Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

This book is the perfect filler read—ideal for a beach trip if you stumbled across it in the hotel library. I genuinely enjoyed the storyline, especially the second-chance romance trope. There’s something timeless about rekindling a connection with a high school love, and the emotional support he offers the protagonist in her midlife crisis is beautifully written.

What stands out is that this isn’t your typical coming-of-age story. Instead of focusing on a teenager, it explores a woman in her late 30s, someone who has always succeeded in life but finds herself at a crossroads. The flashbacks to her high school years give the romance a bittersweet layer, adding depth to her rediscovery of herself and her relationship.

That said, I don’t feel compelled to reread the book or hunt for the little Easter eggs the author left behind, which is why it doesn’t quite hit the “must-read” mark for me. Still, it’s a solid recommendation if you’re looking for a romance that doubles as a reflective, midlife coming-of-age story.

A lot can change in 20 years. They knew each other in high school but weren’t that close. Rachel the over achiever and Danny the not so “achiever”. Now Rachel is floundering and Danny has it together. What else can chance?

This book was fun. Julie Tieu does a good job at writing characters and a likable story.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

Julie Tieu’s The Girl Most Likely To is a sweet, feel-good romance set during a high school reunion, perfect for anyone who loves a good second-chance story. Rachel Dang, once voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” comes face-to-face with her old frenemy Danny Phan, and sparks fly in ways she never expected. If you’re a fan of A Cinderella Story with Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray, you’ll love the mix of awkward reunions, heartfelt moments, and a swoon-worthy romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

What happens when you’re funemployed, at a crossroads, and find yourself stuck at your high school reunion with your former frenemy? Chaos, hilarity, and maybe even a shot at love! Julie Tieu’s The Girl Most Likely To is a charming, heartfelt rom-com about second chances and finding yourself when life doesn’t go as planned.

Rachel Dang, voted “Most Likely to Succeed,” is anything but that when she reluctantly attends her 20th high school reunion. Enter Danny Phan, her old classmate and AIM chat buddy, whose once aimless life has turned into a thriving career. Their roles have flipped, but the spark they had back then? It’s very much alive.

The story takes place over the course of one wild night, where a simple errand turns into a delightful rollercoaster of mishaps, nostalgia, and reconnections with childhood acquaintances (including some hilariously colorful characters). Rachel and Danny’s chemistry is electric, and the way their shared history unfolds feels authentic and endearing. From their witty banter to the more tender, vulnerable moments, I found myself rooting for these two the entire time.

What makes this book shine is its balance of humor and heart. It’s not just about romance—it’s about reevaluating what success looks like, facing the person you were in the past, and embracing the uncertainty of the future. Rachel’s journey feels relatable and real, and Danny? He’s the perfect mix of charming and swoon-worthy.

Thank you to Julie Tieu, Avon, and NetGalley for this delightful story of love, growth, and second chances. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to revisit your past with the possibility of rewriting your future, The Girl Most Likely To is the perfect nostalgic escape.

I liked this novel! The idea of a reunion really caught my eye because I hadn’t seen a book with that plot line before. I loved the diversity and the way that the author approached more difficult topics.

I really enjoyed the flashbacks to the 90s. I feel like it was really well done and pretty spot on and definitely found myself smiling at some of the messages between them when they were younger!

Julie is a fantastic writer, and I really enjoyed the style of writing and the descriptions and I could picture all of the characters in the book because she was very thorough and writing all of the characters and where they were and the building was great!

I felt like Rachel could be a little bit more developed and I wish that there was a Danny POV. I think that having a Danny POV would’ve helped develop Rachel‘s character a little bit more too. With such emotion and some more emotional topics, it would have been very interesting to see Danny’s point of view. I think the author wrote it in a way where it didn’t necessarily need it, but it would’ve been really cool to see. He seemed like such a nice guy and through his facial expressions and his words I could tell that sometimes he wanted to say more and I was wondering what he was thinking sometimes.

