Annika first met Johnathan at college. Having been home schooled by her mother for many years, it is a new experience for her to be with other students. Annika is studying library science as reading has always been her passion. She loves animals and has such compassion for them so she volunteers at an animal clinic. Loving them provides her with much comfort.

A friend encourages her to join the chess club and after much hesitation, she agrees. Since chess is a quiet game that doesn’t require conversation, she finds she can relax and wins often. It is at chess club that she meets Jonathan. He too is a good chess player.

Annika is a shy and naive girl with what some might call OCD tendencies. She likes her quiet time so she can relax and read. Never having dated, she is unsure of how to handle it when Jonathan asks her out. He is a perceptive young man and understands her quirks. They become very close and soon are in love and wanting to get married. But something happens that breaks them apart.

Now, 10 years later, Annika and Jonathan run into one another. Annika has a good job at a library and loves her work. Jonathan is doing very well working at a financial firm. He was married for a few years but got a divorce. Annika has never married. Seeing Jonathan again awakens the feelings she has always had for him. However, she feels guilty because she thinks their breakup was her fault and wonders if there could be a way for them to get back together. Slowly, they see one another again. But there are some past hurts and rekindling their love may not be possible unless they are willing to examine what happened and confront truths. But something horrendous occurs that tests Annika and brings out her true strength.

I found this to be an interesting book but it wasn’t until the latter part of the book that it really picked up. I like Jonathan and find his understanding and compassion for the person Annika is to be very touching. Annika may have her quirks but she is aware of them and works to fit in the best way she can. Unfortunately, there are bullies of all ages out there ready to taunt someone who is a little different from everyone else. A good story. Do read it and enjoy.

Copy provided by NetGalley and Goodreads in exchange for a fair and honest review.

You know that feeling you get when you finish a book and you just sit and wonder how you are going to move on from it? The Girl He Used to Know was one of those books. After just reading the first few pages, I knew that it was going to be a special, heartfelt reading experience, one that would make me feel every emotion, not only while I was immersed in it, but long after the final word was read.

The Girl He Used to Know is a unique second chance love story. It’s also so much more than that. It’s a multi-layered story that is overflowing with emotion. It’s an honest portrayal of a young woman’s challenges as she maneuvers through life and love. Annika is going through all of the normal stages that young adults face: university, making friends, falling in love, and learning to be independent. For Annika, these normal events present more of a challenge than they would for many young people. As a reader, I felt as though I was right there beside her, cheering her on, shedding a few tears, smiling at her victories, and wanting to see her succeed at everything that life had to offer her.

The story alternates between two different timelines, from the year when Annika and Jonathan meet to ten years later, when they reconnect. This was all done seamlessly and perfectly. It allowed me to witness their relationship develop, to wonder why their relationship had faltered, and to see if what they once had was worth rekindling all of these years later. Their relationship certainly wasn’t without its hardships, but it was such a sweet, caring, loving relationship. Despite their differences, they brought out the best in each other.

Tracey Garvis Graves has written Annika and Jonathan’s story with sensitivity, grace, and an abundance of heart. As the story revealed itself to me, I was completely under its spell. It was a captivating read that gave me everything that I could have hoped for and so much more. Words can’t properly express how much this book moved me. As much as I would like to divulge all of the pivotal pieces that touched my heart, I don’t want to spoil the journey for any other readers. The Girl He Used to Know is a book that holds a special place in my heart.

*5 Stars

Thank you St Martins Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book takes place in a few different timelines, past and present, as well as alternating viewpoints. Annika meets Jonathan by accident at college during a chess match. Annika has been playing chess at college with the same partner for awhile now and isn’t excited for the sudden switch-up (a nod to being on the spectrum which was a cool addition to the book). Turns out, they seem to get alone quite nicely and eventually start a solid relationship. As we go back to present day, Annika hasn’t seen Jonathan in over ten years. She’s in therapy to deal with things that have happened in the past, including something major that rocked Annika and Jonathan’s relationship to pieces. Now Annika has run into Jonathan for the first time in a long time. Can they begin to move on from what happened in the past? Will they get back together?

