Review by Booklist Review
Back in the early 2000s, teen comedy movies were all the rage. Tieu's story of a couple then and now, together and apart, has the comedic pieces, the family drama, and a look at present-day southern California. Overachiever Rachel Dang had actually worked on the deal that then got her laid off from a streaming service. Back in high school, she was unrelenting in her quest to be named "Student of the Year." She participated in every possible activity, even taking on tutoring Danny Phan who, when he did show up for their sessions, fell asleep. Her one big escape was an AOL chat room. There, she connected with someone she decided to meet at an internet café--but when Danny unexpectedly showed up, her perspective changed, and they become best friends. Two decades later she has an ex-fiancé, a shared apartment, and no job. He is divorced and surprisingly successful. The evening of their high-school reunion is a stream of wildly hilarious misadventures as well as an opportunity for love.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Tieu (Fancy Meeting You Here) sets this lackluster rom-com at a high-stakes high school reunion. In 2003, Rachel Dang was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" by her high school classmates, and she planned to live up to expectations. An extremely hardworking teen, her only pleasure was talking to her AIM crush, SuperxSaiyan8, later revealed to be her classmate Danny Phan. Danny's just as smart but lacks Rachel's work ethic, and when he scores higher than her on an AP exam, their text-based relationship sours. Twenty years later, Rachel gets an invitation from Danny to attend their reunion and receive an award for her career success. What Danny doesn't know, however, is that Rachel's recently been let go. Rather than being upset by the layoff, she feels unburdened and ready to explore other options for her once carefully planned life. Danny, meanwhile, has become a successful businessman. The night of their reunion, a quick errand turns into an unexpected misadventure, over the course of which they come to realize that their feelings have not diminished in 20 years. Tieu's characters feel tragically trapped in high school, and their relationship issues could be easily resolved through one honest conversation that the plot repeatedly contrives to delay. Readers won't be convinced that these two will work. (Feb.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Rachel Dang was once voted "Most Likely To Succeed" in high school. Now 38, single, and newly unemployed, Rachel feels her life is off track. An invitation to her high school reunion rekindles memories of her first crush, Danny Phan, the boy she used to tutor and chat with on AOL Instant Messenger. As Rachel navigates her past and present, the story oscillates between high school memories and current events, blending nostalgia with a search for closure. Tieu, known for her ability to weave cultural authenticity into her narratives, delivers a story that resonates with anyone who has grappled with the pressure of expectations and the longing for what might have been. The novel captures the essence of early-2000s culture and explores the pressures of societal expectations for Asian Americans, but the slow pace and numerous side characters may distract from the central romance. VERDICT Tieu (Fancy Meeting You Here) offers a light-hearted, relatable read for those who appreciate second-chance romances and the nuances of family dynamics.--Michelle Mistalski
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Old passions--and problems--resurface for Rachel Dang at her 20 year high school reunion. Rachel has spent the past 11 years of her life focusing solely on her work at Los Angeles--based streaming service FreeStream, to the detriment of her personal life. So, when she's unceremoniously laid off, she's sent into a tailspin. Single and childless, she still lives with a roommate--her high school best friend, actress Natalie Huang--and has now been relegated to a temporary gig as Nat's personal assistant in order to pay rent. Floundering is a new feeling for Rachel; a go-getter in high school, she was voted Most Likely to Succeed, and imagined she'd have her life figured out by now. When she receives an invitation to her class reunion from Danny Phan, a former frenemy and secret crush, she realizes it was in high school that she last felt truly accomplished. She decides to attend the reunion, hoping to relive a little of her glory days--and see Danny again. As Rachel and Danny get reacquainted throughout the night, deal with a series of ridiculous mishaps, and rehash the misunderstandings that led to the dissolution of their friendship, they might have a chance to turn a night of reminiscing into romance. Rachel is a relatable character whose career setbacks, relationship letdowns, and general inability to reach society's predetermined adult milestones will endear her to many readers. But the romance between Rachel and Danny feels forced, manufactured from interstitial flashbacks consisting largely of online chats and study sessions from their high school days that don't contain the on-page chemistry necessary to build real investment in their adult reconnection. The present-day plot also leans heavily on misadventure and mayhem, to the detriment of building true tension. A flimsy take on the second-chance romance trope. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
