The Girl He Used to Know is a beautiful love story between Jonathan and Annika that spans over a decade. They fall in love in college and drift apart when he moves to NYC after graduation while she stays in Illinois for grad school. By pure chance ten years later, they reunite after bumping into each other at a grocery store in Chicago. Annika is still single, having just broken up with a longtime beau, and Jonathon is newly divorced. They decided to take things slow by becoming friends again first. Has fate brought them back together for good? Or will it end as it previously did?

Brilliantly written, with adorable, endearing characters, I fell in love with this book and their love story. I wouldn't change a thing about this book - in my opinion it was perfect! As dramatic and devastating as the ending is, it is still satisfying and pleasing. This is a definite must-read on my list.

I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

For anyone that has followed my reviews for even a short while, it’s no surprise that I have a short list of favorite authors that I automatically buy new releases from because I adore their writing styles. But as much as I love them, sometimes that puts me in a book funk. Sometimes it means the book doesn’t feel fresh or new. Even if I love them. And I’ve learned something fairly recently. As much as I love romance, I really, really love when an author reaches beyond the “normal” romance story. So when I get into that book funk, I usually scour NetGalley for new (or new-to-me) authors. Most of the time, I’m REALLY glad I did. And this time? I’m really, REALLY glad I did!

The Girl He Used to Know is written from a very unique perspective. And maybe because it ‘s because it hit so close to my heart, that’s why I loved this story so much. And I did love it. From the unique perspective of both the heroine and hero, to the timeframe from which it was written, this book hooked me. I was all in. I was up way too late reading, too, which is a sure sign a book will be a four or five star read for me. It’s a second chance romance, but there’s such a depth to the characters, and to their stories, that it felt outside the box of “normal” second chance romance books that have hit the shelves recently. I would tell you more about the story, but it’s just too good of a book to post anything that could be a spoiler, and I certainly wouldn’t want to deprive you of the opportunity to fully enjoy this novel!

So while this author is new to me, I’m now going to be scouring her backlist to see if she’ll fall into my “auto-purchase” category.

NICUnurse’s Rating: I wholeheartedly give The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves 5 stars!

Annika Rose has never been a typical girl. She prefers libraries to parties, animals to people and the only time she really feels free is when she’s playing chess.

The game has been a great teacher to her for most of her life. It taught her about people, about herself and about the world around her. But she never thought that it would also teach her about love.

“Until my dad taught me to play chess at age seven, there wasn’t a single thing I was good at. I did not excel at sports, and I was all over the board academically, earning either the very highest or the very lowest marks, depending on the class and how much it interested me. Debilitating shyness prevented me from participating in school plays or other extracurricular activities. But much like books, chess filled a void in my life that nothing else had been able to satisfy. Though it took me a long time to figure it out, I know that my brain does not work like other people’s. I think in black-and-white. Concrete, not abstract. The game of chess, with its strategies and rules, matched my worldview. Animals and books sustained me, but chess gave me the opportunity to be a part of something.

When I played the game, I almost fit in.”

Jonathan Hoffman is trying to find his way back from a mistake that almost cost him everything that he’s worked his whole life for. But he can feel his luck changing when he’s paired with Annika on his first night in the Illini Chess Club. She’s an enigma that he desperately wants to solve. Brilliant, beautiful and yet painfully shy, she sees him for who he truly is. And her love is the absolution that his soul has been longing for.

All of their awkward pieces seem to fit effortlessly together and soon the future that they dreamed of is finally within reach. When an unexpected tragedy tears them apart, it sets them both on a path regret and self-discovery.

Reconnecting a decade later, the spark between them is stronger than before. But would fate be so cruel a second time around?

“Seeing you was like seeing a ghost. I wasn’t sure it was you at first.”
“I knew right away it was you,” she says. “And I’ve been grateful ever since.”

Do you believe in soul mates? Well, you certainly will after you read this book! Tracey Garvis Graves has crafted an epic love story that is as tender as it is unique. In a thoughtful and almost manic form, she captures the very heart of her characters in a way that is simply unforgettable.

