Have you ever felt like a failure when suddenly something happens to you like a lay off or a break in a long term relationship, making you ponder on your direction of the life you have led so far, but why do you feel like that? Is it because you are genuinely disappointed or is it based on your preset goals/boxes/limits you had set for yourself at a young age when everything felt way too fluid to comprehend due to your environment?

I went on a roll there right oops. Well, this book delves into a journey of fluidity Rachel, our FMC, goes through when she is suddenly laid off, and having to revert back to her roots, as she hears of her high school reunion, where she is curious about her bestie/crush Danny(MMC) as she did severe things off him back then because of her set life plans, what follows is a fun rollercoaster of a ride with hijinks and misnomers where she reconnects back to herself.

This was a really cute book to read, especially the bits added covering conversations/AIM chats between Rach and Danny, when they were more pen pals, bringing in the depth of the connection between both of them.

And as highlighted in my first lines, the introspection elements highlighted by the author of Rach were bang on. We have all seen and gone through Asian family pressures and set limits, but actually becoming aware of them and making a brave attempt to break out of them is something which I loved in this book as I love reading layers.

Danny felt real, their love story was heartwarming, felt so sweet and then the ending felt real and perfect. I enjoyed reading this one.

4.5/5 stars
1.5/5 stars

Tropes:
Second chance romance
High school reunion
First love
Starting over
Older MCs
90s/millennial nostalgia
Asian American culture
Slow burn
No 3rd act break up
Dual timeline
Single POV

This was a fun read with a lot of nostalgic moments. If you're looking for more mature MCs that are still figuring out life, then you'll love these characters. Rachel is a planner and go getter...but suddenly facing a recent layoff and is completely lost to what happens next in life. I think this makes her so relatable. Despite being the adults now, we still come across moments where we question if what we're doing is the right path and if it's OK to not have everything planned out. I really enjoyed her journey and related to how she handled all the crazy events that happened the night of her high school reunion. It reminded me why I didn't bother going to mine lol...

I would say this romance is mostly a self-discovery journey with a romantic subplot running tandem. Which makes sense why it was a slow burn. Towards the end, everything just falls into place with minimal drama and no 3rd act break up.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to fans of nostalgic vibes, older MCs, and diverse characters. This is low on the spice level but still open door.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

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.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A second chance, high school besties turned estranged reconnect at their 20th high school reunion and have a night of adventure while falling in love [all over again].

Rachel and Danny met in an online chat room in high school but come to find out, they actually go to the same school. Told in flashbacks between the end of their senior year and the night of their high school reunion, we get a glimpse of their friendship, a glimpse of the drama, and a glimpse of what could have been had they not lost touch all those years ago.

This was an interesting read for sure. The premise sounded fascinating but execution missed the mark. The flashbacks felt choppy and the plot in general lacked depth that we usually see in a second chance romance. It was hard to root for the romance when the two MCs don't really have any chemistry, and the volume of side characters and high school drama felt too messy to add to the overall plot.



Thank you Netgalley, and Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for my review!

I almost DNF'd so many times before 40% and I really should've let myself. This book wasn't bad necessarily, but it wasn't great either. Over all I was so so bored waiting for something to happen. Our main characters were bad at communicating when they were in highschool and they still sucked at it as almost 40 year-olds. They kept having these cryptic half conversations where nothing was getting sorted out and it all just became tedious really quickly.

A fab read, the story of Rachel and Danny, set around their 20 year high school reunion. I liked how they was also the flashbacks to when they were at school, how they became friends and then stopped talking for 20 years.

This book follows Rachel and her high school best friend as they reunite at their 20-year high school reunion, flashing back to their teenage years while spending a whirlwind day together in the present. It hit close to home for me—not just because I also happen to be at my 20-year reunion mark, but because I saw so much of myself in Rachel. In high school, she was hyper-focused on achievements, grades, and setting herself up for the future, which deeply resonated with me. Even in adulthood, she stayed goal-oriented until suddenly getting fired from a job she had dedicated her entire life to. That specific life shift, of having to redefine yourself after a major career change, felt so relatable, and I loved that this book allowed its characters to still be figuring things out well into their late 30s.

This is definitely a light, rom-com-style read, and while I typically prefer a bit more angst or tension, I still had a great time. The story unfolds mostly over the course of one day, with flashbacks to their high school years, and while I did feel like Rachel and her love interest rekindled things a little too quickly after 20 years apart, the nostalgic details really carried the story for me. Mentions of AIM, chat rooms, and growing up in the late ’90s/early 2000s felt like a direct hit of nostalgia in the best way. That said, the book leans heavily into the sweet and fluffy side, without much drama or emotional depth, which isn’t always my preference. But because I connected with so many aspects of Rachel’s journey, I still really enjoyed it. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, nostalgic romance with an older heroine who’s still figuring things out, this one is worth picking up!

