This story hit me right in the feels in the most unexpectedly relatable way. While the relationship part between Sarah and Caleb wasn’t super relatable to me personally, the feeling of being stuck in the same routine or day-to-day things definitely was. Sarah’s character felt so real, like she could be any of us who’ve ever felt that way. I loved the “then & now” format because it let me experience both the spark of her and Caleb’s beginning and the depth of where they are now.

The therapy conversations were thoughtful, the emotional growth was beautiful, and the connection between Sarah and Caleb was everything. After more than a decade together, they’re still absolutely gone for each other, and it was such a reminder that love can (and should) keep growing.

Oh, and let me just say… reading this at 1 a.m. had me ugly crying 😭😭. Why do the late-night reads always hit the hardest? And that SLOWWW burn? Hannah had me waiting so long for the payoff, and when the spice finally arrived… chef’s kiss. Worth every second of anticipation. 🔥

Huge thanks to Hannah Bonam-Young and NetGalley for the ARC. I’m sharing my honest review in exchange for the advanced copy, and my heart is still camped out inside this book.

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young is a warm and honest romance about healing, love, and second chances. The characters feel real and easy to connect with, and their relationship builds in a natural, heartfelt way. The story touches on some serious topics, but it does so with care and hope. While the plot is a bit predictable at times, the emotions and connection between the characters make it a really enjoyable read. A solid four stars.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

I DEVOURED this book. Sarah and Caleb are not the couple I expected them to be, they are 100x better. They were real, and raw, and broken, and so HUMAN. Hannah does an incredible job at writing characters that feel as if I was sitting across a table from them talking to them.

Sarah and Caleb are married with no kids (BY CHOICE YAS) who are struggling with their marriage. They end up going on a week long hiking trip run by two therapists, the catch is, they cannot be physical with each other at all. Oh, and there are other couples with them working on their own relationships.

Hannah beautifully explores the idea of how to be who you are, while also being connected to someone else. There are flashbacks the whole book, which I personally loved, to give you a big picture of what is going on with both characters. While the book is written from Sarah's perspective I found myself loving Caleb just as much.

As someone who is single, I though I might not connect with the characters in the same way since they were marries, and had been together since their teens. Hannah writes in such a way that ANYONE can recognize the deep fear of not knowing who you are, and trying to find out who that person is.

EVERYONE should read this book.

HBY is becoming one of my favorite romance authors out there. After reading Out On A Limb, I was hooked. Hearing that Sarah and Caleb got their own book? I was so in. In many romance novels, the overreliance on the miscommunication trope makes me wanna throw the book at the nearest wall and take a lap around the house. What I love about this book was the fact that while there were things the characters withheld, it never felt like they weren’t communicating. It felt like they were working up to it, showing little pieces of their hearts to each other until they felt ready to unload all the ugly things they had inside. Add on the humor, the tenderness, and the endearing side characters? I was so very along for the ride. Beautifully done, highly recommend! 4⭐

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I absolutely LOVED this book! Out on a Limb was a favorite of mine and I was super excited for Out of the Woods, and it did not disappoint.

I absolutely adored Sarah and Caleb’s relationship and their chemistry and I think the camping trip was such a fun experience as a reader. I appreciated the trope of a marriage being in trouble and how they were able to come back together.

Thank you to the publisher and Hannah Bonam-Young for a copy of this ARC!

I really enjoy this authors writing style and the characters she creates generally speak to me. This story is one of those “you either relate or you don’t” and I struggled to relate to Sarah. I think I would personally enjoy this story with less spice because it felt misplaced at times.

Hannah Bonam-Young is an author that is an automatic read for me. I love the depth of her characters and the pacing of her novels. While I did not enjoy this one as much as her previous books, it still held my interest.

"High school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb Linwood have always been a sure thing. For the past seventeen years, they have had each other’s backs through all of life’s ups and downs, achievements, losses, stages, and phases.
But Sarah has begun to wonder... Who is she without her other half?
When she decides to take on a project of her own, a fundraising gala in memoriam of her late mother, Sarah wants nothing more than to prove to herself—and to everyone else—that she doesn’t need Caleb’s help to succeed. She’s still her mother’s daughter, after all. Independent and capable.
That is until the event fails and Caleb uninvitedly steps in to save the day.
The rift that follows unearths a decade of grievances between them and doubts begin to grow. Are they truly the same people they were when they got married at nineteen? Are they supposed to be?
In a desperate attempt to fix what they fear is near breaking, Sarah and Caleb make the spontaneous decision to join a grueling hiking trip intended to guide couples through rough patches.
What follows is a life-affirming comedy of errors as two nature-averse people fight their way out of the woods in order to find their way back to their roots." -Goodreads