Overall, I liked this book and the plot was clear and there was plenty of emotion and feelings. The idea for the novel was fresh and new and I really enjoyed that aspect of it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

This one was an okay read but didn’t really hit the mark for me. The chemistry felt a bit flat but overall I did enjoy the premise of their story

Thanks to Netgalley & Avon/Harper Voyager for the E-ARC! Really cute! Liked the banter & the characters. Will definitely read more from this author.

For full disclosure, as a class of 2003 high school graduate, this book really hit home for me. Elder millenials that grew up in the early '00s days of dial-up, AOL chat rooms, and late night AIM conversations will be transported back to those hazy high school days. Cryptic song lyrics as your away message, burning CD copies for your friends, hanging out at the mall. I love the nostalgia. On top of that, The Girl Most Likely To is set in southern California. Los Angeles and SGV readers from then and now, myself included, will recognize some of the city landmarks and neighborhood ambiance that help cement the place setting. With the majority of the story taking place over a 24 hour time span, it had just a little bit of the Lovebirds and Date Night vibes...without all the fun and emotional revelations but without the threat of bodily danger. I had such a fun time reading this!

While The Girl Most Likely To is at it's heart a second chance romance between former high school friends, it's also a book that looks at what it means to start over, to overinvest in your career, and to reexamine your preconceptions about who your high school peers became as adults. Most of the story is set around Rachel Dang attending her 20 year high school reunion in Alhambra, where she is set to be inducted into the "Alumni Hall of Fame" and hopes to reunite with former friend and high school crush Danny Phan. But of course, nothing quite goes to plan. Rachel has lost her high profile job at a television streaming service; she flubs her first impression with Danny after 20 years; the pair get forcibly tossed from a film set and Danny lands rear-end first into a cactus; Rachel's car gets totaled as they pair are trying to get back to the reunion. And throughout all these unfortunate antics, Rachel and Danny are actively working through their communication challenges and pent up frustration with one another in the present. I loved how Tieu interspersed flashbacks to Rachel and Danny in high school - through their AIM conversations, first awkward in-person meeting, key senior year moments, and glimpses into their not so rosy home lives. This book was messy, but in grown up ways. It asks, are you doing something that actually makes you happy? Or are you simply following a path that is supposed to make you happy? What makes you believe you can't regain control of your narrative at 38?

There is a lot of emotional / romantic tension between Rachel and Danny throughout the book, which helps to draw you in for their reconciliation as they work through old hurts and communication challenges. It was refreshing to see main characters who were beyond the standard romance age range of 23-33.

I thought the premise of two ex best friends reuniting at a high school reunion was going to be so fun, but in reality this was pretty bland.

They two MCs don't even interact with present day until like 20% in. That first 20% was so freaking boring and I didn't have any connection to the FMC. I didn't really care about her getting laid off and it didn't seem like she was in any place to start a romantic relationship. Most of the book takes place in one night, but the pacing of that one night is just so bizarre.

I really didn't feel their connection and I was just overall boreddddd.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a quick second chance romance that had the ability to be a great read but just overall missed the mark for me. The author makes Rachel really mean and unrealatable at times she was so mean to Danny! I would have loved to have a more related FMC.

Received an ARC via NetGalley

This book was cute and so relatable being an Asian American female who grew up in Los Angeles during this same era and did most of my socializing chatting on AIM in high school. I was also an overachiever, focused on grades and getting into college. That level of success never leaves you and turns in high-functioning anxiety in the workforce as an adult.

I had fun reading through Rachel’s journey of self-acceptance and no longer striving for useless awards/titles.

Also thought her love story with Danny from high school to adults was cute!

I loved the dual timelines, they worked really well with one another. I loved seeing the 2 main characters’ relationship blossom through the years and I loved that the FMC was relatable. The premise of being at a 20 year reunion is a new one for me, and I think this author did really well at executing that!

Wasn’t a huge fan. Felt the female main character kind of drug on and on. The story line was good but I just couldn’t seem to get into the book.

I liked the idea behind this book, but I think it would have been better if there was something…more? I’m not sure what though. I liked that the story revolves around a 20 year high school reunion, and that the main character, Rachel (who was voted most likely to succeed), could be someone people could relate to. I loved that the story switched between the past and the present, as it shows their high school memories how much has changed between Rachel, Danny, and the rest of the characters. I wish we had chapters from the POV of Danny though, as he was a more prominent person in Rachel’s life/this story.

