I loved the premise, and in general really enjoyed the romance, but unfortunately one of the side characters really stole the show and not in a good way. The best friend in this story was so unlikeable and IMO didn’t do really anything to demonstrate why she had that title and it ultimately made me lose a little respect for the FMC.

I love Max Monroe and will be back to read more in the future but this story (and the hinted at tale for the bestie in question) don’t seem to be for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Max Monroe for the Arc!!

This was an entertaining read with amusing premises! The opening line was a crazy curve ball but it definitely did its job keeping me hooked(?)! The story had me swinging my feet until June reveals herself as MW. I love yearning and this story didn’t deliver on that. Maybe it wasn’t meant to deliver that, and that’s okay! Still, the rest of the story felt like a passing film roll, only offering snippets of random plot points to keep the story moving. There were some great moments in between, but the overall tension of the second half was inconsistent.

I also don’t think the epilogue was necessary. Like I understand that American books sell better with the marriage+kids combo, and especially since Juniper expressed her longing for that throughout the book, squeezing those two milestones into an epilogue felt inorganic and even disappointing.

Regardless, this is an uncommon instance where I actually liked both FMC and MMC and even though Avery annoyed me the entire time, she gets a pass too for keeping the levity afloat. I’m also obsessed with how the names Juniper and Beau were DESTINED for this book and I had lots of fun devouring their story!

3.5⭐
1.5 🌶️
Tropes: Bestie’s big brother, friends to lovers, childhood crush, workplace romance
Dual POV 1st person.
This story felt like an episode of Gossip Girl, where Juniper is Serena and Avery is Blair, so I guess that makes Beau into Dan. I…..did not really enjoy this book but I tore through it like a trainwreck that you can’t look away from. I wouldn’t say I hated it, but I didn’t really like it either. And to be clear, this is absolutely more of a “not for me” issue, versus bad writing or storyline, which is why I gave it 3.5 stars.
My two biggest issues I had is how young the MCs are- I wish that their ages had been in the blurb because I probably wouldn’t have requested this book. I’m not really a fan of young MCs, and June/Avery definitely acted their age.
My other issue is Avery’s character. She was an INSUFFERABLE, entitled spoiled brat and I hated how her father coddled her. I’m sure she’s nice and all, but I couldn’t stand how June had to keep “making up” for her failings. The consistent mantra of “she’s not that bad, just that….” was obnoxious. There was a teeny tiny itty bitty redemption for Avery at the end but even then it couldn’t undo my dislike of her. I will not be reading the second book.
Along with that the third act breakup….I mean, I get it. I really do. And normally I don’t hate that trope but it was not working for me here. I guess Avery’s feelings on it is not totally unreasonable when you’re 23…but that was a long time ago for me and I say she’s being unreasonable.

This book was eh, like the app concept was cool but the plot was repetitive and the characters were just so boring. Also the romance and characters were cringe and so immature
2.5

Everyone's had a crush where the person never really saw you, that is Juniper Perry.... Crushing on her bestie's brother but he doesn't see her crush especially since she's so engrained into their family. Juni's character has been neglected by those who should love her most. That neglect has resulted in her lack of confidence until the Midnight App and the ability to be anonymous and her need to protect Beau drives her to enter the chat. From the moment they chat, it's different for her and Beau is intrigued. They develop a secret relationship and Juni deals with trying to come to terms but because she's insecure she doesn't always make the right decision but it all ends well at Midnight on New Years Eve.

HUGE thanks to Max Monroe for the ARC through NetGalley! 💖 This book was EVERYTHING, and I had such a blast reading it. From the first page to the last, I was hooked! The chemistry between June and Beau? 🔥 Absolute fire. Their slow burn and secret chats had me feeling all the feels—I seriously couldn’t put it down! The humor was on point, witty, and I found myself laughing out loud at every turn. I finished this in one sitting because it was just TOO good to stop! 😍

✨ Tropes & Themes ✨
✧ Brother’s Best Friend 💖
✧ Office Romance 💼
✧ Hidden Identity 🖤
✧ Secret Relationship 🤭
✧ She Falls First, He Falls Harder 💘
✧ Slow Burn 🔥
✧ Found Family 💕
✧ Sweet Moments & Big Feels 💖

Okay, let’s get into June and Beau! 🤩 June is SO relatable! I loved how she tried to juggle her feelings while being all professional at work (we’ve all been there, right?). And then... Beau. Swoon 😍 He’s a total dreamboat, and his charm and sweetness had me wrapped around his finger. The mystery surrounding their Midnight chats? YES, please. The secret identity angle was so intriguing, and their connection was beyond heartwarming. 🌙✨

BUT, I have to be real with you... the third-act breakup with Avery was a bit much for me. There was some unnecessary drama that, while not dragging on too long, felt a little out of place. 😅 It didn’t ruin the vibe, though—it was just a tiny hiccup in an otherwise perfect read!

