THE GIRL HE KNOWS -- a summary and opinion

For a book written in the first person, I was gripped into this story from the get-go... hence the 5 rating.

If this were in third person, maybe it would be a 4... or maybe it would be a much stronger 5. To have Hank's point of view added to the story....?

Yeah.

It would be a stronger 5.

So. The Girl He Knows.

This book follows Paisley as she is learning to be single, post-divorce. Unfortunately, she ends up in bed with her best friend's brother, a Navy sailor who she's been good friends with for years. Paisley's not looking for commitment, but she gets the vibe from Hank that he is -- not necessarily from her, but she doesn't exactly want to stick around to see him fall for another girl.

When they nearly get caught in the guest bedroom of Hank's parents' house, Paisley nearly has a heartattack -- what will Gigi, her friend, think? What would his parents think?! This needs to be strictly between the two of them.

When his mom comes almost comes into the room to give Hank a cup of coffee that first morning, with Paisley rolling around on the floor trying to dress and hide, I nearly laughed out loud.

"'You get a second change,' she told me. 'A second chance to do it right. Pick wisely

and do it for those who are stuck.'" -- Gigi

While at this point in the story, this quote was simply something one best friend says to another in the midsts of a divorce, but it truly was a bit of prelude to the fact that Paisley was going to get a second chance -- and while Hank may not have been her first choice (for silly reasons such as he's her best friend's brother, and the alebit logical, yet still silly, reason of losing a good friend out of him if things went south), he is most certainly one who would stick -- heck, he'd stuck all these years, what's few more?

Throughout the book, Paisley tries dating a few other men, much to Hank's distaste. He doesn't truly pick a fight about it, but you, as a reader, can sense his anger toward the situations -- even if Paisley cannot. Later, when Paisley is pushed around a tad too hard by the bartender she starts seeing, Hank has finally had enough -- he can't be a bystander, and if Paisley doesn't want what he has to offer, he's finished.

This book was cleverly written (mind you, I didn't read Hunger Games until after the movie was cast, simply because it was in first person), and I was thoroughly engaged even with only the insight of the lead female. I would be curious to learn what happens after 'The End'...