Hello and welcome to my new book obsession. As soon as I read the premise of the book, I knew that it was going to be right up my alley. But I underestimated how beautiful this book was going to be.

Sixteen year old Odile is preparing for an apprenticeship with her town's Conseil. The Conseil decides who will be permitted to visit from their neighboring valleys. Because, you see, each valley is identical, but exists at different points in time. Odile accidentally witnesses two visitors from the future and realizes that the boy she cares for, Edme, is destined for an untimely demise.

While the book is being tagged and marketed as fantasy/sci-fi/speculative fiction, I honestly found the time travel elements to be handled more like magical realism. No attempt is made to explain how the valleys exist how they do. The focus instead is on exploring the repercussions of choice, sacrifices we make for our ethics, and the validity of power structures. When I read the author's bio and saw that he has a PhD in Philosophy, I was not surprised. Howard infuses the novel with approachable philosophy, with Odile as our relatable guide coming to grips with love, loss, grief, and accountability.

I adored this book and will be recommending it to everyone. I have seen some reviewers complain about the lack of quotation marks for dialogue. I did not find this distracting nor did it detract from the reading experience. If you think this is something that will prevent you for enjoying the novel, perhaps pick up the audiobook instead?

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for a free advanced readers copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

This is a difficult book to rate. It has a very interesting and unique concept with a stellar ending but lacked excitement for much of the middle.

Odile is sixteen and lives in a valley. To the east is an identical valley 20 years in the future. To the west is an identical valley 20 years in the past. Without spoiling anything, someone close to Odile dies in her current valley and Odile possibly could have prevented it. The rest of the book all hinges on this fact.

The final 15% of this book is action-packed. But I was slogging through the middle 60%. The beginning sets us up nicely and then BAM suddenly we are 20 years in the future which is a bit disorienting. I wish there had been some editing to remove big chunks of the middle which is basically just day to day task and lot of dreary suffering.

I think this was worth the read even though I found myself struggling with the middle. It’s different than anything I’ve read and I think it would be a fun book to read with a buddy because there’s a lot to unpack.

THE OTHER VALLEY by Scott Alexander Howard is a well-written, but sad and melancholy book. It has been very positively reviewed, receiving starred reviews from Booklist ("A thought-provoking exploration"), Kirkus ("perfect for fans of Ishiguro and McEwan"), and Library Journal ("wonderful book club discussions"). In addition, this speculative fiction work is a March 2024 Indie Next Pick and featured in an author interview (link below). Goodreads labeled it as one of the Most Anticipated Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror Books of 2024. The main character, Odile, is a young girl who struggles ... and struggles again ... with life choices. Due to an important time travel element, readers will come to know this character in middle age and as an older woman, also. There are numerous questions of ethics, identity, parent-child relationships, and societal expectations. Apt descriptors, though, are eerie, ominous, secretive, and complex. I initially mentioned all of those accolades because although this book was too dark for me personally, it will have definite appeal for certain readers.

Author interview:
https://www.bookweb.org/news/indies-introduce-qa-scott-alexander-howard-1630245

4.5 ⭐️

The Other Valley is a new and novel tale on the time travel trope. It’s a moving story that also confronts some of the ethical questions that surround time travel. The protagonist, Odile, is a complex but sympathetic character, which also helps give the story the necessary depth. As limited as our time may be, and as much as hinges on our choices, I’m glad I chose to spend some of that valuable time in The Other Valley.

Thank you Scott Alexander Howard, Atria Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

There's some really lovely prose here, a decent central conceit, and some lovely world-building, but as this wrapped itself up, it just felt kind of fine to me. It might be the pacing - this isn't a door-stopper, but part one dragged on a bit too long while part two felt like it was racing to the end rather than taking the time it deserved.

It deftly poses some questions about time travel, and gives us both sides of a critical moment in its main character's life, but it never fully builds the central relationship that needs to be the beating heart here. It may not have been my thing, and that's fine. Maybe it'll be yours.

I absolutely adored this book. The writing is beautiful. The concept is intriguing - definitely a unique time travel story. It has everything: coming of age, puppy love, mystery, dealing with grief. Really a great debut and a great book overall

The Other Valley is a debut speculative fiction that felt along the lines of The Giver or Never Let Me Go.

The premise was so compelling because on each side of the valley, another valley exists that is either 20 years in the past or 20 years in the future.

16 year old Odile sees an older couple with masks on, an indicator that they are visiting from one of the neighboring valleys, and recognizes them to be the elder parents of one of her classmates. Whenever there are visitors from other valleys, it usually means that they are there to see a family member one last time from a distance, as that person is about to die. Although the older couple can watch their loved one, they cannot interfere in any way because this could be disastrous for the timeline.

What will young Odile do with this information? Should she stay silent, or should she try to prevent her friend’s death?

I couldn’t get enough of this concept of the people living in all these different timelines so close to each other but yet so far away. So intriguing!

For me, I found it fascinating that the MC’s name is ODILE. That name is a fourth generation name in my family and I’ve never seen it used anywhere else before.

