This was a really entertaining love story - I say entertaining not meaning it was always fun. I almost cried multiple times and read the last 25% with my heart in my throat. No spoilers, but it gets very real, very fast. Graves describes her books as "contemporary fiction with a happily-ever-after" which I think is a very accurate description of this novel. I wouldn't necessarily call it a romance, as there were a lot of other things happening besides their relationship, but the love story is definitely central to the plot.

I think the biggest strength of this book were the two main characters, Jonathan and Annika. They were both well developed and unique characters. Annika is a librarian and book lover (which always hooks me!) but also someone who struggles deeply in social situations, and displays many markers of on the spectrum behavior. I don't know Graves' own experience with autism, so I can't say this was an #ownvoices character, but from what I understand from the acknowledgements, she consulted with an autism expert, so I trust her characterization of Annika is not a travesty. Annika is a delightful and lovable character and I enjoyed every second that we got to spend both in her head, and in the head of Jonathan, seeing him love her. Jonathan was also a strong character - he was quite simply a nice man who cares deeply for Annika and strives to treat her well. I appreciate that he didn't fall into the normal tropes of "alpha-male" or even "beta male" but was just a man who sought to be respectful of others, acknowledge his own faults, and openly discuss emotion.

My main complaint about this book is what I previously mentioned about how the ending plot twist of the book arrives very quickly. I also felt like it resolved very quickly, and felt a little robbed of the super satisfying ending I was waiting for. The left turn the story takes certainly creates some tension in what was otherwise a slow building of a relationship, but it quite frankly felt a little unnecessary to me. It certainly heightened the drama, and readers who love big splashy plot twists will really enjoy this. I don't want to give comps for fear it might spoil the twist (although if you're anything like me, you'll see it coming, hence my stomach being tied in knots for the last half!)

I also recommend this book to the many lovers of Love & Other Words out there (another heart tugging second-chance romance), and of The Kiss Quotient (another strong heroine on the spectrum).

A very nice pleasurable read. You can't help but love Annika and you get such satisfaction from watching her grow stronger as a person. I also enjoyed the way her and Jonathan dated in college and then re-connected later in life and how the reader is kept guessing whether or not they will end up together. Overall it was a nice story and an enjoyable read.

I loved this book so much! It reminded me a lot of The Kissing Quotient mixed with The Light We Lost! I fell in love with the characters and honestly didn’t see that twist coming!

The book is well-written and enjoyable, but strains to give every word special significance, when the gripping plot would have sufficed.

4-4.5 stars

THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW is a gentle read, it quietly wraps you up in its blanket and before you know it, you’re 40% in and these characters mean the world to you. This book beautifully unfolded the growth and development of Annika, a curious character, a beautiful woman in all ways with a innocent abruptness that was sometimes jarring.

“How could any man ever be unkind to this woman? The affection I once felt for Annika might have gone dormant for a while, but it roars out of hibernation and makes me feel better about life than I have in a long time.”

This tale was told back and forth between the far past and another past (yeah, yeah, I’m not making sense but I’m saving the spoilers for never). Annika was part way through her university education when she met Jonathan. Jonathan was a good guy, my favourite kind of male protagonist. Theirs was a quietly growing friendship and relationship and I was on the sidelines observing and involved. They met again at another juncture in their lives and there was a lot to work through but again, I was invested. I can only describe this as a beautiful story with pain.

When the penny dropped for me, I inhaled and hyperventilated and cried. That was a killer ride to the end but I made it.

This book is memorable. It has amazing rep for disability and individuality. Go in blind.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

I read The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves in a little over a day.  I really enjoyed the writing. The first half of the book we learned about Annika and Jonathan with alternating chapters in their POV.  We also get a glimpse back to their college years and the beginning of their relationship through Annika’s POV.  The second half of the book destroyed me twice.  All the feels.  A definite 5 star read for me.  I also really liked how Annika’s autism was handled and loved getting a peek inside her head. This was the first book I’ve read by Tracey Garvis Graves and now I’m definitely checking out her others.  This one comes out April 2nd.  You should preorder it for sure! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for an egalley. All thoughts are my own.

This book was great! Loved the main characters, Annika and Jonathan, and how the story was told from both of their POV’s. I found myself not wanting this book to end.

Definetely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, author and publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange of a review.

