If It Weren't For That Crash

by Stella Charmer

Skylar

How would you react if your world as you know it ceased to exist?

For me, it didn't register at the beginning.

As a professional dancer, my life revolves around moving my body as i desire to the sounds around me. expressing my feelings through dancing to the rhythm of the music.

I can't say that what i do is life changing, but for me, it is all i know.

For me, it saved my life.

Aidan

Being a surgeon is perceived as one of the most prestigious fields in Medicine. Little do they know the price it takes on your soul. I may be saving lives, but I'm killing myself in the process.

On the verge of quitting my job as a pediatric surgeon at one of the busiest hospitals in the country, a chance encounter during an emergency would forever change my life.

***

When two people in opposite turning points meet, would they realize how lucky they are, or would they just succumb to self pity of the situations they were put in?

But what do you know, sometimes the best thing that ever happened to you comes incased in the worst situation you were ever trapped in.

Skylar's dance career is the only stable thing she has in her life.

For Aidan, being a doctor is all he ever wanted.

What would happen when one HAS to change paths while the other chooses to abandon everything they worked for, everything they wanted.

At just the right time, their paths collide, and neither of their worlds would ever be the same.

Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2025

Reviews

[Kat C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and cute! Full of chemistry, emotional connections, and character growth. Stella and Aidan 💛 Many hardships float their way but together they overcome them, and independently they become stronger. Stella, the dancer with a broken leg, and Aidan, the doctor who doubts.

Read in two days and it’s not very often I finish a book so fast. I was hooked from the beginning and eagerly anticipating where the story would go. Will say there were grammatical errors but overall a great read.

[Tcozybookcorner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5+⭐️ {Kindle}
Thank you to author Stella Charmer for reaching out and asking for my thoughts on her book that launched this week. A contemporary fiction that explores, trauma, guilt, personal growth while ultimately finding love. This is her debut novel called 𝘐𝑓 𝐼𝘵 𝘞𝑒𝘳𝑒𝘯’𝘵 𝘧𝑜𝘳 𝘛ℎ𝘢𝑡 𝐶𝘳𝑎𝘴ℎ

An accident where a woman sacrifices her own safety to save a life. Enter Skylar. It’s an emotional journey for Skylar and Aiden. You learn how their pasts shape their present and how it could impact their future. A lot of emotion and angst in the chapters.

Their romance feels like finding a best friend and just holding on. Then later you get a slight 🌶️ factor. I loved the epilogue and of course Maui 🐶

For me, what could have made for an even higher rating is delving into Skylar’s past and family even more. They were great characters. I wanted to know them more and that story.

Overall I enjoyed reading and it was a good debut!

Favorite Quotes:
“𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣, 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙨 𝙞𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙬𝙠𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙡.”

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

... 'Skylar lives for dance—it’s her escape, her passion, her everything.
Aidan saves lives, but at the cost of his own sanity.
When fate throws them together at their lowest points, neither expects the impact they’ll have on each other.
She’s fighting to hold onto the life she built. He’s desperate to let go of the one that’s breaking him.
But love has a way of rewriting even the most carefully laid plans.
What will it take for them to break down their walls and create a future where they can both truly be happy?'...

I loved the male main character (Aiden) giving you a detailed insight to the lives of pediatric doctors and in turn the strains on their mental health. Being a mum myself, some of the situations he encountered with the children brought me to tears.

I also loved the dual perspectives of the two main characters, going deep into emotions, backgrounds and thoughts for their futures.

The family aspect was also a high point, with the young loss of both parents, found family with friends and the unconditional love of siblings.

With just the perfect amount of spice at the end 💗!

[Jordan Grilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big shout out to Stella the author for reaching out to me about reading this book and sharing my thoughts on it!

Honestly I loved it.
It was short and sweet and to the point
There were high points and there were low points
The chemistry Sky and Aiden shared was incredible.

At first I definitely thought the direction she was going was insta love, which isn’t my favorite. But she went the strangers, to friends, to lovers route which she nailed to perfection.

The tragedies and hardships that they both faced that brought them together, then apart, then back together was written and thought out so well.

Watching them work through their problems together and separately and still coming out together and stronger was great. They needed each other, but they also needed themselves.

I really did enjoy this book, it was a quick and easy read and something that felt totally mindless, but in the best way.

I would recommend this book for sure, especially if you’re in the mood for something short and sweet.

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: If It Weren’t For That Crash by Stella Charmer

This book felt like a hug when I didn’t know I needed one. I flew through Skylar and Aidan’s story in one cozy sitting, completely swept up in the tenderness, the heartbreak, and the quiet hope woven into every chapter.

Stella Charmer writes with such warmth and empathy—you can feel the kindness behind the words. Her characters are vulnerable, real, and beautifully human, and their journey reminded me that even in the hardest seasons, something soft and unexpected can find you.

If you’re looking for a story full of heart, healing, and a romance born from life’s messiest turns—this one’s for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
–S, still thinking about this one.

Thank you Stella for sharing your heart with me 🤍

[Natasha Kitenge · Rating 4 out of 5]

J’ai tellement adoré cette histoire, tout était bien fait, mais aussi les sujets importants qu’elle a raconté dans son histoire la dépression de burnout, l’accident qui est arrivé à Sky. Tout était trop bien fait, j’ai beaucoup aimé et puis leur histoire d’amour pour une fois qu’on a une romance sans beaucoup de smutt c’était parfait, j’ai adoré🥺💯

[Sharnee Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️

Wow! What a book, started this and the writing style just kept flowing so nicely it was hard to put down. I absolutely loved Skylar & Aidan’s story and how their relationship grew and was relatable to real life.

“she has become sort of an anchor for me to lean on.”

“He is all I never knew I wanted.”

[Megan Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

devoured this book in two days.

skylar is ran over by a car after saving a child, Adian is a doctor who witness the accident and helps. they bond over skylar's time in hospital and eventually fall in love

[Azaria Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a cute read.
Skylar was quite a strong FMC who didn’t give up when there were obstacles put in front of her.
Aidan yearning for her was just “chef kiss”

[Josipa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️