Greta James is a rising indie rock star living out her lifelong dream. Her mother, Helen, has always been her biggest supporter, whereas her father, Conrad, never understood her passion for music hoping instead she led a more conventional life. After her mother suddenly dies followed by an onstage meltdown that goes viral, Greta’s career has been put on hiatus for the past three months. At her brother Asher’s suggestion, Greta reluctantly decides to join her father on a weeklong Alaskan cruise that her parents had planned for their fortieth anniversary. The trip would not only help clear her head, but also help her and her father work out their differences. What she never expected, along with meeting professor and author, Ben Wilder, whom she forms a close bond with, is how much the trip would help her find her old self again.
After reading this book and googling all the places mentioned, I definitely want to go on an Alaskan cruise now. The whole book is great and I love how it blends and creates a perfect balance between telling a father-daughter story, the grief of losing a parent, a musician at a crossroads in her career, and an unexpected romance. All of this while set against the beautiful backdrop of Alaska, which plays a pivotal role on its own throughout. I found Greta and Conrad’s relationship relatable and understood both standpoints. They are both stubborn and yet so much alike. I felt the tension between them and the genuine love they have for each other expressed through small but significant moments that became some of the highlights of this book. I also loved getting to know Ben. He is such a cute Jack London nerd and his connection with Greta was like two kindred spirits finding each other when they needed each other most. They live very different lives and are both going through their own personal challenges, but it's their newfound relationship that helps them grow individually and find their way forward.
I was not planning on tabbing as many pages as I did, which you can see from my copy, but there were so many great passages and scenes I wanted to save. I would read this book again and even admit it is another new favorite of mine from this year and even of all time. I would highly recommend it to everyone.
________
Thank you Goodreads and Penguin Random House, Ballantine Books for the giveaway win of an ARC copy. This review is not sponsored. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Unsinkable Greta James will be published on March 1, 2022
Post a Comment