Cover Image: The Girl He Used to Know

The Girl He Used to Know

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Member Reviews

I wish I could give this book 100 stars! I truly loved it. Annika and Jonathan's story is not typical. They meet and fall in love in college and break up then meet again 10 years later. Annika's story is one of heartbreak, bullying, and having a very hard time in social situations. She has the very best roommate at college, Janice, and she helps Annika with college life. Jonathan and Annika's story is a true love story until everything falls apart in college.. When they meet 10 years later, it is wonderful to see them reconnect again. I LOVED the characters in this amazing book! I wish I could be Annika's friend! I truly loved this book and will be recommending it to all my friends! I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

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I was looking forward to this book because I'm a big fan of second chance romances but this one left me feeling very meh. There was a lot going on here but I don't want to give anything away so I won't specify what. I just think that a few aspects of this book could have been removed and the scope of the story would still be the same. It alternates between past and present chapters with what seemed like more emphasis on the past. The ending felt very rushed and I would have liked at least a couple more chapters or an epilogue to tie things up nicely. Ho hum.

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I absolutely loved this book! It's definitely not your typical love story! The Girl He Used to Know is the story of Annika, a socially awkward, seemingly high-functioning autistic spectrum girl who loves books, chess, and animals. As a college student at the University of Illinois, she meets Jonathan, a new student who joins her chess club at school, and despite her discomfort, has to play chess with him instead of her usual partner. Jonathan and Annika grow closer, and he challenges her to try new things that are normally anxiety-provoking for her, such as traveling and competing in the chess club's tournaments, and eventually dating and falling in love with him. As they grow closer and begin to plan their future together after graduation, tragedy hits the couple, and Annika pulls away ending the relationship. They meet up again in Chicago years later, where Annika is a librarian, and Jonathan had moved to care for his dying mother, and they slowly rekindle their relationship and confront what happened in the past that ended their relationship years earlier. The story is told from alternating points of view of both Annika and Jonathan, going back and forth from the present to their college years. This is the second book that I have recently read, the other being The Kiss Quotient, that focuses on the romantic relationship of someone on the autistic spectrum, with someone who is not, and shows it in a positive way, while still showing some of the challenges. Thank you to NetGally and St Martins Press for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This was lovely. I couldn't wait to find out what happened. Not one thing about ti disappointed me. Loved it. Will look for other works.

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I received this book "The Girl He Used to Know" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I really loved this book! This was a very unique and uplifting story. I could relate to Annika and I loved Jonathan. The book alternates between the past 1991 and the present 2001. I couldn't wait to read this book every night. I thought the ending was awesome too. Outstanding heartwarming story! Can I give it more than 5 stars?

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I LOVED this book! The Girl He Used to Know is the story of Annika (Monica without the M) and Jonathon through a change meeting ten years after they last saw each other. The book takes us on a journey through their present meeting in early 2000's and their past relationship in college in the early 1990's.

Annika is socially awkward and has difficulty managing things that come so easily to everyone else. She finds safety in her routines, her job at the library, and her volunteer work at the animal shelter. Jonathon is trying to regain his footing after his divorce and working a demanding job in finance. Reconnecting with Annika takes him back to his past, and gives him hope for his future.

I couldn't put this story down. I enjoyed the POV of Annika and found myself rooting for her success and happiness. I couldn't wait to find out what tore these two apart in college and I was completely surprised by the plot.

As the book wound down I couldn't envision it ending and felt I would have enjoyed another couple of chapters or an epilogue. When I saw the date Sept 10, 2001 my heart sank and I just wanted the ending to be as thorough as the rest of the story was. Definitely would recommend this great read!

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I was expecting HUGE things from this book...HUGE. On the Island is one of my favourtie books so I know this girl can write! However, this book kinda fell flat for me. I was really enjoying it and then......a couple of things really annoyed me and kinda ruined the book for me. The biggest was the ending. It was rushed and cliched. I understand what the author was trying to do but yeah, it was very rushed and I feel like it deserved more attention.