Annika is a gorgeous, intelligent woman who has a hard time interacting with the world around her. (She's Autistic, but she doesn't have an official diagnosis until closer to the end of the book.) She really struggles to understand the meanings behind people's behavior, facial expressions and emotions. She uses little strategies to help her, but she finds life can be just exhausting. And starting college with new people in a new place is almost unthinkable. How will she ever make friends much less find someone to have a romantic relationship with?

But not to worry, her roommate is amazingly supportive and gently guides Annika into trying new things and learning some people skills as she goes. Annika joins the Chess Club and volunteers at an animal hospital. She even meets a wonderful guy, Jonathan, who loves her just as she is and is endlessly supportive and accepting of her challenges. Just as they're planning their futures together, life happens and they drift away from each other. 10 years later, after they've both grown and changed, Annika and Jonathan bump into each other at the grocery store. He's newly divorced, she's worked SO HARD on herself and is finally ready to embrace a real relationship. Can they both be brave enough to try again, even in the face of more significant bumps in the road?

I just loved Annika. She is honest and straight-forward. What you see is what you get. She wouldn't even know how to play games (except chess), and that's so refreshing. It was so interesting seeing the world through her eyes, and it really brought home how much we take for granted about personal interactions that can be quite challenging for the differently-minded. On the flip side, I didn't feel that Jonathan's character was fully fleshed-out. He was kind of this faceless placeholder, and his main personality trait was that he was understanding and supportive of Annika...which is lovely, but I wanted to know more about HIM. It's kind of frustrating in a love story when you really only get to know one of the characters.

I think it's wonderful that more authors are writing books with diverse and differently-minded characters. FINALLY! And kudos to Graves for writing a novel centered around the love story of someone with Autism and someone not on the spectrum and how they work to accommodate their differences. I will say, though, that I have read another book (The Kiss Quotient) where I felt that this was done to better effect with more story happening around it. There wasn't a lot going on here aside from the relationship, until 3/4 of the way through the book when the plot finally took off. Still, I enjoyed this book, and I think it's an important entry in a relatively new sub-section of romantic fiction.

*Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review an advanced reader copy of The Girl He Used to Know. This book came highly recommended from my fellow #spiveysbookclub members, and it was a fantastic read.

The story of Annika and Jonathan pulled me in immediately. I was drawn into their relationship straightaway. I flew through the pages, as the writing was easy to read and the story kept me engaged. I would have read through it in one sitting if I didn't have other obligations to consider!

Annika reminded me a of Stella from The Kiss Quotient, which I absolutely adored. However, Tracey Garvis Graves took Annika's character deeper and I felt so many emotions reading the protagonist's view of the world. The relationships Annika had with her best friend, Janice, and Jonathan as her college boyfriend were so touching. It's one of those books that makes you stop and think about how you treat people and that small, seemingly inconsequential actions can be based upon a lifetime of hardship.

The first half of the book felt light, with some emotional events thrown in. However, the second half wrecked me and I was not prepared for all of the emotions! This is a wonderful book and I strongly recommend it! Make sure you have some tissues nearby and a few uninterrupted hours - it's so hard to put down!

This book deserves 4.5 stars. It was such an engaging story and I was really rooting for Annika and Jonathan. I enjoyed how their story unfolded and the uniqueness of the characters. My only complaint was how quickly the story wrapped up. I am looking forward to reading other novels written by Tracey Garvis Graves.

4.5 stars!

I loved this book because Annika is so different from your typical leading lady. Her social skills may be lacking but she knows how to get straight to the point. She does things her own way and has often paid for this in the past. Jonathan is truly the prince charming of this story. He takes the time to understand her when others don’t and doesn’t try to change her quirks.

The only thing that kept this from being a 5-star book for me was the ending! I don’t want to ruin it, but I saw it coming pretty early on. It felt like a different book and I didn’t find the storyline necessary. I’ll just leave it at that.

In The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves, Going to the University of Illinois for a degree in English was a pretty scary thing for Annika Rose to navigate. She’s not exactly shy. She’s just never understood all the rules of how to behave socially–which makes even dating something of a nightmare. But with the help (read: insistence) of her roommate Janice, Annika begins to branch out and not only volunteers at the local animal refuge but she also joins the chess club. A game she loves that also calms her mind. And that’s where she meets Jonathan. The man who would change and improve Annika’s life in ways she would never have imagined possible.

