I liked this well enough, and it does have some unique elements to it, but I don't think any of this author's books will live up to her book "On the Island" for me. I've read a few of her books but that one is by far the best one I've read and one of my all-time favorites so it's always hard not to compare.

That said, this was pretty good and I think lovers of second-chance romance will find it very satisfying.

You know those books that you pull you in by the fifth page? The ones that make you feel connected to the main characters right away? Yeah, this was one of those books. At the beginning, I devoured it wanting to know all about what happened next with Jonathon and Annika both in college and now but as the end of the book got closer, I found myself slowing as I didn’t want it to end. THEN THERE WAS A TWIST. And you best believe this girl stayed up late to finish it.
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Plot - The world was always a little different to Annika. She never quite could keep up with social cues or make friends easily. In her senior year of college she met Jonathon and for once, things were easy. Now, 10 years later Annika sees Jonathon the first boy she has ever loved in a grocery store.

Every single character in this book felt relatable and truly human. There are so many books, especially books that focus on a love story that romanticize characters too far. Tracey embraced the quirks of her characters and that’s what makes them special.

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves is the story of Jonathan and Annika, who met in college and fell in love, were separated and met again 10 years later. The difference here is that Annika is on the Autism Spectrum and Jonathan fell in love with her unconditionally. I'm sure you can imagine what happened once they met. Although this was a pleasant read, it was nothing out of the ordinary or remarkable as far as I was concerned and I struggled to complete it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this novel for my honest review.

I am usually not a big fan of storylines that flip back and forth her between past and present but this book kept my interest. Annika and Jonathan were so sweet together. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed Ms Graves writing! I wish we got an epilogue because I wasn't ready to say goodbye.

3/5 ⭐️
For starters I found this book really boring and slow. Nothing really happened in the book. The premise sounded good but it lacked depth

I had never heard of Tracey Garvis Graves before, but clearly I need to read more from her because a) The Girl He Used to Know was a delight and b) Apparently one of her other books, On the Island, has quite the fanbase! The Girl He Used to Know was such a sweet love story and it's pretty much impossible not to love the main characters Annika and Jonathan, both as individuals and as a couple.

The book bounces back and forth between current day for Annika and Jonathan (2001) when they're in their 30s and their college days. Annika almost drops out of college because she doesn't do great in social situations and gets anxious/has trouble making friends. She has a difficult time understanding people and how to react to them. Almost immediately, you'll get the feeling she's on the autism spectrum, but highly functioning. Her roommate ends up taking her under her wing and encouraging her to join the chess club, one place she feels at home. Senior year, Jonathan joins the chess club, too, and the two become friends and soon a couple. Watching their relationship evolve is one of the best parts of the book.

It's apparent from the start that Annika and Jonathan are no longer a couple in 2001, but you won't know why until you continue reading their stories. But one thing is for sure; if you are a living breathing person with any feeling at all, you will be rooting for Annika and Jonathan the entire time. This book is also just a really good reminder that everyone is different in social situations and just because someone doesn't react just like you, doesn't mean you should discount them.

The Girl He Used to Know ended a lot more emotionally than I was expecting, but I don't want to share too much because the book will be so much more enjoyable without spoilers.

I was happy to be chosen to read this book -thank you Net Galley. This is about Annika who knows that social situations she is awkward. She was homeschooled and now at college. She meets Jonathan at the chess club. they are both very good. They become very close and plan to marry. Then a tragedy happens, and Annika withdrawals and Jonathan goes to New York. He marries and continues his life. In 2001 he comes back to help his mother and they meet again. The story alternates between 1991 and 2001. The story is very moving, and the ending was unexpected
I have read several books by MS Graves and this one is very good. The book is well written, and I could feel the emotions that she was trying to convey.

I wish I could give this book 100 stars! I truly loved it. Annika and Jonathan's story is not typical. They meet and fall in love in college and break up then meet again 10 years later. Annika's story is one of heartbreak, bullying, and having a very hard time in social situations. She has the very best roommate at college, Janice, and she helps Annika with college life. Jonathan and Annika's story is a true love story until everything falls apart in college.. When they meet 10 years later, it is wonderful to see them reconnect again. I LOVED the characters in this amazing book! I wish I could be Annika's friend! I truly loved this book and will be recommending it to all my friends! I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. All opinions are my own.

I was looking forward to this book because I'm a big fan of second chance romances but this one left me feeling very meh. There was a lot going on here but I don't want to give anything away so I won't specify what. I just think that a few aspects of this book could have been removed and the scope of the story would still be the same. It alternates between past and present chapters with what seemed like more emphasis on the past. The ending felt very rushed and I would have liked at least a couple more chapters or an epilogue to tie things up nicely. Ho hum.

I absolutely loved this book! It's definitely not your typical love story! The Girl He Used to Know is the story of Annika, a socially awkward, seemingly high-functioning autistic spectrum girl who loves books, chess, and animals. As a college student at the University of Illinois, she meets Jonathan, a new student who joins her chess club at school, and despite her discomfort, has to play chess with him instead of her usual partner. Jonathan and Annika grow closer, and he challenges her to try new things that are normally anxiety-provoking for her, such as traveling and competing in the chess club's tournaments, and eventually dating and falling in love with him. As they grow closer and begin to plan their future together after graduation, tragedy hits the couple, and Annika pulls away ending the relationship. They meet up again in Chicago years later, where Annika is a librarian, and Jonathan had moved to care for his dying mother, and they slowly rekindle their relationship and confront what happened in the past that ended their relationship years earlier. The story is told from alternating points of view of both Annika and Jonathan, going back and forth from the present to their college years. This is the second book that I have recently read, the other being The Kiss Quotient, that focuses on the romantic relationship of someone on the autistic spectrum, with someone who is not, and shows it in a positive way, while still showing some of the challenges. Thank you to NetGally and St Martins Press for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was lovely. I couldn't wait to find out what happened. Not one thing about ti disappointed me. Loved it. Will look for other works.

