[arc review]
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Girl Most Likely To releases February 18, 2025

2.75

Twenty years ago, Rachel and Danny met for the first time in person (or so they thought), after four years of an online friendship that was cultivated through an AOL chat room.
Now, both 38-years-old, they are brought back into each other’s orbit courtesy of their high school reunion.

With a recent layoff, Rachel’s fun-employment isn’t looking too impressive next to her winning superlative of “most likely to succeed.” In fact, high school was the last place where Rachel even felt accomplished.

Rachel was a relatable character in the sense that it’s second nature to want to compare yourself and your achievements to that of your peers.
I know for myself at the age of 27, I have those same intrusive thoughts of feeling like I’m behind in life, so I can only imagine what it would be like to start over and how much more amplified those feelings would be ten years from now at the stage where Rachel was.

Though this is marketed as a second chance romance, I wouldn’t fully view it that way since it predominantly read like women’s fiction and was more so about reconciling a fractured friendship; anything more than that was unconvincing, especially with all of the snark and miscommunication that took place in the first two-thirds.

I was a bit caught off guard with the fact that most of their reunion was set outside of the high school, and in hindsight, the added drama of the car accident and cactus needles weren’t necessary.

While I liked the nostalgia that the AIM chats brought to the story, I think the pacing could’ve been better.

This book is all about reconnecting with who you were and second chances. Rachel was successful but suddenly finds herself without a job and no idea where life is going to take her. At her high school reunion, she meets Danny and they reconnect eventually culminating in a slow burn romance.
It was a very nostalgic book and I could definitely connect to Rachel - working in a job that she maybe doesn't love, unsure of things when they don't go to plan etc.

But the writing was something I couldn't vibe with exactly. The pacing definitely needs some work. The romance was almost non existent in parts and then suddenly flared up which made it hard to root for them
Overall, I would give it 3 or 3.25 Stars

This book follows Rachel Dang as she attends her 20th high school reunion. Rachael loves movies, and is working in Hollywood when the book starts; however, shortly after, she's laid off and this sends her spiraling as she tries to figure out what is next. When she finds the invitation to her 20th HS reunion she decides to attend as HS was the last time that she really felt like she knew what was next for her and she's hoping to find that spark again.

This book is about second chances, and reconnecting with who you are. There were parts of this that were cute but a lot of this fell pretty flat for me. There are pieces that just didn't make sense for me just from being about the same age as our main character; however, there were moments that I felt like I could strongly relate to: from the cringey thinking about who I was in high school, to the feeling of holy moly its been how long since high school and this is my life because 18 year old me would not believe this.

If you're wanting a read to help you reminisce about high school and who you were and where you are now, I think this is a great book for that.

The Girl Most Likely To
A Novel
by Julie Tieu


The Girl Most Likely To by Julie Tieu is a fun, nostalgic rom-com about second chances. Rachel Dang, once an overachieving student, finds herself unemployed and unsure of her future. When she attends her high school reunion, she reconnects with Danny Phan, her former frenemy and secret late-night AIM chat buddy. Over the course of one eventful night, they embark on a series of misadventures that force them to confront their past and rediscover their connection.
The book captures the humor and chaos of a reunion, with plenty of 2000s nostalgia and heartfelt moments. While the romance is slow-burning, the story focuses more on Rachel’s personal growth. Danny, however, could have been more developed. Still, the novel is a light and entertaining read, perfect for fans of rom-coms. If you enjoy stories about self-discovery, old friendships, and rekindled sparks, this is a great choice!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

This was a highly relatable read and every mention of the Internet culture of the early 2000s had me feeling so much elder millennial nostalgia.

Rachel being my age had me immediately understanding a lot about her. I was drawn to her overachieving nature, the attachment to a job she didn’t love but was her saving grace in an uncertain postgrad period (graduating in a recession: do not recommend) and earned itself a loyalty from her it maybe didn’t deserve, the unmoored feeling of trying to decide what comes next. I could relate to her mini spirals when things didn’t go according to her plan and her tendency to lash out in response. The processing, acceptance, and pivoting she eventually finds her way through and to made this a hopeful and endearing read.

As for the romance part of the book, I enjoyed the connection between Rachel and Danny. There were glimpses of their teenage years, while occasionally taking me out of the story as the timeline jumped to the past, were important to their story. It gave more insight into their history and all the ways they struggled to communicate as teens. It gave them an opportunity to do better with their second chance. Danny did frustrate me at times because he still seemed to expect Rachel to read his mind. When they both got to a place where they could be direct and open with each other, it felt like they had a very solid future ahead of them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun story that's really about Rachel growing as a person.

Rachel Dang has always been successful and focused, but she was recently laid off. Danny Pham was always slacking off in high school but is now successful in his career. Although they weren't friends at school, Rachel and Danny got to know one another over late-night AIM chats. For their high school reunion, they end up back together on an errand and they confront their long-buried feelings for one another.

