"The only cardio I've seen you do was chase after that extra because you thought he was Daniel Henney"

This is the book of my millennial dreams.

🥑 set in LA
🥑 friends to lovers
🥑 38 year old Chinese Cambodian American protagonist
🥑 Chinese Vietnamese American divorced love interest

Rachel Dang is not doing well. She was once voted Most Likely to Succeed. Days before a twentieth high school reunion, she is laid off by the entertainment company where she made her mark. She has to take on a part-time assistant role to her actor friend and roommate, Natalie Huang. I don't think Nat is a great friend, but that is irrelevant to this review, and my feelings about this book, so I'll leave that out.

I was scared when I thought this was second chance romance, as I don't do well with those. It's definitely more of a former best friends had a weird falling out that neither of them understand and have now met back up and still find each other attractive kind of thing. Yes, that is a run-on sentence. No, I do not care. If I have to work during the holiday season, you have to read my rambly reviews.

The Chinese diaspora is vast. Chinese Americans, even when they call themselves such, often emigrate from countries that aren't China. A lot of the times, they don't even mention these countries until way later. I'm not entirely sure where I was going with that, but I like that Julie always highlights Chinese Cambodian culture (her own) and in this case, a Chinese Vietnamese love interest with Houston roots (not me, but certainly people I've known).

Rachel and Danny first meet when he shows up as the new kid at her school in Alhambra. They e-meet on AIM, which gave me so many flashbacks. Her screenname is xxaznxbbxgrlxx. A/S/L, am I right? Did that give you a jump scare?

In retrospect, the plan was delusional. Graduate college by twenty-two. Get a high-paying job. Find a boyfriend by twenty-five. Date for two years. Be engaged by twenty-seven. Have a baby and a house by twenty-eight. Naïve eighteen-year-old me didn't factor in the many, many variables outside of my control. "A flawed plan."


I mostly loved this book, because not everyone finds love early in life. That's not to say your late thirties are old. It was just nice to read about people starting their lives together a little later than your standard mid-twenties couple.

Things that attacked me, alphabetically:

🥑 Acqua di Gio
🥑 AIM
🥑 burned CDs
🥑 corndogs
🥑 Dashboard Confessional
🥑 Jimmy Eat World
🥑 "Sandstorm" by Darude
🥑 scientifically round butts

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Avon

I love these “bottle episode” books (like tv show episodes of the same style) that are so self-contained, they basically take place in one evening. In this case, a 20th high school reunion. And yeah, a lot of it felt like my own 20th. But this one was a lot more fun and had a lot more spice. Thanks to Avon for the ARC.

A fun take on how high school reunions can be just what you need to find parts of yourself again. I enjoyed a lot about this novel, especially how individual growth and discovery was a really important message. It was funny, messy, sweet, and full of a charming cast.
While the novel does start off a bit slow, the chat messages showcasing the characters' past online relationship really does build to a valuable connection that helps explain the time they've spent apart and why they come back together. It's also unique in its 3rd act, which for me was a welcome break from the classic tropes you see in romcom novels like this. There's a lot of cultural emphasis to the characters' backgrounds as well, which I always really appreciate in building a diverse and dynamic group of people to read about. It was a great book to read around the holiday season because it fills you with softness and gratitude!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This had such a fun premise and started off strong but ultimately ended up falling flat.

I related to the experiences of having immigrant Asian parents, and also love stories that are contained to a single night. But I quickly found Rachel to be an immature FMC - even in the current POV where she is an almost 40-year old woman. The primary conflict between Rachel and Danny didn’t even seem that consequential and could’ve been resolved in a quick conversation. The miscommunication trope strikes again.

This book wasn’t for me, but maybe it’ll be for you if you enjoy a second chance romance with some light steam. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The dreaded high school reunion. Rachel Dang was that girl in high school, over achiever with ambition and goals. At thirty-eight though she’s laid off from her job that she’s been with for more than 10 years and she feels lost. Why does she go to this 20 year high school reunion? It’s to see Danny her friend from high school and maybe to reconnect with him.

I did like Rachel and her best friend Natalie (who is an upcoming movie star) – their friendship felt genuine and funny and I wish there were more scenes were fun. I thought the nostalgia factor of the book was really fun too – the chatrooms of the 90’s? Boy did that bring me back to a time! The mentions of certain pop culture things from that time was great like the music and burning cds.

The way Natalie and Danny meet is cute and a friendship begins but talk about all the miscommunication between the two. The story is told with flashbacks to Natalie and Danny in high school and they seemed like they had a solid friendship until they crossed a line. When they meet up again at the reunion, I just felt lost as to why they had a falling out. As the story unravels we see how the miscommunication between them and how it really ruined their friendship. The conflict isn’t huge it’s mainly the miscommunication.

