‘The Girl He Used to Know’ is told in a series of flashbacks and switches in both protagonists’ POV, and is pretty much a slow-moving, meditative sort of piece on love, loss and love-regained in the decade when the face of terror changed the world. That doesn’t quite come into play until the end however, as Tracey Garvis Graves places a hyper-focus on the unlikely pairing of Annika and Jonathan from college and how they navigate the tricky waters of a developmental disability that has the former’s inability to deal with social situations, social cues and instinctively-learned behaviours.

For the longest time, I only had the inkling of Annika having done something a decade ago, but the crawl towards that moment is a slow one, as is her equally slow get-together with Jonathan, interspersed with her desperation to make amends and pick up where they left off the moment she bumps into him all these years later.

The serendipity play aside (meeting again and then just taking things up felt like the jigsaw puzzle coming back together too easily for me), the narrative coasted along quite slowly for me—I did find myself skimming some bits—without too many spikes and valleys, which left me not knowing what direction the plot was going to go in. Despite having taken days to finish this, it did get better though; things picked up towards the end but ended abruptly on a note that actually led to some furious screen-tapping because I literally thought my ARC was missing a chapter or two.

In the end, this turned out to be a middling read despite the earnest love story between two everyday characters. I was engaged at times, less at others, but was ultimately left scratching my head at a conclusion that felt as though Garvis-Graves simply threw down her pen and left the book incomplete.

This story takes you back in time in both versions. You see Jonathan and Annika in 1991 and in 2001.

The Love that Jonathan has for Annika is so sweet it hurt at times. He not only loves her, but he understands her.

There were times when I cried, I laughed, I held my breath, and couldn't read fast enough.

I felt like it ended way to fast and I wanted so much more. Maybe even an epilogue set in present time.

This book has a few things people might consider triggers. I had no issues with them, but I feel there were so many different ones.

***Spoiler***
It didn't dawn on me the time frame until it said September 10, 2001. Then I knew something horrible would be happening. I just KNEW and I cried before I could even get to September 11, 2001. This is the part that I couldn't read fast enough.

**triggers**
Pregnancy loss, September 11th, possible rape.

I really enjoyed this book. Also, a huge warning for anyone who reads netgalley reviews that a few reviewers have major spoilers in their opening lines of their reviews for a major plot point that doesn’t happen until the last 20% of the book. This really upset me.

The character of Annika was so well written. I have so much respect for how much thought went into this character as someone who can relate to this character on from personal familial experience. She was written with so much depth, emotion and care. I just loved the characters so much.

I had problems with the pacing, mainly the end which felt rushed. Even without having the lead up spoiled I could tell what was coming but I felt that the last 20% was rushed and I didn’t feel satisfied with the conclusion of the book. I would have much preferred to have had the end events take place 2/3rds in and see more the after effects of that piece.

Overall this is a great book and also a really unique story with a unique narrator. I really loved it.

I absolutely loved this book. Great storyline. I am retired teacher and had many students like Annika over my 30 years of teaching. . The author has her thoughts and her mind set so “on point”. The story as it jumps from past to present and tells this story from both characters points of view.

Book Review: The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

On the Island and White Hot Hacks were some of my favorite books from this author. When I heard she was releasing a new book I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I have to admit this book did not disappoint.

This is a love story between Jonathan and Annika. This is a second chance romance as it’s told in dual timelines between 1991 when they first fell in love and then when they reconnected on 2001. Throughout the story we get glimpses of their initial relationship that started with a game of chess.

About the characters, we learn early on that Annika is not like any other woman. She has her quirks and she looks at the world differently. However Jonathan is captivated. He pursues her.

Throughout the story we get hints that Annika is in the autism spectrum. It is confirmed in the story. One thing I can feel for Annika. She was incredibly strong character who was beautiful from the inside out. I love how invested she was with animals, her love for books, the need to have alone time to recharge. I can identify with her. I felt for the loneliness as she felt as she struggles to make new friends.

My feels: I really loved this book. I loved the representation of a character within the Autism spectrum. I love how healthy the romance was. These was an equal partnership who loved and support each other.

My only gripe was the ending was too sudden. I wished there was an epilogue where we hear what happens to the relationship after the traumatic event.

