Overview

• Intermezzo marks Sally Rooney's return with a focus on male protagonists, Peter and Ivan, dealing with the recent death of their father.
• The novel captures the brothers' struggles with their respective love lives, insecurities, and societal pressures.
• Rooney's writing style remains clear and emotionally rich, with a shift towards exploring familial and existential themes.
• Intermezzo juxtaposes the brothers' internal conflicts and relationships, including Ivan's with an older woman and Peter's with a younger student.
• The book tackles broader questions about masculinity, morality, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.