3.5/5

What a unique read this one was! It really wasn’t the story itself that made it so unusual but rather the memorable characters that left such an impression on me. I can never really answer the question, is a plot or the characters more important to you? But after reading this I may have to say great characterization can make or break a book for me.

This is told via two timelines, one back when Annika and Jonathan first meet in college and then ten years later when their paths cross again. You hear from both of them, and while I did truly like Jonathan, Annika was the star of the show for me. She is quirky, beautiful and intelligent and she has major anxiety in social settings, therefore she doesn’t have many close friends. Going to college away from her parents is a huge deal for her and I loved how the author explored her coping mechanisms to just get through a normal day of college. I thought she did an excellent job highlighting Annika’s issues in a really authentic way, it was realistic and truly moving.

I really don’t want to say too much more because I did find this to be slightly predictable and I would hate to ruin things for anyone else. I really enjoyed this second chance romance with diverse characters but I really wish the ending would’ve been handled differently, it was just a little sudden for my liking but overall a sweet read.

The Girl He Used to Know in three words: Unique, Emotional and Compassionate.

Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

I have to admit I was hesitant about starting this. I really didn’t care for another book by this author (like, I REALLY didn’t care for it). Needless to say, I went into this with very low expectations and I was very pleasantly surprised.

The characters created by Tracey Garvis Graves are remarkable, REAL people. People you probably know in real life. One of the things I liked most about this novel was the character development. They are likeable, but not without their flaws. They are human. I was particularly partial to Annika. Getting to know her was a pleasure and seeing her grow as an individual was remarkable.

My familiarity with the locations in this novel (Chicago born and bred and many visits to friends attending U of I) only added to my enjoyment of this book.

I didn’t want to put this one down. I’d give it 4.5 stars if I could. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Tracey Garvis Graves and St. Martins Press for allowing me to review The Girl He Used to Know! Full review will be posted shortly.

WOW, nope, not even close to give this book enough credit.
This is one of those books that redefines how to rate books, because 5 stars is just NOT ENOUGH!

What I have just read was a romance unlike any other. I was totally enthralled almost from page one, and right to the very end.

Pretty much every single thing in this book is amazing.

***4-4.5 Stars ***

Annika and Jonathan, meet in college and date for some time. Fast forward 10 years later they are rekindling their relationship and the author introduces us to what happened between them in the past as the story flips back and forth between the past and present. Annika, is a difficult person to deal with, has autism, and spends her life finding ways to fit in and cope with her feelings/anxieties. Annika and Jonathan's story is powerful with true love and tragedy. As their past was being explained I had moments where I couldn't understand where the author was going with the story and why all the explanation was necessary, but then it all came together, made sense, and was just PERFECT. The character development and timing of the story I loved; such an amazing story that I highly recommend to all.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me an advanced read copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book!!!

Such a sweet and compelling novel! I really liked the vibe of it and I for sure will continue reading this author's work from now on!

Thanks to the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. I have loved every book of this author’s that I have read, and this was no exception. Annika is the main character and has autism-like behaviors and tendencies. However; she says what she thinks and doesn’t hide her feelings. Her honesty is admirable. I want to be like her and express my honest opinions about situations instead of trying to fit in with others. And bless Johnathan. I don’t know that I will ever have his patience. Great read.

4.5 stars


The Girl He Used to Know was a delightful surprise for me.

Poignant, thoughtful, beautiful, with wonderful characters that were easy to fall in love with. Especially Annika, she was the one that made reading this book an amazing experience. I was enchanted from the very first page.

Unique characters have always been my weakness, and Annika was as original as it gets. Her story was truly different, refreshing and touching. And her journey was as beautiful as it was emotional.

Annika struggled with life in a way most of us will never understand. Socially awkward, her experiences with college and daily life was so very different and only underscored how difficult just the simplest encounters could be. Having a true friend in her college roommate was a true blessing. And her friendship with Jonathan an unexpected dream.

Jonathan was incredible. The way he treated Annika was heartwarming. He was a DREAM GUY!! Not only was he attentive and observant, he came to love her for who she was. He didn't care about her hangups or struggles, he supported and adored her with all his heart.

I admire any author that writes a character like Annika.

Entirely different, lovable, honest, with a beautiful heart. I wish more authors would take a chance on writing characters outside the box.

The Girl He Used to Know was an incredibly touching love story that I would recommend to anyone. Beautifully written, with distinctive and outstanding characters, and a story that was emotionally touching and a wonderful addition to the romance genre.

I was so impressed with this book from the alternate his/her, past/present POVs, to the thoughtful portrayal of a main character on the spectrum, to the balance been light and dark, to the sensitive inclusion of 9/11/2001. I was fully invested in both the character's personal stories and the romance, and I loved the secondary characters too, especially Janice and Annika's family. I'm kind of sad that it's over.

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracy Garvis Graves is a terrific novel following the life of the main character, Annika, as she journeys through life . Annika has autism and so many of the traits of autism are woven into the storyline. Annika meets the love of her life, Jonathan, years after their initial meeting. Annika and Jonathan rekindle their romance . It is so interesting to realize the challenges that such a romance entails. There are many things that Annika does differently due to her autism. As their romance continues the theme of autism is astutely woven into the storyline. I am a high school teacher and I, arrogantly, thought I was well informed about autism. This book open my eyes to the many traits of Autism that I was not aware of. My increased insight into the many Autistic challenges makes me a better educator and overall human being. I learned all of this while at the same time being thoroughly entertained by the plot of this novel. I am hopeful that this novel becomes an award winner and best seller. Kudos to the author for a job well done.

