Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the copy! Filled with poetic prose, this book is the perfect ally for a cozy winter afternoon under the blankets. The character is woman who tries to overcome a turbulent past by running away to the sea. I loved the realism and the scenes so perfectly crafted it felt that I was almost in that place.

This was lovely. If you're looking for a book club book, this should be it. I will be telling my book club about it for sure.

The main character has a beautifully written, organic arc that actually felt completely earned, the reveals were clear enough to see coming but not contrived, and it's a pretty haunting story. There's tragedy and redemption and honesty and everything just felt realistic.

2 complaints: Andreas is perfect, why doesn't he actually exist? and the last 150 words of the last chapter (not epilogue) felt a bit neat and rushed. Like, the only time I rolled my eyes was during that part on the drive home.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Mia Barron and her voice and accents are perfect. I would 100% listen to her narrate another book, any day.

I received a copy of this audiobook for free from NetGalley and RB Media in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

Thanks to the publisher -RB Media for providing ARC in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley

5/5 stars

I heard the audiobook version of the book narrated by Mia Barron. I didn't know Erin Bartels would blow my mind with her writing. This was my first introduction to her work. After finishing with the book, I immediately went and looked up her other books and added two of her most praised books to my tbr list. Because, honestly, I'm not stopping with just one.

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water by Erin Bartels starts with the protagonist, Kendra, a writer, whose debut novel - That Summer is a big hit. But, she is stressed. The reason behind her stress is one letter she received from one of her readers who begged to differ in his/her opinion about Kendra's first novel, criticizing the things she mentioned in the book, calling her a selfish opportunist. Her disappointed reader was angry with her for telling the story she shouldn't have. She is trying to put the pieces together in finding out who this person is.

She is also coping up with personal grief that has something to do with Cami and Tyler. Cami was her childhood best friend whereas Tyler, (who happened to be the inspiration of the character of Blake in 'That Summer') was Cami's elder brother. Kendra's trouble with Tyler and Cami started when she was twelve and thirteen respectively. So, she has decided to confront Tyler, probably for a closer. There are so many things going on in Kendra's life. She has got a contract for her second book which she is on a deadline for, even though, she hasn't started writing it. Therefore, she goes to her grandfather's old house on The Hidden Lake(where there is no cellphone, no internet, and hence, no distractions), hoping to start with her writing on the second book without any distraction. Now, the question is will she be able to complete her second book?

The story, set in northern Michigan, is written from the first person's point of view. Although the story is a bit slower-paced, I loved every bit of it. It is beautifully well-written. The plot got me hooked from the very beginning. One of the important aspects of the story deals with molestation. So, I understand if this is a difficult and uncomfortable read for some people. BUT BUT BUT. Don't be scared to pick this book because there is so much more you'll find as you delve into the story. This is more of a character-driven novel which to me, is the best part of reading a story. This story just like an onion has so many layers. As the story progresses and the layers start getting peeled off one after the other, I got emotionally attached to the character. I was so invested. Kendra says the story is fictional which is not true. Although the characters were fictional, the story reassembled her story. The relation that Jackie, Kendra's mother, and Beth, Cami's mother was the same relation that Kendra and Cami shared.


Truth has a way of working itself into any story whether the writer means to or not.

What's not to like in this book? There is friendship. There is sacrifice. There is love. There is romance. There is loss. There is trauma. There is a twist. There is a mystery. And, surprises are waiting for you. I loved the side characters too. They were there for a purpose. Although, I wish we had more part of Andreas in the story. I would have loved to know more about him as a character. It is a heartbreaking and unforgettable story by all means. Highly recommended.

Release Date : 04 Jan 2022

Review Posted : 11 Jan 2022

Narrator 5 stars
Great voice.

Story 3.5 stars
This took me a little bit to get into but once I did I found it haunting, heartbreaking but very beautiful. The author has a captivating way with words.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kendra is a successful novelist who is struggling to write her sophomore novel after receiving a letter from a reader who was disappointed in the story she chose to tell. She moves back up to her late grandfather's Michigan cabin on the lake to write without distractions and maybe even figure out who sent her that letter.

She doesn't realize it, but she's completely spiraling after not really dealing with what happened to her "That Summer." When the translator for the German edition of her debut novel (That Summer) shows up to work on the translation with her, she is pushed to remember her past and figure out who she really is.

I enjoyed the slow burn of this story and how it so intricately (and easily!) wove together plot from so many years ago when Kendra was just a kid playing with her best friend Cami and the current day where she is ever-so-slowly starting to fall for her translator. There were a lot of twists and turns and some pieces I couldn't put together until right when the reveal was happening. The romance was sweet, the feelings of grief, nostalgia, and being out of place were so strong and helped me to immerse myself deeply in Kendra's head.

I would highly recommend this title for people who enjoy a slow burn "mystery" that is a bit literary and tends more toward the gentle reminiscence of what has been. Please do check the trigger warnings at the end of this review though.

Mia Barron's narration was fabulous throughout. I enjoyed her pacing and the slightly different voices she had for each character (without being silly). She also does a "wunderbar" German accent for Andreas, which had me smiling every time he spoke.





Trigger warnings:
-Rape
-Sexual coercion/sexual assault
-Sexual assault by one sibling to another
-Child sex trafficking
-Death of a grandparent
-Possible suicide

This was really clever and interesting, on many levels. It would be a great choice for book groups.


Review copy provided by publisher.

The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water by Erin Bartles and audiobook Narrated by Mia Barron is a unique and complex contemporary fiction that takes us into the process of remembering, accepting, and overcoming life’s challenges.

I am reviewing the audiobook version.

This was a different genre and experience for me. What first drew me in was the mystery concept, but this book turned out to be so much more. It is definitely a character-driven novel where we explore Kendra’s current author dilemma and an anonymous letter that she has received that is affecting her ability to write and move on. Because of this, she is forced to return to Hidden Lake in upper Michigan, a childhood summer retreat of her Grandfather’s.

Here we get to see the multiple layers of a past filled with trauma, love, loss, coming of age, identity searching, and the resolution to the original mystery as well as several surprises and twists along the way.

The pacing was more on the slower end as we are exposed to each layer being pealed back and are able to find out the truth of what happened to Kendra that was so traumatic, what happened to cause a rift with her bff Cammie, who wrote the letter, and how she finally moves on from here.

I would have to give the book itself a 3.5/5 and the audiobook a 5/5 stars as the narrator has a great voice and lends a nice pacing and different octaves/inflections to her character cast. The book itself was entertaining, but it just wasn’t “riveting” and didn’t draw me in as much as I thought it would.

Overall, 4/5 stars.

Thank you NG and Recorded Books/RB Media for this complimentary copy and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub, Amazon, and B&N accounts immediately. Date of publication: 1/4/22.

What do you write when there are no words? I’m wrecked, yet so full, all at once. Erin Bartels masterfully weaves a story that has me feeling like a girl underwater, only not able to breathe. So many suppositions challenged, and poignant questions posed. A story of friendship, betrayal, and love, each a category of their own, yet they brilliantly come together into one beautiful work of art. That’s truly what this story is, a work of art. I don’t want to share any details or give anything away. I will say, believe the hype and all the major endorsements and read this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
The narrator, Mia Barron, does a phenomenal job of capturing all the characters, personalities, and emotions. One of the reasons I could not stop listening, evidenced by my starting in the morning and not stopping until Mia says, “this concludes”, was how well she brings the story to life.
I received an audiobook from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own and freely given.