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Annika and Jonathan run into each other ten years after their break up. The narration alternates between present day and when they first meet, with both of their POVs. The author does a terrific job with Annika, who's "different." Hopefully this characterization will help increase understanding for people like her.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

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What a unique story! Kept me hooked from the beginning. The story was a dual POV that spanned over several different time periods. One might think this would confuse the reader, but it was very easy to follow.

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One of my favorite books of all time.

Annika is a wonderful, sympathetic heroine who also happens to be on the autism spectrum and Jonathan is a perfect match for her. I was delighted with their second chance and couldn't put this book down.

Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

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Romance readers will gobble this one up, as the touching and well-developed plot follows a college romance abandoned, and then rekindled ten years later. The characters were likable, though not as fleshed out as those in a typical literary novel. The book had a lot of heart.

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I have very mixed feelings about this story. I was interested in it from the beginning because it features a character on the Autism Spectrum, and that is something that is personal and meaningful to me. I do think it offered a unique and insightful look at the life and relationships of someone on the spectrum. In recent years, more people have been diagnosed with ASD and the public needs to not only be informed, but sensitized as to how to respectfully treat people who are seemingly different from themselves, with honor and value, especially amongst the growing problem of bullying and abuse.
This story did offer an important message to treat others with kindness and openness, because we are all unique in our own way, and being different is what makes us creatively human. So yes, this story was important in its own right, and rather sweet and tender overall. But I also felt it was a bit manipulative in its blatant attempt to leave the reader with no choice but to feel sorry for the main character and cheer her on. I think that a bit more subtlety and ambiguity would be preferable, allowing the reader to come to his or her own conclusions.

Also, the first half of the book read more like an expository article than a story with a clearly defined plot. As a result, it felt somewhat voyeuristic peering into one’s private life and daily thoughts and behaviors, rather than a plot-driven narrative. A plot did present itself about two-thirds of the way through, but I wasn’t thrilled with the turn it took. The main crisis felt out of left field; an odd, untimely choice. It was an unlikely event to choose to rehash at this point.

The ending was hopeful and redemptive, and proved one’s ability to persevere and overcome, accommodate and grow, despite the odds, which is always moving and motivational. While this book offered an important message, and was sweet and inspiring, this particular story wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.

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I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and COULDNT BE HAPPIER.

guys. five stars. book club, solo restaurant, bedtime...this book is a take-anywhere, read-anywhere type of situation. I haven’t read a book that has made me feel all the feels in quite some time. I cried, I laughed, I stayed up until 2 am reading...

So wonderfully written, so deeply entrancing, heartbreaking in all the right places- this one is a best seller.

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4.5 Stars!

What a fabulous book. I consider this a second-chance romance, but it’s so much more than that. It encompasses so many powerful topics. I don’t want to list what they are, because to me that would ruin the journey of reading the book – and this book will take you on quite the journey.

The book is told in dual POV. It also alternates between the time when Annika and Jonathan first met in college, and ten years later when they reconnected after a chance encounter.

Annika was such a beautiful character. The author did a fabulous job of portraying all her ‘unique’ characteristics and making the reader feel so much empathy for her and all she endures.

I loved Jonathan too. He was the exact person that Annika needed in her life. He was so patient with her, but he also pushed her boundaries a little, and I think that was good for her too.

Janice is probably the best friend anyone could hope to have. She was so kind and understanding with Annika.

I highly recommend this book. I encourage everyone to read it and experience this story about love and friendship.

I think the only thing keeping me from giving it a full 5 stars is the lack of an epilogue. I really would have liked a little bit more at the end. Perhaps we’ll get another book in the future. One can only hope.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley.

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OMG! This book left me with a major book hangover! I’ve been needing a book this good and I’m so glad I found it. I laughed,I cried, this book made me feel ALL the emotions and it’s such a unique story! The heroine was so fun and I loved her so much and I loved how much our hero loved her. Such a beautiful story!!

