Bartels tackles some very hefty subjects here: friendship, loss, suicide, abandonment, sexual abuse and trafficking, unwanted pregnancy and others with a light, sensitive touch that seems very personal.

I loved her vivid imagery and the setting at a cabin on the lake was spot on. Anyone who has spent summers on a lake in the Midwest will immediately feel at home.

However, things fell apart a bit for me about ¾ of the way through once Kendra starts learning more about her childhood. Maybe we didn’t get to know those early characters enough, but I didn’t understand the choices that they were making and ended up with more questions than answers. Which is unfortunate because one of the takeaways I had from this novel was that you never know what someone else has been through, so shouldn’t be too quick to judge their actions. The antagonist in your story could be the protagonist in someone else’s.

Thanks to NetGalley and Erin Bartels for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book dealt with some really hard hitting issues and it did so in a really senstive and emotive way. This book is beautifully written with really vivid descriptions and amazing imagery. I loved the writing, I loved the characters. Really well done.

Kendra Brennan inherits her grandfather's old cabin on Hidden Lake and moves in with the intention to fix her life. She plans to confront Tyler, the man who inspired the antagonist in her first book, and write her second novel. Along the way, she realizes that her memory and reality were not always truth, and she's faced with the choice to forgive and receive forgiveness.
From page one, I was confused. I didn't understand who Kendra was talking to or what was happening. It took a few pages to get into the groove that she was speaking to her childhood best friend Cami.
Some characters like Jackie and Beth were poorly developed, too, and remained villains.
Overall, this book was okay for me. I definitely wanted to read to the end but didn't stay up late to read. And I never connected fully with any of the characters. While I could see myself in some of them and experienced empathy at times, they all were privileged, flawed and just out of my grasp of caring what happened to them.
Trigger warnings: suicide, abandonment, rape, abuse, alcohol and drug abuse

While I enjoyed this book, it doesn't compare to the author's other books! I struggle with how to rate it because had it come from any other author, I'd give it four or even five stars, but it's hard because I had such high expectations! Sigh.

** “The sun painted a few wisps of cloud in the purest orange and pink, colors I’d always loved to see splashed across the fading blue-green sky. Unpredictable and fleeting. Muted to mauve and rust before you could quite imprint them permanently in memory. Grandpa had once said that God did that on purpose, to keep us looking for new signs of him every day.” **

Erin Bartels writes a beautifully deep and personal novel with “The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water.”

When author Kendra Brennan struggles to write a second novel after her first successful publication, she begins to narrate her life and past remembrances to her childhood friend Cami Ranier, who is missing.

As Kendra recalls events that happened in her past that impacted the plot of her first novel, she faces many truths she must deal with. And when German translator Andreas Voelker joins her for the summer at her family’s lake cabin, he helps her find the answers — and healing — she seeks.

Told in narrative form from Kendra to Cami, “The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water” is a very powerful, yet uncomfortable read. It deals with some very real, devastating and mature matters, including abuse (so should not be read by younger people without some adult supervision).

Bartels writes in a very beautiful, descriptive manner, all while developing incredibly deep yet relatable characters. She tackles some heavy themes too, like human nature (“But the real story even in a war story is the characters you create, and if you start by being a good observer of human nature, you can write in any setting at any time and make it believable, because human nature never changes”); always look for God and His signs; the pain of the past is not always easily erased; people are broken; and don’t let past trauma dictate or define your future.

I did find the book was a little slow in letting the reader in on Kendra’s big secret that was connected to her novel, so the plot initially felt sluggish at times. Also, Bartels uses quite a few German passages that she never translates, so I’d recommend reading this book on an e-reader that contains a translation feature.

This book does remind us that, please, if you find yourself in an abusive situation, find someone you can trust to talk with. Seek help.

Due out Jan. 4, this story does contain the use of both alcohol and smoking.

Four stars out of five.

Revell provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Great character development. Imagery so vivid it makes the reader wish s/he had a cabin on the lake. An amazing story. Put them all together and you get The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water. From the very first sentence, I was hooked. The entire book is written as a conversation. This form of writing makes the book seem more personal and makes the reader feel like s/he is part of the story.