I will post this review in the What to Read Next Blog in the coming months.

Oh this book! I fell in love with this couple. It was so wonderful to read their story. I do wish there was a warning about the last few chapters. Warning this does have September 11, 2001 in The story. It was hard for me to get through that part but I did. I highly recommended reading this one.

I love books about people on the autism spectrum.  I feel like their personalities magnify universal truths that we can all relate to.  Annika meets Jonathan when they are both students at the University of Illinois.  She is on the autism spectrum, but she doesn't know it.  Social situations behoove Annika, but both she and Jonathan are aces at chess and they fall in love.  Jonathan doesn't mind if she's a bit different.

He graduates and moves to New York to be a stockbroker.  He eventually marries someone else, while Annika is still in Illinois, pursuing a Master of Library Science degree.

Ten years later, they meet again, and try to have a relationship once again.

The author did a tremendous job of showing the reader what someone with autism goes through, how they want to be loved and accepted and just don't always understand how social situations work and how that is very difficult.  This was a lovely story, with plot twists that I never saw coming.  This is not just your average love story--there is A LOT MORE HERE.

I recommend this to anyone who loved Eleanor Oliphant by Gail Honeyman, The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, or The Rosie Project by Graeme Simison.

I received this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for my honest review.

If I could give this more than 5 stars I would.
I can’t stop thinking about this book on so many levels.
It’s such a multifaceted read with love, isolation, tragedy, and perseverance running through it.

Once again a fantastic read from Tracey Garvis Graves! Tracey writes dialogue like no other author - no matter the book, at some point I am always moved to tears! Great characters, good plot that moves at a good pace. The back and forth chapters are good and you don't get confused by them. Thank you to Netgalley!

Annika, is on the Autism Spectrum and she is beautiful, I think that’s why every man is in love with her, specially Jonathan. The book is just about appearances and both characters were over the top. Thank you for the ARC.

It's rare that a book brings tears to my eyes, but this one did just that, and more than once!

It's a story of two people who, against all odds, find their one and only. It's heartbreaking and emotional and uplifting, with superb writing to boot. You will love the two main characters, and you will wish the book would go on forever, definitely a five star read, if not more!

The author has a way with connections between her characters and the world they live in. She clearly understands people and I loved the premise in which the characters originally find each other. Her styles is as impeccable as ever but there wasn’t the same intensity and that made the book a slower read. It was still an excellent read.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Annika is on the spectrum. She meets and falls in love with Jonathan, but their college relationship flounders. This novel tells of their chance reconnection with flashbacks of their earlier years together. Very sweet story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

I can’t help but thinking that timing has something to do with my mediocre reception to this novel. I think I would have been more receptive if I hadn’t recently finished The Kissing Quotient, which handled similar subject matter (and did it brilliantly). I couldn’t escape making comparisons between the two books and this book suffered a little because it came out after and the uniqueness was no longer there. While I’m making comparisons, it makes sense to say that the two novels are very different in their tone. Graves doesn’t address Annika’s anxiety and give it a clinical term until late in the story.

For Graves, this is more about the story of Jonathan and Annika and the things that went wrong in when they were younger. Taken at face value, this is a great security chance at love story. Graves did a great job showing how well the couple connected both in the past and when they reunite. I was very grateful to find out that the couple had a reasonable explanation of why they drifted apart and (thankfully) didn’t get hung up on communication breakdowns that would have turned this into a trite story.

Graves doesn’t follow conventions with this novel and I’m grateful for it. Had I not read a book with a similar character so recently, I think this would have had greater impact for me. As it was, it was a pleasant read with interesting characters and a believable backstory. You can do a lot worse than that!!

This. Book. Ruined. Me. There is really no other way to put it. The Girl He Used To Know hit me in all my sensitive spots. Annika felt very familiar to me, Jonathan was lovely, and this whole book was a widely emotional ride. One final thing before we get to the review, make sure you read the date at the beginning of each chapter. If you do, you won't be as shocked as I was by the event that occurs in the final fourth of the book. (aka I need to pay attention more) Let's get to the review!