By the way, a lot of this story happens in a span of days. The bulk of this story happens the day of the reunion.

Final Thoughts:

I did enjoy the flashbacks, the nostalgia and the reunion where crazy antics happen. I kind of wanted more from the romance but it does have a happy ending.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

This book is the perfect filler read—ideal for a beach trip if you stumbled across it in the hotel library. I genuinely enjoyed the storyline, especially the second-chance romance trope. There’s something timeless about rekindling a connection with a high school love, and the emotional support he offers the protagonist in her midlife crisis is beautifully written.

What stands out is that this isn’t your typical coming-of-age story. Instead of focusing on a teenager, it explores a woman in her late 30s, someone who has always succeeded in life but finds herself at a crossroads. The flashbacks to her high school years give the romance a bittersweet layer, adding depth to her rediscovery of herself and her relationship.

That said, I don’t feel compelled to reread the book or hunt for the little Easter eggs the author left behind, which is why it doesn’t quite hit the “must-read” mark for me. Still, it’s a solid recommendation if you’re looking for a romance that doubles as a reflective, midlife coming-of-age story.

A lot can change in 20 years. They knew each other in high school but weren’t that close. Rachel the over achiever and Danny the not so “achiever”. Now Rachel is floundering and Danny has it together. What else can chance?

This book was fun. Julie Tieu does a good job at writing characters and a likable story.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

Julie Tieu’s The Girl Most Likely To is a sweet, feel-good romance set during a high school reunion, perfect for anyone who loves a good second-chance story. Rachel Dang, once voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” comes face-to-face with her old frenemy Danny Phan, and sparks fly in ways she never expected. If you’re a fan of A Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray, you’ll love the mix of awkward reunions, heartfelt moments, and a swoon-worthy romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

What happens when you’re funemployed, at a crossroads, and find yourself stuck at your high school reunion with your former frenemy? Chaos, hilarity, and maybe even a shot at love! Julie Tieu’s The Girl Most Likely To is a charming, heartfelt rom-com about second chances and finding yourself when life doesn’t go as planned.

Rachel Dang, voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” is anything but that when she reluctantly attends her 20th high school reunion. Enter Danny Phan, her old classmate and AIM chat buddy, whose once aimless life has turned into a thriving career. Their roles have flipped, but the spark they had back then? It’s very much alive.

The story takes place over the course of one wild night, where a simple errand turns into a delightful rollercoaster of mishaps, nostalgia, and reconnections with childhood acquaintances (including some hilariously colorful characters). Rachel and Danny’s chemistry is electric, and the way their shared history unfolds feels authentic and endearing. From their witty banter to the more tender, vulnerable moments, I found myself rooting for these two the entire time.

What makes this book shine is its balance of humor and heart. It’s not just about romance—it’s about reevaluating what success looks like, facing the person you were in the past, and embracing the uncertainty of the future. Rachel’s journey feels relatable and real, and Danny? He’s the perfect mix of charming and swoon-worthy.

Thank you to Julie Tieu, Avon, and NetGalley for this delightful story of love, growth, and second chances. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to revisit your past with the possibility of rewriting your future, The Girl Most Likely To is the perfect nostalgic escape.

I liked this novel! The idea of a reunion really caught my eye because I hadn’t seen a book with that plot line before. I loved the diversity and the way that the author approached more difficult topics.

I really enjoyed the flashbacks to the 90s. I feel like it was really well done and pretty spot on and definitely found myself smiling at some of the messages between them when they were younger!

Julie is a fantastic writer, and I really enjoyed the style of writing and the descriptions and I could picture all of the characters in the book because she was very thorough and writing all of the characters and where they were and the building was great!

I felt like Rachel could be a little bit more developed and I wish that there was a Danny POV. I think that having a Danny POV would’ve helped develop Rachel‘s character a little bit more too. With such emotion and some more emotional topics, it would have been very interesting to see Danny’s point of view. I think the author wrote it in a way where it didn’t necessarily need it, but it would’ve been really cool to see. He seemed like such a nice guy and through his facial expressions and his words I could tell that sometimes he wanted to say more and I was wondering what he was thinking sometimes.

Overall, I liked this book and the plot was clear and there was plenty of emotion and feelings. The idea for the novel was fresh and new and I really enjoyed that aspect of it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

This one was an okay read but didn’t really hit the mark for me. The chemistry felt a bit flat but overall I did enjoy the premise of their story

Thanks to Netgalley & Avon/Harper Voyager for the E-ARC! Really cute! Liked the banter & the characters. Will definitely read more from this author.

