Review by happiestwhenreading - Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

happiestwhenreading 's review for:

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri

4.0

dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

“I am all too familiar with unease as my normal resting state. Since birth I have been mis-wired. The receptors that should have been loaded with serotonin and dopamine on Saturday cartoon-and-pancake mornings from my childhood were replaced with the sensation of being submerged inside a glass cage with a slow leak that dripped just enough water for me to know I’d drown someday, just not necessarily that day. That was until I discovered all the ways to leave myself, if only temporarily.”

Leah is unraveling. She is solidly in the depths of motherhood, somewhat resentful of her husband’s career at the expense of her own, and steeped in hatred for her meddling mother-in-law. What started out as an innocent glass of wine at the end of the day to soften the edges, quickly takes a dark turn that engulfs the entire family.

This is a heart-wrenching look at the day-to-day life of an active alcoholic. How the slow spiral quickly takes on new life and how those on the sidelines of their life quickly get sucked up in the winds of the tornado, too. While this story stops short of the recovery aspect, it shines light on the actual addiction and how it comes to consume families.

There isn’t much to like about Leah, and despite her unlikeabiilty, I found myself rooting for her. Her struggle felt authentic - she knew she was in a dark place, but having no control over her addiction, she repeated the patterns that would come to eventually destroy her. It’s a slow-burn character study that had me captivated. I do think the ending was a bit too neat and tidy - maybe not super realistic given how deep the tendrils went - but overall, I found this to be an excellent debut!

Be aware of ALL the triggers…if you’re a sensitive reader, proceed with caution!

Content Warnings