Arguably Rooney's best yet, Intermezzo represents a maturing of her style, even from an author aged just 33. The novel is less political, less gratuitously sexual, and tackles bigger themes than her prior works. Unlike her earlier novels, the two key protagonists in Intermezzo are male siblings united in grief but little else. How we deal with loss—especially that of a parent, but also reflecting on the past, prior loves and relationships—is the overarching theme of Intermezzo. Amid marked differences in worldviews, old rivalries come to the fore, but so do prior loyalties and allegiances. If there is a key point to Intermezzo, then it is that both love and life are infinitely complex. On this logic, it is important to make the most of every available opportunity (and arguably worry about the consequences later). Carpe diem. Rooney's insights into human nature are superb as ever. So too are many of the novel's set pieces, which are often humorous. If the earlier Rooney had some parallels with Austen, then Intermezzo owes a debt to Joyce. Deserved praise indeed; a clear top ten candidate.
By Sally Rooney