Book Review and Giveaway for The Girl He Used To Know Tracey Garvis Graves

THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW
by TRACEY GARVIS GRAVES

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.

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REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"I wonder if she remembers how it felt to be in love with me? I haven't forgotten how it felt to be in love with her."

It's been a very long 6 years since I've read a paperback and let me tell ya, reading this one was really neat but challenging because I normally highlight on my kindle in different colors to denote certain things for my review. I had to improvise. I actually highlighted in my book (like a monster!!!) and put sticky tabs to denote key parts for me to reference back to. I know, #BloggerProblems aren't real....hahaha!

For my first book by TGG, I can easily and readily admit that I want to read more. I loved the ease of her cadence and the way she told this one. Annika was a special one and I really loved who she was, so the way she was written and the way it came across was perfectly punctuated. Her personality, her character as a whole, was such a breath of fresh air - I am so thankful for her story. This was a great introduction to Tracey's voice and style, but also her mind and the way she was able to convey not only the world revolving around Annika and Jonathan, but the bubble of discovery in which Annika constantly lived in.

This almost read as women's fiction/chick lit with a heavy romance persuasion. Why do I say that? I felt like this was truly Annika's story and her growth as a young woman, and I hung on every word as I read it. Her outlook was innocent and she made me giggle throughout, but it's also her innocence that made this book as wonderful as it was. There's beauty in sexiness - I've read it, but this one had beauty in the innocence being explored. With Jonathan, I saw his frustrations with certain....predicaments, yet he knew to rationalize and justify with an understanding mind. I think that showed a great strength for him, as well. Their bond was amazing and the level of intimacy they had was pure softness around my heart. Jonathan knew her and understood her, which made their connection that much stronger. When the world works just a little bit differently for someone, not many stop and think outside of their own realm of possibilities and bringing into light Annika's world, it was an amazing read. The way she thought. The way she rationalized. The way she coped. It really was a smooth read. I really, really enjoyed it.

"How were you able to fall in love with someone who acts the way I do?"
"It was easier than you think."

I know I keep mentioning it, but I wish I could explain coherently the level of innocence this one had. The innocence alone was sweet, but the exploration and the love and adoration that was shown in this book really hit home and made my heart smile. That exploration was new for me seeing it through a new set of eyes and it was definitely worthy. I try really hard to choose books that I know I will love. Some I choose just to test myself and some just aren't winners and I genuinely hate when that happens....but this one worked for me. It worked well. I cannot say that enough. It spotlighted not only a new 'world' for me, but a new type of Hero that truly was what amazing and sweet men are made of. What a great first book by Tracey Garvis-Graves. There was a certain maturity to her writing, her words, that just made this an all out win for me. I am still smiling and can and will highly recommend this book. 

"I might not always understand what people are saying, but I know when they've been kind."

The only reason this wasn't a full 5 star read for me was because as amazing as it was....it just stopped. I was hoping for a little bit more at the end. It was a great and fitting ending, I just wanted more from it. I fell in love with Jonathan and Annika and their second chance, and as life went on, I wanted to see their "beyond". But SO SO good. So good.

"I truly believe there will always be people in your life who will help you. Who will love you just the way you are."

~BEE

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I know the author doesn't have a say in the price of ebooks, but I feel like this ebook is overpriced and pushes her out of the market of the very readers that started reading her from the beginning - which is a huge disservice to her and her fans. While I may personally think $13.99 for an ebook is extremely spendy, I did have the opportunity to read this as a paperback ARC, so I am very thankful that I had that chance. I now have a paperback on my shelf of a book that I most definitely enjoyed, so I will happily pay it forward to a blog follower here.

~MEET TRACEY GARVIS-GRAVES~

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.

~CONNECT WITH TRACEY~

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