Annika Rose is a quirky, beautiful, intelligent young woman who struggles to engage in the “normal” college experience. She has spent most of her life keeping to herself, including being home-schooled for years. She is uncertain of her ability to make it out in the “real world” on her own, navigating interactions among peers in a way that is completely unfamiliar to her. However, with the help of her roommate and budding friend Janice, she forces herself to really give college life a try. She even ventures out to join a chess club, as this is one of her great passions.
Enter Jonathan Hoffman, who shares a fondness for chess with Annika and is drawn in by the fact that she is like no girl he has ever met. He is the only member of the chess club who deliberately requests to play against Annika during their weekly meetings, while most of the club avoids her or she avoids them. This makes her both curious and intimidated. However, as they begin to spend more time together, Annika comes to realise that Jonathan is genuinely interested in her for who she is and she begins to let her guard down.
A story of two unique people who drift together and apart over the span of a decade, The Girl He Used to Know follows the initial development and deterioration of the relationship between Annika and Jonathan. It also picks up ten years down the road, showing how their paths have led them apart and ultimately back into one another’s lives.
This novel is a strongly character-driven work and right from the start Annika comes across as endearing, the type of young woman who you would want to befriend. Jonathan appears as a genuinely kind-hearted, loving, and supportive influence in Annika’s life. And the affection between the two is palpable. The story builds piece by piece, alternating perspectives between each of the two main characters as narrators while also alternating timelines between the past and present. This structure of the book, including the short chapters, keeps the reader turning pages swiftly and wanting more. The language is so simple and spare at points that it cuts right to the quick, immersing the reader in the highs and lows of Annika and Jonathan’s relationship.
Although the writing is beautifully done, I did have a hunch of where the story was going fairly early on in the novel, which typically does not happen to me as a reader. I ended up being partially right; however, this did not detract from the story. Rather, I found myself being pulled along, wanting to see what was going to happen and find out if I was correct in my suspicions. And there were still certainly surprises that I found along the way.
All in all, Graves creates a pair of incredibly lovable characters here. You will find yourself wanting to be friends with them, perhaps go on a double date. The Girl He Used To Know is on sale now and I definitely recommend this novel. It is one of the best and most unique love stories I have read recently.
Tracey Garvis Graves is the bestselling author of multiple works of contemporary fiction. Her debut, On the Island, was on the New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks and is currently in development to become a feature film. Her other works include Uncharted, Every Time I Think of You, Cherish, Heart-Shaped Hack, and White-Hot Hack.
My sincere thanks to @stmartinspress and @vilmairisblog for the opportunity to read this advance copy. All opinions here are my own.
The Girl He Used To Know is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
