The Other Valley is a quiet and speculative debut about a girl who lives in a valley surrounded by two other valleys, one 20 years its future and one 20 years its past. Written with soft and sometimes meandering prose, the story opens with our female MC, Odile, witnessing something she should not see, sparking discourse in her life from her adolescence into adulthood.

Set over a twenty year period, Odile spends her early adulthood training for a role in the Conseil, the governing body that determines who can cross Valleys, but the events from the beginning of the book have Odile questioning everything, and when tragedy strikes her close friend group everything changes. Odile’s life moves in a new direction but the events of 20 years ago have her thinking about the Valley in the past.

This book felt like if it was read out loud would be soft spoken, it had this melancholic feel to it and was written in such a thoughtful way that each paragraph took on an ethereal zeal. Sometimes I did crave a bit more directness, often I was caught up in descriptive text that I’d forget where the story was going.

The characters weren’t particularly fleshed out and could use a bit of depth, the motivating force behind Odile’s decision making suffered because of this and I was left a bit uninvested. Though the second half of the story did see Odile take stronger foothold in her own life and I was eager for this transformation and I felt satisfied with the conclusions.

Read for the original plot, this is a debut from an author I think we will be seeing more speculative wonders from in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy all opinions are my own, this book publishes February 27, 2024.

I'm not sure how I ended up previewing this book; sci-fi, fantasy, dystopia is not in my wheelhouse. That being said, imagine a world consisting of three valleys and you're 15 years old, in the middle valley. To the east, you are twenty years older and to the west, you are twenty years younger. The governing body patrols and prevents people moving or viewing the other valleys for obvious reasons, but people are allowed to petition to return to a valley under certain circumstances. Can you imagine being able to go back in time and prevent a disaster or help your younger self so you can lead a better life? What if your older self actually meets your youngerself? What if your younger self accidentally stumbles upon your older self and doesn't like how life turned out? Oh the possibilities. I would categorize this story as young adult as well.

I love an outside-the-box book premise, and The Other Valley certainly delivered.

In this world, there are three adjacent towns. One lies in the present, one town is twenty years in the past, and the other is twenty years in the future. Studious and quiet sixteen-year-old Odile is living her life when she recognizes visitors from a neighboring town in the future - her friend, Edme's, parents. This can only mean one thing - Edme is going to die soon, and his parents have been escorted into the "present" to catch a glimpse of their still-living son. Odile is sworn to secrecy and must wrestle with the consequences.

At times, I found the pacing a little off, but I was super intrigued by the concept and was curious to learn more. I imagine this would be a very cool movie or a book series that highlights other townspeople and continues the world-building. Overall, this was a fun, quick read that I'd recommend to anyone that enjoys speculative fiction or something a bit different from your run-of-the-mill coming-of-age story.

I wanted to love this book soooo badly. It reminded me of "The Giver" meets "Never Let Me Go," but it was just very confusing to follow at parts. I did love the characters, I just felt a little confused at all times.

4.5 rounded to 5.

Howard’s debut novel is a beautiful, atmospheric read! It is definitely a slower paced, character driven plot so if you’re expecting a lot of action and events to unfold, you won’t find it. There is, however, a deep sense of foreboding, even after a time jump, and the ending does get suspenseful. And although it’s classified as science fiction, aside from the two valleys on either side in different time zones, it’s not as sci-fi as you might think.

Honestly, I really liked it. The pacing, the atmosphere, the way it’s written, reminds me a lot of Amanda Coplin’s The Orchardist (which is one of my top favorite books ever!) It asks the reader a lot of philosophical questions without always outright asking them. Questions about life, grief, regret, privilege, morals, relationships, and fate. It also includes discussion questions at the end to delve deeper into some of these things.

Content and trigger warnings include loss of loved ones, some mild profanity, underage drinking, a brief mention of teen sex, and a brief moment of violence. If you are a reader who gets frustrated with or hung up on a lack of quotation marks, fair warning that this is one of those books (as is The Orchardist).

I finished this one earlier this week but have been sitting on the review. But I LOVED it. I've read 99 books this year and only ranked 4 five stars and this is one. The first 10% of the book had me a little confused, I wasn't sure how people crosse the borders or why, i was feeling like there could be some plot holes or some things I was missing. But all those questions were answered in time. I loved the emotional story lines without being overly so. And the hints of time travel, but it wasn't so crazy that it got confusing. This book made me think so much about what I would do in certain situations and I loved that. I don't think I've finished a book and thought about it so much after. I continuously wanted to talk to other people while reading this book because I felt compelled to just talk out what was happening. It would make a fantastic movie or tv show where others can relive what I just did. And I can't wait for it to become published so I can have more of these conversations about this book with more people. It was just so good I want to talk to everyone about it.

