Out of the Woods by @hannahby
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Happy Release Day!!

Hannahby's novel Out on a Limb was one of my absolute favorite books last year. I was obsessed with Bo and Win's story, so I was very excited when I heard there would be a book two starring Win's best friend Sarah and her high school sweetheart, Caleb.

Sarah and Caleb's story is told in multiple timelines, shifting between the beginning of their love story and the present- when Sarah and Caleb venture out on a camping relationship retreat to get their marriage back on track.

You guys. I loved this book so much. The witty dialogue, Sarah and Caleb's vulnerability, appearances by Bo and Win (and August 🥹), the character development, the wilderness adventures, and the quirky fellow camper side characters...it all made for a truly wonderful, heartfelt read.

Read this if you like:
💫 dual timelines
💫 high school sweethearts/first loves
💫 marriage in crisis/second chance romance
💫 reader/writer girl + nerdy guy
💫 outdoorsy adventures
💫 and obviously if you liked Out on a Limb!!

Thank you to @netgalley and Random House publishing group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

✨ A Heartwarming Journey of Love, Found Friendship, Family, and Second Chances ✨

I actually didn't expect it to be this good! At its core, the story is about Sarah Linwood as she navigates her life, questioning her sanity, and struggling with existential questions. She wants to be proud of herself, to have a life of her own, and to build something for herself—success or failure—without hiding in the shadow of her husband, Caleb Linwood.

When I first read about Sarah's life, I questioned what she was looking for. Her life seemed perfect as it was. She had her best friend, Win, her perfect husband, Caleb, and a life of luxury as Caleb managed his company while Sarah stayed at home, taking on the responsibilities of a housewife. However, as I delved deeper into Sarah's world, how she had to grow up so fast and marry Caleb at the very young age of 19. I found myself deeply resonating with her. She had every valid reason for wanting to create something for herself. Sarah might outwardly seem like she was "winning in life," but she was slowly losing herself over the years. She felt lost.

Meanwhile, Caleb was perfectly content with their routine and lifestyle. Having gotten used to Sarah being a housewife, managing the company, and living up to his father’s legacy, he was afraid to disrupt their lives. He was so focused on protecting Sarah at all costs that he forgot Sarah had her own life to live, her own dreams to pursue.

As Sarah and Caleb joined the "Reignite" camp led by Helen and Yvonne, I found myself completely immersed in their world, navigating through the forest, imagining the camp, and connecting with the other campers: Nina, Jai, Maggie, Phil, Henry, Kieran, Helen, Yvonne, and Libby. Through Helen and Yvonne's guidance, as they helped Sarah and Caleb work through their inner struggles and relationship issues, I found myself learning a lot from their journey. As someone who also struggles with existential crises and feelings of being lost, this book hit me right in the feels. Hannah Bonam-Young is such a talented author and has quickly become one of my favorites.

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young is a powerful and heartwarming story that I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone, especially if you’re struggling to openly communicate your feelings with your family or spouse. This book feels like a self-help guide wrapped in fiction, offering valuable lessons while telling a compelling story.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for giving me the opportunity to experience this wonderful and amazing story of Sarah and Caleb.

✨ WHAT I LIKED:
📌 Win suggesting the camp
📌 Sarah and Caleb’s journey through adulthood
📌 Win and Sarah's platonic friendship
📌 Sarah finally opening up to Cyrus! (Wow! That was intense!)
📌 Michelle finally living for herself
📌 Bo and Caleb being supportive husbands to Win and Sarah

✨TROPES:
📌 Second Chances at Love
📌 Marriage in Trouble
📌 Healing and Growth
📌 Platonic Friendship
📌 Found Family
📌 A Moderate Amount of Spice

🖥️ GOODREADS REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7240239139

👩‍💻 INSTAGRAM REVIEW: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFXjrRgyEVo/?igsh=eW8xOTdqbm0xZHFk

💻 BLOG REVIEW: https://kimthebookdragon.com/2025/01/28/arc-review-out-of-the-woods/

💻 LINKED IN REVIEW: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kinanahmanalao_arc-review-out-of-thewoods-activity-7289963676638265344-VyFE?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

💻 FABLE REVIEW: https://fable.co/post/6bd91186-341c-4deb-8ee0-98f07918894a

💻 FACEBOOK REVIEW:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Eh1CAPihT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

💻 THREAD REVIEW:
https://www.threads.net/@kimthebookdragon/post/DFXmjLdyGTD?xmt=AQGz_Dp5DlNlxlQ_NxtJhu0CQQvEhwOKJ7SiB1ZxCqcxBA

Okay, this book was something. I don't think a lot of my thoughts are positive because I do think Sarah made up a lot of problems in her relationship that weren't there, and most of the time I did understand why she felt the way she felt, but I was just so mad. Like overall sometimes I felt bad for Caleb. It was a bit slow and the smut scenes were just not for me.

