Review: The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water by Erin Bartels

 

About:

The best fiction simply tells the truth.

But the truth is never simple.

When novelist Kendra Brennan moves into her grandfather's old cabin on Hidden Lake, she has a problem and a plan. The problem? An inflammatory letter from A Very Disappointed Reader. The plan? To confront Tyler, her childhood best friend's brother--and the man who inspired the antagonist in her first book. If she can prove that she told the truth about what happened during those long-ago summers, perhaps she can put the letter's claims to rest and meet the swiftly approaching deadline for her next book.

But what she discovers as she delves into the murky past is not what she expected. While facing Tyler isn't easy, facing the consequences of her failed friendship with his sister, Cami, may be the hardest thing she's ever had to do.

Plumb the depths of the human heart with this emotional exploration of how a friendship dies, how we can face the unforgivable, and how even those who have been hurt can learn to love with abandon.

My Thoughts:

This was a many layered story that takes us on a journey, and it can be an uncomfortable one, as we discover and come to terms along with Kendra some issues from her past that she is coping with.

Kendra is an author working on her second book. Her first book was well received, and she is enjoying being an author until she receives an anonymous critical review that shows that someone knows her story is much too close to Kendra's own life. Writing this book was a way for Kendra to relieve her pain and she thought she masked it fairly well. But someone knows.

So, Kendra goes back to where it all started, to face her past, make peace with certain people, find her best friend, and face and slay her demons. This is not an easy task. Kendra takes a journey down memory lane along with us and certain truths are revealed, long hidden secrets are uncovered, and the pain and the abuse is much deeper than she realized.

This was a good story, author Bartels certainly knows how to weave one, but this is a hard one to read. As a forewarning this does deal with sexual abuse and touches on all the ramifications that deals with. It is a story full of hope and forgiveness as well.

 

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Erin Bartels is the award-winning author of All That We Carried, 2020 Christy finalist The Words between Us, and We Hope for Better Things, a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, 2020 WFWA Star Award-winner, and 2019 Christy finalist. A publishing professional for nearly twenty years, she lives in Lansing, Michigan, with her husband, Zachary, and their son. Find her online at www.erinbartels.com.