Jonathan felt a connection right away with Annika. Beautiful, smart and wonderfully sincere with her feelings, she brightened his days at a time when everything seemed to be in question. As their relationship became something much bigger than a simple fling, Jonathan and Annika could see a future together beyond college. But circumstances tested their romance and they sadly went their separate ways for a decade. When a chance encounter brings them back together with Jonathan being divorced but ready to move forward, and Annika lonely but having achieved her dream career of being a librarian, it seems fate will again try to rip them apart. But are they strong enough–individually and as a couple–this time to overcome their struggles?


This. Book. Oh my goodness, the feels I had for this incredible couple and their epic romance. Tracey Garvis Graves always brings her A game but she truly did an outstanding job with The Girl He Used to Know.

It’s going to be really difficult to not give too much away in this review so I’ll do my best to keep it basic. First off, if you haven’t read anything by Tracey Garvis Graves then this would be a fantastic way to begin. I recommend ALL of her work but there was something so relatable about Annika (rhymes with Monica) and Jonathan’s relationship that I think it will resonate easily with readers.

This is a dual timeline story, set in 1991 when Jonathan and Annika met in college, then ten years later in 2001 when they rekindled their romance. I loved seeing the difference between how they acted/reacted to some of the same issues they faced down in their early twenties vs in their early thirties. Their personal growth was evident in that decade apart and I think it made all the difference in how they were able to move forward emotionally after that time.

Annika might not have been a typical romance heroine, but I simply adored her. She was exactly who she presented herself as and didn’t play games. She was very intelligent and caring in her own way–she was a huge animal lover and that made me like her even more–but she didn’t pick up on social cues. So Annika was always struggling emotionally and socially. She did learn how to read people better through help with her college roommate, a few others along the way, and even from Jonathan.

Speaking of Jonathan, what a great guy he was. Good-natured, intelligent, kind and caring. Of course just like Annika, he wasn’t without faults. But he turned out to be just who she needed at different times in her life–as she was for him when it really counted. Jonathan’s struggles were more towards the latter part of the book, and I can’t give away the shocking details I didn’t see coming until right before the “event” happened. But suffice it to say Annika stepped up for him in a huge way and gave him the love and support he wanted from her all along. It was a sweet, emotional–although rather abrupt–ending, and I could have used more time with Jonathan and Annika, to see where their lives took them as I loved them together so much.

Poignant, heartfelt, filled with joy and heartbreak, The Girl He Used to Know is a novel I will treasure for years to come. It showed the power of friendship and love, and will surely touch the heart of every reader.

Overall, this was a 3.5 star read for me. I know I'm in the minority of early readers, but I never felt like I fully "clicked" with either of the characters. I liked Annika’s character a ton! Definitely a unique perspective. I thought Jonathan was unrealistic, but maybe I’m too cynical. I adored the setting, as I’ve spent a ton of time in the primary locations of the book (U of I and Chicago). I liked the alternating POVs and the alternating timeline. I think this will stun a lot of people, but it felt pretty average to me. There was a surprising (to me at least) turn about 50 pages to the end, that seemed to wrap up rather suddenly. The ending felt a bit rushed. Strong novel and a 3.5 star read for me (rounded up or down I’m not sure yet!).

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

It was a delight to read The Girl He Used to Know by Tracy Garvis Graves with my friend, Jennifer the Tar Heel Reader. Jen is a fantastic book reviewer, great photographer, and all around pleasant and thoughtful person. I'm happy we were able to get to know one another a little better through reading! It had been quite some time since I had buddy read a book and it was lots of fun to be able to reflect on the things I loved with another reader. It was an added bonus that we both absolutely adored this story and decided to give it a five-star rating!

I read On the Island and Uncharted by Tracy Garvis Graves last month and fell in love with her incredible writing and storytelling. I couldn't wait to dive into more of her work as soon as possible. Thankfully this ARC was eagerly awaiting my greedy eyes and hungry heart.

