I absolutely adored The Girl He Used to Know. I had high expectations for this book because I enjoyed On the Island and I must say this book didn't disappoint. I think I enjoyed it even more than On the Island.

The Girl He Used to Know is a second chance love story between Annika and Jonathan, who have met in their senior year of college, only to be torn apart by a devastating event in their lives and Annika's struggle to move on from the tragedy and her grief. They reconnect 10 years later and rekindle their relationship but they both still have obstacles to overcome in order for the relationship to work. I loved both Annika and Jonathan. Annika is smart and beautiful but she struggles with social situations and interactions with other people, and Jonathan is extremely patient with her despite the challenges that a relationship with someone like Annika presents. I also loved Annika's friend, Janice, she was such a great character!

The story is told in two timelines, one in 1991, when they first meet, and another 10 years later, in 2001. The biggest part of the book takes place in 1991 and the one thing I wish we would get more of is the 2001 storyline. I wanted to see more of them rediscovering each other and rebuilding their relationship. Regardless, I enjoyed The Girl He Used to Know immensely and cannot recommend it enough.

This book was very readable with a great plot that made it a quick read. I really liked the balance of a light read that got really heavy at times. I will recommend this book a lot.

I flew through this book in one day - something I haven’t done in a very long time. It was just so dang readable and often times relatable.

I have a thing for books told from multiple POVs and the author did this brilliantly. We hear from the main characters, Annika and Jonathan, via two timelines (1991 and 2001). As a reader, I felt like I was witnessing their relationship first-hand. Annika is on the spectrum and I enjoyed watching her slowly come out of her shell and learn how to navigate unfamiliar experiences.

I admittedly struggle with romance novels and prefer “more plot, less romance” - The Girl He Used to Know delivered on this front. I was certain this was going to be a five star read for me, but the last 20% of the book fell off the rails a bit. I felt a little cheated by the turn the novel took and how quickly the ending wrapped up. The writing had been so on point that I wasn’t expecting such a disjointed ending that didn’t seem to belong with the rest of the book.

Overall, I loved the characters and the character development, I’m just a little disappointed by that ending.

I loved this book! It was light-hearted at first, but I couldn't put it down at the end. Annika and quirky, and it is a beautiful story that I will be recommending widely.

The University of Illinois 1991 - Annika loves books, animals and chess.. She is shy and not comfortable socializing with people. She believes that she is weird not knowing she's in the spectrum of autism as its not a common diagnosis in 1991..
Annika has only one friend Janice and mostly a loner till she meets Jonathan in her chess Club.. Jonathan unlike others, understands her and makes her comfortable n safe in his presence.. Eventually when they fall in love and decide to have a future together, a tragedy leads to their separation..

Chicago 2001:
Ten years later, Jonathan crosses path with Annika in a grocery store.. the years apart has not changed the way they felt about each other.. They reconnect and decide to give their relation another chance.. However, will their love be able to overcome the past and another tragic event?

The Girl He used to know is a second chance romance told from both Annika and Jonathan POV.. the narrative alternates between past (1991) and the present (2001).. A truly heart warming, uplifting and beautiful romance!!

Annika Rose is better with books than people. An English major, she's no good in social situations and is often flummoxed as to people's behaviors. Her one social activity is the Chess Club- though even then she won't compete.

When a new member, Jonathan, plays a game with her, he looses his heart to the shy beauty. Thus starts a sweet, careful story of first love. They bring out the best in one another- he accepts her as she is, with all her quirks; and she allows him to gain some confidence back after a past mistake. Things aren't always easy, though, and when tragedy strikes the two are torn apart.

A chance meeting ten years later forces both of them to reevaluate the past... and maybe their future. Can the two reconnect and trust one another enough for a second chance at a life-changing love?

First of all, I loved the cover of this book. It's incredibly simplistic, but gorgeous. Understated, like Annika. That was the first thing to catch my eye. The premise- a sweet romance with an autistic main character (the fact that this was in a time where this went largely diagnosed was a great idea) made me really excited. I loved that Annika was determined, a fighter. The fact that she knew and accepted what she saw as her shortcomings made me love her even more. I found the relationship between her and Jonathan to be sweet, charming, and utterly believable.

The story is told in two narratives (Jonathan and Annika) and in two time lines (the past relationship and their present). I felt like this was done well, giving us a greater amount of information without slowing the story down- there was no choppiness in the flow of the book. I wouldn't call this a quick read, I found myself taking my time and connecting with the characters on a lot of different levels. That said, it didn't take me long to finish this one simply because I didn't want to put it down. I feel like this is going to be a crowd favorite. This is a definite five star book for me.

On the adult content scale, I give it a four. There's some language and sexual content. More than that, though, there's allusion to bullying and harassment. I would say 17+.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. My thanks!

