The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water by Erin Bartels

 Wow. Wow. Wow. This book. I kept this one at home while reading it so I could give it my full attention. Normally I take books with me everywhere but after the first chapter I knew I didn't want to miss a perfectly placed word. This book was incredible. I read slowly and allowed myself to enjoy the chosen phrases, knowing that the author took her time and probably wrestled with each line. It was worth it. This book is set apart. It reads so well. The characters are deep and they get deeper as it goes along. So many interesting layers and gut-wrenching details. One of the best books I've read in a long time. This is why I read. This is why I love reading. For books like this one.

The only bad thing is now knowing that my next few reads will not measure up. 

Kendra returns to the summer home of her youth and sets to unwrap the mystery surrounding the disappearance of her best friend, Cami. Along the way she discovers secrets that are hidden in and around the lake. 

From the back cover:

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 her 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 letters claims to rest and meet the swiftly approaching deadline fo the 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 depth 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. 

This book provided for review by Revell.