Greta James is a successful indie musician, having spent her whole childhood playing guitar and dreaming of doing something exciting for a living. But her world is turned upside when her first and biggest fan, her mother, suddenly dies. Following this tragedy, and a public meltdown as a result of it, she reluctantly agrees to go with her father on an Alaskan cruise that her parents had booked for their anniversary. Can they repair their relationship after years of distance and disagreement? Can Great find her confidence, maybe even love, on this voyage?

Fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid will enjoy this funny, heartfelt novel. This book deals with themes that I think resonate with a LOT of readers - dealing with grief after the loss of a loved one, wanting to see eye-to-eye with the important people in your life, questioning and rediscovering parts of your identity after a setback. Greta James is a flawed but lovable character, and I appreciated having access to her inner world over the course of this book.

I found myself not wanting to put this book down, looking forward to picking it up again. Ben Wilder, the professor that Greta meets on the cruise, is one of my favorite book boyfriends I’ve ever read. The secondary characters were all so vividly crafted with distinct personalities. The author does a good job balancing the heavier parts of the book with humor and levity. Overall, I loved it!

Who wouldn’t want to go on an Alaskan cruise with indie rock star Greta James and her cantankerous father? THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES by Jennifer E. Smith was a fun read by a new author to me. Whenever I had to put the book down, I couldn't wait to get back to it.
Greta’s career is on shaky ground after a break-down on stage and the video went viral. Greta’s mother had just died, and Greta had ended a lengthy relationship. She needs time out of the spotlight to regroup.
This cruise was her mother’s dream, booked as a fortieth wedding anniversary. Since she died before she got to go, Greta is going - to help her father through it. The problem: they have a rocky father/daughter relationship. While on the cruise, Greta is attracted to Ben, an author hired to lecture on Jack London. They begin an uncertain relationship.
THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES is a story of how small actions of many people impact us, helping us through tough changes in our lives, and how time can change our understanding of other people’s perspectives. Enjoyable read!
I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

OOOOOF this book left me in all the feels! Greta has been coerced by her brother into going on an alaskan cruise with her dad and his friends after her mom's passing. They don't get along and are both grieving the loss of this force of their family. But Greta isn't just grieving the loss of her mother, but also a fork in the rode of her music career. After one particularly bad night, Greta has not gone back on stage since her mother died. Set to return to the stage, Greta has to make it work or come to terms that her time as a rockstar might be over.

This was such a heartfelt book. I definitely cried a few times thinking about Greta's relationship with her mother. I loved Ben and his side story with Greta. I also enjoyed the ride of Greta and her dad's relationship. It was not an easy time between them and felt so realistic. The alskan background of the book is wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I loved this. Heavy and light, fleeting, a glimpse into these lives with an interesting backdrop. I wish it went on forever.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC

Greta's life is in turmoil after the death of her beloved mom, a break-up, and an onstage breakdown that goes viral. She embarks on a cruise with her dad, with whom she has a tenuous relationship. We follow along as family and career drama play out. A light, but enjoyable read. This reminds me of the YA books Jennifer E. Smith is known for; her fans will be rooting for Greta James.

Thank you to Random House-Ballantine and Netgalley for this ARC.

The Unsinkable Greta James has far more depth than one would guess at first look. A beautiful story of loss, love, relationships, and self. You join Greta as she is near what some would call rock bottom, as she goes on a cruise with her father, a man she isn't that close to. She is there to support him in what is probably the hardest time of his life, but she is also there to run away from her own hard times. An infectious story that keeps you wanting to turn more pages and has you rooting for the characters with each paragraph. Greta James thinks she is an iceberg but as everyone knows time can change even the biggest of icebergs.

Greta James is a fairly successful indie rocker grappling with her mother’s unexpected death. When her brother asks her to accompany their father on an Alaskan cruise that their mother and father were supposed to take together as a 40th anniversary present, Greta is hesitant. Greta’s mother had always been the buffer between the two and it’s clear to Greta that her dad does not approve of her lifestyle. Coming to terms with the fact that her mother would want her to go, Greta agrees to the trip.