This book is a true story of romance. This is a story of a first real love and how it effects you for the rest of your life. If that doesn’t shake your emotions, than what will?! It’s a super easy read. It had me so captivated that I read it all in one sitting. The character development is so exceptional that it really boasts to be more than just a romance story. It’s more intricate than that, which I appreciate oh so much. I, like most people I’ve talked to about this book, was not a fan of the ending. It felt really rushed just to get a reaction out of the reader. The characters themselves seemed to really change in the end which made it feel unrealistic. For some people, that’s a total book killer. For me? I still really did enjoy this book! Worth the read in my opinion!

3.5 out of 5. This one was just ok for me. Started off a little slow but by the end I was really starting to enjoy it.

Don't start reading this novel unless you have time to dive into a fascinating, heart-grabbing huge love story. Annika is a differently-wired individual who sees the world differently and struggles to relate to others. However, she has powerful, profound relationships with her family and her best friend Janice -- and the small circle expands when she and Jonathan meet. Their passionate love ends badly. When they meet ten years later in a grocery store, they are wary and also intrigued by one another. I don't want to say more except to urge you to read an engaging, seamless flow of a logically flowing, true-feeling, and magically told story.

Thank you St.Martin's Press for a copy of The Girl He Used To Know in exchange for an honest review. This beautiful book is available April 2/19 and you are all going to want a copy.

The Girl He Used To Know was such an incredible love story. Annika is unusual and struggles with social cues and sensory processing. She does not like noisy restaurants, talking with strangers, or the feel of labels in her clothes. Jonathan is a handsome young man who falls in love with her over some chess games. Their college love story is revealed from both their viewpoints as well as some chapters from the present, after they reconnect twenty years after they breakup.
Reading about Annika and Jonathan when they were first together is so beautiful. I loved how Annika worked to adapt more to be with him, but more than that, I thought Jonathan did a wonderful job seeing her struggles and trying to reduce them as much as he could. He did not try to change her or "fix" her and just wanted to be with her and make her happy.
I won't go into many more details because this is a novel you are going to want to experience and just sink into these characters. I recommend The Girl He Used To Know to anyone who likes an unconventional romance with complicated characters and a page turning story that makes you wonder how they end up and what happened to separate them 20 years ago.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley & Tracey Garvis Graves for the free advanced digital copy!

🌟BOOK REVIEW🌟

▪️MY THOUGHTS
✔️I loved both of the main characters! They expressed so much honest love and admiration for each other. I thought Annika’s character was amazing and I thought was an honest depiction of someone on the autism spectrum. She was sweet, honest and opened herself completely to Jonathan. I thought Jonathan was incredible! Such a supportive and loving partner. I enjoyed reading about their love story and separation. To me it felt so real and a true story of love and loss.
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▪️OVERALL RUNDOWN
✔️I loved this book! I enjoyed the writing so much! I wasn’t completely prepared for the ending and found it at times hard to read. It had me in tears so please keep in mind it might be very hard for some people to read. Overall, I loved it and really enjoyed the writing style! ❤️
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▪️FAVOURITE QUOTE
✔️”Though she has trouble deciphering other people’s facial expressions, her face is an open book and no one would ever have trouble understanding hers.” ❤️

▪️TITLE RUNDOWN
Girl meets boy
Independent
Relationship
Love
Honest
Excellent
Understanding
Sad
Earnest
Dating
Tragedy
Open
Kind
New York
Original
Wonderful

▪️STAR RATING
✔️🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am going to just jump right in and get to my thoughts on this book. I am conflicted. I have discussed this book with others who recently The Girl He Used to Know, and haven’t been able to resolve my feelings about this book.

On the one hand I love the writing. I could not put this book down. I read it in a couple of sittings.. I loved delving into Annika and Jonathan’s story. The moving between past and present and between their points of view really worked well. And I thought the portrayal of Annika and her struggle with autism was beautiful and so true to life. When it comes to Annika’s and Jonathan’s relationship and their development as characters, this book is easily a 5 star read. And I would be shouting my love of this book from the rooftops.

