Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the adult debut novel by Jennifer E. Smith - 4.5 stars!

Greta is an indie guitar star - her mother, Helen, was always her biggest fan while her dad, Conrad, just wanted her to have a different, more stable life. When Helen passes away suddenly while Greta is out of the country, the divide between her and her dad widens. Then Greta has a viral breakdown while performing on stage and loses all her confidence and motivation. The Alaskan cruise that was to celebrate her parents' 40th anniversary looms and Greta's brother convinces her to join their dad on the trip.

I just loved this book - Greta and her dad are both struggling to cope with Helen's death but without her to run interference, can't relate to or help each other. There's loads here about family, parenting, grief, as well as hope and second chances. I loved all these characters! The author was also magnificent in describing the Alaskan cruise experience - it became an integral character as well. Great book - can't wait to read more from this author!

This book was a story of grief and finding yourself after losing a love one. I loved the mother-daughter relationship, Greta and her mom had. I have not read too many books with a setting on a cruise ship so this was a pleasant surprise to read such a vivid descriptive book with this type of setting. This was a moving story about family, loss, grief, healing, and moving on. I loved the conversations Greta had with Ben and their interactions together. This part of the story to me gave Greta a look at her own life to determine what she really wanted out of life. I felt like there was just so much to unpack with this and I loved every minute of it. Especially with Greta and her dad, Conrad. They both were trying to deal with grief in their own way and what that meant for their father-daughter relationship going forward. Overall, I loved this story and the ending gave you just the amount of hopefulness and healing, with a possibility of romance!

Greta James is a successful indie musician and her mother has always been her #1 fan and cheerleader while her father has always been vocal about his opposition to her career choice. But in the aftermath of grieving the sudden loss of her mom, she has an onstage meltdown that goes viral, which is how she finds herself going on the cruise her dad was supposed to take with her mom for their 40th wedding anniversary. There is a lot to unpack over the course of that trip and as always, Jennifer E. Smith explores all the nuances of Greta's internal struggles, the years of conflict with her dad, and grief with such honesty and heart. I very much related to Greta's mom acting as the buffer between Greta and her father. This trip gave them a chance to slowly break down those walls and it made my heart ache watching it happen. And of course, there is a romance in it but it's in the background, which didn't make it any less romantic and definitely the right choice. As far as I'm concerned, Smith's first foray into adult fiction is a hit and if this book is any indication, I honestly can't wait to see what's next for her as she continues to write in this space.

(Note: Real rating is 4.5 stars!)

Greta is a tenacious woman who who is dealing with both the recent death of her mother and a sudden and unanticipated halt to her rising career as a musician. Her mother was the glue of the family and Greta and her father are struggling to communicate in her absence. Do they find it difficult to be with one another because they are so different or because they are similar in many ways? Each dealing with grief in their own way and missing the person they loved most, they are completely frustrated with one another. Enter an Alaskan cruise (one that Greta's parents, Conrad and Helen were supposed to embark on for their fortieth anniversary). Greta's brother convinces her that she needs to take this once in a lifetime trip with their Dad, along with the two couples that Helen and Conrad were closest to. Initially, Greta and Conrad find themselves begrudgingly thrown together on this trip, albeit in a somewhat befuddled way. While there, they experience the exquisite beauty that is Alaska and attempt to find some common ground. There are very funny excerpts in this wholly original novel and there were also times I turned the pages with a very large lump in my throat. I liked that Greta was her own person, admired her confidence in her choices and applauded her for following the path of her choosing. Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the complimentary ARC. Pub date is 3/1/2022. My opinions are solely my own. #netgalley #bookreviewer #bookstagrammer #theunsinkablegretajames #jenniferesmith #randomhouse #goodreads #withhernosestuckinabook #booksandmrdarcy

This was an easy read after two books in a row covering difficult topics. And thanks for NetGalley for the advanced copy that held onto way too long.

Greta James is a guitar master and a rock star. But she and her dad Conrad, don’t see eye to eye because she didn’t follow the safe path to adulthood. Settle down. Hold a stable job. Get married. Have kids. She’s following her own north star on the path so few get to travel.

When Greta is waiting to perform at a concert in Germany and her dad calls with a concern, Greta blows it off and continues her day. It’s a decision she can’t take back, and she regrets. Greta’s brother talks her into accompanying her dad on a cruise to Alaska, and this is where the story takes place.

