Josephine hates Aiden. Almost as much as she hates her horribly plumed marching band hat (and that’s saying something). But just as she must wear the hat, she must also deal with Aiden Christopher Mitchell III, the insufferable Golden Boy and her biggest rival. He’s inescapable in a school as small as theirs and in a town so tiny it’s just a dot on the map.
Now that it’s their senior year, she’s determined to leave Pearson, Texas behind with her know-it-all legacy intact (and Aiden’s in shambles). But like a group project gone wrong, homecoming week turns everything upside down, leaving Josephine questioning all the things she thought she knew about herself, her home, and maybe (just maybe) the boy she’s loathed since the sixth grade.
A football game. A student council coup. A forced debate partnership. This just might be the longest week of Josephine’s life. What could possibly go wrong?
VOTED MOST LIKELY is a pleasantly surprising YA romance with a dash of magical realism. I usually see the twist coming, but I was absolutely delighted to find I had no idea what this book was really about. Add in my favorite enemies-to-lovers trope and a Type A female lead (who…ahem…I totally related to) and you have a fun and fantastical read.
I want to share all the familiar vibes I got from this book, but to do so would give away all the spoilers. Let’s just say it reminded me of a favorite Rachel McAdams movie as well as a certain Christmas movie I turn to time and time again. 😁 Oh, and if you like a certain Marvel storyline, you’ll love this book. I’m not going to elaborate on that. You’ll just have to read it for yourself.
Nicole Adair has a flair for keeping her readers guessing. I also adored that this book was something I could recommend to my teen daughter.
This book will always be one that makes me say, “I can’t believe I wrote that.” I’m just so proud of it. The fast banter, the relatable family dynamics, the will-they-ever-kiss moments—all of it.
This book is funny, like, laugh out loud funny. It’s sweet and romantic—I still swoon when I read it—but it’s also incredibly poignant, too; it so beautifully captures the tender ache of growing up.
It’s the ache that never truly goes away. I’m still growing up. And writing this book was a big part of that.
6/5 stars because Josephine always does her extra credit work. Obviously.
This was a surprise from start to finish, and I LOVED it. I first saw the cover design on Instagram and was instantly drawn in. Then, I followed the author, Nicole Adair, and was struck with her honesty and openness during IG stories. Then, she was gracious enough to offer me a review copy, and I was blown away.
To me, this book is a perfect example of a personality type that's usually a "side character archetype" (the annoying try hard, aka Paris Gellar) getting to be the main character. I loved following Josephine and seeing her get to be the main character and getting to watch her character development. I loved seeing complex family dynamics (for multiple families) and the power of sibling relationships. The enemies to lovers trope was well done, and I was truly rooting for this romance from beginning to end.
This book caught me off guard with all of the dazzling magic of the relationship and all its heart. The closest book I could compare it to is Tweet Cute, but it truly stands all on its own with its delightful surprises. I'm excited to be able to add this one to my classroom library!
I have been searching high and low for a true “academic rivals to lovers” romance. Almost an Anne vs. Gilbert kind of vibe. You would think that would be an easy trope to come across. Well, it’s NOT. It is the exact opposite.
I picked up this book hoping it would work for me- and for the first 40%, I was flying through it. I didn’t have to wait for glimpses of them weaved in throughout another story line. They were practically in every scene together and Josephine and Aiden were the ultimate academic rivals with the banter to go along with it.
EXAMPLE: "I thought you said I smelled nice? Like cake." What was wrong with me? We obviously had an unspoken agreement to never bring that up again, and now I'd broken it. Aiden blushed furiously, and it was fascinating to watch. The color started high on his cheekbones, then bloomed to cover the rest of his face in a bright revealing pink. "Obviously, I was delirious," he said after clearing his throat. "I think it might have been the sanest you've ever been," I retorted.
BUT I didn’t realize that this book has a magical realism element to it until a certain point in the plot. I was confused to say the least. I was going along thinking this was a contemporary YA romance—and then I got thrown for a bit of a loop.
Once my mind readjusted to the storyline, I was still enjoying the banter and the tension between Josephine and Aiden. The story was surprisingly deep and it was exactly what I think Young Adult novels should be.
And best of all, only kissing in this book. No spice. Nothing is creepier to me than when I pick up a supposed YA novel that has spicy scenes. No thank you.
