Member Reviews
I would wait forever and forever for any book by Tracey! She doesn’t release a book super often, but they’re always so worth the wait. She has her own brand of romances that leave you with an unforgettable story.
I couldn’t tell you the amount of appreciation I had for this book. I’m a huge fan of second chance romances and Tracey gave us two characters who were different, but brought out the best in each other.
Annika was simply a heroine that so many people misunderstood and refused to try and understand. She has a lot of social hang-ups and there were many situations that she’d avoid like the plague. But Annika was so beautifully written and such an amazing character, it was hard not to love her. She has so much to offer the world, but not many deserved it.
Jonathan is her match, completely. Seeing her for the beautiful person she is inside and out, he was sort of a solid foundation for Annika. Whenever these two were together, all her worries just disappeared. He helped her in so many ways and his patience and understanding was something that I admired so much about him.
Usually I’m not a fan of flashbacks, but Tracey did a phenomenal job intertwining past and present without it being a hindrance. Not once did my wander throughout the story because Tracey’s words kept me glued to every single page. I can’t say this was my favorite of Tracey’s work, but it was definitely different with the topics she decided to write about and packing things in on the emotional scale.
The Girl He Used to Know made my heart so happy. I truly loved and enjoyed this one, Tracey’s books have easily become books that I can never get tired of. With that being said, I’m definitely looking forward to Tracey’s next book!
Rating: 4.5 stars
Synopsis: Annika and Jonathan meet at the university of Illinois in 1991. Annika struggles with social cues and relationships. They date during their senior year and somehow end up breaking up. Ten years later they run into each other in 2001 in Chicago. Will they be able to have a second chance at their relationship?
What I like about this book:
Multiple POVs ✅
Goes back and forth in time ✅
Short chapters ✅
Heartfelt story ✅
What else can you ask for?
Review: I just couldn’t stop reading this book! I was hooked from the beginning and just kept rooting for these characters till the end. Annika and Jonathan’s story is one I won’t forget any time soon. I also loved Annika and Janice’s friendship. Those friendships are hard to come by. The author does an amazing job at conveying Annika’s emotions, anxiety and struggles. I am looking forward to reading more from Tracey Garvis Graves!
This is a story about unconditional love, heartbreak and second chances.
Favorite quote: “All my life, I’d been waiting for someone I could be myself with. It had never occurred to me that I could be that person for someone else. His words choked me up and made me feel like crying.”
Thank you Netgalley and St.Martins Press for the advance copy in exchange of an honest review!
As always with Tracey's stories I loved the writing and the character development so much. This was light and compelling, a fantastic read even though I felt like the ending was rushed.
" All my life, I'd been waiting for someone I could be mylself with. It had never occured to me that I could be that person for someone else."
Annika has always felt a fish out of water, avoiding social interactions as much as she can but when she begins to study at university her life changes in different ways that will challenge her to discover and face totally new situations. Starting with her roommate who understands her like no one, past her fellows at the chess club and culminating with Jonathan.
Jonathan is fascinated by the different girl and does everything to get close to her and gain her confidence, even though each encounter is a greater challenge than he imagined. She understands him as no one else has and the love between them blooms in a beautiful and gentle way.
Their romance is the kind that makes us sigh with every touch, every gesture, every shared moment and every pain that comes. It was beautiful to follow the interactions between them and between them and people around them and it was exciting to follow this journey of love and achievements.
Narrated in the first person alternately between the protagonists, between past and present, gradually the motives for their behavior is unfolding in a linear and constant rhythm.
It amazed me how the writer chose to show the connection and the strength between them more towards the end of the book and how to show the extraordinary strength of Annika and were details like this made me perfectly understand the choice of the cover and the title, a work to deal with open and tight heart with a good box of tissues on the side.
What did I like about this book? Everything........I loved every single thing about this book! This book is about a love story. Not your typical love story but a deep unconditional love that only comes around once in a lifetime. The type of love that happens when you are aware of the faults, the little quirks that a person has but you just don't care. In fact, you love them even more so for them.
