Leave Before I Love You pulled me in right away and kept me hooked with its mix of emotional intensity and raw vulnerability. The writing is engaging and made me feel deeply connected to the characters. The story reminded me of Still Beating in the way it explores love born from pain and complicated circumstances. The characters’ trauma and choices feel messy and real, yet you can’t help but root for their connection. This is a must read if you love character growth, emotional build -up, and moments of laughter and suspense. Thank you NetGalley and Max Monroe for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Henry and Avery‘s story picks up right after the epilogue of the first book „Meet Me at Midnight“, so Avery and her best friend Juniper are now 27, and Henry and his best friend Beau, Avery’s brother, are now 32. The friends had planned a short getaway to the Bahamas to start the New Year, but Beau and June drop out because Juniper is pregnant and Maverick and Ronny cancel last minute as they partied too hard the night before. So it’s just Avery and Henry to board the single prop plane in Miami that will drop them off with a tandem parachute over the luxury Bahamas private island, arranged by Henry, founder and CEO of Adrenaline Junkie, a company focused on the ultimate outdoor experiences.

But then everything goes awry and Henry and Avery find themselves trapped on a deserted island trying to survive. They always were attracted to each other but everything feels different now, raw, vulnerable and special.

If you’ve met Avery in the first book you will see a very different side of her. She’s not just a superficial party girl, but passionate and with the greatest heart imaginable. Henry sees behind her mask, he challenges her, validates her. Both fall fast and hard.

Will their bond hold and evolve when back in Miami, chased by paparazzi?

I LOVED Avery and Henry soo hard! Their love story is just so beautiful. And the epilogue? I’m in a puddle, soo freaking cute 🥰

Thank you for the eARC @maxmonroe @netgalley

This book might be a tad too addictive. I started after another book to get some vibes to sleep, but then stayed up til 4am like a crazed lunatic. Whelp.

I love Max Monroe's books and I didn't know how I'd like this one going in, a rich snobby FMC... and well just a hot, sexy MMC and they're stuck on an island together. Just let the vibes wash over you and it's crazy to think how full and fun and emotional and raw a book that has two people just surviving on an island together was. A journey of two people's growth about what really matters in life. Definitely worth a read!

Avery has to be the most annoying character I've ever met. Also in the fist few chapters the pilot dies and they just jump out of the plane without any mention to what happens to the plane. this is weird.

thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review as always, all words are my own.

We first meet Avery and Henry in Meet Me at Midnight and I already liked the characters. Avery is a super spoiled rich girl, but is somehow completely likeable. Henry is her brother’s best friend. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will simply say it was a sweet love story. Henry is so caring and Avery is way more than anyone gives her credit for. One of the things I appreciate most about this book is that the characters don’t fall into that every annoying trope of miscommunication. They’re honest and open with each other.
3.5 stars, rounded up to a 4.

Am I a little jealous of Avery, getting stranded on a deserted island with Henry? Yes!! This guy is the whole package. I loved how took charge in horrible circumstances. Personally I would struggle to show the patience he did with Avery. She’s a very materialistic girl who is stranded with nothing! Her high maintenance attitude grated on me some, but I will say she was unapologetically herself.

Throughout the book, their experiences felt so real. Add in the suspense of being stranded and the emotions around that, and you have an amazing story. The writing was incredible, the plot was really original, and the emotions were authentic. I really loved it and highly recommend!

I loved this book. Avery has led a sheltered life, with no major responsibilities beyond shopping and occasionally showing up for her job at her father's company. Henry, her brother's best friend, owns his own Adventure company. It was supposed to be an adventure trip with friends, but when four out of the group of six back out, what started as a vacation with friends turns into being trapped on an island with your crush, who also happens to be your brother's best friend. I loved the chemistry between Avery and Henry. I also liked the way the author dealt with not only the physical trauma, but also allowed us to see what mental trauma the characters experienced as well. I found the story to be very emotional and sweet, with the right amount of spice built in. While this book can be read as a standalone story, it is best read after Meet Me at Midnight, which is Juniper (Avery's best friend) and Beau's (Avery's brother's) story. I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you, Max Monroe and Netgally. #LeaveBeforeILoveYou #NetGalley

We first meet Avery and Henry in Meet Me At Midnight, Avery is Juni’s best friend and Beau’s sister. Their friend group was supposed to go on a getaway to an island by way of a skydive. Unfortunately, most had to cancel leaving Henry and Avery to go on their own. On their journey to the island, their pilot had a medical event and they were forced to jump early, causing them to find themselves on a deserted island with no outside contact.

