I really liked this book! The plot was different than other books I have read. Greta James, rockstar, goes on an Alaskan cruise with her dad after her mom dies. It is about self-discovery, family relationships and more! I highly recommend this, and I'm grateful for NetGalley for the sneak peek. This book will be released March 1, 2022. 5/5 stars

The Unsinkable Greta James, by Jennifer E. Smith, is a beautifully written story of love and loss. Love of family and love of self after a period of grief and sadness are at the center of this wonderful tale. Our protagonist, Greta James, feels lost after the death of her mother, and even more so with the realization that she and her father have drifted apart. A weeklong cruise to Alaska helps heal their relationship, heal their broken hearts and heal their family. Kudos to Ms. Smith for creating a story and characters who are likable, interesting and real.

I so enjoyed this book!! Great setting (an Alaskan cruise), great characters (an indie star, a Jack London aficionado), and a beautiful story about loss, grief, and family. I would highly recommend this book if you want a fun, semi-light read! I now need to go plan my Alaskan cruise! Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

When a rock star musician who has a strained relationship with her father agrees to go on a week long cruise, she discovers what family is really all about. The story arc of this book was somewhat predictable but it was still a cozy read about love, loss, grief, and family. I like how romance was in the book but that it was never the main focus. Instead, it’s about a woman who tries to navigate a season of life she never thought she’d be in. I liked the overall tone of the book, but I never felt incredibly connected with Greta and the flashbacks felt a little messy at times. Overall, it was still a good read and I’m still loving this gorgeous cover!

Indie rockstar Greta James goes on an Alaskan cruise with her dad in her mom's place. It was supposed to be an anniversary trip for her parents, but after their mom's death, Greta gets talked into going on the trip by her brother. Greta and her dad have a difficult relationship, and her mom often played the peacemaker between them. The grief Greta and her father are going through felt real to me. I liked Greta and was rooting for her to find some peace and happiness. I really enjoyed this story! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for a chance to read this ARC.

What a heartfelt and beautiful story. I loved every minute of it. It will take you through a while range of emotions, but it never feels heavy. At its heart it love and hope. The main character is someone you can identify with and root for.

I enjoyed this book, though I do question how often the author has ever sailing on a cruise. It was an easy summer read that I enjoyed while I was on a Caribbean cruise. I liked that the book wasn't solely a romance novel but dealt with the complexities of family dynamics. Having lost my mom a few years ago and then my dad more recently, I could emphasize with the story and interactions between father and daughter.

I can not say enough good things about this book. It was more than a gem, it was the whole treasure. I loved Greta, and I totally understood her strained family relationships. It was also such a good depiction of how grief can make you question your priorities and totally uproot your life. It had just enough romance, and it makes me want to visit Alaska immediately. This book was a definite five star read!

This book chronicles a slice of fictitious, female guitarist Greta Jones' life. It has some family drama, romance, and is a tale of a young woman trying to find her balance after the death of her mother and trying to find a way forward in her relationship with her father. It is relatively light-hearted. Easy read. Some fun moments. Some drama. Some heavy moments. All in all an enjoyable read.

Thank you Ballantine (an imprint from Random House) and NetGalley for the chance to review The Unsinkable Greta James.

I was so very moved by Jennifer E Smith's The Unsinkable Greta James. A story of an artist forced to consider, and perhaps reconcile her identities as a daughter, musician, and sibling while facing the grief she feels, and her father feels, after her mother passes away unexpectedly. What could have been a more typical story of romance/redemption after loss because so much more elegant, gentle, and moving with Ms. Smith's writing and clear care for the topics and characters she was writing about. Though expected references to Daisy Jones and the Six, and The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, may be present as this book is promoted, I was more reminded of Bernadette in Where'd you Go Bernadette in terms of the mixing of artistic genius and redemption following a crisis woven into the experience of sharing art/architecture (here Greta's breakdown while performing when learning of her mother's passing; Bernadette losing her beloved house and architectural statement of her genius). I loved how this book wove in how music was inextricably linked to her relationship with her parents, to her grief, and was possibly also a way to find her way through her grief. I was also reminded of Songs in Ursa Major and The People We Keep, both books I loved this year, due to the connection to music, song writing, and journeys of self understanding and personal growth through music and the idea of music being a form of connection and self expression for women.

