The Valley Between Us

By: Cristi Slate

Narrated by: Susan Marlowe

This gripping novel follows two women—a young Soviet college student whose life is upended by the ancient practice of bride kidnapping, and a millennial American bound by her crippling sensory processing issues— and weaves their stories together in a riveting tale of love and resilience.

1991: The Soviet Union is on the verge of collapse when 20 year-old Dina comes face-to-face with the ancient Caucasus tradition of bride kidnapping. The life she had planned is torn out from under her feet and she is forced to dig deep inside to find the strength to survive her new harsh reality.

2018: Callie keeps her life as predictable and organized as possible— Dr. Paekl says that's the best way to keep a handle on her sensory processing issues. And Callie always listens to Dr. Paekl. So, no surprises—daily run in Golden Gate Park at 6:20 am, oatmeal and a banana for breakfast, the thermostat always set at exactly 68 degrees. But a break-up with her long-time boyfriend and frustration in her high-stress job pushes her to do something uncharacteristically risky—take a leave of absence from work and travel to Georgia for a three-month internship at a mountain guesthouse. What she thinks will be merely a summer adventure ends up completely shifting her world, making her reexamine who she is, what she believes, and who she loves. While at the guesthouse, Callie uncovers a shocking family secret that could bring everything crumbling down around her.

The Valley Between Us is a heart-wrenching tale of deep friendships, faith, first loves, trauma, and, ultimately, healing.

Fans of The Nightingale or All the Light We Cannot See will be captivated by this powerful story.

©2024 Cristi Slate (P)2025 Cristi Slate

An emotional and eye-opening read

A powerful and emotional story that will stay with me. It gives a raw, honest, and heartbreaking look at bride napping and how women in remote Caucasus mountain communities are seen and treated, with their lives shaped by tradition, controlled by expectation, and their choices often limited or made for them. The main character’s journey was painful, brave, and deeply human, touching on identity, survival, and the longing for freedom.

Cultural differences

I enjoyed the clash and and similarities of feelings and actions of people from different cultures.

Amazing

Great book overall, very well done and very well narrated and thought out. Definitely a book I would recommend. Excellent storyline, overall 5 stars.

Learning about different unfamiliar culture within a great story.

I liked that it wasn’t a mushy love story. It seemed more realistic. i’m a very picky reader and usually don’t finish a book because I get bored before they even the halfway point. This one held my attention which was a pleasing surprise. I looked forward to getting in the car and listening to it going to bed at night and listening to it anxious to know what happens next in the story. The descriptions of the country made me want to look up pictures of that area. But it also did not go on and on being descriptive which bores me. I feel comfortable recommending this book.