Voted Most Likely To: A Sweet and Wholesome YA Rivals-to-Lovers Romance

by Kayla Tirrell

Winning was everything, until they lost their hearts…

Ella and Connor have been competing their entire lives. As Citrus Prep’s biggest rivals, it’s no surprise that they both want their school’s most prestigious academic award—a full ride to the college of their choice.

Ella has an undeniable lead going into senior year, until the rules suddenly change and Connor has a real shot at beating her.

While scrambling to check all the boxes to prove they’re more deserving of the honor, Ella and Connor find themselves bumping into each other at every turn…and not hating it as much as they expected.

With their hearts now on the line, the competition has even higher stakes, but there can only be one winner.

Voted Most Likely To is a sweet young adult contemporary romance featuring rivals-to-lovers in an academic setting.

234 pages, ebook

Published May 18, 2026

Reviews

[Moriah Chavis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was sooooo cute! I loved the enemies to lovers (done so well) and also how quickly I was able to read the book. A must-read YA rom-com!

[Chelsey Konkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Voted Most Likely To! It definitely brought me back to my high school’s days. In the best ways. I really enjoyed Ella & Connor relationship and watching it grow and blossom. Despite their parents passed and their bottle to be class violin between each other. This book will make you feel good and happy. I loved that its YAY and clean. I will be getting this book for my nieces that are in high school. They will love it.


🎓Academic rivals
🎓High school seniors
🎓great athlete
🎓She needs more extracurriculars
🎓He's student body president
🎓a secret chess prodigy don't tell!
🎓 has major family drama

[Kayla]

Can’t wait for you to fall in love with Ella and Connor. 💕

[Brielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re in the mood for a fun and sweet YA romance then Voted Most Likely To is definitely the book for you! It’s filled with witty banter, academic rivals to lovers, and he just so happens to fall first! What could be better than that?

Ella and Connor have always been rivals and competing against each other since they were born. The rivalry only got worse after her dad goes to prison for embezzling money from Connor’s dad. Even though she is just a child his family mostly all blame her for her father’s crimes.

It’s their senior year of high school and the criteria for their high schools full ride scholarship program has changed so they so yet again they find themselves competing against one another to win the scholarship. However, what they don’t expect is to fall for each other.

5 stars, no notes!

[megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn to this title because it reminded me of MAATHBP (ifykyk) This is an academic rivals, high-school, dual pov YA romance! The main characters Ella and Connor, her dad stole money from his dad's company and is in prison and the reason his family hates her (blames her). Valedictorian wins a full ride scholarship to any university they want, which she needs because yk she is broke. Connor needs to win because it's part of his family's legacy. The criteria for the scholarship was changed this year, it has to be most well rounded student aka involved in everything not just your grades. He's already athletic and pretty well rounded so he thinks he has it in the bag and this causes Ella to start joining some clubs, which leads to them talking more and eventually falling for each other. I had such a good time reading this and it was so bingeable! Enemies to lovers is my favourite trope of all time and this gave me all the feels. The dual pov was also something I really liked, it's frustrating not knowing the guy's thoughts. I'd definitely be interested in reading her prior work and recommend this to teen readers who enjoy the academic rivals trope and he falls first! Overall a very cute and swoony YA romance.

[Yvette Jarrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

📘ARC Review
Voted Most Likely To by Kayla Tirrell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Available on May 18, 2026

Voted Most Likely To was such a fun and feel-good YA romance! Ella and Connor’s academic rivalry brought just the right amount of high school drama, tension, and banter, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages to see who would win both the scholarship and each other’s hearts.

Set at Citrus Prep, this rivals-to-lovers story perfectly captures the pressure of senior year while still feeling sweet, heartfelt, and fun. The dual POV made it so easy to connect with both characters, and I loved watching Ella and Connor’s relationship slowly grow beneath all the competitiveness.

As someone who used to run cross country in high school, parts of this story felt especially nostalgic and took me right back to those team practices and school-day memories. It’s the kind of book that leaves you smiling by the end.

If you love YA contemporary romances with academic rivals, witty banter, and adorable enemies-to-lovers tension, definitely add this one to your TBR!

Thank you so much to Kayla Tirrell and also P.S. I Love You PR for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Nesrina Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I’m starting to wonder if these are things that I need to escape or if they’re parts of me that I have to accept."


This is a REAL rivals-to-lovers! Their hatred and bantering were so good and satisfying!! 🩷

The reasons behind their rivalry are valid and so hard to ignore. Which I loved! Lots of enemies-to-lovers stories miss that!! 👏🏻👏🏻 I also loved that we could see them as a couple for a bit in the book, I absolutely loved them together!

We accompany Ella & Connor as they face their fears and accept their past. A beautiful and warm healing journey! 🥹🩷

Loved all characters! I just wish the book was longer so we could see more of all of them, including Ella & Connor! 😭🩷

If you're looking for a quick & clean rivals-to-lovers with lots of bantering, this is your next read! 🥰🩷

[Sedra K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley and Kayla I got to read this book early!!
My review:
#Voted most likely to, was a very nice novel, in it's own unique way. I enjoyed Ella's character and her relationship with her friends plus Connor. Even though the enemies to lovers was short lived-it ate and left NO CRUMPS!!! so fun yet light-hearted, I related to Ella so very much and I'm not a senior yet. The story was short, beautifully written and hilarious. I devoured it in just 4-5 days, and I hope to see them (Ella and Connor) someday In maybe another book?? 🩵🩵

[Abby Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC REVIEW*

I received this book as an early read before the book publishes on May 18th. This is my first book by Kayla Tirrell and it won’t be my last. Such a great feel good, rom-com read! Definitely took me back to senior year of high school! I definitely could feel the tension between Ella and Conner but also felt the chemistry right off the bat! Loved how Conner’s dad accepted Ella after everything that happened between her dad and Conner’s dad. Definitely would love to have a second book to this…Most Likely to Stay Together in College! Grand Slam Kayla Tirrell, wonderful book!

[Sarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like authors such as Lynn Painter or K.L Walther I cannot recommend this book more to you. Ella and Connor's academic rivalry provided just the right amount of high school tension. The Citrus Prep environment was bright and exciting. I could not put down this book! I will definitely look into more of Kayla's books, and cant wait to purchase a physical copy! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🍊 ❤️

[Lizzy_reads00 · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Voted Most Likely To” was an amazing book with all the banter and tension without any of the spice. It is perfect for romance lovers all around. Ella was so sweet and just wanted an escape, while Connor was relatable and wanted the same. I fell in love with these characters and found myself addicted by the second page.

[Kristen Grafton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much! It's exactly what I love in a YA contemporary, and the enemies to lovers dynamic between Connor and Ella will make you feel things! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it! Kayla Tirrell does it again.