The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

The Girl He Used To Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

April 2019 – St. Martin’s Press

Review copy provided by the publisher

Description: Annika (rhymes with Monica) Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. Anxious in social situations where she finds most people’s behavior confusing, she’d rather be surrounded by the order and discipline of books or the quiet solitude of playing chess.

Jonathan Hoffman joined the chess club and lost his first game―and his heart―to the shy and awkward, yet brilliant and beautiful Annika. He admires her ability to be true to herself, quirks and all, and accepts the challenges involved in pursuing a relationship with her. Jonathan and Annika bring out the best in each other, finding the confidence and courage within themselves to plan a future together. What follows is a tumultuous yet tender love affair that withstands everything except the unforeseen tragedy that forces them apart, shattering their connection and leaving them to navigate their lives alone.

Now, a decade later, fate reunites Annika and Jonathan in Chicago. She’s living the life she wanted as a librarian. He’s a Wall Street whiz, recovering from a divorce and seeking a fresh start. The attraction and strong feelings they once shared are instantly rekindled, but until they confront the fears and anxieties that drove them apart, their second chance will end before it truly begins. (publisher)

My take: The Girl He Used To Know is the story of Annika and Jonathan. They dated in college and then went their separate ways afterward. Ten years later they run into each other in the grocery store and decide to get to know each other again. But this is much more than a second chance at love story. Early on Jonathan discovers there’s something a bit different about Annika. What is revealed is that she’s an amazing person. She’s very intelligent, a great chess player, and quite beautiful. She also misses social cues to a degree that makes most others uncomfortable. The author addresses this pointedly late in the novel. I don’t want to say more because it’s interesting to experience the character development as the novel progresses. The Girl He Used To Know is a story of unconditional love and about finding one’s strengths and potential while facing extraordinary challenges. I quite liked it and look forward to reading more of this author’s work.

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About the author:

Tracey Garvis Graves is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, On the Island, spent 9 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has been translated into thirty-one languages, and is in development with MGM and Temple Hill Productions for a feature film. She is also the author of Uncharted, Covet, Every Time I Think of You, Cherish, Heart-Shaped Hack, White-Hot Hack, and The Girl He Used to Know. She is hard at work on her next book.

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