I’m giving this 4 stars. If you are like me and are looking for an true academic rivals romance, I would suggest giving this one a chance.
I am obsessed with this book! If there's a fan club for this book, I need to be in it 😍
Josephine and Aiden are EVERYTHING 🥰 the banter, the sparks, the snark...I can't get enough! I'm still in awe of how well Nicole developed the flaws and strengths of her characters, tying them to their complex family backgrounds, and ultimately giving them the tools to overcome their fears and achieve their dreams. Believe me when I say I got really, really, REALLY emotional at the end.
I love the way Aiden and Josephine got to finally break free of their shells and find each other, even though I was not expecting it at all and was actually kind of mad at first! It was really the perfect way to let them fall in love, and I adored every moment. The whole book is just so incredibly well paced and felt just like a movie. In fact, I NEED it to be a movie ASAP!
If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. I enjoyed Nicole's debut, A Tangle of Dreams, but I have to say that Voted Most Likely totally knocked my socks off. It feels like Nicole has really hit her stride as an author, and I absolutely cannot wait to see what she writes next 💖
Voted Most Likely to get 5 stars by every single person who reads it!
This book was ADORABLE.
I went in expecting a cute, teenage romance, but got so much more.
Josephine is a Type A personality person. She needs everything to be perfect, including herself at all times. But being perfect 24/7 is EXHAUSTING, both emotionally and physically. This book showed that side of not wanting to give up control, but needing to in order to really LIVE, and Nicole did such a beautiful job bringing that to life.
I was LIVING for the banter and sass between Josephine and Aiden, and the karaoke scene will live rent free in my brain for the rest of my time on this earth.
This book brought back all those feelings of high school me, wanting to fit in but having a hard time doing it. Trying to be perfect for everyone around me, even when I felt so broken on the inside. Not being in control of every single little thing in my life until it physically came crashing down on me. 32 year old me is so happy that I got out of that cycle, because life is so much more fun now.
As a mother to a preteen, I am totally buying this book for my daughter to read, because it really does touch on some of the toughest subjects that young adults go through. I think it would be a great book for my own daughter to read and hopefully realize that what she is feeling and going through on a daily basis is totally okay and normal and that she’s not alone.
One of the things I really loved and took away from this story was that just because you are good at the game, doesn’t mean you should force yourself to play it if it makes you unhappy. Be YOU.
Thank you Nicole for letting me read a ARC copy of this beautiful book, I would give it 10 stars if I could. This story made my Young Adult/Sci-Fi loving heart so happy.
YA isn’t my usual genre, Iusually tend to stay away from it altogether not gonna lie. A friend posted about Nicoles book and I was instantly intrigued.
I ADORED this book. It was everything I never knew I needed. Going into it I knew it was going to be a cute YA story that was going to give me all the nostalgia for my teens but it truly exceeded any expectations I’d set for it!
I was not expecting that twist in the middle at all! I had to reread it a few times because it was not computing in my brain 😂 But it made the book even better! I loved seeing that other side of Josephine and Aiden.
Being a teen in your senior year of high school is hard! Expectations for the future are high and the pressure can be exhausting. Watching Josephine and Aiden unravel and set themselves free a bit was so fun! It made my mama heart so happy to watch them navigate through this part of their story.
Truly can not recommend this book enough. I briefly told my 11 year old daughter about it and she requested a copy for herself to read. Can not wait to share it with her!
Huge thanks to Nicole Adair for sending me an ARC of Voted Most Likely in exchange for an honest review! 🤍
You need to read this!! It is such a pleasure to dive into this small town in TX! Josephine’s voice is humorous and sassy in a way that makes every description a joy to read! Aiden is clever and complex and it’s so fun to watch Josephine unravel the mystery around him and learn to see him in a new light. VML is the perfect YA read that delivers on all your expectations and also sneaks in deeper themes that fill you with love and understanding. 15/10!!!
everything. this book was everything. i knew there was a plot twist going in but i still was not expecting it nor could i have guessed it! what a well kept secret, congrats!
This book took me back to high school and I fell in love with Jo and Mitchell!❤️❤️❤️❤️
Josephine is classic type A, teacher’s pet, teen just trying to survive. Mitchell is the thorn in her side, her ultimate competition making every day more complicated. This story flowed smoothly and made me feel like a teen walking the halls along with these characters, dealing with self esteem and identity issues. So much beauty and authenticity of what it means to come into your own adolescent, needing validation and compassion as you figure things out. Perfect book for youth , and brings adults back to their teen self.
