Unfortunately, based on the sample, this book isn't for me.

I've enjoyed other stories by the author, her sometimes it just doesn't click.

As this is a sampler I will wait until I have read the entire novel before reviewing. It seems Very Sally Rooney - which is a compliment!

Sally Rooney strikes again! Can't wait to read the whole book. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this sampler!

I found Rooney's run on sentences hard to read.at the start of the book.

I found myself enjoying the book more after the first 50 pages or so.

Rooney is a singular voice on love and loss.

Loved it, teared up a few times. Had never read anything of Rooney before and was pleasantly surprised as I did not have high hopes based on Rooney stream of consciousness writing style. Too relatable at times, similar to poetic prose at others- just perfect for a fall night.

Rooney's style and tone seem different in this book. I persevered but did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would

I just LOVE sally rooney! Once again, her writing is unmatched!

This sampler really makes you want to read more of the book and thankfully, I now have!

If you want to feel lost in a story with impeccable writing, characters and setting, you need this.

You don’t just read a Sally Rooney book, you experience it!

Thank you to NetGalley for the gifted sample!

Can definitely see why everyone raves about this book! Not my favourite writing style as takes me longer to focus and understand what’s going on but seems like a beautiful story and one I will more than likely pick up!

Brilliant! I cannot wait to read the entire book. Beautiful from start to finish, with such sharp prose and intriguing characters. Feels different from other Rooney books preceding it but also so familiar and comforting for fans of her books like myself.

Thank you to Netgalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for this sampler!

I LOVE Sally Rooney's writing and reading this sampler made me even excited to receive my pre-order or Intermezzo!

Will be picking this book up next and will post my full review on my goodreads!

I only got a sampler, or should I say teaser, but by now I have read the full book.

“Sometimes you need people to be perfect and they can’t be and you hate them forever for not being even though it isn’t their fault and it’s not yours either. You just needed something they didn’t have in them to give you.”⁣
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From: 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘻𝘻𝘰 by Sally Rooney⁣
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I have read all Rooney’s books and even though I really liked them (I think my ranking would be: NP > CwF > BWWAY), I wasn’t AS starstruck by her books as I would have thought (or hoped?) with all the attention they were getting. And her latest book came with an unprecedented amount of hype. ⁣
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But let me tell you: this is BY FAR my favorite. After the first discomfort of getting used to Peter’s syntax (with fragmented, staccato thoughts without regular sentence forms), I was completely swept away by the characters in this book. Two brothers deal with the grief of the death of their father and they are both in opposite age-gap relationships while going though this. The juxtaposition of the brothers, who are very different from each other, and their relationships is quite cleverly done without being too on the nose. ⁣
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All these characters feel so real. They are flawed and develop over time and went straight to my heart. I loved how Ivan finds Margeret and they, despite her being much older than him, feel a kinship that transcends that age gap. They seem “to belong to the same camp”. As opposed to Ivan’s brother who never seems to connect with him and is even caught thinking: “Never really know what he’s talking about, do you. Pointless even to try.” and later “like talking to a dog”. It is an example of how different people need different things from each other and that a real connection between people is hard to force.
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Rooney’s prose is beautiful and recognizable in Ivan and Margeret’s chapters and less so in Peter’s, but I loved how she sort of references that in one of the later chapters when Peter thinks: “Thoughts running rapid with broken phrases” and that’s exactly how it felt.

The opening chapter of Sally Rooney’s fourth novel was fascinating and has me hooked! I haven’t purchased the book yet, but it’s on my TBR list, and I can’t wait to dive in. The first meeting between Ivan and Margaret was especially captivating, setting a promising tone for the rest of the story.

This was an excellent, intriguing opening to Sally Rooney’s fourth novel which I have now read in full and much preferred to Beautiful World, Where Are You. I particularly liked the depiction of Ivan and Margaret’s first meeting.

An interesting chapter. I haven't yet bought the book but I have added it to my tbr list to read soon!

Really not my favourite at all. I just couldn't get into it as much as I tried. God, I tried. I can see why others might like it but this just wasn't for me!

It was an enjoyable sample, easy to read like Sally Rooney does well. Of course difficult to review as it wasn’t the whole book, so maybe I can come back and update this if I do read the book!

This is my first Sally Rooney book. Now I get the hype. The writing is just beautiful.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney is a collection of short stories that explore themes of love, loss, desire and the complexities of human relationships. The stories are set in contemporary Ireland and feature a diverse cast of characters, including young adults navigating their way through life, older couples grappling with the challenges of aging, and individuals reflecting on past relationships.

While the stories are primarily character-driven, they often reflect larger societal issues such as class inequality, gender roles, and the impact of technology. Rooney's observations are never heavy-handed but rather seamlessly woven into the narrative. I am in awe of the writing, both sensitive and insightful, and her characters are memorable and relatable.

sally rooney has such a talent for writing about interpersonal relationships and human connection, and it’s something i’ll never tire of reading.

Sally Rooney has done it again! Such mundane yet remarkable characters that could walk off the page. Still baffled by Rooney’s writing, it’s incredible. While some of her works aren’t for everyone, I think this one could be the most universally loved and recommended <3
So glad this is finally hereeee! Thank you NetGalley for an early sample, can’t wait to get my mitts on a complete copy after this taster.

Incredible. Truly I think what will be known as Sally Rooney's greatest.
The cast of characters and the incredible change of povs meant I did not want to put this down.
5 stars