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.

Julie Tieu’s "The Girl Most Likely To" offers a charming premise and relatable characters, but the execution falls a bit short. The pacing felt uneven, making it hard to stay fully engaged... I truly put it down to DNF and then picked it back up two separate times. Additionally, the romantic tension between the main characters seemed spotty, lacking the consistent spark that makes a romance/romcom truly compelling. Despite the issues, the book still has its moments of warmth and humor that I enjoyed.

5 stars for this fun romcom with a dual timeline back to my high school days. I have already recommended this to all my high school friends. It’s a well-written, funny romcom (no explosive plot twists but that’s what I sign up for) with Asian representation and nostalgia. It felt like You’ve Got Mail meets Can’t Hardly Wait, and I was there for every minute of it! This was my first Julie Tieu book, but it won’t be the last. Thanks to netgalley for this ARC, just what I needed.

As an elder millennial, "The Girl Most Likely To" was a shot of pure nostalgia. The story bounces between present day and the early 2000s, telling the story of Rachel and Danny's friendship to almost romantic relationship in high school and their reconnecting at their 20 year reunion.

In high school Rachel was the walking stereotype of driven Asian student. She strove to be the best at everything she tried and had a plan for everything. 20 years later and her life is falling apart. She's single, and has just been laid off from the job she's had for a decade. On a whim she decides to go to her 20 year high school reunion, where she runs into Danny, her high school best friend (and secret crush). Over the course of the reunion and afterparty they work through the things that lead to the breakdown of their friendship 20 years before.

Their AIM user names were so nostalgic (seriously, why did all of us elder millennials love using the letter "X" so much in our screen names?) and reminded me of the early convos I had with my now-husband.

If you're looking for a second chance romance with more mature protagonists, sweet, swoony MMC's and tons Asian representation, give "The Girl Most Likely To" a shot.

Thanks, NetGalley and Julie Tieu for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

Taking place over one night at a high school reunion, Rachel and Danny are reminded of their feelings for each other and given another chance at their happily ever after!

Alternation of plot usually is a no for me but it was done very well but I always do wish for dual POV!

read this book for a whirlwind of a night following
two enemies to lovers !

3.5 Stars

This is a fun read! There were many things I enjoyed about this book: the early 2000s chat room and high school scenes, the cultural representation, the millennial representation. and some of the side characters. But something just didn't click, and it took me over a month to read.

Rachel Dang is a career driven millennial woman who was voted "Most Likely To Succeed" in high school. She had her whole life planned out: get good grades, go to a great college, get her dream job, get married, have children, however, the book starts with her getting laid off from her job and rethinking her life.

She is reunited with her high school best friend/crush, Danny Pham, at her 20th high school reunion. Danny wasn't career or school focused like Rachel, but he is now a successful life coach. At the reunion, they reconnect and a crazy night of adventures ensues where an old flame is rekindled...

The book switches between past and present. The past follows Rachel and Danny as high schoolers in the early 2000s. As a fellow millennial, I loved the scenes in the past which primarily take place over AIM messenger (Rachel's sn is xxaznxbbxgrlxx, which kills me).

I think many people will find Rachel relatable. She struggles to juggle all the parts of her life like her career, relationships, friendships, etc. and find a balance with her perfectionism and #girlboss attitude. Personally, I don't like reading about a person going through this sort of crisis where they're at the lowest point of their life, and I found Rachel kind of annoying.

I also didn't love the pacing of this book. I think like 50% of the book takes place on the night of the high school reunion. If you like movies that focus on one night you might love this, but I got tired of it. It is also hard to have believable character development over the course of one night.

This book's protagonist is very relatable, filled with confusion about career and romance and family like ao many 30-somethings out there. But the romance fell really flat for me and, while I don't mind suspending disbelief for some screwy rom-com antics, there was just too much chaos going on and too little character growth or focus on quality dialogue. I think many people will like this, but it wasn't quite for me.

Julie Tieu's latest romance novel weaves together past and present in this nostalgic second-chance romance that explores the complex intersection of career ambitions and matters of the heart. Set against the backdrop of a twentieth high school reunion, the story follows Rachel Dang, former "Most Likely to Succeed" who finds herself newly unemployed after dedicating eleven years to a career that defined her identity. When she receives a personal invitation from her old frenemy Danny Phan, Rachel reluctantly agrees to attend the reunion, setting the stage for an evening filled with unexpected encounters and long-overdue conversations.

The novel's strength lies in its authentic portrayal of millennial career anxieties and the weight of unmet expectations. Through Rachel's journey, Tieu masterfully captures the particular sting of realizing that sometimes doing everything "right" doesn't guarantee success. The dual timeline structure, alternating between present-day events and early 2000s flashbacks, provides rich context for Rachel and Danny's complicated relationship while treating readers to a delightful dose of Y2K nostalgia, complete with AIM chats, Napster references, and LAN parties.

Danny Phan emerges as a compelling love interest whose character arc demonstrates significant growth from high school. The role reversal between him and Rachel – with Danny now thriving as a career coach while Rachel grapples with unemployment – adds an interesting dynamic to their reconnection. Their chemistry, built on a foundation of late-night online conversations and unspoken feelings, feels genuine if somewhat understated.

While the premise of cramming major relationship development into a single evening might seem ambitious, Tieu manages to make it work through a series of well-crafted encounters with former classmates and mishap-laden adventures that force Rachel and Danny to confront their shared past. However, some readers might find the pacing uneven, with certain plot threads left unresolved in service of the compressed timeline.

