3.5 rounded up. A fun, cute second chance love story with a twist! This was a nice, easy read. Love a second chance love story, add in a survivor element and it was just a good time. Nothing revolutionary but a perfect palate cleanser. I don’t know how realistic any of it was but that’s totally okay with me. It was fun & I enjoyed it for what it was.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

I read this second-chance romance, and it was pretty decent, like a solid 3.5 for me. It was definitely cute, but it didn't totally blow my socks off. I gotta say, they handled the second-chance trope pretty well; it wasn't cringey at all, which is always a plus.

Usually, I'm not a big fan of the dual timeline thing, it feels like a total detour, but this one? They actually nailed it. The pacing was on point, bouncing between past and present at just the right moments, keeping things interesting. When the present got intense, boom, flashback to a tense past moment, and vice versa. It was actually pretty slick.

Now, here's where it got a bit wonky. The connection between Wyatt and Piper? It was like they were stuck in this loop of 'we wanna try again,' then boom, zero trust, total miscommunication.

They kept saying they loved each other, but their actions? Not so much. It made me roll my eyes a little.

But, I gotta say, the back-and-forth between their past and present was a lifesaver. It kept the slower moments from dragging too much, and it was cool seeing how their initial romance sparked and how it still lingered. It did feel a tad slow at times, especially since they were stranded, but I'd rather have that than some random, pointless scenes. The author did a good job of avoiding that.

My biggest gripe is that they needed to hash out their history way sooner. Piper was falling for Wyatt again without even knowing the full story of why he ghosted her for eight years! And, honestly, they didn't really feel like they were in their mid-twenties. Piper's mom was way too controlling, it felt more like a teen drama. I'd have gotten answers before catching feelings again, but hey, that's just me.

Overall, it was a cute read with a solid plot. Not gonna lie, it was a fine way to spend some time!

Big shoutout to @Netgalley and @avonbooks for the ARC. 💗

First off, thank you to Net Galley, Annie McQuaid, and Avon and Harper Voyager for an early copy of this book.
I loved the premise of Crash Landing. Old flames get stuck together on an island after a plane crash? Sign me up!
The story was told in both past and present chapters which I enjoyed. It was great to get their history as we navigated their current situation.
I wish we would have seen growth from both characters. Piper took surviving as a second chance to find her happiness in life. And while Wyatt finally admitted what happened back in high school and confessed his feelings, I wasn’t a fan of how he continued to shut down every time there was a problem, always making Piper feel like she did something wrong.
I enjoyed the writing but the story didn’t hit the mark for me; However I would try another book from this author in the future.

Fun Rom-Com read! Perfect for Spring Break, Beach Time, Anytime!

Reunited by a destination wedding for a bestie, former high school sweethearts, Piper and Wyatt, are stranded together by a crash landing. Will survival instincts rekindle the romance and cure the heartbreak resentment? Time and rescue will tell!

The well-written characters are entertaining and relatable. Insecure, Angst filled, Driven, Oblivious, Obedient, all of the qualities needed to qualify for a great read. Annie McQuaid’s debut novel has me eagerly waiting for her next.

I loved Crash Landing and highly recommend for your ROM-COM enjoyment!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid is a second chance romcom and the story of Piper and Wyatt.
 
Piper and Wyatt were neighbors when they grew up and they more than liked each other. But it ended badly and Wyatt broke Piper’s heart. I really liked how they got a second chance, and you get past and present chapters to make you feel everything. While Piper follows in her dad’s footsteps and she goes to medical school, Wyatt joins the military. I really liked seeing what happened after that and often books gloss over what happened after you’re discharged, and Wyatt did so well, and I loved the app he created and his dog. I only wish we would have gotten his pov as well.
 
They meet again on the way to a friend’s wedding when they’re both stuck at the airport and must find a way to get to the Bahamas quickly. This creates the perfect forced proximity situation, and it gets even better when they crash land and must survive together. This was so different and such an extreme situation and I really liked seeing how the characters mastered that. They work so well as a team and Piper and Wyatt just feel natural together. I really like romcoms that are a bit more adventurous and that’s totally what this story was.
 