However, and this is a big however, the ending was very problematic for me. Though there was some foreshadowing, in my cross section of readers many did not see the ending coming. There are just some things that shouldn’t be used as a surprise ending or merely as a plot point for character development. And the ending is an example of this. Personally, I think the ending of this book cheapened the story and cheapened the beautiful story of a woman with autism. Why couldn’t this book just be about a woman and the man she once loved grappling with her struggle with autism? Secondly you cannot throw out this twist as an ending and not spend more considerable time with it it. It was wrapped up too quickly, considering the subject matter. The ending, I have to give 2 stars. I think numerous other situation could have been used as a the point of conflict and climax.

So as you see I am conflicted. Overall I will give this book three stars. The fact I am wrestling though does demonstrate that this book was well written. And I think it would be perfect for a book club discussion. I am interested to see what her other books are like. Her writing was exceptional. So will look to give her another try!

I knew pretty much from the get-go that I was probably not going to love this as much as some of my friends did. But I also knew this was a book purported to hit the reader quite hard in the latter half so I pushed on. And while I won't say I was unmoved, this did not impact me the way it did so many others. And the number one reason? The writing.

I can't recall, unfortunately, if Graves' other stories were written in such a stark, flat, way or if this was done because of Annika, but I was <b>not</b> a fan. It didn't impede my ability to speed through this in only like three hours but it made it a less than enjoyable experience for the most part. Infact the only parts I enjoyed were the following : Annika herself. Annika's college bestie Janice. And Annika's journey as an individual with high-functioning autism.

<I>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.</I>

Annika was just.. I don't want to, like, condescend towards her or people represented by her character but I wanted to just wrap her up and put her in a quiet room surrounded by books. She was just so lovely, so determined, and so pure. And that's something that her love interest, Jonathan, did appreciate. Over time. Not always during every moment but he was sympathetic, understanding, patient. He wasn't terrible. But you'll notice I didn't list the romance as my favourite thing; because it wasn't.

"<I>I thought I saw a pair of jeans in here once. Where did they go?</I>"
"<b>I left them in the laundry room and someone took them.</b>"
"<I>You never told me someone stole your jeans.</I>"
"<b>I left them there on purpose because I hate jeans.</b>"

I absolutely, one hundred percent, believed in her love for him. For how his affection, his influence, did so much for Annika. But though we are meant to appreciate her from Jonathan's perspective, and he <b>was</b> a nice guy, I just.. didn't like him. I can't even describe it. He was at turns really full of himself and also insecure and instead of his POV helping matters I think it made it worse. I don't think Graves captured him the way she probably wanted to. Or at least it didn't work for me. I just didn't get him and he really dragged the story down. I might have rated this a three, even despite the writing struggles, but between both of those issues and a certain plot near the end.. I just can't.

<I>On the outside, I looked like everyone else. But on the inside, I remembered that I didn't belong.</I>

I love that more authors are diversifying by bringing underrepresented people and situations to the fore and I so wish I could love this one as much as, say, THE KISS QUOTIENT. I think many people will enjoy this one; or rather, more importantly, I hope they do. I'm just not one of them.


** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

The more you get to know Annika, the more you come to respect the choices Tracey Garvis Graves makes in crafting this unforgettable, stunning character.

Annika does not like people, even as she recognizes the depths of her loneliness. Homeschooled from mid-seventh grade through high school, she comes to college completely unprepared to adapt. Loud sounds disrupt her, she doesn’t like being touched, and she struggles with deciphering emotions in other people. Outwardly, she is quirky and confusing. People find her strange and off-putting.

Her inner life, though, shows you that Annika is far more aware than people believe her to be. She may not always know how to act in a social setting, but her heart is always, always pure. She does not see evil or cruelty in others; only because circumstance has forced her does she enter relationships hesitantly, pausing to try to suss her way through people’s motives.

She enjoys chess and plays it calculatingly. With chess, she is able to analyze outcomes and choose the most successful path for herself. The pieces have strict terms of movement; her opponent has only so many choices of action. People, though. People have too many unknown variables, too many possible outcomes, too many unknowns. Annika is nowhere near as comfortable with humans as she is with chess pieces.

