Wow, I loved this. Annika has an autism spectrum disorder which has made it difficult for her to make friends and to differentiate when someone has genuine intentions or when they're being cruel. My heart hurt so much for Annika at times; people can be so cruel. One of the things I love the most about Jonathan and Annika's relationship is that Annika's differences aren't just something Jonathan puts up with. He doesn't love her in spite of them, they're parts of her personality that he finds endearing. Jonathan never makes excuses for her or about her to other people, and never feels the need to explain anything if someone isn't understanding or is being rude.

This story varies in time between when they first meet their senior year of college and when they run into each other again ten years later. In the former time period, Annika hasn't made much effort to leave her comfort zone, and Jonathan is definitely the strong one in the relationship. I wouldn't say their relationship is one-sided, however. Something tragic happens*, leading to their separation, and ten years go by before they see each other again. Their relationship the second time around is definitely a more mature one: Annika sees a therapist and has grown a lot. She knows she needs to put effort into their reunion, and that it's just as important to show Jonathan she wants to be with him as it is to tell him. Jonathan says to Annika, "You need things from me, and I get that. But so do I. I need you to show me that you're not going to crumble every time you're faced with a little adversity. I need you to show me that we're in this together." I think Annika really takes that to heart and comes through for Jonathan, and that shows just how much she's grown. I was proud of her.

The one thing I wish we had more of was Jonathan's thoughts and feelings. I felt like most of the story was centered around Annika and her issues, and we didn't get enough of how Jonathan felt, aside from in relation to Annika.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC! This review will be posted on Goodreads, and on Barnes and Noble's and Amazon's websites at the date of publication.

-SPOILER-


*TW: miscarriage

Ah! This book completely hijacked my heart! Loved the main character, a young woman, which perceives the world a little differently and has a tough time reading people's intentions. Then, she meets a boy, an AMAZING boy. This is an incredible, tender love story, spanning through college years, then 10 years later. Might be one of my new favorites! I received an early edition copy for my review, all opinions are my own.

I loved this book and was waiting to review it because we had an interview on my podcast that will air when the book releases. I'll come back and add the link to her interview on Living in the Pages podcast then, but I just wanted to write that it's worth the time. The attention she gave to this story is evident in every page. A beautiful story.

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

This book was a really special one, full of awkwardness and heart and utterly endearing characters.

Annika and Jonathan meet in college at chess club in 1991. While others look at Annika and see an oddity, Jonathan sees her in quite a different light and is one to appreciate her as she is. For reasons you’ll have to read about, there is a heartbreaking breakup and the two don’t see each other until ten years later in Chicago.

The book skips back and forth between the then and now, between 1991 and 2001 and is written so beautifully that we get to experience every feeling, uncertainty, anxiety Annika and Jonathan go through. Every heartache and every heartbreak. I don’t want to say too much but I will say that I adored this book and the characters - ALL of them. Annika captured my heart and Jonathan just stole and ran away with it.

*I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.

A great read - quick, touching and dramatic. Annika is a girl unlike others - she operates in a different way, thinks differently and therefore has a harder time relating to others. She meets Jonathan. And her life changes completely. I love that this story was told in two different timelines - the first relationship and the reunion of Jonathan and Annika. This was very well written and I imagine it was very difficult to imagine oneself in Annika's shoes while also writing from Jonathan's perspective as well. I think this is an important book to look at because of our outlook now regarding differently abled people. This book speaks to an emerging and interesting type of literature. Check it out.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Girl He used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves, a new to me author that I will be checking out moe books by. A story of first love, heartbreak, and possible second chances. Likable characters and a great plot.

Like everything else Tracey Garvis-Graves has ever written, The Girl He Used to Know is beautiful and different, thought-provoking and emotional and it's so unbelievably romantic. I could not put this book down. I devoured it within a day and I was left reeling when it was over. I will never, ever, ever forget this story. 

Jonathan and Annika are two characters that will stay with me always. Annika is a remarkable young woman and the way Jonathan loves her is one of the most beautiful things I've ever had the privilege of reading. Their story is rich with heartache but it ABSOLUTELY OVERFLOWS with joy and hope and the most beautiful, honest form of devotion. There truly aren't even words, not ones I'm capable of putting together anyway, to describe the absolute splendor of the story that unfolds on these pages. 

