Music journalist Robert Christgau gave a positive review on the album as well as the song, saying "The devilishly memorable "Won't Go Home Without You" combines confidence with affection rather than macho.

"[3] Channel 4 called the song "[the] musical equivalent of a dog's fart at the dinner table" and gave it just one star out of a possible ten.

[8] The song's music video starts with flashbacks where Adam Levine (Maroon 5's lead singer) and a female character (portrayed by Tania Raymonde[9]) appear to have an argument upon which Levine decides to leave.

The video then cuts to Levine sitting in a chair thinking it over with the rest of the band performing in the background.

After having meandered through the city for a few hours - including bumping into a Chinese lion puppet - Levine eventually gets to a restaurant where he finds the woman, but to his disappointment, she is with another man.