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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One of my favorite things about Tracey’s books, it’s how she weaves real life, sometimes devastating, events into her stories.
This is such a beautiful, unique love story.
Annika is not able to interact with the world around her as Jonathan does but she’s kind and strong and that’s exactly why Jonathan falls in love with her.
Jonathan is fighting his own demons when he meets Annika and after their first game of chess, he’s mesmerized by her and even though it takes time, he never stops fighting for her.
Annika and Jonathan’s road to their HEA is filled with struggles and heartache.
Their story broke my heart and kept me at the edge of my seat. There was a moment when I didn’t know if I could keep going but at the same time, I knew I had to turn the page and read what was happening next.
And I’m glad I did.
The Girl He Used To Know is a second chance romance, that will leave you missing the characters when you get to that very last line. It will make you think about Annika and Jonathan’s story long after you finished but most of all, it will make you fall in love with Tracey’s words all over again.
4.5 Stars
Ten years does little to extinguish the flame that burns between Annika Rose and Jonathan. Seeing each other for the first time after such a large space of time is like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket at the first sight of winter, it’s comfortable, but it also brings back the painful hurt each was left with at the end of their youthful relationship. Annika still prefers her solitude and the quiet, but Jonathan reminds her of the comfort of a companion, the trust, and the difficulties that sometimes come with dating when one doesn’t understand social cues quite as well as others. She’s not sure he’ll want to see her again, not after the past, but she wants to see him again and this time, she’s willing to do the work.
For those who haven’t read On The Island, Tracey Garvis Graves’ debut novel, let me tell you about how even years after reading it is unforgettable. I know the characters, I know their feelings, I think of them when people ask for specific types of stories, I think of them like old friends. Sure, she’s published others since then, but that book just had that memorable quality to it. When I read the blurb for The Girl He Used to Know I felt that rush of excitement, that same feeling of butterflies before getting on a roller coaster, it was an immediate feeling of I must read this book. The blurb doesn’t give much away, but the line, “She feels lost in social situations, saying the wrong thing or acting the wrong way – she just can’t read people.” told me this would be a unique read and I wasn’t wrong. I was wrapped up in this story for several hours, I couldn’t focus on anything without thinking about what I had left to discover on the pages. It was an all consuming read that left me smiling through my tears.
Annika Rose is your typical female main character, she’s gorgeous, she’s self sufficient, she’s loved and lost, but she also struggles quite a lot with social interaction. What others call weird or avoid her for is really her high functioning autism and the tools she has learned to use to cope with her inability to understand facial expressions, social cues, and body language. When Jonathan first sees her he sees her beauty and soon after her brain and, despite the difficulties he has in just befriending her, he sets his sights on dating her. It isn’t easy though, Annika is used to others “babysitting” her and is unprepared for what is required of her on date nights or even in Chess Club as she moves from occasional member to a competitive teammate. She frequently runs away to the safety of her room, is often unaware or almost too aware of the looks and comments made about her, and without a diagnosis has no tools to help her in the fast-paced college atmosphere. Tracey Garvis Graves really captured the misconception many held, and may still hold, about people with autism, I felt like I really was Annika as she battled the stigma of being dumb or slow. Tracey Garvis Graves also really highlights the uniqueness of high functioning autism, with Annika being so beautiful, but also easy prey for those who recognize she is unable to understand their intention. I am so thankful this girl has a roommate and best friend that loves her and helps her and never sees her as a burden, it’s absolutely one of my favorite secondary relationships I’ve ever read.
