2.5 stars!

There’s no forced proximity like a couple being stranded together on a desert island! When bad weather delays the flight to Piper’s best friend Allie’s destination wedding, of course, only their mutual childhood friend Wyatt—the one who broke Piper’s teenage heart, now a chiseled army veteran who conveniently knows how to fly—has access to a small plane and offers Piper a ride. Putting their past history and all spite aside, she agrees; the plane goes down in the storm.

By some miracle, the battery-operated radio still sort of works, and they’re able to intermittently keep in touch with civilization as they nurse their injuries, create shelter, and procure food and water. Piper, a second-year medical student from a wealthy family, pivots to acclimate to the rustic setting. The survival details are very well researched and written, and it’s wonderful coincidence Wyatt has soldier training and Piper first aid skills – except she hates medical school and the sight of blood makes her faint and queasy.

Luckily, there are papaya to be harvested and fish to be caught as they recuperate from the crash; incongruously, Piper’s injuries do not prevent her from lusting after Wyatt, who was her first, best and most memorable lover (the book opens with her comparing his kiss to that of the well-matched but boring doctor-to-be that her physician parents wholeheartedly approve of, and finding the kiss lacking.

Given the period over which the story evolves, the antagonism with which Piper views Wyatt, and the seriousness of the situation, the survival narrative is quite interrupted by the distraction of her chemical /hormonal / lust-filled reaction to him. Yet, they make amends, make love, and may be planning to make a future together (she still hasn’t confided about suitor Tag) but just like in a horror movie where sex is the harbinger of doom, it’s post-coitus that a rescue vehicle finally happens to do a fly-by of their remote location, and they miss it due to their distraction.

They have a fight, decide the whole thing was clearly a mistake, and Wyatt goes back to his brooding “it’s all my fault, I don’t deserve anything good in my life” demeanor. Piper regrets becoming intimate with him again. The time is, at least, good for reflection and review of the past sequence of events.

Though the plot is farfetched, the writing from debut author McQuaid is decent, with a robustly detailed narrative that moves back and forth from Piper and Wyatt (and Allie and friend Evan’s) teenaged past to present day. The reason Piper and Wyatt broke up is concealed, serving as a second point of dramatic tension, a third point is what Piper wants versus what her controlling parents want. I found it difficult to connect to the characters, and didn’t particularly like or root for them. Alongside the many dramatic tensions is some humor, some banter, pop culture and fashion references, and safer sex (Wyatt brought condoms JUST IN CASE he and Piper reconnected at the wedding). McQuaid gets a gold star for use of clear, not clean, to refer to STI status. The story propels itself along at a good clip, a result of careful plotting and pacing. I’m sure many readers will enjoy this enemies-to-lovers tale.

Ultimately, I couldn’t reconcile the almost-immediate romance against the traumatic crash and injuries sustained. For a better read on a forced-proximity romance with a desert island survival plot, try On The Island by Tracy Garvis Graves.

I received a free advance readers review copy of #CrashLanding via #NetGalley courtesy of Avon and Harper Voyager. This will post to HLBB on 4/1/2025.

What a stellar debut! The island setting, combined with their playful and emotional journey, made this read absolutely irresistible. I would highly recommend it to people who’re looking for a charming, funny, and feel-good love story with a perfect mix of tension and tenderness, this book is a must-read.