You’ll remember Annika for her unexpected strength and kindness and you’ll remember Jonathan for his steadfast love. And you’ll remember what they made you feel when you finished the very last page…

The Girl He Used To Know comes out on autism awareness day. The heroine, Annika is on the high functioning end of the autism spectrum and I think her character was handled with sensitivity and care. I enjoyed this second chance romance very much, but the book also strongly focuses on the heroine's own personal growth. How she evolves from someone filled with anxiety that leans heavily on others to cope socially, to a woman who has fought for her own self-confidence and the skills to thrive on her own two feet. The book is told in dual POV and alternates from the present time to flashbacks of the past in the couple's college years. So you really get a sense of how Annika has evolved since their mysterious break up. In the beginning, you're left in the dark as to why, but it's clear that she blames herself entirely for the disintegration of their relationship.

Annika Rose meets Jonathan Hoffman at chess club. This is such a geeky thing to bond over, and I really loved that aspect of the book. Both are highly intelligent people, and their competitive games soon help her overcome her initial nervousness around him. Typically she avoids social interaction whenever possible, because the stress of worrying if she will inadvertently say something inappropriate is crippling. But from the first time he sat down with her, he was always kind and accepting and that helped to put her at ease. Annika also has a deep affection for animals and her other hobby is to volunteer at the wildlife medical clinic. She was such a kind and sweet natured young woman who has struggled so harshly with cruelness, that's it's no wonder she gravitates towards animals with limitless unconditional love.

Your heart breaks for her as she opens up to Jonathan and starts to reveal the ignorance and hate directed at her through her life. It's really no wonder she's closed herself up and avoids making new connections.

Jonathan's initial interest in her may have been superficial and somewhat self-serving, but his kindness and total acceptance of her differences was heartwarming. Even though neither had any knowledge as to why she was different, he was able to make logical deductions based on her comfort levels in different situations. You could really see that they both enjoyed being able to strip down and be completely real in who they were with each other, without any artifice or guesswork into what the other was thinking. There were a lot of sweet moments between the two of them, like Jonathan pressing his forehead against hers and closing her eyes so that she could feel their connection in a way that was sensitive to her trouble with eye contact.

In the present time chapters, Annika has gotten therapy and there are noticeable differences between her and "the girl he used to know." When she runs into her first love, she's immediately eager to try to pick up where they left off. However, he's upfront with her that he needs to take things slowly because their past lacked closure, and there is residual hurt from what transpired years ago. For me personally, I believe that she wasn't necessarily ready for a long term relationship at that point in her life. They eventually had physical and emotional distance between them due to a tragic event, and it caused them to drift apart. These things happen in life, especially when you're young and ill equipped to deal with such big challenges.

Annika was struggling hard and had to make the difficult decision to put herself first. I didn't agree with the way that she chose to do it, or his unfeeling final message to her, but no one can say he didn't try to hold onto her despite the distance she cultivated between them. It wasn't meant to be at that point, and I was glad to see that there was no bitterness or anger on either of their parts as they got to know each other again.

There were two points in the plot that occurred in the last 15% of the book that did bring down my rating, but clearly I was thoroughly enjoying the story for the majority so it didn't alter my rating that much. Number one: there was a major conflict that cropped up unexpectedly that felt jarring. I wasn't expecting it to happen and it didn't really feel cohesive with what I had read up until that point. With such a huge event, I didn't feel as if there was significant page time to address it, and it ended up feeling too rushed. Number two: the ending was abrupt and random. I was left wondering about Annika and Jonathan's future regarding their relationship and career path.

I loved reading about their unique connection and the representation of such a wonderful character like Annika. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy emotional second chance stories. It was tragic in parts, poignant, and easily engages your emotions. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

4.5 “It’s Always Been You” stars!
Annika Rose is a beautiful, single woman living in Chicago who works at a library. She’s always been a bit of a loner, who prefers reading or playing chess. All her life she’d felt like the poster child for weird. On the outside she looked like everyone else, but on the inside she never felt like she belonged. She struggled doing the things that came naturally to most, and often had trouble in social situations. She misread signals and didn’t ever fit in no matter how hard she tried. Then she meets Jonathan Hoffman her senior year of college. He was kind, gorgeous, and a true friend who becomes more. With him she opens up and comes out of her shell. He likes her just as she is and she trusts him. He understood her in ways others didn’t, and made her feel special.

