This was a quick and sweet second chance romance with a unique premise. I loved the dual timeline and getting to read how Piper and Wyatt's relationship progressed in both timelines.. Definitely would make for a great beach read... just maybe not a trip you take on an airplane! ;-) Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

✈️🏝️💔💥

This entertaining debut romance takes readers on a hilarious and heartfelt journey as exes Piper and Wyatt are stranded together on a deserted island after an unexpected plane crash. Piper, who has meticulously rebuilt her life after heartbreak, is forced to confront old wounds and her lingering feelings for Wyatt. The chemistry between them is electric, their banter sharp, and the forced proximity pushes them to rediscover both each other and themselves. As Piper wrestles with letting go of her perfectly controlled life, Wyatt proves he's more than just a past love—he's a shot at a future she never expected. This story is a magnetic blend of second chances, survival, and sizzling romance that will leave you rooting for their happily-ever-after. Congrats on the debut, Annie!

I always want to love a romance, especially one with such a great premise, but unfortunately CRASH LANDING kinda....crashed. If you're after a paint-by-numbers romance, Crash Landing would probably do, but don't expect what it offers on the label...there was nothing funny, or humourous about this book, and it definitely read more like a contemporary romance than a rom-com. The characters were extremely 2D, and you'd always find out information about them three chapters too late. Wyatt spent 5 years in the army and couldn't get an emergency radio to work. No stress though, our heroine, Piper, had a random obsession with 1940s wirelesses back in college and is able to connect to the coast guard first try. Honestly, it felt like this book was originally written as a YA book and the author got told they'd only be able to sell it as an adult fiction romance. The time jumping meant the character voices were the same regardless of age, which when you've got two characters four years off from thirty acting as if they've never made an adult decision in their life....yeah.

Two stars for the premise and cute cover, wish I had loved this more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book, this is my objective review. Piper, a med student and people pleaser, is dating a blandly appropriate man. She's on her way to a destination wedding in the Bahamas for her best friend. Her childhood friend and high school ex-boyfriend Wyatt is also trying to get to the wedding. Their flight is canceled but Wyatt's friend lends him a plane so he can fly them both to the wedding. These two young and attractive people with a fraught romantic history crash-land on a tropical island and are forced to get reacquainted. Can they revive their romantic feelings for one another and renew their friendship at the same time?

The story is told via 3rd-person POV from Piper's perspective, with the high school events told via flashback. The premise is fine but predictably executed, there's nothing all that new here. Childhood-friends-to-lovers is usually my kryptonite, so I'm a bit disappointed I didn't enjoy this book more. Piper on the island was getting on my nerves, she's kind of spoiled and dramatic. They both seemed very young and immature, but that could be my own age talking. This is a quick read, great if you're looking for a light, new adult open-door romance book with an HEA.

This is like a delicious mash-up of Jo Segura and Carley Fortune, which is to say, a fast-paced adventure romance with dual timeline, high-tension goodness! What I loved is that there’s tension coming from multiple angles--there’s a ton of past baggage Wyatt and Piper have to unpack together but also in the current timeline, they have to go against Nature and somehow survive, with only each other, on an island, with no end in sight and limited resources. It’s so compelling and page-turning, and Annie’s writing particularly shines when it comes to describing setting - you can see the island, feel the island, taste it, hear it. I was stressed out in the best way. Only one bed? Nah man, I’m taking ONLY ONE ISLAND from now on! Can't wait to see what Annie writes next.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

the way i shipped wyatt and piper from the gecko. the plane crash story line is slightly wild but it works

Loved this book! This was definitely a page turner! The story was well written. I was able to sink into the story and experience the emotions of the characters. Main character and supporting characters were interesting and felt to be fully developed. I will absolutely recommend this book!

This book is a treasure that deserves to be known by all lovers of pink romances. Not only the cover is cute, but the whole story.

A while ago I read a book that was written in two different timelines and traveled from their childhood love to the current adult time, however, I didn't like it, and since then I avoided reading books written in two tenses, but I loved this book. It was cute to me, at times a little slow, but nothing that was hopeless or not tolerable.

