YA novel offers window into the future of teen girl power
Sarah Watson’s “Most Likely” follows group of friends all the way to the White House.
One president is pulled out of a uniquely qualified pool of contenders in Sarah Watson’s young adult political novel “Most Likely.”
In the sweet and empowering coming-of-age story (Little, Brown, 384 pp., ★★★☆ ), a diverse friend group of high school seniors in Cleveland are forging their own very different paths as they try to make the most of their final year together.
There’s Ava (the creative one), CJ (the athlete), Jordan (the journalist) and Martha (the one still searching). Readers learn from the get-go that one of the four girls will go on to become president of the United States, but which one of the four remains a mystery throughout. The single clue: The future POTUS’ married name is Diffenderfer, taken from her high school sweetheart.
Watson’s debut novel is the perfect followup from the creator of Freeform TV show “The
Bold Type,” which chronicles the friendship and work lives of three best friends working at a trendy magazine navigating the digital world. “Most Likely” is a smart, fun and uplifting combination of “Bold Type” and “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” Self-discovery and girl power go hand-in-hand.
The rest of the novel pings back and forth and back again: Just as one star emerges as a presidential front-runner, another makes an equally compelling case. Superambitious Jordan seems like the obvious choice, but Ava’s grades make her an ideal candidate for a toptier university. CJ’s new job opens her eyes to serving her community, while Martha’s potential interest in a military education could lead to politics down the line.
All the while, Logan Diffenderfer, who once dated Jordan but slowly develops relationships – be it platonic or romantic – with all four of the girls, remains in the picture.
Catching this not-yet-revealed president as she approaches 18 makes for a delightfully entertaining, well-rounded and compelling story.
The making of a future world leader is serious stuff, but the novel doesn’t sacrifice any of the teenage fun in the process. Characters navigate dating and make yearbook-worthy memories just as they’re trying to answer complex questions about where they’re meant to go in life, how they’re going to get there and how they can best help to improve their communities.
“She was brave enough to want more and she was brave enough to go after it,” Watson describes one of the four leading ladies as they each begin to reach a personal epiphany.
All four girls are anxious about building their futures just as they’re trying to hold on to the fleeting present. They and their peers are exploring heavy subjects for the first time and discovering new ideas about sexuality, ableism, racism, mental health, sexual misconduct, income inequality and more.
“Most Likely” succeeds most at outlining the importance of female friendship for personal growth. Each character has her own complex side plot, but banding together is what helps each of them discover and solidify her place in the world.
As the real world continues to weigh who is most likely to become the next president, “Most Likely” raises thoughtful ideas about how a good leader is made. Spoiler alert: The answer is “not on her own.”