3.5 stars rounded up
The narrator redeemed this book. The book itself is okay. I enjoyed the characters and the two timelines of 2003 and 2023. Danny and Rachel meet in an online chatroom and the story of their friendship. Then fast forward to 2023, Rachel works at a streaming company and gets laid off. Then goes to her twenty year reunion and sees Danny again. The characters are messy and loveable. I loved Danny's sense of humor. Overall, a fun romance.

I love this book because it is second chance romance, nostalgic, and friends to lovers book. I love the author because she writes the best rom-com books.

Rachel Dang has always been determined to be the best, especially back in high school when she was voted “most likely to succeed”. After being let go from her job Rachel’s feeling anything but when her twentieth high school reunion comes around. But the invitation was sent by Rachel’s ex-best friend and high school crush Danny Phan and she can’t help but be curious and decides to attend. Things are awkward at first between the two, getting to know the adult versions of each other. There’s also an incident involving a cactus that is highly entertaining. As Rachel and Danny navigate the night with old high school peers they become more honest and vulnerable about the state of their previous relationship in high school. Can the reunion bring them together once again or is it just nostalgia?

Having recently attended my first class reunion I thought the premise was fun for a romance novel. Trying to seem important and impressive to your peers was very relatable. Also looking back what in hindsight at what was so important in the moment is a great way to show the characters growth. I’ve enjoyed Julie’s other books and this was another enjoyable read of hers!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a refreshing and captivating experience, and I found the writing to be both engaging and accessible. The story flowed smoothly, making it easy to stay connected to the plot and characters without feeling lost or overwhelmed. The author struck a perfect balance, keeping things interesting while still making the content feel approachable. Overall, it was a wonderful read, and I would definitely recommend it to others who are looking for an enjoyable and easy-to-digest book.

What a romp! This book was delightful from beginning to end. I loved our main character, Rachel, and our love interest, Danny. Seeing them over the course of one evening was quite a wild ride at points, but that’s why it was so fun.

This book is written in dual timelines – high school and the present. It really allows the reader to understand their connection and what happened between them all those years ago. It also included AIM messages which was so fun. This leads to my next point: if you are younger than 25, you will miss a lot of the references the author makes. It would still be enjoyable, but might leave you confused at points. Not a negative, but something to know before picking up the book!

I really enjoyed the Asian American representation in this book. I’m trying to read more diversely and reading romance not centered around white people is a good place to start! I love that Julie’s author bio mentions her high school sweetheart husband. It’s one of my favorite things when they incorporate bits of their real life into their fiction.

Overall, this was a fast & fun read! I would recommend to anyone who is nostalgic for the 90’s, is a big TV/movie head (our MC works in entertainment), or just wants a fun romance to read.

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books, and the author, Julie Tieu, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was my second Julie Tieu book, and I definitely picked it up at just the right time in my life. I really needed something lighthearted and easy to read, and this one fit the bill.

What I enjoyed:
- The overall premise: I really enjoyed the general plot--two former classmates/friends are brought back together by a high school reunion (and end up getting waylaid by a series of distractions).
- The tone: Julie Tieu has a great sense of humor, and I definitely laughed out loud a handful of times.
- The ease of the read: This book was just so easy to fall into and soak up. It felt like watching a short 90s rom-com.

What didn't quite work for me:
- I had to really suspend my disbelief when it came to the relationship between the FMC and MMC. They presumably haven't seen or talked to each other in 20 years, but the dynamics between the two characters didn't really reflect this.
- I kept being told that there was a ton of chemistry between the two characters, but I wanted to see that built up a bit more. I didn't *feel* the chemistry.
- The one spicy scene felt a little abrupt and out of place. I felt like it wasn't really necessary.
- I wish this had been written as a dual-POV book because I think a lot of my issues above may have been solved by reading the MMC's perspective.

I'm still so grateful to have received both an ARC and an ALC of this one from NetGalley, and I definitely recommend listening to the audio if you're looking for a cute rom-com!

This was a super cute rom com about perfectionist Rachel and the more laid back Danny. I liked the juxtaposition of interspersing the modern day story with flashbacks.

There are AIM chats.. need I say more?! But in all seriousness, this book is amazing 🧡 Julie captured 2000s rom-com magic into it. This is my official petition to turn this into a movie!! This was a sweet romance that also centers around self-discovery. Rachel was just laid off before going to her 20 year high school reunion. In wondering what is next for her, she runs into her old best friend/crush. The nostalgia 🥹 I loved it!

The banter between Rachel and Danny was great. The way they still knew each other so well after so many years was really sweet. There were so many funny scenes! And I really enjoyed the ending. Truly a great second chance romance. I listened to this on audio and I loved the narration. Natalie was really good and exchanging between characters and dialogue.

a light and easy romcom to read. the early 2000s nostalgia really got me hooked on to it. very sweet friends to estranged to friends again to lovers. i've already begun handselling it at work :)

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.