Oh man, this was a tough read. Jessica Guerrieri, the author, captured so many of life’s hardest moments in a beautiful way. The story is told from the perspective of Leah, a woman who married into a close-knit family of three sons. Leah is extremely close to Amy, who becomes her sister-in-law, but struggles to form a strong relationship with Christine, her mother-in-law.

The story follows along through the trials of not only Leah’s life, but others in the story. Alcoholism, infertility, child loss, depression, suicide, and more are covered in this book. They’re written in an extremely relatable way and are captured in such a raw way.

The loss of oneself in relation to becoming a wife and a mother is touched on as well. Something I’ve felt in my journey with motherhood. Seeing others around you and wondering if they’re feeling what you feel. The guilt for wanting to be independent while motherhood breaks in to every part of your life.

Pre-Read Notes:

Here's where I'm at. 30% of the way through and I still don't know what the title means. That's cool, sometimes titles don't come clear until a book's final line. But since I chose the book in large part *because* of the title, I'm feeling lost. I'm feeling lost also because at 30% in, there's still no sign of a primary contlict. (*edit This approach to conflict is by design, and it. is. brilliant!) Although I love the feminist subtext and the fact the author included trigger warnings in the front matter. THANK YOU for this. It's so important. Also, this audiobook narrator is giving an amazing reading!

"We speak in nonthreatening, ambiguous terms because none of us really cares all that much. Every so often someone is a little too honest: “We are getting divorced,”they say, or “My husband’s mother died.”After politely inquiring further, we grow impatient, wondering how much longer we should stand there miming concern over other people’s hurt when we are already buried in our own." p104

Final Review

Honestly I wasn't sure if this book was for me, and I really struggled with the first half, which seemed to wander a bit. But the second half completely blew me away! This is the first book I've ever read that made me understand wanting to read it again for the first time.

I am also in love with this author's empathy and compassion for people with mental illness, like addiction and PPD. It's deeply amazing to read a book that isn't full of casual ableism. If this is a pain point for you too, definitely check this book out.

I recommend it also to fans of whip smart women's fiction, experimental form, and feminist themes. If you like Such a Good Mom (my review!) you should enjoy this.

My 3 Favorite Things:

✔️The narrative voice is somewhat addictive. She keeps referring to "mommy juice" and if this book were a drink, it would be that.

✔️ It's sort of healing for me to come in this close to several different parenting styles, in the low stakes process like reading a book. It has given me unexpected insight into my own miserable childhood (which led me in part not to be a mom) and even the parenting I experienced. This book may not be perfect (is there such a thing?) but it is honest and completely unjudgmental about parenting, especially momming.

✔️ It took me a little while to get to know them, but the characters in this story are fascinating. I really relate to the narrating character, and Christine reminds me of my own mom, for better or worse. I ended up very invested by the end, despite the lack of a primary conflict. *edit The author does this with the conflict by design and she executed it brilliantly. Wow!

Notes:

1. content warnings: alcohol consumption, alcoholism, addiction, abortion, miscarriage, ppd, family politics, early childhood stress

Thank you to the author Jessica Guerrieri, publisher Harper Collins, and NetGalley for an accessible audiobook copy and a digital copy of BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA. All views are mine.

This is a mind blowing impressive debut. It's an emotional story that peels back the layers of motherhood with the backdrop of addiction. It's raw and so real. The audio book was superbly executed.

I absolutely loved this book! It was a bit slow in the beginning for me, but it soon began to build and the tension was so palpable. It's impossible to not feel for Leah. She's a very complex character and well developed. I think this is such an important read and will help many to have a better understanding for those suffering with alcoholism. I gained so much empathy.

Wow! I was so engrossed with this one from the beginning! This took something foreign to me in my own life, addiction, and brought in something so familiar, motherhood. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and so well written! I finished it within a couple of days.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

Impressive debut novel tackling tough issues that a young mother experiences. Guerrieri deftly navigates the slow downhill slide of daily alcohol abuse and the outcomes of the pretense to hide it. Scars created are quickly recognized by those who’ve long survived with them in her world. There was a believable realistic tone in this book that reveals the vulnerability of the victim and those around her. I do appreciate that the audiobook opened with trigger warnings because this will be hard for some to objectively judge because it comes with an emotional impact. 4 stars and recommended.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a hauntingly beautiful novel that captivated me from start to finish. Jessica Guerrieri’s exquisite prose and richly drawn characters completely won me over. The writing is lyrical and immersive, pulling you into a world where every page feels weighted with emotion and tension.

