Cute cover, terrible title were my very first impressions of this book. It's the story of Greta, who is a successful musician, has just lost her mother and has a strained relationship with her father, She takes her mother's place on a cruise her parents had already planned with friends of theirs. Situations ensue, most of which you can guess because this is a fairly predictable novel. It's a pleasant enough story, perfect for reading on vacation or at the beach. The writing was solid and I appreciated the realistic dialogue between the characters. Honestly though, nothing about this novel really stood out to me or made me want to keep reading and I would probably forget all about it except that I do tend to remember my NetGalley books. Thanks to Netgalley for providing. me with a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

A moving story about a woman coming to terms with the death of her mother and the possible loss of her abililty to perform music, one of her greatest loves. It is also the story about prickly family relationships and how love disguises itself in many forms.

Despite the dorky title, this novel was an easy, satisfying read. The plot was fairly predictable and the characters not particularly well-developed, but I quickly became invested in Greta and her father, and I enjoyed sailing along with them on their adventure (bad pun intended).

Greta James is an indie guitarist who is struggling with the loss of her mom. Although she and her father have a tense relationship, she agrees to go on an Alaskan cruise with her dad. This story is about their relationship, as well as the Professor she meets on the cruise.

This was a great read. The characters were all likable. Though the main character seems a little self centered. I liked the structure of the book which follows each day of the cruise.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

Wow. I was blown away by this book. I related to Greta, especially her relationship with her father. Her relationship with her mother was so sweet and loving. I really hated Ben though- his temper and flighty emotions were frustrating. I absolutely loved the end- things in Greta’s life have improved but aren’t perfect. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while!

Note: I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“The Unsinkable Greta James” was a charming read. While I did feel it was a bit young for me at 30 (oh my, am I outgrowing YA novels?!), I could still appreciate the story. It was about hard times and growth, and I think we can all relate to that.

The novel follows Greta, a rockstar who has recently suffered the loss of her mother, as she learns to adjust to her new normal. She joins her father for an Alaskan cruise, and over the course of their trip Greta starts the process of healing her relationship with her father as well as with her career. The interactions Greta had with her follow were difficult to read: They were two people in pain who didn’t know how to communicate with each other. Ultimately, they found a way to move past their differences and were able to lean on each other through the pain of their loss.

If you’re looking for a novel with meaning, “Greta” will deliver. Though the content is adult in nature (brief mentions of sexual activities), the writing came across as more young adult. Perhaps it was the main character being a famous rockstar that made it feel a little young for me. Still, I think the author managed to create a fairly realistic story that didn’t feel overly cheesy. I would recommend to others who are interested in novels about personal loss and growth.

Whew! I just finished this book and while I usually like to take a moment with my thoughts before typing out a review, I just couldn't wait to share my thoughts on this gem of a novel.

The story revolves around Greta, an indie-rock musician, just on the cusp of huge stardom, who recently lost her mother, her biggest fan and her rock. She now must face the world with out her, coming to terms with what it means for not only her and her career, but also her family, especially her father. So she does what many do in that situtation, she "runs away"...on an Alaskan cruise with her father that was meant to be her parent's 40th anniversary celebration.

This novel has it all - beautifully written, multi-dimensional characters, beautiful and descriptive scenery, multi-faceted love stories and a tale of redemption. I was captivated from start to finish and yet so completely satisfied when it ended even though I didn't want it to end.

Thank you so much to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for an advanced reader's copy of this amazing book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Greta James finds herself on a week long cruise with her recently widowed, estranged father The loss of her mother is till raw for both of them as her mother was the person who connected them when she was alive. In addition, Greta, a musician has just experienced a very public meltdown during a concert.
This is a story about relationships and how people navigate through the intricacies that are involved in healing them told with the backdrop of the Alaskan landscape.
I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t wait to see how Greta and all those she interacted with find their way to resolution.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. I loved this book! The story is so compelling and I was cheering on the flawed but likable main character, Greta James. This is the first book I have read by the author Jennifer E. Smith - cannot wait to read more! This book runs the reader through every emotion - I laughed and cried and enjoyed the interaction between the characters as they moved through exciting concerts to breathtaking Alaskan glaciers and whale-watching and beyond. I totally recommend this book to readers who enjoy an emotional roller coaster filled with sadness and joy.

