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!

Thank you Netgalley Avon 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☆

My favorite thing was the throwback to high school life in the early 2000s. This book felt like a rom-com, and it was fun to be transported back to the past. The missed chance romance was cute.

Thank you avon and netgalley for the arc.

As a kobo e-reader, I would love for NetGalley to address solutions for reading books on our devices...Reading on my phone is unsustainable and probably not good.

The Girl Most Likely To by Julie Tieu is another amazing story written by a favorite of mine.
Julie Tieu’s writing is as sharp and witty as ever, with plenty of humorous and touching moments.
I thought it was so cute and the banter was on point.
From the first page to the last, I was completely engrossed in the story. The characters were richly developed, the plot was captivating, and the writing style was flawless. I found myself unable to put it down, eagerly flipping pages to see what would happen next.

@julietieuwrites did it again! This is such a fun read that took me back to my childhood. I loved remembering all the fun times me and my friends had and watching some of my friends go through what Rachel went through. I especially liked it because I grew up in the San Gabriel valley. Thank you @netgalley . Everyone should go read this book if you had a big school crush you still think about .

The Girl Most Likely To by Julie Tieu 3.5 ⭐️

🎥 Second Chance Romance
🎥 Flashbacks
🎥 Midlife Crisis
🎥 Asian American Rep
🎥 High School Reunion

Rachel Dang’s life is turned upside down when she’s laid off from her job of 11 years. She finds herself single, unemployed and generally lost on what to do next. She decides to go to her 20 year high school reunion to cheer herself up where she runs into her first love, Danny Phan.

Rachel and Danny were so cute! I liked that we got to see their original love story through the flashbacks while they were hashing out their feelings and past in the present. This was a fun, quick read about starting over and that it’s okay to not have everything all figured out. It’s never too late to start over and Rachel proves that! I liked the different characters that were introduced at the reunion and how they were all having differing levels of the same struggles as Rachel.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early! This is my honest review.

The Girl Most Likely To comes out 2/18!!

dnf @ 15%

Unfortunately, I think The Girl Most Likely To is a very hyper specific book (early 2000s nostalgia and pretty hard coded to Asian diaspora in southern California) that I am not the audience for. I don’t think I’d enjoy it very much even if I continued, especially as I wasn't really enjoying the writing either. These are my personal opinions, you may enjoy it more than I did, etc!

Rachel is a perfectionist since high school and after grueling for over 10 years at her current job, finds herself unemployed when her company has sweeping layoffs.

When she sees her high school’s 20 year reunion is approaching, she decides to go for an opportunity to make amends with her former best friend, Danny.

The biggest themes to this book are second chance romance, navigating perfectionism, miscommunications, and midlife uncertainties.

I think I enjoyed this book as much as I did BECAUSE I can relate to Rachel. We are similar ages and I’ve experienced having to rediscover myself and transformative (& at times painful) growth to find the current version of me. I’m also a daughter who felt she had to be a perfectionist for success while my parents didn’t show up for me. I don’t think everyone reading this book may feel the same.

For being a romance, there was minimal spice. I’d call it “open door but with all the lights off” because we get it described on page but only in general terms.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for this ARC. I am leaving my review voluntarily.