Tracey Garvis Graves delivers to this young woman a man, a romance, a love. Jonathan sees past Annika’s quirks and straight into her heart, into the woman she isn’t even aware she is. He finds purity and goodness in her, and he respects her boundaries and rigidities.

It would be easy to make someone like Annika a caricature or an object of pity. Tracey Garvis Graves, however, respects her character. She gives Annika strengths and self-awareness. She also gives her people who watch out for her and protect her without ever belittling or demeaning her. We all should be so lucky as to have a friend like Janice in our lives.

I loved the romance in this book. I loved watching Jonathan fall in love with Annika and she with him, and I love the friendship between Annika and Janice. I found myself even more drawn to the smaller moments when Tracey Garvis Graves lets us see people through Annika’s eyes. Annika may not be able to translate facial expressions into human emotions, but she has the ability to show us what we need to know. There is one scene in particular that sticks with me: Annika is home with her parents, telling her mother about Jonathan. “He has never been mean to me, Mom. Not even once.” Annika’s mother blinks in response, “as if there was something in her eye.” In this moment, we see a mother’s joy for her daughter, that sense of happiness and a little relief that she found a man who loves her for her, not in spite of anything.

In Jonathan, we have a hero for the ages, a man who loves tenderly and wholly. He does not baby Annika, nor does he excuse her when she hurts him. Rather, he gives her the chance to explain herself. He understands that she does not respond in the ways he’s used to people behaving, and he gives her the freedom to be herself.

Tracey Garvis Graves sets this book in a very specific time period, one when we were forced to face our fears and learn to adapt to a new world order. It isn’t so much that this is a metaphor for Annika as it is a way to frame her story, to show you the power of love to make you do something you did not believe yourself capable of achieving.

There is another moment in this story when a character tells Annika that “no one deserves a miracle more than you.” The beauty of this story is that you will agree wholeheartedly.

All of the stars for this engrossing, beautiful, unique love story! ♥️
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Annika and Jonathan meet in college and have a beautiful love story that should have stood the test of time. Flash forward 10 years and we see the two run into each other at the grocery store. What drove these two apart? Will they be able to reconnect and rekindle their love story? This is told in dual timelines as the reader goes back and experiences their love story from the beginning and sees what happens to drive these two apart.⁣
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I absolutely adored the characters in this book. Annika is a delightful, charming, quirky, and beautiful girl. I work in Special Education and a lot of my students are high functioning Autistic such as Annika. This is an accurate portrayal of someone with ASD and a beautiful representation of someone on the spectrum. The emotional growth and maturity that happens over the course of the book was phenomenally written and executed. I could have done without the sex scenes but that’s my only complaint. A beautiful, heartfelt, wonderful story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars. Thank you @stmartinspress for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.⁣
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This is a love story - but it's unlike any love story that I've ever read. It's about love and forgiveness and second chances and most importantly, it's about a girl who is socially awkward and trying to find her place in the world.

The story is told in two timelines. In the first, Annika (rhymes with Monica) Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. She is anxious in social situations and college is very difficult for her because she finds most people confusing. She prefers her life of books, animals and her joy in playing chess. She meets Jonathan at chess club and he is entranced by her quirky ways. They fall in love and make plans for the future until life pulls them apart and they go their own ways and he move to NYC to pursue his career. The second time line is 10 years later when Annika and Jonathan run into each other in a store. She still lives in Chicago and works in a library and he is visiting Chicago on business. The feeling between them is still strong and they have to decide whether they want to try again and risk the pain that they had before or take a chance and maybe find true love that will overcome their obstacles.

This characters in this book are well written but Annika is the character that I'll remember the most. Her best friend Janice helped her with social cues and ways to handle life but for someone on the autism spectrum like Annika was, life is full of confusion and difficult social interaction. The character is so well written that I found myself wanting to help her out and being upset when she was. She is aware of the fact that she is different “Most people can draw these conclusions instantaneously, without any extra analysis at all. How amazing but also heartbreaking, because I’ll never be one of them.” Annika is a character that I won't soon forget - despite her differences she is a brave and loving person. This is an uplifting and beautiful novel and one of my favorite books of the year so far.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

“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.”