Life takes them in different directions and then they run into each other ten years later. They both still feel something and have always wondered how they could have done things differently in the past. Annika realizes how much she’s missed him. He was her first love, her first everything. She’d never forgotten how treasured Jonathan made her feel, and how fiercely he’d loved her. She decides she can’t let another opportunity with him go, or she’d forever regret it. Can they have a clean slate and rekindle their connection or will it only end in heartbreak?

I really enjoyed this sweet, heartwarming story about how people change and grow, but the love remains. It’s a college, second chance romance that is extremely touching and original. It goes from past to present as their love story plays out. I adore this authors writing so much! She always creates characters that are unique and beautiful.

Annika first met Johnathan at college. Having been home schooled by her mother for many years, it is a new experience for her to be with other students. Annika is studying library science as reading has always been her passion. She loves animals and has such compassion for them so she volunteers at an animal clinic. Loving them provides her with much comfort.

A friend encourages her to join the chess club and after much hesitation, she agrees. Since chess is a quiet game that doesn’t require conversation, she finds she can relax and wins often. It is at chess club that she meets Jonathan. He too is a good chess player.

Annika is a shy and naive girl with what some might call OCD tendencies. She likes her quiet time so she can relax and read. Never having dated, she is unsure of how to handle it when Jonathan asks her out. He is a perceptive young man and understands her quirks. They become very close and soon are in love and wanting to get married. But something happens that breaks them apart.

Now, 10 years later, Annika and Jonathan run into one another. Annika has a good job at a library and loves her work. Jonathan is doing very well working at a financial firm. He was married for a few years but got a divorce. Annika has never married. Seeing Jonathan again awakens the feelings she has always had for him. However, she feels guilty because she thinks their breakup was her fault and wonders if there could be a way for them to get back together. Slowly, they see one another again. But there are some past hurts and rekindling their love may not be possible unless they are willing to examine what happened and confront truths. But something horrendous occurs that tests Annika and brings out her true strength.

I found this to be an interesting book but it wasn’t until the latter part of the book that it really picked up. I like Jonathan and find his understanding and compassion for the person Annika is to be very touching. Annika may have her quirks but she is aware of them and works to fit in the best way she can. Unfortunately, there are bullies of all ages out there ready to taunt someone who is a little different from everyone else. A good story. Do read it and enjoy.

Copy provided by NetGalley and Goodreads in exchange for a fair and honest review.

You know that feeling you get when you finish a book and you just sit and wonder how you are going to move on from it? The Girl He Used to Know was one of those books. After just reading the first few pages, I knew that it was going to be a special, heartfelt reading experience, one that would make me feel every emotion, not only while I was immersed in it, but long after the final word was read.

The Girl He Used to Know is a unique second chance love story. It’s also so much more than that. It’s a multi-layered story that is overflowing with emotion. It’s an honest portrayal of a young woman’s challenges as she maneuvers through life and love. Annika is going through all of the normal stages that young adults face: university, making friends, falling in love, and learning to be independent. For Annika, these normal events present more of a challenge than they would for many young people. As a reader, I felt as though I was right there beside her, cheering her on, shedding a few tears, smiling at her victories, and wanting to see her succeed at everything that life had to offer her.

The story alternates between two different timelines, from the year when Annika and Jonathan meet to ten years later, when they reconnect. This was all done seamlessly and perfectly. It allowed me to witness their relationship develop, to wonder why their relationship had faltered, and to see if what they once had was worth rekindling all of these years later. Their relationship certainly wasn’t without its hardships, but it was such a sweet, caring, loving relationship. Despite their differences, they brought out the best in each other.

Tracey Garvis Graves has written Annika and Jonathan’s story with sensitivity, grace, and an abundance of heart. As the story revealed itself to me, I was completely under its spell. It was a captivating read that gave me everything that I could have hoped for and so much more. Words can’t properly express how much this book moved me. As much as I would like to divulge all of the pivotal pieces that touched my heart, I don’t want to spoil the journey for any other readers. The Girl He Used to Know is a book that holds a special place in my heart.