The best comparison I've seen for this book is The Giver. It's got that melancholy vibe that I absolutely love, a strange government and concept, and interesting characters who face real consequences and dilemmas. Other comparable titles: The Never-Ending End of the World, The Saint of Bright Doors, The Half Life of Valery K.

I wanted SO badly to love this book more than I've loved any other book ever. The concept is absolutely fantastic, and had so much potential. However, the book leans more literary than I think it needs to, and as a result it feels very quiet. I like Odile and I thought her evolution was fascinating, but she almost became pigeonholed.

Brilliantly thought-provoking and entirely fascinating nonetheless.

Sadly this was a DNF for me. The premise sounded good but it just felt really slow to me. Also the lack of quotation marks threw me off as well. Hopefully those are added before it gets published. It did give me The Giver vibes though. It just wasn’t for me. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

Nicely constructed story that's well written and includes interesting characters and engaging plot.

I really appreciate the free copy for review!!

I am so, so glad I requested this book. I was drawn in by the eerie title and intriguing premise, and I'm thrilled to report that the story *absolutely* holds up. Like many people, I'm a hard sell on tales that mess around with time - they have a tendency to wrap my head in knots. Scott Alexander Howard DID indeed turn my brain inside out, but I gotta say ... this is one of the most original, well-considered, accessible-yet-astonishing "timef*ck" novels I've ever read.

In beautifully controlled language, THE OTHER VALLEY tells the story of Odile, a girl growing up in a valley bordered by infinite versions of itself: valleys to the east exist in 20-year leaps into the future; valleys in the west are 20=year leaps into the past. The plot that unfolds from this scenario is deliciously twisty, so I don't want to spoil too much - only that I was SO satisfied by the end.

It's worth saying this is a slower, character-focused novel rather than a fast-paced thriller. This worked for me, but I think it's important that readers know what to expect going in. It's about missed chances, the fickle nature of time, fate, and memory, and about unpacking the concept of "too late" in an unnervingly literal sense.

I'm so excited for whatever Howard writes next.

This was such a fascinating, emotional story touching on themes of grief and loss, and the prospect and consequences of altering one's destiny, mixed with a little teenage angst. It was sometimes a little complicated to follow, but I still really enjoyed it. I'm not typically drawn to sci fi/fantasy stories, but this one seems to transcend such labels. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very unusual story. I don't even know how to explain it. First of all, the world building is super unusual. I loved the idea that if you walk to the east or west of your valley you move forward or backward in time. I'd never read such a premise before.

Some of the other parts (like kids applying for jobs, etc) made me think of "The Giver" and I found myself enjoying both the story and the characters.

But in a novel like this, the best part not the story itself but how much you end up thinking about the ideas in the book. The moral around how one should decide who gets to visit the past or the future and why. The unintended consequences of our actions and decisions and freewill. There is so much in this novel that in can make you think for weeks all wrapped up in a slow and beautiful plot full of its own moments and twists and turns.

with gratitude to netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Put simply, THE OTHER VALLEY is a gem of a book. I highly recommend it for fans of Ruth Ozeki's work. The premise is absolutely brilliant, and thankfully, the writing lives up to its promise. The author sets each scene up beautifully so that the reader is immersed in the story world. The story moves at a nice pace, and you find yourself pulling for Odile and falling a little bit in love with her. She is such an endearing character. Ultimately, the philosophical aspects are what make this novel shine even brighter. THE OTHER VALLEY is perfect for readers looking for a well-crafted story that will make them think.

I received an e-galley from the publisher in exchange for my review; all opinions are 100% my own.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.**

I just finished The Other Valley less than a half hour ago, but I can already say it is one of those books that will stick with me for a long time. From the synopsis, I had no idea what a ride I was about to go on emotionally, but I really cannot say enough about this story. I was drawn in immediately. All of the characters felt distinct and acted their age, the relationship between Odile and Edme is heartbreakingly sweet and simple, and Odile is a likeable girl/woman who you root for the entire time. The premise is fresh and interesting, and Howard does an incredible job with explaining just enough of the mechanics to make the set-up plausible.

