Crashing All the Way

by Anna Henkens Schmidt

They had to fall 30,000 feet to fall for each other.

Viv McKenzie has a plan for everything, including Christmas. A color-coded itinerary. A bullet-journaled bucket list. A printed boarding pass in a file folder. What she doesn't have a plan for is a canceled flight, a blizzard, and an emergency crash landing in the middle of the South Dakota Badlands on Christmas Eve.

Austin Taylor has a plan, too. Fly in, survive the pot roast, fly out. He's had good reasons for hating the holiday since he was nineteen years old, and one stranded flight isn't going to change that.

Except that the woman sitting next to him, the one with the Christmas bucket list and the romance novel and the unshakeable conviction that Christmas can be saved if you just want it badly enough, is making that very difficult.

Trapped overnight with sixty strangers, a zip-tied drunk, a cat named Tinkerbell, and a doctor with an improbable amount of peppermint bark, Viv and Austin discover that the best Christmas stories aren't the ones you plan.

They're the ones that crash-land on you.

Perfect for fans of forced proximity, dual POV romance, and Christmas stories with heart.

Genres: Holiday

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 27, 2026

Reviews

[FictionallyUnavailable · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your usual holiday romance book. This is survival, LOL moments, realistic characters you can connect with, newly forming connections, no smut.

The FMC is so realistic and easy to relate to. She needs her lists, likes to have control over things and gets flustered when things do not go as planned. Is a people pleaser to her family. Lover of Christmas.

The MMC is a golden retriever with a side of holiday grinch.

These two form a connection when their travel plans hit a sudden tragedy and they need to focus on survival.

• Christmas Romance
• Survival
• Forced Proximity
• No smut

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute romcom despite the serious setting of an airplane crash. Serious crushing vibes go on between these two characters as they both share all the things except their last names. I've never been stranded after a plane crash or in a plane crash at all so I can't testify to the authenticity of that aspect of the story. There was a bit that had me questioning things like why weren't people already layering their clothing for warmth when they learned they would be stuck overnight? Seems like a no brainer. Overall, the story was entertaining and a fun read.

Contains come mild language

[Patrick Cirillo]

I got an advance copy from the author. I have to say, this book was a delight. The dialogue is snappy, as a rom-com should be, and the characters are very good. The situation was plausible and the pacing solid. It was a cozy read, which is what the author was going for--a Christmas feel-good frolic that was neither too demanding nor trite. It threaded the needle just perfectly. It's a quick, easy read that engages as it entertains. What more could you want from a Christmas story?

[Bri Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique Christmas romance! I am a lot like Viv when it comes to type A personality. It was sweet to see her change throughout the book as her walls came down a bit. Austin is just a green flag all around. Overall a 4/5 for me

This is an arc review but all opinions are my own *

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Henkens Schmidt has created a delightful cozy Christmas read. The characters are relatable and enjoyable. It’s nice to have fun and unique romance without any spice! Pick this up for your Christmas read this year!

[Talitha Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two passengers of a plane crash could not resist the gravitational pull toward each other after teaming up to survive the unexpected Christmas they endured on a stranded aircraft. They both had unique quarks that made it more interesting and layered than a Hallmark special. I liked that the real family conflicts surrounding Christmas were acknowledged with vulnerability and humor. A great book to read to bring in the holiday season and prepare yourself for all the unexpected blessings that may come to us in even the most difficult of circumstances.

[Sara Clyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a small town girl…

Great read… the camaraderie during a catastrophe was something that totally reflects the Midwest is the Best mantra!!! Viv and Austin’s budding romance was fun to watch it unfold.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Christmas story.
And honestly I expected a sweet Hallmark movie. But this book covered some real life situations. The author addressed the expectations and realities of the Christmas season.
I loved the characters, I felt like I knew them all.
A good read for the season.

[Rachel Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect, feel-good Christmas story that is different from the usual romance. I absolutely loved it! The Christmas magic was alive throughout the whole book!

[Jennifer Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aside from unlocking a new, probably irrational fear of my plane crashing at Christmas and leaving me stranded with a plane full of hangry, grumpy passengers, Crashing All the Way was such a fun Christmas read.

Viv is just trying to get home for Christmas with her carefully planned holiday checklist intact. Instead, delays, cancellations, and one very eventful flight keep dismantling those plans one by one. The upside? She ends up sitting beside Austin, a handsome stranger who looks like he could've stepped straight out of one of the Christmas romance novels she works with every day. The problem is that Austin could give Ebenezer Scrooge a run for his money.

I loved the premise, but what really pulled me in was how easy it was to put myself in Viv's shoes. The airport frustration, the personalities on the plane, the tension as everything begins going wrong, and the emotions of the passengers around her all felt vivid enough that I wasn't simply reading about the experience. I felt stuck there with them.

Underneath the humor and Christmas chaos, though, both Viv and Austin are carrying family baggage that has shaped the way they approach relationships, responsibility, and the holidays. I especially loved seeing Austin's instinct to take care of everyone around him come through when things went wrong. There was more heart beneath his bah-humbug exterior than he wanted anyone to see.

Crashing All the Way is funny, heartfelt, a little chaotic, and full of Christmas. It's a story about what happens when all your carefully made plans fall apart and you discover that something unexpected might be waiting in the wreckage.

But maybe don't read it immediately before a Christmas Eve flight....

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crashing All the Way by Anna Henkens Schmidt is a delightful holiday romance filled with humor, unexpected twists, and Christmas charm. I loved the contrast between Viv, who thrives on planning and loves Christmas, and Austin, who has a much different outlook on the holiday. Their personalities created plenty of funny moments and sweet interactions as they navigate an unexpected adventure together. What made this story enjoyable was the mix of romance, suspense, and heartfelt moments. The characters are faced with circumstances they never expected, reminding readers that life doesn't always go according to plan and sometimes those unexpected detours lead to the best things in life. Overall, Crashing All the Way is a charming and entertaining read with a sweet message about love, hope, and embracing the unexpected.

I received an ARC copy from StoryOrigin. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this novel and share my honest review of the novel

[Vincent Benefico · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful holiday romance that puts two people together under terrifying circumstances. While the attraction is immediate, how can a Christmas-loving book publisher ever fall for a man who happens to despise the very holiday they are traveling to celebrate? Love, however, must remain on the back burner as the situation worsens. This allows the lead characters to reveal their inner selves and sets in motion the events that lead to the satisfying climax. Well written, heartfelt, charming and full of real emotions and plenty of wit, Crashing All The Way is the perfect Christmas romance for readers of all ages.

[Cari Rees · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading a book that you can relate to in your own personal life. Viv and Austin meet unexpectedly on a flight to have Christmas with family. And their plane goes down in the middle of a blizzard. So many feelings of emotion while reading this! It’s cozy but in a different way from being home at Christmas. I also have been inspired to make a Christmas bucket list! If you love a grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, no spice/clean romance and survival elements also real life issues people deal with everyday then you should definitely read this!!

[Luke Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful, heartfelt, and very, very funny. If you're looking for a Christmas romcom that delivers on all three ingredients, you can't do much better.
And this could easily be adapted into a low-budget movie! (nudge nudge ahem Hollywood)