This book. All the feels. All the tears. Such a beautiful story about first love, heartbreak, and coping with life. But for someone who is different in society's eyes, that life can be a constant struggle and this was such an eye opener for those who don't know what they go through.

This book hit close to home for me. I have a niece that is autistic with anxiety, and although she's high functioning, she has her struggles. And to read about how others treated Annika and how her mother raised her, I completely understand because we go through the same thing. So thank you for putting this story out into the world. For opening society's eyes to those that don't see life the way that many of us do.

And Jonathan. What a strong, patient, beautiful character he is. His compassion and love for Annika was heartwarming.

Thank you, Tracey Garvis Graves, for your beautiful words and for sharing them with us.

This is the story of Jonathan and Annika, who met in a college chess club in 1991. After a sweet time together filled with love and hope, they're broken apart. 10 years later, they see each other in a grocery store & decide to see if they can give themselves another chance. The story is told through both of their perspectives, jumping back and forth between 1991 and 2001. I loved that it was told this way, because it gave us so much insight into each character and how they saw themselves (and each other).
Annika is probably one of my favorite characters that I've recently come across in the book. She is somewhere on the spectrum, but it isn't addressed until later on in the book (likely because 1991 was not a time where there was discussion of this or official diagnoses, unlike today). She was sweet & loving, while being unsure of where she fit in & how to navigate through life. I loved that even if she was unsure about other things, she was sure of herself & what she liked. The story of her opening up to Jonathan & their relationship in 1991 was so sweet & heart warming - first love stories always get me!
The ending of this novel threw me for a loop. Had I paid attention to the dates & where the characters were, I would've noticed where it was heading, but I was very surprised by the events that unfolded. I did love the story overall, but was just a little thrown off at what event was used to continue their story.

What a moving, emotional, and beautiful story! I’m not sure what exactly I was expecting when I began this book but I promise you, it was far more than anything I could have dreamed.

Ten years ago Annika was finally finding a way to live her life as normally as possible. It wasn’t perfect by everyone else’s standards, but with the help of her roommate she began to acclimate to a world she was unprepared for. Having been the subject of bullying and emotional taunts, even from those she thought she could trust, she finds it difficult to rely on her own impressions of the people around her. Namely, Jonathan who has insinuated himself first into her chess club and now into her life.

Jonathan was everything sweet and kind, patient and loving and exactly what Annika needed. He fights with a gentle ferocity to get through to her and is rewarded with her heart. But when the unthinkable happens and Annika falls into a dark place, he is left with his own broken dreams.

This story was so incredibly moving. So much so that I can’t find the words to adequately describe it. The author takes us through this couple’s first meeting to their reunion years later with all the angst and heartache along the way. I smiled, I winced, I laughed and I cried over the journey Annika had to survive. There wasn’t a single page that I didn’t feel some type of emotion.

This story is just layer upon layer of emotions. From Annika’s struggles to fit in, to accepting Jonathan into her life, to this ending that was so very shocking and gut clinching, I was a mixed ball of anxiety. I don’t want to give anything away because getting to know these characters is all part of the experience but watching this heroine evolve is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve read in a very long time.

While I absolutely loved this book, I was very disappointed at its abrupt ending. It looks and feels like a happy ever after even while it doesn’t. I desperately needed an epilogue. I need to know that everything really is alright. For the hard fist that landed in my chest at the conclusion, I have to deduct a star. Perhaps if the author releases a bonus chapter/epilogue I may revise it, but until then I will be unhappy with the ending of a story that was wonderful until that point.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"If you're quiet and don't make a lot of sound, for some reason people think it means there's something wrong with your hearing. But there was nothing wrong with mine."

Thank you, St Martin's Press for sending the ARC of The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves.

Meet Annika, the female protagonist of The Girl He Used To Know. Having a hard time communicating with people and understanding their mannerisms, the beautiful Annika struggles with talking to other humans. Her comfort zone lies in the company of books, animals and a chess board. (I could resonate with Annika's character to a very close extent.) Now, meet Jonathan. A talented swimmer who is also interested in chess. One more thing, Jonathan is the "HE" mentioned in the title of the book.

