What a lovely, heartfelt book. I loved the characters and the setting and moments of humor. Reminds me of Where'd You Go Bernadette. Jennifer Smith is a talented writer.

The main protagonist, Greta, is an indie rock musician, but this is not a rock star book. Instead, it is a quiet story about a grieving father and daughter who are navigating grief and a fraught relationship without their wife/mom and family compass. They do this on a week-long Alaskan cruise that was to be her parents 40th anniversary trip. Greta must also find a way back to her music after she experienced a breakdown on stage while performing right after her mother's death. On the ship, she encounters a guest lecturer, Ben Wilder, who is also struggling with his own family and career issues. Ben provides perspective and a love interest for Greta as she learns how to move forward in her life, rebuilding her relationship with her father and her career, without her mother. I have mixed feelings about the Ben storyline, but won't elaborate as to not want to give any spoilers.

I found Jennifer E. Smith's treatment of grief realistic. I appreciated that she didn't gloss over the difficulties in repairing old hurts and moving forward in a new landscape. There was a sense of hopefulness and real healing in this book.

3 stars. Thank you to #NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my advanced reader copy.

This is a terrific book. Greta James is a rising indie rock star. When her mother unexpectedly passes away, Greta breaks down during a public performance and the video goes viral. Greta's confidence is shaken, and she is not sure what it means for the viability of her career. A few mothers later, Greta's father, Conrad, is about to embark on the Alaskan cruise that he and Greta's mom had planned to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Prompted by her brother, Greta reluctantly agrees to accompany her dad on the cruise, even though she and her dad have long had a difficult relationship. In the week they spend together on the cruise, Greta and Conrad must see if they can move pass the difficulties that have defined their relationship for the last several years and forge a new connection now that her mom is not available to mediate. Greta also must face how she wants to approach both her career, in the wake of her public embarrassment, and her personal life -- especially after meeting Ben Wilder, a college professor on the cruise to lecture about his recent book.

This was a highly engaging and often emotional read. Greta is a terrific and fully realized character, and the book is one of the best portrayals of living with grief that I have read. The relationships between Greta and her dad, Greta and Ben, and Greta and herself are well crafted. And the author does a great job of making you feel that you are with Greta, Conrad, and Ben in Alaska.

Highly recommended!

The Unsinkable Greta James was an easy, quick read about a woman going on an Alaskan cruise with her father after the death of her mother. Greta and Conrad (her father) have a complicated relationship and this book addresses that tense relationship while the two of them are stuck in a forced proximity situation over the course of the story.

I think this book had a whole lot of potential, though I don't think it was totally fulfilled. It lacked the emotional punch I've felt with other books about strained relationships between parents and their children. Because Greta and Conrad are both so stubborn and so afraid to address their issues head on, it felt like it lacked a lot of emotional depth, and as a reader, I felt like I never got a satisfying explanation for why their relationship was so strained to begin with (to be clear, an explanation was given, but in my opinion it was extremely weak and didn't explain or justify the way Conrad treated Greta growing up). Because the whole book was based around this relationship, I think more attention should've been given to it. There was a romance plotline in this book as well, and while it definitely added something to the story, I wonder if too much focus was given to that plotline, and not enough to the father-daughter relationship. It almost felt as if the book didn't know if it wanted to be a family drama or a light romance, so it tried to be both. The romance was somewhat sweet but also fairly unbelievable.

I didn't think it was a bad book, but if you're looking for a poignant, moving book about the relationship between a father and a daughter, I would say to keep looking. If you're instead looking for a light family drama with a beautiful Alaskan backdrop, then you will likely enjoy this.


Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for the advance e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Unsinkable Greta James is a contemporary, character-driven novel about musician Greta James who is trying to make peace with her mother's sudden death. This is a sentimental story about grief, family, and identity.

I absolutely loved how realistic Greta's story was, how she handled grief, re-kindled her relationship with her father, and found herself again. I loved how the story left off, with hopeful yet open-ended ending!

The romance was a bit of a miss for me, and I struggled to connect with them - ultimately I just felt like the chemistry was missing between them (& struggled with how quickly they fell for each other). I also struggled to understand her father, and how he was so against her career choices.

I liked this one, but didn't love it! It definitely lagged through the middle but made up for it by the end.