Oh how I love Hannah Bonam-Young. 😍
She has quickly become one of my favorite authors. This book was so sweet and heartfelt. I highly recommend this one, and all of her others. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Out of the Woods started out a slow for me, but I'm glad I stuck with it! I'll be honest, I tend to shy away from "romance" books where the characters are already married, because, let's face it, the thrill of the chase is sometimes the best part! Sarah and Caleb have been married for 17 years but their story is filled with beautiful messages of growing together and accepting each others' changes even if it means shifting the dynamics of their relationship in the process. I love how Hannah Bonam-Young can hone in on the struggles that so many women face... losing themselves in relationships, not recognizing the people they've become, and longing for the "old" version of themselves. She writes with humility, honesty, and a palpable hope. Out of the Woods is the story of Sarah and Caleb, but also the story of Sarah without Caleb.

Another HBY book that I will highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Out of the Woods by Hannah Woods is a raw, moving, and refreshingly honest memoir about navigating trauma, burnout, and the messy, non-linear path to healing. Woods' writing is sharp and emotionally grounded... never veering into melodrama, but instead offering a clear-eyed, compassionate look at what it means to fall apart and begin again.

Her journey through nature and mental health recovery is deeply personal yet incredibly relatable. I especially appreciated how she wove her connection to the natural world into her healing process. It didn’t feel forced or idealized, but grounded and real. The mix of memoir and nature writing worked beautifully and added a calming, introspective tone throughout.

This book doesn’t offer easy answers, but that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. It’s a quiet but resonant reminder that healing is complicated, courageous, and absolutely worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’m so glad I had the chance to read this one.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book going into it since it’s about a married couple going through a rough patch. I’ve never been married and didn’t think I’d fully understand their feelings.

However, I’m so thankful I gave it a shot! Sarah and Caleb’s relationship grows so much stronger in this book and I love their dynamic! I also related to who Sarah is so much! She feels as though she never succeeds in doing anything by herself and kind of gives up and her dreams. It’s so refreshing to see someone else go through that and navigate it!

This is a reminder to read books that you think you won’t relate to!!

This was a great book! This is my new favorite author. I’ve read every book now and can’t wait to read more. 🥰

Once again Hannah Bonam-Young has written another great romance novel! Sarah and Caleb were introduced in Out on a Limb as Win’s married friends. They are both going through some tough marriage troubles and decided to go on a therapy camping retreat with other couples to try and resolve those issues. It was so great to read about their past and how they met as teenagers. Also, how Sarah was impacted by her Mother’s death. It was emotional, funny, romantic and steamy! I really love Hannah’s writing and how she is able to write characters that have insane chemistry through the page!

Really enjoyed this take on a “romance” novel! The couple starts already together, and stays together, but is a very realistic insight into finding your person before you’ve learned who you are yourself. 4.5 stars!

Hannah Bonam-Young does healthy, loving couples like no other, and this second chance romance was no exception! I loved how we got to see the characters grow and talk through their issues. It felt so realistic and deeply romantic.

I read and loved Out on a Limb right before this came out, so I was excited to see more of Sarah and Caleb. While I enjoyed it, I also didn't really think it needed to exist? It felt like their issues could have been solved with a few months of marriage counseling and learning to communicate their feelings and problems in a clearer way.

I loved this take on a second chance romance. It was sort of wonderful to see these two grow back together after seeing them so in love in "Out on a Limb."

First I want to start off by saying I love her writing so much! I didn’t love this one as much as the first but it was still really cute. It made me laugh and cry and I am so glad we got to see more of Sarah and Caleb’s story. I am so glad they got to work out their issues because they’re the perfect couple. If Hannah writes it, I’m reading it!

Oh gosh, it must be the best "already married/marriage in trouble" story I've ever read! This is a sequel of sorts to Out on a Limb, but it's ok to read this as a standalone (but totally don't, Out on a Limb is a fantastic book!).

Sarah and Caleb are high school sweethearts. They've been together for over a dozen years. Caleb is very successful, and Sarah is feeling... kinda lost.

So she starts a benefit for her mom, who she lost when she was young (the book flashes back and forth to their past). When it looks like it's going to fail, Caleb steps in.

The two of them go on a hiking retreat for couples. Each of the other couples are in different aspects of their own relationships (married, dating). It's an eye-opening trip.

The whole book I was like, they've got to work it out! I love them too much!

Won't spoil the ending, but the book is great!

As a women who married her high school sweetheart right after High School, this book hit close to home! It’s emotional, funny, sweet and just a very relatable romance. I’ll always be in awe of the magic Hannah Bonam Young can put in her books. Beautiful story!!