This gently moving book, though tinged with sadness, is also a testament to strong women and finding meaning and connection and was for me a fast read, a book I read in one day in fact as I was so engaged with the writing and Greta's story. I look forward to sharing this with my friends who love books about music (a genre I just realized I LOVE) and stories of self growth and coming of age themes; I think this will be a popular book among book clubs as well as there are so many themes and topics worth talking about.

I will share my genuine appreciation for this book and Jennifer E. Smith's strong adult fiction debut in several places, tagging Ms. Smith, Ballantine Random House, in the coming weeks.
where to find my review around publication date:
https://www.dont-stop-reading.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pageus_of_books/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/131395833-meghan-pageus
amazon
B&N
https://twitter.com/PageUs_Meghan
and this one will be listed on some of my lists as a bookshop.org affiliate

After her breakdown on stage, Indie musician Greta loses confidence and stops performing, which puts her career in jeopardy. Her breakdown came after learning about the death of her number one fan, her mother. Her father thinks being a musician isn’t a worthy trade and the two seem to have nothing in common anymore. At the urging of her brother, Greta reluctantly agrees to go on an Alaskan cruise with her father. The cruise was supposed to be her parent’s anniversary cruise.

While on the cruise ship Greta meets Ben, a historian on board to give a lecture. Ben has his own problems, but the two grow close and spend a lot of time together, until a family emergency calls Ben home earlier than planned.

Relations with her father during the first few days of the cruise don’t go well, but eventually the two begin to talk. A story of loss, heartache, healing, and understanding.

I was given an advance copy by NetGalley and the publisher. This review is my honest opinion.

You guys, this book is so good! Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Jennifer E. Smith for allowing me to be a first reader of this remarkably, enjoyable book!

First and foremost…I LOVE the name, Greta James! Doesn’t it just sound like a rock star?

Greta James is a up and coming rock star who just lost her best friend. Her mom, and biggest fan, just died of a brain aneurism. Greta tried to go back to work, but during a concert had a break down that left fans and business label (?) wondering if she can come back.

Her father is suffering as well. He and his wife were planning an Alaskan cruise for their 40th anniversary. They were going to travel with two other couples who are their best friends. With sadness he decides he will still go…


Asher (another name I love), Greta’s older brother and one she considers ‘the favorite’, wants HER to take a break and go with her father on this cruise,“He shouldn’t be alone” he tells Greta. The problem with that is, Greta and her father don’t get along. There is a lot of baggage with their relationship that needs to be unpacked. Asher, in his thoughts, think that this would be an ideal way for that to happen.

I loved this story for many reasons. First, the characters were so relatable! I felt like I was enjoying each relationship from the outside looking in! Second, I felt like I was on this cruise as well! I’ve been on cruises, and truly enjoyed them! However, my husband and I have always talked about taking an Alaskan cruise and this just solidified my desire!

This is a story for anyone who has lost a loved one and gained another in the process. It was heartfelt and sincere. A great reminder to do what you love, love who you have in your life and take risks! YOLO?!?! (There was a little bit of a love story thrown in, which I'm not a romance reader, but it worked!!)

I’ll be reading more of your books Jennifer E. Smith…you’ve created a fan!

This was a great book! Well-written and original! Greta James is an indie rock star, who is reeling from the sudden loss of her mother. She is pushed into an Alaskan cruise with her stoic father. You'll have to read the book to see how Greta and her dad fare in the wilderness. This terrific novel will be out in March 2022.