Crash Landing is such a heartfelt and great second chance romance and I really enjoyed it. Also, this story has total summer vibes, and it would be a perfect vacation read. 4 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

I’m a bit conflicted on this one.

There’s the past history between Piper and Wyatt, plus the forced proximity on a deserted island via a plane crash, that created the perfect recipe for what could be a really great love story.

But, the back and forth between the past and the present provided insight into the characters that made them unlikable and difficult to connect with. It could have been helpful if it provided evidence of growth of both of them, but I just saw the only change was that these were two people who finally thought they were “adult” enough to make some of their own decisions. Piper still let her mom get away with being a toxic narcissist, even if she decided to no longer blindly follow her mom’s decisions on path in life. And Wyatt barely addressed being hurtful and lashing out at Piper (still) as an adult. If they made some sort of character growth rather than some surface level life choices to spend together, maybe I could believe this “happy ever after”?

As an aside, and very nit-picky but, as someone who grew up in Raleigh and lives in a suburb of Raleigh now, it rarely ever snows here. So, “first snow in the South” of the season? Not a thing…

Exes get into a plane crash on the way to a wedding and have to survive on a deserted island.

I had a really hard time suspending belief for this story. I enjoyed the dual timeline for the most part but felt that they were disjointed at times. I didn’t find the second chance romance to be super believable or fleshed out which contributed to just liking the story instead of loving it. ALSO - these people are on an island, trying to survive…have sand who knows where and haven’t showered and they’re going to have sex with a condom?! Yeah I don’t think so lol

Read if you like:
- Second chance romance
- Dual timeline

Thank you so much to Avon and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own.

Crash Landing is a second chance, force proximity romance. When her flight gets cancelled, Piper doesn’t find any other way to attend her best friend’s destination wedding but to accept her high school ex-boyfriend, Wyatt’s offer to fly there in a small plane. Of course, as the title and cover both reveal, there is a crash, and we get to know the characters’ past and present through an alternating narration style. I was more interested in the present and survival aspects of the story, the past narrative effectively provided background on the characters, their relationship, and what went wrong. This is a wonderful debut novel with heart and humor. The characters are lovable and complex, and I feel many readers can relate to them, and their occasional poor decision making.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the an e-arc of this book.

The title and the book description is very convincing and very perfect when considering if/when to read this book.

Second chance is one trope that I will read over and over again without ever getting bored. This book is the perfect example of a soft second chance romance. It felt like spending a chill day at the beach. Simple. Relaxing. Enjoying. Like a soft breeze on a sunny day. Refreshing.

This book covers two timelines, the past and then the present. Handling two parallel plot lines within the same story is not very easy, but Annie McQuaid did it so well that I was just waiting for the switch in the stories of the past and the present.

Piper and Wyatt: These two had such a sweet relationship. Basically, they were friends first and that was the sweetest thing to read about. Every single moment between them in the past was something special and I lived for every single second of it. The heartbreak and the romance were both done well.

If you're expecting a book with a smooth, simple, cute plot that makes you feel good, then this is the perfect book for you. The only thing I might add was that I would have liked a little bit more angst. I was looking for the push-and-pull which would have made the reconnection a little more electric, however, I think the storyline was still good as it is given the current flow of the book!

Overall, I really liked it. I'm so glad I read it. Piper and Wyatt are definitely a dream couple!!

Thank you to Annie McQuaid, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for this arc!! 💕

Okay I really really love this book.

It had all the elements you’d want out of a high school sweethearts turned exes trapped on a literal desert island second chance romance with none of the cheesy/corny elements you might expect.

It was clever and subtle and as realistic I could imagine a book like this being. Loved the flashbacks to their friendship and growing up together. Loved Piper’s growth and character arc.

I enjoyed every minute.