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Annika (rhymes with Monica) Rose, is an English major at the University of Illinois. Anxious in social situations where she finds most people's behavior confusing, she'd rather be surrounded by the order and discipline of books or the quiet solitude of playing chess.

Jonathan Hoffman joined the chess club and lost his first game--and his heart--to the shy and awkward, yet brilliant and beautiful Annika. He admires her ability to be true to herself, quirks and all, and accepts the challenges involved in pursuing a relationship with her. Jonathan and Annika bring out the best in each other, finding the confidence and courage within themselves to plan a future together. What follows is a tumultuous yet tender love affair that withstands everything except the unforeseen tragedy that forces them apart, shattering their connection and leaving them to navigate their lives alone.

Now, a decade later, fate reunites Annika and Jonathan in Chicago. She's living the life she wanted as a librarian. He's a Wall Street whiz, recovering from a divorce and seeking a fresh start. The attraction and strong feelings they once shared are instantly rekindled, but until they confront the fears and anxieties that drove them apart, their second chance will end before it truly begins.

The book is formatted so that each chapter is the point of view of either Annika or Jonathan. I really like when books do this because it helps break up the book and allows the reader to explore and connect with more than one character. The book also switches between periods of time. There are some chapters that show Annika and Jonathan's relationship in 1991 when they first meet in college and some in 2001 when they meet up again.

The book starts off with Annika. It's clear early on that Annika isn't like the people around her. Her social skills aren't the best, she doesn't like loud noises, and finds a lot of people's behavior very confusing. (same)

When we first meet Annika, she is a librarian, the job she has always wanted (ditto), and is doing the best she can to live her life in Chicago. She's seeing a therapist to help her understand other people and understand herself. One day, while she's shopping for groceries, she runs into her college boyfriend, Jonathan. The meeting throws her off-kilter. Their relationship did not end well and while Annika is so happy to see him, she worries what he might think of her.

But Jonathan's life isn't perfect either. He may have a fancy job in finance, but he's also getting over a divorce. While he is reluctant to meet with Annika after their first meeting, he doesn't say no to another meeting (or another one after that.) Eventually, they come back together, happier than they ever might have been if they never broke up. But can their relationship last a travesty that no one was expecting?

Between the chapters showing Annika and Jonathan reconnecting, we get to see what Annika was like in college and how she ends up meeting Jonathan. They meet at chess club, the one extracurricular Annika participates in. Annika has trusted the wrong people in the past, so when she first starts to have feelings for Jonathan, she makes him meet her roommate, Janice. Janice gets Annika. She knows how she is, what she likes, and what she doesn't, and she's saved her from more than one bad situation before. Once Janice approves of Jonathan, Annika feels even better about being with him and they begin what turns into a serious relationship.

But a tragedy, Annika's issues, and Jonathan's avoidance of certain parts of who she is (how did he think Annika was going to live in NYC? HOW?!) ends up breaking their relationship apart.

Luckily, their connection is reignited when they meet ten years later.

Ok. Time for trigger warnings. If you're old enough, you know what huge event happened in 2001. I am old enough and it still went over my head until I got to the chapter where it all goes down. Again, I should pay more attention to chapter headings!! If this event (I'm really trying to not give spoilers lol) is triggering for you, just be aware that it's pretty well described and the periods of waiting, when we don't know if a certain character is ok, are VERY intense.

For me, I had to stop reading and take some deep breaths before I could continue. My memory of that day is too good and my brother would have been next to the towers that day if his alarm had not malfunctioned.

That being said, The Girl He Used to Know is an extraordinary book. I have read a few other books this year that have had characters who were on the spectrum and the writers all did a great job developing them and making them more than "just" autistic.

Despite the fact that Annika doesn't necessarily know how to relate to people, Tracey Garvis Graves makes it easy to relate to her struggles and cheer for her during her triumphs.

I loved Annika and saw some of my own social anxiety and abandonment issues reflected back at me through her. Janice is also definitely my other favorite character. The care she takes with Annika and the love she clearly has for her made me so happy. It seemed like Annika didn't have too many people before she met Janice and Janice helped her out in so many ways that her family just couldn't.

And Jonathan is lovely. He may not understand everything about Annika but he's willing to learn and listen and understand what she needs from him. He also expects some things from her and I loved how adult their relationship was.

