Scan barcode
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
5.0
For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
I was given an Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith by NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I don’t want to say that this book reminded me of #ReesesBookClub Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but it definitely had a certain vibe that makes me think if you enjoyed Daisy you’d like The Unsinkable Greta James. It’s about a musician who is going through some turmoil, there’s a love interest, there’s a lot of similarities. Yet there are enough differences that make this a wholly unique story, too.
I really enjoyed the exploration of Greta’s relationship with her father and all the baggage she carried around because of it. Suffice it to say they don’t get along too well. The peace maker was always her mom, her biggest fan. When Greta says she wants to be a musician and a songwriter, her mom is her cheerleader, her dad wonders why she doesn’t pick a more stable job. When Greta’s mom dies unexpectedly, that buffer is removed.
Greta’s brother convinces her to take an Alaskan cruise with her dad, something he and her mom had planned for their fortieth wedding anniversary. Since Greta has just had a disastrous concert appearance in Germany that’s gone viral (of course), she finally agrees it’s the perfect escape from her life. But getting along with her dad is another matter entirely. They spend much of their cruise apart, and when they’re together, they keep having the same old arguments about her life choices and how Greta has always felt her dad didn’t support her once she decided that music was her calling.
On the ship (not a boat, as Greta keeps calling it), she meets the author of a book on Jack London and Call of the Wild and a little relationship dance starts. Greta’s on the heels of a breakup following her breakdown on stage, and Ben, the author, is separated from his wife. In any other situation, Greta and Ben might not have given each other the time of day, but on a ship travelling around glaciers and opportunities for whale watching, anything can happen, apparently. I found their relationship very real, as real as it can seem when you’re dealing with a rock musician and a professor.
I found the situations believable, the description of scenery a plus, and overall, a very satisfying read. I recommend The Unsinkable Greta James to anyone who enjoys a good fiction book with a little romance thrown in. It’s a book about relationships, and the conclusion at the end is a real kicker.
I was given an Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith by NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I don’t want to say that this book reminded me of #ReesesBookClub Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but it definitely had a certain vibe that makes me think if you enjoyed Daisy you’d like The Unsinkable Greta James. It’s about a musician who is going through some turmoil, there’s a love interest, there’s a lot of similarities. Yet there are enough differences that make this a wholly unique story, too.
I really enjoyed the exploration of Greta’s relationship with her father and all the baggage she carried around because of it. Suffice it to say they don’t get along too well. The peace maker was always her mom, her biggest fan. When Greta says she wants to be a musician and a songwriter, her mom is her cheerleader, her dad wonders why she doesn’t pick a more stable job. When Greta’s mom dies unexpectedly, that buffer is removed.
Greta’s brother convinces her to take an Alaskan cruise with her dad, something he and her mom had planned for their fortieth wedding anniversary. Since Greta has just had a disastrous concert appearance in Germany that’s gone viral (of course), she finally agrees it’s the perfect escape from her life. But getting along with her dad is another matter entirely. They spend much of their cruise apart, and when they’re together, they keep having the same old arguments about her life choices and how Greta has always felt her dad didn’t support her once she decided that music was her calling.
On the ship (not a boat, as Greta keeps calling it), she meets the author of a book on Jack London and Call of the Wild and a little relationship dance starts. Greta’s on the heels of a breakup following her breakdown on stage, and Ben, the author, is separated from his wife. In any other situation, Greta and Ben might not have given each other the time of day, but on a ship travelling around glaciers and opportunities for whale watching, anything can happen, apparently. I found their relationship very real, as real as it can seem when you’re dealing with a rock musician and a professor.
I found the situations believable, the description of scenery a plus, and overall, a very satisfying read. I recommend The Unsinkable Greta James to anyone who enjoys a good fiction book with a little romance thrown in. It’s a book about relationships, and the conclusion at the end is a real kicker.
jhayden94's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
cindy_f's review against another edition
4.0
Greta James is a fiercely independent Indie Rocker who is suffering from the loss of her mother, who died of an aneurysm before Greta could reach her to say goodbye. Since then, she’s been struggling. She had a meltdown during a concert while attempting to sing a piece she wrote for her mother. The video went viral, her album was delayed and she broke up with her producer boyfriend. Her confidence as a musician is waning.
Greta’s brother talks her into taking his place on a cruise ship to Alaska that their parents planned for their 40th anniversary. She will be traveling with her father Conrad, who wasn’t quite supportive of her music career. This was an opportunity for her to take time to grieve and mend things with dad.
This story is so tender and bittersweet. I enjoyed reading about Greta’s character and her journey. I felt like I really connected with her. The other characters were so endearing as well. There’s even a little romance thrown in that is not too sappy. And the descriptions of the Alaskan coast and wilderness came alive for me. So breathtaking! Overall, a great read.
Greta’s brother talks her into taking his place on a cruise ship to Alaska that their parents planned for their 40th anniversary. She will be traveling with her father Conrad, who wasn’t quite supportive of her music career. This was an opportunity for her to take time to grieve and mend things with dad.
This story is so tender and bittersweet. I enjoyed reading about Greta’s character and her journey. I felt like I really connected with her. The other characters were so endearing as well. There’s even a little romance thrown in that is not too sappy. And the descriptions of the Alaskan coast and wilderness came alive for me. So breathtaking! Overall, a great read.
babs_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
Poignantly powerful. A ballad of balance.
Greta James is all of us, a speckle of a human floating, bobbing, crashing, weaving through this thing called life. This book has a powerful message, that we are constantly shifting, adjusting ourselves to be more comfortable...to ourselves.
Life is a balancing act; at times what takes priority is different from those around you and at other times it looks the same. When our scale begins to tip, or lean, we scramble to adjust those priorities again to balance back out.
When the sudden death of Greta's mom causes her to have a melt down on stage, she realizes she is lost. Trying to connect with her dad, which has always been difficult, Greta takes her mom's place on a planned cruise. Greta rides the waves as she discovers old truths, and new ones, while figuring out the new balance without her mom. Emotional from beginning to end.
Thank you so much to Ballantine Books, Jennifer E. Smith and NetGalley for the gifted review copy.
Greta James is all of us, a speckle of a human floating, bobbing, crashing, weaving through this thing called life. This book has a powerful message, that we are constantly shifting, adjusting ourselves to be more comfortable...to ourselves.
Life is a balancing act; at times what takes priority is different from those around you and at other times it looks the same. When our scale begins to tip, or lean, we scramble to adjust those priorities again to balance back out.
When the sudden death of Greta's mom causes her to have a melt down on stage, she realizes she is lost. Trying to connect with her dad, which has always been difficult, Greta takes her mom's place on a planned cruise. Greta rides the waves as she discovers old truths, and new ones, while figuring out the new balance without her mom. Emotional from beginning to end.
Thank you so much to Ballantine Books, Jennifer E. Smith and NetGalley for the gifted review copy.
edgarstarr's review against another edition
DNF
It's 100% me, so I'm not going to give it a rating. I guess I was hoping for more drama and less romance, it's a little too cutesy for me. That doesn't make it a bad book though, just a bad book for me.
It's 100% me, so I'm not going to give it a rating. I guess I was hoping for more drama and less romance, it's a little too cutesy for me. That doesn't make it a bad book though, just a bad book for me.
pinkbuttafly200's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
slicciardi's review against another edition
4.0
Heartwarming and emotional. I thought the cruise/alaska setting was fun!
nicolek's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0