A beautiful, quiet story of grief and learning how to move on after loss upon an Alaskan cruise. Heartfelt, emotional and riveting.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing this arc.

A poignant, emotional novel about an indie musician, the eponymous Greta James, trying to connect with her father after the sudden and devastating death of her mother. Greta hasn't performed since she had a meltdown onstage following her mother's death. This book takes place over a 7-day Alaska cruise that Greta takes with her father as the two try to find a relationship in the face of their shared grief and loss. Greta has a lovely onboard romance as well, but the father-daughter relationship is front and center. Smith does a really nice job with heavy emotions and left me with a feeling of hope and positivity. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books for this digital review copy.

I love cruising and an Alaskan cruise was my all time favorite, so I was excited to read this story. Greta James is a semi-famous rock musician who had a meltdown on stage after her mother unexpectedly dies. She ends up joining her emotionally distant father on a cruise to Alaska he was supposed to take with his wife for their anniversary. This is a chance for father and daughter to heal their relationship and themselves. It is a sweet story, more in line with a young adult novel than the adult novel I think the author was aiming for. Of course there is a love interest on the cruise in this somewhat formulaic story, but the Alaskan setting wins the day and helps to carry the story.
Thank you to Net Galley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book has such an interesting premise/timeline: being "stuck" on a ship (not a boat!) for a week with your emotionally distant father who was supposed to be there with your now-deceased mother. Though this book held my interest throughout, I did find that something was missing. I thought the characters' backstories were interesting and I could sympathize for them, but I realized after finishing the book that I didn't really "like" any of the characters. It wasn't necessarily that they were unlikeable, but I found that I didn't really get a sense of their personalities or that they were likeable human beings. I wasn't rooting for the "main couple" to become the "main couple" (though that might have been the author's intent), but I also wasn't a fan of either of them individually. The only character I feel I would have really liked was the mother, but we never really see her, just stories told by her loved ones in remembrance. I don't regret reading this book and may even recommend it to others, but it isn't one I would consider a must-read or life-changing.

Greta is a well known rock musician who’s dear mother recently passed away unexpectedly.
Consequentially, she has a breakdown on stage while preforming and has to take a step back from appearances for awhile.
She it’s up an Alaskan cruise with her father and some other friends and family.
It is a cruise her mother had planned to celebrate her wedding anniversary to Gretas father .
A week at sea with her distant and grieving father who never encouraged her musical career !
Much of the book is about her rocky relationship with her father but also there is an unexpected romance ,
Additionally Greta is getting ready for a come back appearance/performance end it is nerve-racking for her to anticipate this.
I really enjoyed this book is a great character development and some intriguing family dynamics.






#TheUnsinkableGretaJames #NetGalley

The Unsinkable Greta James
By Jennifer E. Smith

Another story about a strong-willed, ambitious woman, trying to find her place in the world. I loved it. Very easy reading, but yet suspenseful, interesting, and relatable. Greta James goes on a weeklong cruise with her father and discovers things about herself that she didn’t expect to uncover. Could an indie musician who is well known throughout the world, fall for a nerdy historian, who happens to be a father also? Come on—he doesn’t even know what Gov. Ball is!!

Unfortunately, Greta’s number one fan is not with her on this cruise to help her navigate the unchartered territories of the waters, while she is sailing through them. Her father who wouldn’t support her if she wanted to go to college to study music and who didn’t show up for her 6th-grade talent show-- is her companion on this Alaskan cruise. The cruise, which was planned by her mother for her parent’s 40th wedding anniversary, is also comprised of her parent's friends, providing some comfort for her father. Greta’s father’s actions show that he’s hurting deeply over the loss of his spouse and wishing she was at his side instead of his unpredictable daughter.

