by Tracey Garvis Graves

“What if it turns out that after going through the evaluation, I find out I’m not on the spectrum. That I really am just weird. I don’t know if I can handle that.”

This is a lovely, sweet romance. In a way, it’s two for the price of one because you get the initial meeting and college courtship of Annika and Jonathan, and then, 10 years later, after a mysterious break-up, their attempt to reconcile now that they have changed and matured. Most readers, like me, will be amused, intrigued, moved by, admire, and come to love Annika. Actually, you love her from the first few pages. She is high functioning autistic. Jonathan is great too because he loves and supports Annika. We also meet Janice, the best friend in the world, and Annika’s wonderful mother, who is even more wonderful than you first think.

“It’s a Christmas present from Jonathan. He said I have to wait until Christmas to open it.” “Oh, Annika. That was so sweet of him. He seems like such a nice young man.” “He has never been mean to me, Mom. Not even once.” My mom didn’t say anything right away. But she blinked several times as if there was something in her eye, and then hugged me again. I wriggled away as soon as I could, because this one was so tight I could barely breathe.

I love when you close a book with a sigh of satisfaction, happiness, and emotion. When you read the last paragraph in this, you will know you have read the perfect ending.

May 10, 2019