Introduction

An indie musician reeling from tragedy and a public breakdown reconnects with her father on a weeklong cruise in “a pitch-perfect story about the ways we recover love in the strangest places” (Rebecca Serle, bestselling author of In Five Years)

“The characters are drawn with a generosity 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.”—Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022—BookPage

Right after the sudden death of her mother—her first and most devoted fan—and just before the launch of her high-stakes sophomore album, Greta James falls apart on stage. The footage quickly goes viral and she stops playing, her career suddenly in jeopardy—the kind of jeopardy her father, Conrad, has always predicted; the kind he warned her about when he urged her to make more practical choices with her life.

Months later, Greta—still heartbroken and very much adrift—reluctantly agrees to accompany Conrad on the 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 shared loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, and for Ben Wilder, a charming historian, onboard to lecture about The Call of the Wild, who is 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 drawn to and relying on each other.

It’s here in this unlikeliest of places—at sea, far from the packed city venues where she usually plays and surrounded by the stunning scenery of Alaska—Greta will finally confront the choices she’s made, the heartbreak she’s suffered, and the family hurts that run deep. In the end, she’ll have to decide what her path forward might look like—and how to find her voice again.

Editorial Review

No Editorial Review Currently Available

Excerpt

No Excerpt Currently Available

Discussion Questions

From momoftheyear.net:

1. Have you ever had an event so defeating that it took you considerable time and/or effort to “get back on the horse”, so to speak? I am sure I have better examples that my current situation, but right now, it feels a feat to get past this long covid and aftershocks of my father’s death to resume my normal life activities.
2. What do you think about Greta’s lifestyle? Do you think it is sustainable as she ages? I think if she desires things like marriage and a family, it will not be feasible for her to continue as such, but Greta seems very self-aware in this sense. She notes how if she meets anyone who makes her want to change course, she will have to and will do so.
3. Have you lost a parent? How has it changed your relationship with your still-living parent? My mom died 10 years prior to my father. In many ways, it made me closer to my dad, though our communication patterns and rhythm was definitely altered.
4. Discuss Conrad’s relationship with Greta. Why was it so distanced? What might happen to breach this divide? I think they valued very different goals in life and were unable to communicate effectively about these differences. Starting to talk, as they did on this trip, was a huge first step. Reinforcing their love and admiration for each other was another, as we saw play out, especially with Conrad’s actions at the end of the book.
5. Asher and Greta joke that he is the favorite child. Did your family of origin have a favorite child? Do you have a favorite child among your own children? My family laughs because I am constantly telling a different child they are my favorite, depending on who does a kind turn or makes a good choice! 
?
6. Greta and Ben seemed unlikely companions, yet discuss what drew them together. What were their similarities? Differences? Aside from their similar age on the ship, they were both very driven in their profession/passion. They each were at a crossroads in life. That said, they were living entirely different lives from each other.
7. Preeti was one of my favorite characters. What purpose did she serve in the story for Greta? Preeti reminded Greta not only of where she had started on her journey but of what it meant to love her music for the joy of it.
8. How was the story shaped by the setting of Alaska? What meaning did this provide? I have never been to Alaska, but from what I understand and per the description in the book, it is majestic and powerful in its raw beauty. Greta and Conrad’s grief was so raw and powerful, so this was fitting. Also, her mother had long loved Alaska and arranged the visit, so made it the perfect postmortem voyage.
9. What was the significance of the sign that Greta’s mom, then her dad held at her concerts. What way can we send similar messages to our own children (presuming they’re not rock stars 
?
10.  )? It was a way of saying, “I believe in you! I am proud of you!”. We can do this by showing up for school concerts and games, cheering on grades and accomplishments and simply telling our kids we love them every night before tucking them in.
11. Discuss the unwritten next part of Greta and Ben’s story. What do you think will happen? I loved the slow ending of Smith’s novel! It gave you both the truth of what happened without giving away the end of their story. Personally, I think they will end up together.

Weblinks

There are no web links at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 0 of 0 members.

Member Reviews

There are no user reviews at this time.
Rate this book