*5 Stars

Thank you St Martins Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book takes place in a few different timelines, past and present, as well as alternating viewpoints. Annika meets Jonathan by accident at college during a chess match. Annika has been playing chess at college with the same partner for awhile now and isn’t excited for the sudden switch-up (a nod to being on the spectrum which was a cool addition to the book). Turns out, they seem to get alone quite nicely and eventually start a solid relationship. As we go back to present day, Annika hasn’t seen Jonathan in over ten years. She’s in therapy to deal with things that have happened in the past, including something major that rocked Annika and Jonathan’s relationship to pieces. Now Annika has run into Jonathan for the first time in a long time. Can they begin to move on from what happened in the past? Will they get back together?

This book is a true story of romance. This is a story of a first real love and how it effects you for the rest of your life. If that doesn’t shake your emotions, than what will?! It’s a super easy read. It had me so captivated that I read it all in one sitting. The character development is so exceptional that it really boasts to be more than just a romance story. It’s more intricate than that, which I appreciate oh so much. I, like most people I’ve talked to about this book, was not a fan of the ending. It felt really rushed just to get a reaction out of the reader. The characters themselves seemed to really change in the end which made it feel unrealistic. For some people, that’s a total book killer. For me? I still really did enjoy this book! Worth the read in my opinion!

3.5 out of 5. This one was just ok for me. Started off a little slow but by the end I was really starting to enjoy it.

Don't start reading this novel unless you have time to dive into a fascinating, heart-grabbing huge love story. Annika is a differently-wired individual who sees the world differently and struggles to relate to others. However, she has powerful, profound relationships with her family and her best friend Janice -- and the small circle expands when she and Jonathan meet. Their passionate love ends badly. When they meet ten years later in a grocery store, they are wary and also intrigued by one another. I don't want to say more except to urge you to read an engaging, seamless flow of a logically flowing, true-feeling, and magically told story.

Thank you St.Martin's Press for a copy of The Girl He Used To Know in exchange for an honest review. This beautiful book is available April 2/19 and you are all going to want a copy.

The Girl He Used To Know was such an incredible love story. Annika is unusual and struggles with social cues and sensory processing. She does not like noisy restaurants, talking with strangers, or the feel of labels in her clothes. Jonathan is a handsome young man who falls in love with her over some chess games. Their college love story is revealed from both their viewpoints as well as some chapters from the present, after they reconnect twenty years after they breakup.
Reading about Annika and Jonathan when they were first together is so beautiful. I loved how Annika worked to adapt more to be with him, but more than that, I thought Jonathan did a wonderful job seeing her struggles and trying to reduce them as much as he could. He did not try to change her or "fix" her and just wanted to be with her and make her happy.
I won't go into many more details because this is a novel you are going to want to experience and just sink into these characters. I recommend The Girl He Used To Know to anyone who likes an unconventional romance with complicated characters and a page turning story that makes you wonder how they end up and what happened to separate them 20 years ago.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley & Tracey Garvis Graves for the free advanced digital copy!

🌟BOOK REVIEW🌟

▪️MY THOUGHTS
✔️I loved both of the main characters! They expressed so much honest love and admiration for each other. I thought Annika’s character was amazing and I thought was an honest depiction of someone on the autism spectrum. She was sweet, honest and opened herself completely to Jonathan. I thought Jonathan was incredible! Such a supportive and loving partner. I enjoyed reading about their love story and separation. To me it felt so real and a true story of love and loss.
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▪️OVERALL RUNDOWN
✔️I loved this book! I enjoyed the writing so much! I wasn’t completely prepared for the ending and found it at times hard to read. It had me in tears so please keep in mind it might be very hard for some people to read. Overall, I loved it and really enjoyed the writing style! ❤️
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▪️FAVOURITE QUOTE
✔️”Though she has trouble deciphering other people’s facial expressions, her face is an open book and no one would ever have trouble understanding hers.” ❤️

▪️TITLE RUNDOWN
Girl meets boy
Independent
Relationship
Love
Honest
Excellent
Understanding
Sad
Earnest
Dating
Tragedy
Open
Kind
New York
Original
Wonderful

▪️STAR RATING
✔️🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I am always super excited when publishers include me on reading and reviewing new releases -- especially when I already know the book will be amazing! Today's book - The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves - is exactly one of those books!

