The Girl He Used to Know

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves
Fiction
2019 St. Martin's Press
Finished on July 1, 2019
Rating: 2/5 (Meh)

Publisher's Blurb:

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.


I spotted a give-away for an ARC of this book on either Goodreads or Shelf Awareness and although I've never read anything by Graves, I thought the premise of the novel sounded like something I might enjoy (maybe something along the lines of The Rosie Project, which I loved.) I was excited when I won the ARC and added it to the stack of books I hauled to Washington on our last road trip. I've been reading a lot of Louise Penny's mysteries but decided it was time for a change, so I started in on this one. A few blogger friends gave it very high praise (5-star reviews), so I was looking forward to a great read. Unfortunately, I didn't care for the bland writing (far too much telling and not showing) or the flat characters and only finished because it was a quick, albeit boring read. I will say that the last chapters grabbed my attention, but that dramatic plotline seemed out of place and somewhat gratuitous. No heartstrings were tugged and no tears were shed. I'm definitely in the minority, as both Amazon and Goodreads show a 4+ star rating for this novel, but this was not for me and it will take a lot to convince me to try another by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.