The romance aspect of this story is just beautiful and so unique, the novel flashes back between 1991 while the two are in college dating and 2001, ten years later, with many more life experiences behind them. These two love so deeply, when they fall they fall hard, but college-aged Annika isn’t prepared to cope with adulthood and the affects of choices and adult Annika has relied so much on her coping mechanisms that starting fresh with Jonathan sounds much better that dealing with the past. There is significant character growth in the ten year gap and while I would have loved to read it all I think we get just the right amount of highlights to understand where life took the two. Each are hardened a bit by their experiences, yet the spark between them still flickers innocently like it once did. I so loved Jonathan and his patience, understanding, and love of Annika. He puts other’s expectations behind him and loves her fiercely, even when he doesn’t know what to do to be there for her. I also loved how he learned to ask things of her, to explain the love, commitment, and trust he needs to make the relationship work. I think it is important to highlight that Annika doesn’t know how a relationship should work, being a partner to her rather than being a caretaker is Jonathan’s goal and I think the dialogue we get in this novel as they explore dating again is incredible. It felt realistic and accurate and really made me think. The two face challenges, massive challenges many of us would never dream of facing, and yet they continue to fight for themselves and for each other. My only complaint is the lack of an epilogue, while I could have read the story of these two forever I really think an ending that gives readers a reprieve from the tears would have been amazing.
Told from Annika and Jonathan’s alternating perspectives, The Girl He Used to Know captures the essence of first love and the mark it leaves on you so perfectly to me. It’s the story of the underdog, a romance with depth that left me in tears, it’s so beautiful and yet so heart wrenching, and begging for more. Tracey Garvis Graves’ The Girl He Used to Know will have a spot on my favorites shelf forever.
ARC provided.
I was so excited to read this book and did not let me down, in fact it was even better than expected. The characters are realistic and you fall in love with them almost immediately, the romance is tender, and the plot twist is major. Love, love, loved this book.
Sometimes you read a book and when you’re done that’s it. Onto the next. But not this one. The Girl He Used to Know has stayed with me for days. Seemingly simple but at the same time not. It was life woven into an epic second-chance at love. It was beautiful. Poetic. Uplifting. Tragic. Innocent. Heartbreaking. Pure.
Annika and Jonathan’s second-chance love story poured out the pages and straight into my heart. This book is so special. There is so much more I could say but Tracey Garvis Graves’ latest masterpiece needs to be read and enjoyed and savored for the treasure that it is.
Smart and sensitive, with wholly original characters you can’t help but root for, The Girl He Used to Know is unlike any book I’ve read. I loved every page.
Tracey Garvis Graves pens a compelling novel with beautifully rendered characters, an extraordinary tale filled with sensitivity and empathy that gives readers a peek into the world of autism through the eyes of a woman who proves to be as audacious as she is charming. Readers, don’t you dare miss this love story.
Tracey delivers another romantic gem! This time an engaging exploration of second-chance love mixed with real-life drama. The last few chapters had my heart beating fast and furious.
The Girl He Used to Know is not your average romance. It a story about a couple who, after a devastating event, loses their way just before college graduation. More importantly, it’s about how Annika struggles to make sense of a world that she feels completely disconnected from, and the ways in which her roommate and boyfriend help her to adjust. In fact, I’d venture to say this book is less romance and more woman’s fiction because, while the romantic relationship may be how we see Annika’s story unfold, the emphasis truly is on her journey to independence.
I loved the author’s story-telling style and devoured this book in a single afternoon. Annika’s character was written in such a way that I experienced all of her frustrations and disappointments. Of course, this made her moments of joy and peace that much more profound.
As to the ending of the book. Wow! At first I was put off because I felt like it came out of left field in it’s abruptness. I set the book aside for a short break, and while I was away for that twenty or so minutes I realized that the abruptness made sense! When I saw the date heading on the chapter I was immediately transported back to that awful day in September so many years ago. Shock, fear, disbelief, and distress at the abruptness of so many lives being changed in those few moments.The book was no longer as “easy” to read as it had been up to that point, and I feel very much as if that was exactly the point. It was going to take something monumental to make Annika step out of her comfort zone. The groundwork had been laid (her therapy, her diagnosis, her medications, her ability to talk through issues instead of running) and I feel as though this was definitely a moment that would allow her growth to really shine. I love that Annika overcame so much, and that when it counted she was the one to care for the man that she’d given her heart to so many years ago. Annika and Jonathan’s reunion made me feel as though, for that brief moment, all was right with the world.
