Reviews with content warning for Grief - The Unsinkable Greta James

I picked up The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E. Smith at a second-hand bookstore on a whim and sank into while I was off work for the new year. It was such a touching book, and I loved reading it. In it we meet Greta, an indie rockstar who is taking a break from touring to process the loss of her mother.

She’s taking an Alaskan cruise with her father, the one her mother is supposed to be on celebrating their wedding anniversary, to help them both process their grief together. Greta and her father don’t see eye-to-eye on her career choice and without her mother there to diffuse their tension, it leaves them navigating their new dynamic.

Also on the ship are her parents’ best friends and a historian, Ben, who she meets on the ship and forms an instant connection with. Greta is working through her relationship choices, her feelings for Ben, and trying to reconnect with her love of music. The grief is present, but it’s only part of the story. There’s so much more to it and I really encourage you to read it, if you enjoy books with wistful sadness with a hopeful undertone.

Content warnings: Death of parent, Grief

Content Warnings

kelly_e's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Title: The Unsinkable Greta James
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: March 1, 2022

T H R E E • W O R D S

Light • Touching • Refreshing

📖 S Y N O P S I S

In the wake of her mother's death, wracked with grief, Greta has a breakdown on stage during a performance, one that goes viral and leads to her refusing to play again. With her career in jeopardy, her brother convinces her to accompany their father on an Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary. Greta and her father don't exactly see eye to eye, and this could be the chance to heal old wounds.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I was initially drawn to the distinct cover, and after reading the synopsis, was intrigued by the grief aspect. I went into it with the expectation that it'd be a highly emotional read, and it really wasn't.

What I like:
• Alaskan setting. The vivid imagery of Alaska and Glacier Bay really brought the natural beauty to life. I felt as though it was the ideal location to choose in order to mirror the plotline of grief. The cruise setting was something I liked in general.
• exploration of grief. One of the things this novel does really well is explore the concept of grief. It takes on a heavy topic is a lighthearted way that works. It offers various perspectives, demonstrating how grief journeys are different for each person, and how each must move through in their own manner.
• the father/daughter relationship. The tension. The healing. The relationship itself. I wish more books focused on the father/daughter relationship.

What I didn't like:
• the father/daughter relationship. I wanted so much more of this part of the book, and wish it had been the main focus.
• the romance. The relationship between Greta and Ben felt unrealistic, surface level, and wholly un unfinished. I'd have preferred if this portion of the book had been left out completely. It just didn't feel necessary and became the main plotline, which disappointed me.
• lack of depth. Aside from Greta, I didn't get to know the characters as much as I would have liked. I wanted more background, more communication, more of her mother. I feel there was so potential and the story just didn't go that way.

The Unsinkable Greta James is a solid exploration of grief, family and healing. It just wasn't everything I wanted it to be. I understand why it was such a hit in 2022, and still recommend it to readers.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• anyone in need of break from heavier plots
• readers who enjoyed The Float Plan and/or One Italian Summer

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Maybe the point isn't always to make things last. Maybe it's just to make them count."

"It’s a particularly strange kind of loss, when something you don’t think you even want gets taken away from you."

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mclovesbooks's review against another edition

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4.5

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amcghig's review against another edition

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emotional funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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anarchist_al's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful 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

4.75

Unexpectedly beautiful. The main character had depth, and the relationships and arguments and history all felt so real and so familiar. The descriptions of Alaskan wilderness were gorgeous, and the wind-blown, harsh landscape is such an interesting setting for a budding romance, as well as the grief-driven reunion of a father and daughter with a strained relationship. Some of the beats were predictable, but it didn’t detract from the story. The character growth was so beautiful to watch unfold, and the last few chapters made me cry at work.

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