My only criticism, honestly, is that I wish the title of the book was focused more on Annika. Instead of "The Girl He Used to Know," I wish it had more to do with Annika or her and Jonathan's relationship. Right now, it makes it seem like we are going to meet this girl through a boy's eyes and that is definitely not what this book is. Annika and Jonathan are both their own people who come together because they make each other happy. Maybe this is me putting too much on to the title, but as I read the book, that thought kept coming into my head. 

Other than that, this book had me sobbing for at least ten minutes after I finished it. The emotion it evokes is incredible. If you ever doubted the power of words and stories, read this book and you'll realize just how powerful those things can be. I am giving The Girl He Used To Know 5 out of 5 stars. Add this to your TBR but make sure you have some tissues with you when you read it.

The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves comes out April 2, 2019 (I know! It's a long wait!)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book so much! I was sad when it ended because I wanted more! Excellent book! I would definitely recommend this to all of my friends!

4.5 wonderful stars!!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up The Girl He Used to Know - I’ve read and loved previous novels by Garvis-Graves (On the Island & Covet) and both dealt with the situations of love in somewhat taboo situations (tutor student, extramarital) so the story of Annika and Jonathan taking a totally different turn really surprised me and I absolutely love how this novel played out. Annika is a girl who is stunningly beautiful, but her autism has her lacking confidence when it comes to relationships. When she meets Jonathan at a chess match, they fall in love and her walls begin to come down a bit. The story takes place in two different timelines and the reader is aware something happened between the then and now to push them apart.

This book has such strong characters who are well developed and feel real as well as plot lines that will stay with you for quite some time (they will with me for sure)! I don’t want to spoil anything but I can say this book is a masterpiece and an absolute must read. Tracey Garvis-Graves has outdone herself here and I was thrilled to be an early reader of this beautiful book.

“The Girl He Used to Know” is the second novel I have read by Tracey Garvis-Graves and I was not sure what to expect. Chapter One opens in present time (which, in the book, is 2001) where Annika runs into her former boyfriend, Jonathan, who had returned to Chicago from New York a several months prior without Annika’s knowledge. The meeting is awkward and as Annika discusses it with her therapist, the reader instantly wants to know what might have led to the couple’s break-up.

From that point, the novel shifts back and forth from 2001 to 1991, which is when the couple first meets at the University of Chicago. The reader quickly learns Annika struggles with social situations and how to behave in public and needs her roommate, Janice, as a guide and tutor to how to fit in the real world. It is because of Janice, that Annika joins the chess club where she meets Jonathan. The reader learns how the couple befriends one another and fall in love in 1991 while also witnesses how Annika and Jonathan rekindle their romance and friendship in 2001.

The author moves between the two stories easily without causing any confusion on the part of the reader. I liked Annika right off, maybe because of her quirkiness, but the reader is not sure why she is the way she is until much later in the book. Jonathan is not as well developed. He was a good guy who comes across as likeable and I understand why he falls in love with Annika, but at the same time I had hoped for him to have more layers.

Though this novel is written in both Annika’s and Jonathan’s point of views, this is more Annika’s story and the reader cannot help but cheer along side her as she struggles and grows as a person in the book.
Whether you have read all of Tracey Garvis-Graves books or are new to her writing, you will enjoy the satisfying ending to this story. I highly recommend this book. I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy.

Annika and Jonathan were college sweethearts at the University of Illinois. They competed in the chess club together and he was pretty much her first everything. A little off on social situations with quite a few challenges that are never named, Annika is beautiful, smart and painfully shy. Jonathan gently brings her out of her shell one step at a time. When their after college plans don’t turn out as they hoped it is not until ten years that they are reunited. Getting to know each other once again, their romance still runs deep as they navigate this relationship from different places in their lives. I really enjoyed this heartfelt tender novel from fabulous author Tracey Garvis-Graves. She captured the essence of a very different type of character than in her previous books. Thank you NetGalley for the early read. Pub date April 2019!

This book has huge depth, and shifts its focus several times throughout, keeping me engaged beyond what appears to be a straight forward coming of age romance novel from the first pages. Insightful and beautifully written