*Thanks so much to Atria Books and to NetGalley for the gifted eGalley!*

Gentle prose and contemplative subject matter add up to a literary speculative debut from an author I'm thoroughly unsurprised to learn holds a doctorate in philosophy. The story is very slow paced, but in a manner that is methodical, purposeful, and well-suited to its content, as opposed to frustrating or plodding in any way. While there are a few hints of dystopian brushstrokes here and there, much of the book is filled with idyllic pastoral imagery and a tenderhearted coming-of-age story. It's thought-provoking in a highly accessible way.

Heads up that there are no quotation marks! I surprised myself by adapting to this quickly, but I know for many readers that is a deal-breaker.

⚠️ No quotation marks.

I thought the premise of this book sounded so good. That I knew I wanted to read it. I'm so grateful that Atria gave me the chance. I've never read a book without quotation marks. Those two squiggly lines make a huge difference in a book. I had no idea they were so important. Seriously this book took twice as long to read. Because I kept having to go back. Oh those people are talking. I had to read that differently.

16 year old Odile Ozanne lives in a unique valley. To one side it's 20 years ahead and to the other side it's 20 years behind. Same town, same people. Like a timeline. But you are able to visit the other valleys. You have to go before the conseil and submit your case. Odile is vying to be on the conseil. The book is told in two parts, 16 year old Odile & 36 year old Odile.

I really enjoyed this book. I might have even loved it. If they were quotation marks. This book definitely makes you think, mostly what did I just read. 😉😆

Very much enjoyed this book. Loved the characters and atmosphere. Suspenseful and the right moments and tender when appropriate. The writing was great and the speculative nature of time travel was well conceived.

In his debut novel, Scott Alexander Howard unites a startlingly original speculative fiction premise with gorgeous literary fiction prose — and I flat-out loved it!

If possible, it’s best to go into “The Other Valley” blind, but I will say this was one of the most interesting time travel plots that I’ve encountered. However, this book is so much more than a time travel novel. It’s a moving depiction of adolescence, sparking by turns laughter, nostalgia, sympathy and cringe. It’s a philosophical meditation on memory, fate and second chances. And it’s a subtle tribute to the natural world, with evocative descriptions of nature a constant throughout each section of the book. In many ways, The Other Valley gave me flashbacks to reading Lois Lowry’s The Giver as a kid. Whether you read for plot, character, language or just vibes, this book has something for everyone.

My friend Edie recently described her favorite books as those that have shining moments of wit and brilliance that make little popping sensations in her brain – and as someone who intensely relates to this description, let me tell you that I felt a fizzy sense of joy course through me as I rapidly consumed this novel and I feel a familiar sense of bittersweet devastation now that it’s done. I think this would be a terrific book to read with a book club. I truly cannot wait for my friends to read it so that I have someone to discuss it with!

Sincere thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy!

This was such an interesting, mysterious, and thought-provoking book.

The cover and synopsis drew me in from the start, and while the beginning is a little slow, the world building is important for what’s to come. I thought the idea of this kind of living situation was so curious - having the future and past timelines be geographically in the surrounding towns. I really liked the MC Odile, and have a hard time imagining all that was put on her at just sixteen. The plot took a huge turn at about the halfway point that I wasn’t expecting, but I really liked where it took the rest of the book and how it enhanced the depth of the story. There was a fun mix of adventure, mystery, and a little suspense throughout the book, and it made it hard to put down.

This was such a good book! I loved the characters, and their story. The dialogue was realistic and enjoyable. I was very surprised by the ending!

How is this a debut?! Incredible book. It took me a little bit to get used to the lack of quotation marks, but once I got past that, I was enthralled. This book was well written, intelligent, and a new twist on time travel. I highly recommend. 4.5 stars rounded up.

I'm not usually a science fiction reader, but I was totally into this debut effort by Scott Alexander Howard. The world building was excellent and the premise of the book is SO interesting. The characters were well-developed and the plot was appropriately intricate but not confusing. I kept coming back to the concept. I found it highly original and it worked well for character development, as well. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking read!

This highly evocative dystopian novel stays with you long after finished and makes you meditate deeply about how our lives unfurl, woven with both love and grief, and how strong a role fate ultimately plays. The setting: a world in which identical mountain towns line up in infinity to both east and west, with high border fences and armored guards preventing any unapproved crossings. Each iteration of the town is 20 years apart: going back in time to the west and forward in time to the east. Based on how long people live, they will have other versions of themselves in the past and future. There are cars, buses, lights and stoves, but no high-tech electronic technology – so people have to rely on paper, notebooks and letter writing.

A high council, spelled Conseil, decides who, if anyone, can cross either border (usually based on grief over sudden death or being terminally ill), and gendarmes ferry coded letters to the neighboring Conseil as both sides must agree on a visitation. Law enforcement, Gendarmes, accompany any visitors who must watch from a distance and wear wooden masks that completely cover their facial features as well as loose fitting robes – to avoid being recognized and impacting in any way the future or past.

