This was my first Max Monroe book and it was so fun and absolutely not what I was expecting to happen almost immediately. The FMC was kind of giving Cher from Clueless with the spoiled rich girl vibe. A lot of times I find those FMCs to be annoying but I loved how she was written. Her growth throughout was admirable and the way she handled their situation(s) was extremely relatable and brave. Cut to MMC, aka brother's very hot bff.
Rugged, adventurer drags G Wagon driving girlie on an island getaway with friends? I really do not know what could go wrong...
I did not read the book before this but happily found it wasn't required. There are a few references back to it but nothing that didn't make sense though I might go back and read it now!

Special thank you to the authors & NetGalley for the advanced copy!

This book hooked me from the very first page and didn’t let go until the very end. The writing is what makes it unputdownable. It’s vivid and immersive in a way that makes you feel like you’re living alongside the characters instead of just reading about them.
The characters aren’t perfect, but that’s exactly what makes them so real and entertaining. Avery is the kind of person I expected to despise, yet by the end I had fallen in love with her right alongside Henry. The authors have such a gift for capturing small actions and gestures that bring every scene to life, painting a full picture in my mind without ever overexplaining.
The situations are unpredictable, keeping me constantly invested in what would happen next. Yes, the drama is over the top, but it never tips into unbelievable or cheesy territory—it feels authentic, heartfelt, and so much deeper than a “made-for-TV” storyline.
This book was everything I want in an emotional, dramatic, character-driven romance. Easily a 5-star read.

Thank you Max Monroe and Dreamscape media for the ARC and ALC!

This book starts off with a bang right from the beginning. The MMC and FMC are stranded in an island after their plane went down. They are both know for their partying and MMC is the brothers best friend. They have had some history, but they haven’t ever acted too much on their urges for one another.

The FMC Avery i would consider your typical rich party girl. She always gets what she wants and definitely uses daddy’s money. Honestly I couldn’t stand her character for a little bit of this book but she sort of redeemed herself.

The MMC Henry is the best friend to Avery’s brother Beau. They have known each other a while and on occasions they have had moments, but they are both off limits. Henry is smart and really cares about those around him.

I didn’t love this book, but it was entertaining. This is a second in the series following Meet Me at Midnight so you do see Beau and his wife from that book show up multiple times. This could be a stand alone but if you do read it first you miss a little of their back story.

😍 EXTREME FORCED PROXIMITY
💕BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND
🙊BICKER & BANTER: HOW THEY COPE WITH ALL THE SEXUAL TENSION
😅SECRETS
👯‍♀️MIAMI PARTY GIRL
🪂ALPHA ADRENALINE JUNKIE

A dash of enemies to lovers and a shake of adventure, this book was a good way to end out the long weekend.

This book started off with such a jolt and I was immediately intrigued from the second chapter. Avery and Henry are put in a very bad situation. They both have to find a way to survive and this situation helps them move past whatever bad feelings they have towards each other. The first 50% of the book was really interesting and different. I was here for it, even though I was so worried for them. Once they’re home though, it got a bit shaky for me.

Avery was a hard FMC to really want to root for. She comes off a bit bratty and while there are moments you see some character development, I think there could have been more. Henry was a sweetheart and while he wasn’t fully fleshed out, he was easier to root for. I did love how the situation brought them together in the beginning and the way they truly fell for each other…well fell again. I do wish the other “situation” in the end didn’t happen because it’s not my favorite trope but it was cute to see Henry be so happy for it, especially after the death of his father (off page). Things got a tad bit spicy and I give it 2 🌶️ out of 5.

This technically is a standalone but there is a previous story where these characters are introduced so I need to read that because I’m intrigued.

Overall a fun read. Not my most favorite but definitely not bad. Thank you NetGalley and Max Monroe for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This may be my favorite Max Monroe book yet. I'm not sure I love Avery, but Henry - well, he's swoony. Not only is he gorgeous and wealthy, he's smart and resourceful, steadfast, loving and all around wonderful.