The book’s description promises a tale of impossible choices and gripping moral dilemmas, and Guerrieri delivers on every level. The story lingers long after the final page, leaving you with a sense of awe at its depth and complexity. I finished this on April 28, 2025, and it’s still on my mind—proof of its powerful impact.

If you’re looking for a book that blends stunning writing with a dark, compelling narrative, this is it. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a masterpiece that transcends genre expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this extraordinary book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m in the minority in Goodreads. I did not like the main character. I felt zero empathy towards her. I wish I could have rooted for her or she sparked some compassion in me. On the plus side, the narrator did an excellent job.

This is a raw and harrowing dive into the life of a woman, wife, mother, and friend living in the throes of alcoholism.

The story tackles the demon of alcoholism and how it affects the addict and those around them, showing the wreckage addiction leaves in its wake. However, with beautiful authenticity and compassion, it also explores marriage, motherhood, pregnancy loss, family dynamics, loss of self, and friendship. This book is deep and immersive, yet it brings you up close, making it feel intimate and personal.

I am floored that this is a debut! The author does a brilliant job of capturing the nuances of these characters, not only their flaws but also their desires and heartaches. You feel their pain, guilt, jealousy, and longings, yet you’ll see true friendship and support in action. It is incredibly heartrending, yet waves of hope and love ripple throughout.


🎧The audiobook is narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, and she hit all the emotions perfectly. I was captivated.


Thank you @harpercollinsfocus for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley

BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA is a raw and emotionally resonant debut about the quiet unraveling that can happen behind closed doors, especially for women navigating the relentless tides of motherhood, strained family ties, and the creeping grip of addiction.
Leah O’Conner has put her career on hold to raise three young children while managing an increasingly tense relationship with her mother-in-law. What begins as a nightly glass of wine to take the edge off slowly turns into something more dangerous. As Leah’s choices grow more reckless, she’s forced to confront the cost of the life she left behind, and the one she’s struggling to hold together.

Debut author Jessica Guerrieri writes with clarity and conviction, drawing from her own experience with alcoholism to craft a story that feels deeply honest. Leah may not be a traditionally “likable” protagonist, but her flaws are real, and her journey is one many will recognize. This novel doesn’t romanticize addiction or lean on tired “mommy juice” tropes”. It offers a more nuanced, unflinching portrayal of the weight women carry, and what it means to begin again.


READ THIS IF YOU:
-Understand how brave it is to ask for help
-Appreciate flawed female leads and unvarnished motherhood narratives
-Are drawn to raw, intimate family dramas

PUB DATE: May 14, 2025
RATING: 4/5

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of the audiobook of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Leah O'Conner has married in to a very tight-knit family. She doesn't feel like she fits in. She always planned on being an artist and traveling the world. But now finds herself married and a mom of three kids. Her MIL is not a nice person and plays favorites with one of Leah's children. Alcohol abuse is the only way that Leah knows how to cope.

Jessica Guerrieri wrote a strong book but I think some will have trouble connecting with the main character. As someone who struggled as a mom and figuring out her purpose, I could relate but found Leah not to be a likable person for most of the book.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

I waited a few days to write my review, because I truly struggled with my thoughts about this book. On the one hand, it is raw, it is real and it is emotional. It brings to life the challenges of motherhood, families and the challenges faced between who we were and who we are now. The writing was emotional and I truly felt for all the characters involved. It felt real and was wonderfully well written. However, the book spends a lot of time focusing on a mothers (unhealthy) relationship with alcohol, but to me that part of the book felt superficial. The supporting characters did not seem to be quite as concerned or focused on the issue as I felt was realistic. I also felt like we heard a lot about the main character's focus on her next drink, but the reasons for why were very superficial. I wanted more emotion and grit from that part of the story than I thought was given. The book does discuss miscarriage and the absolute devastation surrounding fertility struggles. It focuses on the strength of family, even when you don't want their help (or think that they like you). And most importantly, how women can struggle with their identity during motherhood - the loneliness, the emotions and the loss of who we once were (physically, mentally, emotionally.) Overall, I enjoyed this book, I just found parts of the story to be lacking the details I felt in other parts.

thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy

This reads like bingeing the latest hit TV series. It’s a complete work of literary women's fiction that will have so many understanding and able to identity with. Leah is walking the line between existing with the pressures of motherhood & wanting an escape to be who she was before it all began.

