The In-Between

Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments

By: Hadley Vlahos R.N.

Narrated by: Hadley Vlahos R.N.

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Passionate advocate for end-of-life care and TikTok star Hadley Vlahos shares moving stories of joy, wisdom, and redemption from her patients’ final moments in this “brilliant” (Zibby Owens, Good Morning America) memoir.

“This extraordinary book helps dispel fear around death and dying—revealing it to be a natural part of our soul’s evolution.”—Laura Lynne Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Signs and The Light Between Us

Talking about death and dying is considered taboo in polite company, and even in the medical field. Our ideas about dying are confusing at best: Will our memories flash before our eyes? Regrets consume our thoughts? Does a bright light appear at the end of a tunnel? For most people, it will be a slower process, one eased with preparedness, good humor, and a bit of faith. At the forefront of changing attitudes around palliative care is hospice nurse Hadley Vlahos, who shows that end-of-life care can teach us just as much about how to live as it does about how we die.

Vlahos was raised in a strict religious household, but began questioning her beliefs in high school after the sudden death of a friend. When she got pregnant at nineteen, she was shunned by her community and enrolled herself in nursing school to be able to support herself and her baby. But nursing soon became more than a job: when she focused on palliative care and hospice work, it became a calling.

In The In-Between, Vlahos recounts the most impactful experiences she’s had with the people she’s worked with—from the woman who never once questioned her faith until she was close to death, to the older man seeing visions of his late daughter, to the young patient who laments that she spent too much of her short life worrying about what others thought of her—while also sharing her own fascinating journey.

Written with profound insight, humility, and respect, The In-Between is a heartrending memoir that shows how caring for others can transform a life while also offering wisdom and comfort for those dealing with loss and providing inspiration for how to live now.

©2023 Hadley Vlahos (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Tender and transformative . . . The great surprise of The In-Between is that it makes dying feel like a peaceful, dynamic, and nourishing event that can potentially transform the lives of those who are left behind. Readers will cheer on Hadley Vlahos and, like me, be forever grateful that she wrote this book.”—Christie Tate, New York Times bestselling author of Group

“Vlahos’s compassionate, beautifully written book contains profound wisdom. It is for anyone with an open heart who loves a good story and anyone who fears but would like to better understand hospice and the end of life.”—Katy Butler, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Dying Well

“Gentle and moving, The In-Between takes readers where few think they would want to go: deep into the world of hospice nursing. The combined beauty, faith, and compassion found in each patient’s death is meaningful and sublime.”—Theresa Brown, RN, New York Times bestselling author of The Shift

Heartstrings

As a neonatal RN that works deliveries and NICU to a new hospice RN, I’ve been struggling to find my feet. I started nursing school to be a hospice nurse. Sue Chapter really made me know I’m where I need to be.

So grateful this book was written and released during a time I needed the reassurance the most. These stories are the stories I LOVE and craving being in this field. So much love and devotion she put into these patients.

Even if not in the medical field, very celebration of life and humanity. An amazing book to read.

a stunning and rare look into an overlooked field

I’m a nursing student, and this book made me consider going into hospice nursing - a field I would have ranked at the VERY BOTTOM of my list of choices before reading this. It was just that beautiful. I’ve struggled a lot in my life with anxiety surrounding death and especially what comes after death. I was afraid that this book might trigger an anxious episode, but to my surprise and delight it did exactly the opposite. I felt so much better than I had in a long time reading this book. Some of the (very rare) negative reviews had complaints about the stories being “too average” or “too normal”, but honestly that’s exactly what made them beautiful in my opinion. They could have been any of us. This is what it looks like to witness death, and this book makes it seem far less scary than it felt before. I will definitely be coming back to this book in difficult moments when I need comfort. I can’t express how grateful I am for it, truly.

Life changing

This book will make you cry, laugh, and everything in between. Hospice care is an amazing resource for patients and families. it takes a special person to be a hospice nurse and Hadley's stories proves that. Hadley's experiences are beautiful and will make you look at life and death in a different way. The absolute best book I have read in years.

Fantastic book!

Please keep writing Hadley! This book was heart wrenching and uplifting. Seeing death through your eyes is beautiful. Keep serving those that need you. We need more people like you in this world!

Just finished & wish there was more! ♥️

I loved the transparency & candor in this book. I love how you honestly shared your thoughts, feelings, fears, doubts, frustrations & profound growth as a human being not just as a nurse. Thank you for every story shared but especially for sharing Reggie, Lisa and Albert. Lovingly reminding me to stay present even when it’s uncomfortable/hard.

Amazing book

Holy cow. This is such a good book! I love that Hadley was the one to read the book as well! I really enjoyed hearing the stories and how they shaped her into who she is now. I think this book will really help a lot of people! I highly recommend it! Thank you Hadley for sharing these stories with us! 🩷

An Inspiring & Transformational Read

Hadley’s storytelling is moving from the start. I zoomed through this book in two days and am sad it’s over. The way she weaves her story with the stories of her patients leaves you wanting more. I am sad that this is over and hope for a second book soon!

Didn’t want it to end

Hadley has a unique gift of helping the reader feel connected not only to her, but also the patient that she has cared for. I loved that she was the voice for her book.

I needed this!

The words of Hadley are so well spoken and comforting. I want to thank her for her courage in sharing her experience with us!

Hadley is our nurse!

Beautiful stories from a beautiful soul!! This book would comfort anyone and the stories are fascinating.