This book has a very surprising opening. Most of the book centers around the opening scenes and the aftermath. It sucks the reader right into the story and locks you tight in its grasp.

I don't want to give away any of the surprises that await the reader so I don't provide much detail in this review. I have the e-book and the audio. I think the narrators were both perfect for this story.

This is a book for adult readers, but if you're ok with sexy scenes and some language, I think it's a winner.

I feel like I should preface this is only my third experience reading a Max Monroe book and I did not read the first book in this duology. (I do fully plan on going back and reading it but it may be a bit)

Like I mentioned I’ve read a few of Max Monore’s books. And I’ve really enjoyed them, I do have to admit though this one was not my favorite. This book was 50% cringe and 50% cheesy. Which is an odd analogy but that’s what we’re working with. My main issues with the book all stems with our FMC Avery. Dear lord she is a hot mess express. And to make matters worse a spoiled, selfish entitled hot mess express. Thankfully after their time on the island she got better but not truly enough for me to fully redeem her as a character. Now the reason I finished this book was because of our MMC Henry. I loved him. He was genuine, caring, selfless. I would be stranded on an island with him any day of the week.

Overall, this was by no means my favorite Max Monroe book, but I’d still recommend it. And I do fully plan on going back and reading the first book in the series. Lastly thank you to NetGalley & Max Monroe for providing me an ARC to read and review

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TROPES:
-FORCED PROXIMITY
-BROTHER'S BEST FRIEND
-SEXUAL TENSION
-BANTER
-SECRET RELATIONSHIP
-STRANDED ON AN ISLAND
-DUAL POV/ NARRATION


Leave Before I Love You is an interconnected standalone from authors Max Monroe . This is set in the midnight series world but can be read as a standalone. This is the story of Henry Callahan and Avery Banks and the romance that grows out of being stranded on an island. Overall the book was cute, and a lot of fun. I liked Henry and Avery's chemistry and banter. The side characters were a lot of fun as well and would be familiar if you read the interconnected story.

Book review: Max Monroe’s Leave Before I Love You.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and Hambright PR for my gifted ARC and ALC.

There are few things more delicious in romance than a chaotic heroine, a smug but golden-hearted hero, and a situation so wildly unhinged that only love—or extreme dehydration—can explain what happens next. Leave Before I Love You takes a party-girl-meets-wilderness survival concept and runs with it, giving us a five-star blend of rom-com banter, emotional depth, and just enough stranded-on-an-island absurdity to keep you hooked from page one.

Avery Banks is exactly the kind of heroine people underestimate. She’s rich, unbothered, addicted to Starbucks, allergic to accountability, and fully committed to her influencer aesthetic. But underneath the curated wardrobe and high-maintenance Miami exterior, Avery has a core of steel, a hidden heart of gold, and the kind of inner monologue that will have you snort-laughing in public. She doesn’t believe in love. Or work. Or planning beyond next week’s bikini lineup. So of course she ends up stranded on an island with the one man who makes her feel everything she’s been trying to avoid.

Enter Henry Callahan: the older brother’s best friend, an adrenaline junkie with an accidental hero complex and a smile that could trigger climate change. He’s the guy who builds cabins for fun, surfs at dawn, and somehow still looks hot while spearing fish. He’s also maddening, infuriatingly steady, and completely off-limits. Obviously. Until a last-minute change of plans leaves him and Avery as the only two people boarding a very small plane en route to a very remote island. And then—just to crank up the tension—the pilot dies mid-flight.

I promise this isn’t a thriller. It’s a Max Monroe rom-com, which means it’s equal parts hilarious, tender, spicy, and just a little bit unhinged. Watching Avery and Henry go full survival mode with nothing but flint, sarcasm, and unresolved sexual tension is pure entertainment. There’s fishing. There’s fire-building. There’s a coconut named Helen. There’s a single hammock, and two very stubborn people doing their best not to fall for each other even as their mutual respect, attraction, and emotional walls start to shift.