Although I usually am not interested in books about musicians, I do like cruises, and the premise of this book appealed to me. I'm glad I took a chance on it and was able to read an advance copy of this book. The book turned out to be much more substantial than typical "chick lit". Much of the book was about family relationships,, grieving, and revisiting past romantic relationships. The shipboard romance lightened up the heavier topics, but even that was more complex than usual. The author did a great job with bringing her characters to life, and I liked the ambience of the cruise ship and the Alaskan experience. There were some very touching emotional moments in the book which were almost poetic. I'm very glad I read this book and highly recommend it.

I loved this story. It was heartbreaking but enjoyable and had such a sense of adventure while also delivering self discovery. I really enjoyed this one and will definitely be recommending it!

After losing her mother suddenly, singer Greta James has a breakdown on stage and decides to take a break from the fame. She is pushed to go on an Alaskan cruise with her father (who she does not get along with) and some family friends. Greta James will learn a lot about herself and perhaps meet a partner along the way. I enjoyed this book, but I do feel it dragged though and at times I was bored. Not my favorite, but I would recommend.

Full disclosure- Jennifer E. Smith is one of my favorite YA authors, so when I realized this was adult, I was VERY disappointed. Only to realize I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!
What a great book by a talented writer. The story follows Greta James, lost in the grief of losing her mother unexpectedly, agrees to go on an Alaskan cruise with her father at the last minute. Greta, finally making headway in her music career, has never seen eye-to-eye with her dad, and this seems likes a huge mistake. But being trapped on a boat makes her face her issues with her dad, and herself, once an for all.
LOVED IT!

4.5 stars

What a delight this book was!

I wasn't sure what to expect from it but the premise intrigued me so I dove in and quickly found it hard to put down. I came to love all of the characters in their own right - even the smaller ones. This author did a wonderful job creating real-feeling people in this novel.

It also makes me want to take an Alaskan cruise tomorrow!

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys an easy story with a bit of grit and who understands the pain of losing a close loved one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I'm between 3.5 and 4 on this one. Greta goes on an Alaska cruise with her dad after her mom passes away unexpectedly. It was supposed to be a dream-come-true anniversary trip for her parents. Greta goes with her dad who she has never gotten along with. Greta meets a guy on the ship--they help each other work through some personal issues. There was just enough family drama and romance to keep me interested throughout.

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Thirty-six year old Greta James is an indie musician who is forced to go on an Alaskan Cruise with her father and a group of her parents’ friends .This trip was meant to be an anniversary trip for her late mother - a trip that her mother had been planning for a long time. Her mother’s sudden death three months ago came as a shock to everyone who knew her and both Greta and her father remain submerged in their own grief . Greta’s relationship with her father is strained and has been so ever since as a teenager she felt that her father disapproved of her life and career choices. While her mother Helen was a constant source of support , her father chose to remain on the sidelines. But now forced together on an eight day cruise they are made to confront their grief and address the cracks in their own relationship. Greta’s professional life has also suffered a setback on account of her having an emotional breakdown onstage during her last performance seven days after her mother’s death which has been splashed all over the media. Greta’s next performance is days away and she has a lot to figure out in order to move forward . This unplanned trip gives Greta the time and opportunity for soul searching and introspection and possibly mending her relationship with her father through new shared experiences and communication. She also meets Ben ,a scholarly professor separated from his wife and the father of two young daughters , traveling alone while discussing his latest book .Her interactions with him are sweet and romantic with conversations that are heartfelt and profoundly insightful that allow Greta moments of pause and reflection. Very impressive writing by the author in these parts.
The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E Smith is a moving story of dealing with grief, family bonding and hope. The author describes the emotions of the main characters and the dynamics of the parent-child relationship with quiet dignity and eloquence. The vivid descriptions of the natural beauty of Alaska and the Glacier Bay make for a breathtaking backdrop to this lovely story. I did find some parts a bit repetitive and pacing a bit too slow at times.But overall it is a well written and engaging read .
Thanks to Random House-Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review.