Avery, known for being high maintenance and a bit of a party girl is out of her element. This experience is more Henry’s speed and he is able to think on his feet to help them survive with what resources they have. What he doesn’t count on is the palpable tension and the secrets that are revealed. Avery isn’t exactly who he thought she was, she’s so much more. Henry is turning out to be more than just her brother’s best friend.

Will this adventure just be a memory or could it turn into something so much more?

Thank you to Netgalley and HambrightPR for the eARC of the book. All opinions are my own.

There is something about the writing duo that is Max Monroe that can evoke all the emotions at the same time as make you laugh and Leave Before I Love You was no different. Who would’ve expected that Avery Banks, the ultra high maintenance best friend from Meet Me at Midnight would turn out to have hidden depths. True they were buried deep but they were definitely there. It just took being ‘planewrecked’ on a deserted island for a couple of weeks with her long-term crush Henry for them to reveal themselves. Thinking she was about to die a virgin she surrendered her long held prize to the man she’d had a long term secret itch for, something she’d barely admitted to herself let alone anyone else but when they’re rescued can they really go back to how things were or has their experience showed them what was really important.

This was a fantastic romcom with all the feels and a frenemies to lovers’ trope as the ultimate party girl finds herself trapped in a close proximity situation where she can’t hide from her growing feelings for her brother’s best friend. Despite everything they’d been through and the fact that there was nothing really standing in their way, Avery didn’t want to reveal the change in their relationship once they were back on terra firma so they embarked on a secret relationship – like she’d completely forgotten how that had worked out for her brother and best friend! I was surprised by how much I liked Avery and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for her. There was no lack of love in her family, but I got the impression she felt she’d never measure up to her golden boy brother so didn’t bother to try, instead deciding to be the ultimate fun girl who nobody took seriously. Henry was the one to see past the façade and see how much more there was to her. Don’t expect Avery to change completely though. She was still the label obsessed fashionista she’s always been, she just showed a little more of her heart to people. And just saying Henry gave the best baby reveal ever.

Sadly, this one just wasn’t for me.
It had two of my most disliked tropes so that definitely didn’t help my reading experience.

I found the story dragged on in places—it felt repetitive and, if I’m being honest, a bit boring in parts. And while Henry was the saving grace, most of the other characters got on my nerves… especially the FMC and her best friend.

I’ve read and loved other books by Max Monroe, so I know they can deliver big time. Unfortunately, this one just fell flat for me.

4.5/5⭐️
One unfortunate accident, followed by days spent together in solitude, leads to an irrevocable change in Avery and Henry’s relationship. While there was always interest, neither of them have ever been the type to be committed to a relationship.

As they work together to survive while stranded on an island, sparks definitely fly and soon a budding romance turns into an explosive one.

While Avery seems superficial on the surface, I loved the slow unraveling of who she is as a person. She is no doubt a princess, but one who is kind, who is smart and who is amazing at what she does.

Thank you Netgalley and Max Monroe for this ARC! Your books are always guaranteed to be entertaining and steamy. I love when there is a double trope: brother’s best friend, forced proximity, and near death experience? Is that one?

Avery being known as flaky, shopping instead of working. Brother’s best friend, Henry, adrenaline junky.

Growth in characters, unexpected suspense, and a build up like no other! Just kiss!

Entire plot was a new vibe in my opinion for M Monroe and I loved it!

Forced proximity because they’re stranded on an island? Yes, please! It was the perfect setup for a swoony, romantic story. There was a little bit of sweet, a dash of spice, and everything nice. It felt like a palate cleanser—light, fun, and super easy to get through. A perfect escape read when you just want to relax and smile.

The trauma bonding added unexpected emotional depth, making their connection feel more intense and believable. I also loved the dual POV. That made it easy to connect with both characters and understand how their feelings developed, especially with Henry. The story didn’t take itself too seriously, which made it even more enjoyable.

Thank you Max Monroe and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

—————————

¿Proximidad forzada porque están varados en una isla? ¡Sí, por favor! Fue el escenario perfecto para una historia romántica y emotiva. Tenía un toque dulce, un toque picante y todo lo bueno. Fue como un refrescante: ligero, divertido y muy fácil de leer. Una lectura perfecta para desconectar cuando solo quieres relajarte y sonreír.

