First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
The Girl Most Likely To was a second chance romance between high school best friends who reconnect at the reunion. I really liked the split timeline- I think it was easy to follow in this book. I also liked the chemistry between the main characters and how they kind of picked up where they left off. The banter was excellent and the secondary characters were well fleshed out. The pacing was a little weird, but I did enjoy this one!
3.75⭐️

Rachel Dang was always a hard-working, dedicated student. Voted most-likely to succeed, Class of 2003, she was organized, dedicated to her planner, and laser focused on earning additional accolades for her college application. So when a new student arrived and needed tutoring, she was committed to making sure he was successful.

But dedication to school doesn't leave a lot of time for friends. Her family runs two businesses and between business and the hard focus on work, Rachel doesn't have anyone to talk to. So when she sends a message out in an AIM chat room and a student in her grade replies, she immediately warms to the anonymity of her online identity and finds herself spilling all of her deepest feelings in a place where she can be anyone.

Fast forward 20 years, Rachel has powered her way through life, climbing ranks in her career by always putting her work first. Which has gone well for her until the company she dedicated her life to gets purchased (thanks, in part, to a project she worked on) and lays off most of its staff. Just in time for her 20th high school reunion.

The upside? That friend from high school, he's hoping she'll be there.

Most of this story takes place over one night, as she tries and fails (a lot) to present the high-achieving image of success she was in high school, while feeling everything but. It's fun, and ridiculous, at times, but the yearning and uncertainty, the no-pressure but secretly I love you, it's all there. It's fun and ridiculous and exactly the kind of high school reunion you wish yours was.

This is a fun second-chance romance filled with miscommunication and everything-that-could-go-wrong-does. You'll be on the edge of your seat the entire time!

Rating this a 3.25/5. I love the storyline and the concept, but the characters and the story lacked focus. There were a lot of outer obstacles, when what I wanted was more inner reflection and personal growth. I think the message was great, the lessons were right on, but if we're going to have a ton of miscommunication, the inner world needs to reflect why that is happening more. The friend relationships (while entertaining) were strange and didn't add to the story. Overall, I just wanted more from Rachel. In the beginning I was rooting for her, but she experienced the same feelings over and over again and it got a little old.

If you want a light-hearted entertaining, low-stakes read, this is the book for you.

Cute story. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for this review. I enjoyed the back and forth in the time periods.

This is the first book I've read by Julie Tieu, but it certainly will not be the last. Rachel was a great, complex character who I related to and rooted for. And Danny was one of my favorite male leads I've read in a while.

I was intrigued by the high school reunion aspect but also unsure how I'd like it. I'm definitely not a school reunion person. But Tieu did such an excellent job building the tension between high school Rachel and Danny (the AIM messages!!) that I couldn't wait to see what happened at the reunion. While reading I felt like I was watching a TV show - it was so descriptive and compelling.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was that there wasn't a third act break-up, which would have felt off with this book. Instead, we get more of a third act "let's cool down."

The audiobook narrator did a great job.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.

This was an adorable "second chance" rom-com. I am not sure how I haven't read a Julie Tieu book till now...it looks like I have been missing out on a great author. Danny and Rachel are a beautiful couple and I loved watching their love blossom in this book.

As far as the audiobook goes, I thought Natalie Naudus did a really good job with the narration. She was the perfect person to narrate this audiobook!

If you like high school romance movies or movies where the character goes back to high school like Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, I definitely believe you will swoon over this book! I can't wait to see what Julie Tieu writes next!

4.25 stars! Okay, so I loved this book! I love, love, love the trope where one night can change everything and it isn’t what you thought it would be. I the nostalgia vibes and that sometimes life DOES have to restart in your 30s and 40s and it is okay, you can bounce back and thrive are huge drivers in the book for me. Honestly, this book felt like stepping into your actual high school reunion. For the romance, I love this 2nd chance and normally they are not for me, but this had me giddy and so excited to see them wind up together. The romance was perfect and you root for them to get together.

The audio book is amazing if you like audiobooks and the cadence of the narrator is absolutely perfect as is her timber. I listen on 1.75-2X speed and able to keep up easily.

This was a really cute with lots of action and funny moments! Different spin on a second chance romance and the premise that they met on AIM had me feelin super nostalgic. Also one of my favorite narrators which made it even better!!