Jessica Guerrieri’s debut novel is an incredible work of fiction. I can’t wait to see what else she pens, if this is the kind of writing we get!

I can’t imagine any other narrator giving voice to Leah but Mia Hutchinson Shaw! She’s fabulous!

💋NetGalley Audio: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Pub date - 5/13/25
Harper Collin’s Focus

The narrator does a fantastic job with pacing the story. She does an excellent job being clear, enunciates well, and is easy to understand. Distinguishing between the cast of characters’ voices is at times not so easy to discern. The lack of vocal distinction was as if she was telling the story, but not embodying the story. The portrayal falls short of a true performance. When I listen to an audio book, I expect a performance. I want to feel as though I am in the same room with the cast of characters. Having said that, this portrayal makes it easy to become disinterested. It feels dull and I quickly lost interest.
Additionally, it would be incredibly helpful to have the character's name announced with each chapter, as it currently takes too long to figure out who is speaking based on the dialogue.

As for the story, it was mediocre. Just another story about one woman’s problem with drinking to cope. I didn’t find anything exceptional within the plot. I appreciated the style of writing but needed more depth in the character, Leah. This is why I rated it three stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Colin‘s Focus for giving me the opportunity to listen and review this story. I look forward to working with you again in the future.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/168550668?shelf=read&sort=date_updated&order=d

This debut novel was a heart wrenching look into the life of an alcoholic. Leah, once a free spirit and aspiring artist, now finds herself struggling to care for her 3 young children surrounded by her husband’s close knit and sometimes overbearing family leading her to frequently turn to alcohol. A complex, layered family drama in which the author uses her own history with alcohol to tell a realistic and relatable story. Lots of triggering topics in this book: alcoholism, addiction, infertility, miscarriage, and suicide. A bit slow to build but overall a really good listen.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for the audiobook.

I picked this book based on several enthusiastic recommendations, going into it without any prior knowledge of the plot. At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect or whether I would connect with the story. But as the narrative gradually revealed what Leah, the main character, was hiding—or believed she was hiding—I found myself increasingly drawn in.

While I don't personally relate to the specific issue of dependency on "mommy's little helper," I recognize how normalized it has become in our culture. As the story unfolded, I developed a strong sense of compassion for Leah. The author skillfully illustrates how someone who is outwardly “responsible and respectable” can struggle with addiction and the complex, often painful journey of confronting it.

I recommend!

Between the devil and the deep blue sea

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨4.75

I still can’t quite pin down the obsession I had with this book. It might be the excellent narration (as I received the ALC/audio for this one in exchange for an honest review), or it might be the honesty and rawness from the main character, Leah. There is such an easy pull to escapism and disassociation in being a mom. It’s all encompassing, relentless and overstimulating at times (while also fulfilling and a blessing - two things can be true at the same time). Jessica Guerrieri so perfectly shows the duality of the emotions of a mother and how easily you can sink into bad habits to disassociate. This novel was so powerful and I know already I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

📖 Leah battles with herself and her demons, being torn between the life she has and the life she wanted. Resentments pulls her further from her family and further toward alcohol and its escapes.

Thank you to Harper Muse Audio for the Advanced Listening Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story has a slow start. But as I became more vested in the characters, it speeded up and became a pretty good read.

Leah has been struggling for quite a while. She is overwhelmed with motherhood and her lack of creativity when it comes to her art. She has been drinking more and more. This soon becomes increasingly apparent and causes many issues within her family.

Amy is Leah’s sister in law and a very good friend. Amy is a character I loved. She made sure Leah had the support she needed from her husband and her family. Amy is the loyal friend everyone wants on their side.

This is a story which will have your emotions all over the place. But it is also about love, friendship and family.

Need a tale about strength and overcoming your demons…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

This is a very raw front row seat to motherhood and functioning alcoholism. There are times you are rooting for the main character and then there are times you want to shake her. Motherhood is hard. Feeling like you’ve slowly lost yourself after having children is not something many moms talk about. It’s a heart-warming sometimes heart wrenching story about marriage, in-laws, chosen family and just the everyday moments we have in life.

Oof. This one is really good, but it’s so sad to watch a like-able character spiral down the hole that is addiction. It’s very unique and humanizing though to see it happen to a person who seemingly has a beautiful life. You’re used to images of drunks and strung out junkies who you imagine had nothing going for them ever (though of course how can anyone know that?). This spins the narrative to the all-too-true normalcy of one drink turning into many drinks with the excuse of it making life more bearable. A worthwhile read for sure.