As we got to know Annika and Jonathan it became clear that they were not your normal college sweethearts. As their relationship grew, I did not realize how invested I was becoming until they split apart, for ten whole years! As they moved on in their life, I wondered if they still had a place in their lives for each other. Is it possible to rekindle that deep love that they had or did it never really go away?
I loved both Annika and Jonathan, they were both truly good people with gentle souls. In a world that can be cruel, these two give you hope that there is still good in the world. When Annika expressed her love of all creatures and literally jumped out of the car to rescue one, I wanted to high five her and hug her. She is my kind of girl!
I don't often have the emotional reaction I did after finishing this book. It had such a profound effect on me that I just sat there to process it. I found myself thinking, okay so the book is over, now what? It tugged at my heartstrings in a way that not many books are able to. How have I not read this author's other books, I am not quite sure. I can tell you I won't make that mistake again. I can't recommend this book enough.
4.5 Stars
“Did you ever fall in love with a girl who was different? Not just from any girl you’d ever dated before, but from most people in general?”
*graphic -bookstagram*
I love a unique book with unique characters, and Tracey Garvis Graves delivered that with The Girl He Used To Know . Set in 1991 and 2001, we meet Annika and Jonathan as they bump into each other in a grocery store in Chicago after a ten-year separation.
"But I will call. I’ll apologize. Ask him if we can start over. “Clean slate,” I’ll say.
Such is my desire to replace the memories of the girl he used to know with the woman I’ve become."
Told in alternating POV in both past and present, we are witness to their initial love in college. Annika, though they don’t say it initially, (It’s 1991), is on the autism spectrum. She is pretty but painfully socially awkward and prefers books and chess to people. At times she is like a child, sweet-natured and naive about other’s intentions. She lucked out in college and got a fantastic roommate, Janice, who took her under her wing, (I LOVED Janice!) and convinced her to go to a chess club meeting. There, she met Jonathan.
“Are you going to kiss me?”
He laughed. “I was planning on it, yes.”
“Okay. I’m ready.”
Jonathan realized she wasn’t easy to date, but to him, she was worth it. Her quirks, though at times frustrating, were the very things that made her who she is, and what he loved about her. But the two broke up, and we aren’t privy to why for a while. We just know that it was her fault, so when they reunite, they are both struggling with the past.
"Standing on the sidewalk, I wonder if she remembers how it felt to be in love with me?
I haven’t forgotten how it felt to be in love with her."
My favorite part of the Girl He Used To Know was being in Annika's head and seeing the struggles she has to fit in.
“Why were there so many things to think about? To remember? Why couldn’t I figure anything out in the moment instead of days or weeks later?”
*Quote graphic*
The story was a bit slow and introspective at first, but it totally worked for me. I loved seeing how a relationship progresses when one person has challenges to overcome. I liked how she was so worried about being the right person for him, that she never considered he loved her the way she was.
"All my life, I’d been waiting for someone I could be myself with. It had never occurred to me that I could be that person for someone else."
The last 20% almost felt like a different book. We lose a lot of Jonathan’s POV, and it was almost too big for the story. I feel like maybe it wasn’t necessary for this story, though it brought out every single emotion possible.
Likes:
•I loved Annika. Her realness, her flaws, her insecurities, her bluntness and her inability to see social cues.
•Her best friend Janice was almost too good to be true. She made Annika’s square peg fit into a round hole.
•It was so different from your typical romance.
•Jonathan always seemed to know what she needed and delivered for the most part.
•I loved how it was more about Annika’s journey than the romance.
•So well written.
•Brings out every emotion.
•I loved how the author brought up the difficulties in navigating life on the spectrum, from the danger of not being able to read people’s motives, to reading and imitating others for social cues and fitting into society in general.
Dislikes:
•While I loved Jonathan and Annika’s college romance so much, the “present day” romance didn’t measure up. I almost felt like he was settling for her.
