Known for her subtle approach to storytelling, heavily layered characters and exploration of class, identity and mental health, Sally Rooney has become one of the most prominent writers of her generation. Her relationship-focused novels – including Normal People , which was adapted into a BBC series – have resonated with many readers, which is why fans of the Irish author are eagerly awaiting the release of her upcoming title, Intermezzo . But when is the novel set to hit shelves - and what do we already know about it? According to publisher Faber & Faber’s website, Intermezzo is a “moving story about grief, love and family” and focuses on the relationships of two brothers: Peter, a lawyer in his thirties, and Ivan, a 22-year-old competitive chess player, as they mourn the loss of their father.
Peter is navigating relationships with his first love Sylvia and another woman, Naomi, while Ivan becomes involved with an older woman, Margaret. “For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this a new interlude - a period of desire, despair and possibility - a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking,” the website reads. Already available to pre-order, the hardback and Kindle editions of Intermezzo are set to be released on Tuesday 24 September.
The paperback will be released in May 2025. Rooney’s first novel, Conversations with Friends, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim. Centering around the relationship between two.