If you are in the throes of raising kids and trying to balance between your spouse, career and being a Mom then you will totally relate to this debut novel. Leah is a mom of 3 who's husband has decided to reinvent the family restaurant when she is struggling to find her identity as a professional artist but not quite finding the time to devote to it. She has the support of her husband's family but suddenly feels they are smothering her and as she pulls away from everyone she turns to alcohol more and more as she tries to find herself.

Thank you to Harper Collins Focus and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

3.5 🌟releases 5•13!

First off: Mia Hutchinson-Saw did a phenomenal job with the characters in this audiobook. She solo narrated the entire thing and her voice never once felt flat or monotonous. The writing was so beautiful and I can’t believe Jessica is a debut author.

This book follows the parallels between being a mother/wife/friend and living through what all of us mothers know as the brutal season of endless giving and no taking. We love our kids..let me repeat this: WE LOVE OUR KIDS… but the constant ‘give all of yourself until you’re raw in the soul and bones’ with zero taking for yourself is a horrible hole and it’s hard to not fall into.

This novel follow Leah’s journey towards becoming an alcoholic and touches upon how “wine culture” for moms handling stressful parenting seasons can be a slippery slope. While I don’t agree having a glass of wine to decompress after a long day is a problem I do agree in that if you aren’t handling your shit it is a dangerous habit.

The ending was incredibly powerful but the middle meandered a bit too much for me and that’s why I’ve settled at 3.5 stars. My mother died of alcoholism and I’ve done many years of therapy to heal from that so this book was triggering but manageable for me. If you have addiction circling your life and you have yet to heal… maybe revisit this version of addiction until it would be easier to consume.

Overall, an intense and powerful read I’d recommend but (again) use caution ⚠️ if you have triggers towards cheating, addiction, unworthiness in the context of family dynamics, or are struggling in motherhood without support.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this eARC/audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Harper Muse for the opportunity to preview Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The book started out easy and light hearted- a story of a young, free-willed artist falling in love and being absorbed by a tight night family, with a controlling matriarch. I could easily relate to the main character, Leah, and her desperation in losing her sense of self to motherhood, the demands put on a mom while the husband continues to live his dream. I also could see myself the family dynamics of the family relationships and dynamics of the in-laws, and the friendship between Leah and Amy, her pal, her confidant, and sister-in-law. The book started out as happy and free, but slowly spiraled down into dark and anger and frustration. I realized near the end of the book this was the skill of the author, reflecting in her writing the hold of alcoholism. I can't say I enjoyed the second half of the book, but you are not meant to. Leah's demons come out because of her drinking, which she was needing to escape her demons. Those that care for her step up, but she fights them believing no one can understand her struggles.

After reading the author's notes I have more respect for this book because this book is a fictionalized story of her own struggle I believe. I admire her struggles and her triumph, and also her determination to get her story out in a relatable way. The book was relatable, but not a happy one. Reading about the author made me take the book to heart, but I enjoyed the first half of the book much more. That makes the book more realistic to Leah's struggles- a good book for discussion. 3.5 Stars. Hard to rate because it was a well written story, but not an enjoyable book.

This was incredibly deep and powerful. Really raw and ridiculously well written. I look forward to more from Guerrieri!

Enjoyable, thoughtful, insightful read. Motherhood is hard, very hard. Leah’s journey is eye opening, and definitely a good read.

A raw, emotionally resonant exploration of motherhood, identity, and addiction. Guerrieri's prose is both lyrical and unflinching, offering an intimate portrayal of a woman on the brink.

Motherhood is not all joy and a Hallmark movie. When we give birth we can feel like we cease to exist as people, consumed by the endless needs of our children. Our society doesn’t show us how to deal with these feelings, and leaves only shame in its place- how we “should” feel vs how we actually feel. Stuffing those feelings down leads to decent in to alcoholism for our main character Leah. Once a wild artist-surfer girl escaping her midwest and mildly neglectful up bringing, she somehow finds herself in a tame American dream the mother of three small children.
I had some trouble relating to her as she is just barely aware of her privilege as a mildly successful artist in a very comfortable N California life, complete with her own studio, thanks to her husband and his family. Yet she is conflicted at needing to take care of her three children, who she both loves and resents. She finds herself with a life she never chose. Her mother-in law- Christine, a perfect June Cleaver who’s only goal appears to be to hover over and rule the lives of her 3 married mamas boys. Every interaction with Christine and makes Leah feel like she never quite measures up. I found this part to a completely realistic reflection of my own days as a new mother.
Being raised by an cruel alcoholic parent leaves wounds on sister in-law Amy, who wants to have a child of her own “to do it right”, and heal her own wounds. At first Amy and Leah are sisters in arms rebelling against Christine’s domination. However once pregnant Amy finds Christine more of a comfortable substitute mother, making Leah even more of an outsider in the family.
The women in the story all have some form of generational trauma, but how each deals with it has wildly different results. I found this story thought provoking and was rooting for all the women the whole time. ( except Isla- her I hated )
Recommend

