I had a very different idea of where this book was going when it started.  But I was wrong.  Wow.  Brutal.  Honest.  An excellent debut novel.
Trigger warnings - difficult pregnancies, pregnancy loss, alcoholism

The story follows Leah, a woman unsure of life and how she got there.  A mother of three, married into a family with a very strong matriarch.  As the story proceeds, you learn more about how she got there and why she is so lost.  Along the way, the reader can see how alcohol becomes a crutch and dependency, distorting possibilities and realities.

I was not prepared for the gut punch.  But it was real and honest.  I am a mom and while Leah and my journies were different, I can understand how a woman can become lost in life as a mother.  Not to the levels of the main character, but I have several times had to consider my relationship with alcohol.  A child of alcoholics, I should be more sensitive to it than anyone.  But I have several times realized how easy it is to pour another glass of wine on a night after a stressful bedtime.  But, wine o'clock, right?

This is not an easy listen, but it is real.  There are a few nitpicks I could make in a review, but for a debut novel, it is not even worth noting.  I haven't felt this emotionally affected by a book by most long-time authors.  

This book will hurt and feel ugly at points, but it is poignant and real.  You will not regret making it through.  

Publish date: May 2025

Thank you Netgalley and HarperMuse for the advanced listening copy.  All opinions are my own.

Thank you Net Galley and Harper Muse for the advanced copy of this audiobook. This book is a raw look at the struggles balancing home and work and the pressure parents put on themselves to get it all done. The occasional wind down wine leading to an addiction and its effects on everyone. The narration by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw was delicate and emotional. Each character had their emotional toll expressed with heartfelt emotion. Triggers for alcoholism but also pregnancy difficulties including still births and miscarriage. I felt it was pretty slow to start but about a quarter of the way in the story developed that I couldn’t put it down. Jessica Guerrieri did a wonderful job with some very challenging topics. Look for this to come out May 12,2025.

In all aspects a beautiful debut novel that captivates me from start to finish.

An insightful read about motherhood, family, relationships and about alcoholism.

I highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse for the ARC(audiobook).

WOWWWWW! DEBUT BOOK???? OMG. This book hooked me instantly and held onto me until the authors note after the story ended. The story of addiction of Leah was heartbreaking and raw. I loved the audio narration and felt very connected to her storytelling. I thought this story was beautiful and one I will want to discuss as a book club. So much to unpack!

Jessica Guerrieri’s Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a powerful debut that explores motherhood, addiction, and identity with raw honesty. Her writing is poetic yet accessible, offering a nuanced look at the pressures women face and the allure of escape through alcohol. The novel’s emotional depth and sharp social commentary make it a compelling and thought-provoking read.

WOW! It's alarming how much I resonated with Leah. A marriage expedited by pregnancy, the dynamic described between Leah & her mother-in-law Christine, the struggle with self-identity, the temptation of another man, and how overwhelming it can all be & leaning on alcohol. I have lived Leah's life... and reliving moments from my past in this characters life has reminded me how beautiful the ride of life is even when it's ugly and scary. The way the family dynamic was written in this book along with how a mother can struggle with the emotions that come from having your identity essentially change from being just you to being a mom & a wife... Feeling so empty but so full at the same time when it comes to motherhood & life. It's an ugly topic that a lot of women avoid for fear someone will think they're not a good mother but so many women go through. Along with how your marriage changes with time and how resentment can creep in because let's face it, fathers have it easier than mothers. Struggles with alcohol when it's the only thing to take the edge off... This is a beautifully written novel that was heartbreaking but comforting.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Jessica Guerrieri
List of characters:
Leah O’Connor: mother of Joni, Dottie, and Reid, an artist.
Lucas O’Connor: Father of Joni, Dottie, and Reid
Paul: Lucas brother in law
Christine O’Connor: Matriarch of the family, Leah’s mother-in-law.
Leah was an artist. Her life was carefree, interesting, and fulfilling. She met Lucas and they bonded. Her life was happy until she discovered she was pregnant. Ten years later Leah is deeply depressed. She feels unfulfilled, stressed, bored, and unhappy. Lucas’ appeal has faded. She turned to wine and alcohol to get through each day. The O’Connor family was close, tight knit very different from Leah’s family. Leah feels stuck in a boring life and yearns for a carefree life. She is resentful and feels unfulfilled. Leah is resentful, her dependency on alcohol increases with her resentment.
Leah doesn’t trust her mother-in-law, Christine. As a mother, Christine is altruistic and appears to be the perfect mother. Leah compares herself to Christine and feels she falls short. Leah’s behavior is erratic and irrational affecting her whole family. The relationship between Leah and Christine was complex. I have mixed feelings concerning their relationship. Leah did not give Christine the credit she deserved. I agree that Christine was domineering but Christine saw Leah’s mental state.
Being a mother is not always fun and games, neither is it always easy. A mother must learn to balance her husband, children, career and herself
This is not an easy tale to read; it is dark, and heavy. This tale deals with trials we prefer not to discuss and even go so far as to hide them. Author Jessica Guerrieri shares this tale with compassion but also realism. Leah demonstrates the difference between handling and relying, showing the need for seeking help.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I’m going to need 5 to 10 business days to get over this book.

