I wasn't sure what to expect with this debut novel by @jessicaguerrieriauthor but I'm so glad I picked it up. If you love books that deal with the hard stuff then this one is for you! I really had to sit with this book for a little bit before reviewing it. Leah's life is spiraling -- her best friend/sister-in-law is distancing herself, her husband is always busy, and she's drowning in the relentless tides of motherhood, all while desperately trying to measure up to the seemingly flawless example set by her mother-in-law.

This book exposes the dark side of mommy wine culture as Leah dances with the devil while descending further into darkness. I really appreciated the book's honest & relatable portrayal of how overwhelming motherhood can feel. There are some tough subjects (CW below if you want them) but it’s also genuinely, realistically hopeful. If you appreciate a deeply character-driven drama that explores the complexities of identity within motherhood, I wholeheartedly recommend you pick this one up!

🎧 And the narration! @miahutchinsonshaw delivered a truly fantastic, emotionally charged performance that brought Leah's journey to life.

Read if you enjoy: Intimate single POV character-driven stories, complex family dynamics, female friendship, emotional reads, non-linear timelines

Thank you @harpercollinsfocus, @harpermusebooks, and @netgalley for the complementary ARC of this #audiobook in exchange for my honest review. #gifted

A powerful and emotional debut novel that at times was difficult to read yet so captivating. Leah is a mother of three who marries into a family with strong family ties and bonds whereas she has a strained relationship with her own mother. Leah is trying to find her place in the O'Conner family as well as her own personal identity as a wife, mother, friend, daughter-in-law, and artist. Leah struggles to "have it all" as well as be the "perfect" mother like her mother-in-law, Christine which leads to her turning to alcohol as an escape from her problems. I felt drawn to Leah with her struggles but at times I also was so mad at her for her decisions and selfishness at times. What made this book so powerful was the effect it had on my emotions and pulled me in to really feel all the personal struggles of the women in the book especially Leah. The novel explores the themes of motherhood, family dynamics, marriage, addiction and alcoholism, and identity. The writing was moving, engaging, and emotional as well as you could tell the author intricately understood many of the themes especially alcoholism. This is a story that will stick with me for a while as well as many of the characters. I was blown away by this debut novel and it will definitely be a favorite of mine for 2025. The audiobook was fantastic with a terrific narrator!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audio for an ARC in return for my honest feedback.

I felt like a fly in the wall watching someone’s life fall apart. It was infuriating and relatable at the same time. I’m very lucky and grateful to not be able to understand the pangs of need felt for a drink, but I’m no stranger to watching how it rips lives apart. This book was a fantastic debut; it evoked a lot of emotion while reading and rooting for Leah to overcome her demons.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the arc!

This was really interesting, and a darker read, but I really enjoyed it. As an older teen, I would say its not for younger kids. This book definitely has some heavy topics in it. Check trigger warnings.

The story is just too obvious and I was bored the whole time. Maybe I‘m the wrong audience but I couldn‘t identify with any of the characters and was not really interested how this story ends.
Most of the decisions the main character made were not logical to me.
The writing style was good, but not enough to keep me engaged.

A stunning debut!!! Hooked from the very first line, and loved the narrator. I felt so connected with the MC's journey. I can't wait for more from Ms. Guerrieri!

Wow! This one really went in a direction that I did not see coming, and held my attention throughout!
Phenomenal debut for @JessicaGuerrieri !!

** TRIGGER WARNINGS: Alcoholism, Addiction, Despair **

Not yet released…. Coming 5/13/25!

If you CAN handle these, PLEASE, do not miss this one. It is a gripping insight into the life of a woman/Mom/wife who drinks a lot, but does not realize it herself... and that's just really the definition of an alcoholic, now isn’t it??

I thought it was odd that we opened up with Leah, a Mom of 3 young kids, seeing herself as a woman without any kids... and what that would've been like. However, it was just a prelude to what was to come.