4 stars
The book starts slow with our couple Rachel and Danny and their high school reunion. When they meet decades later, the connection here is where the story picks up and makes it worth the read. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

I always look forward to a Julie Tieu release—her books make me so happy! Her latest, The Girl Most Likely To, is about Rachel Dang, who was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school and is now funemployed, and Danny Phan, who’s thriving in his career, reuniting at their twentieth high school reunion. Over the course of the night, they run into childhood friends and have misadventures together, and the feelings they once shared come rushing back.

There's nothing I love more than childhood crushes to lovers, but this is the best! Talk about those crushes you thought you'd get over, but never did. Those late nights of chatting, the almost touching angst, and then to see them again at a reunion? This is the stuff of dreams. The Girl Most Likely To not only features all the nostalgic 2003 feels as well as the swoony angsty teen love, but it also explores success. For Rachel, she was always so focused on achievement, on the next step. But what happens if she were to find out it was all worth nothing?

I’m going to be real honest. When I started this it felt like every other women’s fiction book out there. But something told me to keep reading & I’m so glad that I did.

I LOVED the 2000’s nostalgia, and I related far too hard to the former gifted kid burnout. I loved Danny & Rachel’s relationship & I especially love how realistic it felt.

This is definitely going on my list of “Books I Want Turned into a Movie”.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

If you’re looking for the perfect ‘one night only’ romance filled with early 2000’s nostalgia this is definitely the book for you! I throughly enjoyed this book and even as someone who was just a little too young to use instant messaging I still found the premise super fun and relatable. This is the perfect use for a “dual timeline” between their high school reunion and when they met as teens. I really enjoyed the connection that Rachel and Danny had and I was SO excited for the “you’ve got mail” vibes! Julie Tieu does a fantastic job at making you feel like you’re back in highschool (in a good way) and falling in love for the first time. I give this book a well deserved five stars. Highly recommend!

20 years ago Rachel Dang was given the "Most Likely to Succeed" Award by her high school. But, being recently laid off, and working as her best friends assistant she's going through a sort of identity crisis. She always believed that keeping your head down and working hard would get you ahead but maybe that's not all there is to life.... so now at 38 she's having to take a good look at what all the hard work has gotten her. No job, no significant other, no kids. All things she thought she'd have. And now, she's going to attend her 20th reunion and be confronted by her sexy high school frienemy Danny.
Overall the book was a fun read. I enjoyed the generally fast-paced nature of the story, and the ridiculous obstacles Rachel and Danny have to overcome on their mad dash around town to secure backstage passes to a TV show wrap party (an auction item). However, while I understood the juvenile reasons Rachel and Danny didn't manage to get together in high school (let's face it 17/18-year-olds can't be expected to make mature, thought-out decisions about all things). I did find the swiftness in which they reconciled and started dating abrupt, especially, as there was a distinct lack of angsty tensions throughout.

rating 3.5/5 (rounded to 4)
spice 2/5 (honestly I remember it not being fade-to-black but also I don't remember any of it, beyond frequent interruptions).

What to expect: frenemies to lovers, high school reunion, You've Got Mail vibes (first half)...

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Julie Tieu for a copy to review.

First off, thank you NetGalley and HarperCollinsPublishers for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel.

Unfortunately, after 45% I have decided to not finish the book. I appreciated seeing an “older” FMC and MMC but they act like children so it kind of cancels out. All of the issues with Rachel and Danny that I could see up till Chapter 11 were based of off communication or lack there of. Miscommunication is one of my biggest pet peeves in books and there’s a lot of it in this book and it’s just too frustrating for me to enjoy. Also, I felt the cactus fall, the bathroom scene, and the car accident were unnecessary to the plot, especially because they just continued on going back to the reunion like nothing happened.

The positive feedback I can give is I appreciate the realness of losing a job after devoting so much of your life to it and the unknowable of the future. I also liked seeing a character who works in the entertainment industry who isn’t a musician or actor. Seeing someone who works in the corporate part of streaming was different and refreshing.

I wish I would’ve enjoyed this novel more but I really wasn’t having a good time so I had to stop. I hope others enjoy it though!

📖 + 🎧: The Girl Most Likely To-a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Julie Tieu-new to me author

📅Publication date: 2-18-25 | Read 2-17-25

📃: eBook 320 pgs.

🗣️Narrator: Natalie Naudus voices all the characters with standouts from Rachel and Danny. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

🏃🏾‍➡️Run Time: 8:00

Genre:
*Multicultural
*Adult Fic
*Contemporary Romance

Tropes:
*2nd chance romance
*high school reunion
*frenemies to lovers
*family drama
*female/male friendship

👆🏾POV: 1st person -2 timelines 2003 and present

⚠️TW: troubled sibling-H

🌎 Setting: CA

Summary: Rachel has just been laid off and is looking for new career opportunities. She becomes a personal assistant to childhood friend and now roommate Natalie Huang-a famous TV actress. When they receive their 20th Commonwealth high school reunion invitations, Rachel agrees to go even though she will see her frenemy, Danny Phan. They have to confront past hurts and rekindled feelings for each other.