Thank you Avon, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I thought this was an adorable romance! I loved the concept of this story as well. And the chemistry was fantastic. I can imagine that this book will. become very popular on Booktok and Bookstagram! I am looking forward to Annie McQuaid's next book!

✨Book Review✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)

Annie McQuaid’s debut romance, Crash Landing, is a perfect wholesome spring and summer read! ☀️🏝️ The vivid descriptions make it easy to feel like you’re right there on the island with Piper and Wyatt. This book is packed with tropes that work so well together—forced proximity, survival, and second chance romance.

While I loved their journey, I wish we had seen a little more of Piper and Wyatt’s relationship after they worked through the miscommunication and fully committed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the advanced copy! Crash Landing hits shelves on April 1, 2025—mark your calendars! 📚✨

#CrashLanding #AnnieMcQuaid #RomanceBooks #ForcedProximity #SecondChanceRomance #Bookstagram #BookReview #NetGalley #SpringReads #SummerRomance #DebutNovel #TBR

Annie McQuaid is definitely a romance author to watch. She weaves second chances, forced proximity, and a hint of enemies-to-lovers into a gripping survival adventure, following childhood sweethearts Piper and Wyatt as they navigate an unfinished love story.

This book is centered around Piper who has a boyfriend. However, the relationship is lacking in the intimacy department or at least it’s not what she had with her ex, Wyatt. But, she claims to be over him. I mean he did break her heart. And then she runs in to him at the airport on her way to her friends wedding where her flight gets cancelled. Oh boy can things get any worse? The.n Wyatt offers her a ride on his plane since he’s headed to the same wedding. Talk about awkward but she accepts so she can get to the wedding on time. Then if things don’t get more awkward………the plane crashes and leaves them stranded on a deserted island. Now she is stuck with the person she never hoped to see again. Will this cause them to get a second chance at love? Will they be rescues? I did like this heartwarming romance. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.

Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid – A Second-Chance Romance That Soars

If you love forced proximity, second chances, and the kind of chemistry that practically crackles off the page, Crash Landing is the book for you. Annie McQuaid delivers a debut that’s equal parts heart-pounding adventure and swoon-worthy romance, and I devoured every single page.

Piper Adams is just trying to make it to her best friend’s wedding when fate (and a canceled flight) throws her right back into the orbit of her ex, Wyatt. Their history is messy, unresolved, and—if Piper has anything to say about it—best left in the past. But when she agrees to hitch a ride on Wyatt’s private plane, a storm changes everything. Now, they’re stranded on a deserted island, and there’s nowhere to hide from the feelings neither of them is ready to face.

What I loved most about this book was how McQuaid masterfully weaves together past and present, showing us Piper and Wyatt’s teenage love story while unraveling the heartbreak that tore them apart. The dual timeline works beautifully, making their emotional journey feel all the more real. And the tension? Perfect. There’s nothing quite like a survival situation to bring out raw truths, and these two feel every moment of it—frustration, longing, and that undeniable pull toward each other.

Wyatt is the kind of hero who sneaks up on you. Stoic, and capable, but carrying regrets that make him all the more compelling. Piper is relatable, independent, and torn between protecting her heart and surrendering to the what-ifs. Their banter, their history, their everything—it just works.

The setting plays a huge role in the story. The island is both a challenge and a metaphor, forcing Piper and Wyatt to strip away pretense and truly see each other. And yes, there are plenty of adventure and survival stakes, but it’s the emotional stakes that hit the hardest.

If I had one tiny critique, I wanted more. More time on the island, more deep-dive conversations, more of that slow-burn build-up before everything explodes. But honestly? That’s just a sign of a great book—it leaves you wanting more, not because it’s lacking, but because you’re so invested.

For a debut, Crash Landing is nothing short of impressive. Annie McQuaid is officially on my radar, and I’ll be first in line for whatever she writes next. If you love survival romance, high stakes, and second-chance love stories with all the feels, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Getting stranded on a deserted island with an ex is not exactly ideal, but it makes for a great story!

