Crash Landing, by Annie McQuaid, was a fun read with a unique premise. Two exes are stranded together after a plane crash, which immediately intrigued me and made me want to read more. I enjoyed reading about the characters and how this second chance romance developed, and found that the past present switches were done well. I was hoping for a bit more in the relationship development but that may have just been my high hopes given the premise!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for review!

I didn't expect to enjoy a plane-crash plot as much as I did! I liked the second chance romance angle, and the chemistry between the two stranded characters was spicy!

This was such an interesting premise, but unfortunately, it was hampered by the lack of chemistry between the two main characters. I also really didn't care for the flashback portions.

DNF REVIEW | I couldn’t resist downloading CRASH LANDING when I spotted it as a Read Now option on NetGalley. A rom com with a plane crash that leaves exes stranded on a deserted island? I was intrigued! Unfortunately, the book just didn’t live up the premise for me. Second-chance romances are very hit or miss for me, and this was a case where it just didn’t work. Their past didn’t translate into present-day chemistry. The Then/Now storyline was probably meant to flesh out their backstory but ended up just slowing down the pace of the book and interrupting the more pressing issue, their survival. I knew the premise would require some suspension of disbelief, but my bigger issue ended up being that I just felt bored by the characters. The heroine being in med school but unable to perform simple first aid because of the sight of blood was the the final straw for me. I wasn’t the right reader for this book, so I did not finish this book.

"Crash Landing" by Annie McQuaid is a fun take on the second-chance romance trope.

This book is the definition of needing suspension of disbelief as the story itself is chaotic. Two former childhood friends/high school sweethearts finally reuniting because their plane crashes on a deserted island while traveling to their mutual friend's wedding? Chaos. While I think that sets up for a fairly unique premise, it felt juvenile at the same time.

I enjoyed the book nonetheless but unfortunately, I just didn't really love it.

Thank you to Avon for selecting me for this ARC.

This could have been so good! I really thought I was going to enjoy this book, the premise sounds amazing. I loved that these two characters have been in love with each other since the beginning. However, I didn't feel their connection. You would think that the relationship would have been better if they have been in love with each other this whole time. But honestly, I didn't feel the connection, it just felt more awkward than anything.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC.

Annie McQuaid delivers on her debut! Crash Landing is a smash, and not the typical Caribbean getaway that one dreams of when stuck at work. Piper is stuck living a life she doesn’t want - following her parents dreams for her career and partner – while the life she wanted was shattered when Wyatt told her they’d never work. Told in a Then/Now format, Annie weaves Piper and Wyatt’s past and present together to show how your first love and heartbreak is sometimes your greatest love if you’re brave enough to fight for it. Can’t wait to see what she delivers next!

I really appreciated the plot of this book. It had an action-packed pace, and a lot of different elements in the characters’ backstories and present lives that made it exciting and engaging. The flashbacks were really well done and successfully built intrigue while doling out enough information to know what the heck was going on. It was a sweet book, but ultimately I never felt any connection to the emotions of the characters, which made the characters themselves feel one-dimensional. All the right elements were there, I just could not subscribe fully. I think someone who has never had their heart demolished and painstakingly healed by a romance novel would really enjoy this.

Sooooooo cute :) I love me a food bff trope. I’m shocked they survived that kind old plane crash, honestly. Hate the mom, the friend meetup was kind of cheesy but overall I really liked it! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book so much and read it in one sitting. I loved the characters and the storyline. It was a well written romance book. I would definitely recommend this book.

3.5✨

I really really wanted to love this book and I would have had it not been for two things.

1. I haaaaaate nothing more than when ADULTS let their parents walk all over them. It infuriates me to no end. And it’s a me thing. The writing in this book was so great. I loved the characters and their relationship but this one thing always ruins a story for me.

2. You’re telling me the “conflict” was that they never unblocked each other? Bffr. I’m sorry but how do you not realize you have them blocked/are blocked? And also, their close friends couldn’t talk to each other? If they wanted to get a hold of each other badly enough?

