Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Voted Most Likely to Succeed, Rachel Dang always believed that hard work equals success. That is until she gets laid off from her job after 11 years of putting work before her personal life. Now faced with her high school reunion, she has to come to terms with the fact that for the first time, she doesn’t have her life figured out.

Danny Phang had a hard time in high school. Working two jobs in high school to help support his family, left little time for his studies. Twenty years later, he’s become a successful career coach, but he hasn’t been able to forget the falling out with his former BFF, Rachel. The looming reunion is his chance to make things right, but can they move on from the hurt they brought on each other?

Rachel is your typical overachiever. No matter her success, she still doesn’t feel content with her accomplishments, always striving for more. I think Ms. Tieu did a great job of creating a complex character who’s need for accomplishment stems from a very real concern. Her family is forced to close their family business and the only way Rachel can pay for college is through scholarships. It’s a very real dilemma that those from working class families face. I had great sympathy for her situation and admired her work ethic.

Danny is trying to keep his head above water. I felt that his background was a little more murky as were told his brother owes a lot of debts, but it’s not too clear what his parents do for a living and why the sole responsibility of income falls on his shoulders. He was very elusive at times, but I found it drew me into wanting to know more about him rather than be turned off. In a sense it mirrors Rachel’s need to want to get to know him on a deeper level. While they were best friends in high school and he confided in her some, there was still so much more she didn’t know about him. Still waters run deep with him. They had great chemistry as friends, but I don’t know if that translated as well in a romantic sense. There was something missing that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

There are a lot of fun hijinks that occur as Rachel helps Danny with last minute preparations for the reunion. As they encounter these obstacles, they work through the falling out they had from high school. We also get flashbacks that help to paint the picture. I enjoyed these flashbacks as they had a bit of nostalgia to them. I also was a teenager during the AIM era and it was nice to be brought back to that time period.

While the romance wasn’t as fleshed out as I would’ve liked, I still enjoyed this very much!

I put off reading this ARC after I received it, as the premise hit a little too close to home - late 30 year old woman who put her career first is laid off from a job that she gave everything to.
This was a therapeutic read in the sense of relating to Rachel who was a workaholic, always in control and with a plan, but finds herself feeling down wondering what’s the point of working so hard and having nothing to show for it, while also figuring out what’s next and how to navigate going back to a work without making it her whole life.

What really drives this story is the dual timelines between the present and early 2000s. Danny was her online best friend, and tutee, who overnight became ex best friend after a massive falling out just before HS graduation. Filled with AIM, Napster, Internet cafes, Counterstrike/LAN parties… and all the early 2000s references put me in full nostalgia mode.
Rachel is working through coming to terms with being laid off, with support from HS friend and roommate Nat, and last minute decides to attend her 20 year HS reunion after finding her invite from Danny with a personalized note.
Voted ‘Most Likely to Succeed’, she fixates on impressing everyone despite not having a job — and hoping to fix things with Danny after 20 years of silence.

This was a cute, quick second chance romance read. There was more character growth for Danny, but I don’t feel Rachel had a full redeeming arc around her immaturity in HS to being 38 year old adult. Her character growth was a bit minimal, but I guess that’s what made it easy for them to reconnect and fall back into things quickly. There are a lot of loose ends that aren’t tied up, but I really was sucked in through the early 2000s nostalgia, a need to know what happened between Rachel and Danny to cause a falling out, and where they end up.

3.5 ⭐️
1.5 🌶️

Thank You NetGalley and Avon for this eARC.

The protagonist Rachel is a hardworking, career-oriented late 30-something whose life isn’t going as planned. As a late 30-something whose life isn’t quite as she dreamed in high school, I can relate and I’m sure many other readers would be able to as well. Recently laid off from her entertainment-industry job, she decides to go to her 20th high school reunion. After all, her old friend and crush Danny did personally invite her via message. Even if she hasn’t spoken to him in 20 years and their situation-ship ended awkwardly. I thought this was a cute book and I truly liked both main characters and thought their chemistry believable, as I was reading it. I really like a well written friends to lover trope. I kept imagining it as a romcom on a streaming service. I hope I see it there in a few years. Thanks to NetGalley for the Arc.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I have read all 3 of Julie's books and this one was my favorite by far. Being 30 I enjoy reading romances with older MF protagonists. You would imagine all of the miscomm tropes would be for younger set characters so it was super clever to build the relationship from when they were high schoolers and crushing hard without ever fessing it up. Really loved this one!

I didn't like Rachel because she gave me weird vibes but I did love Danny for his personality. Overall book was okay.