4.5 ⭐️
This book was SO fun. Once I started I barely stopped reading it, very easy to read.

The story follows old friends who hadn’t seen eachother for years, and shows how some feelings just don’t fade away. The main character, Rachel, is likable and real feeling. Danny, the love interest, feels fleshed out a bit as well. It’s fun to see where life has led them and the story shows just how much can happen at a high school reunion.

Would recommend to those looking for a not too spicy, quick, easy read.

Thank you Julie Tieu and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Julie Tieu’s "The Girl Most Likely To" offers a charming premise and relatable characters, but the execution falls a bit short. The pacing felt uneven, making it hard to stay fully engaged... I truly put it down to DNF and then picked it back up two separate times. Additionally, the romantic tension between the main characters seemed spotty, lacking the consistent spark that makes a romance/romcom truly compelling. Despite the issues, the book still has its moments of warmth and humor that I enjoyed.

5 stars for this fun romcom with a dual timeline back to my high school days. I have already recommended this to all my high school friends. It’s a well-written, funny romcom (no explosive plot twists but that’s what I sign up for) with Asian representation and nostalgia. It felt like You’ve Got Mail meets Can’t Hardly Wait, and I was there for every minute of it! This was my first Julie Tieu book, but it won’t be the last. Thanks to netgalley for this ARC, just what I needed.

As an elder millennial, "The Girl Most Likely To" was a shot of pure nostalgia. The story bounces between present day and the early 2000s, telling the story of Rachel and Danny's friendship to almost romantic relationship in high school and their reconnecting at their 20 year reunion.

In high school Rachel was the walking stereotype of driven Asian student. She strove to be the best at everything she tried and had a plan for everything. 20 years later and her life is falling apart. She's single, and has just been laid off from the job she's had for a decade. On a whim she decides to go to her 20 year high school reunion, where she runs into Danny, her high school best friend (and secret crush). Over the course of the reunion and afterparty they work through the things that lead to the breakdown of their friendship 20 years before.

Their AIM user names were so nostalgic (seriously, why did all of us elder millennials love using the letter "X" so much in our screen names?) and reminded me of the early convos I had with my now-husband.

If you're looking for a second chance romance with more mature protagonists, sweet, swoony MMC's and tons Asian representation, give "The Girl Most Likely To" a shot.

Thanks, NetGalley and Julie Tieu for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

Taking place over one night at a high school reunion, Rachel and Danny are reminded of their feelings for each other and given another chance at their happily ever after!

Alternation of plot usually is a no for me but it was done very well but I always do wish for dual POV!

read this book for a whirlwind of a night following
two enemies to lovers !

3.5 Stars

This is a fun read! There were many things I enjoyed about this book: the early 2000s chat room and high school scenes, the cultural representation, the millennial representation. and some of the side characters. But something just didn't click, and it took me over a month to read.

Rachel Dang is a career driven millennial woman who was voted "Most Likely To Succeed" in high school. She had her whole life planned out: get good grades, go to a great college, get her dream job, get married, have children, however, the book starts with her getting laid off from her job and rethinking her life.

She is reunited with her high school best friend/crush, Danny Pham, at her 20th high school reunion. Danny wasn't career or school focused like Rachel, but he is now a successful life coach. At the reunion, they reconnect and a crazy night of adventures ensues where an old flame is rekindled...

The book switches between past and present. The past follows Rachel and Danny as high schoolers in the early 2000s. As a fellow millennial, I loved the scenes in the past which primarily take place over AIM messenger (Rachel's sn is xxaznxbbxgrlxx, which kills me).

I think many people will find Rachel relatable. She struggles to juggle all the parts of her life like her career, relationships, friendships, etc. and find a balance with her perfectionism and #girlboss attitude. Personally, I don't like reading about a person going through this sort of crisis where they're at the lowest point of their life, and I found Rachel kind of annoying.

I also didn't love the pacing of this book. I think like 50% of the book takes place on the night of the high school reunion. If you like movies that focus on one night you might love this, but I got tired of it. It is also hard to have believable character development over the course of one night.