This swoon-worthy debut romance follows two exes who find themselves stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash.
Piper is on her way to her best friend's wedding in the Bahamas when her flight gets canceled, and every other option seems impossible. Just when she's out of luck, she runs into the last person she ever expected—her high school ex, the one who shattered her heart and disappeared without a trace eight years ago. As fate would have it, he has a charter plane and offers her a ride. What could possibly go wrong? The answer: a lot.
Told through a dual timeline, we get to experience both their high school romance and their survival on the island. The stakes feel real, and I especially loved how the rescue unfolded, it kept me hooked. But what stood out the most was Piper’s personal growth, as she carves out her own path, independent of the expectations placed on her. My only wish? That we had more of their interactions as adults, fully exploring who they’ve become and how their love matured with them.
Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. An adventure rom com with a second chance romance and two main characters that were well written and real. Wyatt and Piper loved each other in high school and then all of the sudden that was over. After not seeing each other for years they end up on a private plane to a wedding that crashes. Seven days lost on an island gives them plenty of time to figure out why things went the way they did and gives them a second chance to be together…as long as they can be rescued before something terrible happens. The character development was really strong in the book and you are pulling for these two the whole time. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way to live for yourself and not others. “You’ll figure it out. As long as you do what makes you happy, and not anyone else, it will all work out”. Words to live by. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Piper is in the airport going to her best friend’s destination wedding when she bumps into Wyatt, her high school boyfriend, who she is definitely not interested anymore 😉 She had no idea he was invited to the wedding and when their flight gets delayed, he borrows a friends plane and invited Piper to fly with him to the wedding. When they crash in the Caribbean and end up stranded on a deserted island they are forced to come to terms with their past and work together to get off the island. That is hard when the guy she loved left her once already…can she really trust him?

This was such a good debut novel from McQuaid. We have the perfect middle ground between “oh crap, we are stranded on and island” and “lets figure out our feelings for each other.” I enjoyed the dual timeline with the flashbacks to their time in high school. The forced proximity of them being stranded on this deserted island was good and it made them learn to trust each other again, even after the original heartbreak. I do like how Wyatt encouraged Piper to follow her dreams when they got off the island instead of just following the path that her parents created.

4.5/5

Firstly, the second they started talking- in detail- about Harry Potter I was kind of done. Like I get that McQuaid is using it because Wyatt and Piper are fantasy fans but there was a whole series specifically made up for the book- why do you need to use HP to cement their interests? (Also, if you are going to name drop a real series, use one that isn't written by a racist transphobe?)

Anyway, I was excited for this story because the premise is so interesting but I just didn't feel the chemistry between Wyatt and Piper unless we were in a flashback. I also didn't feel particularly connected to either Piper or Wyatt. Or the writing style, unfortunately.

This book lived up to the promise of two exes surviving on a deserted island together while somehow managing to give the reader enough assurance of their safety that survival could take a backseat for the majority of the story. Well balanced and well done. I do hope that the two MCs get therapy after this and not just for the island stuff because they both came with their own stock of issues.

A sweet debut with a unique plot line. I’ve never read a survivalist love story but now I need more of them, tbh.

I could’ve done with more tension between the two main characters after the crash. I think there was a chance to build up the complex emotions and tension that comes from their not talking to each other for 8 years and then being crash landed on an island.

I will definitely be reading more of Annie McQuaid’s writing!

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Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon & Harper Voyager & Annie McQuaid for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This story lands in this weird space between fun & flirty second chance romance and stranded on a deserted island, so much closer to death than you would think with a cutie patootie romance. It's not that I got whiplash between either concept- it actually worked- I just don't know how to explain it as a vibe.

But just know- I enjoyed this book.
Do I advise reading this before flying in a small plane over a body of water? Not really.

Do I advise you read it if you like high school flashbacks, rekindled second chance magic with the boy your parents didn't approve of and also finally gaining independence from your said controlling parents? Absolutely.

A perfect forced-proximity, love rekindled, high school sweethearts romance! Having two characters stranded on an island means the characters have to have great chemistry to propel you through the book. The author did a perfect blend of showing their past relationship mixed with the current day fireworks. Piper is definitely a girl to relate to - how do you react when your only option for getting where you need to be is with the boy who broke your heart in high school? A tricky situation, for sure. And of course, Wyatt seems to act like it doesn't affect him and he did the right thing by abandoning her. Piper also has the oh-so- relatable uncertainty of being in school for something you're not passionate about and always being pressured to be with people you don't have chemistry with. The current day situation of how will they get off the island keeps you flipping pages, just anxious for the resolution. A must-read summery romance!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this eARC!

While for me this book was not a home run, I can see how it might be for lots of readers out there!!

I do love a second chance romance and I’m usually a fan of forced proximity, but with this story, I just could not get over the unrealistic aspect of it all. It seemed more like a soap opera/ Greys Anatomy episode then a cute romance book!

While I know this was a piece of fiction, I do prefer to read something I can see myself being a part of, and this just feel short for me. So many parts of this book on their own were great, but just all together, it wasn’t it for me!

I binged Annie McQuaid’s CRASH LANDING in less than 48 hours, and it was as wild, hot, and heartfelt as I expected!