All in all, this book was such a fun ride full of humor, swoon-worthy romance, and all the big feels I love. Definitely recommend this to anyone who’s a fan of secret crushes, slow-burn romance, and finding love in unexpected places! 💙📖

And let me just say... I’m SO excited for Avery and Henry’s book next!! Can’t wait to see what Max Monroe has in store for those two! 😍📚

I have generally really enjoyed Max Monroe's books for years. The writing is generally great, the characters fun and multi-dimensional, and the story a bit predictable, but still a great ride.

This was a definite miss is basically every way. I honestly had a hard time even getting into it at all, from page one, and it never got any better. These are supposed to be adults, but they read like immature high schoolers. For some reason, they are all Rockefeller rich and constantly need to remind us of that fact. The best friend is horrendous, toxic, and unpleasant, but I think we are supposed to think she's a "fabulous" socialite? The parents being rich and neglectful is an overused trope generally used with teenagers, and it got old within the first couple of chapters being reminded of how June is a spoiled but lonely little rich girl...

Everything sort of fell together in a way that just wasn't all that satisfying. I'm not someone who binges on Hallmark movies, and this had almost that type of vibe with the dialogue and one-dimensional characters, and the "crush" and chemistry.

I'm very sorry to say this wasn't my cup of cocoa. I absolutely love the trope of people getting to know one another through texts or similar, so I was excited for this! Unfortunately, it didn't really play out.

Whenever Max Monroe writes a book I’m in ..
The perfect recipe for a fun read..
And this one don’t disappoint
Juniper’s long time crush, the best friend’s brother trope, the yearning the banter .. makes this story brilliant, funny and addictive..

Special thanks to Max Monroe and NetGalley for this arc .. I really enjoyed it

This is a cute best friend’s older brother romance. It’s a fun read, but the first part of the book focused too much on how wealthy the families were. I wish there was more of a resolution for Junipers absent family. Overall a fun read.

I love a good “best friend’s brother” book and this one absolutely did not disappoint. Especially when she has been in love with him for over 10 years! The story was great. I love friends to lovers. The pining, the yearning, the secrets. Absolute perfection.

If this sounds like your jam you definitely have to check this one out!

This was a quick and easy read. I enjoyed the best friends brother trope and also liked the messaging/‘you’ve got mail’ vibes. The main characters were decent enough but lacked chemistry after the reveal. But avery (the best friend) was the worst. Kept bringing up how she has a great heart but we never see any evidence of that. She’s also not a great friend so it made her whole being upset about her brother and best friend hard to care about.

Let's set the scene, you have access to an app that allows you to send messages anonymously. You use this app to chat with your coworkers about some shady behavior in the workplace. While chatting, you decide to tell him that you have a crush on him. The problem is that you work together, and he is your best friend's older brother.

This was a fun read. The spicey scenes were *chef's kiss* and had me laughing out loud.

I am sorry for the delay. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this. I really enjoyed it. It was a fun and easy read with just enough spice.

3.5stars rounded up to 4.

I really did enjoy the book. Juniper was hilarious and I loved the mystery messages. Also the spice in this was so good! If you want a quick and easy read with some good steamy scenes this is it! If you’ve read Mr. Wrong Number this book gave very similar vibes!

However….. I have quite a few misses with this one. For starters there were way too many pop culture references I.e. SoPo House (soho house) and Cardone (carbone). Also, the way Avery talked was very cringey gen z. We get it she’s 23 but come on, people don’t usually talk that like unironically all the time. And finally, I hated how the povs went in parts, I think it would flowed better to switch every chapter or two instead of in big chunks like that.

Overall would still recommend. I’ve read Max Monroe before so I kind of knew what to expect in terms of writing and if I’m being 100% honest I read their books for the spice and not necessarily the plot. So all in all I’m happy with the read!

I’ve been reading Meet me at midnight by @authormaxmonroe!

I loved the story from the beginning. Juniper is in love with her best friends brother.
The story was heartwarming, cozy and an good feelgood read!

Loved ❤️:
- best friends!
- secret identity
- humor in the book
- the feelgood vibe
- the happy ending

I laughed and cried, but most of all I felt very cozy. It was such a feelgood romcom! 🖤

I loved this book sooooo much, and it was adorable how the title of the book comes into play in the book. I got so stuck in this book and attached to these characters that I read it in a day at one sitting because I couldn't stop reading, so glad I read it on a day when I could do nothing but read. lol
Main characters: Juniper and Beau, they work together and also are off limits to each other because Beau is Juniper's best friend's brother. Juniper has such a major crush on him and has to keep away from him because of it. He has temporarily moved next door to the girls and he doesn’t know Juniper the girl he’s talking to in the app. It all started with info she needed to tell him about a work project but then turned into more.
The banter and slow burn between these two are fantastic. So many laugh-out-loud moments.
I enjoyed the way that their relationship grew and they got to really know each other threw the app.
Must read rom-com book!!!! You will not be disappointed. :)

Quick Summary: A forbidden romance

My Review: Meet Me at Midnight by Max Monroe is a 2024 release.