Kendra is an author on a deadline. Her first book That Summer was a huge success. Now her publisher is waiting for her second book, and she only has a few weeks to make the deadline. The problem is that Kendra has not started her second book yet. She cannot get past a letter she received from A Disappointed Reader regarding her first book. She knows the author of the letter must know her personally. Not only does the letter come from someone she knows, but this person must also know what happened to her all those years ago. Disappointed Reader seems to know so much about what happened that the letter makes Kendra doubt her own interpretations of the events in That Summer.

In order to solve the mystery and confront the Disappointed Reader, Kendra returns to the cabin on the lake where she spent summers with her grandfather. Her happiest childhood memories were made at that cabin. She spent every summer there. She also met Cami there. Cami was adopted by a couple Kendra knew from her summers at the lake. When they asked her to come to dinner one night, she had no idea she would meet the girl who would become her best friend. In fact, it is Cami to whom Kendra speaks throughout the entirety of The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water. It does not matter that she has not seen Cami in years. In fact, the last time Cami was seen was at the lake months before Kendra got there. Ike, and old fisherman who lives at the lake year round spoke to Cami on his way to Kendra’s grandfather’s funeral. That was the last known contact with her. Cami’s father is at the lake while her mother is desperately following a lead to locate Cami and bring her home.

Erin Bartels leads the reader through a lifetime of memories and emotions. The plot twists will keep the reader up late to find out what happens next. Secrets are revealed. Truths are unfolded. Lives are changed forever. Friendships are destroyed. Friendships are mended. All the characters’ stories are intertwined in a way that is inescapable.

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water is not only a great book but also an exercise in courage. All my life I have been told that truth is stranger than fiction. I have also been told that in every story of fiction lies some truth. The author reveals in her notes at the end of the book that The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water was her way of getting her own story out into the open. Before I read her notes, I admired Erin Bartels’ writing and talent for storytelling. Upon discovering the courage it took for her to write this book and send it out for the world to see, my admiration for Erin Bartels increased exponentially. She is an author that I will watch well into the future. I look forward to seeing what else she has in store for her readers – fact or fiction or a little bit of both.

I love to read books that take place in the vacation setting I am visiting. So, when I flew home to my hometown in Northern Michigan, I was excited to read The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water that tells the story of Kendra Brennan also going back to her roots in a Michigan lake cabin. Kendra has written a best seller novel, but cannot seem to create another story to tell because of an anonymous letter that accuses her of not understanding her antagonist's story. While back in Michigan, she reconnects with family friends, except for her best friend, Cami, who is missing. In one summer, Kendra learns new facts about herself and those around her.
This isn't your typical Christian fiction and can be a hard story to read, but one that needs to be read. It's a story of forgiveness, friendship, and learning how to open oneself to new possibilities. I enjoyed the romance story that was woven into the story that showed growth in Kendra and was not the main story.
I recommend this book. It was a great distraction while flying across Canada and kept me reading after to find out its ending.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and Thomas Nelson, but all opinions are my own.

Gripping, lyrical, and poignantly beautiful. It pulled me in and held me tight. It wasn’t a high impact detailed, and quick moving story by any means, but it did grip my heart and impacted me in big unexpected ways. It was a great snowy day read. It sent me straight to the lake. At first I thought it was a little, while beautifully written, lacking in strong story. But oh was I wrong. I’m glad I kept reading. It’s a book that will stay with you long after you’ve finished it. Read it! I hope it touches your heart like it did mine.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water is the story of Kendra, a successful author who moves back into her grandfather's cabin to address a few issues that have come up. Her publisher is eagerly awaiting the follow up to her first novel and Kendra really needs some inspiration. Though a more pressing problem is the letter from A Very Disappointed Reader, an anonymous letter that questions the authenticity of Kendra's book. Kendra hopes to confront who she believes wrote the letter, which brings a number of painful memories to light.

So funny story......I was certain that I had my top ten books read in 2021 figured out until I read The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water. As soon as I started reading this book, I had trouble putting it down and could not stop talking about it. Oh. My. Goodness. This book is incredible for so many reasons. The writing style is unique in that it is written as if Kendra is writing to someone. It takes a bit to get used to, but it really adds to the story. The timeline alternates between past and present events, and this is also essential to the book. And this is the kind of the book where the hits just keep coming: when I thought the story couldn't get darker or heavier, it did. Finally, the author's note at the end of the book.....I don't want to spoil anything, so I will just say thank you to the author for sharing her story and this book with readers. I cannot recommend The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water enough; seriously, go pick up a copy.