The dual POV adds texture without slowing things down. We get glimpses of who Henry and Avery are beneath the bickering—how much they’ve hidden behind labels like “trouble” and “player,” and how deep their quiet care for one another runs. Every beat of their story feels earned. Even when they’re making bad decisions (and they do, spectacularly), you understand exactly why. Their chemistry is electric. Their tension is thick. And when the emotional dam finally breaks, it is devastatingly satisfying.

Of course, they’re eventually rescued, but the real magic happens after the island. Back in the real world—with family, fame, and fear creeping in—it becomes a different kind of survival. One where being vulnerable is riskier than a plane crash. One where the easy way out would be to pretend it didn’t mean anything. One where Avery’s old rule—leave before you love him—suddenly feels like a trap she set for herself.

There’s a moment, quiet but shattering, when Henry looks at her and says:
“Some people are storms, and some people are lighthouses. You’re both.”
And just like that, you’re a goner. The line, the timing, the weight of it—it’s classic Max Monroe. Subtle but sharp. Funny and then poignant. Messy and then healing.

And while the story is already strong on its own, the audiobook narration turns it into a full-body experience. M.K. Blackwood is Avery to the core—sharp, witty, perfectly unfiltered. Her delivery gives Avery’s internal chaos just the right touch of heart beneath the glam. Will Damron brings Henry to life with a warm, grounded tone that balances charm and confidence without overplaying it. Together, they elevate the entire narrative. It doesn’t feel like you’re listening to a book—it feels like eavesdropping on two people trying to survive both nature and their own emotional baggage.

If you loved Meet Me at Midnight, this one’s a must. If you haven’t read that yet, no worries—Leave Before I Love You stands strong on its own. It’s got every trope you want (brother’s best friend, forced proximity, secret crush, survival romance), and yet it still manages to surprise you. It’s the kind of book that’s self-aware enough to be fun but grounded enough to hit where it counts. Yes, Avery is extra. But she’s also brave, fiercely loyal, and fully deserving of her HEA. And Henry? He’s the fantasy. The guy who doesn’t flinch when things get hard. The guy who sees you. Really sees you.

This isn’t a slow burn. It’s a slow reveal. Of character, of connection, of care. It’s hot and hilarious and vulnerable and unpretentious. And in audio, it’s everything you want in a rom-com—performed with chemistry, timing, and heart.

So yeah, five stars. Easily.
For the banter. For the heart. For the redemption arc no one saw coming.
And for every ridiculous, swoony, island-soaked second of it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#LeaveBeforeILoveYou #MaxMonroe #RomComReads #NetGalley #ForcedProximity #BrothersBestFriend #StrandedRomance #AudiobookReview #M.K.Blackwood #WillDamron #RomanceBookReview #MeetMeAtMidnightSeries #MaxMonroeBooks #RomComAddict #BookReview #Bookstagram #SpicyReads #FunnyRomance #EmotionalRomance #BookLovers2025

This story was so adorable and you just can’t not love it. This story features Avery and Henry who end up going on vacation together due to the rest of their group bailing for one reason or another. Henry is Avery’s brothers best friend. He also loves adventures that pump up your adrenaline. Avery has had a crush on Henry since forever. Due to circumstances they end up getting a lot closer on their vacation. I love the way this story features both their misshaped vacation and then them coming back from it and figuring out the life they knew before hand is gone and that they’re new people with new outlooks on life. Their story together is wonderful and they work through so much to get to their ending. I truly loved this one so much!

Avery is a wealthy party gal and Henry is her brother’s best friend. She has had a crush on him for years. If you read Meet Me at Midnight you met her brother, but if you didn’t, it’s ok. You can read this one as a complete stand alone. Avery and Henry go sky diving together and end up stranded on a deserted island. Can you imagine a rich high maintenance girl stranded? Well let me tell you the girls did an amazing job telling the story. As always with them there is humor, spice, and amazing plot. Absolutely loved the book!

