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.

I cannot believe this is a debut novel! It's a feat for the author, Jessica Guerrieri.

Leah is caught between feeling trapped in Motherhood and mourning the lose of her personal freedom. She wanted to be responsible for no one- to surf, paint, and live by sea. She makes reference to a phantom life and persona of who she could've been in an alternate world. I believe this part of the narrative wasn't fully actualized. It didn't add as much to the story as it seemed to stagnated throughout.

The plot about Leah and Lucas having a **casual** relationship leading to pregnancy and the subconext there felt too contrived to matter. As did Christine's matriarchal devious nature. It didn't work for me.

Leah's worldview being tainted by her addiction. Amy's past. Familial conflict, secrets, loss, and love-- are all themes that worked well in the narrative. The whole experience with addiction and it's toxicity were handled with great care and insightful prose. I loved the mirroring of Isla and Leah in relation to Amy & Leah's kids.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!

Normally, I really love authors’ debut books, because I believe they’ve written and rewritten their stories with perfectly refined love. This one is written as a cathartic swan song, as the author reveals, she is a recovering addict. This debut, however, falls very, short of refined love; It just really lacks depth. Sure there are very brief moments of depth, but it took nearly a third of the way into the book to determine the plot. Character development is super weak, with too many insignificant characters involved in the story, often finding me puzzled why the tertiary characters were mentioned in the first place. Characters were unlikeable—the only character I remotely cared for was the secondary character of Amy. I Could not stand the main protagonist; I did not feel empathy for her, and I did not rally for her success. Writing was choppy and unorganized, and “twists” to the story felt forced and did not fit. I’m sure this book will find an audience somewhere, but it did not with me. If I had picked this up on my own, it would have been a DNF.

Thank you author, Jessica Guerrieri; publisher, Harper Muse; and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are wholly my own.

A touching novel about a mother struggling with addiction and family pressures. I found the main character and her sister-in-law Amy to be extremely appealing. They drive the plot of the story and I was rooting for both of them. The book was extremely well written and plot points resolved themselves by the end. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars was that I found that the relationship between the O'Connor family members to be "too much." The stereotypical mother in law character was just too revered and I think she needed to be a fuller character. But I would recommend this for readers of family dramas!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

"Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" by Jessica Guerrieri is a mesmerizing and beautifully written debut novel that immediately pulls the reader into a world of intrigue and profound emotional depth. Set against a vividly depicted backdrop, Guerrieri weaves a captivating story that explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the challenges of alcohol and addiction.

From the very first page, Guerrieri's lyrical prose draws you in, painting a rich tapestry of characters and settings that feel both authentic and immersive. The protagonist’s journey is one of self-discovery and resilience, making her struggles and triumphs highly relatable. The character development is exceptional, allowing readers to form a deep connection with each individual as they navigate their intertwined fates, especially as they confront the challenges posed by addiction.

What truly sets this novel apart is Guerrieri’s ability to balance tension and release, keeping readers on the edge of their seats while also providing moments of levity and warmth. The exploration of relationships—both romantic and platonic—adds layers to the narrative, particularly as it delves into the complexities of addiction and its impact on personal and interpersonal dynamics.

"Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" is an impressive debut that showcases Jessica Guerrieri's talent for storytelling. This book is one that lingers long after the last page is turned. A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

This is a solid debut! The author tackles many tough subjects (addiction, alcoholism, miscarriage, stillbirth, suicide) in a raw emotional way. The story succeeded in pulling me in to the main character’s muddled, crumbling world. It’s heavy and vulnerable, heartbreaking, and well written, however I did struggle with the many characters and had to reread a bit to keep things straight. Loved the Half Moon Bay surf town setting 🌊🏄‍♀️

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Muse Books, and Jessica Guerrieri for this opportunity. Be sure to check out this book when it publishes on May 13th.

Really, really impressive and resonate debut novel from Jessica Guerrieri!

Long-time, seemingly happy, married couple Lucas and Leah are parents to three young children. As the primary caregiver to their children, free-spirited Leah struggles with trying to make everyone else happy while trying to maintain her own individuality. It is especially challenging trying to live up to the standard that Lucas’s own mother set as a mother and continues to set as a grandmother.

Wine is a good friend to Leah during the long, isolating hours that motherhood can bring. It’s heartbreaking to follow Leah as she slips further into the rabbit hole of alcohol addiction.

While this novel wasn’t an easy read, it was certainly relatable and passionately written. The subject matters resonated deeply with me and I was fascinated watching Leah in her own hazy reality.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a brilliantly written story that I imagine will hit home for many.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read this ARC before its anticipated release date of May 13, 2025.

This was an excellent debut novel. Well written story and the characters were well developed. This is the type of story that will remain in my thoughts for quite some time.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital arc..