I was given an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

There’s been an outcrop of autism romances, which is good because autistic women can and do find love. But rarely do they find insta-love with gorgeous neurotypical men who accept all facets of their autism unconditionally. So I have to do is this for work or is this just another trend in romance for a mainstream reader, with the required HEA? Or is it for autistic women who want to be seen and have their stories be told- all of whom can’t be as hot as Annika? I don’t think this book would be easy for those girls to read.

I fell in love with this book from the first chapter forward. The telling of a relationship building and ten years later rebuilding is touching, realistic and captivating. The author does not shy away from the trials suffered by Annika, an autistic spectrum diagnosed woman which enriches the pages and the delicate building of the early relationship between Annika and Jonathan. The details of both Annika’s and Jonathan’s characters are very well written and are woven together to form such an appealing and wonderful story. The Girl I Used to Know is a reread book for sure!

4.5 stars!!


I just want to say that I love, love, love Tracey Garvis Graves books!! Her writing is beautiful and sucks me in immediately.

The Girl He Used to Know was heartwarming. So many times throughout this book I just want to squeeze Annika, although she probably wouldn't have liked it!! And Jonathan is completely swoon-worthy. I just love these male characters that love and defend a woman that doesn't fit what society considers a "normal woman or normal behavior". Because normal is so boring anyway...

Through all of Annika's quirks, Jonathan stood by and loved her. Even as the years passed it was so easy for these two to fall right back into sync. I was honestly rooting for them throughout the entire book.

And those last couple of chapters had me on the edge of my seat! It was one of those books you couldn't put down until you absolutely knew how the story would end!

I highly recommend this book, Tracey hit it out of the park again!!

Five stars! I was immediately captivated by The girl he used to know. I fell a little bit in love with the characters and their love story. I had to pace myself and not read the entire book in one sitting. One of the best stories I’ve read in quite some time. I’ll be mourning the end of the book in the days to come.

See my review on goodreads.com

Tracey Garvis Graves is one of those authors who I don't bother to read the blurb for. So I requested this book and went in completely blind. I just knew I had to read it.
This book was phenomenal! And if any book in the world deserves an epilogue, it's this one!

4 1/2 Stars

Ten years after their painful break-up, Annika runs into her ex-boyfriend Jonathan at a grocery store, reigniting the strong and immediate attraction she has had yet to experience since their first meeting. However, Jonathan has recently been through an ugly divorce, and after the way things ended with him and Annika ten years ago, he is hesitant to jump back into their relationship. Despite this, Annika knows she is no longer the girl he knew from college, and refuses to walk away from what she know is their second-chance.

The Girl He Used to Know is my first novel by Tracey Garvis-Graves, and I can easily see how she has amassed the following she has. This book was wonderfully written, with two compelling main characters. I loved how the author alternates between past and present, gradually telling the readers what occurred in their past relationship, while showing Jonathan and Annika's emotional growth in the present. Garvis-Graves did a great job realistically portraying autism, as well as creating a healthy relationship between the two MC's. I'll admit to not being a fan of the plot twist toward the end of the novel, as it doesn't seem to progress the plot all that much, in my opinion, but it's probably more a personal issue.

Fans of both romance and women's fiction will enjoy this sweet and beautiful story of second-chances, though I would definitely recommend readers invest in some tissues for this heart-wrenching novel!

3.5/5