The novel depicts Greta’s adventures on the cruise and displays her relationships with her father, brother, business partners, and her new friend/love interest. She is truly troubled by her mother’s absence and the fact that she wasn’t there immediately before her mother died. She was playing in a concert in Berlin when her father called to let her know about her mom’s dire condition. She didn’t cancel the concert and rush home. Can her new love interest fill her voids, help her get over the loss of her mother, help her repair her relationship with her father? Read the story to find out.

Greta is a famous Indie musician who is at a music festival in Germany when her mother, her biggest fan and supporter, suddenly dies of a brain hemorrhage. Greta's parents and two other couples had an Alaska cruise planned to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Greta who has a difficult relationship with her father is convinced to join them all on this week long cruise. This character driven novel explores the feelings and thoughts surrounding the loss of Greta's mom, difficult family relationships, following your dreams versus taking the safe road, all with the beautiful Alaskan wildlife as the setting.

What a wonderful story! Greta gets roped into going on an Alaskan cruise with her father after the death of her mother. He’s very conventional and Greta is an indie rock star, so without her mom as a buffer, the two struggle to see eye to eye. Meanwhile, she meets Ben on the ship during his lecture about Jack London. This book has a lot of heart, and the struggle of communication is very relatable. Would definitely recommend.

Beautifully written, this is a story about Greta James after she pauses for a week from a life as a rock star at 36 years old searching for love.

Her mother, Helen, has just died leaving her with regrets as she wasn't there at the end. Her brother, Asher, convinces her to go on an Alaskan cruise with her father, Conrad, that she is not close to - just so he is not alone. Greta reluctantly agrees only to find her world twisted around as she meets an attractive newly separated man, Ben, on the ship. Her past relationships have drifted away and she feels alone. "Just bobbling around in the middle of the water. There's something lonely about it."

The characters are well defined. The father is distant and sad from losing his wife. This was supposed to be their anniversary trip. He studies Greta "like she's a math problem he can't quite figure out." His friends on the cruise are what everyone wishes for with their support.

She is in the middle of the ocean and tries to make sense of her life with her new friend, Ben, a professor, author and admirer of Jack London in "Call of the Wild." He told Greta, "My life would quite literally be completely different if I hadn't found my way to that book." He says "writing is lonely" and tells Greta that she is fortunate that she has always known that her career is with music. Yet, she ponders why it's been so important to make her father proud and finds herself struggling to get there.

Many of us get stuck in life and look at our relationships we had with our parents. Ben told Greta that her mom was her translator with her dad. As a reader, I knew exactly what that meant. The book is packed with words that may or may not resonate with each reader. I just smiled when I read, "Everything in Alaska feels like the middle of nowhere." That's exactly how I felt when I was 19 years old when I stayed with my sister in Fairbanks to get away one summer. The story had an easy-reading plot with a woman trying to find herself. It's sad and happy at times with good characterization. It really makes one think about where they are in life. I didn't want the story to end.

My thanks to Jennifer E. Smith, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book with an expected release date of March 1, 2022.

(PUB 3.1.22) Thank you to @randomhouse for early access to THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES. I have read and enjoyed 4 of Jennifer E. Smith's YA books and was excited to dig into her contemporary/women's fiction debut. 

Greta James is an indie rockstar/guitarist who is recovering from a very public breakdown on stage in response to the sudden loss of her mother. She finds herself on a 7-day Alaskan cruise with someone who she has a tenuous and strained relationship with, her Dad. It's a story about grief, love, forgiveness, second chances. This book is well-written and compulsively readable. I loved how Smith constructed the relationships between the characters. I could feel their trepidation and believed their struggle.  But I could also feel the emotional tenderness that happens when you realize the only way to process grief is to go through it. 

BONUS:
A sweet secondary romance
This cover. Gorgeous! 
Armchair travel to Alaska.
Humor & levity provided by side characters.

Ohhh my heart! This book took me through all the emotions. Heartbreak, healing, and somewhere in between. I haven't read a ton of book with a cruise setting so I was initially intrigued by this. Have your heart ready but I would recommend picking this up when it feels like the right time! Thanks for letting me read early!