A pretty easy read. Lighthearted and fun. There were a few spicy scenes. I related to Rachel a lot about striving for basically perfection and focusing so much on school. I was like that in high school as well. I also really liked her relationship with Danny. A good friends to lovers story here.

Sadly, I was unable to fully finish this book due to a death in the family. That said, the parts I read I enjoyed, I just wish I'd been able to finish it and fully enjoy it. I will say that as a GenX-er, I always enjoy when main characters in a romance are a bit older (they're both 38 years old here). The background between the two characters was intriguing, as was the modern-day storyline that was presented. This was a new-to=me author, but I found her writing style enjoyable and I would read her again. I will be picking up this book in the future once it publishes, as I very much want to finish it when I'm better able to.

I’ve always been a sucker for a high school reunion book. Main character Rachel is laid off from her job, sending her into a bit of a spiral. While that’s happening, she realizes her 20 year high reunion is beckoning and leading her back to Danny. We also get flashbacks to when they were in high school and everything they got up to back then.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. Rachel was a relatable character and I was rooting for her and Danny.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed the idea behind this book, but I believe it might have been much better if there had been more development or clearer consequences for the decisions made by characters. The settings of the book were great. I felt as though I had been transported back in time by 20 years since this author captured the essence of high school life in the late 90s so perfectly.

Although I liked the novel, there were times when Rachel came across as childish and intolerable. Furthermore, I thought Rachel didn't give Danny a fair chance when he tried to explain a lot of the things that had happened in the past.

Although I usually don't like books where a lot of the plot happens in one day, Tieu did a good job with it. I enjoyed how the plot alternated between the present and their high school memories. That being said, in certain instances I felt as though I was missing Danny's viewpoint. I would love if this book had dual POVs.

But all in all, this book is still interesting to read! Check this book out if you enjoy a decent romantic comedy with a high school reunion theme.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was pretty cute. A pretty easy read. Lighthearted and fun. There were a few spicy scenes. I related to Rachel a lot about striving for basically perfection and focusing so much on school. I was like that in high school as well. I also really liked her relationship with Danny. A good friends to lovers story here. Also, working for a tv show and entertainment company was my dream job. It's cool to see Rachel and Nat working in that industry.

"The Girl Most Likely To" offers a charming and relatable second-chance romance that explores the themes of personal growth, unexpected life trajectories, and rekindled connections. Author [Name]'s novel cleverly subverts high school stereotypes, presenting a story where the "most likely to succeed" finds herself adrift, while the unfocused student has found his path.
The protagonists, Rachel Dang and Danny Phan, are well-developed characters whose shared history adds depth to their current dynamic. Their journey from online confidants to real-world reconnection is both nostalgic and contemporary, touching on the ways technology has shaped relationships over the past two decades.
Set against the backdrop of a high school reunion, the plot takes an engaging turn as Rachel and Danny embark on an impromptu adventure through their hometown. This detour allows for humorous encounters with old acquaintances, adding color and context to the main characters' shared past.
While the premise may seem familiar to romance readers, the author infuses the story with cultural specificity through the Vietnamese-American leads, offering a fresh perspective on the genre. The exploration of career pressures, personal expectations, and the sometimes-rocky path to self-discovery resonates well with millennial readers.
The pacing is brisk, with witty dialogue and inner monologues that keep the reader engaged. However, some may find the resolution of conflicts a bit too neat, potentially leaving deeper issues unexplored.
Overall, "The Girl Most Likely To" is an enjoyable, light-hearted read that balances romance with personal growth, making it a solid choice for fans of contemporary romantic comedies with a dash of nostalgia.

I felt like I could relate to this book being an Asian American and always trying to do the 'right' thing throughout school hoping that it would pay off in real life. This book was entertaining and light. It kept me interested, but the ending felt a bit over done?

The Girl Most Likely To by Julie Tieu is a nostalgic 90’s romcom with an Asian-American twist that I thoroughly enjoyed. Rachel and Danny's second-chance, friends-to-lovers journey felt refreshingly real, with mature, honest communication that made their reconnection all the more satisfying. While I wish their childhood fallout had been explored more, the book’s blend of women’s fiction and romance kept me engaged, especially with the swoon-worthy banter and just the right amount of spice. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

I thought this was a super cute premise but I unfortunately DNF’d at around 40%. The dialogue, both in internal and external was redundant and I felt like the WMC was stuck in a rut that was tedious to read. I hope others enjoy it!

This book reads like a rom-com movie heavy on the com and hijinx, just one disaster after another just happening to the main characters all to bring them closer together. The flashbacks and the 2000s references speak to my close-to-middle-aged elder millennial heart.

Every high school had a Rachel Dang. I felt like I could have been friends with Rachel in High School, or maybe just acquaintances, since I too was an awkward loner. She's the girl who excels at most things, the girl who works the hardest, the girl who takes everything too seriously, and the one who single-handedly completes a group project. Type A all the way. But what did it matter in the end? Her obsession with being the best cost her a friendship that could have been more, had she given it a chance.

It's a second chance on an almost romance. Will they get it right this time? It's light and swoony. A bit slow in the beginning, but when it picks up it's an enjoyable read.

Thank you, NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the electronic advanced copy of The Girl Most Likely To for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I felt like the beginning was quite slow but I did find Rachel relatable as I was an overachiever in high school. I enjoyed the split time lines from the first chats with Danny to present. The night of the reunion was a little much to follow. Overall, a cute friends to lovers story.


Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

I could not put this book down! I really enjoyed "The Girl Most Likely To" and I will keep an eye out for other Julie Tieu books!