I didn't know how badly I needed this feel-good read, which felt in some ways like a mash-up of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and The Kiss Quotient, each wonderful books in their own right. From the start, I found The Girl I Used to Know to be a fast-paced and easy read. Annika was a quirky, yet loveable character I was eager to learn more about. This book made me realize how truly important great characters are. In the first half of the story, it didn't feel as if there was much action taking place, yet I was glued to the pages as if I was reading a fast-paced Thriller - all due to my love of the characters. I adored being in Annika's head and understanding the unique challenges her life presented her with, all while attempting to figure out the mystery behind her romance with Jonathan.

Johnathan was another character I simply could not get enough of. His patience and understanding of Annika was tremendously endearing. It was refreshing to read a male character like him. Strong, yet soft in the ways a man should be. He was an all-around good guy and someone I would want to be friends with. In fact, Jennifer and I both agreed, we wouldn't mind being friends with everyone in this book, minus a couple of clear antagonists. I'm truly astounded by Tracy Garvis Graves's ability to craft such incredible characters in each book I've read of hers, but especially in The Girl I Used to Know. She handles delicate topics with sensitivity and presents challenging moments in a realistic manner. From now on, she will be an instant one-click author for me. I think it's safe to say, Jennifer and I both highly recommend this exceptional novel.

Pick up a copy on April 2nd.

An enjoyable and light story about love and second chances. This book also had unique characters, alternating timelines, and two different POVs. I loved Annika as a character, especially since she gives representation to a severely underrepresented group in romance novels! However, now the cons… This book just felt boring to me! The characters were a bit disconnected and I couldn’t feel attached to their relationship. And the ending was awful! It came out of nowhere (and not in a good “wow what a plot twist!” way) and was so rushed. The whole last part felt like a different book entirely and I think that’s where this book fell short. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review!

Romance isn't usually my thing but I've been trying to open myself up to a wider range of books. This was a perfect middle-of-the-road choice because it was a different kind of love story with a different kind of protagonist. It wasn't apparent from the first page, but as we get to know Annika, it's obvious she isn't your typical single girl about town. She is awkward and uncomfortable in social situations, yet smart and beautiful and successful in her career. I have not had anyone close to me on the Autism spectrum so this was eye-opening for me to see what it's like to be a high-functioning adult on the spectrum.

The story is told in multiple POVs in alternating timelines. It starts in 2001 with Annika running into her college boyfriend, the love of her life, in a grocery store after losing touch for 10 years. The author jumps back to 1991 and tells the story of how they met and fell in love. I absolutely love Jonathan. He is the kind of guy we all hope our daughters will meet in college! He has some issues in his past that has left him feeling vulnerable, but that led him to Annika and changed his life forever. I also loved her roommate, Janice. I think she was key to this story because she taught Annika how to navigate life and love. (I would have loved to have a girlfriend I could talk candidly with just like her in my college years.) I'm a bit embarrassed that I have honestly never thought of the developmentally disabled dating and marrying someone who is not like them. It's not that I didn't agree with it, it just never occurred to me. This story opened my eyes to the struggles and also the perseverance they have. It is possible to build a "normal" life with someone you love despite the odds. You just have to find the one who doesn't consider it a burden. In most ways it's not that different from everyone else. We all have our issues that we have to work through, theirs are just different. Graves pulls you into the minds of the characters with ease and gives you a greater sense of what they are feeling throughout the story. Few authors can do that so effortlessly. I am impressed and humbled; she has convinced me that romance novels can be smart and profound too!

I thoroughly enjoyed this remarkable, unique story. It captivated me from beginning to end. Read it. Then tell me I'm not wrong.

Really enjoyed this book and I appreciate the chance to read it before publication! The authors writing style is right up my alley, and with just a hint of romance, I loved this book!

The Girl He Used to Know is outstanding--I was completely won over with the idea of a love story involving someone on the autistic spectrum, and thought it was handled with a lot of care and thought. The moving back and forth (timewise) also added a great a lot to The Girl He Used to Know. This is an emotional and very well done story.

I absolutely loved this book. It is is so heartfelt, relatable and incredibly poignant. I became a huge fan of this author after absolutely loving another one of her novels, On the Island, so I was extremely grateful to have the opportunity to read her next book. I absolutely loved this book!

The main issue without this book was that the romance wasn't centered enough, and Jonathan wasn't really interesting enough. I love second chance/dual timeline, but didn't like how this one executed. I enjoyed the heroine's jourmey and the supporting family and friends were lovely.

Overall, it was sweet but some major things were good over instead of explored, and the style of the author reminds me of hammering nails.