I would absolutely recommend this book to fans of both romance and woman’s fiction. #TGHUTKvilma
I read voraciously!!! This is my favorite book I’ve read in a long time. Couldn’t put it down. My heart belongs to Annika and Jonathan, the main characters.
What an awesome story. The Girl He Used To Know is such an original and beautiful book.
Annika Rose is unique and kind and drawn for us by the author with such care and honesty. There is no way to read this book and not be touched deeply by the story and it’s amazing characters.
The story is told back and forth between 2001 and 1991. This is not a style I’m usually overly fond of, but in this case it works and the flash back chapters connect perfectly keeping the story flowing seamlessly.
This is a book that I will be recommending to all of my friends.
-5+ Stars!-
Tracey Garvis-Graves keeps the tension high throughout, and readers will be rooting for this pair’s happy ending from the first page until the last.
This is my first book that I have read by Tracey and it won’t be the last. I love a good second chance romance and this book will give you all the feels. I love Annika and my heart broke for her, the struggles that she goes through and the bullying is just heartbreaking. Jonathan is very swoon worthy and I loved every minute of him and Annika together. Truly a beautiful read that everyone must read.
I would wait forever and forever for any book by Tracey! She doesn’t release a book super often, but they’re always so worth the wait. She has her own brand of romances that leave you with an unforgettable story.
I couldn’t tell you the amount of appreciation I had for this book. I’m a huge fan of second chance romances and Tracey gave us two characters who were different, but brought out the best in each other.
Annika was simply a heroine that so many people misunderstood and refused to try and understand. She has a lot of social hang-ups and there were many situations that she’d avoid like the plague. But Annika was so beautifully written and such an amazing character, it was hard not to love her. She has so much to offer the world, but not many deserved it.
Jonathan is her match, completely. Seeing her for the beautiful person she is inside and out, he was sort of a solid foundation for Annika. Whenever these two were together, all her worries just disappeared. He helped her in so many ways and his patience and understanding was something that I admired so much about him.
Usually I’m not a fan of flashbacks, but Tracey did a phenomenal job intertwining past and present without it being a hindrance. Not once did my wander throughout the story because Tracey’s words kept me glued to every single page. I can’t say this was my favorite of Tracey’s work, but it was definitely different with the topics she decided to write about and packing things in on the emotional scale.
The Girl He Used to Know made my heart so happy. I truly loved and enjoyed this one, Tracey’s books have easily become books that I can never get tired of. With that being said, I’m definitely looking forward to Tracey’s next book!
Tracey Garvis Graves
” All my life, I’d been waiting for someone I could be mylself with. It had never occured to me that I could be that person for someone else.”
Annika has always felt a fish out of water, avoiding social interactions as much as she can but when she begins to study at university her life changes in different ways that will challenge her to discover and face totally new situations. Starting with her roommate who understands her like no one, past her fellows at the chess club and culminating with Jonathan.
Jonathan is fascinated by the different girl and does everything to get close to her and gain her confidence, even though each encounter is a greater challenge than he imagined. She understands him as no one else has and the love between them blooms in a beautiful and gentle way.
Their romance is the kind that makes us sigh with every touch, every gesture, every shared moment and every pain that comes. It was beautiful to follow the interactions between them and between them and people around them and it was exciting to follow this journey of love and achievements.
Narrated in the first person alternately between the protagonists, between past and present, gradually the motives for their behavior is unfolding in a linear and constant rhythm.
It amazed me how the writer chose to show the connection and the strength between them more towards the end of the book and how to show the extraordinary strength of Annika and were details like this made me perfectly understand the choice of the cover and the title, a work to deal with open and tight heart with a good box of tissues on the side.
4.5 Stars
“Did you ever fall in love with a girl who was different? Not just from any girl you’d ever dated before, but from most people in general?”
*Bookstagram Graphic*
I love a unique book with unique characters, and Tracey Garvis Graves delivered that with The Girl He Used To Know . Set in 1991 and 2001, we meet Annika and Jonathan as they bump into each other in a grocery store in Chicago after a ten-year separation.