Jennifer E. Smith's THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES is that rarest of novels that takes you to a place you've never been with characters who are as different from anything you know as possible -- and makes it an epic, heartfelt, transformational adventure. Greta might have been expecting an unbearable horror show when she agreed to accompany her crotchety father on the Alaskan cruise he and her mother dreamed of taking. Helen's untimely death puts estranged father and rock star daughter on a trip they never could have anticipated -- powerful, lightly wrought, and well-written story that kept me up way too late reading. I received an advance reader copy and these opinions are my unbiased opinions.

Indie rock star Greta James is reeling from the unexpected loss of her mother when she agrees to join her father on the anniversary cruise her parents had planned together. The trip is far from idyllic. Without Greta's mother to keep the peace, father and daughter are sure to re-open old wounds. On the run from her last embarrassing performance, Greta is desperate to prove to her father, and herself, that she still has what it takes to succeed as a musician.

Against the backdrop of an Alaskan cruise, The Unsinkable Greta James explores familiar themes in grief, complicated family relationships, and the cost of chasing your dreams. Greta finds solace in quiet, conventional Ben Wilder, a historian trying to figure out his own life. While I had mixed feelings about Greta, I loved the fresh air and dad jokes that Ben brought to the story.

The Unsinkable Greta James didn’t necessarily bring new perspectives to the themes it explores, but I still enjoyed it. This one would be an excellent book club option, and has enough mass appeal to become one of the more popular new releases of this year. And yes, I cried.

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I stayed up way too late reading my advanced copy of The Unsinkable Greta James. You know when you’re so invested in a story you can’t put it down. This time I was taken to Alaska with an indie musician reeling from tragedy and a public breakdown who reconnects with her father on a weeklong cruise. It will be released this Tuesday, March 1. If you’re looking for a story that’s funny and warm-hearted and thoughtful where you connect with the characters, I highly recommend it.

For anyone who thinks they are going to find another rock n roll drama, this isn't that book. What this book offers, however, is a great story of a woman who is looking at her life and facing her own internal dilemmas. The famous musician part plays backseat to her relationships with her family and her struggle to find herself and her place. The story is well written, quirky, and just enough drama to keep the reader engaged. The characters themselves vary in how well developed they are. I thought some could have been better revealed and that the author left some parts of the story on the cutting room floor (so to speak) that I might have liked to have remained in the story. End result is a book that is like a nice vacation from the stressful world without the sea sickness.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I received an ARC via NetGalley but I’m definitely still adding it into my March BOTM box. The premise was so refreshing, the layering of the story and portrayal of grief were perfectly executed. The setting was unique and vivid. My most prominent thought while reading this book was just how vividly I could picture every scene… it would be incredible in a movie format.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you NetGalley, Jennifer E. Smith, and Ballantine books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an ARC of this novel!

I ended up enjoying this novel more than I expected, especially since I struggled to get into it at first. Once I started enjoying it, I stayed up way too late finishing it.

Great is still coping with the unexpected passing of her mother, which caused her to have a breakdown. Greta's mom and dad planned an Alaskan Cruise for their anniversary, but with her mom's passing, Greta is now the one joining her dad on the cruise, along with couple friends of her parents.

The cruise sees Greta grow more in her relationship with her dad and come to some better terms with her mom's unexpected death. Also, I felt she grew in other ways too, but I don't want to spoil anything.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the premise of this book and flew through it in no time! I can't wait to read more from Jennifer Smith!

The Unsinkable Greta James is the first adult novel written by Jennifer E. Smith, who is known for her YA books. There are so many reasons to love this book. It's about overcoming grief and loss of a relationship, losing a parent, starting over, and the scenery a magnificent cruise through Alaska. Greta James loses her mother suddenly and has a complicated relationship with her Dad. Can they find a way to connect? The message is one step at a time to rebuild difficult relationships, move forward with grief and to start anew. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Another book I absolutely loved and I shed real tears while reading it. I HIGHLY recommend The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith. This one just really hit me!

Greta and her mom were always super close, Greta and her dad… not so much. But when Greta’s mom dies and she takes her place to go on a cruise with her father, it’s an opportunity for her to bond with her dad instead of butting heads like they usually do. Of course, nothing is ever easy, especially with resentments and hurt feelings bubbling under the surface.

Having been on an Alaskan cruise, I could imagine everything the author describes. I loved all the details of Alaska! Everyone needs to go at least once. And everyone needs to read this lovely book!