•It was a little slow until the last 20%, then it felt a little rushed! lol
•Though I loved it, I’m not sure the big drama at the end was really necessary for the story, it was almost too big a climax for such an introspective book.
•Needed an epilogue.
The Down & Dirty:
A unique combination of Women’s Fiction and Romance, The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves is special and memorable. It’s so refreshing to read about differently-abled characters and the daily struggles they endure being different. I absolutely loved being in Annika’s head. I enjoyed seeing the struggles in keeping a relationship going with someone that doesn’t always react the way you’d expect. The end was fast-paced and almost felt like it didn’t go with the story. While I still enjoyed the emotions it brought out, I’m not sure it was really necessary for the story, and it felt very similar to another story I read recently. It dulled the uniqueness of the rest of the book. What would have brought it back, however, would have been an epilogue, bringing back the quiet awkwardness of the couple, which is really the heart of the story. Despite a few niggling things, all-in-all, I HIGHLY recommend The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves, it was a highly unique and meaningful read that I will remember for a long time.
Rating: 4.5 Stars, 2.5 Heat
On the Island is one of my favorite books ever. I was so excited to read this new release by the same author. I was hooked as I read through this new story and I was able to finish it in just a few sittings. I wanted to give this book a 5 star rating, I truly did. I loved the writing and the character development, but I felt the ending was too dramatic for the story, was rushed and didn’t quite seem to fit just right. Overall, though, I found it to be a fabulous read and one that I would still recommend to anyone!
4.5 stars. Tracey Garvis Graves has an enormous talent for writing love stories that make readers think. Annika and Jonathan's story was really interesting- the story flashes between when they first meet in 1991 and when they reconnect in 2001, and I wondered how Annika's life would be different if she'd been a college student now instead of 25+ years ago, and if she would have been diagnosed and going through the world differently. The main story between Annika and Jonathan- of the obstacles to their relationship and Annika's eventual, fearless decision that demonstrates the power of thier connection- made this book a real treasure to read.
The Girl He Used to Know
In my reviews I don’t give a synopsis, just my opinion. Having said that:
I really liked this book. The characters are well written, interesting and relatable. Annika is uncomfortable in social situations. Is this what draws Jonathan? This is more than just a typical story of love lost and then found. Annika’s character makes it more. The book is so well written, telling the story using side by side timelines from the viewpoint of both characters. I loved Annika and was completely invested in the story from the start, wanting Annika to be happy.
I highly recommend this book. Thank you #Netgalley and #StMartinsPress for approving my request. All the opinions in this review are solely my own.
I very much liked the author's writing style and I did enjoy this book .
It is original and it got my hooked to the story.
I recommend this .
*4.5. stars*
This was my first book by the author and will not be the last! The writing was great, pacing good, and excellent character development. Jonathan and Annika felt like characters you would find in real life. Annika is a very unique character and I adored her. It's a second chance romance with them originally meeting in college and then seeing each other again 10 years later. I do wish there was a happier ending, preferably with an epilogue. I personally just needed a little bit more. But, this is a book I won't ever forget. These characters that will stay with me long after the last page. Highly recommend!
Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first novel by Tracey Garvis Graves and I've heard many rave about her past works so I was very excited to receive this book. But I felt myself really struggling with this book. I thought Annika was sweet, compassionate, and an amazing girl and I really liked Jonathan as well for how well he treated her and how amazing he was towards her and her special needs. Even though I loved the characters I'm still conflicted about how I felt when I finished reading.
Annika and Jonathan fell in love in college in 1991 after meeting at a chess club that they were both players in. Fast forward 10 years later and they meet again not knowing that they've both lived in the same city for the past 5 years. As they start to try and re-kindle the love they used to have Annika finally finds out why she's different from everyone else and why they broke up all those years ago.
The beginning of this book was a bit slow for me and I had a hard time getting into it. I did like that the book is told from the past and present, 1991 and current day 2001. I also liked that the story is told from both Annika and Jonathan's perspectives but I still struggled with this one.
