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evergreensandbookishthings 's review for:
The Girl He Used to Know
by Tracey Garvis Graves
To be honest, I was initially drawn into the description of this story because I, too, attended the University of Illinois in the early 90s and lived in the city of Chicago after graduating. Although, save for the mention of a few establishments (Kams most notably), this wasn't a walk down memory lane! Thankfully, it didn't need to be in order for me to enjoy Annika's story.
Romance isn't my go-to genre, but I enjoy the occasional book that seems to rise to the surface as something a little different, something with a little bit more going on. The last book that seemed to fit the bill was The Kiss Quotient and, funny enough, it has similar themes about a woman on the autism spectrum finding love and finding her place in the world. These disorders were definitely not widely know about back in the 90s, and I felt as if the journey Annika takes in figuring out what makes her unique rang true.
This is the first novel by Graves that I've read and I thought that she imbued the characters with authenticity and heart. The romance was tender and sweet, sometimes a tad racy. But I especially loved the relationship between Annika and her best friend Janice. In fact, I think I would have liked more interaction between the two, or Annika and her parents. There was a lot to unpack there, yet we get the briefest glimpses into her childhood. The narrative is set in alternating timelines, 1991 and 2001, and didn't leave much room for what happened prior or between those years, which I think would have enhanced the story. Though it made for a fast paced read that I finished in two sittings. The last few chapters of the book flew by (maybe too fast?) and were nail-bitingly tense.
If you are a romance fan or not, I definitely give my endorsement to this novel. I am now intrigued by Graves other work and noticed that her bestseller On the Island is in development to become a film. Looks like it could make for a good summer read...
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review!
For more reviews and bookish musings visit http://www.bornandreadinchicago.com/
Romance isn't my go-to genre, but I enjoy the occasional book that seems to rise to the surface as something a little different, something with a little bit more going on. The last book that seemed to fit the bill was The Kiss Quotient and, funny enough, it has similar themes about a woman on the autism spectrum finding love and finding her place in the world. These disorders were definitely not widely know about back in the 90s, and I felt as if the journey Annika takes in figuring out what makes her unique rang true.
This is the first novel by Graves that I've read and I thought that she imbued the characters with authenticity and heart. The romance was tender and sweet, sometimes a tad racy. But I especially loved the relationship between Annika and her best friend Janice. In fact, I think I would have liked more interaction between the two, or Annika and her parents. There was a lot to unpack there, yet we get the briefest glimpses into her childhood. The narrative is set in alternating timelines, 1991 and 2001, and didn't leave much room for what happened prior or between those years, which I think would have enhanced the story. Though it made for a fast paced read that I finished in two sittings. The last few chapters of the book flew by (maybe too fast?) and were nail-bitingly tense.
If you are a romance fan or not, I definitely give my endorsement to this novel. I am now intrigued by Graves other work and noticed that her bestseller On the Island is in development to become a film. Looks like it could make for a good summer read...
Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review!
For more reviews and bookish musings visit http://www.bornandreadinchicago.com/