I truly loved this book. This is Avery Banks, and Henry Callahan's story. We know them from the story Meet Me At Midnight. Avery, she was Junie/Juniper/June's roommate at the time. She was( and still is) a spoiled rich girl, who loved to party, and hardly worked. I always knew there was more to the story, and man was there more to the story. Henry is Avery's brother's best friend who's a total adrenaline junkie. He runs an adventure travel company, which sort of gets them into a tricky situation. She's had a crush on him for years, and they are put into one of the craziest stories of forced proximity. Through this they get to know each other on a deeper level, and things develop but they must stay secret. My only complaint is Avery is a little annoying, definitely entitled even if she is definetely more than most people think she is. READ It you will love it, and not regret it. The chemistry is fire, even if I find Avery a little annoying. BUT read Meet Me At Midnight first.

5 stars ⭐️ I devoured this!! I’ve never read a stranded on a deserted island romance and I loved it. It was a little bit chaotic with lots of banter! I love Henry and Avery together. 10/10 recommend!

What to expect:
✨ brother’s best friend
✨ forced proximity
✨ dual POV

Thank you to NetGalley and Max Monroe for the ARC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

There is something irresistible about a stranded-on-an-island romance, and Max Monroe delivers a story that is both adventurous and swoon-worthy. This one had me hooked from the first chapter and kept me entertained the entire way through.

Avery comes from a life of comfort and privilege, never really challenged to step outside her bubble. Henry, on the other hand, has built his life through hard work, running his own adventure company and living for the outdoors. The two could not be more different, yet when circumstances leave them alone together after a disastrous plane trip, they are forced to depend on one another to make it through. Their survival sparks an unexpected connection that grows stronger with every page.

The dynamic between Avery and Henry worked so well. Their chemistry feels effortless and undeniable, and Henry in particular shines as a character you can’t help but fall for. Avery’s growth surprised me, too. She begins as someone you want to shake a little, but she evolves into a partner who contributes just as much as Henry does. Watching her transformation gave the romance even more weight.

While the plot has a few familiar tropes, the writing is quick, fun, and engaging. The combination of heat, humor, and heart made this a very satisfying read. It was easy to imagine the setting, and the banter kept me smiling.

Overall, this was an exciting, romantic escape that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is a solid 4-star read for me, and I cannot wait to see what Max Monroe has in store next.

I love stranded on a desert island romances and I love Max Monroe so I knew I was going to love this, and I wasn’t disappointed!

Avery lives off her family’s money. She’s never wanted for anything, and is happily content continuing to live her life that way. Her brother Beau is the hardworking one of the family, and is now married with a child and another on the way. (Meet Me at Midnight is his story if you haven’t already read that!) Henry owns an adventure company, and works hard at it- he’s Avery’s opposite in every way, and also happens to be Beau’s best friend.

When their friend group plans a trip and everyone but Avery and Henry bails, they still decide to go, except their plane starts going down and they jump out, landing on a deserted island nowhere close to where they were supposed to be, with no way to get in touch with their loved ones. They only have each other to survive, and their relationship, based on survival, starts to quickly change.

Avery and Henry’s chemistry is HOT! Even though they’re exact opposites, they’re perfect for each other in every single way, which becomes more and more apparent the longer they’re marooned together. Henry is a wonderful MMC, he’s incredibly flushed out and is way up there when it comes to romance book boyfriends. I also loved that Avery, while sheltered and used to a certain way of live, only stays that way very briefly before coming to and pulling her own weight on the island. She reminded me a bit of Shannon from Lost. Not fully likable, but you want to root for her (and her relationship with Henry) all the same.

I will read anything Max Monroe writes, so looking forward to the next one!