Here's the story......... Annika and Jonathan first meet in college back in 1991 when Annika is an undergraduate. Annika is socially inept, doesn't connect well with other people . Since it's 1991, no one realizes she's on the spectrum because it's not common then.  She only has one close friend and spends most of her time in solitude. During a chess game, she's partnered up with Jonathan and he is able to see her in a different light than the others do.  Eventually they begin dating and have an intense romance together.

Fast forward and we are in 2001.  Annika works at her dream job at the library and lives in Chicago.  While at the grocery store one day, Annika runs into Jonathan. The narrative of The Girl He Used To Know shifts between 1991 and 2001, and it alternates the point of view between Annika and Jonathan’s earlier relationship and then back to 2001 where they are trying to put the pieces back together from why they previously broke up.

Ms. Graves does an amazing job describing things - I felt like I was there, in their minds, or living right next to them. The story line itself was wonderful and heart-warming an the characters are very well written.  The Girl He Used To Know was a very compelling and sensitive story about love and second chances.

I received an advanced readers digital copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to provide a positive review, but I did because the book was a really good book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am going to just jump right in and get to my thoughts on this book. I am conflicted. I have discussed this book with others who recently The Girl He Used to Know, and haven’t been able to resolve my feelings about this book.

On the one hand I love the writing. I could not put this book down. I read it in a couple of sittings.. I loved delving into Annika and Jonathan’s story. The moving between past and present and between their points of view really worked well. And I thought the portrayal of Annika and her struggle with autism was beautiful and so true to life. When it comes to Annika’s and Jonathan’s relationship and their development as characters, this book is easily a 5 star read. And I would be shouting my love of this book from the rooftops.

However, and this is a big however, the ending was very problematic for me. Though there was some foreshadowing, in my cross section of readers many did not see the ending coming. There are just some things that shouldn’t be used as a surprise ending or merely as a plot point for character development. And the ending is an example of this. Personally, I think the ending of this book cheapened the story and cheapened the beautiful story of a woman with autism. Why couldn’t this book just be about a woman and the man she once loved grappling with her struggle with autism? Secondly you cannot throw out this twist as an ending and not spend more considerable time with it it. It was wrapped up too quickly, considering the subject matter. The ending, I have to give 2 stars. I think numerous other situation could have been used as a the point of conflict and climax.

So as you see I am conflicted. Overall I will give this book three stars. The fact I am wrestling though does demonstrate that this book was well written. And I think it would be perfect for a book club discussion. I am interested to see what her other books are like. Her writing was exceptional. So will look to give her another try!

I knew pretty much from the get-go that I was probably not going to love this as much as some of my friends did. But I also knew this was a book purported to hit the reader quite hard in the latter half so I pushed on. And while I won't say I was unmoved, this did not impact me the way it did so many others. And the number one reason? The writing.

I can't recall, unfortunately, if Graves' other stories were written in such a stark, flat, way or if this was done because of Annika, but I was <b>not</b> a fan. It didn't impede my ability to speed through this in only like three hours but it made it a less than enjoyable experience for the most part. Infact the only parts I enjoyed were the following : Annika herself. Annika's college bestie Janice. And Annika's journey as an individual with high-functioning autism.

<I>All my life, I'd been waiting for someone I could be myself with. It had never occurred to me that I could be that person for someone else.</I>

Annika was just.. I don't want to, like, condescend towards her or people represented by her character but I wanted to just wrap her up and put her in a quiet room surrounded by books. She was just so lovely, so determined, and so pure. And that's something that her love interest, Jonathan, did appreciate. Over time. Not always during every moment but he was sympathetic, understanding, patient. He wasn't terrible. But you'll notice I didn't list the romance as my favourite thing; because it wasn't.