While onboard, Greta meets an author and guest lecturer, Ben, who is dealing with his own family drama. As Greta bonds with Ben, they both begin to think about what their futures hold, not just when it comes to relationships, but their careers as well. Even more importantly, the more time Greta spends with her dad, the more she comes to understand why their relationship has been so prickly.

Kudos to Jennifer E. Smith for both painting a vivid picture of an Alaskan cruise and for showcasing truly complicated family relationships. Although this novel takes place over the course of a week, I found the pacing a little slow at first. The ending made this book for me and although it wasn’t a “perfect ending”, I really thought it was well done. Thank you to Random House-Ballantine and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

Thanks to Ballantine for the free book.
I absolutely adored this book. Greta's mom passed away before she could take her Alaskan cruise with her husband for their fortieth anniversary, so Greta goes with her dad instead. While this sounds fun, Greta and her dad's relationship is strained. I loved how Smith explored the idea of an adult daughter and father being forced together to try and work on their issues. There are deep hurts here that are explored with vulnerability. She didn't make the conflict in this book resolve effortlessly, and I appreciated how realistic this relationship was. I was filled with emotion for these characters. She wrote them as actual people with complex feelings, and it was easy to get lost in the story because of the realness. It was a beautiful story of loss, love, complications, honesty, and uncertainty.

Thank you so much netgallery and Jennifer Smith for this ARC!

4.5 Stars!!! Probably my favorite book from netgallery so far. A beautiful story about conquering grief and rebuilding relationships and just how life keeps moving forward. It was such an easy read and it reminded me of a hallmark movie in the way that it was heart-warming. Greta James is so likable and down to earth despite her "rockstar" status, you can't help but root for her. It was a fun juxtaposition coming from reading Daisy Jones and the six recently. I definitely recommend this book and can't wait to hear others thoughts on it once it comes out!

I did enjoy this book, but my goodness I was severely unprepared for the content of the book. That is to say, as someone who has lost their mother, this book was a bit triggering for me. I wasn't expecting to cry so much! That being said, it was a tender portrait of a broken family trying to stitch itself back together and a very real and sobering examination of how we as humans deal with grief. There were lots of moments of levity too, so don't be dissuaded by this review - merely take into consideration that if you've recently lost a loved you, it may be worthing taking time before reaching for this book.

I love books about families and their complex relationships and that’s what this book is about. It includes things that all families deal with - loss and siblings and family friends and love and heartache. I appreciated the idea of the setting and plot idea and think everyone will be able to relate to a part of it in some way. While I wished it would have dig a bit deeper and not rushed the events according to the setting, it made for a quick read with a satisfying ending. Great novel for a vacation read. Grateful to Ballantine for the advanced copy!

The Unsinkable Greta James is tender, heartwarming and very readable. Protagonist, Greta James is likable and a well written character. She spends a week with her father on a boat, er um ship (you'll need to read the book 😉) after the passing away of her mother. Her strained relationship with her dad and her career as an indie rock musician on the cusp of imploding, she isn't sure this is the vacation she should be taking, but ultimately it is just what she needed. Lighthearted, cast of great characters, with some emotional moments makes The Unsinkable Greta James a compulsive read. Highly recommend. Publication Date 3/1/2022

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review an advanced copy.

Coming to grips with a parent’s unexpected death, a rocky relationship with the remaining parent, a failed personal relationship, and a professional crisis all combine to make a one week Alaskan cruise a life changing event. The dynamic between father and daughter felt genuine as did the cruise ship setting and Alaskan scenery. This was a fun, quick-to-read novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Random House Publishing for the ARC to read and review.

I received a free electronic copy of this excellent novel from Netgalley, Jennifer E. Smith, and Ballantine Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am always happy to recommend Jennifer Smith to friends and family. She writes from the heart.