Another note: I am even more impressed that this book is being published by a Christian publisher. I believe that it is where the book belongs and I applaud Revell for this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for this ARC; this is my honest and voluntary review.

First of all, thanks to NetGalley and Ravell for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. If I had known that the publisher was classified as "Christian Book Publisher" I might never have requested, it as I have a dislike for literature that identifies it as such. Thankfully, this was not at all the prayer filled holy God will see us through this. Good for Ravell for allowing "language" and even sex into the novel.

This was my first Erin Bartes book, and I am of two minds as to what I thought of it. Yes, it was fast paced and engrossing, and yes, I did like the descriptions of lake, scenery, and even the process of writing. What I did not like, were the undeveloped characters of Robert, Beth, Cami, Tyler and even Kendra herself. What I did like was the exposition of the writing process as well as the backstories of abuse and broken friendships.

There was just too much unexplained to believe how lives worked out. How could Jackie be so unfeeling to her daughter? How could Robert not tell Kendra of her origins? Why did Robert Marry Beth, who was such an enigma. (A dermatologist who draws cells as art?) And what did Tyler do as a career? NSHOQ SIS xmi NS jxkiw get involved with drugs?

Perhaps there were really several novels, like in Kendra's book, that needed to be separated and spun out so that her love story with Andreas would make sense. So, finally, 3 1/2 stars for an interesting tale that could have been so much better given all the material.

I found it too slow for my taste. The story was interesting at the very beginning because the POV was in 2nd person which I haven’t read before. I liked the secondary character, Andreas, but didn’t care for the rest, including Kendra, the main character.
The flashbacks were starting to get interesting, but by then I didn’t care to keep reading.
I received this free from Net Galley.
This is my honest review.

Kendra has returned to the cabin in Hidden Lake that her grandfather owned. She owns it now, and she is struggling with writing her second novel after the success of her debut. Part of the reason she is experiencing writer's block is because of a letter she received from a reader, who seems to know her in a way that the average reader shouldn’t.

She thinks if she returns to Hidden Lake this will help her write that second novel that she hasn’t yet.

Andreas shows up at the cabin to translate Kendra’s debut novel into German. She isn’t expecting him to just show up, he aims to not be in her way. Immediately, he sees that the lake in her novel is similar to Hidden Lake, but she doesn’t allow him to know that, at first.

Kendra’s POV is in the first person and normally this wouldn’t bother me, but she’s also talking to her friend Cami and at first, it was annoying. I say that because it was confusing to know who was talking and to whom and about. It wasn't until a bit before halfway that I got more comfortable with this POV, and that I was able to connect (and like) with all of the characters.

Kendra needs to come to terms with what happened to her as a young person with Tyler all those summers ago… I found it hard to understand all the dynamics that were playing out in the beginning, and how that played into the plot. There is a lot that is going on between Cami’s parents and Kendra’s mother that she wants to understand, and her mother Jackie is resistant to sharing anything with her daughter.

Kendra speaks about Cami but we never “meet” Cami, it is always through Kendra’s narrative prose that we meet Cami. Slowly, this narrative shows what it is that Kendra is struggling with. The Woman Who Could Breathe Under Water unravels its struggle, letting the reader into the background of all of the characters and possibly why Kendra received a letter from a disgruntled reader and that she knows the letter writer well. It was worth the struggle in the beginning, and it helped in entering into Kendra’s struggle with her past and her present.

The mystery of who wrote the letter continues to haunt Kendra as she learns more about her anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness towards Cami and herself. By this time, I am more used to the POV and my connection to the characters has deepened. Ms. Bartels continues to grow as a writer and her depth of story and taking the reader more “underwater'' shows her growth as a writer. It showed the process that writers encountered when they do write from the heart, but also how their own shortcomings can blindside them to not tell the whole story; even though it was never their intention to do so. It was full of authentic suffering of old and new and hope. Recommended. My gratitude to Revell and Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a slow moving book and I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. There's no doubt other readers will love this book - I did not. DNF at 40% so I gave it plenty of time to pick up speed. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a novel of redemption and secrets... past history and future choices. A very slow burn, it takes quite a bit to build to the meat of the story.
The novel is told from Kendra's point of view. She is introduced as an acclaimed author who wrote a semi-biographical novel based on tragedies in her childhood. At the start of the book she has inherited her grandfather's cabin. She returns to the cabin of her childhood to attempt to pen a new novel. She is very much reeling from a negative fan letter and the memories that are stirred up from her return to the summer cabin.

