The Brave In-Between

Notes from the Last Room

By: Amy Low

Narrated by: Leanne Woodward

This honest and emotional memoir presents much needed lessons and advice for navigating uncertainty in the worst of times.

Amy Low resides in a room that is her last—her medical team is clear-eyed with her: there is no cure for Stage IV metastatic colon cancer, and the odds of long-term survival are scant. Miraculously, she’s lived four years with her diagnosis, and that life between life has changed her.

Through the swirl of prolonged trauma and unbearable grief, a vantage point emerged—a window that showed her the way to relish life and be kinder to herself and others while living through the inevitable loss and heartbreak that crosses everyone’s paths. Instead of viewing joy and sorrow as opposites, she saw how both exist in harmony, full of mystery and surprise. Instead of seeing days as succeeding or failing, and physical selves as healthy or unwell, she’s learned to carry both achievements and afflictions in stride. And instead of bitterness and betrayal, forgiveness—toward her body, toward others, toward herself—became her wisest light.

Mapping her experiences to the words that St. Paul wrote in his own last room, The Brave In-Between is a sacred invitation to explore that space between triumph and tragedy. We all have a heart to marvel at miracles, a lightness to spot the absurdity, and an imagination to pause and extend empathy for others—even when tragedy strikes. Sometimes we just need a guide.

©2024 Amy Low (P)2024 Hachette Books

Critic reviews

“Amy's story is a rich mix of courage, grace, persistence, and most important, love. This is a book to treasure.” —Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president, Emerson Collective

“So many people are in pain these days, enduring hard times, facing challenges. They are wondering, ‘How do I do this?’ Amy Low is the perfect guide." —David Brooks, New York Times columnist and New York Times bestselling author of How to Know a Person

"Every day, all over the world, people get news they cannot bear--of a diagnosis, a coup, a melting polar ice cap, a sudden, wrenching loss, a newly named variant. With honesty, humor, wisdom and grace, Amy Low shines a light through the darkness. This book is a treasure to live by, to wrap up with a bow and give to everyone we know." —Amanda Ripley, New York Times bestselling author of The Smartest Kids in the World, The Unthinkable, and High Conflict

Don't be afraid to read this book whether you are battling cancer or not.

I highly recommend this book, which I listened to through Amazon Prime Audiobooks. The author is a Christian and uses the architecture and inspiration of Philippians 4:8-9 to inform her journey through stage 4 colon and lung cancer. She writes beautifully, with brutal and inciteful honesty. Even so, it’s not a sad story. I had to check… she is still alive.

Interestingly, she mentions that she is a graduate of Westmont and mentions going back to visit college friends in SB and walking the campus. I could picture everything she described. She talks about the outstanding professors who helped mold her, especially in philosophy.

Even though I’m not battling cancer, I found it to be a very deep, inspirational, thought-provoking, and joyful book. The way she weaves the individual words of Phillippians 4:8-9 as the foundation of each chapter makes me feel it could be an excellent choice for a book group. Who among us hasn't struggled mightily with one thing or another? Philippians 4:8-9 has always been one of my favorite verses. Amy interprets Paul’s exhortation as the source of living authentically.

A profound work of the heart

Amy Low masterfully weaves a tapestry of metaphor, insight and experience that wraps around your heart and reminds you what it is that truly matters - in every room of our lives but especially the last one. It’s a page-turner filled with candor and love, humor and humility. A pleasure to read and an invaluable resource to draw upon!

Compelling Story

This is an inspiring story of living life with and after catastrophic betrayal. It has challenged me to look at all of my circumstances and events thru the Phil 4:8 lens and to prepare myself and loved ones for the last room (as much as anyone possibly can). Well done and thank you!

Incredible

This author has an amazing way of crafting sentences that are funny, impactful, engaging and endearing. I loved every sentence of this book and am changed because of this incredible story.

Disappointing

This book starts out well but quickly goes downhill. It has an overwritten self-indulgent style that borders on stream of consciousness. I finished it but it could have been half as long with a less whiny and more graceful tone. I can forgive the heavy reliance on Biblical references to bolster every thought the author has, but overall I just thought it was boring.