Rooney excels at creating an authentic experience of striving within a frenetic, ever changing world. With her sociopolitical and emotional intelligence, Rooney raises the question: is there ethical heterosexuality under late capitalism and imminent climate collapse?

In recent years, Irish author Sally Rooney, 33, has been considered a wunderkind of the literary world, thanks to the breakout success of 2017’s Conversations with Friends, 2018’s Normal People and 2021’s Beautiful World, Where Are You.

As influencers and celebrities vie for advance copies, buzzy books like ‘Intermezzo’ are going viral long before publication. But what does it mean when a book becomes a status symbol?

With 'Intermezzo' comes the latest wave of envy and desire to replicate the star author’s sales. But she stands alone

Though at times it falls short of its ambitions, Intermezzo reaffirms Rooney’s ability to portray a microcosm of human existence with precision and insight

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.

Sally Rooney’s new novel is entitled Intermezzo — the old chess term for an unexpected move. The board game is a significant element in the plot — Ivan, one of the main protagonists, is a chess master.