About the Book: "How good are you at keeping a secret?"

Juni Perry has had a longstanding crush on her best friend's brother since she was a little girl. She has done her best to move past it, but it never seems to stick. When she gets the opportunity to intern at the PR firm he works at, she finds herself in quite the predicament. What starts out as an innocent undercover means to help him ends up turning into something she could never have imagined.

My Final Say: This was an interesting read. It was a total NA romance.

Other: Although this was not listed as a series, it's obvious that something more is coming. Henry and Avery's story is a must read. It will be fun to see how these two come together. Surely, they must!

Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA to A
Status/Level: 👍

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Max Monroe), and to NetGalley for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest critique. I am incredibly appreciative for the opportunity to review this latest work. The words I have shared are my own.

Max Monroe is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This book has it all—laughter, drama, and, of course, a happily ever after. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. Juni has always had a crush on Beau, her best friend’s older brother, and thanks to a new app (hence Meet Me at Midnight), she’s no longer just the shy best friend of his little sister. I won’t spoil the story for you, but I highly recommend giving it a read—you won’t be disappointed!

Juniper Perry is all of us with her decade-long crush on the perfect guy—warm brown eyes, charismatic smile, and, oh yeah, her best friend’s older brother 😬. But things get extra spicy when she secretly starts chatting with him online as his anonymous Midnight confidante.
This rom-com is full of heart-fluttering chemistry, forbidden moments, and laugh-out-loud shenanigans. Watching Juniper navigate her forbidden crush, workplace boundaries (yep, he’s her boss, too), and a double life as his online mystery girl is addictive. 😍

💬 What I Loved:
• Juniper’s relatable awkwardness: Girl, we’ve all been there!
• Beau’s swoon factor: Older brother, boss, AND neighbor? Sign me up.
• The Midnight chats: Sweet, secret, and downright swoony!
• The humor: Max Monroe’s signature wit is on full display—prepare to giggle.
• Slow-burn perfection: The tension will have you flipping pages into the actual midnight hours.

💔 What I Wanted More Of:
A little more exploration of their off-limits dynamic and some extra spice wouldn’t have hurt—but this book still delivers on the feels and fun.

📖 Overall: If you love best friend’s brother romance, secret identities, and a dash of workplace tension, this book will steal your heart (and your sleep).

Juniper’s Midnight secret is too good to keep. What happens when her identities collide? You’ll have to read to find out! 🌟

#MeetMeAtMidnight #MaxMonroe #RomComReads #SwoonyRomance #SlowBurnRomance #ForbiddenLove #BestFriendsBrother #WorkplaceRomance #SecretIdentityRomance #LaughOutLoudRomance #MidnightChats #RomanceBooks #RomanceBookReview #BookLovers #RomanceReaders #Bookstagram #SwoonWorthyReads #PageTurner

Meet Me at Midnight
by Max Monroe

***Five HUGE Stars***

A Note From the Publisher
She’s had a crush on him forever, but now they’re only one wall—and one secret—apart.
📖 Standalone Romantic Comedy
💕Dual POV
🫶"I'm in love with my best friend's older brother"
😂HILARIOUS
🫢Secret, forbidden, off-limits romance
🫨Addicting banter
😍Forced proximity (He's her neighbor and boss)
😍She falls first, but he falls harder
🔥Spicy messages

I love these authors, so. dang. much! Best friend's older brother? OMG YESSSS! Billionaire Romance EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Juniper Perry has just started her first adult job after college. She's working for her BFFs dad at his advertising agency. Her BFF works there too...well she shows up sometimes. In addition? Her forever crush, and her BFFs brother, also works there. When the company has the opportunity to create a campaign for what is sure to be an awesome new social media app things get crazy. It turns into a competition between Beau, the crush and BFFs brother, and his ex-best friend to see who can create the best campaign. Of course ex-best friend starts scheming right away and when Juniper overhears him she invites Beau to a private Midnight chat to fill him in on what she has overheard while remaining anonymous. Things turn steamy though and now Beau wants to know who she is but how can she tell him? YEARS she has wanted him and YEARS he has not allowed him to see her that way.

I loved this book and I'm so excited to have had the opportunity to read and review it. HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Max Monroe for this!

#MeetMeAtMidnight #MaxMonroe
#SpicyBook #ARCReview #DualPOV
#Marketing #BestFriendsOlderBrother
#LittleSistersBFF #SecretRelationship
#PrivateChats #RomanticComedy
#ReadThisBook #ReadAllTheBooks
#BillionaireRomance #SpicyRomance