Release Day! The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves ~ My Thoughts #TGHUTKnatasha #TheGirlHeUsedToKnow #NetGalley

Congrats Tracey

on the release today of 

The Girl He Used to Know!

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves 

Print and e-book, 304 pages

Published April 2nd 2019 by St. Martin's Press

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. 

My thoughts about The Girl He Used to Know ~~ 

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"I run into him at Mariano's, of all places."

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.

Tracey's bio on Goodreads says that she is hard at work on her next book. Yay for us!!

I received an ARC of The Girl He Used to Know in exchange for my honest opinion.

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. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Tracey

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

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