"<I>I thought I saw a pair of jeans in here once. Where did they go?</I>"
"<b>I left them in the laundry room and someone took them.</b>"
"<I>You never told me someone stole your jeans.</I>"
"<b>I left them there on purpose because I hate jeans.</b>"

I absolutely, one hundred percent, believed in her love for him. For how his affection, his influence, did so much for Annika. But though we are meant to appreciate her from Jonathan's perspective, and he <b>was</b> a nice guy, I just.. didn't like him. I can't even describe it. He was at turns really full of himself and also insecure and instead of his POV helping matters I think it made it worse. I don't think Graves captured him the way she probably wanted to. Or at least it didn't work for me. I just didn't get him and he really dragged the story down. I might have rated this a three, even despite the writing struggles, but between both of those issues and a certain plot near the end.. I just can't.

<I>On the outside, I looked like everyone else. But on the inside, I remembered that I didn't belong.</I>

I love that more authors are diversifying by bringing underrepresented people and situations to the fore and I so wish I could love this one as much as, say, THE KISS QUOTIENT. I think many people will enjoy this one; or rather, more importantly, I hope they do. I'm just not one of them.


** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

The more you get to know Annika, the more you come to respect the choices Tracey Garvis Graves makes in crafting this unforgettable, stunning character.

Annika does not like people, even as she recognizes the depths of her loneliness. Homeschooled from mid-seventh grade through high school, she comes to college completely unprepared to adapt. Loud sounds disrupt her, she doesn’t like being touched, and she struggles with deciphering emotions in other people. Outwardly, she is quirky and confusing. People find her strange and off-putting.

Her inner life, though, shows you that Annika is far more aware than people believe her to be. She may not always know how to act in a social setting, but her heart is always, always pure. She does not see evil or cruelty in others; only because circumstance has forced her does she enter relationships hesitantly, pausing to try to suss her way through people’s motives.

She enjoys chess and plays it calculatingly. With chess, she is able to analyze outcomes and choose the most successful path for herself. The pieces have strict terms of movement; her opponent has only so many choices of action. People, though. People have too many unknown variables, too many possible outcomes, too many unknowns. Annika is nowhere near as comfortable with humans as she is with chess pieces.

Tracey Garvis Graves delivers to this young woman a man, a romance, a love. Jonathan sees past Annika’s quirks and straight into her heart, into the woman she isn’t even aware she is. He finds purity and goodness in her, and he respects her boundaries and rigidities.

It would be easy to make someone like Annika a caricature or an object of pity. Tracey Garvis Graves, however, respects her character. She gives Annika strengths and self-awareness. She also gives her people who watch out for her and protect her without ever belittling or demeaning her. We all should be so lucky as to have a friend like Janice in our lives.

I loved the romance in this book. I loved watching Jonathan fall in love with Annika and she with him, and I love the friendship between Annika and Janice. I found myself even more drawn to the smaller moments when Tracey Garvis Graves lets us see people through Annika’s eyes. Annika may not be able to translate facial expressions into human emotions, but she has the ability to show us what we need to know. There is one scene in particular that sticks with me: Annika is home with her parents, telling her mother about Jonathan. “He has never been mean to me, Mom. Not even once.” Annika’s mother blinks in response, “as if there was something in her eye.” In this moment, we see a mother’s joy for her daughter, that sense of happiness and a little relief that she found a man who loves her for her, not in spite of anything.

In Jonathan, we have a hero for the ages, a man who loves tenderly and wholly. He does not baby Annika, nor does he excuse her when she hurts him. Rather, he gives her the chance to explain herself. He understands that she does not respond in the ways he’s used to people behaving, and he gives her the freedom to be herself.

Tracey Garvis Graves sets this book in a very specific time period, one when we were forced to face our fears and learn to adapt to a new world order. It isn’t so much that this is a metaphor for Annika as it is a way to frame her story, to show you the power of love to make you do something you did not believe yourself capable of achieving.

There is another moment in this story when a character tells Annika that “no one deserves a miracle more than you.” The beauty of this story is that you will agree wholeheartedly.