I really enjoyed The Island and shocker, this book was just an enjoyable.
It really did have a interesting twist but still had the emotion that the Island had without being a hokey love story. If you liked The Island, you will love this!

This was such as sweet story of Annika and Jonathan who met in college, fell in love, and rekindled ten years later. I loved each character, their development, support, and love for another. Very sweet, good read. Thank you for the ARC - this was a favorite of the year!

You might think, at first, that you know where this story is headed: Girl-meets-boy-but-he-gets-away, girl-reconnects-with-boy-years-later. But there's more to this heartfelt tale: an unlikely protagonist who takes nothing for granted, learning what it means to love as well as to stand on her own in a world she is ill-equipped to navigate. An original and enjoyable read with an ending that will leave you satisfied.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a really good read. I love Graves’ books. They are like sitting down with an old friend while she tells you such an engaging tale you don’t even want to interrupt her to use the bathroom.

From the beginning, Annika, a college student, seems a bit different. She says what she thinks without any filters. When she joins the chess club, she meets Jonathan and gets to know him through playing the game. Noises and crowds bother her, and she doesn’t understand some of the basics. Luckily, she has a roommate, Janice, who helps her out in almost every social situation.

Then comes graduation and everyone goes their separate ways. Annika is determined to make it on her own, with a little therapy thrown in for good measure.

This is definitely a character-driven book and those characters were so three-dimensional and so easy to like.

I highly recommend this book. It’s a quick read, but it has so much to say and reflect on that you’ll be thinking about it well after you turn the last page.

Wow!! I was hooked on this book right away due to my personal connection with the settings - like Annika, I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and went to school close to the University of Illinois. While I typically don’t enjoy stories that switch time periods, this was easy to follow and didn’t interrupt the flow. Same with the way that it switched perspectives as well. It was refreshing to see an inside viewpoint of Annika and her struggle to fit in and become independent in college, and I hadn’t been paying close attention to detail as I read because I was caught off guard by a couple of major events in the last half of the book! And let me tell you, once the flood gates opened, I was happy to be reading on my kindle so the pages didn’t get all wet with my tears. My only complaint is that the ending of the story felt a little rushed in comparison to the rest, but I think I felt that way because I was so invested in what was happening that I didn’t want it to end! Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a sweet and uplifting story, with enough plot turns so that it didn't become predictable. Recommended!

This romance between a woman on the autism spectrum and her college boyfriend switches back-and-forth between the year they met in 1991 and their present in 2001, when they reconnect after a chance meeting. All those years ago Annika broke up with Jonathan sans explanation, and as the novel progresses, you find out what led to that decision.

Jonathan has to decide whether or not he will trust Annika, and Annika have to decide if she’s really ready to be in a relationship even though she's laser focused on that very idea. I thought this book progressed somewhat predictably until the last 10% when I was really caught off guard.

This is definitely a quieter romance and has a lot to do with Annika discovering herself and learning to cope with her anxiety and challenges in understanding other people. Some chapters are narrated by Jonathan, but I felt like the author could have presented his side a lot more and with more depth.

Set in Chicago, The Girl He Used to Know is a love story between Annika and Jonathan who meet and fall in love in their senior year of college in 1991. But despite their love for one another, their romance is short lived. They meet 10 years later in the same city, and this is where the story begins.

Now a senior in college, Annika was home-schooled since she was in the seventh grade, and is on the spectrum. She finds difficulty in the simplest of social situations. To minimize awkward situations, she restricts her contact with the outside world. Aside from her classes, she goes to the weekly meeting of the chess club, and volunteers at an animal shelter on campus. She also relies on her roommate Janice, who helps her navigate other social situations.

Jonathan, who joins the chess club in his senior year immediately notices Annika. His understanding and compassion guide him in seeing the world through her eyes. I was very curious to know what led to their break-up, and the reveal was worth the wait.

The story is told through two timelines: 1991 and 2001. This allows the reader to see how both characters grew, both together and apart.

Overall, I really liked Annika and Jonathan's relationship which felt honest. However, I felt like the ending was rushed, and took away from the authenticity of the story. I also would have liked to learn more facts about high functioning individuals who are on the spectrum, and how they navigate their different lives.

4.5. This was a bit of a departure from this authors usual chick lit books, all of which I’ve read. There was a more serious undertone to this, though was wonderfully written as always. The ending had me round up my rating due to a bit of suspense, which also made me realize how much I was rooting for the main characters. Overall, very good read I would recommend.

First, I want to say is GO INTO THIS BOOK BLIND.
Second, I LOVE it when books are set near my hometown!

Now, onto the story. I have to admit when I read this book that it dealt with another female character on the autism spectrum, I just admittedly thought "I hope this is going to be different then The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang, because I just got done reading that book about 1 month prior to reading this one." And it turns out they are both different. The Girl He Used to Know doesn't go in depth as much on it as The Kiss Quotient does which you'll find out why. When awkwardness is brought through the pages, I just can't help but feel for the characters. I find that maybe authors are starting to bring more awareness to this topic.

The book goes between 1991 and 2001, but not alternating chapters. We learn of Annika and Jonathan's relationship, how they met in college, split and met 10 years later. I think when we get to the latter 15% of the book thats when everything hits with a bang. Leading up to that point I kept thinking what else is there to happen and when it did my heart sank.

My only issue with this book is that there is no traditional epilogue. The ending seemed so erupt but I understand why Tracey might have wrote it that way, but my reaction was "that's it?" Yes, I think everyone should read this book if you want a different take on a second chance romance.