When I finished the last page of Intermezzo, tears streamed down my cheeks. This isn’t the easiest book to get through—it took me quite a while. I set it aside many times, unable to get through multiple chapters in one sitting. But despite the challenge, this book is undeniably beautiful. Having recently lost my own father, I found the grief Ivan and Peter experience, along with the erratic actions and emotions that come with it, it feels familiar. Oh how I adore Sally Rooney’s writing, this novel was exactly what I needed.

In Intermezzo, we follow Ivan and Peter in the months after their father’s death. They’re brothers who couldn’t be more different. Ivan is an introverted, slightly awkward 22-year-old chess prodigy who approaches the world rationally, if a bit rigidly. Peter, on the other hand, is a successful lawyer in his 30s with a loud, lively social circle and a habit of juggling through girlfriends. Despite this, he remains obsessively attached to his ex-girlfriend Sylvia, who is now his best friend. They spend a lot of time together, even as Peter dates Naomi, a much younger, free-spirited woman who contrasts sharply with the composed, intellectual Sylvia. Meanwhile, Ivan begins forming a tentative but touching relationship with Margaret, a 36-year-old not-yet-divorced woman. You follow Ivan in his process of coming out of his shell, it's beautiful to experience. 

The story captures the differences between the brothers—and how, in their grief, those differences seem to push them further apart rather than bringing them closer together. Rooney’s brilliance lies in showing how these differences can ultimately highlight their deep, underlying bond. She illustrates how empathy grows from understanding and how even in dissimilarities, there’s a a sea of similarities.

Peter’s chapters, written from his perspective, were harder to read. While Ivan’s chapters felt calm and hopeful, full of growth and love, Peter’s story was darker and more chaotic, mirroring his mental state. The pacing of these sections was faster and more unsettling, but they were no less compelling.

As with any Sally Rooney novel, Intermezzo may not resonate with everyone. But if you’ve enjoyed her previous works, I believe this one will be right up your alley.