This was dark. Way darker than I expected. It was hard to listen to, at times, if only because I don't like reading about someone being so self-destructive. The addition of pregnancy and children made it even harder for me to read. It was well written but just not for me. Hope you have better luck!

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea comes out next week on May 13, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

There's a phantom life that runs parallel to the one I'm currently living, like a shadow. That version of me is childless and, therefore, untethered to the O'Connor family. I think of her whenever I'm clipping my two-year-old's toenails, and the little half-moons splinter off in different directions, and I find myself scouring the floor so I'm not stepping on discarded pieces of my youngest daughter's body when I'm barefoot at three o'clock in the morning and need to pee. I'm confident my shadow self has already circled the globe, only to have landed someplace tropical like Costa Rica-beholden to simply the movement of the sea. Sometimes I wave, but she's surfing and cannot wave back.

Jessica Guerrieri’s debut Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a stunning and emotionally fraught piece of literary fiction that doesn’t flinch from the messiness of life. The novel follows Leah, a woman trying to navigate the rocky terrain of motherhood, marriage, and fractured family dynamics, all while wrestling with her own unraveling sense of self.

I had the chance to listen to the audiobook before its release, and wow, this was a heavy humdinger of a story. Literary fiction doesn’t get much better than this. Character growth is where this genre shines, and Guerrieri absolutely nails it. And the narration by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw was spectacular. She is a skilled voice actor who brought the characters to life.

Leah begins as a woman I could connect with. She’s a mom and a wife, trying to keep it together amid all the small indignities of daily life, including dealing with a challenging mother-in-law, Christine. I saw myself in some of Leah’s frustrations. But as the story progressed, Leah made choices that left me shaking my head. She said things to Amy, her sister-in-law, the one person who truly saw and understood her, that made me want to shake her by the shoulders. Christine was self-absorbed and manipulative at times, no doubt. But Leah? She didn’t meet the moment with grace. As her drinking worsened, I watched her spiral, making one destructive decision after another.

And yet, I cared. That’s the magic of what Guerrieri has done here. Even when I disliked Leah, even when I couldn’t understand her, I still wanted better for her. I wanted her to see Amy’s kindness. I wanted her to set healthy boundaries with Christine. I wanted her to heal. That kind of emotional investment is rare, and it’s a true testament to Guerrieri’s storytelling.

What really struck me was how this book gently but powerfully critiques the way our culture glamorizes drinking, especially for moms. That whole “Mommy needs wine” message is everywhere, and it can be so damaging. Leah’s descent into alcoholism is heartbreaking, and it’s made worse by how normalized her drinking is at first. This story shines a light on that and reminds us how important it is to create space where choosing not to drink is seen as just as valid and worthy. We need to talk more openly about that.

This is not a light, breezy read. It deals with weighty topics; alcoholism, grief, stillbirth, miscarriage, family dysfunction, and it doesn’t offer easy answers. But it does offer hope. And it’s that hope, woven into the heartbreak, that made this novel feel like something special.

It might not be “enjoyable” in the traditional sense, but it is absolutely worth it. A bold, brave, beautifully crafted debut that I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

Thank you to HarperCollins Focus and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 ⭐️ 👏🏻👏🏻
This debut novel was written so well. It was raw, devastating, and felt so realistic. I listened on audio and WOW, the narrator did such a fantastic job. Her voice for this character was spot on!!
It was painful and sad but such an incredible story. Alcoholism and addiction is something that touches most families in one way or another. I loved that the story was told in first person POV of the FMC Leah. I also loved how the author articulated the perspectives of the other family members. Leah was relatable and likable when she wasn’t intoxicated. I felt empathy and frustration toward her. The weight of responsibility and expectations of motherhood can be so hard. The author does such a great job at showing exactly how Leah felt. The disease slowing creeping in and then quickly escalating to such a big problem.
I highly recommend reading the authors note at the end.

Add it to your list. 🙌🏻
Release date 5/13/2025

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for this audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

WOW! What an incredibly moving debut book. The topics are heavy, focused on alcoholism and the effects it can have on the individual struggling with the addiction as well as the family watching the damage be done. While this was such a heartbreaking and sad story, it was very well done and deeply moving. Additionally, the audiobook is fantastic, and regardless of format, this novel will stick with you.

Highly recommend the read / listen!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for my ALC and ARC copies in exchange for my honest review.

Leah O'Connor has been married for ten years and has three children. She is at a point where a buried secret and the demands of motherhood cause her to lose herself and feel that she is sacrificing her career and herself. Her coping mechanisms find her at a precarious crossroads. Leah begins to feel further alienated from her extended family as her behavior becomes more erratic. This book focuses on themes of family dynamics, pain, addiction, alcoholism, motherhood with its joys and heartaches, redemption, and family secrets.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this digital audio e-arc.*

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a heart -wrenching look at the life of an active alcoholic. This story is a slow burn reminiscent of a tragic accident you wish you'd have never witnessed, yet somehow can't look away from. Leah is a free spirit who thought that being a mother might not be in the cards for her...yet here is she three kids, a husband, a close knit extended family deep.

The story felt so raw and real but one part of the ending felt more far fetched and kind of threw me off track. Overall I loved this story. Great narration with so much emotion.

•Debut
•Slow burn
•First person POV
•Dual past and present timelines
•Addiction

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Publishing 5/13.

4 stars

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
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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.