I have never read a book told from this perspective before. It made me think a lot about one of my friend's children. It made me consider how he sees the world.
The book is told mostly from the point of view of one young woman by the name of Annika, and the other part is told by a young man by the name of Jonathan. The book goes back and forth between two different time periods of their lives together/apart. The beginning of the book starts with them stumbling upon each other in a grocery store after having no contact for about 10 years, and the rest of the book fills in the gaps as it goes.
I don't want to say much more because I don't want to give anything away, but I think this book was a great read!

For me to read a book in 2 days that's saying something. I was all in! Loved everything about this sweet love story and the author did a great job of keeping it good until the very end.

Highly recommend!

4.5 stars

Tracey Garvis Graves is one of my favorite authors. I fell in love with her story-telling abilities when I first read On the Island. So any book by her is a must-read for me. The Girl He Used to Know is a beautiful second-chance romance about two amazing characters that find and elevate each other for the better. Annika is a unique and amazing person, and there were a couple of scenes that broke my heart. Jonathan, who is a great guy, learns quickly how to socialize and put her at ease. Of course they both aren't perfect, and unintentionally they hurt the other. I will not really go into the plot because the synopsis of this book is perfect in my opinion. I also think you should just dive in blind and just experience the beautiful love between these great characters.

"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."

I just loved that the author took her time including flashbacks to tell how these to met and fell in love. I was glad that the flashbacks weren't overwhelming or take over the whole story. Because I do have a love/hate relationship with flashbacks. Sometimes it can be a bit too much, but that wasn't the case for this book. The individual character development was really good, and you could really see a growth, especially in Annika. The last quarter of the book was very emotional, and I was tense and on the edge of my seat. It was such an emotional roller coaster for me. I honestly wouldn't change anything about this book, but I really would've loved an epilogue. I felt like this book needed one. I just wasn't ready to say goodbye and I wanted to see more of Annika and Jonathan.

I really enjoyed this full-of-heart story and I’d rush back to reading at every chance I got. Hopeful and sweet.

This was probably closer to 3.25 stars for me. It was an enjoyable book, nicely written, and I appreciated what the author was trying to do. I liked the nuanced way the relationship between Annika and Jonathan was built, and the switching back and forth between time periods worked for me. I also liked that Annika wasn’t neurotypical, and the author’s desire to address ASD in her plot. That said, I was a little frustrated by the incessant focus on how pretty Annika was, and the degree to which she needed protecting. I know the idea was for her to grow strong and independent with age, but all of that was shown through the man’s perspective, which kind of defeated the purpose. It kind of felt like... this man has declared that she is pretty and strong, therefore she has value? But the element of her being her own person wasn’t there the way I hoped it would be. I think the author was trying to convey some feminist concepts, but the way she tried to get there missed the mark. Still, it was an overall enjoyable book.

I was really excited to read this book, but unfortunately I’m left feeling very underwhelmed. This is a romance that takes place in 2001 and 1991, it alternates timelines between chapters and we follow Annika and Jonathon who are college students in 1991. They meet at a chess club at their school and develop a friendship/romance shortly after.

I honestly struggled to finish this book as I DID NOT CARE AT ALL. 1.5 but rounding up [!] because it wasn't the absolute worst thing I've read.

The setting:

1991 [seniors in college] Annika and Jonathan fall madly in love [but break up].

Annika, a beautiful [constantly mentioned] English major at the University of Illinois. Socially awkward/anxious. Gifted chess player. Loves books. Becomes a librarian.

Jonathan, also a good chess player. Pursues a career in finance. Moves to New York, then back to Chicago. Marries, then divorces.

2001 [life, 10 years later]. They meet up by chance. Hesitantly resume a relationship.

What/who did I like? Annika's roommate, Janice--a caring person who became her friend.

Chapters alternate between Annika [overwhelmingly] and some Jonathan. And the dual time lines, 1991 and 2001. And for the last [less than] quarter of the book, I actually groaned seeming to know the outcome. [I was right.]

Bored. Flat. Simplistic. Sometimes even felt juvenile. Never engaged. I found myself groaning and saying [to myself] yuck or oy many times! No real spoiler alert but if you can't figure out at the beginning [though not revealed almost until the end] that she's on the autism spectrum, well...

The only good thing I can say is it was a fast, easy read.

But, considering all the good reviews--maybe you want to try it--but the recommendation didn't come from me! However, I am clearly in the minority for the love felt for this book.

You know how some reviews you go to write, but you find that they are difficult and you struggle? That's what I felt about writing this review. It's one I've been putting off as I'm finding it difficult to put down the words I want too. I read this book for two reasons - the first is that the author is a favorite of mine and the second was that the topic is something I hold dear to my heart as I have several family members of different parts of the spectrum. In this book, we meet Annika and Jonathan whom first dated in college, but things didn't work out the way they wanted, and they ended up going their separate ways. Almost ten years later, the pair bumps into each other in New York. Annika is busy working as a librarian and Jonathan is on Wall Street. The couple reconnects and starts building another relationship until September 11th strikes and tragedy occurs once again. Will Annika and Jonathan get the HEA they want or is this a case of a couple who are never destined to be together? I liked this book as you could see the steps that Annika has gone through to try and normalize herself and her therapy sessions. What I loved most was the fact that Jonathan never judged Annika and loved her for who she was - quirks and all. Depending on your state of mind whether it be due to the autism aspect or September 11th, this book may trigger emotions and memories.

