Between the devil and the deep blue sea

DEBUT Set in a coastal California town, Guerrieri's first novel examines the intricacies of motherhood, friendship, and the pull between perfection and self-identity. Leah, a professional artist and mother of three, navigates the turbulence of her personal life. Her relationships with her husband's close-knit family, especially as they collaborate to open a restaurant in honor of matriarch Christine, are fraught with tension. At the heart of the narrative is Leah's evolving friendship with her sister-in-law Amy, a bond forged through shared struggles and unspoken family secrets. Leah is a compelling protagonist whose internal battles--a longing for freedom, a phantom self lost to the demands of child-rearing, and an increasing dependence on alcohol--are achingly relatable. Guerrieri's prose conveys her protagonist's feelings of being a prisoner within her own life with piercing clarity. The men in the story take a backseat to the novel's true focus: the complex dynamics among women, especially mothers and daughters. VERDICT A raw, honest look at the lives we construct and the pieces of ourselves we leave behind. This powerful debut is sure to resonate with readers who like complex family stories.--Alicia Rogers