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a deeply emotional portrait of motherhood, family secrets, friendship, and addiction. The writing is heartbreaking and beautiful, with just enough character growth to leave me hopeful rather than destroyed. I highly recommend this debut, and will be eagerly following Jessica Guerrieri to see what’s next.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Muse Publishing for an early copy of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri

While it is difficult to find joy in reading Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, this is an important story for anyone going through a tough time in dealing either directly or indirectly with the negative effects of alcoholism.

The O'Connors are a strong but troubled family with matriarch Christine, mother of three grown sons and grandchildren, pretty much runs things and makes no apologies for her involvement in their lives. Told from the perspective of daughter-in-law, Leah, friction in the family is ongoing. Leah is dealing with issues of her own: motherhood vs. career, a relationship from her past which still haunts her, and her descent into alcoholism which affects everything she says and does.

Author Guerrieri deals with the constant stresses which alcohol exacerbates in a clear and knowledgeable way as this has been her challenge in life as well. Family trauma from the past including the stillborn death of a beloved daughter haunts Christine until the family together brings to the forefront issues of the past that can lead to stronger future ties. This reckoning makes Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea a worthwhile and humane read.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is Jessica Guerrieri’s debut novel, and it’s a complicated one. The story follows Leah, a married mother of three struggling to keep up with the Joneses and feel accepted by her mother-in-law. As she fantasizes about what she believes her life would be like had she not “settled down” a decade prior, she descends into severe alcoholism that puts everything and everyone in at risk.
Leah’s story is heartbreaking, raw, vulnerable, and frustrating all at once. On the surface, she is hard to like and hard to forgive, but many readers will find glimpses of their own experience reflected in Leah’s, and that relativity is powerful in the scope of the story as a whole. Sure, readers may not find themselves in Leah’s addiction in the literal sense, but haven’t they felt strain, jealousy and resentment in their family relationships? Hasn’t everyone yearned for what life could have been?
Overall, I generally recommend this book to Literary, Women’s & Family fiction readers IF the plot summary in the blurb piques your interest. Like with most books, be sure to review content guides if that suits you. Thank you to Harper Muse for the ARC in exchange for my review of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, which publishes May 13th.

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: fiction
Plot: picture perfect family meets alcoholism and motherhood turmoil
Emotion: 🧡/5
Spice: 🫑

Summary: Mother of three children, FMC is struggling in her current lifestyle with her husband’s picture perfect family, including his too perfect, overbearing mother. She longs for the freedom she once had, using alcohol to bring back feelings she’s all but lost.

Opinion: this is a book that dives deep into the the dark side of motherhood that people don’t like to talk about… the loss of autonomy, the responsibilities that fall only on the mother, the “not everything is rainbows and butterflies”, the sacrifices that only mothers understand. It’s also a story of addiction and how it affects a family. The story was well written (jumped between past memories and present events), it kept my attention but I wanted more. I wanted the high impact, rock bottom hit…the extreme turmoil…the big trauma…but it never came. It was all pretty tame / mild, lacking that punch of emotion I was looking for. It was a good story but not one that I’m going to remember long term or would recommend to the general population. This book best fits somewhere between a 3 or 4⭐️

Takeaway: I liked the book but would only recommend to a specific type of audience. I don’t think women without children would enjoy reading this book - it’s very heavy on the burden / dark side of motherhood (specifically focusing on a FMC that never wanted to be a mom). Also, if you don’t like reading about addiction/alcoholism, don’t read this book.

Review and rating is posted on Goodreads. Social media posting and Amazon review/rating will occur on publication day.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC! I loved this debut novel. Certain aspects of the main character resonated with me, her experiences but also so much of her interior world shared and showcased feelings that I feel aren't always spoken about, but need to be. Although there's some heavy currents throughout, they are handled elegantly and profoundly. I haven't read a book with a protagonist that felt so akin to my own experiences in awhile, and although our personal circumstances are different, I just really valued what this story shared and exposed about motherhood, womanhood, and navigating our interior trials and finding redemption through it all. I will definitely recommend this debut novel to others and look forward to reading her next book!