Piper Adams has spent years telling herself she is over Wyatt. A canceled flight and an unexpected plane ride with him prove otherwise. When they crash in the Caribbean, survival takes priority, but being stuck together forces them to face their past and the feelings Piper thought she left behind.

I always appreciate when characters talk through their history instead of letting misunderstandings drag on!!

This was a fun and fast paced second chance romance with just the right mix of survival adventure.

The blend of present day and the flashbacks kept things so much fun.

Forced proximity is always my favorite!

If you enjoy second-chance romances with adventure, humor, and a hero who knows how to survive in the wild, this is a great pick.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the gifted copy!

I went into Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid really excited. The premise was fresh and fun—two exes stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash? Sign me up! The cover is gorgeous, and I was totally sold on the survival/second chance/forced proximity vibes. I was hoping for a swoony, emotional, adventure-packed romance with deeper character growth. Unfortunately, while it delivered on the concept, it just didn’t live up to its potential.

The story follows Piper and Wyatt, former high school sweethearts who haven’t seen each other since their painful breakup years ago. Piper has played it safe ever since, building a life with as little risk as possible. Wyatt is still the adventurous, free-spirited guy she remembers—only older, hotter, and possibly wiser. When they’re stranded together on a deserted island on their way to a mutual friend’s wedding, they’re forced to confront their past and figure out if there’s still something between them.

On paper, it sounds like the perfect second chance romance. In reality, the emotional depth just wasn’t there for me. Piper and Wyatt’s issues felt more like leftover high school drama than the kind of complicated, nuanced baggage you expect from adults. I wanted to see more growth from both of them—more meaningful conversations, more vulnerability—but everything stayed very surface-level. It made it hard to really invest in their relationship or root for them as a couple.

The pacing also dragged in places. Despite the life-or-death circumstances, there wasn’t much urgency or tension. It was less “OMG will they survive?!” and more “Okay… now they’re building another shelter.” The survival aspects were lightly touched on, but never felt high-stakes. I think I wanted either more adventure or more emotional payoff, and I didn’t really get enough of either.

Piper, as a heroine, was also tough for me to connect with. Her decision to completely switch careers at the end felt abrupt and underdeveloped—like it was supposed to show personal growth, but instead came off as a quick fix that wasn’t fully earned. Wyatt was likable enough, but I needed more from him emotionally, too.

That said, there were bright spots. McQuaid’s writing is easy to read, and there were a few heartfelt moments that gave me glimpses of what the story could have been with a bit more depth and development. If you’re looking for a light, easy second chance romance with a tropical survival twist, this might be the read for you. But if you’re hoping for something that packs an emotional punch, you may end up feeling like I did—wanting more.

An engaging second-chance romance. Always happy when characters talk about the past issues and clear the air rather than continuing to drag things out for way too long. Some good friends and a few parental issues add interest to the tale. The crash landing is aways a fun fantasy. Well, maybe not so much the crash part, but the uninhabited island part is. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

A second chance romance book mixed with a plane crash on a remote island that gave vibes like the "Lost" television show.

I really enjoyed the past-present story lines of this novel as I felt it built the character development for both characters. The chapters are all clearly labeled with past/present which I appreciate when an author/publisher take the time to do that 🥳

I found Piper and Wyatt to be characters I really liked and cheered for as they felt well developed and relatable. Their chemistry was evident from the first meeting but it was not the focus of their reconnection, which I appreciated. The conversations were honest and their banter felt realistic for two people with history.

Thank you Avon for the ARC


Trigger warnings: addiction, death of parent, PTSD (military related) and a plane crash

There's just too much I have to suspend disbelief for in this story and I'm not enjoying the characters so I had to put this one down. Others may find the plane crash and the second-chance aspects of the story to be compelling. There wasn't enough depth to the characters for me personally but it seems like others loved if so if those tropes sound good to you it could be worth a shot.