Ever pick up a book that feels like it's peering straight into your own messy heart? That's Intermezzo by Sally Rooney for you—a story that wraps around grief, family ties, and those surprising sparks of desire without ever feeling forced.
Peter Koubek is the guy who's got it all together on paper: mid-thirties Dublin lawyer, sharp suit, sharper mind. But after his dad's death, he's popping pills to sleep, juggling his steady ex Sylvia and the chaotic energy of Naomi, a uni student who treats everything like a punchline. Then there's Ivan, his younger brother, a 22-year-old chess prodigy who's always felt like the awkward outsider. Social cues? Not his thing. Until Margaret enters the picture—a woman twice his age, fresh from her own storms—and suddenly, life's not just moves on a board anymore.
Rooney doesn't spoon-feed you drama; she lets it unfold in those everyday moments—the awkward silences, the half-spoken confessions, the way grief sneaks up during a casual coffee. It's all there in her clean, precise prose that makes you forget you're reading. This Kindle edition means you can dive in anywhere, anytime—no waiting for delivery, just pure immersion on your device.
Think about curling up on a rainy afternoon, phone in hand, losing yourself in how these characters fumble toward something real amid the pain. Peter's late-night doubts mirror anyone who's ever questioned their path; Ivan's bold leap reminds us connection can come from nowhere. It's not just a novel; it's a mirror for your own intermezzos—those in-between spaces where life shifts.
Fans of Normal People or Conversations with Friends will feel right at home, but even if Rooney's new to you, the humanity pulls you in. Named a top book by The New York Times, Obama’s list, and more, it's earned its stripes. Grab the Kindle version for under your coffee budget and let it soundtrack your thoughts for days.
Whether you're gifting it to a friend deep in their own story or treating yourself, Intermezzo delivers that rare book gut-punch that leaves you better for it.
