4.5 stars


The Girl He Used to Know was a delightful surprise for me.

Poignant, thoughtful, beautiful, with wonderful characters that were easy to fall in love with. Especially Annika, she was the one that made reading this book an amazing experience. I was enchanted from the very first page.

Unique characters have always been my weakness, and Annika was as original as it gets. Her story was truly different, refreshing and touching. And her journey was as beautiful as it was emotional.

Annika struggled with life in a way most of us will never understand. Socially awkward, her experiences with college and daily life was so very different and only underscored how difficult just the simplest encounters could be. Having a true friend in her college roommate was a true blessing. And her friendship with Jonathan an unexpected dream.

Jonathan was incredible. The way he treated Annika was heartwarming. He was a DREAM GUY!! Not only was he attentive and observant, he came to love her for who she was. He didn't care about her hangups or struggles, he supported and adored her with all his heart.

I admire any author that writes a character like Annika.

Entirely different, lovable, honest, with a beautiful heart. I wish more authors would take a chance on writing characters outside the box.

The Girl He Used to Know was an incredibly touching love story that I would recommend to anyone. Beautifully written, with distinctive and outstanding characters, and a story that was emotionally touching and a wonderful addition to the romance genre.

I was so impressed with this book from the alternate his/her, past/present POVs, to the thoughtful portrayal of a main character on the spectrum, to the balance been light and dark, to the sensitive inclusion of 9/11/2001. I was fully invested in both the character's personal stories and the romance, and I loved the secondary characters too, especially Janice and Annika's family. I'm kind of sad that it's over.

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracy Garvis Graves is a terrific novel following the life of the main character, Annika, as she journeys through life . Annika has autism and so many of the traits of autism are woven into the storyline. Annika meets the love of her life, Jonathan, years after their initial meeting. Annika and Jonathan rekindle their romance . It is so interesting to realize the challenges that such a romance entails. There are many things that Annika does differently due to her autism. As their romance continues the theme of autism is astutely woven into the storyline. I am a high school teacher and I, arrogantly, thought I was well informed about autism. This book open my eyes to the many traits of Autism that I was not aware of. My increased insight into the many Autistic challenges makes me a better educator and overall human being. I learned all of this while at the same time being thoroughly entertained by the plot of this novel. I am hopeful that this novel becomes an award winner and best seller. Kudos to the author for a job well done.

I really enjoyed The Island and shocker, this book was just an enjoyable.
It really did have a interesting twist but still had the emotion that the Island had without being a hokey love story. If you liked The Island, you will love this!

This was such as sweet story of Annika and Jonathan who met in college, fell in love, and rekindled ten years later. I loved each character, their development, support, and love for another. Very sweet, good read. Thank you for the ARC - this was a favorite of the year!

You might think, at first, that you know where this story is headed: Girl-meets-boy-but-he-gets-away, girl-reconnects-with-boy-years-later. But there's more to this heartfelt tale: an unlikely protagonist who takes nothing for granted, learning what it means to love as well as to stand on her own in a world she is ill-equipped to navigate. An original and enjoyable read with an ending that will leave you satisfied.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a really good read. I love Graves’ books. They are like sitting down with an old friend while she tells you such an engaging tale you don’t even want to interrupt her to use the bathroom.

From the beginning, Annika, a college student, seems a bit different. She says what she thinks without any filters. When she joins the chess club, she meets Jonathan and gets to know him through playing the game. Noises and crowds bother her, and she doesn’t understand some of the basics. Luckily, she has a roommate, Janice, who helps her out in almost every social situation.

Then comes graduation and everyone goes their separate ways. Annika is determined to make it on her own, with a little therapy thrown in for good measure.

This is definitely a character-driven book and those characters were so three-dimensional and so easy to like.

I highly recommend this book. It’s a quick read, but it has so much to say and reflect on that you’ll be thinking about it well after you turn the last page.

