Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
- Judith D Collins
- Dec 10
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 11
Narrator: Jessica Guerrieri,
Mia Hutchinson-Shaw
ISBN: 9781400345953
Publisher: HarperCollins Focus
Harper Muse
Publication Date: 05/13/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 4 Stars (ARC) (ALC)
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.
My Review
In Jessica Guerrieri's emotionally charged debut novel, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, we are drawn into the tumultuous life of Leah O'Connor, a protagonist grappling with the multifaceted challenges of motherhood and the pursuit of her artistic identity. As she navigates the treacherous waters of alcoholism, the story unveils the intricate web of complex family dynamics that shape her reality.
The narrative vividly portrays Leah's harrowing descent into addiction, capturing the raw emotions and painful struggles she endures. Ultimately, it leads to a powerful reckoning with both her family and the haunting ghosts of her past, making for a gripping exploration of resilience and self-discovery in the face of adversity.
About...
Leah, once a carefree, nomadic artist, falls unexpectedly pregnant and marries Lucas O'Connor, joining his close-knit family. A decade and three children later, she feels trapped, resenting how her artistic aspirations have been sidelined by the demands of motherhood and her husband's inattention as he focuses on opening a new restaurant to honor his mother, Christine.
To cope with her unhappiness and feelings of inadequacy compared to the seemingly "perfect" mother-in-law, Christine, Leah begins drinking increasingly heavily. Her drinking progresses from a few glasses of wine in the evening to an erratic, dangerous level where she starts hiding bottles and drinking during the day.
Leah's relationship with Christine is fraught with tension. She confides in her sweet sister-in-law Amy, sharing a secret that could disrupt the family's carefully curated life, if revealed. Amy is also dealing with her own struggles, including infertility and pregnancy loss.
Leah's behavior becomes more erratic, further alienating her husband and the rest of the O'Connor family. Her drinking eventually threatens her family's welfare, leading Amy to turn to Christine for support.
The situation culminates in Leah's addiction being exposed to the entire family. The O'Connor women then offer Leah a "lifeline" by sharing the truth of their own past struggles and secrets, revealing that none of them has lived a perfect life.
Ultimately, Leah is forced to confront her addiction, learn to ask for help, and decide if she can accept the love and support of the family she has pushed away.
My Reflections...
Jessica Guerrieri’s compelling debut novel intricately unfolds through the eyes of Leah, an unreliable narrator whose tumultuous journey draws readers into her chaotic world.
As Leah’s addiction spirals out of control, we are thrust into her distorted perception—a kaleidoscope of confusion and desperation that echoes her own internal turmoil. The blackouts she experiences serve as poignant markers of her disintegrating grip on reality, immersing the reader in a disorienting experience that reflects Leah’s profound sense of helplessness.
The narrative structure artfully mirrors the slow, relentless unraveling nature of addiction. Guerrieri’s deliberate pacing allows us to witness how seamlessly dependence entwines itself into the fabric of everyday life, ultimately threatening to obliterate everything Leah holds dear. The gradually escalating tension weaves a narrative that feels as if it could suffocate at any moment, encapsulating the insidious nature of addiction.
Symbolism pulses throughout the story, with the empty house serving as a haunting representation of Leah’s meticulously crafted facade—a shell that conceals the deep fractures and chaos her addiction has wrought. This hollow sanctuary is a stark contrast to the perceived perfection of her family life, where hidden secrets and unspoken resentments fester, simmering just beneath the surface until the inevitable explosion.
Guerrieri explores the complexities of familial bonds, illustrating how the very ties that bind can also be sources of conflict. The narrative intricately unfolds Leah’s personal disarray alongside the intricate web of family dynamics, pushing her to a critical breaking point.
Ultimately, Leah grapples with the consequences of her choices, confronting her addiction amidst a storm of emotional upheaval. She must decide if she can lower her defenses, accept her family's support, and embark on the arduous journey toward recovery and self-acceptance.
Amidst the chaos, family emerges as a powerful thread woven through the narrative—a source of profound support and salvation, waiting to be discovered when facades are stripped away and deeper truths are bravely shared. Guerrieri does not shy away from delivering a raw, unflinching portrait of how addiction can subtly take root and threaten the very fabric of family life, affecting each member in ways both profound and devastating.