I truly felt like I walked miles in Annika's shoes, like I could understand her feelings and her fears and her uncertainty and her utter exhaustion as she navigated her world, and it both fascinated me and effected me on a profound level. It speaks to Graves' remarkable storytelling and character development because I was wholly imbued with emotions I've never felt before. I'm not sure I've ever read about a character that took me on such a journey, a journey that changed the way I view the world. The Girl He Used to Know is not simply a second chance romance, it's a poignant story of unconditional love. It's Annika's solitary journey of self discovery, self awareness and acceptance. It's a story of a woman who learns how to be brave and fight for what she loves after a lifetime of feeling trapped by all the fascinating yet restrictive nuances of herself. 

The Girl He Used to Know is so many things, none of which I dare even hint at because readers should go into this book knowing nothing, I believe. Just know that you'll be taken on an emotional, complicated, richly layered adventure of the heart with Annika and Jonathan and that you'll come away changed, if not by their love story than certainly by her life story. This life affirming, thought provoking, soul searing novel is one I can't recommend enough. It's magical and painful and it took my breath away.

A very sweet, unexpected love story. I was a bit disappointed with the twist at the end, and saw it coming from a mile away (did not find it very original either) but I thought the characters were lovely and I'm glad it had a happy ending.

This was a sweet, sweet story of Annika and Jonathan who met in college, fell in love, and planned to spend the rest of their lives together until circumstances pulled them apart. Annika is on the autism spectrum but has been somewhat babied by her parents and once away at college, has no real clue how to make friends or "read" people's cues. Fortunately, she has a wonderful roommate who helps her cope; she joins the chess club and meets Jonathan who loves her quirks and slowly becomes her boyfriend and confidante. Fast forward ten years when the book opens and the two run into each other after having been apart all this time. Told in alternating past and present time frames, we see how their relationship fell apart and how they must struggle to recapture the feelings they suppressed and fight for their future even as a catastrophe strikes. The novel is a compelling and compassionate look at the nature of autism, friendship, and the love that brings two people to find a path for their future.

ARC received from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

———— SOME SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

This was an interesting story of first love, heartbreak and two people finding their way back to each other. However, I thought there were parts of the story that didn’t make sense/follow Annika’s usual characteristics and mannerisms.

The night that Annika loses her virginity to Jonathan was strange to me. She seemed barely phased or nervous, which to me didn’t line up at all. I know nudity and things as such didn’t bother her, but she barely lets people touch her ... and then Jonathan announces he wants to be inside her and it’s like okay great? Confusing.

Then, there’s the miscarriage. Trigger warning for anyone who gets upset about these things. But also, I didn’t feel like this was given enough attention. This huge tragedy, for both Annika and Jonathan, and it kind of was brushed over in a few chapters. Jonathan didn’t even seem to be upset about it? He didn’t experience the physical effects, but it was his baby and he found Annika bleeding to death in his bathroom. Wouldn’t there be some emotional damage/fallout from that?

It also seemed too convenient how Annika and Jonathan so easily fell back together all those years later. He’s divorced. She still has work to do on herself. But okay let’s pick up where we left off and pretend there’s no heavy emotional baggage. Cool.

Okay, and that ending. WHAT? That’s how we’re going to leave it? Sorry, but what a crock. At the very least the author could’ve provided a (much-needed, in my opinion) epilogue for present day or even just a few years into the future. Does Jonathan ever fully recover? How does Annika handle being his caretaker? I know she had a come-to-Jesus moment at the end about being brave, but there’s no way someone like her was able to get her shit together that fast. Anyone would have trouble adapting in that situation or thinking clearly. It just wasn’t very believable to me, I guess.

It’s probably coming off like I hated this book. I didn’t - There were aspects of the story that I enjoyed and parts of Jonathan and Annika that I adored. It just missed the mark on giving the heavy AF content it’s due respect and time to play out appropriately.

I was in the mood for a feel-good romance book and The Girl He Used to Know hit the spot perfectly. This tells the story of Annika and Jonathan, who dated in college and reconnected ten years later. Without giving too much away, the two story lines parallel each other in a way that is very enjoyable to read. A few times I did have to check to see which time line I was in because the stories are similar, but it was very cute. Annika is autistic, but this isn't an in-your-face fact. Rather, the author treated the character as people should in the real world: that's just who she is. Sure, her brain might be wired a little differently, and aspects of life may be more challenging for her, but it doesn't take away from her. The book did a great job with this and was an enjoyable read.

4 stars. I took a few chapters to get into this but once I did I was totally hooked! I LOVE Annika and Jonathan separately and together. I fell in love with the characters and would love to read about their future. As a special education teacher, I loved the way Annika’s character was written in a way that was positive and sweet. The plot twist at the end shocked me and I loved the ending. Great book. Thanks for the chance to read!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the first 3/4 of it, and it was a quick read. I originally thought it was going to be a sweet second-chance love story, but it is so much deeper than that. I liked the back and forth between Annika and Jonathan's college years and 10 years later as it showed Annika's progression and confidence. That said, I didn't love the last part of the book. I get why the author decided to do it, but it felt like it was a little much. I also didn't really like the ending. Right now the book is 3.5 stars for me, but I rounded up to four stars.