3.5. There was a lot I liked about this, but ultimately it felt more like a sketch, with various ideas that might have been better written as an essay or memoir. Some of the characters felt two-dimensional, and the way they often spoke in full paragraphs just did not seem true to life. There was also a lot of repetition that I think could have been edited down to have worked more cohesively. I do appreciate the author's personal connection to the story, and I related to a lot of the challenging aspects of motherhood that Leah calls to light. (And I agree: it's not talked about enough.) I think it just needed a little more time in the editing stage.

An emotionally compelling debut novel by that delves into the complexities of motherhood, marriage, identity, extended family dynamics and addiction. Set in the coastal town of Half Moon Bay, California, the story follows the once-free-spirited artist Leah who wakes up to find herself married with three children living what many would say is the ideal life, seemingly surviving off the socially popular concept of mommy needs her wine to survive. Totally unpredictable and well written storyline and would think a resonating and relatable one to many moms. Perfect mix of literary fiction meets book club lit (would be a great book club read). NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Muse books / Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Very good debut novel about forgiveness, addiction, grief and family. The characters are very well rounded and show growth in this short but sweet
novel.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a powerful story that portrays thoughts and emotions that are raw and show true human vulnerability. Guilt for choices made, moments missed, and hurt caused along the way. Grief for all that has been lost through seeking an escape in unhealthy habits. Addiction and the power it holds over decisions, actions, and reactions. Hope that something will change and all the regrets and wrong decisions will no longer hold the power they have for so long.
Leah, a free spirit who revels in creativity and craves the sand and water, longs to feel the freedom and creativity she held dear before becoming a wife, mom, and member of the O’Connor family. Her loss of self drives her to the one escape she has depended on for so long, alcohol. However, her escape has taken control of her life and is slowly costing her everything she treasures in life. Will the love of those around her and the little moments that allow her to see how out of control her drinking has become be enough to pull her from the deep?
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a profound story that explores the Wine Mom culture, from the cause of turning to this lifestyle to the long reaching effects it has on one’s family and quality of life.

Thank you to Uplit Reads, Jessica Guerrieri, and Harper Muse Books for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.

Leah and Lucas meet over a shared passion. Shortly after, Leah is crestfallen to discover she is pregnant. The two marry and though she adores her children, Leah resents having to give up her own aspirations for the sake of her family. Her husband's female family members are wives and mothers first and foremost, especially her mother-in-law, Christine, who shares special moments with her favourite granddaughter. Leah feels twinges of envy along with waves of disgust. She cannot relate to Christine. After losing parts of her self, Leah finds relief in emotional-numbing alcohol. Her sister-in-law Amy suffers tragedy which in ways ties them closer together. The story is about relationships, various kinds of loss, family, choices, and addiction. It is raw and moving.

On paper, the premise stood out to me but I did not connect with the story, unfortunately. Parts are very real and others felt less so. However, the lyrical writing is gorgeous and lovely and I would like to see more by this author.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a well written compelling and captivating read that had me hooked at the first page.

It is at times the heartbreaking story of Leah who is married with a husband and three children and is feeling overwhelmed with life.

Her mother-in law is truly the matriach that has her nose in everything and Leah is not only suspicious of Christine , she is hiding her own secrets.

Between The Devil anad the Deep Blue Sea is a story or woman, of relationships, of family and so much more.

Leah is losing her troubles in alcohol and she knows she must make a choice.

Jessica Guerrieri has written a heartflet wonderful book that is impossible to put down and I predict will be a Book Club Pick for many clubs.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus/Harper Muse.

Please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. This book broke me in all the right ways. It is absolutely beautifully written. As someone who lost a mother to alcoholism, I painfully relate to so much of this. As a mom of 3, I understand how easy it is to get lost in the demands of motherhood, but how hard it is to ask for help. This book is special - Leah’s slide into problematic drinking is narrated in a way that many mothers (and people!) can likely relate to.

This feels like a must read for all people. 5/5. One of the best books I’ve read so far this year.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri really hits hard. It follows Leah, this once-carefree artist who ends up in full-blown mom mode after an unexpected pregnancy. Fast-forward a decade and she’s drowning in responsibilities, fighting with her in-laws, and using alcohol to cope. It’s messy in the most honest way.

What really got me is how raw it all feels—like you’re inside her head while she’s trying to hold it all together and falling apart at the same time. The dynamic with her mother-in-law is especially intense—Christine is the picture-perfect mom Leah never wanted to be, but feels like she’s supposed to become.

Guerrieri doesn’t sugarcoat anything, especially the stuff about addiction and identity. It’s super relatable if you’ve ever felt stuck between who you were and who life turned you into. It’s emotional, kind of chaotic, but really powerful. Definitely worth reading if you like character-driven stories that feel brutally real.