Early on we also meet her famous author mentor Robert and his adopted son Tyler. There is a quite a bit of confusion regarding Tyler and what transpired in the past. We also meet Andreas, a man who arrives at the cabin to translate Kendra's first novel into German. He is a surprising character and brings some mystery to the story.

The book is beautifully written. Anyone who spent summers outside at lakes, in forests, running with friends will be transported back to that golden time. Erin Bartels is such a talented writer, I can't emphasize that enough! The tension and mystery is sloooowly unraveled but as the pieces of the puzzle fit together its a very satisfying ending.
If you reminisce of your summers outside, if you like a slow burn mystery and enjoy family secrets, this novel is for you! #NetGalley #Revell #TheGirlWhoCouldBreatheUnderwater

I will be very honest with this review.. I always try to be fair when I read a novel knowing that I'm going to review it. I almost DNFd this book.. It was very dark, but it was very real, it was very honest. When Kendra goes to her grandfather's cabin on the lake after his passing she tries to write her 2nd novel and catch the same lightning in the bottle that her 1st book received. We go back-and-forth between the present time as she's trying to write her novel and the past on the lake from summers gone by. Kendra has a very dark and painful past.. People that said that they were friends hurt her very badly.. In one case her innocence is taken early and forcefully. It was after that scene that I wanted to put down the book but the author writes in such a talented way that I had to continue. I was very surprised that this book that is published by a Christian publisher and who I think is a Christian author had some things like casual drinking, casual smoking, and some casual talk about sex, girls getting their periods et cetera. I will say with that being said that nothing ever was too explicit or too many details I was just very surprised that this kind of content was in this kind of book which was I thought Christian. There is no faith content except for one time where they say grace over their meal.. This would have been a great opportunity for faith to be involved for all concerned that have such pain from their actions and their past. This was a very different book than the author's previous books that's probably what surprised me. The friendships at times were real in the sense that there were fights between the two girls Kendra and Cammi. They usually would make up as children do.. But as they grew rather than mature they seem to get worse to the point that Cammi makes a very mean statement to Kendra that stays with her for a very long time even to her adulthood.. Tyler in the book I did not like at all, he was a dark foreboding presence that was disconcerting. When you find out about his horrific past you understand him better but he was hard to connect with. Mainly this book is about forgiveness. And not letting peoples actions and words dictate your future. Again, talented writing, setting and characters. But hard content to digest. And I actually prefer deeper books. I'm not into fluff novels I give this book 3.5 stars because of the content.

A stirring novel, for sure, though just not particularly in my wheel-house. It is fine, entertaining but does not quite rise to anything of literary value.

It’s interesting that the last book I reviewed for NetGalley bounced back and forth in time, and I mentioned that I typically enjoy stories that do that, but my feelings are different with The Girl Who Could Breathe Underwater. There was something about this book that I found difficult to connect with, and I think it was due to all the moving back and forth in time. I didn’t feel like I truly understood any of the characters, because events were just told instead of experienced. I wish there had been fewer scenes, but more fully fleshed out, so I could feel like I understood the characters better, especially those with Cami. I also didn’t like how the book was written as if Kendra was talking to Cami.

Although this book didn’t work for me, there is no doubt Erin Bartels is a wonderful writer and I would not hesitate to pick up any of her other or future books.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To be honest, I'm not entirely certain what I expected from The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water... but I am certain that I got much more than I anticipated without a doubt.

From the start, I was a bit thrown off by the narration of the story. It was written in first person, but as if talking to Kendra's best friend Cami. It was certainly a unique way to tell the story. I must admit that I do not typically prefer stories told in first person, and it did take me a little bit to wrap my head around to how this story was being told, but once I got used to it, I found that it really did add a really unique and personal element to this already very personal story.