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Annika and Jonathan dated in college. MANY years ago.
Now they have run into each other after all these years. They decide to meet for coffee. Annika wants to see him again. Jonathan just wanted closure.
But you guessed it, these two go out again. Eventually a relationship forms.... And now I am going to stop writing about this book.

I have enjoyed all prior books by this author, this one, just didn't speak to me like the others ones did. I couldn't relate to these characters. You should form your own opinion on this one.

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4.5/5 stars

Oh wow! This book made me feel so much!

This book is sort of like a combination between Women's Fiction and contemporary romance. Although to me it felt more like the former.

The book alternates between August 2001 and 1991. The story alternates between the past and the present (male and female POVs).

The female main character is Annika. 1st person POV.

In 1991 Annika is 22 and a senior in college. In 2001 she is 32 and works as a librarian in Chicago.

Annika is very pretty. But she is socially awkward. Different. Anxious. I really liked how the author wrote Annika. The way she would act in social situations. Her coping mechanisms.

I knew right away what her condition/issue was. I like reading about characters that are not like everybody else. This heroine is different. And I definitely enjoyed getting peeks into the past. This is usually not my thing. But it gave me lots of insight into the characters.

The male POV is Jonathan (1st person). He met Annika in 1991 at Chess Club. I really enjoyed him throughout this story. However, to me this was Annika's journey.

The things that I loved about this book:
I loved how Annika cared for animals. She worked at animal shelters.

Annika's therapist Tina and their sessions. I loved watching Annika try to work things out.

Chess. I loved how chess played such an important role in this book. And I loved how much both Annika and Jonathan loved the game.

And lastly I absolutely loved Annika's friend Janice. Her friend Janice is probably my favorite best friend character ever.

Going into this book I did not know what the story was about or how it would make me feel. But I was so impressed with this book. An original female heroine and an intriguing past/present storyline had me completely captivated.

The story took a direction that I saw coming, but I suspect many will be shocked by:[SPOILER) As soon as I saw that the story was set in August 2001 and that Jonathan was going to NYC I knew right away where this story was going to go. Especially given his profession. I had a bad feeling.

But I really had no idea what would happen or where the story would go from there. I also wondered why the author decided to set the book in this time period vs the present? (END OF SPOILER)]

This book is a definite 4.5 stars. Both time periods were super interesting. But I do wish that we had gotten a bit more of the present, especially in the last half of the book.

Overall, this book was outstanding. I had no idea that I would be crying by the end. The last part of this book made me feel so much. It was brutal. It was emotional. I had to know what was going to happen or I felt like I would burst. I highly recommend this book.

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Can you ever go back? Does true love last to be rekindled again years later? This is a touching and moving story about 2 very different people for over come the obstacles of life to show that sometimes patience and love will win.

Fantastic story! Could not put it down.

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This was a really good book. I started it 2 days ago and couldn’t put it down. I have a family member with the same “quirks”. I’ve always wondered what was going through her mind and Annika answered a lot of my questions. When I started the book I did not know where the story was going and having a back and forth in time is not something I enjoy but to go back and see where Annika and Jonathan started explained the story. Meeting her Mom and Dad was also a treat. The brother Will turned out to have a heart and I never would have guessed the story would end in 2001. I think the hero of the story should be Annikas roommate.

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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for my review.

I went into this book not knowing anything about it, except that it was written by Tracey Garvis Graves and that I will read anything she writes. I am so glad I did. This was a beautiful story. Annika is on the Autism spectrum, but she doesn't know it. She just knows that she thinks differently and has to work a lot harder at most things. The author wrote Annika's character so beautifully. I felt everything she experienced. Some of it was so heartbreaking. She has such a big heart that to see her getting taken advantage of/made fun of was just cruel.

The story takes place in 1991 when Annika meets Jonathan at her college chess club and they fall in love and in 2001 when she meets Jonathan again and they reconnect. The reader knows something happens to tear them apart in college, but we just don't know what.

I highly recommend this book!

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