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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
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!
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!
fast-paced
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.25 stars! Okay, so I loved this book! I love, love, love the trope where one night can change everything and it isn’t what you thought it would be. I the nostalgia vibes and that sometimes life DOES have to restart in your 30s and 40s and it is okay, you can bounce back and thrive are huge drivers in the book for me. Honestly, this book felt so familiar watching people grow up and fall into familiar niches (working back at the school, hawking MLM, the party boy who never grew up). I loved Nat as a best friend and am so happy she still thrived after all of the cancellation. I’m glad Rachel did show what a layoff is like and trying to be “fun employed” and failing because she likes being good at things.
The early 00's was so delicious to flash back to and relive AIM and chat rooms. It reminded me if PEN15 and 13 Going on 30 had a baby with the Y2K scenes mixed with pining over an old friend in the present.
For the romance, I love this 2nd chance and normally they are not for me, but this had me giddy and so excited to see them wind up together. The romance was perfect and you root for them to get together. When they do it is magic and makes you want to curl even tighter into your book.
First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
The Girl Most Likely To was a second chance romance between high school best friends who reconnect at the reunion. I really liked the split timeline- I think it was easy to follow in this book. I also liked the chemistry between the main characters and how they kind of picked up where they left off. The banter was excellent and the secondary characters were well fleshed out. The pacing was a little weird, but I did enjoy this one!
3.75⭐️
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Audiobook release 2/18/25
slow-paced
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
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.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is my first read by Julie Tieu and I really enjoyed it. I loved that we get to see Rachel and Danny go from friends to lovers in the past and in the present. Dual timeline is a tricky thing but I think this was executed perfectly. I love that although they both were hurt by things the other said/did in the past, they were able to move forward as adults because they could see that the other was truly sorry for what had happened. I will definitely be picking up more Julie Tieu books in the future!
Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this ARC!!
Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for this ARC!!
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC or Advanced Listening Copy.
This is a review of the book and the narration
The narration is pretty decent and would recommend it.
But the writing is just off.
I like the Chinese American representation and the flashback to the 90s.
But it's just nothing to write home about but a good background audiobook.
This is a review of the book and the narration
The narration is pretty decent and would recommend it.
But the writing is just off.
I like the Chinese American representation and the flashback to the 90s.
But it's just nothing to write home about but a good background audiobook.