“But I will call. I’ll apologize. Ask him if we can start over. “Clean slate,” I’ll say.
Such is my desire to replace the memories of the girl he used to know with the woman I’ve become.”
Told in alternating POV in both past and present, we are witness to their initial love in college. Annika, though they don’t say it initially, (It’s 1991), is on the autism spectrum. She is pretty but painfully socially awkward and prefers books and chess to people. At times she is like a child, sweet-natured and naive about other’s intentions. She lucked out in college and got a fantastic roommate, Janice, who took her under her wing, (I LOVED Janice!) and convinced her to go to a chess club meeting. There, she met Jonathan.
“Are you going to kiss me?”
He laughed. “I was planning on it, yes.”
“Okay. I’m ready.”
Jonathan realized she wasn’t easy to date, but to him, she was worth it. Her quirks, though at times frustrating, were the very things that made her who she is, and what he loved about her. But the two broke up, and we aren’t privy to why for a while. We just know that it was her fault, so when they reunite, they are both struggling with the past.
“Standing on the sidewalk, I wonder if she remembers how it felt to be in love with me?
I haven’t forgotten how it felt to be in love with her.”
My favorite part of the Girl He Used To Know was being in Annika’s head and seeing the struggles she has to fit in.
“Why were there so many things to think about? To remember? Why couldn’t I figure anything out in the moment instead of days or weeks later?”
*quote graphic*
The story was a bit slow and introspective at first, but it totally worked for me. I loved seeing how a relationship progresses when one person has challenges to overcome. I liked how she was so worried about being the right person for him, that she never considered he loved her the way she was.
“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.”
The last 20% almost felt like a different book. We lose a lot of Jonathan’s POV, and it was almost too big for the story. I feel like maybe it wasn’t necessary for this story, though it brought out every single emotion possible.
Likes:
•I loved Annika. Her realness, her flaws, her insecurities, her bluntness and her inability to see social cues.
•Her best friend Janice was almost too good to be true. She made Annika’s square peg fit into a round hole.
•It was so different from your typical romance.
•Jonathan always seemed to know what she needed and delivered for the most part.
•I loved how it was more about Annika’s journey than the romance.
•So well written.
•Brings out every emotion.
•I loved how the author brought up the difficulties in navigating life on the spectrum, from the danger of not being able to read people’s motives, to reading and imitating others for social cues and fitting into society in general.
Dislikes:
•While I loved Jonathan and Annika’s college romance so much, the “present day” romance didn’t measure up. I almost felt like he was settling for her.
•It was a little slow until the last 20%, then it felt a little rushed! lol
•Though I loved it, I’m not sure the big drama at the end was really necessary for the story, it was almost too big a climax for such an introspective book.
•Needed an epilogue.
The Down & Dirty:
A unique combination of Women’s Fiction and Romance, The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves is special and memorable. It’s so refreshing to read about differently-abled characters and the daily struggles they endure being different. I absolutely loved being in Annika’s head. I enjoyed seeing the struggles in keeping a relationship going with someone that doesn’t always react the way you’d expect. The end was fast-paced and almost felt like it didn’t go with the story. While I still enjoyed the emotions it brought out, I’m not sure it was really necessary for the story, and it felt very similar to another story I read recently. It dulled the uniqueness of the rest of the book. What would have brought it back, however, would have been an epilogue, bringing back the quiet awkwardness of the couple, which is really the heart of the story. Despite a few niggling things, all-in-all, I HIGHLY recommend The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves, it was a highly unique and meaningful read that I will remember for a long time.
Rating: 4.5 Stars, 2.5 Heat
I have not read this author before and to be honest had not heard of her either but seen this one. One of the fun of reading and joys most times is discovering new authors to you and staying with them to read them again. Annika takes you on a personal journey that has you seeing where she goes from keeping to herself to suddenly she will not be doing that thanks to Jonathon. This is also what is termed for most a second chance. There is a reason for her way she is shown later but you get a picture of both times as you read. You also get the emotions fully thanks to the writer and ability to get across to us these two. Relationships such as these two suck us in wanting to see the outcome giving us the richness that comes from it.
