This was not an easy listen for me - I am not sure if people dealing with alcoholism would find this novel comforting or disturbing, but to me, the struggles were painful to listen to, and the resolution did not bring a lot of peace.
Leah is truly an unlikeable character, and the level to which her problems with alcohol escalate makes the reader question how her family is not sounding the alarm sooner. I think maybe this could all work better as a movie or series, where we can see the happy images and the darkness in between. Leah's incessant inner monologue, her insecurities about Amy's loyalty to her petty campaigns against the parents-in-law, and her deep hatred toward her mother-in-law specifically make the book a lot harder to enjoy.
I liked the comparison of the classes and upbringings, but it was difficult to root for Leah, no matter her grievances.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus, for sharing an advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review. The book is out on May 13.

Wow! This is a debut book and it is a masterpiece. It was so well written and I really felt for Leah. It is rare that a book makes me emotional but this one was raw and real. It shows the hard truths of alcoholism and motherhood. I enjoy reading books about being a mother where they don’t sugar coat the reality of every day. Unfortunately for Leah she did not cope with her life well and turned to alcohol. I was so invested in this story and look forward to reading more books from Jessica Guerrieri.

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

Whew, this novel doesn’t mince the reality of adulthood and parenthood. Thank you @harpermusebooks @uplit &@jessicaguerrieriauthor for my early reading + listening copy of BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, out May 13, 2025.


This novel is not for the faint of heart- it puts alcoholism + pregnancy loss at the forefront of the plotline. Weave this with a controlling matriarch and you have a trainwreck of extended familial drama. Thank you Jessica, for seeing the value of these content warnings ahead of time and placing them at the beginning of the book- I can see you weaving your beautiful story into this storyline, and I appreciate your raw honesty, so much!

Leah’s internal thought monologue as she boozes it up with the mom’s club at sporting events, the diatribe of modern women being incapable of living up to the women of their past (MILs and Moms alike), it is HEAVY. The deep desires to self-medicate to survive the days while apparently giving up her entire being as a woman and artist.

The loneliness and fear Leah has is exacerbated by her in laws, and her inability to relate to her MIL. I am glad to see the struggles Leah experiences- her darkest moments come full circle with her family by the novel’s end.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Collins Audio for the advanced copy of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. Beyond the title being a bit of a mouth full, I really enjoyed this one. It took a deep dive into feelings and topics of motherhood and being a daughter in law that any mother/married woman can truly relate to. However, it takes a very serious look at the effects of alcoholism on families. This is not a light read, but important and I'm so thankful I had the opportunity.

Many thanks to Harper Collins Focus and Harper Muse for the ALC of this book!

This story was POWERFUL. It's not the kind of story you want to say that you love. But it was so insightful and heartfelt, that I actually did love it. Leah is dealing with something, I think, a lot of mothers go through at one point or another ~ trying to find yourself when you're giving all of yourself to everyone else. I think some people are natural nurturers and others have to work at it. (I t doesn't mean you love any less if you have to work at it.) This book shows the two very sides of that coin. On that journey to try to keep who she is, she falters. We get to witness the way in which she copes with being lost. The author adds a very personal note to the end of the book, that makes it all the more meaningful.

The audio of this book was fantastic. Mia Hutchinson-Shaw has a melodic and expressive voice. I could hear all of Leah's emotion through her narration. Her voice paired perfectly with Leah's character.

What an incredible debut! A beautifully written heartbreaking novel about family, motherhood and alcoholism that will stay with me for quite some time. For a dark story containing some uncomfortable subject matter, I was completely enthralled and had difficulty turning it off.

Narrated perfectly by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, this is one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to in quite some time.

These are the stories that need to be told. Stories of infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, resenting motherhood. These topics are far and few between in novels. These stories hold such gripping power and emotion. This story deserves to be in the world and embraced by so many that will see themselves represented by the main character.

The story is heartaching yet hopeful. It feels real. The entire time, I felt myself as the main character. The narration matched the tone of the story. If I could give the story and narration a 6 out of 5 I would.

Publishes May 13, 2025
WOW! I don’t think I can really even put into words how amazing this book was. It was so beautifully written in a dark and heartbreaking way. The story takes you along with Leah’s journey of motherhood. Leah reminisces about the life she could have had if she hadn’t become a mother and it really gets to her. She is constantly romanticizing the life that could have been but it often stays in this state of mind with the help of liquor or wine. Her feelings are raw, you really feel how she is feeling about her motherhood journey.

