June’s Read: ‘Intermezzo’ by Sally Rooney

There’s something about a Sally Rooney novel that guarantees a lively discussion—whether it’s the writing style, the characters, or the way she explores relationships in that signature melancholic, introspective way. Love her or not, she’s a Marmite author, and that’s exactly why we voted for Intermezzo as our June book club pick at the end of last year.

I haven’t started reading it yet—my copy is on its way—but based on what I know, Intermezzo follows brothers Peter and Ivan Koubek as they navigate grief, love, and the complexities of sibling relationships. It’s a novel about power dynamics and self-discovery, which feels right at home in Rooney’s repertoire. I’ve seen some reviews floating around, and people already seem divided—so I expect plenty of strong opinions at our next meeting!

Speaking of discussions, our book club is reliably lively, and Intermezzo will undoubtedly give us plenty to dissect. At our last meeting, we talked about Leif Enger’s I Cheerfully Refuse—a fantastic conversation that turned into a deep dive on genre expectations, entertainment verses the benefits of more cerebral literature (although I’m not sure if they’re the specific terms we used as we were seeped in a few glasses of rosé by this point).

I’ll be bringing back our ‘Ding for Discussion’ bell to keep things structured and fun—so if you have any feedback or ideas for activities, let me know before June 27th. And if you haven’t already, be sure to book your slot at the top of the page so we can keep track of numbers!

Looking forward to diving into Rooney’s latest and hearing what everyone thinks—whether it’s a new favourite or just another classic case of literary Marmite. See you soon, book lovers! 📚

Image credit: @lydiathevirgo—I hope you don’t mind me using your lovely photo until my copy arrives!