I listened to this via audiobook thanks to NetGalley. It was very well done!
My struggle with this, although a phenomenally written piece of work, was how disturbing it was for me. You see all the wrong and misfortune happening with the characters and want so badly to right all of it. Frustrating at times for sure. I would definitely recommend this to library patrons and will be ordering it for our collection.

This book turned out not necessarily to be for me but it was sort of a random pick. I wasn’t sure what to expect and I certainly didn’t expect what I got.
Kendra Brennan, a novelist, decides to move into her grandfather’s old cabin. She has a bit of a problem in that she got a letter from A Very Disappointed Reader that was less than pleasant and it has her all bothered. Her plan is to confront a boy, a man now, named Tyler. He is the brother of her childhood best friend who inspired the antagonist in her first book. She figures if she can prove that she was being truthful about what happened all those summers ago she can put the claims that were made by the letter to rest, freeing up her mind to meet the deadline for her next book.
However, as she digs deeper into the past she finds that things aren’t what she was expecting them to be. She finds facing Tyler to be quite easy but having to face the consequences of her failed friendship with his sister is a whole other story. Oh, she’s also dealing with a handsome German man who is staying with her at the cabin as the German translator to her book.
This was well written and a lot of people will likely very much enjoy this but I found myself drifting out of the story too much. Kendra talks to her best friend (the way it’s done in the book You) and it gets a little bit difficult at times the way it’s done in order to progress the story as well as tell the past.
I had the chance to listen to this via audiobook thanks to NetGalley. It was very well done and the narrator was fantastic.

Firstly - this is a book worth of reading it and discussing it! I find it a beautiful, rich, thought of read - also it is a read that might bring many debats and even polemics to the table. Always a worthy thing in my opinion, as the healthy discussions can enrich us all.
This is a story of Kendra, who is to write her second novel - after the first one, where she dealt with her sexual abuse when teenager. Writing that first novel has been her therapy. This summer she is to deal with her memories, her hurt, the consequences of her story and some new stories, too. Her road of healing will take her on the journey to confront her hidden pain and shame intertwining her past - but never forgotten - friendship with Cami, to whom she tells her story within this novel.

I have become a fan of Ms Bartels and I plan to read all her works - even if I think this novel is her most difficult, most personal of all of them. When reading I have had very strong feeling that this is a personal story - and she confirmed it in her afternote. I find it very hard to evaluate someone else´s story, as I have not been walking in their shoes. But let me say this - I love this novel. I love that the authoress is not shy in confronting victimhood as she/her character Kendra realizes that we are all guilty of something or other, that we all have responsibilities towards ourselves and the others, too. I love that her character walks in the journey of healing. I love that she actively tries to forgive and to understand. I see that she is true here and I have learned a lot. Yet - there are topics where I disagree. We are all guilty of something - but the level of our bad deeds differ. Secondly - the topic of sexual abuse is severely downplayed. Tyler is a rapist. But in some parts he seems only like bad boyfriend of sorts, the one who pushed the girl, not who raped her. There are no consequences of his crimes. Not even a therapy! I realize that there are reasons, deeply disturbing reasons, for his deeds. But he is bearing very little consequences - and this lack of consequences also might halt his own healing (both from the crimes of others towards him and his own crimes).
The parental figures are very much absolved from their own lack of parental love. Where they were all the years? Were they blind or busy with their own lives not to see that there are tragedies about to start?
<spoiler> Imagine a father who realizes (years later, but still) that his adoptive son had raped his own flesh and blood - and does literally nothing! I am not saying he should enter a warpath - but at least some tough conversations should take place??? <spoiler>
And lastly - I do think that knowingly or unknowingly, Ms Bartels writes to herself. Her "Cami" is in my opinion herself - and she is recognizing, fighting, loving, forgiving and seeking forgiveness from abandoning - herself. I hope she knows that.

Beautiful, rich, disturbing, worth reading of and discussing - this novel has it all. I am disagreeing with many parts - yet I see a very nutritious food for thought here, prepared with love.

The narrator is marvelous. She brings life to the pages, she understands the story and enriches it. Great job!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version. Interesting story. Good weekend read.

Thanks to NetGalley for this copy. It was an interesting story with a good narrator, even though the characters were unlikable.

There is SO MUCH to say about this fascinating work.