We bounce back and forth between before, and now.
Before... when Leah was a carefree young girl, traveling and painting, with plans to see the world... until she met Lucas... while on a stint in California... and then her life was never the same.

And Now... with 3 beautiful young kids, who take up most of her day, and her loving husband, who is out working... so not spending a lot of time with her.

🛑🛑 And that's where I'm going to end this! 🛑🛑 So I don't give anything away!!
What a beautiful yet heartbreaking story. What a gem in the form of Amy. What a solid figure in the form of Christine. And so many others in between.

5+ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫💫💫💫💫🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me!!

#BetweenTheDevilAndTheDeepBlueSea by #JessicaGuerrieri and narrated beautifully by #MiaHutchinsonShaw.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsFocus and #HarperMuse for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

** RELEASE DATE IS 5/13/25, SO ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AWAY...LOOK FOR IT THEN!! **

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

This book is a 5 star read! I listened to the audio book in basically one sitting. I felt so connected to the main character Leah and her struggle with loosing herself in motherhood. The book skipped through time so the story had lots of depth showing the reader where Leah had been and how her dependance on alcohol slowly took over. I loved the family and highly recommend this book to everyone!

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.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216052784-between-the-devil-and-the-deep-blue-sea

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIkVBMFOTMR/?igsh=MTQ2bWw4cnN6NjRuag==

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri is an emotional read. I recently read a similar book where the main character refuses to see that she's an alcoholic, but this one felt more realistic, likely due to the author's honesty in sharing part of her own experience.

I was initially pulled in because of the tumultuous MIL relationship but found that part disappointing. Christine was definitely controlling, but not as underhanded as we were led to believe. There was also a lot of jumping back and forth in time, which caused some unnecessary confusion, and the ending felt abrupt. These are the reasons I deducted a star, but it's still an impressive debut.

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw is an amazing narrator. Her inflections, her pauses...it's all perfect and makes the book feel more real.

Thank you to HarperCollins Focus for providing me with an ALC.

I went into this book blind and was very impressed with this debut novel that covered multiple difficult topics. There was lots of family issues (books that focus on bad mother is laws make me so thankful for my excellent MIL) struggles with alcohol, and difficult pregnancies and loss. This book will stick with me for a long time and I do find some of the issues that Leah struggled with in motherhood are relatable. Leah did not have the support to help when she was struggling but at the same time, she had made herself pretty unlikable to her husband’s family as well. The ending was a lot and it does show what happens when someone gives into addiction. I do feel like there was great character development throughout the book and I really enjoyed it.

𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 ~ 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐁𝐋𝐔𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐀~ by Jessica Guerreri~ Thanks to Harper Muse, Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of the debut novel that is due to release May 13th. Wow… this was powerful in its realism and relatability on so many levels. Bravo on this well written, intense novel. The themes explored in this book are deep, serious and are an expository of real-life situations that so many experience. The exploration of the depth and power of the people we choose to surround ourselves with is contemplative. Conjoined with the scrutiny of the relationships people build within the extended family unit, this novel offers a frank and empathetic look at the challenges of balancing personal aspirations with familial responsibilities. Readers who enjoy a character driven story full of the realities of family life will enjoy this book. As per the author’s note, this story is a labor wrought of honest introspection and experience on behalf of the author herself. The themes of identity after motherhood, parenting, addiction, friendship and family dynamics are authentic in presentation and will resonate with many readers. It tackles several intensely emotional topics with frankness and sensitivity and I believe that many will discover that they have experienced or witnessed a few of these situations in their own lives. This is a heavy read, but it will be one that sticks with me and one that readers are talking about.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 impressive debut stars… (4.5) but I would round up without having the ability to do a half star.
𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐥𝐥! 📚♥️

A journey of a mother raising children with alcohol issues. An overbearing mother in-law trying to live vicariously through her grandchildren. Leah finds herself conflicted with a wonderful life and still a needing something. I loved different parts of this novel. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a book that will stick with me. This was an emotional read about motherhood and alcoholism. The protagonist was extremely unlikeable most of the time and oblivious to the fact that she had a problem but that makes it seem more realistic. I had the aggravation towards her that I feel like her family members had.

