Intermezzo

Published in 2024, Intermezzo is a literary novel by Irish writer Sally Rooney. Best known for her earlier novels, Conversations with Friends (2017), Normal People (2018) and Beautiful World, Where Are You (2021), Rooney investigates interpersonal relationships against the backdrop of global politics and aesthetics.

Intermezzo follows two siblings, Peter and Ivan Koubek, in the wake of their father’s death. Peter is involved with two separate women: Sylvia, the first love of his life, and Naomi, a much younger woman who performs sex work and depends on Peter for money. Ivan meets an older woman named Margaret at a chess exhibition, which marks the beginning of a passionate but discreet affair. The novel unfolds as Peter and Ivan learn to deal with the complications of their relationships with these women, as well as their fraught relationship with each other. The novel explores themes of frail materialism, language, and interpersonal relationships through the lens of chess, the housing crisis, and the social dynamics of metropolitan and small-town communities.

This study guide refers to the First American edition of the novel, published in 2024 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Content Warning: The source material references alcohol addiction, domestic abuse, and suicidal ideation.

Plot Summary

Twenty-two-year-old chess prodigy Ivan Koubek is grieving the loss of his father when he meets 36-year-old Margaret Kearns at a chess club exhibition. Ivan is drawn to Margaret, who indulges his sexual advances because it disrupts the monotony of her small-town life. Though she feels conscious about their age gap, they enter a discreet but passionate relationship.

Ivan’s distant older brother, Peter, attempts to grow closer to Ivan to impress his ex-girlfriend, Sylvia Larkin. Years earlier, Sylvia ended their long-term relationship after a car accident that led to her chronic pain. Peter is also in a relationship with a college student named Naomi, who sells explicit pictures of herself online and frequently relies on Peter for financial support. Peter tries to integrate himself into Naomi’s life, but her social circle makes him feel out of place. Peter distances himself from Naomi.

During one of Ivan’s visits, Margaret reluctantly confides the details of her marriage to a man named Ricky, whose alcoholism made him possessive. Margaret’s mother sided with Ricky in their divorce. Ivan’s sympathy for Margaret grows, especially as he tries to process her experience.

Peter and Sylvia nearly have sex, but Sylvia’s chronic pain makes it difficult to experience physical pleasure. When Peter expresses remorse about his presence in her life, Sylvia criticizes him for using her to cope with the grief of losing his father. Soon after, Peter learns that Naomi has been arrested and evicted from her apartment. Peter arranges for Naomi’s release, then offers to let her stay in his apartment while she finds a new place to live.

Ivan and Peter meet for dinner. When Peter learns that the woman Ivan is seeing is significantly older than him, he is repulsed. This angers Ivan, who breaks off all contact with Peter.

When Sylvia criticizes Peter for his hypocrisy, calling out his relationship with Naomi, Peter tries to reach back out to his brother, but Ivan has blocked his number. Peter finds consolation in his relationship with Naomi, who remains cautious that Peter prefers Sylvia to her.

Ivan and Margaret declare their love for one another. One day, Margaret sees Peter’s name in the newspaper. To explain their distance, Ivan tells Margaret that Peter has always bullied him.

Peter looks after Sylvia when she manifests pronounced symptoms of her chronic pain. They have sex, leading Peter to think that Sylvia wants to pursue a relationship with him again. His conflicting feelings push him to break up with Naomi, which backfires—Sylvia refuses to be used as an exit strategy for Peter, accusing him of being afraid to show vulnerability in a new relationship. Embarrassed, Peter returns to Naomi, whom he has moved to his father’s house in Kildare.

Ivan meets Naomi when he brings his dog Alexei to the house in Kildare. Naomi shares that Peter thinks highly of Ivan, and learns that Peter has never spoken of her to Ivan. When Peter arrives in Kildare, he finds not Naomi, but Ivan and Alexei in the house. They argue, with Peter criticizing Ivan and their father for relying on him as a protector. Their fight turns physical; Peter throws a bloodied Ivan to the ground.

Ivan reaches out to Margaret and shares what happened. He opens up about his failure to accept his father’s death. Margaret allows Ivan to visit and learns that she is the cause of the rift between Peter and Ivan. During sex, she tells Ivan that she needs his love. Ivan promises to give her what she needs. Margaret looks forward to being with Ivan for the long run.

Filled with self-loathing, Peter returns to his apartment and is surprised to find Sylvia and Naomi there. They are concerned over his erratic behavior. Naomi later confronts Peter over the way he exploited her sexually. Sylvia, on the other hand, apologizes for misleading Peter and making him believe that she wanted to get back together. Recognizing Peter’s love for Naomi, Sylvia suggests all three enter an arrangement. Peter accepts the idea, settling into a domestic routine with Naomi and spending evenings with Sylvia.

When Peter learns that Ivan is set to progress in his chess career after a long period of stagnancy, Peter shows up at the competition, hoping to congratulate Ivan. He meets Margaret, with whom he waits outside to avoid distracting Ivan. Margaret intercedes on Peter’s behalf, allowing the two brothers to reconcile. Ivan and Peter affirm their respect for each other and make plans to reunite for Christmas.