The Unsinkable Greta James

'Warm, funny, and bursting with heart. A pitch-perfect story about the ways we recover love in the strangest places' Rebecca Serle

An indie musician reeling from tragedy reconnects with her estranged father on a week-long cruise in this tale of grief, fame, and love from bestselling author Jennifer E. Smith.

Greta James's rise to indie stardom was hard-won. Before she graced magazine covers and played to sold out venues, she spent her girlhood practicing her guitar in the family garage, full of big 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 always 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 week-long Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their fortieth anniversary.

It could be their last chance to heal old wounds and forge a new relationship in the wake of such loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, as well as for Ben Wilder, a historian also struggling with a major upheaval in his life.

As Greta works to build back her confidence, and Ben confronts an uncertain future, they find themselves relying on each other to make sense of life's difficult, unexpected choices. And in the end, Greta must face the biggest challenge of all: can she find a way back to her music while also making peace with those who love her?

'Gorgeous, heartfelt' Amanda Eyre Ward

'Thoughtful and tender and true' Janelle Brown

'Filled with music, passion, and love of all kinds' Jill Santopolo

HEAR WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING ABOUT JENNIFER E. SMITH'S BOOKS:

'Utterly romantic' Jenny Han, To All the Boys I've Loved Before

'This latest stunner from Jennifer E. Smith will linger in your aching heart. (But it's a good ache. The best kind)' Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places

'A closely observed, ultimately moving tale of love, family and otherwise' Kirkus

'A fast-paced and entertaining novel with a superlatively romantic premise' Publishers Weekly

'A gorgeous, heartwarming reminder of the power of fate' New York Times Book Review

'Sparkly dialogue and a great setting make this a Nora Ephron-esque treat' Elle

'Irresistible . . . think David Nicholls' One Day meets

“A pitch-perfect story about the ways we recover love in the strangest places - Rebecca Serle PRAISE FOR JENNIFER E. SMITH: ' Utterly romantic' Jenny Han, To All the Boys I've Loved Before This latest stunner from Jennifer E. Smith will linger in your aching heart. (But it's a good ache. The best kind) - Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places A closely observed, ultimately moving tale of love, family and otherwise - Kirkus A fast-paced and entertaining novel with a superlatively romantic premise - Publishers Weekly A gorgeous, heartwarming reminder of the power of fate - New York Times Book Review Sparkly dialogue and a great setting make this a Nora Ephron-esque treat - Elle”

This wry, closely observed romance slowly investigates family, love and fame Daily Mail
Charming, funny, diverting and a cracking good story Sunday Independent
A warm-hearted story Irish Independent
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
Beautiful, moving, hopeful. I loved this book from beginning to end, and will be thinking about it for a long time. A total triumph Emily Stone, author of Always, In December
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
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
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
There's a generosity in the drawing of these characters . . . a vibrant sense of its unusual setting Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over
A tender story Candis
Tears are likely . . . Sainsbury's
Poignant and inspiring Culturefly

Jennifer E. Smith is the author of nine novels for young adults, including Windfall and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Her first adult novel, The Unsinkable Greta James, published in 2022. She earned a master's degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and her work has been translated into thirty-three languages. She lives in Los Angeles.

' Warm, funny, and bursting with heart. A pitch-perfect story about the ways we recover love in the strangest places' Rebecca Serle An indie musician reeling from tragedy reconnects with her estranged father on a week-long cruise in this tale of grief, fame, and love from bestselling author Jennifer E. Smith. Greta James's rise to indie stardom was hard-won. Before she graced magazine covers and played to sold out venues, she spent her girlhood practicing her guitar in the family garage, full of big 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 always 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 week-long Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their fortieth anniversary.It could be their last chance to heal old wounds and forge a new relationship in the wake of such loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, as well as for Ben Wilder, a historian also struggling with a major upheaval in his life. As Greta works to build back her confidence, and Ben confronts an uncertain future, they find themselves relying on each other to make sense of life's difficult, unexpected choices. And in the end, Greta must face the biggest challenge of all: can she find a way back to her music while also making peace with those who love her? 'Gorgeous, heartfelt' Amanda Eyre Ward 'Thoughtful and tender and true' Janelle Brown 'Filled with music, passion, and love of all kinds' Jill Santopolo HEAR WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING ABOUT JENNIFER E. SMITH'S BOOKS: 'Utterly romantic' Jenny Han, To All the Boys I've Loved Before ' This latest stunner from Jennifer E. Smith will linger in your aching heart. (But it's a good ache. The best kind)' Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places 'A closely observed, ultimately moving tale of love, family and otherwise' Kirkus 'A fast-paced and entertaining novel with a superlatively romantic premise' Publishers Weekly 'A gorgeous, heartwarming reminder of the power of fate' New York Times Book Review 'Sparkly dialogue and a great setting make this a Nora Ephron-esque treat' Elle 'Irresistible . . . think David Nicholls' One Day meets

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