The ending is what I feel really did it for me. There was barely any lead up in the book and then you get thrown a twist at the end and then the book just ends. Like, that's really all you're going to say about it? I would have liked the author to talk more about it instead of just ending the book.
I just love books with a quirky character or two. The Girl He Used to Know has the wonderful Annika, a woman with plenty of quirks. As she struggles living her life, she encounters a couple of people who 'get' her—they really 'get' her. And as they slowly and lovingly bring her out of her anxiety-filled life, she finds strength that she never knew she possessed.
This story, and Annika, captured my heart from the very first page. I turned the pages quickly–but not too quickly so that I could savor it all–and watched her life unfold before me, starting to understand what her life must have been like. When she feels that she has lost the person she loves the most, she faces her fears and forges ahead.
The Girl He Used to Know is a beautiful story of love, differences, and acceptance. It is a story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and one that I highly recommend. I will remember Annika, and her quirkiness for quite some time.
Annika and Jonathan met during college. She is awkward and would rather have books than people around her. She slowly allows Jonathan into her small world. Due to various circumstances (MUST READ TO FIND OUT!) they go their separate ways. Jonathan gets married and divorced. Annika gets an advanced degree and achieves her dream job at the Chicago Public Library. They accidentally run into each other one day in Chicago and both of their worlds change.
Jonathan is now my new book boyfriend. These two have such a strong connection. Jonathan has to be the most patient person ever. And he truly loves Annika. It comes out in every turn of the page. Annika is not like most women. She does not like to be touched, she cannot stand to be around people and she makes many social gaffes. She has struggled her whole life to overcome her awkwardness and she has, for the most part, done real well. But, to keep her relationship with Jonathon going, she must overcome more obstacles than she realizes.
This story completely captivated me. I started reading it on a Friday and finished it on Saturday. I have never read a sweeter story in all my reading life. I even texted my friend over at Silversreviews , just to let her know I was about to ugly cry. And I do not cry during books. This one had me tearing up! Let me tell you! Need a fantastic, captivating and emotional read, grab this one!
I received this novel from St. Martin’s Press for a honest review.
It is always such a pleasure to pick up a book by this author because I know I’m going to read a gorgeously written story peopled with the most unforgettable and beautiful characters. And this particular one has both of those things in abundance.
Annika and Jonathan just grabbed ahold of my heart and still haven’t let go. Their journey to each other was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read. It still fills me with emotion to think of it. Jonathan was so sigh worthy in every way and Annika - she just broke my heart with her courage and bravery and fabulous heart. Together they are just perfection.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of beautiful stories that are peopled with characters you come to love and never want to stop reading about. I truly loved this one.
The Girl He Used to Know is a beautiful love story between Jonathan and Annika that spans over a decade. They fall in love in college and drift apart when he moves to NYC after graduation while she stays in Illinois for grad school. By pure chance ten years later, they reunite after bumping into each other at a grocery store in Chicago. Annika is still single, having just broken up with a longtime beau, and Jonathon is newly divorced. They decided to take things slow by becoming friends again first. Has fate brought them back together for good? Or will it end as it previously did?
Brilliantly written, with adorable, endearing characters, I fell in love with this book and their love story. I wouldn't change a thing about this book - in my opinion it was perfect! As dramatic and devastating as the ending is, it is still satisfying and pleasing. This is a definite must-read on my list.
I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
For anyone that has followed my reviews for even a short while, it’s no surprise that I have a short list of favorite authors that I automatically buy new releases from because I adore their writing styles. But as much as I love them, sometimes that puts me in a book funk. Sometimes it means the book doesn’t feel fresh or new. Even if I love them. And I’ve learned something fairly recently. As much as I love romance, I really, really love when an author reaches beyond the “normal” romance story. So when I get into that book funk, I usually scour NetGalley for new (or new-to-me) authors. Most of the time, I’m REALLY glad I did. And this time? I’m really, REALLY glad I did!