I will say this didn't have the magic Out of a Limb had, and I get why a lot of people didn't like it.

It was okay.

This book did NOT disappoint, but HBY never does.

The story begins at a fundraising gala Sarah organizes in memory of her late mother. When her hard work falls short, Caleb, her husband, makes an anonymous donation to save the event. Sarah resents his interference, sparking an argument that forces her to confront her growing unhappiness. After giving up her dream of writing and still grieving her mother, Sarah feels unfulfilled, and her marriage with Caleb feels strained as resentment and questions about their relationship’.

Eventually, Sarah agrees to a week-long couples therapy hiking retreat. The journey pushes both Sarah and Caleb to their limits, forcing them to confront their fears and past hurts and see if their marriage can make it through.

Perfect for lovers of: marriage in crisis, high school sweethearts, camping, dual timelines,

What can I say? The story perfectly balances the humor of marriage with the heartfelt struggles of Sarah and Caleb’s relationship. Watching Sarah try to express her feelings while Caleb grapples with understanding her pain feels real and gut-wrenching. Their conversations are written so perfectly that it's impossible not to feel every moment. I was UGLY crying by the end of this.

Out of the Woods is a book that deserves to be read more than once, and I recommend it to everyone who loves a truly emotional read.

This book was so lovely and refreshing. It’s a companion to Out on a Limb (so Win & Bo are around too) and follows Sarah & Caleb this time. They are trying navigate a difficult time in their marriage, and decide to go on a wilderness retreat/couples counseling trip. They have been together since they were in high school so there are also flashback scenes which give so much insight into Sarah’s emotions surrounding the loss of her mom. That being said, it’s also really funny. Hannah Bonam-Young always finds the perfect balance between humor and honest emotion in her stories, which makes the characters feel authentic. It’s just a wonderful book, with great characters, and a unique love story full of heart. 4.5 stars ✨

First of all I LOVED that this was a romance that was repairing an existing relationship, I feel like this isn’t a theme I come across or read very often, but I’m going to be searching for it now!!

Our FMC did frustrate me a little at the beginning, but I found I warmed up to her fairly quickly. I appreciated the depth of the characters and the struggles they’d faced. Particularly with Sarah, reading about her grief was emotional for me due to personal reasons, but she felt so real to me.

I thought the setting of an outdoorsy retreat was so fun too, definitely something I want to read more of! The supporting characters felt very distinct and unique, and I loved their group dynamic.

I read this in two sittings - I couldn’t put it down! It had moments of sadness but was perfectly balanced with humor and sweet interactions between our MCs. I can’t recommend this enough!! It didn’t give me that 5 star feeling, but I can see Hannah Bonam-Young hitting that mark with their future releases. Thank you so much Netgalley for the arc, I may have just found a new auto-buy author!

4/5 ★

SO SO grateful for this arc ahhh!!! i loved caleb and sarah in out on a limb and was so intrigued knowing their trope was marriage in crisis!!!

their love story was so heartwarming, seeing how they went from high school sweethearts and got married so young and they went through so much at such a young age and have come so far together is everything! seeing the flashbacks of all of them together growing up and sticking to together was so good and comparing it to the present where they are struggling with so much stuff they have bottled up from then to now was written so so well!

sarah omg…my girl she needed this retreat SO BAD and i’m so glad how everything turned out, the way her life crisis and issues with losing her mother were written was absolutely amazing, and the way she portrayed her pain with how she treated caleb and how it affected their relationship was so good! her journey was so so healing and i loved seeing the growth, especially THE PAPER AIRPLANES SCENE!!!!

caleb was and has always been everything i love my sweet nerdy man, he loved sarah so much and would do anything for her and i loved seeing how even he was affected by everything not because he was mad or upset with her but because he loved her so much, seeing how he dealt with everything and his own issues that he wanted to work on that went back to his family was written so well, their ups and downs were portrayed so well and they just loved each other so much!!

one of the cutest quotes from thew book: “‘If you give me the space to grow, I’ll plant myself next to you. Always.’”

