The Unsinkable Greta James

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An indie musician reeling from tragedy joins her estranged father on a cruise through emotionally fraught waters in this stirring novel of family, loss, and love from bestselling author Jennifer E. Smith.

Greta James’s rise to indie stardom was hard-won. Before the magazine covers and sold out venues, she spent her girlhood playing guitar in the family garage, full of dreams and determination. Her first fan was her mother, Helen, who always encouraged Greta to follow her heart. But her father, Conrad, was less supportive; he saw only a precarious road ahead for his daughter, and pushed her to make more practical choices. Greta has spent her life trying to prove him wrong.

But three months after her mother’s sudden death and an onstage meltdown that went viral for all the wrong reasons, Greta reluctantly agrees to accompany her father on the weeklong 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 terrible loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, as well as for Ben Wilder, a 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 relying on each other. But in the end, Greta must face her biggest challenge of all: Can she find a way back to her music while also making peace with those who love her?

Praise for The Unsinkable Greta James

“Warm, funny, and bursting with heart . . . a pitch-perfect story about the ways we recover love in the strangest of places . . . The Unsinkable Greta James is exactly the book you want to read.” —Rebecca Serle, New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years

“Filled with music, passion, and love of all kinds, The Unsinkable Greta James is an unforgettable exploration of family and the choices we make that shape our lives. A fast-paced, emotional novel.” —Jill Santopolo, New York Times bestselling author of The Light We Lost

“There’s a generosity in the drawing of these characters 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. And while it’s not your typical adventure on the high seas, it’s a cruise-ship story with a vibrant sense of its unusual setting.” —Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over

“This novel is unabashedly sentimental, in the best possible way. It's about how family can misunderstand us, grief can undo us and our dreams can save us. The Unsinkable Greta James is as transporting and diverting as the Alaskan cruise Greta herself is on in these pages. In short: it's a total delight!” —Christine Pride, co-author of We Are Not Like Them

“I burst into tears at the end of Jennifer E. Smith's gorgeous, heartfelt The Unsinkable Greta James—tears of surprised happiness. I loved traveling to Alaska with the wild and tender Greta, her escape from her life as a literal rock star an addictive journey. Each evening, I looked forward to opening the novel and re-joining Greta's adventure, and will miss her—and her music—now that I've turned the final, beautiful page.” —Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters

“Thoughtful and tender and true, The Unsinkable Greta James perfectly captures the messiness of loving and being loved. Smith has written a gripping relationship story that’s also a perceptive exploration of what it means to dream. I devoured it.” —Janelle Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Things