Greta James is an Indie singer who had a fast-growing career with much demand for concert dates when her biggest fan, her mother, passes away unexpectedly. Not having a good adult relationship with her father, she finds herself lost and clueless after a complete breakdown on stage shared by hundreds of thousands on the internet. Canceling concert dates and putting off the release of her second album only makes matters worse. Three months later she is still afloat, and her brother uses that uncertainty to talk her into making the 40th-anniversary trip celebrating her parent's marriage on an Alaskan cruise ship reserved months ago by her mother, a trip which included her Dad, two of her Mom's best friends and spouses, and now missing a hostess. Greta knows she can never fill her mother's shoes. She isn't even sure she can complete the eight-day cruise without completely alienating her father. But if she can do this, perhaps she can gain control of her life once more. Plus, you know, icebergs.

I loved everything about this book. I loved Greta, I loved her family/friends, I loved the trajectory of the novel, I loved the intensity of focusing the book on just a week in time, I loved the love interest/relationship, I cried at the end, this novel has it all. How is this my first time reading Jennifer E. Smith? Are her YA novels this excellent? Anyway. So much love for The Unsinkable Greta James. Perfection.

The Unsinkable Great James is a read in one day kind of book. I just couldn't stop reading. I loved Greta and the Alaskan cruise setting was so fun. That said, this definitely isn't a lighthearted book. There's a lot here and it even brought tears to my eyes, which doesn't happen often. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m not sure what I was expecting from The Unsinkable Greta James, but it was certainly not the very deep emotional story that I got. This is not a book to take lightly—this is a difficult and poignant story about repairing relationships and navigating grief and it is not a light read. There is a very sweet romance plot but this is definitely not a romance. I enjoyed this book, but I think it was more emotional than I was really prepared for. Not a bad thing, just means I need to pay more attention to the back cover! I think this will be a popular choice for book clubs and for folks who enjoy contemporary fiction that tugs at the heartstrings.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for an advance reader’s copy.

Enjoyed Smith's first attempt at an adult contemporary fiction. I think I would've preferred more focus on the family relationships/dynamics than the romantic relationships but it was enjoyable. 3/5 stars!

Greta James is a successful indie musician with her second album about to be released. Her biggest fan was her mother Helen, who would go to her concerts cheering her on. Her father Conrad, being a practical man, couldn’t find it in himself to encourage his talented daughter in a career he felt was too uncertain. When Helen unexpectedly passes away, Greta is crushed and puts her career on hold. She agrees to go with her father on a cruise to Alaska, which was to be a 40th wedding anniversary celebration for her parents. This trip could mean a chance for Greta to connect with her father, who also deeply mourns the loss of Helen. And perhaps the cruise could be a chance for Greta to heal and get back to what she loves, making music.

The Unsinkable Greta James tugs at the heart as it deals with loss, regret and the journey to forgiveness. I fully enjoyed author Jennifer E. Smith’s first adult novel, after writing many popular YA books. The family dynamics will probably be relatable for most people. The loss of a parent, in this case a wonderful mother, resonated so deeply that I found myself tearing up often. There’s some romance mixed in and some light moments. Greta is a very appealing character and all of the people in this book feel very real. The setting of an Alaskan cruise was well done – I’ve never had an interest in going there but this book might have changed my mind.

Rated 4.25 stars.

Links to online reviews to be added closer to publication date.

Book Review:
The Unsinkable Great James by Jennifer E. Smith

Lately I've found myself brawn to books with rockstar women (sometimes without even knowing it). Aside from their interesting stories, I love that these women are wild, they're fierce, they're confident, and they're bold.

Greta James is definitely all of these things, but she is also grieving the loss of her mom and feeling like she's lost herself. She reluctantly agrees to join her dad on a cruise to Alaska to both watch over him and try to patch things up.

There is a really cute romance sub-plot with a scruffy professor who is also a bit lost in life. But the main plot of Greta's relationship with her father is so great! I found it touching and easy to relate to, as many girls might, with a dad who is supportive of your dreams as a younger child but then shifts to unsupportive as dreams become reality. With Greta's mom gone it's make or break time for her and her dad.

So many possibilities and such a beautiful setting for new beginnings.

The Unsinkable Greta James releases March 1st!

Thank you @netgalley and #BallantineBooks for this ARC!

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