The In-Between was one of the greatest books I have ever read. There are very few times in my life, even as an avid reader, that I could relate to the phrase “I couldn’t put the book down” but when I said it for this book, I meant it.
I originally came across this novel after Hadley Vlahos, the author of the novel, came up on my TikTok For You
page. Her videos immediately captured my attention. A hospice nurse sharing her experiences? Isn’t that one of the most depressing jobs in the world? Her content was not something I would have watched under normal circumstances, but my dad had passed away from a terminal illness a few days prior and I had been spending my nights wide awake lying in bed scrolling on the internet for answers and pondering my thoughts.
Thankful for the incredibly specific TikTok algorithm at that moment, I didn’t scroll past immediately. I stayed and listened to her tell a story of a home visit for one of her patients, specifically about how a few days before death, all patients—no matter race, age, or religion—see past family members. Now, I was curious. I clicked on her profile and continued watching more videos. I was very thankful I did.
I immediately followed her and looked through her page. Her content primarily revolves around her experiences and stories about her patients. Once I looked into her further and found out she had written a book about her experiences, I bought it immediately.
The book is structured so that every chapter covers a new patient. I found this to be a perfect structure for this novel as I felt I knew her patients just like she had after every short story. It was also very insightful to learn about patients from all different backgrounds and illnesses—from dementia patients to cancer patients and more, she brings you into that moment with her.
She shares moments personal to her including the late night calls she received from patients family members, issues or difficult situations she has come across in her line of work and special moments she has experienced with patients in their final minutes. Although, every chapter brought tears to my eyes there was a sense feeling comforted and uplifted as well.
While sharing her experiences with patients, she also includes stories from her personal life. Stories of her husband and son and their personal family struggles. Every chapter pulled at my heartstrings. I found the book to be comforting after losing two loved ones this past year.
It’s very hard to put into words the impact this book had on me and my grieving process. Although I still have sleepless nights and struggle constantly, this book has given me the comfort I need. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who finds themselves pondering what happens after death, or looking for answers. The book did make me believe that there is an In-Between.