When Kendra returns to her grandfather's cabin to deal with a letter from a 'disappointed reader' and confront issues of her past, she finds herself questioning her memories of a summer and a friendship that changed her life. Again, given the description I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this story and was a bit surprised to see it take on rather serious topics of sexual abuse and trafficking, and our responses to trauma. I definitely think this could be potentially triggering for some readers as while not overtly graphic in any way, it is rather open and honest. The story was beautifully written and complicated and oh so messy--- just as life so often is. Being from a Christian publisher, I definitely feel like the content was a bit more than I have come to expect from books from this publisher. There was no language or anything of that sort, but again the topic of the sexual abuse was spoken about in a very open and honest way that certainly won't appeal to all audiences.

I cannot say that this was an enjoyable read, just based upon the topics it takes on... but it was a very personal and very beautifully written story. Reading the author's note at the end made me appreciate it all that much more. While it is not a story that everyone will be able to handle, those who are able are sure to be moved by this beautifully told story.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

I made it about half way through this book before I called it quits not because of the story or the writing or the characters simply because it to suspenseful and stressful for me to read.

A while back I was scrolling through available books on NetGalley and immediately stopped when I saw The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water. How beautiful is this cover? Erin Bartels is a new-to-me author and after reading the blurb I decided to give this one a try. However, now I am struggling to review and rate this one because of my own fault of reading another review of it that was posted on Goodreads. Let me explain...

Kendra returns to her small cottage on a lake in Michigan after inheriting it from her grandfather and to help deal with a serious case of writer's block. Kendra is only months away from the deadline for her second book - one that she has not yet started - and is constantly stressing over an anonymous letter from "A Very Disappointed Reader" in regards to her first book. So after 8 years she finally returns to Hidden Lake to hopefully find inspiration, answers about who wrote the letter, and perspective on her memory of events that happened there during her childhood. 

I must admit that the only reason that I didn't give up on this by the 20-30% mark is Bartels' exquisite imagery and descriptions of Kendra's grandfather's cabin. Told from Kendra's POV speaking to her childhood best friend Cami, it almost reads like a letter. She paints such a beautiful picture of innocent times swimming, collecting rocks, and even being bitten by mosquitos that I was instantly transported to my own childhood summers spent out in the country with my grandparents and could vividly recall my own experiences with the heat, rain, bugs, and so on. Otherwise, I was finding this story tedious. But then, additional characters are slowly introduced. There is Robert, the famous author across the lake and father of Cami and Cami's older brother Tyler. There is Beth, Robert's wife and mother to Cami and Tyler. There's a crazy old man named Ike that lives on the lake and has been around forever. Finally, there is Andreas, the German translator that shows up and surprises Kendra eager to get to work finishing the German translation of her first book. 

As soon as Tyler appears in the novel, the reader quickly realizes that something happened between them all of those summers ago and it takes a lot of recollection and discussion to clarify if what happened between them was wanted or unwanted on Kendra's part. Moreover, Kendra's recurring internal conflict about whether she liked Tyler's attention or not comes up again and again making the reader wonder about Tyler's intentions. Kendra clearly says she allowed it to go on for several summers, so was it sexual abuse or shame? All of these questions are answered while there are many other revelations about Kendra's family, Cami and Tyler's lives, Robert and Beth's past, and even admissions from Kendra's own mother, Jackie. 

At the end of the novel, I felt happy about the direction of Kendra's life. I felt that I understood all of the characters including their motivations and shortcomings. Despite the difficult subject matter and themes in this novel, I also felt that I had read something beautiful and raw and emotional that took horrific events and turned them into an amazing story. 

But then I read a review that spun this story in a different direction and confused the hell out of me! It is very rare that I read other reviews of a book after I have read it and before I write my own, obviously so my own opinions are not influenced in any way. I have no idea why I did it today but I reacted so loudly (yelling at my computer screen) that my husband rushed into the room to see what was wrong with me. If this reader's interpretation is correct, then I got everything very wrong. 

In the end, I am of course reviewing this based on what I read and what I felt. This is not a fast-paced novel and isn't full of any steamy, romantic love scenes. But the vivid imagery and retelling of a childhood lost is one that I could not put down. I feel like I have now been to this imaginary place and that I know each of the characters as if they were my own friends and family.

*Thanks to Revell and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review!