Crash Landing is Annie Mcquaid's debut novel, and it's a great debut. There's adventure. There's a heartwarming romance. There's great banter between the characters. There's everything a reader could want in a contemporary romance. This is such a fun read.

Reading this book is really like getting two romance novels in one. You get to read the romance between Piper and Wyatt when their kids. Then you also have the romance between Piper and Wyatt as adults. Their romance as kids is sweet and innocent. It takes them years to admit that they are interested in each other. They're best friends that eventually fall in love. Their romance as adults is much quicker and hotter. The basis of their friendship and first love creates a deep connection. While the main romance seems a little fast, the back story makes the relationship seem believable.

The juxtaposition of Piper and Wyatt's families was done very well. Piper grew up with a very loving family that was deeply invested in her future. Wyatt grew up without a father and a mother that was an alcoholic. The only stable family he had was his cousin and his aunt. Despite Piper seeming like she has an ideal family, her parents are kind of the worst. They've controlled her entire life. They've never let her decide what she wanted. Wyatt had no involved parents so he got to do exactly what he wanted. The difference in the way that they were raised creates the main conflict in the book. Piper and Wyatt see the world in very different ways, and their perception of their high school relationship is different. Throughout the book they have to learn to actually listen to each other.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance. It's a fast read that you won't be able to put down. It’s the perfect book for a rainy weekend. It’ll take you right to a tropical beach filled with sunshine.

I was given this ARC from Avon and Harper Voyager. All opinions are my own.

So this one was a superbly written, emotional, surprisingly wonderful debut contemporary romance from a debut author!

A second chance, adventurous, survival romp on a deserted island after an unplanned plane crash with the man who tore your heart to pieces almost a decade ago? Yep, Piper is having a MOMENT. I really adored Wyatt but I felt like the entire leaving thing was a bit much.

But I enjoyed it and looking forward to more from Annie McQuaid!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for this one!

I can't express how excited I was to add this book to my TBR! I love a deserted island romance—it’s a trope I don’t think is used nearly enough. Crash Landing delivered a swoon-worthy, slow-burn second-chance romance that I devoured.

The emotional tidal wave I experienced alongside Piper and Wyatt was bittersweet in the best way. This story stood out uniquely from other stranded island books I’ve read, making it special in its own right. Even though it was low spice, the romance and tension between the two characters was still strong and made a compelling story. That said, you all know how much I love a smoldering, spicy read, so I wouldn’t have minded even more!

My other wish would have been for their time on the island to be longer, with more survival-based challenges to showcase how compatible as a team they could have been. The dual timeline, made it clear this couple had already faced plenty of obstacles in their past and their biggest hurdle was being a team. I think more time showcasing that they could, would have been more satisfying in the conclusion.

If you love a sweet second-chance romance with a good amount of tension, I think Crash Landing is a perfect read that delivers a story of survival and rekindling a love once thought lost.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have to be honest and say that this book felt so fast paced, yet slow with how little was going on. I chose this on netgalley cause I love second chance romance and this just didn’t do it for me. It felt so fast paced and poorly written, I was bored a majority of the way with the writing style. Also the characters in their older age felt so weird.

There was also some cheating (at least how I saw it which was pretty clear cheating) and a bunch of tw of airplane crash, ptsd, military, and parental neglect and alcohol abuse.

Piper has not seen Wyatt since he broke up with her at the end of the summer after their senior year. While on the way to her best friend Allie’s wedding, she bumps into Wyatt at the airport and finds out that he is also going to the wedding, since he is Allie’s cousin. When their plane is delayed and the flight is eventually canceled, Wyatt gives Piper an opportunity to get to the wedding on a private plane that he borrows from his friend. Severe weather causes them to crash and they end up on a deserted tropical Island. (Hello forced proximity!)

These two must work together to survive while waiting for rescue but can Piper survive with Wyatt, especially since she's not sure she's ever gotten over him?

Piper was devastated by their break up in high school and I wanted more animosity from her towards Wyatt. He literally broke her heart and while she still is trying to set boundaries he is breaking them all with his charm and easy going attitude. Almost as he doesn't realize the pain he caused her all those years ago.

Wyatt was very confident he was going to win her back over, which I liked but I wanted more fight and grit between them. I wanted more emotions. I wanted more redemption. I just wanted MORE! Overall, I felt like all the pieces were there and the story was a really good one. You felt their connection and the story flowed well.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and Annie McQuaid for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars. I loved the idea of a second chance romance and the plane crash on a remote island. But the surviving a plane crash was the only part that I enjoyed. Both MC’s felt way younger than 28 (?). I really didn’t care about the past timeline part of the romance. And maybe I’m just tired of overbearing mothers and men who go silent when they think they’re doing the right thing in books.

