felt deeply human, flawed and relatable, and their dialogues were a standout. Ivan Koubek, in specific, felt like a real person with his sheer awkwardness, inner dialogue and dilemmas.

It’s to be highlighted that what i’m reviewing is only a 2 chapter sample of a 464 page book, thus my rating choice. While the snippet I was so kindly allowed to read was enjoyable, it didn’t leave me with a earning to read more. For those who appreciate Rooney’s work, i bet this book will not dissapoint, and for those searching for character-driven narratives, this one is for you. If you’re not intrigued by either one of these options, perhaps this might not be her most memorable work to date.

Thank you Netgallery for the opportunity to read Intermezzo (Sampler) by Sally Rooney

Even though this ARC was for a few chapters i felt I wanted more and super intrigued to continue reading this story. I love Sally Rooney writing so will be buying the book to read more.

I thought that it would be hard to judge a book by its first 50 pages, but in this case you can clearly feel that you're reading an amazing book. It's been a while since I read Sally Rooney, but the first sentences transported me back into her world. I absolutely love her poetic style, and the way she turns mundane things into fascinating. Intermezzo is a story of two brothers dealing with life and love after the death of their father. After just two chapters (one for each brother), we know what to expect from this book and understand our characters. I got really invested in this story and I will be picking up a copy of this book after its release.

Just a sample of Rooney's beautiful new work! I am more than excited to get my copy. Thank you for the sneak peak.

It's aggressively overwritten and I think what I'm learning is I will only ever like Normal People, as the rest of Rooney's works have been no-go's for me.

This is just a sample of Sally Rooney’s upcoming novel so unable to provide full feedback or a review at this stage.

Loved this sample and can’t wait to read the whole book when it’s out!
Once I re- orientated myself to Rooney’s ways of writing without speech marks, I enjoyed Peter’s introduction, and then was very touched by the Ivan and Margaret relationship.

The first two chapters were a joy to read. I felt a little unsettled by the writing style of Peter's character at first, yet I was left wanting to read more. Chapter two was absolutely gorgeous. I felt an instant love for Ivan and Margaret. I can't wait to get my hands on a full copy of this book.