Family drama and the dynamic between parents and teens was very evident. Showcasing that not all the time do parents see their teens as people with hormones and changes needing guidance. Words matter, tone matters. The familiarity of this story stole my heart.
I’ve been struggling to put this book into words for awhile because it was just SO beautiful. Voted Most Likely is the second book I’ve read from Nicole Adair and it did NOT disappoint. It’s filled with such poetic prose and stunning imagery. It’s so atmospheric that you feel like you’re right there with Josephine in her small Texas town. And not to mention the epic enemies to lovers and their angst? I couldn’t get enough of them!! 😍
But this story is definitely more than just a hilarious and fun filled romance. It was emotional and left me in tears. This book is about figuring out who you are and finding your happiness. It’s about perfectionism, the constant need for control, and the sometimes impossible task of letting go. Josephine and Aiden’s struggles were so relatable and I loved watching their journey unfold.
This book feels exactly like a Taylor Swift song. It’s truly EPIC.
This book will make you scream and shout and shine and miss the good old days, the yesterday's, the younger days, where you're fifteen. Its like a peek into wonderland to see the other side of the door. A fresh page, or a Taylor Swift song. You'll have to choose.
Genre(s): YA. contemporary fiction, romance Theme(s): magical realism, high school, enemies to lovers Recommended for ages: 14+
Summary: Josephine is the perfect student-top of all her classes and involved in all the extra curriculars. Until Aiden Christopher Mitchell III comes along. The competition has been fierce for a few years now and things are becoming ever more and more heated as homecoming approaches (in more ways than one). Then Josephine's world gets turned upside-down and she has to learn to unlearn everything she has always tried to be.
Review: I always forget how much I enjoy a nice, light contemporary fiction teenage love story. The magical realism in the story didn’t pop up until halfway through and totally caught me by surprise. That said-I like how the story ended up turning out, and the explanation for the science fiction-type elements made it feel much more realistic.
If you liked this, then you should try.... Perfect; All's Fair in Love, War, and High School Star Rating: ✮✮✮✩✩
Alexa, play Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince by Taylor Swift
From the moment Nicole Adair announced Voted Most Likely, I had a feeling it was going to be something special, and I am very pleased to say that I was absolutely correct! This book was AMAZING!!!
Josephine and Aiden were both such complex characters with personalities and flaws and struggles that leaped off the page. They complemented each other in the best way. I loved the way they each grew throughout the story, both individually and together. I adored their dynamic, and their chemistry was so so good. I have always loved the academic-rivals-to-lovers trope, and this was a TOP TIER example of it! I loved the way they went from adversaries to begrudging partners to friends to something more! Ah I just adored them.
I love Nicole’s writing. It has such a dreamy, atmospheric quality that lends itself so well to this angsty, emotional YA space. This story felt simultaneously like a warm hug and a kick to the chest as it so beautifully depicted what it’s like to be a senior in high school and have the whole world ahead of you. The magical realism elements were unexpected but fit the story perfectly. I laughed, I ached, I remembered why I love reading young adult stories.
If you’re a fan of stories about love and grief and pressure and moving on and letting go and not knowing what to do or where to go or where you fit all wrapped up in a package that feels like a Taylor Swift song, then PLEASE pick up Voted Most Likely! This book is definitely a new favorite of mine and I cannot recommend it enough!
There was surprising emotional depth for a YA romance, with themes including letting go and growing up. All in all, not great, but not terrible either. I never expect much from Kindle Unlimited romances, but I was affected by this one. It made me cry, and while I never laughed out loud, parts of it were quite funny!
We were told many a time by the side characters that Josephine is hilarious and has a great personality beyond her Type A walls but we don't get to see it so much. The little bits and pieces of her sarcasm and wit were so much fun! I wish we could have seen more of it. Still, one of my favorite parts of this book was the characters and watching them grow.
I didn't realize that there was a magical realism plot point going in, but I enjoyed it! It fit the tone of the writing well - light and with heart - and helped to build up the major conflicts. The romance was sweet. I shipped Aiden and Josephine from the very beginning! Academic rivals-to-lovers is my favorite trope, and it's unfortunately rarely well done in YA. The characters are always ridiculously immature, and the banter is never quick-witted like you would hope it to be. Voted Most Likely was an exception! The characters acted like I think real people their age would and never made me shake my head with embarrassment.