I love a brother’s best friend romance—and when you throw in forced proximity on top of years of simmering tension? Absolute perfection! I was hooked by the second chapter! I had no idea where it was headed. It surprised me in the best way! This book had me laughing out loud, desperate to turn the page and I definitely shed a few tears!

We need to talk about Henry! He was an adrenaline junkie I didn’t know I needed. He was protective, charming, tender, thoughtful and the way he saw all of Avery had me swooning! He was such an easy character to love! Avery, on the other hand, was a little harder for me to connect with. She definitely had moments that annoyed me, but I really appreciated how her layers were revealed over time. I think there was a decent amount of character growth for her but I definitely wanted to shake her at one point the way she handled a big situation!

It does have a trope that many people don’t care for but I loved it! I will not name it because I don’t want to spoil a thing! I think even if it’s not something you usually love you’ll be rooting for it half way through the book! Overall this book was a good time. I think it’s a 3.75 but I’m rounding up to because I flew through this book and stayed up till 2 am.

Thank you NetGalley and Max Monroe for the opportunity to read this arch copy!

Another fun one from Max Monroe! This is an interconnected standalone in the Meet Me at Midnight world. These characters first appear in Meet Me at Midnight, Beau and Juniper’s story. I absolutely loved the banter between Henry and Avery. The forced proximity portion of the story was very unique and really developed a deeper connection between the characters.
This was a great balance of emotional and heartfelt mixed with plenty of humor. Definitely pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you NetGalley and Max Monroe for an eARC copy for review.

First of all, thank you for the opportunity to read this story early. I enjoyed the first book in this series and was excited for Avery’s story. Unfortunately it really missed the mark for me. I didn’t expect the beginning to bother me as much as it did. I was hoping for a light rom com read, and it was, but the beginning sort of triggered me. The death of the pilot was a bit much for me to handle. I pushed through the story but just felt disconnected. Avery was very much insufferable for me. Harry’s character fell very flat for me. So again it was a miss for me but I really appreciate the opportunity to read the story early.

I was super excited to read Leave Before I Love You by the incredible duo, Max Monroe. This is the follow up book to Meet Me at Midnight. I adored this book so much. It was serious, it was funny, it was nerve wracking. But overall, it was a solid story that was so unique and was such a fantastic read! I adore both Avery and Henry. They made a hopeless situation turn into something extremely beautiful. Max & Monroe are so incredibly talented and you will not be disappointed by this book. It will keep you wanting more!

Thank you to NetGalley for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book by this author that I have read, and I will definitely be reading more! The book was the perfect brother’s best friend romance with some humor and spice mixed in. Highly recommend!

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TROPES:
💛FORCED PROXIMITY
🏝️BROTHER'S BEST FRIEND
💛SEXUAL TENSION
🏝️BANTER
💛SECRET RELATIONSHIP
🏝️STRANDED ON AN ISLAND
💛DUAL POV/ NARRATION


Leave Before I Love You is an interconnected standalone from authors Max Monroe . This is set in the midnight series world but can be read as a standalone.

This is the story of Henry Callahan and Avery Banks, and all the chaos that happens in order for them to get their HEA.

Avery is the princess of the Banks. She can do whatever and has never had to actually work for anything. Everyone sees her as this superficial woman but underneath it all is her true self. Henry has always seen her but she's his best friends little sister so he's kept his distance.

Henry, well he's your typical swoon worthy book boyfriend. He's a smart and successful businessman with his adventurous side.

Forced to jump out of the plane with parachutes, when the trip they planned goes haywire and they wwash up on a deserted island s. To survive this ordeal Avery and Henry must work together. But circumstances happen and they end up sleeping together... consequences be damned.

Avery and Henry are rescued and are taken back to reality, but life is different. While they have to learn to navigate real life again, and navigate what they are to each other.

I absolutely adored Henry and Avery, and although Avery annoyed me at times I feel by the end she had redeemed herself. Leave Before I Love You is a fun rom com that at times will make you laugh.