Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Ten years after graduation, unresolved conflicts resurface at a high school reunion in this tedious romance from Reekles (The Kissing Booth). The narrative plays out as a series of Love Actually--style braided vignettes, with each character introduced via their yearbook superlatives. "Most Likely to Become Famous" Bryony agrees to organize the reunion, but hopes to keep secret that she failed as an actor and wound up teaching drama at their high school. Her love connection is "Most Likely to Succeed" single father Hayden, who prioritized raising his daughters over pursuing his tech dreams. Steph and Shaun ("Most Likely to End Up Together") are engaged to other people, but slip away to reconnect. Rivals Ashleigh and Ryan, who were voted "Most Likely to Kill Each Other," reignite their feud during the party--until a power outage locks them in a classroom and they must team up to find a way out. The many separate dramas come to a head when the fire alarm is triggered and Bryony must choose between salvaging the party and keeping her secret. The cast's struggles to reconcile their teenage and adult selves are believable, but the choppy perspective-jumps make it difficult to invest in any one character. Readers will have a tough time with this one. (Jan.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Reekles (Faking It) tells the story of an unforgettable 10-year high school reunion. Shaun and Steph, once dubbed "Most Likely To End Up Together," are now engaged to other people, but when they see each other again, they start to wonder what if. Bryony, the student "Most Likely To Become Famous," has been living a lie since graduation, convincing everyone she's a successful actor. Hayden, labeled the "Most Likely To Succeed," faces his former classmates' judgments when they learn he dropped out of college to become a stay-at-home father. The central love story revolves around Ashleigh and Ryan, known by all as the "Most Likely To Kill Each Other," whose classroom rivalry is legendary. Now that a decade has passed, their childish perceptions of each other no longer hold up, and their animosity melts into a passionate encounter that takes them both by surprise. Before the night is over, secrets are revealed, old expectations and insecurities are reexamined, and new connections are forged. VERDICT Unfolding over the span of one night and set in the UK, this fun and nostalgic romance, rich in high school drama, will resonate with fans of the TV show Sex Education.--Migdalia Jimenez
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