The Unsinkable Greta James

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The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith

320 pages | Published by Ballantine Books

The Set Up: Musician Greta James has spent her life proving doubters wrong—especially her father, who never approved of her career. But after her mother’s sudden death, Greta suffers an onstage meltdown just weeks before her next album release. Seeking an escape, she reluctantly joins her father on an Alaskan cruise, a trip her parents had planned for their anniversary. As they navigate their strained relationship, Greta also crosses paths with Ben Wilder, a historian facing his own crossroads.

I’ve read all of Jennifer E. Smith’s YA books, which are some of my favorites, so I was glad to finally pick up her adult debut! She brought the same warmth and cute butterfly feelings as her YA work and I am here for that.

While I thought the pacing towards the end was a bit off, I thought the story and setting were lovely. This book cemented an Alaskan cruise on my bucket list, for sure.

The romance between Greta and Ben gave me all the soft, slow-burn feelings, but it was the story of Greta and Conrad that I found more compelling. Their dynamic was messy, emotional, and painfully real. Watching them navigate their grief and years of misunderstandings made for such a great read.

If you love stories about complicated family dynamics with a bit of romance thrown in, *The Unsinkable Greta James* is absolutely worth the read.