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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Final Score – 5+ I AM GUTTED STARS!
From the first moment I read the blurb to this story, I got an immediate sense of what Annika’s eccentricities were. Having some knowledge of this, I was ready and open to read this book – not really knowing where the writer was going to take me with this story. Ms. Graves was able to put me in Annika’s shoes – so to speak – and as I read the story, I got to see the world from her perspective. She made me feel so much – her pain, her isolation, her fear, her pure heart that just made me want to protect to her from the harsh and often ugly realities of this world. We don’t celebrate people we know to be different – we ostracize them, make them feel their inferiority and cast them aside.
The incident that Annika suffered in Seventh grade – I know what she went thru as I too was bullied just for being the tall, awkward girl. Annika’s experience was much worse than mine, but my god, it was like I was reliving one of the worst times in my life again. I cried my eyes raw reading that. Hours later, that and other incidents that happened in the book are on constant playback in my mind. Needless to say, this book is going to stay with me for a long time to come and I welcome that. It’s brought not only prospective but a bit of peace.
I could NOT put this book down – and believe me when I say I wanted to go slow as to savor it.
Edited to add in (3/31/2019): I just finished re-reading this gem again earlier this afternoon. All of Annika & Jonathan’s moments are still with me and once again my eyes are watering and my heart is ready to burst. I love it that much. This is my first book by this author, but this will definitely not be my last. Ms. Graves has found a new fan in me.
This book was a real departure from what I usually read, but I am trying to broaden my horizons. Through the entire book which I listened to on audio, I constantly changed my mind on how I felt about it. One minute it was dragging, the next it picked up. The characters would annoy me, then they would endear themselves. I was bored, then I wasn’t. Where on earth was this story going? Then bam! On, no this can’t be happening!
Yes, this was a book about love and second chances, but it was mostly a book about growth and stepping outside your comfort zone and for Annika this was so much harder than the average person.
She rose to the challenge to reach for what she wanted. I’m so glad I stuck with it as this was worth reading. Annika and Jonathan’s story was refreshing and heartwarming.
“A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” Eleanor Roosevelt
This romance fiction novel by Tracey Garvis Graves tells the story of Annika who struggles through life because of her autism and Jonathan her ex-boyfriend who treats her like trash throughout their relationship. I really enjoyed reading this fantastic read. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
Beautifully written story about love and second chances especially for some who has functional autism.
This is the first book I’ve read of Graves’ and I was surprised at just how easy it was to get into the book and get lost in the characters. It was so easy that I started the book at 7:30 AM and was finished by 12 PM, with only brief breaks. It was a page-turner to say the least.
The book opens with Jonathan running into Annika in a Chicago market. They haven’t seen each other in 10 years. From the beginning of the book, you know that there’s something different about Annika. She overthinks. She’s very honest. She’s matter-of-fact. It didn’t take me too long to wonder if she wasn’t on the autism spectrum. And let me stop right here and say that Graves does an excellent job at helping the reader to really understand autism spectrum disorder (ASD). I could really feel for Annika when the noises were too loud, the smells strong, and the stimulating overwhelming.
The book takes the reader from 1991 and the easy-going college days when Jonathan and Annika meet and to the present day in 2001 when they meet again. We learn about their families, friends, and work. Without giving too much away, let me just say that this is an enjoyable, easy read that hooked me from word one but completely took my breath away in the last 40 pages and left me on the edge of my seat to finish.
The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves is available now. I highly recommend it!
Graves creates characters that are flawed, relatable, and enthralling. It’s not what I expected, in the best way possible. While I think the Annika chapters were more fleshed out, I appreciated that glimpses into Jonathan’s POV. And the third act of the story was as surprising as it was emotional. Overall, I really enjoyed the protagonists and the plot.
A lovely story of love, hope, acceptance and second chances.
This was a fantastic story. It isn’t your typical romance covers a topic we don’t see often in romance stories. This is definitely another story by this author you don’t want to miss. I just loved both of these characters, especially Jonathan. To me, it just proves that there is always someone out there waiting for you.
WOW! I have another book to add to my favorites for this year. I adore Annika and Jonathan! Annika is such a unique soul and I wanted her to achieve her every desire. Jonathan is a loving, patient and compassionate man.
I heard of this book a while ago and immediately loved the title. I did not know what it was about. I finally purchased this book and read it and am so happy that I did. I honestly think this a book best read not knowing anything. I did not know what was going to happen and I just went along for the emotional journey.
This book will remain in my mind for long time. I think the author did a fantastic job of plotting the story. Everything falls into place and (to me) left no questions I had in my mind unanswered.
I recommend this book highly and hope other readers will pick it up and enjoy the story of Annika and Jonathan.
In a college setting, Jonathin is a fairly ordinary, if a somewhat shy athlete who also plays chess. He falls for another player, Annika, a borderline-retarded coed, because of her physical beauty, her scent, and her adorable (if bumbling) innocence. We have the raw materials here for one of the truly great love stories of our time. It would take some upgrading of the milquetoast Jonathin character we see in the actual book, but the incremental change needed is small. Instead, the author de-emphasizes the romance to the more fashionable theme of feminine empowerment. In this respect, the execution is quite good and, overall, I recommend the book. But oh my goodness, what an ageless love story this could have been.