4.5 Stars!

❝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.❞

What a beautiful story!

After a horrific experience in middle school, Annika Rose's parents decide homeschooling was best for her. But when it came time to go to college, Annika's parents encouraged her to leave home and explore her independence. It wasn't long before she started feeling over stimulated, oversocialized and completely overwhelmed and wanted to go home. Fortunately for her, she had an incredibly compassionate and empathetic roommate who took her under her wing. She helped guide her and taught her how to navigate life. Janice refused to let Annika give up, she challenged her at every turn and provided her with something Annika never had, a true friend. It was when Janice introduced her to the chess club, that the beautiful and smart Annika learned to trust others and began to see there were people who could accept her as she was.

Watching Annika blossom from a young woman who struggled daily to survive in social situations, to a confident woman who learned social cues and gained an understanding of what other people are thinking and feeling, was truly beautiful to watch.

❝Do you want to go out with me Friday night?❞

❝Go out with you where?❞ I asked

❝On a date. We can go wherever you want.❞

❝Why would you want to do that?❞ Why would anyone?

❝Because I think you're really pretty, and I like you.❞ When I didn't say anything, he dropped my hand and shoved his into his pockets. ❝I feel like I can be myself with you.❞

Jonathan attends the same university as Annika and was also a member of the chess club. After college, he planned to move to New York and get a job on Wall Street. Around Annika, he found that he could be himself, without pretense. He enjoyed Annika's quirks and the unapologetic way in which she lived her life. She said what was on her mind and did what she wanted. Jonathan was refreshingly honest and utterly charming. His patience was admirable and his love unconditional.

While reading, I want to experience what the characters experience. I want to laugh with them and cry with and for them. While reading The Girl He Used To Know, there were times that I felt the story was being told to me rather than letting me experience it. For example, with the passages between dialogue, the author does a wonderful job telling the reader what each character is thinking, I just wished I had been able to feel what they were feeling. Nonetheless, the author's strong storytelling and character development carried me through to the end where the true magic of this story unfolds.

THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW is a beautiful second-chance romance, that encourages readers to discover their own power, accept each other's differences, and love unconditionally!

"Such is my desire to replace the memories of the girl he used to know with the woman I've become."

Ten years after parting on less than good terms, Annika (think Monica minus M) and Jonathan run into each other at the supermarket...what follows is the dual timeline of how they met and got together and the present. Are they able to rekindle what they had in the past? You'll have to read this amazing book to find out. I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end!

Annika is a character who will stay with me for a long time to come!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advanced review copy; all opinions are my own.

Without a doubt, “The Girl He Used to Know” by Tracey Garvis-Graves, tops the list of my favorite books thus far this year! In fact, I can’t rave enough about this unique and compelling second-chance romance that left an indelible impression upon my soul. Boasting well-developed, multi-dimensional characters and a premise unlike any I’ve encountered before, Tracey Garvis-Graves delivers a gripping, emotional story that you won’t soon forget.

While Annika and Jonathan’s arduous journey towards reaching their HEA is paved with many pitfalls, as a reader that longs for the exceptional, I found it to be a road well worth traveling. Ignorant to most social clues, Annika has struggled to fit in for most of her life. And then there was Jonathan, who loved her, flaws and all. That is, until Annika inadvertently broke his heart. Now, years later—after a chance encounter—Annika hopes to win Jonathan back by proving to him how much she has changed. Still, some obstacles might be too great to overcome. So, the question remains, can this couple rise to the challenge? Or will fate step in and prevent them from ultimately beating the odds?

Eliciting a myriad of emotions, “The Girl He Used to Know” broke my heart and then slowly pieced it back together. It’s raw, it’s gritty, and it’s real. And it’s what true romance is all about.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. An original, second chance, slow-burn romance that really was quite unlike any I have read before.

The author's style is quite something; she has a flair that makes it natural for you to sink right into the mindset of the characters you're reading. And man, does that make you stop and think when you're embroiled in a story like this one. You'll feel the turmoil this young lady feels. Her inner struggles...it's really a well-plotted story. Well done. 4 stars.

4.5 Stars for this very sweet book about second chances at first loves! It alternates back and forth between 1991 when Annika and Jonathon first meet in college and 10 years later when they run into each other in Chicago. I loved both of them, Annika is clearly on the Autism spectrum - but this was back when that diagnosis was fairly uncommon. I found myself not only rooting for both of them and their relationship, but also left wanting to know more! Could there possibly be a sequel?? Either way - I couldn't put this book down! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Oh. OH! What an incredibly lovely story this was!

