Thank you to Random House, Ballantine Books, and Netgalley for this advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

In Jennifer E. Smith's Adult novel Debut, you meet Greta James, an Indie rock artist who ends up going on a cruise with her dad shortly after the passing of her mom. Greta and her dad have had a rocky relationship for a while and dealing with their new loss and this trip to Alaska was something that her mother had planned and was looking forward to. On the trip, Greta meets Ben Wilder, a professor with a love of Jack London. On the cruise, Greta begins to evaluate her life currently and what she wants moving forward.

I read Jennifer E. Smiths YA books when I was growing up and I remember really enjoying them and this book did not disappoint. Smith's writing style really drew me into the story and made it impossible to put down. This book just felt so genuine and authentic and honestly, I wanted to be friends with a majority of the characters. I laughed, I cried, and I really wanted to go on a cruise to Alaska. While there was a romantic aspect of the story with Ben, the focus is mainly on Greta's relationship with her family as well as discovering who she is and wants to be after dealing with loss. While I wish there was a little bit more closer in the ending, but overall I really loved it.

I cannot wait to read this book again when it comes out in hard copy next March!

The Unsinkable Greta James
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ 4.5/5
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Genre: Literary Fiction/Women’s Fiction
Clean Read: Yes
Content Warning: Grief

Thoughts:

So many people can remember and still live the dream of getting out of their small town and making it “big”. Like the dreamers of the world, Greta wants to leave her mark and be remembered. As the story goes on, the reader learns how deeply she fears the mundane and craves the excitement of rock ‘n’ roll. Thanks to her incredible talent, she’s riding a shooting star to fame and building a career with that same talent, grit, and hard work. As her career starts to peak, she suddenly she loses her Mom and her life crashes in on her. She and her father who have been at odds for most of her life, are forced to spend a week together on a cruise.

We all have an experience that has made us so low that only the unconditional and unwavering love of of people who really KNOW you, can get you though the sorrow by wrapping you in comfort and love. I really enjoyed the familial relationships and how naturally written they are. The setting (gray Alaska/wild/unsure) is the perefect backdrop and metaphor for grief and a tumultuous life event. Your heart drops and emotion is at the surface after Greta and her father, Conrad, finally open up to each other in what seems to be the first real and honest conversation they've had in a very long time.

This is a story of redemption, forgiveness, and family. There is some romance added in but in an authentic and unassuming way. It never clouded the focus of the book being on Greta and her father, and I enjoyed it as a subplot so much that I wish there was a more definitive ending with Greta and Ben, and that’s the only reason I’m holding back the 1/2 star!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Publishing for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Summary: In Jennifer E. Smith’s debut adult novel, she introduces the reader to Greta James, a fiercely independent rockstar. In this novel, Greta takes a 7-day Alaskan cruise with her recently-widowed Dad. Both reeling from the loss of their beloved mother and wife, respectively, they embark on a trip that forces them to confront all that’s been left unsaid between them for the last few years. On the journey, Greta meets Ben Wilder, a nerdy Columbia professor, who makes her question what she really wants in her life, and a slew of other quirky characters who help her come to terms with her mom’s passing and challenge her to grow as a musician.

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I fell in love with this story the moment I started reading it. Not only was the plot fascinating, but the author’s writing style and flow was superb. I felt like I was another passenger on that boat (er, ship). She spent just the right amount of time setting up the story and playing out the details in between. The characters were well written. There was just enough detail about everyone for it not to be confusing for the reader. The timeline of the story was appreciated. The author moved between different timelines with ease and without perplexing the reader.

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really enjoyed seeing the characters grow through the course of the book, especially the main pairing between Conrad and Greta. The ending left me a bit unsatisfied, as I was hoping to have a clearer answer for the romance that unfolded on the ship, but I hope that it means a potential sequel is coming or that the author can give us a little bit more on “after-the-book.”

“There’s something uniquely awful about feeling lonely when you’re trapped on a ship and surrounded by this many people.”

I loved Greta, but I didn’t always like her. I think that’s okay. I don’t think she was meant to be the most likable character. I think she was meant to be flawed in her judgement and her capabilities to function as the perfect daughter or sister or aunt or girlfriend or musician. I think she was meant to be real, however long it took her to find out that her real emotions are completely valid. As a reader, I enjoyed reading her growth.

“I trust you with important things.”

Ben and Greta’s relationship felt a little unrealistic at times, but I almost think that was the beauty of the story. It is unrealistic to meet someone with a completely different lifestyle on a cruise ship to Alaska and expect that love story to seamlessly work out. If anything, Greta needed the stability that Ben provided on that ship to work her way through the precariousness of her life in the past few months. I only wish that he hadn’t been written out so hastily, added to the story only to serve as character growth for Greta.

Overall Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, Ballantine Books and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

A touching story about loss that takes place on a seven day cruise.

This is a very charming story about a 7 day cruise that became life changing for a bereaved family. Greta James is a rock star and composer who disintegrated after her mother died. Her brother pushed her to go on a long-planned cruise with her very difficult father. The short cruise allowed them to work through mourning together.

The author adds a sweet romance to the emotional mix, but keeps it real. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The author manages to combine romance and family drama in this novel.

I enjoyed it and recommend it to reading groups, it will lead to interesting discussions, especially for those of us with adult children.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Love love loved this book. As a Jennifer E Smith YA fan, I was excited for this adult debut, and from the beginning of this story I was captivated.

With similar vibes to that Netflix Kristen Bell movie Like Father, I loved following along as Greta discovers more about herself, her family, and relationships in general.

Highly recommend.

An indie musician reeling from tragedy and a public breakdown reconnects with her estranged father on a week-long cruise in this "pitch-perfect story about the ways we recover love in the strangest places" (Rebecca Serle) from bestselling author Jennifer E. Smith.


The Unsinkable Greta James is a moving and riveting read. From the time I began the book until I finished I wasn't able to put it down. Smith does a great job tackling some heartfelt issues in a lighthearted manner. Her prose reads beautifully and the character building she does pulls you into the story and invests you in the world of Greta. From the conflict with her father to the grief of the loss of her mother, her troubles with relationships, and her self-doubt in her talent and career, Greta James is a relatable character that you want to root for.