Wow!! I was hooked on this book right away due to my personal connection with the settings - like Annika, I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and went to school close to the University of Illinois. While I typically don’t enjoy stories that switch time periods, this was easy to follow and didn’t interrupt the flow. Same with the way that it switched perspectives as well. It was refreshing to see an inside viewpoint of Annika and her struggle to fit in and become independent in college, and I hadn’t been paying close attention to detail as I read because I was caught off guard by a couple of major events in the last half of the book! And let me tell you, once the flood gates opened, I was happy to be reading on my kindle so the pages didn’t get all wet with my tears. My only complaint is that the ending of the story felt a little rushed in comparison to the rest, but I think I felt that way because I was so invested in what was happening that I didn’t want it to end! Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a sweet and uplifting story, with enough plot turns so that it didn't become predictable. Recommended!

This romance between a woman on the autism spectrum and her college boyfriend switches back-and-forth between the year they met in 1991 and their present in 2001, when they reconnect after a chance meeting. All those years ago Annika broke up with Jonathan sans explanation, and as the novel progresses, you find out what led to that decision.

Jonathan has to decide whether or not he will trust Annika, and Annika have to decide if she’s really ready to be in a relationship even though she's laser focused on that very idea. I thought this book progressed somewhat predictably until the last 10% when I was really caught off guard.

This is definitely a quieter romance and has a lot to do with Annika discovering herself and learning to cope with her anxiety and challenges in understanding other people. Some chapters are narrated by Jonathan, but I felt like the author could have presented his side a lot more and with more depth.

Set in Chicago, The Girl He Used to Know is a love story between Annika and Jonathan who meet and fall in love in their senior year of college in 1991. But despite their love for one another, their romance is short lived. They meet 10 years later in the same city, and this is where the story begins.

Now a senior in college, Annika was home-schooled since she was in the seventh grade, and is on the spectrum. She finds difficulty in the simplest of social situations. To minimize awkward situations, she restricts her contact with the outside world. Aside from her classes, she goes to the weekly meeting of the chess club, and volunteers at an animal shelter on campus. She also relies on her roommate Janice, who helps her navigate other social situations.

Jonathan, who joins the chess club in his senior year immediately notices Annika. His understanding and compassion guide him in seeing the world through her eyes. I was very curious to know what led to their break-up, and the reveal was worth the wait.

The story is told through two timelines: 1991 and 2001. This allows the reader to see how both characters grew, both together and apart.

Overall, I really liked Annika and Jonathan's relationship which felt honest. However, I felt like the ending was rushed, and took away from the authenticity of the story. I also would have liked to learn more facts about high functioning individuals who are on the spectrum, and how they navigate their different lives.

4.5. This was a bit of a departure from this authors usual chick lit books, all of which I’ve read. There was a more serious undertone to this, though was wonderfully written as always. The ending had me round up my rating due to a bit of suspense, which also made me realize how much I was rooting for the main characters. Overall, very good read I would recommend.

First, I want to say is GO INTO THIS BOOK BLIND.
Second, I LOVE it when books are set near my hometown!

Now, onto the story. I have to admit when I read this book that it dealt with another female character on the autism spectrum, I just admittedly thought "I hope this is going to be different then The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, because I just got done reading that book about 1 month prior to reading this one." And it turns out they are both different. The Girl He Used to Know doesn't go in depth as much on it as The Kiss Quotient does which you'll find out why. When awkwardness is brought through the pages, I just can't help but feel for the characters. I find that maybe authors are starting to bring more awareness to this topic.

The book goes between 1991 and 2001, but not alternating chapters. We learn of Annika and Jonathan's relationship, how they met in college, split and met 10 years later. I think when we get to the latter 15% of the book thats when everything hits with a bang. Leading up to that point I kept thinking what else is there to happen and when it did my heart sank.

My only issue with this book is that there is no traditional epilogue. The ending seemed so erupt but I understand why Tracey might have wrote it that way, but my reaction was "that's it?" Yes, I think everyone should read this book if you want a different take on a second chance romance.

Hells bells, I cannot with this novel. I am truly obsessed. Bravo, excellent, mwah, job well done Tracey! I sat down and read this today and am so glad I did. My only regret was reading it too quickly; I should've savored it.

This book follows the unconventional romance between Annika and Jonathan. The two met in college, and the novel goes from past and present as they reconnect in present-day. As we unveil their story, we find a charming, delicate romance unlike any other.

Without spoiling the book for everyone, I won't go into too much detail as to why I loved this book so much. Let's just say there are unexpected facets to Annika and her quarks. Also, pay careful attention to the timeline. I picked up on this at the beginning of the novel and had my hunches, which I forgot about when I became entranced with the love story, and then recognized immediately toward the end of the novel.