I received this book "The Girl He Used to Know" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I really loved this book! This was a very unique and uplifting story. I could relate to Annika and I loved Jonathan. The book alternates between the past 1991 and the present 2001. I couldn't wait to read this book every night. I thought the ending was awesome too. Outstanding heartwarming story! Can I give it more than 5 stars?

I LOVED this book! The Girl He Used to Know is the story of Annika (Monica without the M) and Jonathon through a change meeting ten years after they last saw each other. The book takes us on a journey through their present meeting in early 2000's and their past relationship in college in the early 1990's.

Annika is socially awkward and has difficulty managing things that come so easily to everyone else. She finds safety in her routines, her job at the library, and her volunteer work at the animal shelter. Jonathon is trying to regain his footing after his divorce and working a demanding job in finance. Reconnecting with Annika takes him back to his past, and gives him hope for his future.

I couldn't put this story down. I enjoyed the POV of Annika and found myself rooting for her success and happiness. I couldn't wait to find out what tore these two apart in college and I was completely surprised by the plot.

As the book wound down I couldn't envision it ending and felt I would have enjoyed another couple of chapters or an epilogue. When I saw the date Sept 10, 2001 my heart sank and I just wanted the ending to be as thorough as the rest of the story was. Definitely would recommend this great read!

Annika and Jonathan run into each other ten years after their break up. The narration alternates between present day and when they first meet, with both of their POVs. The author does a terrific job with Annika, who's "different." Hopefully this characterization will help increase understanding for people like her.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a unique story! Kept me hooked from the beginning. The story was a dual POV that spanned over several different time periods. One might think this would confuse the reader, but it was very easy to follow.

One of my favorite books of all time.

Annika is a wonderful, sympathetic heroine who also happens to be on the autism spectrum and Jonathan is a perfect match for her. I was delighted with their second chance and couldn't put this book down.

Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Romance readers will gobble this one up, as the touching and well-developed plot follows a college romance abandoned, and then rekindled ten years later. The characters were likable, though not as fleshed out as those in a typical literary novel. The book had a lot of heart.

I have very mixed feelings about this story. I was interested in it from the beginning because it features a character on the Autism Spectrum, and that is something that is personal and meaningful to me. I do think it offered a unique and insightful look at the life and relationships of someone on the spectrum. In recent years, more people have been diagnosed with ASD and the public needs to not only be informed, but sensitized as to how to respectfully treat people who are seemingly different from themselves, with honor and value, especially amongst the growing problem of bullying and abuse.
This story did offer an important message to treat others with kindness and openness, because we are all unique in our own way, and being different is what makes us creatively human. So yes, this story was important in its own right, and rather sweet and tender overall. But I also felt it was a bit manipulative in its blatant attempt to leave the reader with no choice but to feel sorry for the main character and cheer her on. I think that a bit more subtlety and ambiguity would be preferable, allowing the reader to come to his or her own conclusions.

Also, the first half of the book read more like an expository article than a story with a clearly defined plot. As a result, it felt somewhat voyeuristic peering into one’s private life and daily thoughts and behaviors, rather than a plot-driven narrative. A plot did present itself about two-thirds of the way through, but I wasn’t thrilled with the turn it took. The main crisis felt out of left field; an odd, untimely choice. It was an unlikely event to choose to rehash at this point.

The ending was hopeful and redemptive, and proved one’s ability to persevere and overcome, accommodate and grow, despite the odds, which is always moving and motivational. While this book offered an important message, and was sweet and inspiring, this particular story wasn’t quite what I was hoping for.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and COULDNT BE HAPPIER.

guys. five stars. book club, solo restaurant, bedtime...this book is a take-anywhere, read-anywhere type of situation. I haven’t read a book that has made me feel all the feels in quite some time. I cried, I laughed, I stayed up until 2 am reading...

So wonderfully written, so deeply entrancing, heartbreaking in all the right places- this one is a best seller.

4.5 Stars!

What a fabulous book. I consider this a second-chance romance, but it’s so much more than that. It encompasses so many powerful topics. I don’t want to list what they are, because to me that would ruin the journey of reading the book – and this book will take you on quite the journey.

The book is told in dual POV. It also alternates between the time when Annika and Jonathan first met in college, and ten years later when they reconnected after a chance encounter.

Annika was such a beautiful character. The author did a fabulous job of portraying all her ‘unique’ characteristics and making the reader feel so much empathy for her and all she endures.

I loved Jonathan too. He was the exact person that Annika needed in her life. He was so patient with her, but he also pushed her boundaries a little, and I think that was good for her too.

Janice is probably the best friend anyone could hope to have. She was so kind and understanding with Annika.

I highly recommend this book. I encourage everyone to read it and experience this story about love and friendship.

I think the only thing keeping me from giving it a full 5 stars is the lack of an epilogue. I really would have liked a little bit more at the end. Perhaps we’ll get another book in the future. One can only hope.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley.