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.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea will release May 13th. You can pre-order your copy today on our Bookshop.org page!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Sapphires and Secrets, Ella Strike
- Current audio book: Deep End, Ali Hazelwood
- Book I’m most looking forward to: My Name is Victoria, Lucy Worsley
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