The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves is an incredible roller coaster ride of emotions throughout, but specifically at the end. I don’t do spoilers, so that’s all I’ll say about that.
Annika is a young woman who has always been a little different from the people around her. Jonathan is a young man working hard for his future. This is a story of finding love and losing love, accomplishments and tragedies, but most importantly, it’s about second chances.
This is my first book of Tracey Garvis Graves’ and as an introduction, again it’s incredible. From the first page, you are brought into the story and lives of characters that are so real they leap off the page for you. You feel every up and every down; you celebrate and grieve.
Bottom line: if you haven’t grabbed this yet, do it now! And don’t forget the Kleenex. Solid and well-deserved full 5 stars.
In my reviews I don’t give a synopsis, just my opinion. Having said that:
I really liked this book. The characters are well written, interesting and relatable. Annika is uncomfortable in social situations. Is this what draws Jonathan? This is more than just a typical story of love lost and then found. Annika’s character makes it more. The book is so well written, telling the story using side by side timelines from the viewpoint of both characters. I loved Annika and was completely invested in the story from the start, wanting Annika to be happy.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you #Netgalley and #StMartinsPress for approving my request. All the opinions in this review are solely my own.
I just love books with a quirky character or two. The Girl He Used to Know has the wonderful Annika, a woman with plenty of quirks. As she struggles living her life, she encounters a couple of people who ‘get’ her—they really ‘get’ her. And as they slowly and lovingly bring her out of her anxiety-filled life, she finds strength that she never knew she possessed.
This story, and Annika, captured my heart from the very first page. I turned the pages quickly–but not too quickly so that I could savor it all–and watched her life unfold before me, starting to understand what her life must have been like. When she feels that she has lost the person she loves the most, she faces her fears and forges ahead.
The Girl He Used to Know is a beautiful story of love, differences, and acceptance. It is a story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and one that I highly recommend. I will remember Annika, and her quirkiness for quite some time.
As a first time reader of Tracey Garvis Graves my excitement for this novel came from a fresh, unfiltered place. The blurb and simple, lovely cover intrigued me. As this author toggles between a ten year gap of time she introduces us to two misfit characters so well suited to each other and likewise so suitable to readers. Her story telling in the characters past is as reverent and nostalgic as it is shadowed by an inevitable separation. Bringing us to their present where this author weaves a tale of forgiveness, acceptance, and utmost courage through her wonderful writing.
I was consumed with this book almost all the way through. I couldn’t get enough of the characters and their plights. Their story was as sweet as it was painful. It was interesting – two people who couldn’t be more different coupled so well together. The trust and love apparent in this story is in abundance. As unseemly college sweethearts, Annika and Jonathan move through their journey together so naturally. Their stories and backgrounds are quite unique and different from each other. The patience and understanding of Jonathan and the quirks and bravery of Annika make them so appealing. As a reader, it was a comforting read even in it’s delving into much deeper emotions than just simple romance.
Once I reached a certain point though and the author made it a point to be more obvious to something I should have been paying more attention to, I was overcome with a sense of uniqueness in a situation that hits all of us so close to home. The devices used to create the final conflicts of the past coupled with what’s happening in their present hit me full force. Unfortunately, the way the story races to the end in a series of questions and tumbles left me a little leery about truly loving it for five stars. Those devices weren’t fully fleshed out for me in a natural way but rather seemed too obvious of plot devices once they happened. After so much excellent build up and beautiful story telling the ending felt rushed and even a little incomplete.
The Girl He Used to Know still does come very much recommended from me though. The character building of Tracey Garvis Graves is worth the read in and of itself. She needles her way into the very center of the loving and scarred hearts of her unforgettable characters and in doing so opens up her reader’s hearts. Coupled with beautiful writing this story is one you don’t want to miss.