I loved the trope from childhood friends to enemies to lovers, and second chances.

I totally recommend this book, and please Annie continue to work with the person who designed your cover because it turned out amazing.

Childhood lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers, stranded on a deserted island, and a sizzling second chance at romance? This book was everything I wanted! Piper and Wyatt’s chemistry is absolutely electric—their connection leaps off the page with every lingering look, sharp retort, and unspoken memory. Their banter is perfectly snarky, adding a delicious edge to their unresolved feelings and undeniable attraction. If you love this trope, you’re in for a treat because it’s executed here on nearly every level.

The alternating timeline takes us from Piper and Wyatt’s childhood friendship to the messy teenage breakup that pulled them apart, and it’s heart-wrenchingly believable. Their initial split may have been rooted in something silly—teen boys can be such idiots!—but it feels real, and it adds to the depth and maturity of their reconnection as adults. They’re both still a little immature in some ways, especially Piper, who can be a bit much at times (hence the half-star deduction), but that’s part of what makes this journey feel authentic and messy in the best way.

The island scenes are pure magic. Stranded in the Caribbean, they’re forced to drop their defenses, and the chemistry simmering between them quickly boils over. Wyatt is a perfect book boyfriend—adventurous, caring, and just cocky enough. Watching Piper slowly realize he’s grown into a man she could fall for again was so satisfying, and the way they rediscover each other is sweet, raw, and full of perfect tension. By the end, I was grinning like crazy.

If childhood lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers is your thing, this book nails it. The angst, the chemistry, the beautifully drawn-out reunion—all of it kept me glued to the page. The ending was worth every page of build-up, leaving me with a full heart and a big smile. Highly recommend!

4.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a an e-book for review!

I can't resist a cute pink book with second-chance romance and forced proximity. It always means that the story is gonna be fantastic.

This story did not take long at all to hook you in with what makes this book have the forced proximity trope. With the two characters stranded on the island, they have no choice but to suffer through each other's company in order to survive, and it's a constant reminder to both characters about their complicated past with each other.

This book was such a cute and quick read and had such an interesting plot as well. Also for any over-achieving eldest daughters who have high-pressure parents, I am sure you'll make some connections. Overall I just had a great time with this book and the ending truly had me hooked to my seat with anticipation.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book! Ex-lovers crash on an island together. Will they survive alone on the island? I liked how it was written in 2 difference timelines: "now" and "then". I loved reading about their budding romance in high school, but it got a little confusing jumping around the high school timeline. I loved their slow reconnection on the island. I loved their banter, but wanted more of it! There was very little spice, but I wouldn't call this a closed door romance.

I would recommend this for someone getting into romance books! I look forward to more books from this author.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have become more open minded towards second chance romances lately, and this one was a fun one! I like the forced proximity trope where the plane crashed too.

Annie McQuaid's debut is full of high stakes and even higher swooning. Readers will be rooting for both Piper and Wyatt's love story and survival from page one. This dual-timeline adventure romance is tender, suspenseful, and sensual, all at once

I really wanted to like this one but I struggled to get through it and eventually had to DNF @ 30%. I believe this story is for someone else but not me and that’s okay!

3.5⭐/.5 🌶️

First thank you to Netgalley for this arc! :)

I picked this arc after seeing how beautiful the cover was, and im happy to say the book inside was just as sweet! It starts a little slow. Honestly i was a little annoyed at how many brands got name dropped at first lmao. I started to highlight and count. Like ok i get it, our fmc is wealthy!

But i love a good second chance romance, and our mmc was such a cinnamon roll sweetheart. Im so happy he got this opportunity, even if it was at the cost of a whole play crashing 😰 I know this doesnt come out for a while, but i recommend this for a unique romance read! Not often you see the plan crash situation being used.

Annie McQuaid delivers a compelling blend of second chances, forced proximity, and a hint of enemies-to-lovers, all wrapped in a gripping survival adventure. This heartfelt story follows two childhood sweethearts, separated by time and circumstance, who are forced to confront their unresolved feelings and unfinished love.

