The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water

A Novel

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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.


Praise for the novels of Erin Bartels

"Bartels proves herself a master wordsmith and storyteller."--Library Journal starred review of All That We Carried

"A story of love found in the written word and love found because of the written word."--Booklist on The Words between Us

"A deeply moving story of heartbreak, long-held secrets, and the bonds of family."--Publishers Weekly starred review of We Hope for Better Things


Erin Bartels is the award-winning author of We Hope for Better Things, The Words between Us, and All That We Carried. She lives in Lansing, Michigan, with her husband, Zachary, and their son. Find her online at www.erinbartels.com.


The Author

  1. Erin Bartels
    Matthew Mitchell Photo

    Erin Bartels

    Erin Bartels writes character-driven fiction for curious people. Her readers know to expect that each of her novels will tell a unique story about fallible characters so tangible that it's hard to believe they are not real people. Whether urban, rural, or...

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Reviews

"Emotions leap off the page in this deeply personal book . . . . Expertly written."

Library Journal

"Erin Bartels has become one of those authors that I read every book she writes without even reading the synopsis or looking at the cover. The stories are just that good and the tension and internal conflict her characters have intensifies with each story. The Girl Who Can Breathe Under Water is no exception."

Write-Read-Life

"Bartels explores troubled relationships, questions of truth and memory, and how stories are created and told."

Booklist

"Bartels continues to amaze, and this--at least until the next book--is her best."

Life Is Story


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