Tracey wrote a beautiful character in Annika, and a gentleman in Jonathan. I love both incredibly; Annika is someone I wish I knew in real life that I could enjoy a cup of coffee with, and pick her brain about the books she's reading and her job at the library. Jonathan, well, he's the type we all fall in love with, the one that makes our husbands look bad, and makes us buy those inane t-shirts that say "I like boys in books better" (I don't own one, but I've definitely thought about it...) 

While this book does not come out until April - I highly recommend putting your name in NOW at the library, so you can be the first one to enter the magic that is The Girl He Used To Know.

I want to give this 4.25 stars. This is a story about Annika and Jonathan, who meet during college, date, break up, and reconnect 10 years later, but that cliche setup doesn't do it justice. You will love these characters! Annika is different but so likeable, and Jonathan and her roommate Janice are great additions. This book deals with being unique, finding your own way, second chances, and the people you can't let go. There's a romance aspect for sure, but this isn't a romance book (and I would call the few steamy scenes PG if that matters to you). It's more of a coming of age tale. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending! Truly not sure. I can't wait for other people to read this so we can discuss. Netgalley provided an ARC, but all opinions are my own.

Annika is a shy, socially awkward young girl who has Autism characteristics and leans heavily on her best friend Janice. She meets Jonathan, a nerdy chess club student and they click and begin a whirlwind romance that ends due to tragedy. Ten years later, fate brings Annika and Jonathan again and, with Annika having developed new coping skills for her anxiety, they begin to try and piece together what they had years ago.
I really enjoyed this book and it held many surprises!! I wasn't sure what to expect when receiving this as an ARC but was very pleased!
Thank you to Tracey Garvis Graves, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful book!

A very interesting and enlightening story about relationships and love. This story is about a highly intelligent autistic woman learning to cope in our society and falling for a "normal" guy. The characters are real and lovable as the people in her life that help her navigate college pitfalls and highs. These same people; are there as she reconnects with her love 10 years older and wiser. Loved this story- it made me laugh and cry.

If there was one second chance romance you need to read it would be The Girl He Used to Know. It's a beautiful, heartwarming and yet feel it in your gut read. Annika and Jonathan just have this way about them. You can't help but be drawn in by Annika. She is just this special person that we all wish we had in our lives. She makes you smile with her mannerisms. Jonathan you will simply love him. He is the guy you'd hope Annika ends up with in the end. Jonathan sees Annika as she is and is so supportive of her. This college romance is special. As you read along and relive the past with Annika and Jonathan you can't help but wonder will this chance meeting bring on a second chance for them. They just have this wonderful love that you can feel pouring from the pages. By the end I was clenching my tissues for not only Annika but Jonathan too with both sad and happy tears. Tracey Garvis Graves has this ability to hook you from the start and slowly build this wonderfully beautiful story that will not only leave you filled to the brim with emotions but also wont let you go. I really loved this one and I didn't want to put it down until I was on the last page. This book made my heart happy in the end. A MUST READ. YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE ANNIKA ANS JONATHAN.

The Girl He Used to Know is a second chance romance. You are introduced to the complex character of Annika and Jonathan, the boy who loves her. You read about their meeting up in 2001 after ten years apart and Tracey Garvis Graves does a fantastic job of taking you back to 1991 to relive how they fell in love. This beautiful love story is well written and pulls at your heartstrings. Annika is a girl with many quirks and struggles with fitting in, being confident and understanding how to maneuver through daily life. She is detailed so well, you really understand her and all that she goes through. Jonathan is sweet and supportive and you can't help but fall for this amazing guy. Their journey through these 10 years is one that you do not want to miss!

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves explores the relationship between Annika and Jonathan who met in college and run into each other about 10 years after they broke up. The POVs switch back and forth between the two of them and you find out what happened to their relationship as present day and flashbacks help develop the story and the characters. What makes this book special is Annika is on the Autism Spectrum. She's a pure soul with social awkwardness and typical anxiety with texture, loud noises and social situations. I felt like the ending was a little abrupt however I have loved all of Tracey's books and this is no different. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.