Odile, a quiet, reclusive sixteen-year-old, one day at school sees a pair of visitors watching her school – and as one drops their mask she recognizes them as the parents of a school classmate, Edme. She realizes they must be coming from the future, on a so-called mourning tour, to see him because he has unexpectedly died. Odile becomes fascinated by Edme, who’s smart, funny, accepting of Odile, and a budding violinist – though his parents want only for him to follow their career path of working in processing fruit from the orchards.

At age sixteen, all children in the towns must apply to apprentice for an occupation, and Odile’s mother is insistent that she try to join the Conseil. In writing her application, Odile reveals the siting of Edme’s parents. The Conseil summons her to swear her to silence and to invite her to try out for one of their coveted spots.
What enfolds is a coming of age love story between Odile and Edme, beset by tragedy but lifted by the possibility of fundamentally changing their fates through bravery.

This book debut is from a Canadian with a PhD in philosophy and post-doctoral work at Harvard, and his intellectual philosophical musings play as background music throughout.

I just loved this book!

Thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

I’m very conflicted on this one. The story had me engaged and curious- but I was confused a lot of the time, which interfered with my enjoyment. That could totally be only me though. I’m newer to speculative fiction, and am interested in reading more of the genre this year. The time jumps, the time paradox and the no quotation marks threw me off.

I think the meat of the story- a look at the way our decisions affect so much more than our own lives was really interesting. Also, the underlying question of- if you could do it over again, what would you change. For me, the character development wasn’t all the way there. I felt at a distance from each of the characters. I wasn’t sure of the motivations for some of the actions. In saying that, I think a lot of people will love this one. Thank you to netgalley and atria books for the arc to read and review.

My rating: 5 stars.

Odile is a teenage girl living in a valley surrounded on either side by identical valleys - except the valley to the west is 20 years in the past, and the one to the east is 20 years in the future. She competes for a seat on the Conseil, a privileged position that controls the strictly regulated travel between valleys.

One day Odile recognizes two Visitors as the future parents of her friend Edme. Approval for visitors from the future town is rare unless to visit a dead loved one, signaling trouble for Edme, with whom Odile has been growing closer. Keeping this secret is crucial for her future and the timeline itself. But as her feelings for Edme grow stronger, can she watch and do nothing?

This debut novel seamlessly blends speculative fiction and philosophical exploration. Part science fiction, part coming-of-age story, it asks you: how far you would go to save someone you love? Initially young and impressionable, Odile grapples with identity, belonging, and the nuances of relationships, transforming into a woman burdened by her past, confronting the repercussions of her actions.

The prose is gorgeous and lyrical and a pure joy to read. My only criticism is that the author doesn't use quotation marks when characters speak, which initially made it challenging to read.

As I've gotten older, stories about memory, consequences, time and regret resonate more deeply. Anyone who has experienced loss will relate to Odile's story. I lost my mother to cancer 13 years ago, and what wouldn't I do to see her one more time? What if I could change her fate at the expense of someone else? This novel raises profound questions about morality, right vs wrong, and the essence of existence.

This is a beautiful and poignant read, establishing Howard as an author to watch. I promise I'll be thinking about this book for a long time to come.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy! I loved it so much I am going to need to go get a hardcopy ASAP.

The Other Valley is a stunning debut novel by Scott Alexander Howard which speculates a world where time travel is allowed and regulated. We are introduced to Odile, a sixteen year-old who lives on the North side of town in a valley. She, like her fellow students are applying for jobs and listen to multiple career options in class. Odile is not sure what she wants to do, but is pressured by her mother to apply to be a conseil, a prestigious career in town. Conseils' jobs are to review and provide a decision on whether an application for time travel will be approved or not. You see, in this world, there are mirror versions of the valley, guarded and fenced on both sides. When you move to the East, it is twenty years in the future. When you move to the West, it is twenty years in the past, and repeats over and over. The only legitimate reason to cross is consolation- grieving someone you lost, or meeting someone you never got to meet. Odile encounters this first hand, when she sees in the distance a masked couple who she recognizes as the parents of a classmate Edme. She is sworn to secrecy by what she saw, but finds herself growing closer to him, knowing his end is coming soon.

This world building in a debut novel is impressive- Odile is a fascinating character and Howard does a great job of writing her and her actions at different timepoints in her life. In some ways, I'm surprised no one else has written about a concept like this before. It's ripe for ethical dilemmas and unlimited possibilities. This was a page turner- I really did not know where it was going to end. This book would be a fantastic choice for a book club, and I'll be recommending to friends.

Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

This book is so different than anything I've read. It pulled me in from the start and while there was a bit of a slowdown in the middle, for the most part it kept me interested the whole time. On top of that, this book really makes you think, but not in a way that I dislike when reading for pleasure.

I loved the unique storyline and writing style. While there are no quotation marks in this book, I found that I didn't miss them. It was still easy to understand what was happening. This is going to be a book that I think about for a long time.