I did not finish this one. I found it to be too far fetched and I wasn't enjoying the story. I almost wish they would have just been at the wedding,

This was a second chance romance with forced proximity. Ex high school sweethearts get stranded on a desert island after a plane crash. Sounds crazy, but the story was well done and the characters fleshed out. I do think that some of plot moved a little fast with Piper so quickly forgiving Wyatt, but overall I enjoyed the story and was engaged the whole time. I would recommend if you enjoy contemporary romance. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for allowing me an advanced copy of this book in exchange my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It is due to be published April 1, 2025.

4 stars! I enjoyed this so much and had such a great time with it!

Crash Landing is a debut novel about two exes who are forced to reunite when the plane they are on crashes. The two main characters, Piper and Wyatt, haven't spoken in eight years. Not since Wyatt broke up with Piper after high school and disappeared. But one of their mutual friends is getting married in the Bahamas and they are both going and when their flight is delayed, Wyatt says he can fly them down to the wedding. Disaster strikes and they are stuck on an island together, trying to survive long enough to be rescued. It is also told in dual timeline, back when they were in high school and present day.

This was such a wild ride! I loved a second chance romance and this was such an interesting way to bring these two characters together after not seeing each other for so long. I did find myself frustrated with the lack of communication and with the personalities of the side characters. Piper's mother was pretty crappy to both of them and I didn't feel like the friendship between the core group of friends was well fleshed out. But I really enjoyed the plot and the writing! It really kept my attention and I read the whole thing in one sitting. Plus the way the author wrote the plane crash scenes and some of the more tense island scenes were really good!

I definitely recommend everyone to check it out when it comes out! The author is also local which makes me even more excited to support!

What a debut!!! Piper and Wyatt felt so real despite the premise being slightly unrealistic. This felt like a hallmark movie in all the good ways! I loved the Lonely Onlys and their support of one another. I personally would have loved if the spicy moments were a bit more open door but everyone has their preference and I still enjoyed the intimate moments. I was pleasantly surprised by Tag at the end and really appreciated that he wasn’t a stereotypical know it all, trust fund douche but rather just simply not a match for Piper. I also really liked that there was an engagement in the epilogue but it wasn’t Piper and Wyatt’s (you can still have a HEA without an engagement/wedding)

3.5 stars rounding up for this sweet romance that’s a fun blend of second chance and survival a la (the best tv show ever) Lost!

Exes Piper and Wyatt both need to get to the Bahamas for their friend’s wedding- when flights are cancelled and Wyatt gets access to a small private plane, the two unlikely allies jet off. An unfortunately timed storm disrupts, and they end up crashing and barely surviving on a small island. Across the week spent trying to stay alive, they get a chance to rehash the last 8 years- what went wrong and how they have grown!

This was a (slightly) stressful book for an anxious flier to read, but all of the other elements of the book were so enjoyable and relaxing to read. Piper is a super relatable character, for me specifically- not good with blood, wanting to sit and read my lil romance novels, memory like a steel trap, and still learning how to stand up for herself. The dual timeline of her and Wyatt’s relationship helped show how they both have grown into more mature, emotionally available adults, and how sometimes you just find your perfect match and you have to find the right time!! Wyatt’s portrayal of life post-service in the military, while we could have seen more, was a great insight for folks who may now know much about the veteran experience! Overall, this was a great quick and cozy read!

Thanks so much to Annie McQuaid, Avon, and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

This was an adventure! Piper and Wyatt have a past. From friends to lovers to estranged and everything in between. When Piper and Wyatt's flight to her best friend's (his cousin's) wedding is cancelled, Wyatt steps in and calls in a favor from an army buddy. He borrows a plane and a storm comes out of no where and leaves them stranded on a deserted island. Left with nothing but what they came with, and even barely that, Piper and Wyatt have to come to terms with who they were and what they are now.
Piper hasn't forgiven Wyatt for what he did to her all those years ago and Wyatt will never forgive himself for what he did to her. Wyatt never stopped loving her and now he has her all alone and wants to prove that he isn't going to leave again.
This was a slow burn, way slower than I expected considering they were on an island together.. alone... but I liked that they didn't just jump back into things. They had to communicate, they had to grow up and do the work instead of just running away.
The ending was tense for me and it made me feel bad for them because I was rooting for them the whole time. There were a lot of things I had to suspend my reality for, but it was a cute second chance. There was only one thing that really irked me, but I got over it because I just wanted them to be ok. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Avon, Netgalley and Annie McQuaid for an early copy.