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.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is an unforgettable, emotional, and beautifully written novel that dives deep into the heart of motherhood, identity, and addiction. Centered on a close-knit family and focused primarily on three women, this book explores how relationships can fracture under the weight of generational trauma and alcohol addiction.

What struck me most was how real and raw the characters felt. Each woman is deeply flawed, yet fully understandable. The author masterfully shows their inner lives, making it easy to empathize with each of them, even when they make mistakes. Through moving flashbacks and intimate moments, you witness how the past bleeds into the present, and how hard it can be to break cycles of hurt.

This is a tear-jerker in the best way. It forces you to think about what it means to be a mother, how easily one’s identity can get lost in the role, and how alcohol can silently steal the joy from everyday life. It also made me reflect personally about motherhood, sacrifice, and even my own relationship with drinking.

A powerful, five-star read. If you’re interested in emotional family dramas with depth, honesty, and unforgettable characters, don’t miss this one. I did the audiobook and I loved it but I’m going to get a hard copy to read again. It would be perfect for book clubs!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advance copy of this book. This is a book about marriage, motherhood, and all the family dynamics that come with that.Leah the main character in this book seems to lose herself in the everyday life of raising a family and working. She turns to alcohol in a way that she thinks is helpful to deal with everything happening in her life. I enjoyed this book very much. I felt the characters were well developed, and I got to know each character through Leah and how her relationship with each of them was formed and affected her every day.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a raw and realistic insight into the downward spiral of alcohol addiction. In the constant demands and challenges of motherhood and family life, Leah feels that she has lost all sense of who she is as a person. Alcohol becomes her coping mechanism.

Leah’s journey is tough but she portrays the resiliency of the human spirit and proves that people are capable of change:
“I’ve started to discover that Motherhood is not a confined space, but a wide open one made for exploration.”

Don’t miss the author’s note at the end where Jessica Guerrieri shares a little of her own journey of healing, lived experiences and survival. Through the pages of this novel, the author advocates for others battling addiction; and those on the path of recovery and sobriety:
They are “not a bad person trying to be good; but a sick person trying to be well.”

The audio narration by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw was very enjoyable to listen to. Not only does she capture the characters so well with tone and expression across all ages and genders, but she also tells the story with empathy and sensitivity to the events and conversations that take place.

A beautifully written, honest, personal debut novel reflecting the dynamics of family relationships and the complexities of addiction.

Thank you to the publisher, HarperCollins Focus for an advance audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ten years ago, an accidental pregnancy changed the course of Leah O’Connor’s life.

Once a free-spirited artist living out of her van and chasing waves, Leah is now a stay-at-home mom to three young children. With her husband and brother-in-law consumed by preparations for the opening of their new restaurant—a tribute to their mother—Leah is left to shoulder the crushing weight of home life alone.

As the pressure mounts, Leah finds solace in a glass of wine...then another...and another. Her drinking spirals out of control, her sense of self slipping further away. Even her closest ally, her sister-in-law Amy, seems to have abandoned her, cozying up to their overbearing mother-in-law, Christine.

Leah’s journey is a raw and unflinching portrait of motherhood’s invisible burdens, the devastating effects of addiction, and the isolating feeling of being lost within your own life. Yet it’s also a story of resilience, forgiveness, and ultimately, redemption.

Don't miss the author's note at the end of the novel, offering deeper insight into Leah’s story and the realities that inspired it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Focus, and of course the author Jessica Guerrieri for the advanced copy of the audiobook. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is out on May 13th. All opinions are my own.

The FMC is completely unlikable, and such a train wreck. Like a train wreck though, I couldn’t look away.