I loved every word and read it cover to cover in less than a day!
The Girl He Used To Know is my first ever book by Tracey Gravis and I’m in love with her writing and the characters so much!! I couldn’t put the book down, I was hooked since the very first pages!!
Annika is such a wonderful heroine, I identify a lot with her but also in a way I learned so much from her character that I really felt so connected with her.. she was a beautiful girl with different tastes and likes often very misunderstood, she was bold in some parts of her life, some could say she didn’t have a filter when she wanted to say a thing, she was always honest and straight forward and that made people feel awkward, some of them hurt her just because they didn’t understand her, but life had someone prepare for her, someone gentle who will take his time to get to know this magnificent woman.
“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.”
Jonathan was also a great Hero, he was a true gentleman someone who took his time to meet and care for someone who was beautiful inside out, he knew she was special and that he needed to take things slow if he wanted to keep her in his life.. Jonathan had goals and projects like everybody in this world but he didn’t count that he needed to step aside for a while in order for Annika to become who she is now..
I have so much to say about this amazing book, without spoiling anything Jonathan and Anikka really grew so much being together, I felt like it was necessary all they went through in other for both to see how much they needed each other but at the same time to finally see that Annika was capable of many things. their chemistry, their connection everything was very palpable. Jonathan was the perfect man for her.
“Life isn’t easy for anyone. We all have challenges. We all face adversity. It’s how we overcome it that makes us who we are.”
Janice is one of my favorite characters too, she was the best friend we all want to have, someone with no judgment and the right amount of empathy and love to be that solid rock for Annika in the good and the bad moments.. she was amazing!!!
so many great secondary characters, Annika’s parents and Will, I love how Will surprised us so much even if at first we didn’t really get him.
Overall it was a great story, a story that will give you a great feeling in your heart.
Definitely one of my favorite books this year!!!
I loved this book, recommend highly! Not what I thought it would be from description but loved it!
I LOVED this book.
i read it on a flight back to LA and i couldn’t get enough.
and i was not expecting that it was going to have what it has even though it was a for sure given but either way, loved this read.
Strange to think that what you love is never what you’d thought it be. And proof you can be as strong as you need to be. Sometimes different is perfection.
A very inspiring story
Tracey Garvis Graves is my go to for incredible contemporary romance, and The Girl He Used to Know is one of the best Tracey novels I’ve read from her. This is the type of book that gives you so many feels- its sweet and tender and reminds me of ice cream. This is the type of read that will make you smile as well as cry, which I did while reading the last 30 pages. It takes a lot for a book to make me feel such an emotion. If an author can make me have such a visceral reaction, you know it’s a winner.
The Girl He Used to Know is set during two time periods- 1991 and 2001. 1991 is set in college, where Annika and Jonathan meet, becomes friends and then lovers. Annika is a special type of heroine. She is very honest, loyal to those she loves and looks upon life with such incredible alertness because she is on the autism spectrum, which is handled so well. You will want to hug Annika and hold her close. She is so beautifully written. Jonathan is a true knight in shining armor hero. The way he treats Annika is beyond swoonworthy. He is a true gentleman.
Tracey is also skilled at going back and forth between both time periods as we see Annika and Jonathan as college age, and then 10 years later as adults who reconnect. Also the year 2001 is very important for a specific reason because of a major event that changed the US, which becomes key when it comes to the final 1/4 of this tale that will have you gasping in shock and leaving you in tears.
The last two pages is everything pure, and some may see it as a cliffhanger, but it also can be seen as the final step for Annika and Jonathan and their special love.
Not many books make me want to have babies with it, but The Girl He Used to Know is definitely one of them.
I loved this book!! The characters are so well crafted and the writing is beautiful. Shocking twists and turns that made me nervous to turn the page, in the best way possible. Tracey Garvis Graves is a literary gem!
4.75 Stars!
This was one of those books that was hard to put down the moment I started reading. In spite of the alternating past and present day chapters, the story flowed easily and quickly. It didn’t hurt that it centered around a swoon-worthy hero and an extremely compelling heroine. This author captured the subtle and not-so-subtle nuances of a character on the spectrum with complete ease and empathy. The story took a very dramatic turn during its last 50 pages, but never altered the ultimate effect that the story had on me. Overall, The Girl He Used to Know was engrossing fiction with impressive characterizations and affective writing.
5+++++++
This was my first TGG book and I am in love. I loved everything about it. The characters, the story, even when I realized “where” the dates were going. At that point my heart was in my throat. My heart broke for Annika when she speaks of her diagnosis but was amazed at how she grew from that college girl Jonathan knew to the woman who learned coping mechanisms and became so independent. THE GIRL has be dying to read the rest of Ms. g’s library.