The narrator Mia Hutchinson-Shaw was amazing. Her voice made you feel something alot of narrators don’t. Her soft tone, was relaxing to listen to. I really hope I can listen to more books narrated by Mia. I also look forward to reading/listening to more works from Jessica in the future because her style of writing is so amazing to read.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Focus for the ALC audiobook. This review is voluntary and all my own words.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital and audio ARC.
This is one of the best books that I have read this year. It was well written and the characters were well developed. The story and characters will remain with me for a long time.
I look forward to reading this author in the future. Again. great debut novel.

Guerreri begins her artfully penned tale by describing a phantom life that runs parallel to the one her main character, Leah, currently lives. Leah’s phantom self is childless and untethered. She thinks of her shadow self as a being beholden to simply the movement of the sea…

Her words go on to provide deeper insight to this woman’s innermost thoughts and self-criticisms.

“Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" is raw, twisted, and (at times) a taboo expression of the internal struggles so many women face. There are women whose shame accompanies them in their daily lives. Yet, it goes undetected by even those typically kept in very close confidence because this shame pertains to issues coping with motherhood or TTC.

“It turns out, there are no half-measures in motherhood” —Leah

Another very special element of the book that I LOVE is the exploration of female friendships. These relationships are complex and dynamic by nature; however, Guerreri’s story subtly nudges women in any season of life toward at least an acknowledgment that the right female friendships do not require a great effort from either side in order to reap the endless rewards—you need only to be still and allow yourself to trust. D

“…family is who we are lucky enough to locate and piece together among the wreckage.” —Leah

This is a beautiful story, interlaced with laugh-out-loud humor in some parts and punishing jabs to the heart in others, but overall, I enjoyed the book. I would read it again!

#bookstagram #bookshell_f #goodbooks #ilovebooks #debutnovel#betweenthedevilandthedeepbluesea @harpermusebooks @netgalley @jessicaguerrierauthor @bookshell_f

"Leah O'Connor is torn between the life she's currently living and the allure of a phantom life that can no longer be hers."

What an incredible debut! 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. Her coping mechanisms find her at a precarious crossroads. Leah begins to feel further alienated from her husband, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law 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.

Leah is a likable yet troubled character, and many women will be able to relate to the why of her actions. This is also a story of redemption and hope, accountability, love, selflessness, and forgiveness. I loved the exploration of female relationships within the extended family and a realistic look at motherhood. The ending left me in tears. Be prepared to come with tissues at the end, and be sure to read the author's note. I highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse Audiobooks, and Jessica Guerrieri for an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review. 🎧

CW: alcoholism, miscarriage, suicide

#BetweenTheDevilAndTheDeepBlueSea #JessicaGuerrieri #HarperMuse #NetGalley #HarperMuseAudiobooks #FamilySaga #Addiction #bestbooks #TBR2025 #bookclub #read #ContemporaryFiction #emotional #Motherhood #StrongFemaleCharacters #Bookstagram #bookworm #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookreview #ARCreview #bookrecommendations #booklover

Jessica Guerrieri’s Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a raw, unflinching portrait of motherhood, identity loss, and addiction. The novel follows Leah O’Connor, a once-carefree artist whose unexpected pregnancy leads to a life she never imagined—married with three children, trapped in the monotony of domesticity, and battling resentment toward her husband Lucas and his close-knit family. The weight of responsibility, coupled with the relentless expectations of motherhood, drives Leah to seek solace in alcohol, a dangerous crutch that threatens to unravel everything she holds dear.

At the heart of the story is Leah’s fraught relationship with her mother-in-law, Christine, a woman who embodies the ideal of selfless motherhood. Christine’s presence only deepens Leah’s insecurities, making her feel inadequate and misunderstood. Their tension is palpable, and as Leah spirals further, her erratic behavior creates ripples that strain every family relationship. Amy, Leah’s sister-in-law, initially a confidante, becomes torn when Leah’s struggles jeopardize the family’s stability. When everything comes crashing down, it’s the O’Connor women who offer Leah a lifeline—forcing her to confront her pain, ask for help, and decide whether to embrace or reject the family she has resented for so long.

Guerrieri’s writing is deeply immersive, making Leah’s descent into addiction both painful and compelling to witness. The novel doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truths about motherhood—how it can be isolating, overwhelming, and even suffocating. While Leah’s choices are frustrating at times, they are also heartbreakingly real. Readers may find themselves torn between sympathy and frustration, which is a testament to Guerrieri’s ability to craft deeply flawed yet human characters.

This is not an easy read—it’s dark, emotional, and at times deeply unsettling. However, it is also an important one, shining a light on the complexities of mental health, addiction, and the silent battles many mothers fight. If you’re looking for a novel that explores the raw, unfiltered realities of motherhood and identity with grace and honesty, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a powerful and necessary read

I was instantly drawn in by the cover and pleasantly surprised by the story’s emotional depth.

The novel follows Leah O’Connor, a once free spirited artist now overwhelmed by motherhood, resentment, and a growing dependence on alcohol. As her marriage frays and family tensions rise, Leah must confront her own unraveling and decide whether the family she’s distanced herself from might actually be her saving grace.

Beautifully written, dark, and at times heartbreaking, this book explores the complexities of motherhood, identity, and addiction. I only wish there had been more focus on Leah’s recovery journey, which felt a bit rushed—hence the 4-star rating. Still, it’s a powerful and affecting read I’d definitely recommend.

Thank you for the early audiobook ARC!

Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley and for the audiobook ARC.

“I have it all. All the ingredients for a happy life, but nothing in the correct measurements.”

I enjoyed this story of a mother dealing with motherhood while suffering from alcoholism. The most interesting aspect was the author also dealt with the same illness, so it was fascinating that she was able to bring her own experience to her novel. I did enjoy the audiobook but I wonder if I would have enjoyed it better to actually read the book. I will say I was not in the right mood to read such a heavy book so please keep that in mind when picking this up off your shelf.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

10 years ago, Leah was an easy going 20-something, traveling along the coast in a van. She surfed, she painted, and she was enjoyed life. One chance encounter in a surf shop had her turning in her nomadic life for a role as a mother, a wife, and an entrepreneur. But when her role as a daughter-in-law to an overbearing woman who practically bullies anyone who dares to try things their own way means Leah’s art and her own personal identity have taken a back seat to that of being a mom and a supporting character to her husband’s business ventures, she finds herself self-medicating and desperate for happiness. Will Leah be able to get her drinking under control, or will this dance with the devil destroy everything she’s built in her adult life.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is Jessica Guerrieri’s debut release dealing with a subject personal to the author. This take on the demands of motherhood and the pressures of family shows how taxing life can be but also the value of having strong partnerships with family and friends. Guerrieri delicately balances the responsibilities we face with the inert need for our own self-identity in each of her characters. This is a beautiful tale about choosing redemption over stasis and honesty over secrets.

I give Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 5 out of 5 stars. This book surprised me – I did not see the direction of the plot coming at all and was caught completely off guard! Several books we’ve read recently have dealt with mental health topics, but this is the first we’ve read in a while that specifically discusses substance abuse, especially from the point of view of the person who is struggling. It’s important that we read stories like this so that we can recognize signs of struggles like this in ourselves and those around us. The sensitivity Guerrieri employs in telling these stories is valuable in connecting these characters to the readers. Additionally, the beautiful imagery used to build the scenes helps to pull the readers into each timeline and the mindset of Leah at each time. This is a fantastically structured and stunningly written ode to the struggle that is so often undiscussed in our society.

With the underlying theme of alcoholism as well as family drama and child neglect/abuse, this may not be the best book for all readers. However, if you’ve enjoyed some of our other recent reads like Marie Bostwick’s The Book Club for Troublesome Women or Maribeth Fisher’s A Season of Perfect Happiness, you will enjoy this book! I would also recommend this novel for fans of Colleen Oakley, Patti Callahan Henry, and Harlan Coben!

When I requested this book on Netgalley, I was looking for a good audiobook. This caught my eye because of both the title and the gorgeous cover – I was on my way to the shore for vacation and thinking a lot about the ocean! This was a fantastic choice with Mia Hutchinson-Shaw narrating. I was also stunned to hear the author’s note at the end detailing her own inspiration for this novel. This is yet another great debut novel I am so glad I had a chance to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Leah is an artist and free spirit and when she met Lucas all those years ago they spent a lot of time at the beach surfing and living a carefree life but then Leah finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. Her and Lucas decide to marry and 10 years later they are a family with 3 kids. Lucas is spending all his time at work trying to get his restaurant opened and Leah finds herself struggling to enjoy life as a mom as her artist career has taken a back seat. Leah turns to alcohol to help her forget how difficult it is being a full time mother. Her sister-in-law and best friend, Amy also struggles in a different way but at least she can tolerate Christine, their mother-in-law. I really did like this story and all of the life struggles that affected these characters but I found myself getting tired of the alcoholic Leah and was getting frustrated. I asked myself why does there always have to be a female lead who drinks all the time and forgets things and causes havoc in her life. Due to this, I was prepared to give the book a 3 star rating until I just happened to let the audio book play and I listened to the Author's Note at the end, which I never listen to, and now I know why she went with the alcoholic main character. Because of this, I now give this book the 4 stars I really wanted to give it.....Enjoy!!

