Crash Landing (e-arc)

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an authentic review!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“But messing up what we had and losing you was the stupidest thing I ever did. If it takes a plane crash to see you, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Kissing Wyatt felt like coming home.

“I miss you, Piper. I can’t sleep without you. I wake up in the middle of the night not knowing where I am and reach for you, but you aren’t there. You’re the first thing I think of each morning, and I dream about you every night. I’m going crazy over here not talking to you.

—

Review:

This was a great romance debut novel! I loved the dual time line and am obsessed with second chance romances! Also, the plot really intrigued me and I loved the idea of them falling back in love and surviving together. I think it was a fun read but it’s not one that will have me thinking about it for forever. I liked the characters but felt like I needed more! Also, with second chance romances, there’s usually a lot of tension and angst and that’s what makes them so good but I feel like this one didn’t meet the mark for me. With that being said, I will be looking forward to Annie Mcquaid’s future releases as well! Once again, thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc!

Disappointed. I thought authors knew better than to insert Harry Potter references into their books in the year 2025? I read a book recently that was published in 2021(?) that was republished traditionally and apologized for the fact that the book has references to HP that she was unable to revise as per her contract. If that's what books these days look like, then why would an author think it to be okay to include that in a brand new book in a time where trans people are under attack? This is the author's debut, and I loved it up until the Harry Potter references. After that I did not care. I make it a point to finish books if they're ARCs as I don't tend to like to DNF them, but boy did I want to DNF this. Please do better. There is no room in my life for people who wrote Harry Potter references in their books, because to me, that tells me you are willing to platform a terf and bigot.

I really enjoyed this second chance, forced proximity, debut romance that sees Piper and Wyatt, two former high school lovers trapped on an island together when their plane crashes. Thwarted in the past by her parent's interference in the past, Piper didn't realize why Wyatt gave up on them before but with nothing to do but talk and grow closer while on the island fighting to survive, things get heated quickly. While there was a big miscommunication plot and lots of insecurities, this was still an enjoyable read that was good on audio and perfect for fans of survival romance stories like Beth O'Leary's Swept away. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Plane crash adventure meets cheese rom-com.
I am rating this book an average score - but a lower average score. The storyline had more potential than played out. I like a good rom-com, but I am not a fan of super cheesy stories with flat characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

This was a cute & quick read. I wanted to read it because of the survival element, and while it seemed pretty low risk, I still liked it. I mean they had communication, food, water, clothes, etc. and while obviously they still went through something awful, it still seemed a lot more tame than I expected.

Both characters frustrated me at times. I just wanted Piper to stand up for herself, and Wyatt needed to stop keeping things to himself and just talk about his feelings. But I did like the way things wrapped up, and the way both of them developed.

I usually struggle with second chance romances, but the way their story was told worked quite well for me. The throwback chapters weren’t excessive, but added in at good times to tell their story. It’s still not my favourite trope, but I’m glad I read this!

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so excited to read this book. Another great romance author is making their way onto the scene. The banter was top-notch and the sweet tender moments were great as well. So, when it the next book by Annie McQuaid coming out? Haha

Crash Landing is a debut novel by this author and it was surprisingly enjoyable. I liked the premise of these two characters having to face their past while stranded on a island after a plane crash. The book is written in a present/past format which is something I don’t mind at all as it gives the reader some insight into where the characters have been and where they’re going and how much they’ve grown. I enjoyed getting to know Piper and Wyatt in this sweet second-chance love story. This was a solid 4-star read for me and one that I would definitely recommend. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book through NetGalley.

Piper Adams is completely, totally, one hundred percent over Wyatt, the former love of her life. At least, that’s what she tells herself. After he broke her heart, she stopped taking risks and focused instead on building a perfect—and perfectly safe—life. But bumping into Wyatt at the airport on the way to her best friend’s destination wedding wasn’t part of the plan. Neither was a canceled flight nor Wyatt’s offer of a ride on the tiny plane he’s flying to attend the same event. Desperate to make it on time, she accepts his offer, but things go from awkward to full-blown nightmare when their plane crashes in the Caribbean, stranding Piper on a deserted island with the last person she ever wanted to see again.

At first, rule-following Piper clashes with adventure-driven Wyatt, but as the days tick by, she can see the boy she once loved has grown into a man. A man who makes her laugh, knows his way around a fire, and is annoyingly hot shirtless. A man she could love again. As the chemistry still simmering between them boils over, Piper begins wishing Wyatt was more than just a survival partner. But for their love to survive a second chance, she’ll have to not only trust Wyatt again, but also learn to trust herself and find the courage to let go of her carefully curated life for the chance at something far greater—if they can survive the island long enough for rescue.

I really enjoyed this one. I love a lot of angst in my romances, and this was full of angst and grit. I'm not a super fan of the lack of communication thing, but that seems par for the course with romance books most of the time. Overall, I really enjoyed getting to know Piper and Wyatt, the way they worked through everything to survive their crash landing and isolation on the island, and the way they finally worked out their differences. Solid story for me! 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Crash Landing follows Piper as she is forced to accept a plane ride from her ex, Wyatt, in order to get to her best friend’s wedding on time. However, when their plane crashes, Wyatt and Piper find themselves stranded on an island and must help each other survive. In close quarters, old feelings begin to resurface and Piper and Wyatt are forced to reckon with their past. I enjoyed Crash Landing, however it wasn’t a favorite. I liked the premise but I felt like I didn’t emotionally connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. This would a good novel to pick up for second chance romance lovers or anyone looking for a quick romance read! Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I enjoyed the dual timeline aspect of this story and especially felt captured by the story of their younger years. The current timeline was a little odd at times. I love second chance romance, but the romance didn't really fit with the stranded on an island vibe. Sometimes it felt like the characters were acting like they were on vacation. I think if you can just let go of reality and have fun with the romance, you'll like this book.