“How am I supposed to tell them that my story hadn’t started yet? That I was still in the prologue, waiting to turn the page, to skip to the good part?” * This book is a love letter to the over-achievers, the over-thinkers, the perfectionists, and those who place value in their achievements rather than themselves.
I went into this book with very few explanations. Just another YA contemporary with a “Disney channel original movie” kind of vibe… and I wasn’t wrong… “Voted Most Likely” would make a fantastic book-to-movie adaptation! 😂 but this story is surprisingly genre-bending. For spoiler reasons I don’t want to share much else. Just know that story is disguised as a contemporary novel!
Josephine and Aiden are lovable, yet flawed, characters. Their biggest downfall is the amount of pressure they place on themselves to succeed in every aspect of their lives… Which leads them to become academic rivals. They “hate” each other so much🙄😂.
I was just so pleasantly surprised by this story. Nicole is quickly becoming an auto-buy indie author for me… and now I’m just have to wait for the sequel to “A Tangle of Dreams” to come out!
I really, REALLY loved this book. I knew about it before it was released and had built up some pleasant expectations of what it would be -- and boy, those expectations were blown away. In part because *something* happens that I did NOT see coming at all.
It starts a little on the slow side (or so it seems, now I understand why Adair needed us to settle firmly into the story and characters) and Josephine is a bit "extra" for me. I mean, extra even for the type A character she's representing. Her overriding resentment toward Aiden for a seemingly minor infraction years ago is a bit much, and initially I found her attitude immature to the point of ridiculous. Aiden cracked me up from the beginning and I adore him.
BUT THEN. The *something* happened that turned the story on its head and I started cackling gleefully. It was as this point I was absolutely sold on everything that came before (well, other than Josephine's extra-ness). Some much happened that I loved - the growth of the characters, the brother relationship, the romance, and the ... other thing. This will definitely be a future reread!
Okay. Wow. Whew. I totally was not expecting that.
Not even going to lie, I got the free sample and immediately ordered a physical book. But then I could wait for the book to come in, so I bought the ebook too!
Nicole Adair does a lovely job of weaving this book together. My favorite part of the book was simply Josephine and Aiden's dynamic. Enemies to lovers is one of my absolute favorite tropes. I just absolutely loved them. They had me laughing, screaming, and tearing up for the entirety of the book. I don't typically like the weird time stuff, but I found it worked for this story. Personally, I would have preferred it to stay "normal" but I don't mind the story as is. The metaphor that was built in it helped make up for any qualms I had. The writing in this book is unique and will capture any romantic heart's attention. There were a couple places that I didn't like wording, but other than that the writing was phenomenal. The dialogue between the characters (not just Josephine and Aiden) kept me turning pages. Also, Aiden had some amazing lines that forced to stop reading, squeal, then continue. *sighs with longing I haven't had a book that I've wanted to read this fast in so long, so I'm very glad I discovered it. But seriously, this was a really good book, and the romance was totally worth buying two copies.
I anticipated to like this book just from the blurb, but it is so much more than I ever would have imagined! Nicole is a wizard at creating magical stories and lovable characters. This book had me completely captured from the beginning, and every chapter was a new level of depth. I loved seeing the complexity of the character dynamics between Josephine and her family. And even more, the complexity between Josephine and Aiden, because COME ON, how can you not root for those two? There’s a huge twist about midway through that I was not expecting the book to take, but I ADORED IT and appreciated being able to truly share Josephine’s shock for the situation. Overall, ‘Voted Most Likely’ is a fantastic, wholesome, emotion-stirring YA story, and I can’t wait to read what Nicole is writing next!
I really enjoyed this book overall but it broke a very sacred rule. You cannot CANNOT just throw in a genre change at 40% without any prior indication that said genre change can happen. I thought I was reading a perfectly normal contemporary then BAM - sci-fi plot-twist! I think there are ways that this still could have been a suprising plot-twist without it feeling like the writer got bored with a contemporary story and wanted to just completely change the remianing 60% of it. It took me a while to get back into the flow of the story after this very unexpected shift and the alternate timeline "rules" were handled a little sloppily for my test (the MC literally points out ways it doesn't make sense but they are never addressed...), but I am the biggest rivals to lovers fan and Josephine and Aiden fit that bill perfectly.
