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 😂

I really enjoyed this listen! The narration was well done.

Incorporating the way AIM chats used to define relationships, talking with crushes and connecting with someone virtually for the first time with planned chat dates was such a fun callback because I 100% used to do that.

My one annoyance with Danny and Rachel's relationship was how easily they fell into a romance after 20 years apart, hardly unpacking of their baggage. There wasn't tons of development from the reunion night to the realization that they wanted to truly give their relationship a try.

Miscommunication also really grinds my gears but I'm giving this a pass because they were in high school and one little thing can be a catastrophic end to a friendship and relationship when you're in your teens.

➡️ Dual timeline
➡️ Second Chance
➡️ Friends to lovers

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for my chance to review this audiobook ARC.

This was my first book by this author and I wasn't sure what to expect as romcoms can be a big hit or miss for me.

This book was a hit for me. The writing was genuine and the story was heartfelt. The characters grew and communicated by the end of the story.

I would have liked to see a smoother finish as it did feel kind of rushed, but it wasn't a bad ending.

If anyone needs me I'll be consuming this author's backlog of books.

This was a cute second chance romance between Rachel and Danny who gets reconnected during a class reunion. A lot of the story happens one night (the reunion) and there was a lot of situations that delayed their arrival to it.

I through the flash back to the IM on AOL chats was really cute. The was marketed as frenemies to lovers but I didn't get the enemies vibe at all. I thought Rachel acted a little bit immature at times for someone her age. I do wish that we got a little bit of Danny's POV.

Natalie Naudus did a good job with the narration.

Thank you @avonbooks @harperaudio for a copy of the audiobook.

Such a complicated rom-com; oh these two are so stubborn. I loved it!
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio for this ARC.

ARC Review: Rating ||⭐️⭐️⭐️.75||

TGMLT follows Rachel Dang, who was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school, and she was…until she’s a victim of lay offs at her company. With her new found freedom, she (reluctantly) accepts the invitation to her twentieth high school reunion by none other than her former frenemy, Danny Phan, Rachel agrees despite their unresolved past.

This was such a fun, feel good, quick read! it’s not super concept heavy which means you can pick up and put it down whenever you and was a great reminder that you can be doing everything right in life, but life will still happen no matter how prepared. Although it’s marketed as a romance, the underlying friendship between the FMC and MMC was the selling point for me. I loved seeing them rekindle and revisit different versions of experiences that they both shared. This could’ve easily been a 4 star read but I felt like between 60-80% the book started to lose my focus. There was great character intro and development in the first half of the book, so between the percentages mentioned above, IMO it didn’t add to the premise of the story and kind of took away from what we were teased with earlier on.

Tropes:
- fr(enemies) to lovers
- reconciliation
- second chance rom

I don't know how you could not like this book because I found it fantastic! Rachel and Danny were friends.. and more in high school until it all went south. They haven't seen one another for 20 years and they reunite at their reunion. Rachel is going to apologize to Danny and she hopes they can be friends again, but Danny went for one reason only.. and that was to see Rachel. It is clear he never forgot about her and that he was just as smitten as ever. This book was packed full of nostalgia for me and I was eating it up. I was also eating up just how gone Danny was for Rachel.. swoon. I had so many AWE moments with this one. There wasn't a lot of angst, just a lot of sweetness and that was refreshing.
Thanks to Harper Audio, Netgalley and Julie Tieu for an ALC.