The Girl He Used to Know by Tracy Garvis Greaves
Published on April 2 by St. Martin’s Press
Thanks to St. Martin’s for the eARC in exchange for a review
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Annika Rose likes being alone. She feels lost in social situations, saying the wrong thing or acting the wrong way – she just can’t read people. She prefers the quiet solitude of books or playing chess to being around others.
Apart from Jonathan. She liked being around him, but she hasn’t seen him for ten years. Until now that is. And she’s not sure he’ll want to see her again after what happened all those years ago. Annika Rose likes being alone. Except that, actually, she doesn’t like being alone at all.
Review: The Girl He Used to Know
So this was my very first Tracy Garvis Greaves book (I knew her name sounded familiar but didn’t even realize until I got to the end of the book and the author bio that she wrote the plane crash book about the 30 year old and the 16 year old lol).
So: there were things about this book that I really loved. The synopsis doesn’t mention (and I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say) that Annika is on the spectrum. I loved seeing a character like Annika be a main character, front and center, worthy of her own story, rather than a secondary or supporting character.
The story is told in dual POV that shifts between the 1990s (when Annika and Jonathan meet in collets) and 2001 (when they bump into each other.)
I found Annika’s relationship with Jonathan to be really moving and interesting and I liked getting both POVs and the back and forth time shift. Those stories can be awkward but I thought that all worked really well. I see some people on my timeline say that they were bored, but I was really invested!
The development near the end was much more problematic for me. It felt emotionally manipulative in a way that the book hadn’t been up to then, and for reasons that are a bit spoiler, that really bothered me. (If you’re up for spoilers, read them in my Goodreads review.)
The dramatic stuff like the reason they drifted apart in the 1990s felt less successful to me. I was kind of shocked at the reason their relationship fell apart – it wasn’t what I’d been expecting.
Those objections aside, I will remember Jonathan and Annika and their moving story of love and separation and a second chance at love – that part of the story I thought was great.
Have you read this one? What did you think?
Great review, Jen! This was such a total hit for me. I mean, stat to finish I was so on-board. I loved Annika so hard and felt such a kinship with her in some ways. With the turn things took at the end, I have a couple friends who didn’t like the direction it went and thought it felt manipulative. But, while it was a bold choice (by TGG), I thought it was used respectfully in a way that showed Annika’s growth and strength.
I’m headed to read your spoilers lol I saw your review on Goodreads but I can’t see spoilers on my app.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
haha I love spoilers.
I was fully invested in this story from the first chapter. It was beautiful getting to see these two fall in love twice. I was not a fan of that part near the end either. I don’t know, it felt too OTT. I think Annika’s growth could have been achieved in a more low key way, but I still loved the book, though, I wish I had an epilogue.
YES I agree with you – I understand that the story wanted her to choose to leave her comfort zone but I also think he could have needed her in another way that didn’t feel so manipulative and over the top.
I really liked this story! The back-and-forth timeline got old, so I mostly skimmed the past story and stuck with the present. I loved that ending — but read in your spoiler that it was the part you really didn’t like. I can see how it would feel exploitative for someone who actually experienced that event. For me, it really made the whole story more emotional.
I understand your reaction too, and get that a big, dramatic moment was needed. I just wish it had been a different one!