Annie McQuaid's debut romance novel features Piper and Wyatt as our love interests. The couple meets as children and are estranged following a brief relationship in high-school. Their friend group, The Lonely Onlys continues on a decade later without Wyatt. The couple are reunited for another member's wedding, Allie. The couple suffer a horrific plane accident on the way to the destination wedding. Our couple spend time together waiting for rescue. They connect and uncover secrets from the past. The language and setting are well done. I enjoyed the writing here.

What I didn't love: Piper. She was very unrelatable to me. In the synopsis it says that she lives "perfectly safe" and I'd argue that she lives on autopilot. She is studying to be a doctor because her dad. She isn't with Wyatt because of Wyatt. She is dating Tag because of Tag and Parental expectations. She didn't have enough character development to be her own person. Not to mention, after the plane crash she was so concerned about the wedding festivities. She marked time on the island by which event she was missing. Then on the third or fourth day she finally told the comms search and rescue person, "Tell my parents I love them!" It was unreasonable for her to be in a life-and-death situation and not show true regard for anyone else.

Wyatt was a more interesting character, his backstory was 10/10. However, he and Piper lacked chemistry.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon publisher for this ARC!

I thought this book was super cute! I love a forced proximity romance, and it doesn't get more forced than crashing on an island alone with a man you don't want to be around. This was a great novel for when I wanted to escape reality and get swept away by a cute love story.

Thank you to Avon for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

I was excited to dive in to this ARC, as it seemed like it had all of the ingredients for a good time - a survival story, some comedy dashed in, and a solid second-chance romance story. I had a good time reading this, and the pacing was on point. It was a quick read, and will be a good addition to shelves this summer. The only reason it didn’t receive more stars was the “cringe factor” was a bit more prevalent on this one that I enjoy. It was a bit harder to connect with the characters, and I think this would have been one that could have benefitted from a dual perspective in 1st person. I was dying to know what our MMC was thinking, and I think it could have added more depth to the story.

Overall, it was a quick read with a predictable storyline – guaranteeing a good time.

A beautiful second chance romance, blooms in light of a tragedy. After a their private plane crashes Piper and Wyatt have to find a way to survive together, despite their lingering anger and heartbreak over their past failed romance. Written in a then and now format, this story shows the promise of a bright new writer in the romance genre. Check this out April 1

This review is based on an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review may contain spoilers

This was such a fun 3 star read for me! The cover totally caught my eye and I just had to read this book!

Piper and Wyatt are exes who end up stranded on an island, and let me tell you, the forced proximity, second-chance romance, and enemies-to-lovers vibes all wrapped up in a life-or-death scenario? Count me in! Sure, some elements were a bit far-fetched, but I kept an open mind and just went with it—after all, isn’t that the fun of reading?

Throughout the book, we get flashbacks to high school, offering a glimpse into Piper and Wyatt’s early relationship and the events that caused the eight-year rift between them. I really enjoyed learning about their origin story and what brought them to where they are now.
Their time stranded added a layer of suspense and drama that kept me hooked. The miscommunication between them was maddening in the best way, making their eventual resolution even more satisfying.

I’d definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a rom-com with a little extra adventure thrown in.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #CrashLanding #NetGalley

Piper and Wyatt are exs and ex best friends. A plane crash leaves them stuck on an island together. This gave them lots of time to go over aspects of their past and work through some things. Overall it was a cute beach read with mild thrills and left me wanting a little more spice given the scenario. It was a fun read though and I would recommend it to others

Crash Landing was a fun and fast paced romcom with a survival thriller twist. Perfect for those who love forced proximity and second chance romances!

Honestly, this was a great time. A little heavy on the cheese, but I loved it.

Love a short and sweet rom-com with a sprinkle of survival thriller! Perfect if you enjoy forced proximity, second chance, and moderately high stakes in your rom-coms.

While this book did keep my attention and had solid pacing, it was fairly cheesy. I didn't feel connected to either of the characters, and their chemistry wasn't the best—which is normally what I love about second chance romance, the tension between two exes. And the relationship and character development felt a bit surface level. I also didn't love some of the clichés (i.e. the miscommunication especially). Though the author did do a great job integrating the flashback scenes with present-day, survival-on-the-island scenes.

Thank you so much to Avon Books for sending me an ARC of Crash Landing. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

Just finished "Crash Landing" by Annie McQuaid, and wow, what a ride! This book is like "Cast Away" meets a rom-com, and it’s equal parts funny, heartfelt, and steamy. Piper and Wyatt, two exes who haven’t seen each other in years, end up stranded on a deserted island after their plane crashes. Awkward, right? As they work together to survive, old feelings start to resurface.

The chemistry between them is *chef’s kiss*, and the dual timeline—flashing back to their high school relationship—adds so much depth to their story. I loved watching Piper grow and take risks, and Wyatt’s softer side had me swooning. I didn't love Piper's controlling and judgmental parents, and while I've definitely seen toxic family members handled worse in romance novels, the outcome with them didn't feel authentic either. But that's a side note--Piper and Wyatt and their friend crew are far more central to the story.

If you’re into second-chance romances with forced proximity and a dash of adventure, this is a must-read. It’s fun, emotional, and perfect for a beach day (or a cozy night in). 4.5 stars from me—Annie McQuaid is one to watch!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Overall, a very good read. I wasn't as hooked as I thought I would be with the idea of a 'crash' landing. But I think the development of the characters makes up for any lost anticipation in the story.