El vínculo traumático añadió una profundidad emocional inesperada, haciendo que su conexión se sintiera más intensa y creíble. También me encantó el punto de vista dual. Eso facilitó conectar con ambos personajes y comprender cómo se desarrollaron sus sentimientos, especialmente con Henry. La historia no se tomó demasiado en serio, lo que la hizo aún más disfrutable.

Gracias a Max Monroe y NetGalley por el ARC a cambio de una reseña honesta.

Avery’s a typical rich girl. She’s content with her life, enjoying her time with her best friend (now sister-in-law) and her adorable new niece. But when her bestie gets pregnant with her second child, Avery and her brother cancel their planned group trip to a secluded resort. Unfortunately, Avery’s brother’s best friend, Henry, is still going. Henry is an owns an adventure business and it was his plan that they parachute onto the island! But things go awry, and Henry and Avery find themselves stranded on a deserted island together. They can’t stand each other, but they’ve got to put aside their differences and work together to survive until help arrives.

I was able to enjoy this story via audio and Will Damron and MK Blackwood did an amazing job bringing Avery and Henry to life. If you are an audio lover you should definitely grab this one on Audio. This book is hilarious! You’ll laugh out loud at so many moments from start to finish. We first meet Avery in Leave Before I Love You. She’s the life of the party, always shopping, going to the spa, and partying. But in this novel, Max Monroe has completely surprised us. They took would could have been a one-dimensional character and gave her so much depth that you can see why Henry would fall head over heels for her. Beneath that party girl exterior is a complex character with a lot of heart. And Henry, the ultimate bachelor and alpha male, is the perfect match for her. They’re the perfect yin and yang, and the fact that a life-threatening situation brings them together makes the book interesting, creative, and ultimately a swoon-worthy good time. It’s a great read! I was able to enjoy this story via audio and Will Damron and MK Blackwood did an amazing job bringing Avery and Henry to life. If you are an audio lover you should definitely grab this one on Audio.

I love Max Monroe books because all of them really keep me on my toes. I went into this story only knowing the title and the series, so color me utterly shocked when these two ended up stranded on an island together and I was here for it, 100% addicted, thinking of this book when I wasn’t able to read it! Henry and Avery have a connection that has been building we find out through flashbacks, but it’s not until they get stranded on an island together that they really give in, and let the connection grow deep and develop. I think mixing the backstory really helps prevent any claims of trauma bonding because these two really had an amazing connection in the past scenes that was only more developed in the present.

Avery is a 27yo woman who still keeps her sweet moments and favorite things hidden, protected from the world, the media, so I wasn’t surprised when she wanted to keep her relationship with Henry a secret when they got back from the island. It was also no surprise we see her showing and opening up more as she realized how much she wants to love Henry in the open, and her fear was rational. Henry is just down bad, head over heels, for Avery and along for the ride, and I loved how much he loved and adored her randomness. Overall, this romance story was a little suspenseful, so funny, and just overall so sweet, I loved it from start to finish!

Max Monroe nailed it again. Avery and Henry are put into an incredibly scary situation but Henry does everything he can to keep Avery (and himself) safe. They have hilarious banter, crazy hot chemistry, and the story is written absolutely beautifully.
It's a standalone romance with all your favorites...forced proximity, brothers best friend, adventure and spice.
Highly recommend this book and even though you don't NEED to read the first in the series, I would for 2 reasons. 1. It's another amazing book so why not read it?! 2. You get a glimpse of the same characters. Win, Win!

Thank you to Max Monroe and Netgalley for this ARC!

This is a brother's best friend love story of Avery and Henry. They have been a firm fixture in each other's lives but never explored a relationship till now.

The book starts with a scary event that strands Avery and Henry on an isolated island in the middle of the ocean. They have to learn to survive for over two weeks and this is when they give into their feelings for each other. They continue the relationship in secret for a while even after being rescued.

The romance is intense and the book is fast-paced and engrossing. Loved seeing the growth in both Avery and Henry who also managed to stay true to themselves.

Highly recommend 👍🏻

Avery Banks, younger sister of Beau Banks and BFF to Beau’s wife Juniper (Meet Me at Midnight), comes off as a vapid party girl, who seems to be living her life off her daddy’s money and Starbucks. Henry Callahan, one of Beau Banks’s best friends, is the CEO of Adrenaline Junkie and a total playboy with women. Henry and Avery have been flirting around one another for years. But with her being his best friend’s little sister, Henry has tried to do the honorable thing and stay away from Avery, but she doesn’t make it easy.