Rachel y Danny eran amigos en secreto en la secundaria. Se gustaban, pero ambos no sabían cómo comunicarse y temían perder su amistad, por lo que ocultaban sus sentimientos. Con el tiempo, se acumularon tantos secretos que su relación terminó explotando y perdiendo su amistad.

Veinte años después, se reencuentran y finalmente hablan sobre todos los malentendidos, cómo han sido sus vidas y qué hicieron durante todos esos años.

La historia fue entretenida, pero no sentí que Rachel hubiera madurado. Al leer los capítulos del pasado y del presente, no percibí una diferencia.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel has just been fired from her job and now has to confront her high school classmates (and all their successful lives) and her high school reunion. And - most importantly - her high school best friend, Danny, with whom she shares a mysterious history.
The tension between Rachel and Danny was boiling - even if the writing style to get there left something to be desired. I also expected more about the actual reunion, based on the cover, description, and overall marketing of the book - but it seemed like a minor factor in the end.
The flashbacks to Rachel and Danny in high school made the book for me. It was fun to see their dynamic and how it’s changed (and also stayed the same).

"A frenemies-to-lovers contemporary romance by Julie Tieu which takes place over the course of one make-or-break evening, almost entirely at a high school reunion...."

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and the author Julie Tieu for letting me read & review this advanced book copy. This is a four star second chance romance read that releases Tuesday February 18th 2025. I really liked the small town place with miscommunication but were really cute.

✨ARC Review✨

Rachel Dang is a Type A go-getter who has just been let go from her job of ten years. Just in time for her 20 year high school reunion. She really only wants to go so she can reconnect with Danny Phan.

When they were 14, they found each other anonymously in an AIM chat group. When they were 18 and in their senior year, they met IRL and realized they knew each other and went to the same high school. They had bared their souls to each other for four years and then had to reconcile their true selves and the front they put on for school. They became closer until being young and immature brought an end to their friendship.

Twenty years later, Rachel wants to re-establish their friendship or maybe more. Does Danny?

You’ll find out as they navigate the night of the reunion which you may guess does not go according to plan.

Definitely put this book on your radar. It’s a slow burn, tender, funny story of young people who don’t know how to navigate their feelings and the grown people they become who are moderately better at it.

I received the eARC via #netgalley @AvonBooks and @HarperVoyagerUS. All thoughts are mine alone.

#romance #contemporaryromance #romcom #romancebooks #thegirlmostlikelyto #juliettieu #bookrecs #bookreview #bookstagram

With a fresh take on the frenemies-to-lovers trope, Julie Tieu’s The Girl Most Likely To pulled me in with its nostalgic high school reunion backdrop and relatable humor. Rachel Dang, once voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” finds herself face to face with Danny Phan, her former frenemy and high school AIM chat buddy, for the first time in years at their 20th high school reunion. Sparks fly and conversations are had to uncover the real reason their flame fizzled out so long ago.

I enjoyed this story. It had elements that were reminiscent of my high school experience—awkward fails, humor, and the tension of still trying to prove yourself to your peers after two decades. I liked that the author didn’t try to paint a perfect picture of adults who are 20 years out of high school. The characters are still very much figuring out their lives, careers, and goals, which felt authentic. The feeling of returning to the place where your adulthood began, with the intent of giving false pretenses of success, is something many of us can relate to. I enjoyed watching it all fall apart, seeing the masks slip, and the facades shatter.

Then, of course, there’s the romantic energy between Rachel and Danny. The tension of unspoken feelings and the unresolved emotions lying in wait for years was well done. The author did a good job of encapsulating this experience, especially as the two are thrust back into each other’s lives for an adventurous evening.

However, while I enjoyed the nostalgic trip down memory lane and the humor sprinkled throughout, there were moments where the pacing felt slow, especially during scenes that seemed to meander without adding much to the plot. That said, it’s always tricky to maintain tension and action when the majority of a story takes place over one day, and I can appreciate Tieu’s attempt at this challenge.

Rachel and Danny’s chemistry is believable, but I would have liked to see more charged, emotional moments to pull me in sooner. While their reconnection felt natural, I didn’t quite find myself passionately rooting for them—though I did appreciate the happy resolution.