The Girl He Used to Know is written from a very unique perspective. And maybe because it ‘s because it hit so close to my heart, that’s why I loved this story so much. And I did love it. From the unique perspective of both the heroine and hero, to the timeframe from which it was written, this book hooked me. I was all in. I was up way too late reading, too, which is a sure sign a book will be a four or five star read for me. It’s a second chance romance, but there’s such a depth to the characters, and to their stories, that it felt outside the box of “normal” second chance romance books that have hit the shelves recently. I would tell you more about the story, but it’s just too good of a book to post anything that could be a spoiler, and I certainly wouldn’t want to deprive you of the opportunity to fully enjoy this novel!
So while this author is new to me, I’m now going to be scouring her backlist to see if she’ll fall into my “auto-purchase” category.
NICUnurse’s Rating: I wholeheartedly give The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves 5 stars!
Annika Rose has never been a typical girl. She prefers libraries to parties, animals to people and the only time she really feels free is when she’s playing chess.
The game has been a great teacher to her for most of her life. It taught her about people, about herself and about the world around her. But she never thought that it would also teach her about love.
“Until my dad taught me to play chess at age seven, there wasn’t a single thing I was good at. I did not excel at sports, and I was all over the board academically, earning either the very highest or the very lowest marks, depending on the class and how much it interested me. Debilitating shyness prevented me from participating in school plays or other extracurricular activities. But much like books, chess filled a void in my life that nothing else had been able to satisfy. Though it took me a long time to figure it out, I know that my brain does not work like other people’s. I think in black-and-white. Concrete, not abstract. The game of chess, with its strategies and rules, matched my worldview. Animals and books sustained me, but chess gave me the opportunity to be a part of something.
When I played the game, I almost fit in.”
Jonathan Hoffman is trying to find his way back from a mistake that almost cost him everything that he’s worked his whole life for. But he can feel his luck changing when he’s paired with Annika on his first night in the Illini Chess Club. She’s an enigma that he desperately wants to solve. Brilliant, beautiful and yet painfully shy, she sees him for who he truly is. And her love is the absolution that his soul has been longing for.
All of their awkward pieces seem to fit effortlessly together and soon the future that they dreamed of is finally within reach. When an unexpected tragedy tears them apart, it sets them both on a path regret and self-discovery.
Reconnecting a decade later, the spark between them is stronger than before. But would fate be so cruel a second time around?
“Seeing you was like seeing a ghost. I wasn’t sure it was you at first.”
“I knew right away it was you,” she says. “And I’ve been grateful ever since.”
Do you believe in soul mates? Well, you certainly will after you read this book! Tracey Garvis Graves has crafted an epic love story that is as tender as it is unique. In a thoughtful and almost manic form, she captures the very heart of her characters in a way that is simply unforgettable.
You’ll remember Annika for her unexpected strength and kindness and you’ll remember Jonathan for his steadfast love. And you’ll remember what they made you feel when you finished the very last page…
The Girl He Used To Know comes out on autism awareness day. The heroine, Annika is on the high functioning end of the autism spectrum and I think her character was handled with sensitivity and care. I enjoyed this second chance romance very much, but the book also strongly focuses on the heroine's own personal growth. How she evolves from someone filled with anxiety that leans heavily on others to cope socially, to a woman who has fought for her own self-confidence and the skills to thrive on her own two feet. The book is told in dual POV and alternates from the present time to flashbacks of the past in the couple's college years. So you really get a sense of how Annika has evolved since their mysterious break up. In the beginning, you're left in the dark as to why, but it's clear that she blames herself entirely for the disintegration of their relationship.