I had the privilege of listening to this book early via NetGalley. To be honest, I picked the book by its cover and maybe glanced at the blurb, but had no idea as to what a journey I was getting myself into.

First of all, the narrator's voice is so calm, believable, and lovely to listen to.
And secondly, this book was heart-wrenching and raw. We're taken along on a journey of a mother raising her kids and reminiscing/romanticizing the life she could have been living (her "shadow life") had she not become a mother (and then three times over.)

As we continue to read, we notice not only is she constantly wishing for and being envious of her shadow life, but that she stays in that state with the help of wine and liquor. We're taken on a journey of raw and real feelings of motherhood (that I think all mothers feel to an extent regardless of sobriety.) We meet lots of family and people who care for our main character.

This was not my typical read, but I resonated with it (aside from the alcoholism) and found myself excited to get back to reading it each time I had to stop and start my listening.

I'm thoroughly impressed with this debut author and recommend giving this book a read or listen.

One of my favorite books of the year so far. Great narration, deeply felt story--I was transported. I'm reminded of Maya Angelou's quote-- "...people will never forget how you made them feel." This book has all the feels for me. Here's why:

The premise is that of a young mother, Leah, who is at a crossroads in life, wondering how she got there and where she'll go. The underlying problem, something our lovely mom, wife, human doesn't even realize most of the way, is that she's an alcoholic. She's numbing her emotions, instead of feeling them. And I get it-- having lived through that part of life, it's hard, it's overwhelming, it's tricky, its beautiful and messy, all at the same time. And let's face it, at that stage we moms are constantly feeling self doubt and comparing ourselves to others, whether we admit it or not.

The way the story unfolds, from Leah's POV, we rarely see, at first, what is really happening as she falls further into her drinking binges. It's quite effective because it really helped me feel how it might be to be this person. And let's face it, we are all either addicts, recovering or not, or have loved ones on that journey. Also, quite frankly, the book feels really timely because of how stressed many are right now with national and world events--I could utterly sympathize even though my current gut punches aren't the ones Leah was going through. How many of us are numbing our way through our current difficulties?

But if that were all, it may be too heavy a read for now. Luckily, here's where the feel comes in. I knew I was hooked in Chapter 2, when we got to see the first blush of love between Leah and Luke. This is a love story. Throughout the novel, relationships are of such importance that I was deeply invested. I loved listening and watching it all unfold, as I rooted for Leah and her family. And I loved Leah's voice: fun, a little bit wicked, but absolutely full of heart.

Also, kudos to the narrator. I am not sure I've heard one of her books before, but I absolutely hope to do so again. I'm a fan of the way she handled it all.

Congrats to the author and thank you to the publisher for giving me an early look/listen in exchange for an honest review. I'll definitely be telling others about it! Book clubs will have plenty to discuss with this book.

A slow burn, but the pace was right for the tough themes (alcoholism, fertility issues, miscarriages, still births, and suicide), so the story unfolded very nicely. I especially appreciated how the friendship between Leah and her sister-in-law Amy was developed. I’m glad I listened to it on audio though, because there were some long stretches of introspection for Leah, and I think I might have been tempted to skim over it in written form, whereas the narrator did a great job with the pace and made every word stick.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperMuse for an advanced audio copy.

Leah is not living the life she envisioned for herself, but the one she has chose. Instead of a nomad artist, she is a mother of three that struggles to find time for her art. Sometimes it just isn't enough so she turns to alcohol to fill the gaps that are left. Meanwhile, she is also in an emotional power struggle with her mother-in-law. She feels her sister-in-law, her biggest ally in this struggle and best friend, is slowly slipping away too. As she wonders if she will survive, she discovers that sometimes your worst enemy can be your savior.