I’m not really a fan of the miscommunication trope, but this book was cute listen. Danny and Rachel were best friends via aim in high school. After 20 years of no communication since high school when they had a falling out they see each other and reconnect for the first time. As they hash out the past and move forward they realize that the both saw events in the past happen differently. I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book, as I wasn’t really a fan of the MMC in the beginning but as I continued to listen to the book he redeemed himself and ended up being a sweet character.

Read if you like:
Friends to lovers
Second chance Romance

This was a cute, second chance romance between adults who were best friends in high school. I liked the nostalgic throwback vibes of the “then” chapters. In present day we see the FMC and MMC navigate seeing each other again after many years. I’ve read from the author before and will definitely be keeping my eye on what they do next.

This was a cute concept about revisiting a high school crush 20 years later. My issue was the lack of maturity and communication especially from Rachel. The flashbacks to highschool were a fun look at life in the 90s but overall this story fell flat.
I did enjoy the audiobook narrator.

Rachel and Danny's story was enjoyable, but I didn't have a heightened interest for the majority of time. Audiobook quality and narration is great!

Most Likely To... by Julie Tieu is a charming and light-hearted rom-com that offers a delightful mix of second chances and rediscovered connections. The premise is endearing: Rachel Dang, a woman who was once the "Most Likely to Succeed" in high school, now finds herself "funemployed" and uncertain about her next steps. When she receives an unexpected invitation to her 20th high school reunion from her former frenemy, Danny Phan, she can't help but accept, despite the unresolved tension between them.

Rachel and Danny's dynamic is really what makes this story stand out. In high school, Rachel was the focused and hardworking student, while Danny was the "unfocused" one, often paired with her in class by well-meaning teachers. However, it’s their online late-night AIM chats that hint at a deeper connection, one that never quite materialized in real life. Fast forward to the reunion, and roles have flipped—Danny is now a successful professional, while Rachel feels like she’s spinning her wheels. Their reunion sparks old feelings and a series of amusing, heartwarming misadventures as they rediscover each other and what could have been.

The chemistry between Rachel and Danny is palpable, and the way Tieu weaves their history and present-day relationship makes their connection feel natural and heartfelt. The secondary characters, including the quirky folks they encounter during their errant night in town, add a fun, colorful layer to the plot, making for a well-rounded, engaging read.

However, while the story is full of charm and humor, it doesn’t delve as deeply into the complexities of Rachel and Danny’s growth as individuals. Some moments feel a bit predictable, and the pacing, especially in the latter half, can feel a bit rushed as the romance picks up steam. It’s a sweet journey, but at times, the stakes could have been a little higher to make the second-chance romance feel even more emotionally resonant.

Overall, Most Likely To... is a super cute and enjoyable story with lovable characters and plenty of heart. It's the kind of book that’s perfect for a cozy weekend read, with just enough depth to keep things interesting without getting too heavy. I would definitely recommend it for fans of rom-coms who love a nostalgic twist and a happily-ever-after ending.

The Girl Most Likely To by Julie Tieu

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.25/5

I was happily surprised by this book. There honestly wasn’t a part of it that I disliked. I really related to the main character. I was laughing out loud throughout the whole thing, like genuinely lol-ed. I had so much fun reading this and absolutely flew through it.

The story follows two high-school best friends in a dual timeline meeting up for the first time since high school at their 20-year reunion after a major falling out on award’s night. We get to see them re-connecting while learning why things fell apart in the first place. Rachel and Danny take off on a night of errand-running for the reunion, and shenanigans ensue.
Julie Tieu did a fantastic job creating these characters. Every single character, even the side characters, was so well-rounded and fleshed out. She did not half-ass this writing. Her words are witty and comical with top-tier banter, which I live for. I really connected with these characters, especially Rachel. I empathized with her need for perfection in high school and how that became the only thing that mattered to her. I loved being able to see her let go and live a little. It healed a little bit of the gifted child burnout in me.

The plotting and pacing was spot-on. The story never lagged or got boring. I was constantly entertained and couldn’t wait to get back to it every time I set it down.

The audiobook narrator was simply perfect for this story. She nailed every single character and really brought them to life. She told the story seamlessly.

I am really happy with this book and will definitely be purchasing a hard copy for myself to have on my shelves. Thank you to Julie Tieu, NetGalley, and Avon for the ALC!

A review will be coming on my Instagram account soon!

3.75 stars

This is a cute second chance romance! The two main characters, Rachel and Danny, had some miscommunications in high school, and their 20 year reunion seems to be the perfect occasion to right some wrongs.