There was supposed to be a group trip for New Years, but one by one everyone backed out, until it was only Henry and Avery. And Avery would have backed out too, but Henry basically dared her not to. I mean who would say no to 3 days in paradise with a ridiculously hot guy, no matter if he was my brother’s best friend. Not long after taking off the unimaginable happens and they find themselves having to jump out of the plane (which was always going to be the case) much sooner than they thought.

Once Avery gets past her somewhat catatonic state, with Henry’s help, she puts up a good front with the mindset that her brother and Juni will realize they are missing and send out a search party. But before that happens, Avery and Henry let their walls down and are real with each other. Henry finally sees Avery as more than her party girl reputation and Avery sees Henry as more than a gigolo. The crush that they’ve been fighting for years comes to a head and they give in to their basic desires. They are all each other has and who knows when (or if) they’ll be found.

Once rescued and back at home, the pull between Avery and Henry is strong. Avery is the happiest she’s ever been lying in Henry’s arms at night. But Avery wants to keep them in their stranded bubble for a little while longer. Although Beau and Juni have nothing to be upset about considering they fell for each other and kept it from Avery for far too long. Avery knows that with his dad now gone, the Banks Family is all Henry has left, and she doesn’t want her family to turn their backs on him if things don’t work out. But their feelings for each other are real…

“He’s the kind you stay for. He’s the kind you stay for forever.”

“I want her to be mine, but I’m already hers.”

And before Avery and Henry both get enough courage to say those 3 little words to each other, another life altering event happens and Avery is not sure how Henry’s going to react. She pulls away from him until he comes pounding on her door. Henry’s too far gone in this relationship for it to be over. Avery doesn’t want Henry to feel trapped. But that’s not what happens… and that’s my cue to let you read this rollercoaster of a book for yourself.

Max Monroe has brought us another great story that made me stay up way past my bedtime because I didn’t want to put it down.

Rating: 4 ⭐️
Spice: 3 🌶️

Tropes:
- Brother’s Best Friend
- Extreme Forced Proximity
- Friends to Lovers
- Longtime Crushes
- Secret Relationship
- Party Girl X Adrenaline Junkie
- Virgin FMC

Leave Before I Love You was such a fun read. It’s classic Max Monroe with a slight twist (which I won’t get into to avoid spoilers). I mean, brother’s best friend/best friend’s sister who have both secretly been harboring long time crushes and who, after an unfortunate series of events, face 2 weeks of extreme forced proximity with no way out? Sign me the heck up!

I absolutely adored Henry, the MMC, from the get go. He is an adventurous but still grounded, protective, cinnamon roll alpha male, & I loved it! On the other hand, I wasn’t sold on the FMC, Avery, initially. She came off pretty vapid at first, & I just couldn’t identify with her. That being said, the spoiled part of her personality provided some of funniest moments in the book, which made it hard to really dislike her. And as we watch her through Henry’s eyes & see her completely out of her comfort zone (I mean she’s so far past it, she’s in another solar system), we see a deeper side of her that she doesn’t show others. Ultimately she did grow on me, & I couldn’t help but root for the two of them together.

Max & Monroe are superb at balancing laugh-out-loud humor with heartfelt romance, emotional moments, and character growth, and it is stories like Leave Before I Love You that keep me coming back for more. This book delivered top notch banter, an over the top adventure, swoony romance, tension, spice, and surprisingly deep and tender moments. I couldn’t put it down. Fans of romcoms or those who love a good forced proximity romance will want to read this book!

A big thanks to the authors and Net Galley for the ARC! I can’t wait for more from the Midnights world!

This was my first Max Monroe book. This was a fun romance novel. I was not expecting the action that took place at the beginning of the book, I thought it really added to my enjoyment of the book. At the beginning of the story, we meet Henry, who is an adventurous, handsome and kind male leading character and Avery, who is a high society girl who spends her time shopping and on hair, makeup, and other cosmetic and beauty services. I really liked Henry but I found Avery to be not a very likeable leading female character, however, I found myself routing for their love story midway through the book. During the novel, the plot reveals more about both of them and I found myself starting to enjoy her character. While this was a sequel to Meet Me at Midnight, I did not have any issues at all following the storyline and I didn’t find that I was missing any important information from the previous book. I found myself asking, will there be another book in this series? Warning, this book contains explicit language. If you are a fan of spicy romance novels, you will enjoy this book. Thank you NetGalley and Max Monroe for a copy of this novel to read.