"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."
This quote is spot on for each and every one of us!
A beautiful story of life, and love.
Annika is a gorgeous young woman who knows she is "different".
Her mother takes her out of school in the seventh grade and home schools her. Why don't the girls like her daughter? Why are they mean to her?
Annika works so hard to fit into today's society. All she wants in life is to comprehend the simple things that she is missing. It is exhausting to "fit in".
This book reveals Annika and Jonathan's story in a gentle, yet realistic way that will have you laughing and crying while cheering them through each and every part of their journey that spans over the years.
It is well written and a wonderful read!

I really enjoyed this. Alternating between two points of view (hers and his) and two time periods (their first relationship and their reunion 10 years later) makes what could have been a familiar story very compelling. I also really enjoyed the unique voices of the leads, it really feel like I came to know them as I read on.

The story of Annika and Jonathon. A second chance romance, with them meeting up ten years after she split up with him in college. An emotional read with interesting characters.

Wow!
This book is an amazing, emotional ride. Annika and Jonathan are amazing and I loved them both from the beginning.
I highly recommend you pick up this book!

The Girl He Used to Know is an absolute delight. It’s a book about the complexity of love and relationships and communication and the possibility of soulmates. Told across a ten-year period and switching perspectives between Annika and a Jonathan, readers discover why a love story began, ended, and if it can begin again. This book isn’t about easy, fluffy meet cute love. It’s about active love, which is chosen each and every day. Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book! I enjoyed how it was told through alternating first person narrative of the two main characters, Annika and Jonathan. The story also alternated through two different years, 1991 and 2001, and this was a great way to tell this story.

The characters are the highlight of this book. Annika and Jonathan are supremely likeable and their relationship is special. I also found that this was written in a way that made it easy to read even though there were some painful situations. This book stands out as a great read and I highly recommend it!

Alternating between 1991 and 2001, The Girl He Used to Know tells the story of Annika and Jonathan. They met in college and fell in love only to break up and lose track of each other. Ten years later they reconnect and rekindle their relationship.

This all sounds like your ordinary romance novel, but Annika is on the autism spectrum. We get a glimpse into what life is like for her as she navigates being on her own for the first time. Through Jonathan and her friend Janice, Annika is able to find her independence and strength. I really enjoyed watching her grow and become more confident in herself as the story goes on.

I loved Annika. She is kind and relatable. I rooted for her the entire time. Her relationship with Jonathan is so real and loving. Knowing that one part of the book takes place in 2001 made me tense -- I knew September 11 was going to play some part in the story, but it still went differently than I expected.

This is a great love story and a kind, real look at someone with autism.

**I received an eARC from Netgalley**

I was thrilled to death for the opportunity to read an ARC of his new book. I was drawn in from the first chapter and could hardly put it down! Highly recommend!

I would classify "The Girl He Used to Know" as Women's Fiction with a dash of Contemporary Romance.

Our main characters are Annika and Jonathon who meet in college at chess club. We explore their relationship both in past and present by jumping back and forth in time. More of the book was written in Annika's POV but we do get a few chapters from Jonathon's POV as well. One of the things I loved was the references to the University of Illinois during the flashbacks as that was my Alma Mater.

I went into this story blind which I think added to the story. No preconceived notions. Just let the story unfold before you. Because, let me tell you, this is a beautiful story.

Annika is such a uniquely memorable character--shy, awkward and innocent with her own personal struggles. And Jonathon is our swooney white knight that just gets Annika.

Excellent storyline. Magnificent character development. This should truly be one everyone's reading list once it comes out.

***Advanced copy obtained from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley***

5* Forever Stars

The story begins with Jonathan and Annika running into each other at the grocery store 10 years after they parted ways. Their connection is still strong and alive. The story alternates between the present and the past and this enable the reader to get the back-story of how they met and how their relationship ended. You also get a good insight into who the two characters are and how likeable and realistic they are. I did have a few laugh out moments with Annika’s very honest ways and thoughts. I loved her from the beginning and I think everyone would love to have a Jonathan in their lives too. He was such a gentle soul with so much compassion and patience.

I love anything Tracey Garvis Graves writes and you know that you will be sucked into the story and have all the feels one can experience.

The love story of Jonathan and Annika was heartfelt and will stay close to your heart long after the book is read. I absolutely loved it!

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my copy to read and review.

The book alternates between August 2001 and 1991. The story alternates between the past and the present (male and female POVs).This book takes readers through filled with love and heartache, and at its center is a character who is memorable and remarkable.

I enjoyed Annika's story very much. As a teacher, I have worked with children who exhibit many of the same behaviors as Annika, which made her very relatable. I enjoyed seeing their story unfold.