First off, the majority of the book focuses on the night of the reunion and all the mishaps they encounter. That part of the story was very fun and I enjoyed seeing all the crazy shenanigans that happened. It felt very nostalgic for the 90s rom-com movies, very fitting with Rachel and Danny first getting to know one another in the late 90s. The short sections of flashbacks to their high school relationship was also great.

The flip side is the pacing for me. This book is more about Rachel learning to be a more well-rounded person and not just focusing on her need to have external validation through awards and accolades. The romance really takes a back seat and most of the book is Rachel getting stuck in the same behaviors she had in high school. I wish we got to see her growth a bit sooner and we could spend more time developing the relationship between Rachel and Danny. We don't really get to see Danny's growth at all and he's mostly two-dimensional and there to tell Rachel all the ways she's getting stuck in old habits. I'm really disappointed because I've enjoyed Julie Tieu's books in the past and I love seeing her interweave her own experiences into the characters and the story.

Overall, if you enjoy the comedy part of rom-coms the most, then this is a great choice for a fun read. This book would be a good option for a vacation or beach read.

A sweet second chance romance for two people who couldn’t quite get it together in high school, but just might have a chance at their high school (reunion)!

This was a fun adventure across town, slowly unraveling Rachel and Danny’s friendship that started online and fell apart by graduation as the two mingle with old classmates, navigate friendships and tough conversations, and uncover unresolved feelings that just might linger. Rachel’s ambition has driven her always, but with a recent layoff, she needs a bit of her old pal Danny’s calmness just to survive.

I could absolutely picture this as one of those fun Booksmart (but older) style movies, and had such fun picturing our fun cast of characters as high schoolers and then as adults!!

Thank you so much to Julie Tieu, Avon, and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Actually 3.25⭐️

Overall Girl Most Likely To was a cute read, I just had a few issues with the plot/certain characters that prevented me from rating it higher.

I felt that Danny, the MMC, was a little condescending at times, which led to me not being as invested in his and Rachel’s relationship.

Personally I would have preferred if the plot that took place in the present had taken place over a longer timeframe.

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."

Note: I ended up listening to this on audio and really enjoyed that format.

This book was so sweet but I just wished to connect with the characters more. I also feel more second chance lovers than enemies to lovers. Dual POV could’ve really helped this one too

Read if you love
🤍second chance romance
🤍75% of the entire book is only one day

[ARC review]
THE GIRL MOST LIKELY TO by Julie Tieu is a fun, kind of madcap throwback to the golden era of teen comedies.

Rachel has no job, no parter, no life to speak of. But when Danny, her former best friend (by way of AOL instant messenger) invites her to their high school reunion, she can't resist the opportunity to see him again. Then a simple errand turns into a whole night of zany adventures, along with some discoveries about their old relationship.

It was a ton of millennial nostalgia, staying up late to chat on AIM, the sound of a door slamming as someone logged off. Pander to me and my glory days!! (Although I am even a couple years older than these characters.) It was fun how it flipped back and forth between the present day and the past, during their senior year.

The third act is very mild, not even a real break up. Really jost lost of frothy, lighthearted fun, which I think we all could use right now.

THE GIRL MOST LIKELY TO is out February 18.

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#NetGalley #ARCreview #TheGirlMostLikelyTo

I felt this book to my core. The constant pressure to be perfect and the overachiever. I saw so much of myself in Rachel so she was incredibly relatable. The colorful cast in the book was so diverse and unique and I found them to be so precious. The second chance that Danny and Rachal get is set at their high school reunion when Rachal is feeling like an absolute failure after being let go from her job. Seeing Danny, who is successful in his career, initially reminded her of failures and the pressure she felt to be successful. I loved the premise of this book and the pacing of it to capture all the craziness of the one night of their reunion. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.

Instagram post will be live 12feb25

2.75⭐️ I really thought I’d love this one and relate to the MCs, but it just fell flat for me. It kind of gave typical 2000s movie vibes—à la Romy and Michele—where the whole book takes place in one night (the reunion night), and it was just a little too predictable for me.

Pair that with the fact that it was all just miscommunication and a second-chance romance, and honestly, it didn’t really stand a chance with me. I did empathize with Rachel and her drive to be the best of the best post-high school, but unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to fully pull me in.

“Why would I feel bad for you? All I ever wanted was for you to notice me.”

3.5 stars

This was a quick, fun read about a sorta second chance romance where Rachel and Daniel had a falling out right before they graduated high school and haven’t seen each other in 20 years. They meet again at the 20-year high school reunion and it’s basically a disaster lmao

“How did you put up with the melodrama?” I groaned, thinking about all the stupid stuff I complained about when we were teenagers.
“I didn’t put up with anything. I listened because it mattered to you.”

There are cactus spikes in butt cheeks, security interruptions, car crashes, and lots of running around and poor Rachel, who showed up 30 minutes early to the reunion, ends up late anyway after all that. But at least she was with Daniel during the running around.