It was fairly predictable, but that’s okay. I enjoyed the read anyway.

I expected this to be so much better. My co-worker loved it, but I thought it was boring. The whole reason for the character taking the cruise was to spend time with her father and work through the death of her mother. Instead, it focused mainly on romance: the romance during Greta's breakdown and while on the boat.

“An indie musician reeling from tragedy and a public breakdown reconnects with her father on a weeklong cruise in ‘a pitch-perfect story about the ways we recover love in the strangest places’.” And not just any cruise, but the long-awaited cruise of Alaska’s inner passage— meant to be a 40th anniversary trip for Greta’s parents. Except that Greta’s mother dies suddenly three months before the trip begins. And so Greta is urged by her brother to go, to keep their father from feeling alone. In spite of longstanding disagreements, the father and daughter are eventually able to share their grief and reopen their path to communicating.

I loved this book much more than I expected to. Yes, there were some overly-convenient coincidences, but a lot of heart, healing, and a touch of romance. A sparkling read!

THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES is a tender story about grief and how we show up for each other.

Greta is a 36-year-old indie rock star grieving the sudden death of her mother and taking a break from her career. Her dad's grieving too, but decides to go on the weeklong Alaskan cruise he and Greta's mom had planned to celebrate their 40th anniversary, along with their friends. And so Greta's brother convinces her to go in her mom's place.

The highlight of this book for me were some truly beautiful moments of connection, with family, old friends, and a new friend (and potential love interest?). There's one scene in particular that just got me -- that alone was worth my reading this book; I won't soon forget it.

The pacing felt uneven at times and I never really felt like I was on the trip, despite wanting to. Still, overall, I enjoyed rooting for Greta, her dad, and basically every other character.


Review posted to Goodreads and Instagram (@Christine_QueenofBooks) on March 18 (both linked).

Oh, Greta James, Greta James. What a wonderful name, am I right? It’s absolutely perfect for the rockstar that she is. The premise of The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith caught my attention immediately. At the very last minute, daughter (Greta) joins her father (Conrad) on a weeklong Alaskan cruise. A trip he was supposed to go on with his wife to celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, she died unexpectedly before she could go on the trip of her dreams, one she’d been planning for years. Not wanting him to travel alone, Greta decides to step in and accompany her dad. This was not an easy decision as her relationship with her dad isn’t the best. It’s quite strained, actually. The pair have a bristly past, and a lot of issues to unpack that stem from years prior. I absolutely loved how the author explored father/daughter relationships in this novel. I feel like we don’t get to read about them very often, especially the complicated ones.

READ THIS BOOK IF YOU ENJOY:

- Alaska, glaciers, hiking, and cruise ships
- Complex family dramas/dynamics
- Emotional stories about navigating grief
- Unexpected romances
- Character-driven and coming-of-age stories
- The music industry and lives of musicians

I ended up enjoying this one a lot more than I initially thought. It made me think about my dad, and you better believe that I gave him a call after reading it. You’ll want to hug your loved ones tightly after reading this book, that’s for sure. 4/5 heartwarming stars for The Unsinkable Greta James!

The Unsinkable Greta James is an engaging little rom com that blends in some sober themes, such as dealing with loss, repairing difficult relationships and being authentic to one's true self. I love the way Smith plays with language in ways that make you snicker out loud. The plot did drag a bit before the climax, but, overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Greta James is a musician who is struggling with her career after losing her mom. She gets talked into taking her mom's place with her somewhat estranged father on an anniversary cruise to Alaska. I enjoyed the Alaskan cruise setting and found the plot to be well paced and enjoyable.

Thank you, @netgalley for my #gifted copy of this book!

This was my first book by this author and WOW! This was a beautiful story centered around a father and daughter trying to find a way to navigate life after the mother’s death. The daughter just so happened to be a famous indie rock star and they also happened to be on an Alaskan cruise.