The novel follows Piper Adams, a young medical student who feels stuck in her life—unsure about her career, disconnected from her boyfriend, and haunted by memories of someone from her past. That someone is Wyatt, the boy who broke her heart and disappeared from her life without a trace, leaving behind lingering pain and unanswered questions.

Piper’s immediate concern, however, is making it to the Bahamas for her best friend Allie’s wedding. What she doesn't see coming are two major obstacles: her flight is suddenly canceled, and she bumps into Wyatt—Allie’s cousin and the very man who left her devastated—at the airport. Wyatt, now a pilot, offers her a ride in his small plane, and although Piper is hesitant, she agrees for Allie’s sake, all while promising herself she’ll keep her emotional distance.

But fate has other plans. A violent storm forces their plane to crash on a deserted island, leaving Piper no choice but to rely on the man she’s spent years resenting. In this unexpected survival scenario, Piper and Wyatt must put aside their old wounds to work together. As they fight for their lives, Piper discovers that Wyatt, now a man hardened by his military service, is not the same boy who once broke her heart. His desire to make amends becomes clear, and the chemistry between them rekindles. While their chances for survival become more dire, their long-buried feelings start to resurface. Could this crisis offer them a shot at the love they never fully had?

What makes this story shine is the way it jumps between the past and present, showing how Piper and Wyatt have both changed, yet their connection remains undeniable. Piper’s overbearing mother adds another layer of tension, with her character often feeling like the antagonist of Piper’s personal journey. The island scenes are gritty and realistic, full of tension, as the two navigate both the physical dangers of their environment and their emotional scars. I found myself rooting for them to overcome their pride and finally communicate the truths they’ve kept buried for years.

In short, I wholeheartedly recommend this book! It’s an emotional second-chance romance that balances survival elements with genuine, heartfelt connection.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was such a fun time. I think it is a good start for new readers of the genre as well . I think it was super sweet and precious.

I absolutely adored this book! I'm a sucker for a rom-com set on the beach, and this one had the twist of a plane crash to shake things up and raise the stakes. The author's choice to switch back and forth between the "then" chapters and the "now" chapters built up a nice slow burn and kept me blazing through the pages to find out what happened next in each timeline. Both Piper and Wyatt's story arcs felt fleshed out and real from start to finish, but I couldn't have loved Wyatt's character development more. Swoon! I couldn't stop smiling after this one, and I'll definitely pick up anything and everything by Annie McQuaid in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/ Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(no🌶️)
💭My thoughts: This is one of the sweetest second chance romances I’ve read recently. It jumps back and forth from present time and past time. Wyatt is the thoughtful sweet first love that Piper could never forget. Those flashbacks to the past were absolutely heart wrenching from the beginning of their friendship, to how they fell in love, and how it ended. Their time on the island felt so real I was exhausted thinking about being dehydrated and starving on an island with my ex. Luckily Piper ended up with someone like Wyatt. I don’t know if I could be as civil as she was, but since it was Wyatt, she was lucky. Then ending was satisfying and I wanted to clap for Piper and the way she stood up for herself. This was a great read and I definitely recommend this book!

For a debut novel it was a cute quick read!
However, even though it had its moments I still had some issues with the book

This book takes place in two timelines so to speak. The “Now” which of course is after the plane crash. And the “Then” which spans Wyatt & Piper’s past high school years. I’ll admit I was not a fan in the “Then” chapters and often found myself either being really bored by them or really confused. Mainly because they skipped all over the place. Like for example one chapter we were in senior year and then the next chapter it was junior year. And overall I think the “Then” could’ve been cut out of the story entirely I honestly don’t think the book needed them.

Now of course the parts I did enjoy all fall in the “Now” chapters. Watching two ex best friends/lovers working together to stay alive after a plane crash was a fresh and new take on that trope. I enjoyed watching Piper & Wyatt rediscover and rekindle their relationship. And in the end I love seeing that they got their HEA.

Overall, I liked the book and I’d definitely recommend if you’re looking for a quick summer read. Also big Thank you Avon and NetGalley for an advanced eARC for an honest review.