First and foremost, Bartels is an exceptional storyteller. You have no idea what you're missing if you haven't read one of her works. I adore the rich environment and the multifaceted people. There's a nod to Jaime Jo Wright's Gothic aesthetic, but it's a whole distinct genre. Women's fiction rather than suspense. However, there are parallels between the two authors, and I admire both. This particular narrative deals with some difficult topics. I believe she does a fantastic job of being classy and providing just enough information to grasp without going into excessive detail. Those who are triggered by any sort of sexual abuse, however, should be advised. Again, I want to emphasize that I thought it was appropriate, and I can understand how some victims would find healing or bravery from this account. Others, though, may choose to decline. While I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative, I must do my audience fair by pointing up a handful of points that did not sit well with me. As a dry Baptist, I find it offensive when characters in Christian fiction drink alcohol. While these individuals were never seen intoxicated, they did use alcohol in the same way that we Southerners consume sweet tea: casually and all day. And, unfortunately, being a Christian novel, I expected a bigger Christian testimony throughout the plot, but there isn't any. It was essentially a clean novel, but it was not a Christian novel. The author freely mentioned Christ in her message to the readers at the conclusion, but I couldn't figure out why the same thoughts weren't woven into the story's fabric. At the end of the day, this is a remarkable and breathtaking narrative. I commend Bartels' honesty and sincerity in writing about a tough issue and providing others a voice and a dose of bravery who are still waiting for their chance to heal.

If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining mystery here’s a good one! This story truly has a bit of everything. I do mean everything, sometimes I got a bit overwhelmed by how much was going on. Please be aware that that also means it touches on almost any trigger warning you can think of.

Major bonus points for all the Michigan shout outs 🙌 It is so much fun to be reading and see some of my favorite locations, restaurants, beverages and universities mentioned. If you’re a Michigander at heart, you might want to read this for that alone!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⚡️

Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media for the complimentary audiobook!

I am completely enthralled and obsessed with the writing style of Erin Bartels. She writes beautifully and emotionally. She pulls the reader into the story and makes you part of what is going on. I was SO invested in what was going to come of all of this that I struggled to pause and not take it all in at once. I attempted more than once to guess what would be coming but then found myself wrong almost each time - to me - this makes a book completely fabulous! The exact kind of writing I want to be reading and sharing with friends and other readers. I cannot recommend this book enough and have already passed on the title to numerous readers. I will now purposefully look for more of Erin's work in the future and look back on anything she has written prior to this novel!

FR
Tout d'abord, je tiens à remercier NetGalley pour cet audiobook.
Ensuite, je tiens à signaler que le livre n'est absolument pas à mettre entre toutes les mains car il y a vraiment des sujets très sensibles.
Et je dois dire que je n'étais absolument pas prête pour ça. Je n'en parlerai pas, mais c'était dégoûtant par moments pour moi.
Si on retire ça, j'ai conscience que la plume de l'auteure est bonne, et la narration de l'audiobook était appréciable.
Mais vraiment à cause des scènes, et du contenu, je n'ai pas pu apprécier ma découverte de ce livre.

ENG
First, I want to thank NetGalley for this audiobook.
Then, I would like to point out that the book is absolutely not to put in everyone's hands because there are really very sensitive subjects.
And I must say that I was absolutely not ready for that. I won't go into that, but it was disgusting at times for me.
If we take that out, I'm aware that the author's pen is good, and the narration of the audiobook was appreciable.
But really because of the scenes, and the content, I could not appreciate my discovery of this book.

Such an emotional read, delving into the past and reconnecting with past pain. I enjoyed every minute of it.

This was a hauntingly rich story of friendship, family, and secrets. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator kept me captivated during my daily walks.
Many thanks to RB Media and to NetGalley for providing me with the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

“‘You don’t think people are better than they used to be?’ He snorted. ‘No, I don’t.’ I thought for a moment. ‘Women can vote. There’s no more slavery.’ He tipped his head in some measure of concession. ‘Human societies may change here and there. But human nature? Nah. People are always people. And people are broken.’”

Kendra Brennan has writers block and moves into her grandfather’s old cabin on Hidden Lake. She is there to confront Tyler, her childhood best friend’s brother-the man who inspired the antagonist in her first book-in order to prove to herself that she told the truth in her novel. But facing the truth about her failed friendship with his sister Cami proves to be the hardest thing she’s ever had to do.

This book, although sprinkled with some heavy subject matter, was just beautiful. I read The Paper Palace last year and got some of those same vibes with this one with the lake, the cabins, and the close friends and family. The writing was amazing and the storyline had me constantly wanting more.

I really enjoyed the audio, maybe even more than the book. The narrator has such a smooth voice and reads with such emotion that you can’t help but to get lost in the story.

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, Revell Publishing, and the author for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this author’s lyrical writing style, and the non-cookie-cutter sort of stories she writes. And those were the very features I liked best about The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water. The writing was beautifully constructed. And the story itself didn’t shy away from difficult subjects or situations, which was refreshing, and reflective of the messiness and complexities to be found in real life.