This book is pretty quick-paced, with most of it taking place over the course of the night of their school reunion, along with quite a few flashbacks to their budding teen relationship on AOL. The flashbacks were fun, though sometimes it wasn't always clear where we were in their 'relationship' and the timelines got a bit muddled.

The writing is solid, and I especially enjoyed the conversation about being an immigrant/Asian kid with all the pressures, especially to be perfect and acheive greatness educationally that your parents can put on you as a kid.

It's a cute story, but I felt like a lot of the moments that were supposed to hit/have an emotional impact didn't quite have enough weight behind them; also a lot of things were made into big deals that just didn't seem to matter that much (having to give back her award because she had reccently got fired actually makes no sense; also everybody freaking out about Rachel jumping into the pool...?) I also had to keep reminding myself that these characters are almost 40, because most of them (Rachel especially) felt really immature.

Natalie Naudus did an excellent job narrating - she knows how to add emotion to scenes perfectly.

All-in-all, a fun, nostalgic romance story with some Asian-American rep

Rachel Dang was voted The Girl “Most Likely To Succeed” in high school, and spends her time achieving accolades, good grades, and taking on extracurriculars like tutoring an unfocused Danny Pham. Their relationship develops over deep chats on AIM (what a throwback!), until suddenly things go wrong at the end of high school. Twenty years later, Rachel finds herself unemployed after a layoffs and misguided in where to go next. She reconnects with Danny at the reunion, and this time around, everything is different.

I really enjoyed the book! I listened as an audiobook, and Natalie Naudus’s narration was great (props for nailling the Mandarin!). The author did a great job of transporting me back to my AIM chat days - including the importance of song lyrics in the away messages! It’s a cheerful read, and I definitely enjoyed the decades-long chemistry between Rachel and Danny. That said, it did feel like a bit of slow start, and didn’t end at a point where I thought it might. Despite this, it’s still a great read that I’d recommend to any rom-com fan! (Bonus points for the millennial nostalgia!)

Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to Harper Collins for the opportunity to read and review. #TheGirlMostLikelyTo

Spice warning: moderate

I found the premise of this book SO relatable! Anyone else also struggle with wanting to be so much in high school and having larger than life goals for adulthood to have it all come crashing down? Anyone else find someone who loved you anyways? That’s what I enjoyed about this book - characters who saw each other at their worst, pushed past what the other was hiding from the world, and allowed each other, after many many years, to be able to be accepted for that.

While the entirety of this book was centred around their relationship, I was somehow left with wanting more relationship development. It definitely had potential though, and I enjoyed the past and present elements.

3.5 stars

3.75 stars

Let's set the scene. Rachel Dang was voted the Most Likely to Succeed in High School. She took that award and ran with it. She had a successful job in the film industry until she was laid off. To add insult to injury, she finds out her 20-year high school reunion is coming up, and she is personally invited by her former frenemy, Danny Phan. The story follows their journey to resolve some unfinished issues and reintroduce themselves as adults.

I personally enjoyed this second-chance romance. I enjoyed Julie's writing style and how she used a dual timeline that provided us insight into what happened in high school. The narrator did an amazing job of bringing the story to life.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperAudio for the alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I love Julie's hooks and always have them on my tbr. I love learning about the characters and find them so amazing. I always forget her books are spicy which I love. I will need a copy for my shelf.

5/5☆

3.5⭐️
This was hard to rate as if I was reading it with my eyeballs I probably would have rounded down but since I listened to the audiobooks ALC I rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.

I enjoyed the representation as well as the mentions of the early aughts although it may go over younger years heads) but the pacing and execution struggled.

On a good note. The audiobook and narration was very well done! I appreciated the narrator, Natalie Naudus speaking rate as it was easy to listen to without changing anything. She handled the other character voices fairly well too.

So I recommend this book for those looking for a more fluffy read especially for those seeking Asian main characters.
It comes out February 18th 2025


I am thankful to have gotten the ALC for free from Harper Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

I am fortunate to have gotten an audiobook of this book from netgalley, and gosh, what a great listen. This slowburn romance spanning 20 years goes back and forth between the past and the present. A romance that was unfulfilled 20 years ago and rekindled in the present during a high school reunion. And that slowburn was so fulfilling once we finally got there. But it took AWHILE!

The audio on this one was well done for the most part. A couple of the voices the narrator uses make it hard for me to really stay engaged when speaking for those characters, but when just focused on the FMC and MMC, she did an excellent job.

Also, yes, Keanu Reeves is the best, especially in Speed 😂