If you’re a fan of second-chance romances, this one is a fun, relatable read, especially if you enjoy humor, diverse characters, and loads of nostalgia. I look forward to reading more from this author. Thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager, and #NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review. #TheGirlMostLikelyTo

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to like "The Girl Most Likely To." Rachel seemed like the kind of character I’d root for - a spunky, slightly control-freak Asian American daughter with a love for academics, delightful nerdy qualities, and her fair share of awkward moments. But as the story unfolded, I found myself growing frustrated with her. This girl needs some self-coaching from her high school bestie! The "night to remember" moments felt a bit forced, and some of the banter and tension between her and Danny didn’t quite land as hoped.
The book’s short, sweet, and light style made it an easy read, perfect for when you want something quick to pass the time. The high school reunion theme delivered some of the messy drama you’d expect, though it lacked any sort of emotional pull. I found myself skimming much of the middle, waiting for more character development or some redeemable moments that never fully materialized.

Rachel had the potential to be a compelling, grounded character, but at times, she felt more like a collection of my own fears as the eldest daughter in a 2nd-gen Asian American family. While it didn’t fully work for me, it still has the right ingredients for a lighthearted read that some might enjoy, especially if you're just looking for a quick escape.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for my honest review :)

Julie Tiu's "Girl Most Likely To" offers a heartwarming tale of friendship, second chances and rediscovering oneself. Rachel Dang, once the epitome of success, finds herself at a crossroads after being laid off. A high school reunion invitation from her former frenemy, Danny Phan, provides an unexpected opportunity for reflection and growth.

The story's nostalgic setting and relatable characters make it easy to connect with. Tiu's portrayal of Rachel and Danny's evolving relationship is both sweet and believable. The reunion serves as a catalyst for them to confront unresolved feelings and explore new possibilities.

While the plot is enjoyable, it lacks the depth and complexity I often look for in a romance novel. The characters, though likable, feel a bit one-dimensional, and the pacing could have been a bit faster. Despite these minor flaws, "Girl Most Likely To" is a charming read that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

High school reunion books have always had a special place in my heart. After being fired from her job, the main character Rachel goes into a bit of a spiral. She becomes aware that her 20-year high school reunion is drawing near and bringing her back to Danny during this time. We also see flashbacks to their high school years and all of their activities during that time!

This was a quick read but it could have been better. There was a lot I was hoping for with this book but it just didn’t happen or wasn’t there. It was definitely a slow start and it won’t be for everyone

The book offers a delightful and swift journey through a second-chance romance that blooms from a friendship, contrary to the 'frenemies-to-lovers' tag it was marketed with. In reality, it unfolds the tale of two friends, Rachel and Danny, who discover love in each other's company, only to part ways after high school. The narrative could have benefited from more glimpses into their past, especially their interactions during the AIM era, which would have added depth to their connection. The friends-to-lovers trope is a challenging one, as it demands a solid foundation for the relationship, yet the author succeeds in convincing us of the authenticity of Rachel and Danny's rekindled romance through their interactions before, during, and after their high school reunion. The novel also features a few passionately charged scenes that showcase Julie Tieu's flair for writing. As a newcomer to Tieu's work, I found her writing style engaging enough to leave me eager to explore more of her novels.

This was a fun read; definitely interesting to see how Rachel acts as she attends her high school reunion after being laid off and still being single, as well as her reconnection with Danny.

I felt like there wasn't much of a conflict, however. In both Rachel's life and her relationship with Danny, there wasn't really a consequence to any decision they would/could make, or anything truly blocking them from being together.

The flashbacks to high school helped us gain insight into Rachel's character, but there were times when it wasn't clear the flashback had ended and we had reverted to the present time.

Overall, it was enjoyable, but there could have been more to it.

thank you Netgalley for the arc

Second chance, high school enemies to lovers situation. Loved the concept behind this book. High school reunions always get me. Kept me entertained and enjoyed the story.

Although I liked the novel, there were times when Rachel came across as childish and intolerable. Over all though, I think it was a fun time.

This was a short and easy read. I'd never read a book set at a high school reunion before, but it was a sweet second-chance romance/friends-to-lovers story. The description of the book calls it "frenemies-to-lovers", but I really didn't get the frenemies part. It was just two friends who fell for each other, then stopped talking and seeing each other at the end of high school.
I did relate to Rachel striving to be the best/overachieving. I was the same way in high school.
I would have loved more flashbacks to Rachel & Danny's AIM days. Friends-to-lovers is hard because you have to really establish that relationship.
But I do think we got enough of Rachel & Danny before/at/after the reunion to make their second-chance romance believable.
And there are a couple of steamy scenes that are well-written.
I've never read Julie Tieu's work before, but I will definitely get another one of her novels from the library because I enjoyed her writing style.

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!