That said, some of the characters’ decisions over the course of the story bothered me in ways that I didn’t really feel were resolved with the book’s conclusion. Maybe chalk that up to the messiness of real life? Still, I would have loved to see a more explicitly Christian message woven into these characters’ lives over the course of the story.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a good story well told. Particularly those who enjoy a vivid setting, complex characters, and an element of mystery in their reading. I think it could make an especially good choice for discussion groups. I know this book is one I’d enjoy discussing with others who’ve read it.

The audiobook edition features excellent reading by Mia Barron. She breathed life into the characters’ voices and the flow of the narration.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley. This review represents my own honest thoughts on the book.

Beautifully written and narrated, THE GIRL WHO COULD BREATHE UNDER WATER by Erin Bartels takes us on a full circle emotional journey as the main character, a successful debut author struggling to write her second novel, confronts the grief and trauma of her past to find her way forward. This story is intricate and engaging, with much to consider (some heavy content here).

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio version of this book.

Well this one was not for me unfortunately. I was drawn into listening to it because of a novellist being the Main character. But there Was no spark for me, just not my cup of tea. But I want to mention that the narrator did a great job which made me finish the book
Thanks #NetGalley for the Audiobook

Thank you NetGalley. This book was intricate and interesting and I mostly enjoyed it. I'm curious how everyone else is going to feel about this one.

“Nothing was resolved and everyone was unhappy” Main character Kendra said it about another book…..but that’s pretty much what I feel about this book.
Honestly, I couldn’t finish the book. I made it 60% and that felt generous. It was just that boring and depressing.
Depressing on its own isn’t too much for me. I’ve made it through a lot of interesting, depressing books.
Boring on its own isn’t too much for me. I have finished a lot of boring books that drew me in one way or another.
But to have both hopelessness and nothing even happening—like literally no plot but a girl talking to a couple guys and then flashing back to either uninteresting scenes in her life or graphic moments of abuse—that just wasn’t enough for me to keep pressing.
Although I had NO idea this was from a Christian author or Christian publisher…but the book gave ZERO indication of that. There was less hope and light in this “Christian” book than in most secular books I read. And of course, I understand that sexual abuse is devastation, dark, horrible travesty that no one should have to endure—this no one should have to endure reading about it in detail either—but the hope of Gospel in Christ is to be able to find a pathway out of the pain of abuse and to find hope and healing in Jesus. And this book gave none of that. (Of course I didn’t finish it, but based on other reviews from readers that did, I gather that it never change course or gave any redemption.)

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* oh. boy. so as some one not just from Michigan but i also live "near" where this town is described being. Not everyone in MI can swim firstly, i was in such shock when i heard this lol this was a little thing but it made me laugh out loud.

Now, i didn't mind the narrator but it was *painful* to hear how they pronounced some things! MI accents mean that's not how its said! Their accent was harsh compared to ours and since the MC was unable to go without a few chapters without mentioning what everyone in MI does or mentioning a place, it got a tad annoying.

Okay now, all the good stuff! gave this the full 3 over a 2 because the story was horrible and i find it hilarious how many people won't read this book bc its not "christian enough", this is a mystery thriller with death and sexual assault, i'm very happy this wasn't one of those annoying books that adds things that are unneeded just to make it religious! I did like this book but wish i would have just read it lol

This might the most complex book I have ever read, there us so much depth, so much realization, misunderstandings and this book makes you see LIFE!!
The value it carries is heavy and loaded, it depends on how you take it and receive it.

This also had a sweet love story to keep your heart still intact with it's romantic notions 😂

Overall, there were a few points which opened my mind, a few realizations that made me want to be better and not commit the same mistake and I also did have some moments I did not agree with

This is literally the most complex book I have ever read but it has it's own value despite saying I disagree sometimes I'd say give this a shot at your own risk and wish

It may contain certain facts that may trigger you
*Death of a long-loved & lost person
*Family trauma
*self-doubt & depression

About Audiobook:
The audio version is just fantastic as far as the narrator goes, I enjoyed her voice and description..it was so suited and vivid
Glad to have an opportunity to snag an copy of this audiobook

If you're looking for the audio version, it's great..Go for it!


* My very special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley

I started reading/listening to it, and I was expecting a thriller story. But to my surprise, it isn't a thriller even if it sounds like it. I would say this was a good drama story. Writing is so extraordinary, so heartwarming, the words just take you to a place, to a room, to past. It makes you have feelings. I feel like people were expecting something so different, something with some big super twisted twist, but for me, it is a story about life's decisions, good and bad, and where it can take you. I would recommend this read if you are going on vacation and make sure you grab the audio version. Fair warning, there is a theme of sexual assault/drugs/suicide in this one, so if you are someone who can read about that, don't read it. With writing this good, those scenes are not easy to swallow. It won't leave you feeling indifferent.