Sally Rooney dives deep into the meaning of “normal” in her exciting new novel, echoing themes from her famous work “Normal People,” where characters confront the challenges of contemporary existence.

The novel raises essential questions about what defines “normal people.” What does it mean to have a standard relationship or upbringing? These troubling thoughts heavily influence the characters in “Intermezzo” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 448 pp., ★★★★ out of four. Available now).

Set after their father’s passing, “Intermezzo” centers on two brothers. Peter, a 32-year-old lawyer, is caught between his younger girlfriend who relies on him financially and Sylvia, his first love, whose serious injury years ago strained their bond.

Meanwhile, 22-year-old Ivan is a gifted chess player grappling with social awkwardness. These brothers have little in common besides their family ties. Peter dismisses Ivan as an involuntary celibate and immature, while Ivan sees Peter as a pretentious hypocrite. Change arrives for Ivan when he meets Margaret, a 36-year-old divorcee, at a chess contest, sparking a connection despite their age gap.

This scenario initiates the intermezzo—known in chess as “Zwischenzug”—a surprising move requiring an immediate reaction. Following their father’s death, Peter and Ivan enter a phase filled with intense emotions. Every move they make on life’s chessboard has significant repercussions. Rooney’s narrative questions: What occurs when we fall in love? How does it reverberate in our lives and the lives of others?

<p”The novel probes the idea of normalcy in various contexts. Is it typical for Ivan, at 22, to date an older, divorced woman? Is Peter’s struggle between two women a conventional dilemma? What constitutes a normal grieving process?

Fans of Rooney’s earlier works like “Normal People” and “Conversations with Friends” will find much to enjoy in “Intermezzo,” though it offers a different reading experience. The novel is more reflective, with beautifully detailed descriptions of everyday moments illuminating its characters. The narrative draws readers in, though it may leave them feeling somewhat overwhelmed. For instance, Peter’s inner thoughts are fragmented and frantic, interspersed with anxiety as he grapples with self-medication and self-doubt.

Exploring Grief: ‘Isn’t loss something that we should share?’

Grief is one of the most powerful motifs in Rooney’s storytelling. While Ivan grapples with expressing it, Peter tries to evade it. Ivan finds himself questioning where to channel his love for his father, pondering how to “relieve the burden of keeping so many stories bottled up inside.” In contrast, Peter distracts himself with relationships, substances, and self-criticism regarding Ivan’s romantic life.

Despite their opposing approaches, Ivan and Peter are surprisingly similar. Grief initially complicates their relationship, especially following Sylvia’s accident and their father’s death.

Rooney, as a middle child, effectively portrays the dynamics of older and younger siblings, presenting a clear depiction of the younger sibling’s desire to learn from and the elder’s tendency to guide (or judge).

Love also emerges as a pivotal theme in “Intermezzo,” akin to Rooney’s previous narratives. She delivers powerful insights, suggesting that love, in its various forms, carries profound weight. Lines like “To love just a few people, to recognize my capability for that, I would endure hardship every day of my life” resonate deeply.

Reading a Sally Rooney novel is to grasp the core of human experience, and “Intermezzo” is no exception. This latest story delves into the impact of genuinely listening to those we hold dear and the consequences when we fail to do so.