There was humor with some real laugh out loud moments, a little bit of romance, and it was also a really emotional and heartfelt read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one!

the vibes are: daisy jones and the six meets grief piled on grief

greta’s onstage meltdown after her mother’s death has left her needing severe help. she decides to reconcile with her estranged father and together, they rediscover the meaning of life, family, and what makes happiness true.

full disclosure here: this one triggered me a lot but also helped me through my grieving process (my dad passed away rather recently). the exploration of the grief in this book sent me into quite a few spirals, but the wholesome feel of the story gave me hope for the future.

the short chapters did have me speeding through this one rather quickly, and I absolutely loved the raw texture that the author brought to the book. I could have done without the romance elements (I was not vibing with ben sorry), and it felt a little forced. she barely spent any time with him!!!

however, my favorite parts were the realistic look on a father daughter relationship, and made me really reflect on my own relationship. I still cry thinking about it, but the healing never stops.

thank you to netgalley and random house for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: napa valley merlot

Loved the mix of grief, humor, and love found in this book. We all have family troubles and the thought of being stuck on a boat with them can cause anxiety, but Greta proves that you can get through it. Loved this story!

I really loved this book! It was a beautiful exploration of family, grief, and finding yourself. I loved the various supporting characters on the cruise. This book totally makes me want to book a cruise to Alaska!!

This was a quick book about a fairly famous musician who goes on an Alaskan cruise with her father shortly after her mother's death. I've read some of Smith's young adult books and this book gave off many of the same, comforting, easy reading vibes as her young adult stories. The book is perfect for vacation. Not great literature but a great story nonetheless.

I absolutely loved this! It was heartfelt and heavy at times, but also light and cheerful. It was like having a cozy cup of coffee after a long day and I am still thinking about it all day after finishing it yesterday. Greta is just the right amount of impulsive and hesitant. She is quirky and assertive but also vulnerable. I love that this book focused on her healing after losing her mom and her oath as a performer in more ways than just romance. The scenes with her father were what really stood out to me the most. There were little nuggets of wisdom I think I will remember for awhile. I will be recommending!

This book brilliantly tackles many subjects — grief after unexpected loss, complicated familial relationships, career struggles, companionship, and finding light amid the darkness. I thought Greta’s emotional struggle was well written; from the opening pages and throughout the story, it was inspiring watching her overcome obstacles and work on herself. The story leaves you convinced the climb is worth the view — and that what’s meant to be will be.

My only real complaint is that there were times I found myself frustrated with Greta’s father and his stubbornness in supporting her career. I’m a firm believer in doing what makes you happy; as a parent, I would think that even if you don’t *agree* with it, you’d still support it. A couple times I felt Greta’s father was being a little too petty for a 70 year old man which (for me) challenged the authenticity a little.

Overall, I liked this book 😌. The ending felt just right and for that I’m happy! And now I want to go on an Alaskan cruise so there’s that. 🚢✨

3.5🌟

What a splendid novel! This is my first by Jennifer E. Smith, but surely won't be my last. The Unsinkable Greta James is easy to read. I wanted to know more about Ben and Greta and their lives before they met. Of course their chemistry is electric. Secondary characters are well-crafted and complex. I liked them all immediately. Something significant for me in this novel is the characters' collective grief. Its raw and almost palpable. The dialog is witty and clever, but also poignant. There are several passages that moved me to tears, perhaps because I lost a loved one recently.
If you like entertaining, thoughtful prose in an easy-to-read style with excellent pacing and delightful characters, then I highly recommend The Unsinkable Greta James.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

It was a slow burn. But overall, the pace was decent for me. I think it was the characters themselves that kept me reading. This book covers a lot of emotional topics with grief. I found myself shedding a tear or two at the end of the novel.

I really enjoyed the characters. I am not sure about the romance arc within the novel. I just did not see sparks between them. If they had something in common, I may have bought the romance. I really did not see those two together. I also wish that it was less on the romance and more with her father. I would have really enjoyed some tense or even funny moments with her father more than a romance.

Speaking about Greta and her father’s relationship…I really enjoyed the dynamic relationship. Greta desperately seeking approval from her father really felt realistic and relatable. The novel showed how different Greta and her father were on grieving, career, relationships, etc.

I also liked the setting was on a cruise in Alaska. It was unique. I also liked how it was remote. It took the main character out of her busy life and onto a cruise ship where she was able to bond with her father and grief properly. I also liked the descriptions of the places that they saw along the way of the cruise.

I lost a parent as well. I know the feelings of you grieving but also worrying about a parent grieving. You not only have to worry about yourself but also your siblings and living parent. I think this novel was a realistic depiction of grief.

The writing was great. I really liked the writing and will be reading Jennifer E. Smith's other books.