Robin’s Rave Reviews – 2022

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. An Alaskan cruise wouldn’t be my personal first choice, but the book has the fun cruise ship vibe. 

Come aboard a cruise to Alaska with indie rock star Greta James and  her cantankerous father. Greta’s career is on shaky ground after an emotional break-down on stage due to her mother’s death. On top of that, Greta just broke off a lengthy relationship. She needs time out of the spotlight and away from performing. Her brother talks her into going on the cruise with her father to support him. This cruise was their mother’s dream, booked as a fortieth anniversary celebration, but she died before she got to go. Greta reluctantly agrees and books a room on the ship.

While on the cruise, Greta fits in a bit of romance with Ben, an author who is there to lecture on Jack London. As they start an uncertain relationship, his traditional life makes Greta question her rock star lifestyle. Also, Greta and a young girl (who idolizes her) help each other with their music. 

Greta and her father have a distance relationship. Greta questions if her brother was right. How could her presence on the trip be helping her dad through a tough time? Her father wonders if his son was right. Did Greta need him to help her through a tough time? The answer is, of course, yes to both.

I enjoyed watching the father/daughter relationship evolve in the novel. Greta begins to better understand her father and how some of her song lyrics hurt him.  Her father, even in his grief, begins to see Greta and her career in a new way.

THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES by Jennifer E. Smith is her debut into adult fiction, although she has already written nine YA books. Take a vacation along with Greta when THE UNSINKABLE GRETA JAMES comes out  March 1, 2022. Consider supporting independent “mom and pop” bookstores through bookshop.org.

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