The Unsinkable Greta James: A Novel
Mar 2022 · Sold by Ballantine Books
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336
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About this ebook
An indie musician reeling from tragedy and a public breakdown reconnects with her father on a weeklong cruise in “a pitch-perfect story about the ways we recover love in the strangest places” (Rebecca Serle, bestselling author of In Five Years)
“The characters are drawn with a generosity that allows them to be wrong but also right, loving but also prone to missteps, and ultimately deserving of a resolution that’s full of hope.”—Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of Flying Solo
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: She Reads
Just after the death of her mother—her first and most devoted fan—and weeks 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.
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 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 the unlikeliest of places—at sea, far from the packed city venues where she usually plays and surrounded by the stunning Alaskan wilderness—that Greta will have to decide what her path forward might look like—and how to find her voice again.
“The characters are drawn with a generosity that allows them to be wrong but also right, loving but also prone to missteps, and ultimately deserving of a resolution that’s full of hope.”—Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of Flying Solo
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: She Reads
Just after the death of her mother—her first and most devoted fan—and weeks 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.
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 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 the unlikeliest of places—at sea, far from the packed city venues where she usually plays and surrounded by the stunning Alaskan wilderness—that Greta will have to decide what her path forward might look like—and how to find her voice again.
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5.0
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March 3, 2022
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.
About the author
Jennifer E. Smith is the author of nine books for young adults, including The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between, both of which have been adapted for film. She earned a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and her work has been translated into thirty-three languages. She currently lives in Los Angeles.
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