I really enjoyed this book. So fun to see the main character portray a person with autism, yet autism is only hinted really one time in the story. It was entertaining to see her navigate life through that perspective. Nice love story that had some little twists along the way. I would recommend!!

I was worried that I wouldn't like this book, because I loved her other book On The Island ... which was so heavily focused on the survival aspect of the plot. However, as soon as I started this I really liked it. I definitely identify with Annika, a lot. I liked that the past and present and both of their perspectives switched throughout the book, but as always I wanted certain times and perspectives more. I really loved Annika and Jonathan, and I liked how much their characters grew over time. I do feel like it kind of ended abruptly, like the whole last part of the plot was a little squished together, but overall I liked it.

Thank you to the publisher for my ebook galley. I LOVED this book. The story was about a second chance at love. Annika and Jonathan met in college and fell in love. They ended up parting ways when Jonathan left for a job. Then 10 years later, they meet again, unexpectedly. What follows is amazing story of a love so strong. I loved Annika and I loved seeing the way her mind worked with her autism. I loved Jonathan because he is such a nice, genuine guy. I wanted nothing more than for them to be together. These two have some definite hardships in their relationship and this book is a must read to find out. A truly heartfelt, emotional read, and I loved every minute!

This was a really entertaining love story - I say entertaining not meaning it was always fun. I almost cried multiple times and read the last 25% with my heart in my throat. No spoilers, but it gets very real, very fast. Graves describes her books as "contemporary fiction with a happily-ever-after" which I think is a very accurate description of this novel. I wouldn't necessarily call it a romance, as there were a lot of other things happening besides their relationship, but the love story is definitely central to the plot.

I think the biggest strength of this book were the two main characters, Jonathan and Annika. They were both well developed and unique characters. Annika is a librarian and book lover (which always hooks me!) but also someone who struggles deeply in social situations, and displays many markers of on the spectrum behavior. I don't know Graves' own experience with autism, so I can't say this was an #ownvoices character, but from what I understand from the acknowledgements, she consulted with an autism expert, so I trust her characterization of Annika is not a travesty. Annika is a delightful and lovable character and I enjoyed every second that we got to spend both in her head, and in the head of Jonathan, seeing him love her. Jonathan was also a strong character - he was quite simply a nice man who cares deeply for Annika and strives to treat her well. I appreciate that he didn't fall into the normal tropes of "alpha-male" or even "beta male" but was just a man who sought to be respectful of others, acknowledge his own faults, and openly discuss emotion.

My main complaint about this book is what I previously mentioned about how the ending plot twist of the book arrives very quickly. I also felt like it resolved very quickly, and felt a little robbed of the super satisfying ending I was waiting for. The left turn the story takes certainly creates some tension in what was otherwise a slow building of a relationship, but it quite frankly felt a little unnecessary to me. It certainly heightened the drama, and readers who love big splashy plot twists will really enjoy this. I don't want to give comps for fear it might spoil the twist (although if you're anything like me, you'll see it coming, hence my stomach being tied in knots for the last half!)

I also recommend this book to the many lovers of Love & Other Words out there (another heart tugging second-chance romance), and of The Kiss Quotient (another strong heroine on the spectrum).

A very nice pleasurable read. You can't help but love Annika and you get such satisfaction from watching her grow stronger as a person. I also enjoyed the way her and Jonathan dated in college and then re-connected later in life and how the reader is kept guessing whether or not they will end up together. Overall it was a nice story and an enjoyable read.

I loved this book so much! It reminded me a lot of The Kissing Quotient mixed with The Light We Lost! I fell in love with the characters and honestly didn’t see that twist coming!

The book is well-written and enjoyable, but strains to give every word special significance, when the gripping plot would have sufficed.

4-4.5 stars

THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW is a gentle read, it quietly wraps you up in its blanket and before you know it, you’re 40% in and these characters mean the world to you. This book beautifully unfolded the growth and development of Annika, a curious character, a beautiful woman in all ways with a innocent abruptness that was sometimes jarring.

“How could any man ever be unkind to this woman? The affection I once felt for Annika might have gone dormant for a while, but it roars out of hibernation and makes me feel better about life than I have in a long time.”

This tale was told back and forth between the far past and another past (yeah, yeah, I’m not making sense but I’m saving the spoilers for never). Annika was part way through her university education when she met Jonathan. Jonathan was a good guy, my favourite kind of male protagonist. Theirs was a quietly growing friendship and relationship and I was on the sidelines observing and involved. They met again at another juncture in their lives and there was a lot to work through but again, I was invested. I can only describe this as a beautiful story with pain.

When the penny dropped for me, I inhaled and hyperventilated and cried. That was a killer ride to the end but I made it.