“I guess we’re never too old to be young and dumb again.”

It was super refreshing to read about characters in their late thirties instead of early twenties, it was nice that they were older than me for once lmao

Also, I dunno why I was assuming no spice but there was spice! So, yes, that was great lmao

“You slept through most of our tutoring sessions.”
“I was listening. I liked the sound of your voice. I still do.”

The negatives: while I liked Daniel, I didn’t really like Rachel. She was childish, shallow, and mean (it was pointed out a lot, so it’s not like other people, and herself, weren’t aware) and it was super annoying. She did grow up, I guess, by the end, but her attitude was just really off-putting for like 70% of the book.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC*

This was a pretty fun read, but it wasn't really anything special. I enjoyed the way the author really showed the past and present timeline, really showing how kids behaved in the early 2000's, but I just feel like there was no real conflict? A lot of Rachel's growth happened within essentially a single day, especially since 90% of the book takes place over a single day. I just wish the author had given us more about Danny because his character felt incredibly stagnant - he did all this growing from 2003 to present time, and then it's just him helping Rachel through her issues. This book would've shined more as a dual POV book instead of just a single POV one. While I really connected with high-school Rachel, present Rachel was also frustrating to deal with at times, and she still wasn't communicating well with her friends towards the end of the book.

Overall, if you're looking for a second-chance romance, it's a quick fun read.

This was such a fun premise! I really enjoyed the flashback scenes and laughed at some of the mishaps in the reunion. Unfortunately, the rest of the book didn’t really work for me. I was not connecting to the main character at all, and I didn’t really like her. It’s 20 years in between the flashbacks and present and I feel like she regressed in her maturity levels. The insta-love was a bit much for me too. It felt highly unrealistic considering it had been 20 years since they’d even talked. I really enjoyed the side characters though.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This charming and heartwarming novel is a perfect fit for readers who adore lighthearted, humorous, and emotionally resonant second-chance romances. The story's exploration of the friends-to-lovers trope will particularly appeal to those who enjoy watching relationships blossom from a foundation of friendship and shared history. With its feel-good narrative centered on taking chances and rediscovering past connections, this book is an ideal choice for anyone seeking a story that celebrates the enduring power of love and the possibility of second chances. The author's engaging writing style and well-developed characters will draw readers in, making this a book that is hard to put down and even harder to forget.

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.

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 ARC!

Review will be on Instagram soon!

I normally don't read high school or college reunions, I don't like to seek out that specific kind of angst. But this book made it like a more chill & adult version of the movie Booksmart when the FMC reunites with her high school best friend and they go on a night of twists and turns, re-learning each other and having the talk they've always needed to have. They totally have chemistry and passion. I was like kicking my feet at how strongly the MMC reacted to the FMC after all this time.

Interspersed throughout there are short snippets of flashbacks to them in high school and I felt like it was utilized well especially because it was usually a page maximum and most of this book is in the present. I loved the nostalgic callbacks to aol and some of the music references.

The reason for 4 vs 5 stars is just that at times it felt a little slow and this is possibly because so much page time was over a single night. Which is definitely something I can get on board with but I think just could've used a bit more finesse to fully pull off. But overall, I loved the balance of the FMC in that she is in a quarter life crisis at the start of this book and there's definitely room for character growth but was also still a realistic 30-something mature adult.

Thank you to Avon for the eARC!

The Girl Most Likely To by Julie Tieu is everything I love about rom-coms. From the moment I started reading, I was swept into the story filled with witty banter, emotional depth, and characters you can’t help but root for. This book had me laughing, swooning, and tearing up.

At its core, The Girl Most Likely To follows the journey of Rachel Dang, who is navigating love, friendship, and self-discovery—all at the age of 38. Rachel just got laid off from her job, and she’s trying to regroup when she gets invited to her 20 year high school reunion. Which then brings her to think about Danny—her AIM crush turned real life classmate turned frenemy. (Swoon😩)

Julie Tieu’s writing is sharp and insightful, and she has a fantastic knack for capturing the emotions of her characters, making them feel so real and relatable.

What really stood out to me was how the book balances humor and heart. The dialogue is quick and clever, often reminding me of the classic early 2000s romcoms like 13 Going on 30 or Notting Hill. There’s that same sense of charm and nostalgia, with a protagonist who is figuring things out and finding herself along the way.

The cultural elements in The Girl Most Likely To add a layer of richness that sets it apart, offering something fresh and exciting while still embracing the feel of those beloved romcoms from the early 2000s. It’s a delightful reminder that even in the chaos of life, love can be just around the corner when you least expect it.

If you’re a fan of romcoms, The Girl Most Likely To is an absolute must-read. It has all the heart and humor of your favorite nostalgic movies, but with a modern, diverse twist that makes it feel entirely its own. I can’t wait to see what Julie Tieu comes up with next! Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this ARC!🫶