Intermezzo, the fourth book by Sally Rooney – the caustic kingpin of Millennial fiction – has sailed with elegant inevitability to the top of the bestseller list. Yet fans of Rooney’s poker-faced, poised style may be surprised to realise that while her previous works flirted with faith, her new novel is unabashedly religious.

While typically Rooneyish in silhouette – a cluster of nerdy, attractive Dubliners become emotionally and sexually enmeshed – Intermezzo is full of sincere (if, like, youthfully expressed) declarations of faith.