This book is memorable. It has amazing rep for disability and individuality. Go in blind.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

I read The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves in a little over a day.  I really enjoyed the writing. The first half of the book we learned about Annika and Jonathan with alternating chapters in their POV.  We also get a glimpse back to their college years and the beginning of their relationship through Annika’s POV.  The second half of the book destroyed me twice.  All the feels.  A definite 5 star read for me.  I also really liked how Annika’s autism was handled and loved getting a peek inside her head. This was the first book I’ve read by Tracey Garvis Graves and now I’m definitely checking out her others.  This one comes out April 2nd.  You should preorder it for sure! 
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Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for an egalley. All thoughts are my own.

This book was great! Loved the main characters, Annika and Jonathan, and how the story was told from both of their POV’s. I found myself not wanting this book to end.

Definetely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, author and publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange of a review.

Annika is a gorgeous, intelligent woman who has a hard time interacting with the world around her. (She's Autistic, but she doesn't have an official diagnosis until closer to the end of the book.) She really struggles to understand the meanings behind people's behavior, facial expressions and emotions. She uses little strategies to help her, but she finds life can be just exhausting. And starting college with new people in a new place is almost unthinkable. How will she ever make friends much less find someone to have a romantic relationship with?

But not to worry, her roommate is amazingly supportive and gently guides Annika into trying new things and learning some people skills as she goes. Annika joins the Chess Club and volunteers at an animal hospital. She even meets a wonderful guy, Jonathan, who loves her just as she is and is endlessly supportive and accepting of her challenges. Just as they're planning their futures together, life happens and they drift away from each other. 10 years later, after they've both grown and changed, Annika and Jonathan bump into each other at the grocery store. He's newly divorced, she's worked SO HARD on herself and is finally ready to embrace a real relationship. Can they both be brave enough to try again, even in the face of more significant bumps in the road?

I just loved Annika. She is honest and straight-forward. What you see is what you get. She wouldn't even know how to play games (except chess), and that's so refreshing. It was so interesting seeing the world through her eyes, and it really brought home how much we take for granted about personal interactions that can be quite challenging for the differently-minded. On the flip side, I didn't feel that Jonathan's character was fully fleshed-out. He was kind of this faceless placeholder, and his main personality trait was that he was understanding and supportive of Annika...which is lovely, but I wanted to know more about HIM. It's kind of frustrating in a love story when you really only get to know one of the characters.

I think it's wonderful that more authors are writing books with diverse and differently-minded characters. FINALLY! And kudos to Graves for writing a novel centered around the love story of someone with Autism and someone not on the spectrum and how they work to accommodate their differences. I will say, though, that I have read another book (The Kiss Quotient) where I felt that this was done to better effect with more story happening around it. There wasn't a lot going on here aside from the relationship, until 3/4 of the way through the book when the plot finally took off. Still, I enjoyed this book, and I think it's an important entry in a relatively new sub-section of romantic fiction.

*Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review an advanced reader copy of The Girl He Used to Know. This book came highly recommended from my fellow #spiveysbookclub members, and it was a fantastic read.

The story of Annika and Jonathan pulled me in immediately. I was drawn into their relationship straightaway. I flew through the pages, as the writing was easy to read and the story kept me engaged. I would have read through it in one sitting if I didn't have other obligations to consider!

Annika reminded me a of Stella from The Kiss Quotient, which I absolutely adored. However, Tracey Garvis Graves took Annika's character deeper and I felt so many emotions reading the protagonist's view of the world. The relationships Annika had with her best friend, Janice, and Jonathan as her college boyfriend were so touching. It's one of those books that makes you stop and think about how you treat people and that small, seemingly inconsequential actions can be based upon a lifetime of hardship.

The first half of the book felt light, with some emotional events thrown in. However, the second half wrecked me and I was not prepared for all of the emotions! This is a wonderful book and I strongly recommend it! Make sure you have some tissues nearby and a few uninterrupted hours - it's so hard to put down!

This book deserves 4.5 stars. It was such an engaging story and I was really rooting for Annika and Jonathan. I enjoyed how their story unfolded and the uniqueness of the characters. My only complaint was how quickly the story wrapped up. I am looking forward to reading other novels written by Tracey Garvis Graves.

4.5 stars!

I loved this book because Annika is so different from your typical leading lady. Her social skills may be lacking but she knows how to get straight to the point. She does things her own way and has often paid for this in the past. Jonathan is truly the prince charming of this story. He takes the time to understand her when others don’t and doesn’t try to change her quirks.

The only thing that kept this from being a 5-star book for me was the ending! I don’t want to ruin it, but I saw it coming pretty early on. It felt like a different book and I didn’t find the storyline necessary. I’ll just leave it at that.