This book is one that is going to stay with me. It grabbed me right from the beginning and held on until the very end. I couldn’t put it down! Wyatt and Piper were best friends and then gradually fell in love in high school before he broke up with her leaving her devastated. What she doesn’t know is that he was left devastated as well. After seeing each other 8 years later and then surviving their plane crash together we see them both struggling with their feelings. It was an emotional journey for sure. I loved every minute of it and will definitely be following for more from Annie McQuaid.

Piper never anticipated seeing the former love of her life, Wyatt, after he broke her heart at the end of their Senior year, immediately before he left for basic training. She especially did not expect to see him again while stranded at the airport, unable to find a flight that will allow her to get to her best friend's destination wedding on time. That's when Piper is forced to make a choice she could only make in order to fulfill her maid of honor duties: board a borrowed plane flown by Wyatt himself so that she can make it on time to be by her best friend's side on the most important day of her life. Piper figures that she can avoid Wyatt as a passenger while he flies the plane from the cockpit - what she doesn't anticipate, however, is the plane crash-landing onto an unknown island in the middle of nowhere, stranding Piper and Wyatt together with quickly depleting resources and an onslaught of unresolved issues.

"Crash Landing" is a second-chance romance that features flash-back chapters that allow you a glimpse at Piper and Wyatt as teenagers and their original friends-to-lovers romance, which initially ends in heartbreak. I really enjoyed the way the book transitioned between "then" and "now" and felt that this provided a lot of insight into both Piper and Wyatt's personalities and character development. Even though this is a standalone novel, there is a ton of character development demonstrated between both Piper and Wyatt, and they are both very well thought-out and complex characters.

Initially, I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did! I didn't know how much I was going to enjoy the plane crash/island survival concept, especially in a romance novel - but, Annie McQuaid made it work! It may sound "cheesy" or atypical for a romance, but I would highly recommend picking this book up and giving it a try. I finished the book in just around 24 hours and had trouble putting it down!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Annie McQuaid for providing a digital arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! "Crash Landing" is available for purchase beginning April 1, 2025!

oh my gosh i loved this one! It is hard for me to believe that this was a debut romance. Annie's writing was stellar and the premise of the book drew me in from the beginning. This did the forced proximity trope so well (considering they are on a remote island). I also loved that we got to flip back between present day and the past. I will absolutely be adding Annie McQuaid to my list of autobuy authors.

THEIR LOVE STORY HAD ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN IN THE STARS!!!!!!!! Crash Landing written by Annie McQuaid is UTTER PERFECTION for a DEBUT NOVEL!!!!!!! I can't even imagine what it's like to survive a plane crash, let alone be stranded on an island with an ex-boyfriend, but Annie McQuaid made it so real, it's not always going to be rainbows and sparkles, there's absolutely going to be complications. Crash Landing was so real, relatable, heart breaking, beautiful, pure, raw, and absolute perfection. I didn't expect this book to be five stars for me, but I loved every single minute of this gut wrenching story. I was giggling and kicking my feet in the air and then I had tears streaming down my face all on the same page. When I first saw that gorgeous cover, I knew I had to get my hands on this book immediately, then I saw it was about second chances, being stranded on an island with an ex, being vulnerable, and rekindling a broken heart. I had so many different emotions running through my head while reading this book, but by the end, my cheeks hurt so much from smiling nonstop while my heart was in the bottom of my chest. I can't recommend this beautiful yet heart breaking book, so please do y'all selves a favor and mark your calendars for April 1st, 2025, so you don't miss out on this phenomenal debut novel. Life isn't always going to be rainbows, sparkles, and roses, it's about hitting rock bottom, standing on your own two feet, and being the best version of yourself. Crash Landing taught me so many important life lessons, but most importantly, vulnerability is okay.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND AVON AND HARPER VOYAGER FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

"Follow your heart. That's all that matters".

"How did you properly thank someone for saving your life, especially when that someone was the guy who had also broken your heart?"

"Life is short, and you only get one, so you might as well live it on your terms".

"I never denied being obsessed with you".

"A fresh start sounds perfect".