The novel particularly shines in its exploration of Asian American family dynamics and the pressure to succeed. Rachel's drive for academic and professional excellence, rooted in her family's struggles with their business, adds depth to what could have been a simple reunion romance. The author thoughtfully examines how cultural expectations and family responsibilities shape both Rachel and Danny's choices and relationships.
Though the romantic development occasionally takes a backseat to Rachel's personal growth journey, the story ultimately delivers a satisfying exploration of second chances – not just in love, but in redefining success and finding the courage to pursue happiness on one's own terms. Tieu's writing balances light-hearted reunion hijinks and more serious themes about career disappointments and unfulfilled potential.

"The Girl Most Likely To" will particularly resonate with readers who came of age in the early 2000s and those who've ever questioned whether they've lived up to their potential. While it may not break new ground in the romance genre, it offers a warm, authentic story about finding love while navigating the messy reality of adult life. The novel serves as a reminder that it's never too late to reconnect with old flames or reimagine what success looks like.

Julie Tieu delivers a delightful reunion romance in this captivating, frenemies-to-lovers story! Rachel Dang, once the ambitious go-getter, is now navigating a career crossroads, only to find herself face-to-face with Danny Phan, the "almost-friend" of her high school days, at their twentieth reunion. Tieu's narrative shines in how she develops Rachel and Danny’s chemistry, carefully woven from past late-night AIM chats to present-day second chances.

The setting—one charged, make-or-break evening—adds a unique sense of urgency, humor, and nostalgia as Rachel and Danny move from misunderstandings to confessions. Their night is peppered with mishaps and endearing encounters with familiar faces, making their journey back to each other feel authentic and beautifully messy.

This is a quintessential feel-good read that blends humor, heart, and a little chaos. With well-crafted tension and characters you can’t help but root for, Tieu's latest is a must for rom-com lovers.

This was a quick second chance romance that had the ability to be a great read, but it really missed the mark for me. I connected to the MFC, Rachel, in many ways, but was frustrated by her in both present and past storylines. The story was set in 2003, when both the characters and I graduated high school, and in the present day at their 20th reunion. I really enjoyed the nostalgia of the 2003 storyline and could totally relate to Rachel’s high school persona. The present storyline was all over the place and had too many unbelievable events happen in one night.

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

Rachel and Danny were super cute. Liked how we got to see the blossoming romance of more mature characters and not fresh out their teens. Loved the 90s slang and boy did I resonate with the career focus aspect of the book. Time to live your life and not live to work!

This was a very cute book. I really liked the entire premise of how people are so focused on their career, at times they let love pass by without second thought, only to be hit with a stunning realization that your life is not what you imagined it to be. Imo, the author did a great job with that aspect of the plot and I'm very glad about it. I didn't get a lot of the nostalgic references cause we didn't grow up with the same pop culture, but I loved the callbacks nonetheless. The romance could have been developed better imo but it was a fun read!!

Super cute! Loved seeing a couple not in their early twenties but more mature adults that find love in the less than normal of places.

The early 2000s slang and chat rooms was also so real from someone who knew EXACTLY what that time was like. I loved seeing these two blossom into a beautiful relationship that would last another 2o years. and gimme a bathtub scene any single day!

Rachel Dang fell into a trap that so many people do, putting off their personal life in exchange for career success, hoping it will still be there in the end. Rachel was burned though and she got laid off after over a decade of dedication. We see her and Danny between two timelines, present day and the reunion approaches and early 2000s when they were initially friends and had a falling out. Between Rachel and Danny; their attributes, struggles, etc., there is something for almost everyone to relate to (be it past or present). The book is full of nostalgic references from the early 00s. With the pressure of previously being voted 'Most likely to succeed' we see Rachel struggle with having "nothing" to show for it and trying to figure out how to take this chance to reconcile with Danny. There were a lot of loose ends that I wish we had answers for but overall enjoyed reading this cute second chance romance.

Hello All! 💕

When I read this book I feel like I went back in time into an '80s movie! I'm a sucker for all things flashback when it comes to literature or films and this book definitely gave flashbacks! The characters were written in a very good way that grabbed my attention! 🍾

I felt really connected to Rachel! I was voted most likely to succeed! I couldn't believe the character was as well! And then reality hit and a lot of crazy things happened after high school lol 😂 everything is great now! But it was nice to read about a character with realistic issues that definitely she did not see coming. Very grateful to the author for writing Rachel like this!

Danny is a really awesome character! He definitely has some mystery to him! I totally dig that in a guy especially a character LOL☕ he was like a cup of coffee but I definitely had to guess the flavors. In a good way! I was totally intrigued!

Both characters used to be best friends but had a super falling out! That's a great basis for a novel past and present colliding really grabs the reader's attention! This book is going to shine on the Barnes & Noble bookshelves! 📖

Bravo! 🎙️

The girl most likely-
2.75/ 5
Thank you so much to the author and Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc <3
ೀ⋆ What I liked ೀ⋆｡
✩ This book was fascinating, and I loved seeing all the things Rachel and Danny got up to
✩ I loved the flashbacks to when they were high schoolers
✩ Rachel's friendships and her relationships with her family were amazing.

ೀ⋆ What I disliked ೀ⋆｡
✩ I didn't connect with Rachel's and Danny's characters very much I would've loved to get to know them better in the book
✩ I don't think Rachel and Danny's romance worked very well they were always fighting and had a lot of communication issues. And I wasn't invested in their romance that much.
✩ I had problems with the writing style at some points