For full disclosure, as a class of 2003 high school graduate, this book really hit home for me. Elder millenials that grew up in the early '00s days of dial-up, AOL chat rooms, and late night AIM conversations will be transported back to those hazy high school days. Cryptic song lyrics as your away message, burning CD copies for your friends, hanging out at the mall. I love the nostalgia. On top of that, The Girl Most Likely To is set in southern California. Los Angeles and SGV readers from then and now, myself included, will recognize some of the city landmarks and neighborhood ambiance that help cement the place setting. With the majority of the story taking place over a 24 hour time span, it had just a little bit of the Lovebirds and Date Night vibes...without all the fun and emotional revelations but without the threat of bodily danger. I had such a fun time reading this!

While The Girl Most Likely To is at it's heart a second chance romance between former high school friends, it's also a book that looks at what it means to start over, to overinvest in your career, and to reexamine your preconceptions about who your high school peers became as adults. Most of the story is set around Rachel Dang attending her 20 year high school reunion in Alhambra, where she is set to be inducted into the "Alumni Hall of Fame" and hopes to reunite with former friend and high school crush Danny Phan. But of course, nothing quite goes to plan. Rachel has lost her high profile job at a television streaming service; she flubs her first impression with Danny after 20 years; the pair get forcibly tossed from a film set and Danny lands rear-end first into a cactus; Rachel's car gets totaled as they pair are trying to get back to the reunion. And throughout all these unfortunate antics, Rachel and Danny are actively working through their communication challenges and pent up frustration with one another in the present. I loved how Tieu interspersed flashbacks to Rachel and Danny in high school - through their AIM conversations, first awkward in-person meeting, key senior year moments, and glimpses into their not so rosy home lives. This book was messy, but in grown up ways. It asks, are you doing something that actually makes you happy? Or are you simply following a path that is supposed to make you happy? What makes you believe you can't regain control of your narrative at 38?

There is a lot of emotional / romantic tension between Rachel and Danny throughout the book, which helps to draw you in for their reconciliation as they work through old hurts and communication challenges. It was refreshing to see main characters who were beyond the standard romance age range of 23-33.

I thought the premise of two ex best friends reuniting at a high school reunion was going to be so fun, but in reality this was pretty bland.

They two MCs don't even interact with present day until like 20% in. That first 20% was so freaking boring and I didn't have any connection to the FMC. I didn't really care about her getting laid off and it didn't seem like she was in any place to start a romantic relationship. Most of the book takes place in one night, but the pacing of that one night is just so bizarre.

I really didn't feel their connection and I was just overall boreddddd.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a quick second chance romance that had the ability to be a great read but just overall missed the mark for me. The author makes Rachel really mean and unrealatable at times she was so mean to Danny! I would have loved to have a more related FMC.

Received an ARC via NetGalley

This book was cute and so relatable being an Asian American female who grew up in Los Angeles during this same era and did most of my socializing chatting on AIM in high school. I was also an overachiever, focused on grades and getting into college. That level of success never leaves you and turns in high-functioning anxiety in the workforce as an adult.

I had fun reading through Rachel’s journey of self-acceptance and no longer striving for useless awards/titles.

Also thought her love story with Danny from high school to adults was cute!

I loved the dual timelines, they worked really well with one another. I loved seeing the 2 main characters’ relationship blossom through the years and I loved that the FMC was relatable. The premise of being at a 20 year reunion is a new one for me, and I think this author did really well at executing that!

Wasn’t a huge fan. Felt the female main character kind of drug on and on. The story line was good but I just couldn’t seem to get into the book.

I liked the idea behind this book, but I think it would have been better if there was something…more? I’m not sure what though. I liked that the story revolves around a 20 year high school reunion, and that the main character, Rachel (who was voted most likely to succeed), could be someone people could relate to. I loved that the story switched between the past and the present, as it shows their high school memories how much has changed between Rachel, Danny, and the rest of the characters. I wish we had chapters from the POV of Danny though, as he was a more prominent person in Rachel’s life/this story.

4.5 ⭐️
This book was SO fun. Once I started I barely stopped reading it, very easy to read.

The story follows old friends who hadn’t seen eachother for years, and shows how some feelings just don’t fade away. The main character, Rachel, is likable and real feeling. Danny, the love interest, feels fleshed out a bit as well. It’s fun to see where life has led them and the story shows just how much can happen at a high school reunion.

Would recommend to those looking for a not too spicy, quick, easy read.

Thank you Julie Tieu and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.