"YOU ARE THE BEST GUY I KNOW, AND I AM SO LUCKY TO BE LOVED BY YOU"

Piper Adams is a second year medical student at Emory School of Medicine. Piper is such a relatable character, I related and resonated with her more than my review will prove. Piper is a perennial people pleaser, she lives her life out of fear of disappointing others instead of making herself happy. It's so hard to be happy when you are working tirelessly around the clock trying not to disappoint those around you. Piper hides her imperfections beneath expensive makeup, she absolutely hates being vulnerable, and she also survives off iced vanilla lattes. Piper is flying to the Bahama's because she's the maid of honor in her best friend Allie's wedding, Allie happens to be Wyatt's cousin. Wyatt Brooks is six foot three, with a dimpled smile, and soul drowning eyes. Wyatt is also attending Allie's wedding when their flight gets delayed. Wyatt spent five years in the Army, he was deployed overseas twice, and now he suffers from post traumatic stress disorder from his time in the military. Wyatt is the "Mr. Love 'Em and Leave 'Em" type of person. He has a bad habit of pushing away the people he loves most. Wyatt Brooks is a self loather, he's strong, exceptional, brave and kind. I absolutely love and adore Piper and Wyatt, they were the two most selfless loving characters I have ever met. As I was reading this book, it felt like Piper and I were experiencing life together. Piper and Wyatt will remain in my heart for a long time to come.

When Piper and Wyatt arrive at the airport, they learn that their flight has been delayed, so Wyatt offers to fly them to Allie's wedding. During their flight, something goes wrong with the small jet and it causes them to crash laving them stranded on the Caribbean Island. Piper and Wyatt are stranded together on this remote island for one whole week, with little to no food that they must scavenge for. During their time on the island, they share silly fun, uninhibited laughter, and an undercurrent of deep friendship. Both Wyatt and Piper suffered minor injuries, but they take care of each other, Wyatt bandaged Piper's wounds, built them a shelter and a fire out of whatever materials they could find. Wyatt and Piper made each other laugh enough to forget their life or death situation. Piper and Wyatt have a crazy emotional past, Wyatt broke Piper's heart eight years ago. Piper and Wyatt were just little kids when they formed a friendship over their love of books. Their past was more than a high school crush, they were best friends, soul mates, and one true loves. They had a five year friendship and one magical summer of falling in love when Wyatt decided to throw their love away like a piece of trash despite them being high school sweethearts. I love that Wyatt and Piper were able to communicate with each other about what went wrong all those years ago. Even those these two love birds broke my heart at times, they gave me the closure that I needed, but also what they needed to find their true selves again.

This book was not my cup of tea.
-the main character name drops labels/brands a lot. I didn’t get that- you can convey being bougie without that 🤷🏻‍♀️ it felt odd
-the military info. is not accurate AT ALL.
-the MC’s prior relationship was only a few weeks back when they were teens, so it’s hard for me to feel like they truly had a deep connection and this is a true second chance romance unless they maybe also had connected as young adults as well….
-it’s written in a tone that felt YA

I struggled off and on to push through this book. I loved the premise but so much kept taking me out. 2 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

this adventure romcom is super cute if you like friends to lovers, banter, and forced proximity. I loved the timeline work up and the two characters finding their way back to each other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyage Publishing for the arc of “Crash Landing”. This is a super cute book! Imagine getting in a plane crash and lost on an island with your high school sweetheart who broke your heart that you never stopped loving. There were parts of this book that were a little cringey for me and I personally really hate when a simple miscommunication ends up being THAT big of a deal in adult relationships so that’s why it only got 3 stars from me.

Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: April 1, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read and review Annie McQuaid’s Crash Landing aka one of my favorite books from March!

Piper is excited for her best friend’s destination wedding, but her flight has been canceled. No worries, her ex-boyfriend (who happened to be on the same flight) is a pilot and has offered to fly them to the wedding. Unfortunately, there should be a lot of worries because out of nowhere there is a storm, the plane crashes, and now they’re stranded on an island.

The characters. The back story. The setting. It was all SO good! There might have even been a few tears shed. Second chance romances have my heart and this one is done so well.

Sometimes when there is a dual timeline I usually get interested in one timeline and not the other. That was not the case here. I loved watching Piper and Wyatt grow up and pine after each other. Then, fall in love only to have their hearts broken. The storyline was well balanced overall.

Honestly, no notes. I am fully obsessed with this book…I even sent Avon a DM to say so! I cannot wait to see what Annie comes up with next.