Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
A Novel
by Jessica Guerrieri
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Pub Date May 13 2025 | Archive Date Jun 13 2025
HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse
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Description
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.
Swept off her feet by the gentle charm of Lucas O'Connor, Leah's unexpected pregnancy changes the course of her carefree and nomadic existence. Over a decade and three children later, Leah is unraveling. She resents the world in which her artistic aspirations have been sidelined by the overwhelming demands of motherhood, and the ever-present rift between herself and her mother-in-law, Christine, is best dulled by increasingly fuller glasses of wine.
Christine represents a model of selfless motherhood that Leah can neither achieve nor accept. To heighten the strain, Lucas's business venture, a trendy restaurant that honors his mother, has taken all his attention, which places the domestic demands squarely on Leah's shoulders. Seeking an ally in her sweet sister-in-law Amy, Leah shares a secret that, if made known to the wider family, could disrupt the curated ecosystems that keep the O'Connors connected.
As Leah dances with the devil while descending further into darkness, her behavior becomes more erratic and further alienates her from both Lucas and the wider family. Leah's drinking threatens the welfare of her family, prompting Amy to turn to Christine for support. A duel for loyalty ensues. When the inevitable waves come crashing down, it's the O'Connor women who give Leah a lifeline: the truth of what they've all endured. But Leah alone must uncover the villain of her own story, learn how to ask for help, and decide if the family she has rejected will be her salvation or ultimate undoing.
This masterful blend of book club and literary women's fiction offers a frank rebuttal to Wine Mom culture and is perfect for fans of Celeste Ng and Liane Moriarty.
Advance Praise
“A powerfully written page-turner about impossible choices, motherhood and creativity, and the devastating results of using alcohol to fill the void. I read it in a single day, riveted by Leah’s inexorable descent into addiction. A delicate and unblinking study of addiction and recovery, but most of all, an intense portrayal of the ways we lose ourselves to motherhood and how to find the impossible balance. A beautiful book!”—Barbara O’Neal, bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids
“Every once in a while, a novel comes along that so completely encapsulates a piece of the human experience. Jessica Guerrieri’s debut novel, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, does exactly that for both motherhood and alcoholism in a breathtaking story about the bonds and trauma of family, the struggle to retain a sense of self while parenting tiny humans, and the difficulties of marrying into a family with different values than the ones you were raised with. With a cast of characters so real that you’ll swear you know them, this is the perfect read for fans of Celeste Ng and Liane Moriarty. Mothers of all ages will relate to Leah’s desire to remember who she was before having children, as well as her perceived inability to live up to the standards of seemingly Stepford-perfect moms.”—Sara Goodman Confino, bestselling author of Don’t Forget to Write and She’s Up to No Good
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781400345953 |
| PRICE | $18.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 384 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Educator 1221053
Wow. What a book. Jessica Guerrieri knocked it out of the park with her debut novel. I couldn't put it down. It was so poignant, and well written. I felt as thought I was reading someone's diary because it felt so deeply personal. Leah is such a flawed and real character. I cried at points reading this book because it made me feel so deeply. Leah and Christine's relationship mirrored that of people in my own family, and it's made me take a deeper look at them and what they might be going through.
Well done! I will be looking for more books by Jessica Guerrieri in the future.
Jennifer T, Librarian
I really enjoyed Guerrieri's debut novel. It will resonate with women the same way Sandwich by Catherin Newman does. It will have you reviewing your relationships with your immediate and extended families. A few tears might also be shed.
Jill P, Educator
On the surface, this is a book about a woman’s relationship with her mother in law. In reality, it is a book about mommy wine culture. Basically, Leah ends up pregnant and settles down. She struggles being a selfless mother, and instead of asking for help she drinks. I think the real problem is how much pressure we put on women. The book was really good though!
Samantha C, Reviewer
Having been in similar situations to Leah, I was worried this book would be triggering. However, it really wasn’t. Basically every word of this book spoke to my soul and resonated with me. The author told Leah’s story in such a thoughtful way while still accurately portraying alcoholism and its impact. The writing was succinct yet absolutely beautiful. I cannot wait to read more by this author.
I was on the verge of tears throughout this whole thing, yet still couldn’t put it down.
Kathleen H, Reviewer
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a novel of relationships, those of mother and daughter, husbands and wives and friends. It’s also a sad, depressing and fascinating look at the life of Leah O’Connor, an artist, wife and mother of three young children. Leah sees her mother-in-law as an enemy, her husband as a rival and Amy, her troubled sister-in-law and best friend, as a woman who needs saving. Leah’s thoughts may be true but they are seen through a cloud of alcoholism that damages all her relationships. Every character in this story has secrets and problems can only be solved when those secrets are revealed.
It is hard to believe the this is a debut novel. Jessica Guerrieri has delivered a complicated plot, problematic yet sympathetic characters with issues that sometimes excuse their behavior. Leah is so well described. You can feel her frustrations, doubt her excuses, and see her need for one more glass of wine. This is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. I can’t wait to read what Jessica Guerrieri writes next! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Focus and Jessica Guerrieri for this ARC.
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