Jonathan and Annika’s second-chance love story is told both in flashback (1991) - where we get to experience them falling in love for the first time - and in present voice (2001) – where we get to experience them fall in love all over again, ten years later. Both experiences were equally captivating and I could barely pull myself away from their riveting story.

The tone of the storytelling felt almost gentle throughout most of the book – evoking a sweet innocence to the couple both as they experience their first love, and then again when they rekindle that love. Annika is one of the most compelling heroines I’ve read in a long time and I absolutely adored her. I loved the time I got to spend inside her head, and I loved watching how the people who loved her – and not just Jonathan - cared for her. She broke my heart, but she also pieced it back together again and the whole thing could not have been more rewarding.

I felt like Ms. Garvis-Graves captured the excitement and the angst of falling in love in college, even while her characters were “outside the box”. That is, there were just as many things with which I could identify, things that triggered memories and touched on long buried soft spots in my heart, things that allowed my heart to flutter with shared emotion – as there were things that could never have been part of my neurotypical experience (but made for fascinating reading nonetheless). I completely lost my heart to Jonathan and Annika as they lost their hearts to each other. It was just lovely.

It was also sometimes heartbreaking. There were a couple of emotional punches delivered along the way, and they hit me right in the feels. There was also a period toward the end where the storytelling turned more intense and lost that sort of gentle vibe that I associated with it for most of the book. As Jonathan and Annika’s world turned upside down, my heart raced and I spent some time on the edge of my seat while Ms. Garvis-Graves once again summoned my own very vivid memories and feelings from Jonathan and Annika’s experiences. My heart ached for them. My pulse pounded for them. I read with bated breath until – finally – the happily ever after.

In all? What an incredible read. I would have maybe liked a little more from the ending. I definitely would have liked an epilogue. But the story I did get was a poignant, emotional, wonderful read. These are not your average characters. This is not your average love story. And your heart? It just might never be the same after taking this ride. I loved it! Definitely recommend!Oh. Oh! What an incredibly lovely story this was!

Jonathan and Annika’s second-chance love story is told both in flashback (1991) - where we get to experience them falling in love for the first time - and in present voice (2001) – where we get to experience them fall in love all over again, ten years later. Both experiences were equally captivating and I could barely pull myself away from their riveting story.

The tone of the storytelling felt almost gentle throughout most of the book – evoking a sweet innocence to the couple both as they experience their first love, and then again when they rekindle that love. Annika is one of the most compelling heroines I’ve read in a long time and I absolutely adored her. I loved the time I got to spend inside her head, and I loved watching how the people who loved her – and not just Jonathan - cared for her. She broke my heart, but she also pieced it back together again and the whole thing could not have been more rewarding.

I felt like Ms. Garvis-Graves captured the excitement and the angst of falling in love in college, even while her characters were “outside the box”. That is, there were just as many things with which I could identify, things that triggered memories and touched on long buried soft spots in my heart, things that allowed my heart to flutter with shared emotion – as there were things that could never have been part of my neurotypical experience (but made for fascinating reading nonetheless). I completely lost my heart to Jonathan and Annika as they lost their hearts to each other. It was just lovely.

It was also sometimes heartbreaking. There were a couple of emotional punches delivered along the way, and they hit me right in the feels. There was also a period toward the end where the storytelling turned more intense and lost that sort of gentle vibe that I associated with it for most of the book. As Jonathan and Annika’s world turned upside down, my heart raced and I spent some time on the edge of my seat while Ms. Garvis-Graves once again summoned my own very vivid memories and feelings from Jonathan and Annika’s experiences. My heart ached for them. My pulse pounded for them. I read with bated breath until – finally – the happily ever after.

In all? What an incredible read. I would have maybe liked a little more from the ending. I definitely would have liked an epilogue. But the story I did get was a poignant, emotional, wonderful read. These are not your average characters. This is not your average love story. And your heart? It just might never be the same after taking this ride. I loved it! Definitely recommend!

This book threw me for a loop so many times. At first, I couldn't decide if I was enjoying it or not and then BAM! It hit me that I was fully invested in this book, this couple and this relationship. It was interesting to see someone in a relationship who was dealing with personal issues mentally, etc. It was interesting to see the things that she had to work through and how he helped her along the way. Then the big part of the book came and BAM! It hit me again. I have no idea why I didn't see that coming, but I didn't at all. Great book, kept me on the edge of my seat!