SYNOPSIS:

Right after the sudden death of her mother—her first and most devoted fan—and just before the launch of her high-stakes sophomore album, Greta James falls apart on stage. The footage quickly goes viral and she stops playing, her career suddenly in jeopardy—the kind of jeopardy her father, Conrad, has always predicted; the kind he warned her about when he urged her to make more practical choices with her life.

Months later, Greta—still heartbroken and very much adrift—reluctantly agrees to accompany Conrad on the Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their fortieth anniversary. It could be their last chance to heal old wounds in the wake of shared loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, and for Ben Wilder, a charming historian, onboard to lecture about The Call of the Wild, who is struggling with a major upheaval in his own life. As Greta works to build back her confidence and Ben confronts an uncertain future, they find themselves drawn to and relying on each other.

It’s here in this unlikeliest of places—at sea, far from the packed city venues where she usually plays and surrounded by the stunning scenery of Alaska—Greta will finally confront the choices she’s made, the heartbreak she’s suffered, and the family hurts that run deep. In the end, she’ll have to decide what her path forward might look like—and how to find her voice again.

Thanks Ballantine Books for the NetGalley ARC - I love this gorgeous cover!

Pub date: 3/1/22 (so soon!), also rumored to be a #BOTM pick for March
In one sentence: Indie musician Greta is still reeling from her mother's death when she agrees to join her father on the Alaskan cruise her mom always dreamed of taking.

I really love books about family relationships, especially when you can see characters grow and change over the course of the book. Greta's been through a lot - the death of her mom, an uncomfortable relationship with her dad, a bad breakup, and a semi-public breakdown. I loved seeing her start to heal and come to terms with her new reality. There's a romantic element to the story (isn't there always?) but I loved that it was just a part of her experience, not the whole thing. The musical aspect of the story reminded me a lot of Songs in Ursa Major and Heard It In A Love Song, two of my recent musical favorites.

Bonus: the Alaskan cruise setting was perfect! I've always wanted to go to Alaska, so it was great to take an armchair trip. Don't hesitate to pick this one up!

Your license expired before I could even read it and it’s not even published yet. So bummed. I was very excited to read this and it’s the second time I’ve tried to time reading an arc close to the pub date and it’s been removed from my shelf before I could even start it.

This book surprised me! It was much deeper and more interesting than I originally expected. It's not a clean or neat story in a lot of ways - the characters are all quite flawed but very relatable, especially when they do things you might not agree with. It kept me reading, though, and I actually really liked the ending. It may certainly make you question some of your own relationships.

The Unsinkable Greta James is a poignant and bittersweet story of loss, family, relationships, and hope.

Greta James, a successful musician, decides to join her dad on an Alaskan cruise originally planned by her deceased mother. Both together and separately, Greta and her dad confront their pain, guilt, and life choices.

Although heartfelt and moving at times, I didn’t find myself as invested or engaged in the characters or story as I’d hope to be. I kept wanting to hear Greta's point of view and think that different perspectives from the other characters may have added a bit more depth as well. I did really enjoyed the Alaskan imagery, it was well written and made me want to travel. I also really liked the ending, it was very moving and hopeful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballentine for the ARC to read and review. The Unsinkable Greta James publishes 3/1/22.

Greta is navigating the loss of a parent, a less than ideal relationship with her dad, a mishap in her rock n' roll career and an unexpected love interest. All on a cruise ship.. And I'm here for it! It sounds like it would be too much but it really wasn't. It provided some added interest and didn't detract from the narrative.

First of all, I loved that it was set on an Alaskan cruise! A cruise ship is such an unusual setting with so many little niches to explore. Also, I've been on an Alaskan cruise so it felt very familiar. Alaska has always captivated me (hence the cruise) and Smith was able to portray how such a majestic setting evokes a powerful emotional reaction.

Greta felt a little detached to start but that was the beauty of the book; getting to experience her journey of letting herself be vulnerable and opening up to those around her. I absolutely loved reading about her relationships with her mother and father and their evolution. Even as a 30-something woman, those relationships are what make us tick. By the end, I was feeling all the feels for her and her dad.

A solid read that turned out more emotional and heartfelt than I expected!

Thank you to @netgalley, @ballantinebooks and @jennifersmith for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

A beautifully written story about dreams and relationships.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.