While my family and I usually had extremely different tastes in television, the one thing we could all agree on was that Lost, the science fiction series following a group of plane crash survivors on a mysterious island, was perfect family viewing. There was a bit of something for everyone, from mystery to romance, and there were rarely any arguments when the suggestion to watch the show came up. Everyone would gather in their unofficial spots in the living room with bowls of popcorn and drinks as we watched two or three episodes.
Crash Landing, a new romance book by Annie McQuaid, is the ideal book for people like me who watched Lost as a kid and have since been trying to find a piece of media that scratches a similar itch. Piper and Wyatt dated in high school, and things were serious until Wyatt walked away. Years later, as they head to their mutual friend’s wedding, they end up stuck on an island after their plane crashes. Tensions are high as they miss the wedding and just try to reach someone as a search ensues, and Piper realizes what she really wants in life, romance, and otherwise.
This is a second-chance romance that drips the information about Piper and Wyatt’s past only when you need it. With the dual timeline, the reader isn’t let in on anything too soon, and that makes the reveal of why their breakup happened pack that much more of a punch. While crashing on an island isn’t the ideal scenario, it does force them to have the emotionally vulnerable conversations they need to, and that’s balanced well with their discussions on how to survive their predicament. Much like Lost, romance and survival go hand in hand, and while there are moments where romance might take priority, as the sun sets each day, they’re still forced to find food and grapple with issues as they come up.
Piper and Wyatt’s time on the island and what they experience are realistic. There’s no idealism here as they deal with injuries, accidents, and the crushing reality that, despite being able to contact rescuers, they might not find them in time. Because the story is told mostly through Piper’s point of view, the reader only gets her inner thoughts about the situation, but they are what I imagine most would be if they were also stranded on an island. She’s worried about their survival, but also about missing a landmark moment for her friend and what will happen if rescuers don’t come.
Piper goes on an emotional journey not just as she comes to terms with why she and Wyatt originally ended, but also how that opens up her eyes to other ways her life was decided for her. She’s done so much because of the expectations thrown on her, and her growth as she becomes more confident in her decisions, wants, and needs for her life is wonderful to read. Do I wish it hadn’t taken crashing on an island with her ex to bring that out? For sure, but I’m glad it happened because it results in her living a more authentic life.
Between the romance, the realism, and the personal growth, Crash Landing is everything I loved about Lost. As someone who was rooting so hard for Claire and Charlie, Piper and Wyatt's happy ending is exactly what I needed.