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challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is a masterwork on grief and its consequences on those experiencing it. The story features two brothers who have very complicated lives, who struggle to communicate those complexities with their families. I found every character in this book well fleshed out, even the side characters getting their moment— showing how their life’s intertwine with the brothers. I found this more moving and provocative than Normal People, as the character development feels more important. Where the miscommunication in Normal People can become tired, in here it’s real, raw— authentic. There’s not frustration as the reader because you understand each characters motivations so deeply.
Though I’m a sucker for anything detailing grief and its process, I found this to be moving and impactful. I’ve been struggling to read recently and this book was contemporary/literary enough to be impactful, but had enough movement to keep me invested. Highly highly recommend!
Though I’m a sucker for anything detailing grief and its process, I found this to be moving and impactful. I’ve been struggling to read recently and this book was contemporary/literary enough to be impactful, but had enough movement to keep me invested. Highly highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was completely blown away by Intermezzo. Not only did I find it an incredibly accurate depiction of an Autistic persons struggles with communication and relationships, but I thought she also beautifully illustrated trauma, substance use, and the never ending complexity of relationships.
Her use of sentence structure is nothing short of masterful, she is able to capture the unique voices of all her characters.
It was clear from the beginning thatPeter and Ivan’s relationship was the driver of the story. I haven’t seen another book that captures sibling relationships, in all its messy and broken interactions. I loved Ivan and Margaret’s relationship, particularly how it really delved into questions of choice, agency, and gender. I appreciate how Rooney used Peter and Naomi’s relationship as a contrast, flipping the gender roles and revealing the underlying dynamics. I appreciate her giving us an optimistic, healing ending: we all need each other.
Her use of sentence structure is nothing short of masterful, she is able to capture the unique voices of all her characters.
It was clear from the beginning that
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Death of parent
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use
Minor: Violence
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
my favorite Sally Rooney that I’ve read so far. I really enjoyed the richness of the family and relationship dynamics— it felt incredibly real and lived-in, grief and all. I would’ve enjoyed more time with Margaret and Ivan’s story and I’m curious about their future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent
Minor: Alcoholism
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It clearly took me ages to get through, but also reignited in me a bolder passion to read. God I just love Sally Rooney. I do however, hate Peter - albeit probably less than he hates himself. The exploration of grief and difficult familial relationships is touchingly beautiful. I really truly cared for Ivan. Boy can she write a sad Irish boy that we all swoon over no matter the mistakes he makes. Finishing this has definitely made me wonder what’s taken me so long to read her other books, and has moved Conversations with Friends up on the tbr. Big fan.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is embarrassing to admit but before this, I had been actively avoiding any and ALL of Sally Rooney’s works because of her well-known no use of quotation marks + hit or miss writing style and I feel really stupid for that now.
I thought it was absolutely horrendous in Peter’s POV. Genuinely, I was shocked and thought the rest of the book would be that way. In the span of only 16 or so pages, I debated on sending it through the sky or just giving it away. When I got to Ivan’s POV, however, things slowly began to make more sense.
Flawed and realistic characters in a realistic setting, and writing that feels unique and immersive!
I thought it was absolutely horrendous in Peter’s POV. Genuinely, I was shocked and thought the rest of the book would be that way. In the span of only 16 or so pages, I debated on sending it through the sky or just giving it away. When I got to Ivan’s POV, however, things slowly began to make more sense.
Flawed and realistic characters in a realistic setting, and writing that feels unique and immersive!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Infidelity
Minor: Cancer, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Car accident
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first Sally Rooney, aside from the first few pages of Conversations With Friends which was a swift DNF. I've never really felt the urge to read her books - too focused on couples, cheating, or Being Sally Rooney for my liking - but this one, whilst also having a heavy focus on couples and cheating*, also has additional themes of family and grief. I identified with the younger brother, who although he is explicitly not diagnosed autistic - he definitely is! The older brother was an arse. Sometimes sympathetic, often self-pitying, generally an arse.
I'm not a Rooney convert, think the book could have done with a bit of a trim, but she can write, I'll give her that. Had some interesting things to say about being human. Bit navel-gazey, but a decent writer.
*Is it cheating if they're agreed not to be monogamous? The book does explore other, complicated, relationship dynamics and I did appreciate the nuanced look at the complexities in this situation. Still not for me but at least it was thoughtful and original.
I'm not a Rooney convert, think the book could have done with a bit of a trim, but she can write, I'll give her that. Had some interesting things to say about being human. Bit navel-gazey, but a decent writer.
*Is it cheating if they're agreed not to be monogamous? The book does explore other, complicated, relationship dynamics and I did appreciate the nuanced look at the complexities in this situation. Still not for me but at least it was thoughtful and original.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Drug use
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Car accident, Abandonment
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sally Rooney just must not be the author for me as this is the second book I've tried and it bored me to tears.
I do not see the beauty other readers saw in this story, I just got the frustration and boredom. This did not feel like a story that should be over 16 hours long.
The audiobook narrator did a good job with the material, I just didn't enjoy the material.
I do not see the beauty other readers saw in this story, I just got the frustration and boredom. This did not feel like a story that should be over 16 hours long.
The audiobook narrator did a good job with the material, I just didn't enjoy the material.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug use
Minor: Violence, Vomit