The story begins when both these characters/ex-lovers stumble upon each other at the grocery store, a decade of their break-up. After having a small awkward conversation, they decide to meet once again. And...again after that. Annika is still single, while Jonathan is a divorcee. The new beginning of their relationship is complex as they both struggle with memories of the past. The reason why they separated is not revealed until the end.

"That's the one thing no one tells you about divorce. No matter how much you and your spouse agree that the relationship is broken, it hurts like hell when you go your separate ways and the pain follows you around until one day it doesn't."

The Girl He Used To Know took me on a roller coaster of emotions. As the book is told from a dual perspective, we got to know Jonathan's dilemma to bounce back after a failed marriage and Annika's thoughts to understand this new event. To say I LOVED her would be an understatement. Annika was one of the purest characters I have had the privilege of reading. She is ready to put her life in danger just to save animals. Her innocence sometimes teaches her brutal lessons, but then again, she has Janice for her rescue. Janice is an outgoing and stronghearted girl, exactly what Annika needs, in some ways. Although they are polar opposites, it helps them forge a bond. I don't want to give in any further.

Finally, this is not a typically mushy romance. This story is of two adults who are understanding each other in a whole new way while juggling with reality. Even though, if you aren't a fan of love story, you should give this one shot.

"The Girl He Used to Know" by Tracey Garvis Graves was an amazing book. I literally couldn't put it down from the moment I started it and read it in one evening. I loved Annika's development, and watching how she grew from her freshman year of college to adulthood. Her relationship with Jonathan was so compelling and beautiful and often had me in tears. I could relate to her because I was made to understand her and her struggles with autism. Jonathan managed to be completely lovable while still being a real person. Annika was also a real, well-rounded person, not just a caricature of her disability.
Somehow, I'm an idiot and wasn't anticipating the 9/11 plot line until the date appeared on the page. Then I was so, so anxious about what was going to happen to the characters that I could barely read each word in my need to find out what happened. This part threw me off a little because it felt so much different than the rest of the book and felt kind of apart from the rest of the plot. It's also such an intense, terrible thing that I just felt distant from it, like it wasn't real. But overall, it gave the book a beautiful ending and I am so happy I got to read this book. It gave me a new perspective on people with autism and on relationships and how we form them and how they do and don't change us. I can't even express how good this book is--just read it!

Annika and Jonathan’s story broke my heart and knitted it together at the same time. It will take a special someone to love Annika and Jonathan is that special someone. They missed ten years of their lives, but maybe Annika needed to really mature to have a successful relationship with a man. They reconnected, but thie story was set in the 9/11 year. It was that and the role Annika played to find Jonathan that really sealed the deal for me. This story reminded me of the book ‘Find You in the Dark’ by A. Meredith Walters. The hero in that book is a little like Annika. Actually, Clayton has deeper diagnosis, if there’s anything like that. There were also several books, which dealt with 9/11. One of such where the heroine lost someone is ‘Searching for Moore’ by Julie A. Richman. Even though it wasn’t the hero, but it was still harrowing. Annika came through for Jonathan this time around. She stretched herself to drive twelve hours! Save a man and his son (only Annika will pick up a hitchhiker at night), because the man was carrying a kid.

In all, this story touched me at this point of my life. There is still goodness left in man towards others. I wish they will live happily ever after. I wish we get an epilogue though when the final draft comes out.

Am giving this my rare 5 stars!

The Girl He Used To Know will be one of my favorites for 2019I I love how we slowly unravel the love story of Annika and Jonathan interspersed with their present story. I found myself mesmerized by Annika, with her social challenges and quirks, loyal kindness and innocence. I was so torn between finding out what happens but not wanting to because I was so attached to these characters and their lives. In the end, I was taken totally off guard in public with my children asking why I was crying in an airport! I absolutely recommend this book. I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

Wow! Read this book! Heart wrenching! Beautiful! What an incredible window into the heart of a young woman who struggles with being on the Autism Spectrum and what life is like even years before there was an understanding of what Autism is and her diagnosis. It is a story of love and a story of not running away even when the unbelievable and impossible tragedy occurs. A story of love and miracles!