Annika and Jonathan meet at U of I in the '90s, fall intensely in love over chess, are separated by circumstances, and reunited in Chicago 10 years later. Will they be able to make it work this time?
The key feature of this story is that Annika is on the autism spectrum, while Jonathan is typical. While autism is being increasingly explored in fiction, in ways that are humorous, bizarre, dark or edgy, I have to give Graves credit for creating a realistic, believable, and likable character on a trajectory that will be exceedingly familiar to anyone close to someone with Annika's challenges. She has done her homework and it shows in every page. And while Annika and Jonathan's story is in other respects conventional, it's also well-constructed and tender. Recommended for fans of JoJo Moyes, and for anyone who'd like an accessible view of navigating life with special challenges.
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