While this is a romance, it also isn't. Most of the book is about Odile living with the mistakes she has made. There are parts that seem to carry out almost too long in the moment, especially around the second half of the middle, but I realized at the end how necessary the monotony of those moments were; it made her desperation that much more real. There also isn't a lot of mystery here (the story *is* ultimately a romance), but the entire book hangs you in suspense anyway, and the ending is expertly done. Overall, it's just an exceptionally good book, and I'm sorry I can't read for the first time again!

A tender magical realism book about free will and reconciling with mortality.

Odile is a teenage girl living in a valley that's bordered by identical valleys to the east and west--the same valley, the same residents, just 20 years ago and 20 years in the future, respectively. Visitors from other valleys may apply to view (yet never interact with) loved ones: "to lay eyes on a person you would never otherwise live to meet, or a person you would never see again".

One day, Odile sees two elderly visitors who she recognizes as the parents of her friend, Edme, and intuits that he will have an untimely death sometime in the near future. At the same time, she goes to a school to become a Conseil-in-training, a person who reviews requests to visit other valleys and approves/denies them based on risk. The book spans a few decades of Odile's life and is a poignant novel about death, coming to terms with loss and the what-ifs of life, and the tension between free will and fate. Howard is a skilled writer, and I found myself highlighting many beautiful turns of phrase as I read. I definitely recommend to anyone who's a fan of literary fiction, magical realism, or just a well-told story.

Easily one of my favorite books of the year. I rarely give five full stars, but The Other Valley earned it.

Scott Alexander Howard takes the age-old question "If I could change my past to improve the future, would I?" and spins a beautiful, entirely new feeling tale that kept me engaged, wondering, and uncertain until the very end.

For many years I was a fine art printmaker, and woodblock carving was my joy. This story reminded me from the beginning like a traditional Japanese woodcut. There's a clean beauty about it. A quiet storm. An enduring quality. The fact that woodblock prints are part of the tale is fascinating.

It's rare to find speculative fiction that is so completely character driven, yet also dedicated to the speculative world which it inhabits. The Other Valley accomplishes this effortlessly.

I'm still not a fan of the lack of quotation marks!!! But that's a publisher's/editorial choice and I won't fault the book for it.

Thank you NetGalley for access to an advance copy in exchange for this honest review.

I have always loved a time travel story, which is why I was so excited to read this book! The Other Valley is not a typical fall-back-through-time time travel story, but rather a fascinating premise of having the past and the future located nearby, within a days travel to either one. Of course the ability to access the past or present realities is not open to very many. People must apply, and their case is reviewed by the Conseil as to its validity and its risk.

Odile is sixteen, the time when students apply and train for their careers. She is trying to obtain a seat on the Conseil, which involves a rigorous selection process. She is an awkward and shy girl with few friends, but is drawn to a boy her age, Edme, and his friends, and begins to spend time with them. One afternoon she accidentally sees who she believes is an older version of Edme's parents off in the distance. They are wearing masks, but she is sure that is who it is, and that this means he is about to die. This chance sighting affects every aspect of her life from that day forward.

The possible impact of time travel on the present and future is what fascinates me. But in this story, the possibility of visiting another time is a given, and the potential for impact is known. Having it be common knowledge is not something I have encountered in a book before, and it was a welcome addition.

I enjoyed the set up of the story and the character, but the shift to Odile as an adult seemed abrupt to me. Her life is not a happy one, and I wondered if this was going to color my impression of the book as a whole. But that was not the case. This story leaves you wondering about who knew what, when they knew it, how that information got to them, and was it ever too late to change things. I still think about the possibilities.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I expected a little more from this one based on the description to be honest. I thought I'd be getting something a little more literary and thought-provoking, but this veered far closer to YA sci-fi than I was expecting. Like any other time travel book, some of the plot makes less sense the more you think about it — and the universe's rules seem to bend to the plot's need.

It also featured one of my personal reading pet peeves: a complete lack of quotation marks.

I absolutely loved this book, it captured my mind and my heart. I have already recommended it to friends to buy when it is released. It is the story of the past, the present and the future and how one might be able to move among those dimensions of time to alter one’s life. And similarly how the world would manage time in different dimensions. I admire the writer who envisioned the valleys—the one in the middle being today, the one to the right 20 years ahead and the one to the left 20 years ago. This book made me think and feel. What would you do today if you knew where you would be in 20 years? I find myself thinking this with every decision. And what would you change about your past if you could? You should read this book, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to read it. And it’s the author’s first novel—how wonderful to look forward to his future works.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the Advanced Review Copy