👩🏾 Heroine: Rachel Dang-38, Chinese American. Worked 11 years @ Free Stream Studio but laid off after a merger.

👨🏾 Hero: Danny Phan-38, Chinese American. Now an executive coach, was tutored by Rachel and they became anonymous chat buddies.

🤔 My Thoughts: This was just okay for me. Even the "grown" versions of Rachel and Danny seemed stuck in high school. They had some hijinks and laughs with former classmates, a nice walk down memory lane. There wasn't OW/OM drama, just a misunderstanding from their high school days.

Rating: 3/5⭐⭐⭐
Spice level 2/5 🔥🔥fade to black

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Avon & Harper Voyager| Avon, Harper Audio Adult| Harper Audio, and Julie Tieu for this ARC and ALC 💚! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

3.75 rounded up. The premise of this novel follows two former high school friends to something more. With early 90's aesthetics such as AOL instant messenger, a high school reunion and a colorful cast of former high school friends and foes it was intriguing for some parts but fell flat for me in the chemistry department. I did find the FMC to be slightly irrational for a lot of the book which made her difficult to root for in a meaningful way.

The Girl Most Likely To gives the same rom-com movie vibes as Sisters or Romy and Michele's High School Reunion and I had such a fun time reading this book! Rachel is currently in the midst of a mid-life crisis, which makes it the perfect time to head to her 20th high school reunion. While there she decides that the best way to make it through the night is by pretending that she wasn't just laid off and is still the ultra-successful type A personality she was in high school. During the reunion, she sees her former friend Danny for the first time since school. The pair ended on bad terms which always stung to Rachel, could 20 years later she find a chance at closure or something more with Danny?...

There's lots of high-jinks in this and it was fun seeing the way that chaos ensued for the pair during the night of the reunion. I enjoyed seeing the dual timeline of Rachel and Danny's friendship in high school develop until the breakdown of their friendship at graduation.

Thank you NetGalley & Avon for an ARC of The Girl Most Likely To and to Harper Audio for the ALC!

Something about this book felt like if Breakfast Club or maybe 16 Candles had a reunion this book would be the outcome. Rachel was such a relatable character in terms of being an anxious, perfectionist who planned her life out only for it to be turned upside down after a layoff. Her story is a cautionary tale not to tie your identity/worth to work. Because what happens when you have to start over? Danny's growth was also great to read, he found his voice and finally asked for what he wanted, and boy was it needed for their HEA. This book will definitely make it on my 2025 favorites list.

The Girl Most Likely To by Julie Tieu is a delightful and nostalgic journey that explores the complexities of love, missed connections, and second chances. The story centers on Rachel and Danny, who first meet online in high school, only to later discover they already know each other in real life. Fast forward to their 20th high school reunion, and their reconnection sparks an undeniable chemistry that forces both of them to confront their past and their feelings for one another.

Tieu expertly captures the essence of the '90s and early 2000s, bringing back memories of the early days of online chatting and the thrill of connecting with someone over the internet before social media ruled the world. It's a refreshing reminder of a simpler time, when relationships were built through AOL Instant Messenger and dial-up connections—details that add a special, nostalgic layer to the story.

The characters are relatable, and while Rachel can be frustrating at times—particularly when she avoids confronting her feelings for Danny—you can't help but root for her and Danny to work things out. Sure, there were moments when I wanted to shake Rachel and tell her to be more open and honest, but as the book progresses, you understand why she's hesitant. If she had just opened up, the plot would’ve been much shorter and less emotionally charged. Tieu balances the tension well, giving us just enough drama without making it feel overly frustrating.

In all, The Girl Most Likely To is a heartfelt and enjoyable read that taps into the universal experience of longing, growing up, and the chance for redemption in love. Whether you’re reminiscing about the days of online chats or just love a good second-chance romance, this book offers a satisfying, sweet, and relatable journey.

The Girl Most Likely To follows Rachel Dang, a 38-year-old who thought that she'd have her life together by now. Instead, she's freshly unemployed with no sense of what comes next, and about to attend her twentieth high school reunion after receiving an invitation from the boy she kinda liked / was kinda mad at / was kinda her best friend until he suddenly wasn't.

This is my favorite of Julie's books so far! It's sweet, silly, and stuffed to the brim with nostalgia. I loved the chemistry between the two leads and laughed out loud at some of Rachel and Danny's antics. Tieu does a great job of weaving past and present, and in building momentum throughout their night together. It's a light and fun read, with a little bit of spice sprinkled in. If you like second chance romances, movies/acting, Asian rep, and 2000s references (I'm looking at you, Millennials), check it out!

Thanks to Avon and Netgalley for the ARC!