Nicole is a straight up wordsmith, bending, twisting, and molding words into pure magic. VOTED MOST LIKELY is no exception. As the cliche goes, I laughed, I cried. I cheered Josephine on and hated Aiden right along with her in the beginning chapters, all as I wondered how this would be resolved (I knew we were headed into enemies to lovers).
Each character has such a tangible presence, and Nicole's descriptions of high school took me straight back (even though I definitely was not on the debate team nor did I attend school in Texas).
I found wisdom carefully woven into the text. I literally stayed up until past 3 am just to finish it. What starts out as a story about lining up cold but shining gold stars ends with the deep warmth of human connection. You do NOT want to miss this one, especially if you identify with Hermione Granger and/or Paris Geller.
WOW. You know when you read a really good book, and you get so attached to the characters you half expect to see them in the supermarket or the local cafe?....... Well, I finished this book yesterday and I thought I saw Aiden this morning. The way Nicole arranges words makes you feel like you are there lying there on the outskirts of the airport (you've got to read to get that). It's a fun, intense, relatable story and it brought me right back to high school and hormones I didn't know how to deal with. If you want to read something that will have you believing in good grades, the right amount of gold dust and true love look no further. Also, can you write fast Nicole? - we need more of whatever you have to offer.
*I was fortunate to have received an ARC and all reviews are my full and honest opinions.*
W O W! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When I first heard about this book mid-June I immediately binged all of Nicole’s reels and sneak peeks! Small town, enemies to lovers, with a Taylor Swift soundtrack? PERFECTION!
I absolutely loved the banter between both main characters, as well as Josephine’s inner dialogue. Chapter 13 THREW me. Completely unexpected but nonetheless, I was caught. This was one of those reads that you can’t put down but also you want to pause because you’re just not ready for it to end.
Voted Most Likely was well-written, relatable and so so much fun to read!
Voted Most Likely is a charming read that drew me in and got me right out of my reading slump. Nicole Adair continuously surprised me with the depth she brought to tropes. Every theme, character, and plot device had a purpose, and that purpose was to shape a beautiful narrative about allowing yourself to grow beyond the identity others placed on you and the identity you created for yourself—even if you are proud of that identity. This is definitely a message I needed to hear when I wrapped up my high school years, and it is a helpful reminder even now.
If you’ve enjoyed books by Margaret Peterson Haddix or Wendy Mass, Voted Most Likely will be right up your alley.
This book. THIS BOOK. I don’t often get addicted to reading a book and when it happens it is the best feeling. This story was so compulsive in the best possible way. The antagonism between Josephine and Aidan often made me snort with laughter, and the angst was so relatable and compelling. Nicole writes teenagers with such conviction and authenticity that it always takes me back to my high school days without fail, and her writing weaves witty dialogue and memorable descriptions with her trademark style of magical realism.
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2022 I was pulled in from the very first page as Nicole beautifully set the stage for these relatable characters…I could relate even though my high school experiences were different. I was brought back to all the feelings and ambitions of a young and determined heart wanting to experience everything. This book had it all, young love, social pressures, real families, unavoidable change and even a surprise I didn’t see coming. I couldn’t help but think this is a MUST READ for all young adults! It’s an absolute pleasure.
I love how the characters were built so much you feel you know them. You feel that you can guess how they will act before hand, but I didn't expect how the whole story changed in the middle. It's nice to have surprises and need to reset your thinking. I liked that the families were layed out in a way you could understand why the characters were the way they were. I would like to be friends with Josephine, and would have not liked Aiden at first. But it turns out that Aiden is a good guy even though he's a golden boy.
I appreciate that this book is a true YA (and not labeled YA but having adult content). It has romance, academic rivals, and a touch of magical realism. Josephine and Aiden are high-school high achievers trying to find their way in life and through some challenging family dynamics. I liked the story and the theme of letting go of certain things, but I had issues with Josephine. Rather than come across as driven, she just seems bitter and spiteful. And yes, there’s character growth, but it takes way too long for her, in my opinion.
I was really into the beginning of this YA. But then the supernatural element, while cool and different, didn't seem to fully fit with the story. Instead of having a seamless flow, the supernatural element made it feel disjointed.
I did really like Aiden a lot. He was a great high school hero. I also liked the family relationships and friendships in this story.
Content: Completely clean. Triggers with death of a sibling and parental neglect. Language: Clean Religious: No religious aspects