Thank you Harper Muse and @netgalley for the opportunity to listen and thank you @jessicaguerrieriauthor for writing such an emotionally rich, poignant story of motherhood, addiction and identity.
The California coast, with its lush beaches and tumultuous sea, serves as a perfect backdrop for this exploration in one woman’s identity and how it shifts on becoming a mother. Navigating the tricky dynamics of what feels like someone else’s family. Ultimately what feels like someone else life.
While listening I asked myself a lot what are the ways I hide? Do I try to reclaim who I was instead of embracing who I am now as a mother?
It’s a wonderful, propulsive story that kept me listening and will stick with me for a long time.

Beautifully written and remarkably meaningful.

Where to even start. This book brought me to tears, multiple times. My first 5/5 ⭐️ read of the year.

The story follows Leah who is going through life and motherhood harboring secrets and trying to make sense of the monotonous points in life. Learning how to depend on the ones who love her while suffering with addiction and acceptance. This book felt relevant and relatable. The author’s writing style is wonderful and I cannot wait to read more from Jessica.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw who was a perfect fit for the character and the quality was perfect.

Thank you Harper Muse and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for this honest review.

✨ Review: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea ✨
By Jessica Guerrieri

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Women’s literary fiction
Format: 🎧 ALC
Steam: None
Mood: Heavy, reflective, emotional, hopeful
Yes, No, Maybe: YES!!!

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea follows Leah O'Connor, a woman struggling with the loss of her former identity as she navigates the pressures of motherhood, a strained family dynamic, and secrets leading her to rely heavily on alcohol. As her addiction deepens, Leah must confront her internal conflicts and decide whether to accept the lifeline offered by the very family she feels alienated from.

I had to let Jessica Guerrieri’s words marinate for a couple of days before I could sit down and write this review. It was such an intriguing, heart wrenching, character driven novel that read like poetry and left me captivated. It was so beautifully written! The narrator, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, also did an amazing job bringing Jessica Guerrieri’s words to life!

At the book’s conclusion I was overcome with so many emotions and had to sit and process this story. I can’t believe this is Jessica Guerrieri’s debut novel. I have no doubt we will be seeing her name a lot in the years to come!

If you enjoy character driven drama with emphasis on identity, motherhood, and addiction I couldn’t recommend this book more. It will definitely be in my top reads of 2025!

📖Read this book if you like:
- Character driven novel
- Examination of motherhood and identity
- Family secrets
- Complex family dynamics
- Non-linear narratives
- Single point of view
-Books that involve addiction and it’s impacts on a personal and relational level

⚠️ Trigger Warnings: Contains themes related to alcohol abuse, suicide, miscarriage, and still birth

🙏 Thank you Netgalley, HarperCollins Focus, & Jessica Guerrieri for this ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea publishes 5/13/25. 💖

Bravo, Jessica Guerrieri! Her debut novel, Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea, plunges readers headfirst into turbulent waters—and I was hooked from the very start. Leah's story, about a surfing, van-life artist whose life spirals into motherhood and addiction, pulled me under like a powerful riptide and never let go. Guerrieri tackles heavy themes—addiction, motherhood, family dysfunction—in a way that feels honest, messy, and deeply relatable.

The family dynamics here are spot-on and painfully realistic. I couldn’t help but think of people I've known who spoke about their in-laws with resentment similar to Leah's—and more often than not, alcohol was involved. Guerrieri vividly captures how addiction colors relationships, turning waves of resentment into tidal waves of chaos and misunderstanding. It’s uncomfortable but incredibly compelling reading, and I found myself deeply invested in the outcome.

Narrator Mia Hutchinson-Shaw did an excellent job giving life to each character—I could feel their struggles, frustrations, and brief glimpses of hope in every scene. Thank you, HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse and NetGalley, for allowing me to preview this audiobook edition of Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea, due out on May 13, 2025. I'm certain it will make a big splash with readers—I couldn’t resist. Highly recommend!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.