Review: The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW
Tracey Garvis Graves
Publication date: April 2, 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: St. Martin's Press

GOODREADS  |  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

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. 

M Y   T H O U G H T S

Do you ever come across those rare stories that are so perfectly “you?” This is one of those stories for me. I fell in love with these characters and their story. This is what my kind of five star read looks like.

“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?” - Jonathan

Annika knows she’s not like everyone else. Awkward and unsure in social situations, overwhelmed by noise and crowds, and never able to intuit what others are thinking, she counts on her roommate’s guidance to navigate through her daily life.

“I try so hard to fit in. I spend hours studying appropriate behaviors.” She makes little air quotes around the last two words. “I will never get it right! Do you know what that’s like? It’s the most frustrating thing in the world.” - Annika

Annika and Jonathan meet over a chess board in college. Annika – focused on winning, Jonathan – focused on the beautiful but shy girl across from him. A tentative friendship leads to a romance that is life-changing for them both. They weather tragedy together and when Jonathan graduates and moves to New York City he wants Annika to go with him. But Annika retreats into herself and pulls away, leaving Jonathan no choice but to move on. A chance meeting ten years later brings them face to face with their past and a second chance seems possible – if they can face what went wrong the first time.

“I can hardly remember the names of the girls who came before her, and after her there was only Liz. But I can recall with unbelievable clarity almost everything that happened during the time I spent with Annika.” - Jonathan

Graves wrote Annika with such a deft hand and made her a fully realized character, not just a label, or a generic “quirky girl with issues.” Annika was complex, disarmingly self-aware, and equal parts timid and incredibly brave. I connected with Annika from the very start. I understood her, I was frustrated with her, I cheered for her. Her daily life was a struggle, most personal interactions were confounding, but she found ways to cope. I loved this woman who took things at face value, who didn’t understand sarcasm or nuances, and who was completely with artifice.

“I tried to fill my days with more social interaction, but that only left me feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. A personal connection with someone was what I craved most. Someone who understood my needs and was willing to speak my language.
 Someone Like Jonathan.”  Annika

Neither Annika nor Jonathan were perfect, but they were perfect for each other. Jonathan took the time to see beyond Annika’s unique challenges and saw her for the special person she was. He was kind and patient, observant and attentive. He wanted to protect her from those who would see Annika’s differences and consider her somehow less than, but he also encouraged her to try new things and push her limits.

“How can you want to be with someone like me? How were you able to fall in love with someone who acts the way I do?” “It was easier than you think.”

Told in alternating timelines – the college years in 1991 and their present set in 2001 – this was a story that captured my heart and my emotions. The dramatic events near the end, which in less skilled hands could have felt gimmicky, were instead used beautifully to show real character growth and the lengths one will go to overcome fears for the one they love.

The Girl He Used to Know is a one of a kind story that became an instant favorite. I loved these flawed characters who felt utterly authentic. Annika and Jonathan’s story was sweet and compelling and emotional and I loved every minute I spent with them. This is truly a story of my heart and will stay with me for a long time to come.

5/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.