All of the stars for this engrossing, beautiful, unique love story! ♥️
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Annika and Jonathan meet in college and have a beautiful love story that should have stood the test of time. Flash forward 10 years and we see the two run into each other at the grocery store. What drove these two apart? Will they be able to reconnect and rekindle their love story? This is told in dual timelines as the reader goes back and experiences their love story from the beginning and sees what happens to drive these two apart.⁣
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I absolutely adored the characters in this book. Annika is a delightful, charming, quirky, and beautiful girl. I work in Special Education and a lot of my students are high functioning Autistic such as Annika. This is an accurate portrayal of someone with ASD and a beautiful representation of someone on the spectrum. The emotional growth and maturity that happens over the course of the book was phenomenally written and executed. I could have done without the sex scenes but that’s my only complaint. A beautiful, heartfelt, wonderful story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @stmartinspress for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.⁣
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This is a love story - but it's unlike any love story that I've ever read. It's about love and forgiveness and second chances and most importantly, it's about a girl who is socially awkward and trying to find her place in the world.

The story is told in two timelines. In the first, Annika (rhymes with Monica) Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. She is anxious in social situations and college is very difficult for her because she finds most people confusing. She prefers her life of books, animals and her joy in playing chess. She meets Jonathan at chess club and he is entranced by her quirky ways. They fall in love and make plans for the future until life pulls them apart and they go their own ways and he move to NYC to pursue his career. The second time line is 10 years later when Annika and Jonathan run into each other in a store. She still lives in Chicago and works in a library and he is visiting Chicago on business. The feeling between them is still strong and they have to decide whether they want to try again and risk the pain that they had before or take a chance and maybe find true love that will overcome their obstacles.

This characters in this book are well written but Annika is the character that I'll remember the most. Her best friend Janice helped her with social cues and ways to handle life but for someone on the autism spectrum like Annika was, life is full of confusion and difficult social interaction. The character is so well written that I found myself wanting to help her out and being upset when she was. She is aware of the fact that she is different “Most people can draw these conclusions instantaneously, without any extra analysis at all. How amazing but also heartbreaking, because I’ll never be one of them.” Annika is a character that I won't soon forget - despite her differences she is a brave and loving person. This is an uplifting and beautiful novel and one of my favorite books of the year so far.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

“You’re like the ketchup in my life,” I’d told Jonathan one night on the phone, and he laughed.
“I don’t know what that means, exactly, but if it makes you happy, I’m honored to be your condiment.”

This book. All the feels. All the tears. Such a beautiful story about first love, heartbreak, and coping with life. But for someone who is different in society's eyes, that life can be a constant struggle and this was such an eye opener for those who don't know what they go through.

This book hit close to home for me. I have a niece that is autistic with anxiety, and although she's high functioning, she has her struggles. And to read about how others treated Annika and how her mother raised her, I completely understand because we go through the same thing. So thank you for putting this story out into the world. For opening society's eyes to those that don't see life the way that many of us do.

And Jonathan. What a strong, patient, beautiful character he is. His compassion and love for Annika was heartwarming.

Thank you, Tracey Garvis Graves, for your beautiful words and for sharing them with us.

This is the story of Jonathan and Annika, who met in a college chess club in 1991. After a sweet time together filled with love and hope, they're broken apart. 10 years later, they see each other in a grocery store & decide to see if they can give themselves another chance. The story is told through both of their perspectives, jumping back and forth between 1991 and 2001. I loved that it was told this way, because it gave us so much insight into each character and how they saw themselves (and each other).
Annika is probably one of my favorite characters that I've recently come across in the book. She is somewhere on the spectrum, but it isn't addressed until later on in the book (likely because 1991 was not a time where there was discussion of this or official diagnoses, unlike today). She was sweet & loving, while being unsure of where she fit in & how to navigate through life. I loved that even if she was unsure about other things, she was sure of herself & what she liked. The story of her opening up to Jonathan & their relationship in 1991 was so sweet & heart warming - first love stories always get me!
The ending of this novel threw me for a loop. Had I paid attention to the dates & where the characters were, I would've noticed where it was heading, but I was very surprised by the events that unfolded. I did love the story overall, but was just a little thrown off at what event was used to continue their story.