New York Times bestselling author of On the Island, Tracey Garvis Graves, presents the compelling, hopelessly romantic novel of unconditional love.Annika 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.… 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.
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Tracey Garvis Graves has crafted an incredible story with a unique premise and characters you’ll want to root for. The last thirty pages had me on the edge of my seat. This book is beautiful.
Written with sensitivity and spot-on truth, this is the most riveting, rewarding, refreshing novel I’ve read in years.
As an autistic woman, I found this story to include aspects I definitely identified with. It was a good read!
Spectacular. Fresh and dynamic. A true page turner. Loved it.
A lovely slow burn.
I’m a sucker for unique characters in romance and this book did not disappoint! Annika’s quirks were endearing and so much fun to read. Jonathan was the perfect romance hero you couldn’t help falling in love with. The climax of this story had me clutching my chest and gasping for air! I highly recommend this book!
I loved loved loved this book. My favorite part of it was how flawed the author allowed the characters to be. Flawed humans are my favorite. Jonathan wasn’t perfect, but his heart was so kind. Annika’s growth was astounding to watch. I’ve never read a love story where a main character was on the spectrum, and it was written with sensitivity and beauty and gave me a glimpse of how the world is experienced by someone with high-functioning autism. And I won’t even go into the final 20% of the book… I read the dates in the chapter titles and I knew it was coming and my stomach was in knots. The Girl He Used To Know is a story I will come back to and recommend to friends.
This book came highly recommended by a number of people and it did not disappoint! It was a deeply insightful read about a high-functioning autistic woman and the man who loves her. Unconventional and romantic, it has made me an instant fan of the author.
When I close the back cover of a novel and involuntarily utter a little cry…well, that’s a terrific read. The Girl He Used to Know has emotional impact, a compelling story, and gave me great insight into a world I knew little of. Well done!
Unique, heartfelt story!
On the surface, this book might appear to be a girl-meets-boy, girl-loses-boy, girl-gets-boy-back-years-later type of story. But dig a little and you’ll find so much more. The girl in question is not your usual heroine: she’s somewhere on the autism spectrum. And the boy isn’t typical either—he’s not trying to take advantage of her, he’s trying to heal too. Both a touching love story and an interesting insight into life on the spectrum, I raced through this in a day and felt all the feels when life intervened in a way that might have kept them apart forever. I recommend it.
The Girl He Used to Know was an emotional and unexpected story about life, love, and independence. It’s about self-acceptance and pushing boundaries. It’s about hope, and every person on this planet can do with a dose of that right about now. I’m so very glad I read this book. Check it out.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for generously mailing me an advance readers’ edition of Tracey Garvis Graves’s The Girl He Used to Know. In exchange, I agreed to share my honest thoughts on goodreads and my other favorite social media sites.
The Girl He Used to Know is set for release on April 2, 2019.
Do you ever get to read one of those books that are all consuming? Those books that are so fascinating and gripping that you get lost in what you’re supposed to do, in what’s going on around you? Yea, that’s exactly how it was with this book by Tracey Garvis Graves. It’s not my first book by her, I absolutely loved Coveted. But, I have to say that this one is one that will stay with me from some time.
Annika. Bless her soul, I absolutely loved her character. She was full of quirks and struggled through her life but that just made me love her even more. Call it mama mode in me, but I did. I loved her hard. Enter Jonathan. Another cant-help-but-love character, and watching him both in the 1990’s and then again in 2001 in the story, really had me cheering for him and Annika. I loved how he felt about Annika.
That’s the character portion. Now, did I love the plot line? Absolutely. It’s tragic, it’s romantic, it’s twisty, it’s perfect. I loved it all. Graves has a stellar writing style and knows how to turn out a story that will not only haunt you and make you want more, but will wrap you up and consume your soul. And, when you reach the end of the story…….well, let’s just say this. It will make you stop cold and think about the entire story over again!
If you are looking for a book that will leave you laughing til you cry, or make you hate it, don’t get this book. If you are looking for a book that is stunning, gripping, and filled heart wrenching, unforgettable characters, then this is the book for you. This is beyond worthy of 5 stars. I would give it 5000 if I could! But, since I can’t, I will just tell you to go now, forthwith, and pre-order it. Order one for you. Order one for your sister, your best friend, and your mom, too. I can not wait to see what Graves has in store for her fans in her next book!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Tracey Garvis Graves
I can’t say enough about how wonderful this book is! It is a really fast-paced read with short chapters and realistic characters. Annika loves Jonathan and he seems to love her, too. They work out all of the strange habits that Annika has, like wearing the same clothes and never really trying anything new. The big thing that they have in common is Chess Club, and this seems to be the center of their budding relationship. The reader will recognize early in the book that Annika has some kind of mental disability. I knew right away what it was because my granddaughter has been diagnosed with the same disability and has some of the same strange habits that Annika has. I was heartened to learn that Annika could finish college, find a job, live on her own and discover love, even with all of her disabilities. That gave me hope for my granddaughter! My favorite part of the book was when Annika loved Jonathan so much that she actually goes out of her comfort zone to be with him when he needs her. What a fantastic story of unselfish love and sacrifice! Readers of romance will absolutely love this book! It’s a different kind of romance, with people who are individuals and who overcome obstacles to become a couple. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I loved these characters so much, I didn’t want the book to end. It’s heartbreaking hearing about how difficult the world is for a woman on the autism spectrum, but she’s also very relatable. The story flips back and forth between college when she met a guy who appreciated her quirks and then 2011, when they bump into each other again. Each has grown and changed so the reader wonders if they can make things work this time. To me, this is what quality women’s fiction should be!
This book touched my heart! I was immediately enamored with both protagonists and couldn’t stop reading as I cheered them on.
Super quick read. Wasn’t sure I was going to like the story at first, but the characters grew on me. And I was so engrossed by the story that I wasn’t really even watching the timeline, so the last few chapters came as a surprise rather than being predictable. Very enjoyable book.
Annika is one of the most remarkable characters I’ve ever read. Her valor in the face of her challenges really tugged at my heart, and Jonathan had me rooting for him from the beginning. Plus who can resist a tale of The One Who Got Away coming back into your life? My heart was in my throat for the last 50 pages, truly worried and hoping so hard that I caught myself holding my breath while simultaneously racing to see how it ended and not wanting to skip one word. I’ve never read Ms. Graves before, but I will be seeking out her other work now, for sure.
I loved the honest feel of this book that deftly handles a romance between an autistic woman and her college sweetheart. It’s an emotional read, realistically written, that shines a light on the challenges and rewards of loving someone a little different. Highly recommend!
For a “beach read” this was a wonderful book. Loved the main character’s vulnerability.