A funny and heartwarming debut romance about two exes forced to reunite when a plane crash leaves them stranded on a deserted island.

Watching Piper and Wyatt’s journey back to each other (and back to society 🫠) was amazing! CRASH LANDING perfectly melds romance and adventure. In the past timeline, they’re the perfect combination of bashful and teasing, so clearly perfectly paired as they move from best friends to more. In the current timeline, the tension is FIRE, both pushed to the edge by how overwhelming their situation is and how closely they’re forced together. I loved seeing them work through the issues from their past, and the way the (objectively terrible) situation pushes Piper to reevaluate what she wants in life. Their HEA is hard won, and so deserved!

CRASH LANDING comes out in just over 2 weeks, so make sure to get that pre-order in! Can’t wait for what Annie comes up with next!

This was a super cutie pie read. It gave very hallmark from the dialogue and story line and sometimes that’s exactly what you need. In this story we have a second chance romance with a then and now time line and though i found the now time line of Piper and Wyatt post plane crash so fun and engaging i found the past time line to be quite boring. Overall a middle of the road read but im excited to see what else this author comes out with!!

I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK OMG. I cannot wait to get a physical copy. I love the stranded trope, in a romance or thriller, and this was so cute and I loved every word!

ARC REVIEW:
Enjoyed this book a lot! This debut is great and I absolutely loved the premise! If there’s one thing I enjoy it’s a second chance with forced proximity. Add in a survival on a deserted island AND a dual timeline…take my money now!

I loved how we got to see Piper and Wyatt’s relationship development from friends to lovers in both the past and the present. Dual timeline can be so hard to execute and Annie did so well! I wish we would’ve gotten a bit more with the rest of the Lonely Onlys but I know time was limited with the plane crash.

This book is so fun and I can’t wait for more from this author!

A story about Piper and Wyatt. Two exes who get stranded on an island after crash landing their plane on the way to their friend’s wedding. This was a very cute and heart wrenching story with a second chance romance. One of my top anticipated releases of the year and a perfect summer read.

I loved the characters in this one! Piper and Wyatt have such great chemistry and so much potential—I was rooting for them the whole time. Their interactions felt natural, and the tension between them kept me engaged. I only wished the story had leaned even further into their relationship, giving us more of their individual thoughts and feelings as they navigated their connection.

Piper's journey toward independence was another highlight. It was so satisfying to watch her finally stand up to her mother, take control of her own choices, and define her career path. She starts off struggling under the weight of expectations, but seeing her push back and carve out her own future made her character arc feel rewarding. I love it when a protagonist gains confidence and a backbone, and Piper's growth delivered on that front.

The story's structure lost me a bit. The dual timeline didn't quite work for me—I would have preferred the past to be woven into the present narrative rather than splitting the focus. That way, the story could have dived deeper into the characters, their complexities, and the emotional weight of their experiences. Some critical themes were touched on but never fully explored, leaving me wanting more.

Crash Landing has a strong foundation with likable characters and a compelling romance. Still, I wished it had gone further in unpacking the depth it hinted at. If you love a character-driven story with slow-burn potential, this one might be worth the read!

I liked the IDEA of this book. Second chance romance. Forced proximity. An exotic desert island. But the book really just didn’t work for me.

What I liked. The setting WAS exotic. I loved the Robinson Caruso-like survival aspect as Piper and Wyatt scavenged and built a shelter and made tools from their luggage. The plot was told in dual timeline with flashbacks to their blossoming high school relationship. I thought the flashbacks were sweet. The dramatic rescue was pretty exciting too!

What didn’t work for me. The miscommunication. I’m not one that hates miscommunication. It can be a great plot device. But there was just so much of it here. It felt like they kept having the same conversation over and over. Which granted, is probably realistic. But in a book it’s kind of frustrating. The spicy scenes seemed out of place to me when they were dehydrated, malnourished, sunburned, injured, and surrounded by sand. The part after the rescue dragged on with even more miscommunication. I also felt like Piper was really immature and emotionally stunted.

Overall this book just wasn’t for me. But I’ve seen good reviews from others. So it’s probably just me!

Thank you to @Netgalley and @avonbooks for the chance to review this ARC.

💙Can I give 10 stars? This book was everything! There were so many emotions I felt while reading this book, I felt everything and could not get enough of it. It was filled with adventure, drama, love, family and that cannot put it down, need to know what happens next suspense.

✈️ Piper is traveling to her best friend’s wedding when her flight is canceled. She runs into her former high school boyfriend, who broke her heart 8 years ago. He offers to charter a plane to get them both to the wedding when the plane crashes and they are stranded on a deserted island.

🏝️ Struggling to survive, they are both tested in ways that they never imagined. Piper, having lived a privileged life, learns she is stronger than she believes and Wyatt, who always relied on himself, realizes he needs Piper in order to survive and get off this island.

🧡I loved the flashbacks to high school to see how their relationship grew and how their feelings for one another evolved. It showed how deep their connection really was. It gave more clarity to their feelings in the present and how hard it was to face the reality of their situation.

This story was amazing. I cried and laughed and just fell in love with Wyatt and Piper. I was not ready to let the Lonely Only’s go. I do hope we get more from this group because it was perfection.

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.