The author paints vivid scenes of Leah’s experiences, utilizing rich descriptions and imagery that evoke the senses of alcohol—a persistent specter in her life. Each sensory detail is meticulously crafted, bringing the reader face to face with the visceral reality of Leah’s dependence, making her struggle both palpable and hauntingly real.
Ultimately, the novel conveys a powerful, engaging, and introspective tale and transformative message: recovery and self-acceptance, though daunting, are possible through the pillars of honesty, vulnerability, and the unwavering courage to seek help from those who truly care.
The title, serves as a poignant metaphor for Leah’s internal conflict—the precarious tension between enduring the painful realities of her life and grappling with the terrifying uncertainties of change and sobriety. It encapsulates her feeling of being ensnared between two equally treacherous choices: clinging to the familiar shackles of her numbing patterns or daring to explore the uncharted waters of sobriety and all it promises.
Author's Note...
With over a decade of hard-won sobriety, Jessica, the author, stands as a passionate advocate for addiction recovery. Her heartfelt Author's note radiates hope and encourages others on their journeys, leaving a lasting impression of resilience and strength.
The Audiobook Experience...
I had the enriching experience of both reading the book and listening to the captivating audiobook, masterfully narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw alongside the author, Jessica Guerrieri. Their performance breathes life into the characters, intertwining raw emotions with themes of motherhood, familial ties, and the struggle to escape an unforgiving world. The narrative draws listeners into a powerful journey—one that showcases not only the depths of despair but also the courageous pursuit of a second chance, making for an engaging and deeply resonant listening experience.
Recs...
If you found yourself captivated by the intricate themes of motherhood, the struggles of addiction, the tangled webs of family dynamics, and the hopefulness of second chances in Jessica Guerrieri's poignant novel, you might also enjoy delving into the works of authors such as Liane Moriarty, Ann Napolitano, Elizabeth Berg, Jessica Strawser, and Celeste Ng. These talented writers weave similar rich narratives, exploring the complexities of human relationships and the resilience of the spirit, making their literary contributions a perfect complement to Guerrieri's exploration of life’s multifaceted challenges.
Others:
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night by Barbara J. Taylor
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
Special thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for providing a digital advanced reading and listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDColins | #JDCMustReadBoooks
Pub Date: May 13, 2025
My Rating: 4 Stars
Praise
'A brave confrontation of the distance between who we were and who we are, explored with razor-sharp honesty. The relational complexities are written with breathtaking precision, and the intimate experience of Leah's journey into marriage and motherhood is book club gold. BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA is an urgent call to drop all pretense, stop numbing, and let the fullness of life come flooding in. The complicated but real loyalties within this family remind us that we are not alone.'
-- Sarah Damoff, bestselling author of THE BRIGHT YEARS
'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 to 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
'Debut author Guerrieri draws upon personal experience for this nuanced story of a woman in crisis. Leah's gradual slide into alcoholism is sensitively portrayed, and her path to sobriety, with its ups and downs, is authentic. Leah is not always a likable character, but as readers follow her story, they'll root for her recovery. Readers of Marian Keyes will be moved by this family drama.'
-- Booklist
'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
'Motherhood isn't necessarily every woman's dream. BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA tells the important story of a woman whose decision to marry and become a mother has been more complicated than she bargained for, leading her to feelings of self-doubt and guilt and addiction as escapism. This engaging and introspective tale expertly peels away the mysteries of addiction, painting a riveting portrait of how quietly it can start, persist, and destroy. A compelling story of vulnerability, family resentment, and second chances told in beautiful prose reminiscent of Ann Napolitano, Guerrieri's debut is not to be missed!'
-- Jacqueline Friedland, USA TODAY bestselling author of COUNTING BACKWARDS
'This powerful debut is sure to resonate with readers who like complex family stories.' — Library Journal
About the Author
Jessica Guerrieri (pronounced grrr-air-eee) is a writer and novelist who lives in Northern California with her husband and three daughters. With a background in special education, Jessica left the field to pursue a career in writing and raise her children. With over a decade of sobriety, she is a fierce advocate for addiction recovery. Her award-winning debut book club fiction novel BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA (Harper Muse) will be available May 13, 2025. Pre-order it now. She is represented by Ismita Hussain with Great Dog Literary. Her award-winning debut literary, book club fiction novel BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA (Harper Muse) will be available May 13, 2025. Pre-order it here.