Rachel is an excellent leading lady in this book, for all that she isn't "hot enough to make up for her lack of talent" on the screen; instead, she's a Hollywood Girlboss who suddenly loses her way and reassesses her values and her life so far. She is interesting, a richly detailed character with believable flaws and a work ethic that does not need to be fixed, just realigned. Danny is an adorable male lead, and I like that he also has struggles and issues to overcome. As he and Rachel revisit their high school years, they both confront the personality traits that pushed them apart in the past and decide if those can be overcome in the future. I like that the book lets them be imperfect and doesn't force them to wildly change to grow up a little and find better versions of themselves.

I also really liked the "one crazy night" type plot, which took us through the night of the high school reunion-- full of antics, mistakes, and accidents-- with well-juxtaposed flashbacks to give the reader a fuller picture of these characters. The plot moved well, and I could not find a great place to put the book down, so I just kept reading.

Super fun book, recommend for anyone who didn't love high school but is willing to revisit their own mistakes as well.

Rachel loses her job in the entertainment industry just before her 20th high school reunion, where she is invited by her old best friend Danny. She starts to worry when she sees that she will be presented with an award for her contributions to the industry. Rachel decides to go to the reunion to rekindle her friendship with Danny after 20 years of not speaking after a falling out during their senior year. The reunion takes them on a ride around town and down memory lane.
I loved the nostalgia and reading the AIM messages, it was a fun way to bring the 2000s into the book. I enjoyed Rachel as a character as she loses herself to the fun of the high school reunion, and learns to stop worrying about what everyone else will think about her. Danny is charming, sensitive, and wants to win back Rachel. Rachel is an overachiever who works too hard for her job and did the same in school. I relate to Rachel so much for her drive to push herself. I thought Danny and Rachel had a fun story and I enjoyed their crazy adventure to reconnect during their reunion. I loved watching them rekindle their friendship as if not too much time had passed and started to realize they still loved each other as adults. I loved the reunion because it felt so much since my reunion last year when looking back you could see how everyone was worried about how they were perceived.

I really enjoyed this romcom about second chances and discovering yourself, no matter the age.

The majority of this book takes place over one night—Rachel’s 20 year high school reunion—when she runs into her old crush/friend/missed connection. Then shenanigans ensue.

I loved all of the 2000s pop culture references and the flashbacks from their high school years, but more than that is the undeniable chemistry between the two main characters. There is a little spice but nothing overwhelming. Overall, I liked this light read that would be a great beach read or for fans of Ali Hazelwood or Emily Henry.

Thank you to NetGalley as well as Avon and Harper Voyager for this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars
This book was a quick read with lots of throwbacks, personally, as an Asian American. Super nostalgic. I absolutely loved how relatable the book was- from the pressures they felt from their parents to the thoughts of the lead. Most of the story took place during a high school reunion, where Rachel is taken down memory lane. The story is written with a dual timeline.

While it was sweet to witness Rachel and Danny's relationship develop, I felt that it was missing a lot of pieces and it felt incomplete. I found myself invested in their story, but the ending felt lacking in the build up.

This book is so messy, but I love it. It follows Rachel although it is dual pov, as she goes to her 20 year class reunion. She was in a way living the dream, until she got laid off and now wants to go back and see the guy she had a crush on in high school. This starts a whole night of lying and messiness because like always you can’t hide the truth for long. The whole situation was one where you can’t look away because you want to see what happens next. The way their memories are so different, she doesn’t remember half the things she said to this man, and he remembers everything. They were just two immature kids that said/ didn’t say things that hurt the other person and made them think they don’t feel the same way. I love Rachel, she is unexpectedly funny in a way I don’t think she intends. Danny is so in love, I love the fact that his future was based on what she told him and she doesn’t even remember (him yelling at her that it was one of his core memories was so funny to me). Her saying why are you yelling at me when they're in the middle of an argument is so funny to me. I would do something like that. This is a fun quick read, although I will say it does start slow in the beginning.Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love how this book was written! It played in my head like a movie and I loved Rachel and Danny's chemistry together. Even after 20 years apart and with some tension from their past! It was refreshing to read about 38 year olds and not 20 something year olds, and that comes from a 20 something year old. I highly recommend this book if you want a cute romcom that highlights the struggle of adult hood and that it's okay to switch things up if it makes you happy!

I really enjoyed this book. I think the beginning was a bit slow, and needed a little bit more attention grabbing factors. But overall I really enjoyed it. I do wish it was dual perspectives because it would’ve made the reader more aware of the conflicts.

interesting romance that happens over 1 night and figuring out the relationship. loved that 2 friends found each other again. Loved her friend nat and that she was able to figure things out with life.

The Girl Most Likely To by Julie Tieu is the cutest book i’ve read in a while. it flips between the main character’s life at 18 and 38, with chapters set in her senior year of high school in 2003 and her present day life. this back & forth creates a perfect mix of coming-of-age vibes and mid-life crisis moments, showing how much we change (and sometimes, how much we don’t).

i love the romance part of the story. it’s essentially two people with unspoken crushes that finally get resolved after two decades. it’s heartwarming and satisfying—one of those love stories that proves some things are worth waiting for.

this book is especially for the girlies who were in the gifted & talented program at school and then found themselves struggling to fit in when the real word hit - where layoffs, unpredictable events, and adult life don’t follow the neat lines of a curriculum. Julie Tieu nails the mix of youthful nostalgia and the wisdom that comes with age, making it a delightful & relatable read.