Annika Rose meets Jonathan Hoffman at chess club. This is such a geeky thing to bond over, and I really loved that aspect of the book. Both are highly intelligent people, and their competitive games soon help her overcome her initial nervousness around him. Typically she avoids social interaction whenever possible, because the stress of worrying if she will inadvertently say something inappropriate is crippling. But from the first time he sat down with her, he was always kind and accepting and that helped to put her at ease. Annika also has a deep affection for animals and her other hobby is to volunteer at the wildlife medical clinic. She was such a kind and sweet natured young woman who has struggled so harshly with cruelness, that's it's no wonder she gravitates towards animals with limitless unconditional love.
Your heart breaks for her as she opens up to Jonathan and starts to reveal the ignorance and hate directed at her through her life. It's really no wonder she's closed herself up and avoids making new connections.
Jonathan's initial interest in her may have been superficial and somewhat self-serving, but his kindness and total acceptance of her differences was heartwarming. Even though neither had any knowledge as to why she was different, he was able to make logical deductions based on her comfort levels in different situations. You could really see that they both enjoyed being able to strip down and be completely real in who they were with each other, without any artifice or guesswork into what the other was thinking. There were a lot of sweet moments between the two of them, like Jonathan pressing his forehead against hers and closing her eyes so that she could feel their connection in a way that was sensitive to her trouble with eye contact.
In the present time chapters, Annika has gotten therapy and there are noticeable differences between her and "the girl he used to know." When she runs into her first love, she's immediately eager to try to pick up where they left off. However, he's upfront with her that he needs to take things slowly because their past lacked closure, and there is residual hurt from what transpired years ago. For me personally, I believe that she wasn't necessarily ready for a long term relationship at that point in her life. They eventually had physical and emotional distance between them due to a tragic event, and it caused them to drift apart. These things happen in life, especially when you're young and ill equipped to deal with such big challenges.
Annika was struggling hard and had to make the difficult decision to put herself first. I didn't agree with the way that she chose to do it, or his unfeeling final message to her, but no one can say he didn't try to hold onto her despite the distance she cultivated between them. It wasn't meant to be at that point, and I was glad to see that there was no bitterness or anger on either of their parts as they got to know each other again.
There were two points in the plot that occurred in the last 15% of the book that did bring down my rating, but clearly I was thoroughly enjoying the story for the majority so it didn't alter my rating that much. Number one: there was a major conflict that cropped up unexpectedly that felt jarring. I wasn't expecting it to happen and it didn't really feel cohesive with what I had read up until that point. With such a huge event, I didn't feel as if there was significant page time to address it, and it ended up feeling too rushed. Number two: the ending was abrupt and random. I was left wondering about Annika and Jonathan's future regarding their relationship and career path.
I loved reading about their unique connection and the representation of such a wonderful character like Annika. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy emotional second chance stories. It was tragic in parts, poignant, and easily engages your emotions. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.
4.5 “It’s Always Been You” stars!
Annika Rose is a beautiful, single woman living in Chicago who works at a library. She’s always been a bit of a loner, who prefers reading or playing chess. All her life she’d felt like the poster child for weird. On the outside she looked like everyone else, but on the inside she never felt like she belonged. She struggled doing the things that came naturally to most, and often had trouble in social situations. She misread signals and didn’t ever fit in no matter how hard she tried. Then she meets Jonathan Hoffman her senior year of college. He was kind, gorgeous, and a true friend who becomes more. With him she opens up and comes out of her shell. He likes her just as she is and she trusts him. He understood her in ways others didn’t, and made her feel special.
Life takes them in different directions and then they run into each other ten years later. They both still feel something and have always wondered how they could have done things differently in the past. Annika realizes how much she’s missed him. He was her first love, her first everything. She’d never forgotten how treasured Jonathan made her feel, and how fiercely he’d loved her. She decides she can’t let another opportunity with him go, or she’d forever regret it. Can they have a clean slate and rekindle their connection or will it only end in heartbreak?
I really enjoyed this sweet, heartwarming story about how people change and grow, but the love remains. It’s a college, second chance romance that is extremely touching and original. It goes from past to present as their love story plays out. I adore this authors writing so much! She always creates characters that are unique and beautiful.