Otherwise I would have really enjoyed this book! But sometimes it’s the tiniest things that break you out the illusion the book puts you in.

I love a cute rom-com. Crash Landing was exactly that. I feel this book is a beach read to a T! A total must read for lovers of a cute rom-com.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the eArc!

Would not recommend starting this one while you are traveling on a plane BUT that is what I did.

Did the plane hit turbulence right after the crash that had me questioning my life decisions? Maybe. But it turned out much better for me that Piper and Wyatt.

The deets:
Piper is heading to the Bahamas to be the maid of honor in her best friend Allie’s wedding. But as her flight gets delayed and then canceled she has to find another way to get to the wedding. But as luck would have it her ex (and Allie’s cousin) just so happens to be on the same canceled flight as Piper and may be her ticket to make it to the wedding in time. But as a plane crash puts them off course, Piper and Wyatt find themselves in the classic “only-one-island” trope. Will they be able to make amends and make it off the island in time for the wedding? Or has this turned into the vacation that never ends?

My thoughts:
Overall this was a cute book and I really liked the survival aspect. We watch a lot of naked and afraid in my house and I did not have a hard time picturing some of the scenarios they found themselves in.

There are 2 open door scenes that are not overly descriptive.

This book felt light-hearted, even with the element of surviving on a desolate island.

Second chance romance time after crashing on a deserted island. Piper is on her way to her best friend’s destination wedding and a cancelled flight puts her on a private plane with her ex-boyfriend Wyatt piloting. And then they crash and are stuck together on an island til rescue can come. Awkward. But also gives them a chance to actually talk to each other and make-up. We get a split of present-day and past-day chapters, all from Piper’s POV, so we get to slowly see how they got together as high schoolers and then we slowly see how they become more comfortable around each other on the island. Between the survival terror and the emotional angst here, it makes for a higher-stakes read than most contemporary romances. I enjoyed it and thought that Wyatt’s caretaking of Piper was really nice. Spice level is fade-to-black.

This was a fun and such a fun idea! My only problem was it was super cheesy. I almost couldn't keep reading.

An exciting, atmospheric second chance romance that had me holding onto my seat from start to finish. Perfect for fans of Jo Segura and Christina Lauren.

I have been picking up and putting this book down, and I just can't seem to get into it. The characters are annoying me, which means I need to move on to something else. I know others have loved this, and I'm excited the author is getting great buzz. I won't be sharing any thoughts outside of here.

I loved this book so so so much. I was a little hesitant going into it, as I wasn't sure if I was gonna like the whole 'being stranded on an island' thing. But Annie McQuaid's writing had me hooked from page one. I really loved that we got flashbacks to Piper and Wyatt's meeting and throughout their high school years. I loved that we got to see their love blossom for the first and second time. I didn't love Piper until about halfway through, I think her being so upset about being stranded with Wyatt was throwing me off. Like it seemed like she was brushing off being stranded and was hung up on that it was with Wyatt of all people. I really did love her more and more the farther into the book I got, with more flashbacks and getting to see her get more comfortable with Wyatt again. I loved Wyatt's character so much, I did get annoyed with him when he kept being short and blunt with Piper, but again as he continued to get more comfortable and they worked through all their issues I loved him more.
I really enjoyed this book so much, I wish it was a hundred pages longer so I could see more of Wyatt and Piper in love.

The premise of this one was very cute and very fun - unfortunately it fell quite flat for me. I struggled to g4et invested and the dialogue just did not work for me.

I devoured this in one sitting and absolutely had a blast! This was such a unique premise - a second chance brought on by being STUCK ON A DESERTED ISLAND TOGETHER - and Annie did such an amazing job making this generally far-fetched concept feel real and honest. I loved the Now/Then we got with Piper and Wyatt, seeing their relationship blossom in high school and then getting to the root of why it broke. Both of these characters were flawed in their own ways, but always wanted nothing but the best for the other. There were some thriller elements to this, as well as some beautiful conversations about choices and life and the path they can take you down. I will definitely be looking for more from Annie!