woooowwww. i already expected to love this book as much as i did because i am in love with any and everything Hannah writes. however, i did not expect this book to hit me as HARD as it did. this felt like a heavy weight champion delivering the winning blow to my gut seventeen times in a row. i know that it's hard to believe i mean that in a good way, but believe me when i say i mean that in the BEST way. from a momma's girl (as in, my mommy's my best friend), this book kicks your ass pretty hard in that department (shout out to the 845 people who saw me crying in my story. where did u all come form???)

i loved everything about this book. the individuality of sarah and caleb, even though the story is told from one perspective. you really walk away feeling like you know both sides of the story and you're able to empathize with both of them. i loved the importance of bo and win in this story, even though they aren't the main characters they don't feel like ghosts nor do they feel like they're trying to take any attention away from the story as a whole. i love that it talks about grief, about a positive mother-daughter relationship (sometimes, very rare in books, especially in romance, i've found).

now, bare with me, you know i gotta get a little in my feels (as i so often do)

weirdly, this book also helped me understand myself a little more when it comes to how i was raised and my faith -- or lack thereof, i suppose, and how it's tangled in how i work through grief. the first quotes i highlighted in the book were, "My mother was religious in the same way that leggings are pants. By that I mean whenever times were desperate or for comfort." and "Desperate prayer is the only kind I've ever known.". it's funny how, after you've lost someone you love, even if you aren't very religious yourself, you turn to desperate prayer in hopes that you can either a.) speak to them just one more time and b.) send out a plea and hope that there's something bigger out there who is willing to take some of this sadness from you. some of this anger, anxiety, hopelessness. i'm not religious by any means, i do not subscribe to nor do i practice any type of faith. and that's not to say i don't believe in something bigger than me, but i think books like this (open to interpretation) are so beautiful. prayer, or whatever else you want to call it. it's so personal, it doesn't need an answer, it doesn't even need to make sense to anyone else except you.

now did any of *this* make sense? like most of my rantings - probably not. if you're still reading this (hi, especially you hannah), i just want you to know i love this book. i want to hug it into my chest until the heat from my body melts it into me. thank you, bye bye <3

thank you dell romance and netgalley for an earc in exchange for an honest review :)

This book offers a refreshingly raw and honest take that sets it apart from other romance novels. It goes beyond the typical happily-ever-after, delving into what happens next—the balance between growing together as a couple and fostering individual growth. The story is deeply relatable, not just for those who married young but for anyone navigating a period of feeling stuck or unfulfilled. The flashbacks and backstory of Caleb and Sarah’s high school relationship are seamlessly woven into their present-day struggles, creating a compelling and heartfelt narrative.

Favorite quote: “If you give me the space to grow, I’ll plant myself next to you. Always.”

PUB DATE: January 28th, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing an advanced reader’s copy 🤎

Hannah Bonam-Young has done it again! Out of the Woods is an absolutely work of art and the marriage-in-trouble trope is written well. Caleb and Sarah's story is full of self-discovery, joy, importance of communication, the realities of marriage, and it will make you cry & laugh. It is pure, raw, and beautifully emotional. The lost feeling that Sarah has, the feeling that we have nothing to show for ourselves, is something I related to on a really deep level. My heart ached for her. I just wanted to wrap her in a warm hug. We see parts into Caleb and his need to make everyone around him happy. His fears of change and how that has affected his relationship is handled perfectly. I saw myself in him. This relationship is realistic and presented in such a vulnerable way, it is easy to fall in love with them and root for their growth. Sarah and Caleb's story both shattered my heart and healed it back together in the end. I adore these characters. It is a beautiful story. I cannot recommend this one enough!

"We've opened our hearts, let the ugly out, and welcomed each other's darkness with kind regard. And this is our reward."

"I don't want easy. I don't want anyone else. I want you, Sar. I want to be the only man ever lucky enough to be loved by you."

"You can go as far as you need to, but you'll always be a part of me.
You will always be the second voice in my head. The force that surrounds me. The source I pull inspiration from. I am sorry if it's too late. Sorry for myself that I'll have to go on as half of a whole.
And I hope that if you have to rewrite your life, you won't erase my part in it, that you'll let me stay a part of your story."

"If you give me the space to grow, i'll plant myself next to you.
Always."

I loved how emotionally complex and thoughtful this story was. It handled the big and small emotions with the same love, care, and support.

The cast of characters was fun (I loved Jai/Nina and the parallels with Libby). Sarah and Caleb's growth was well executed and felt so natural. I loved the setting, the sharing they did with each other and others, and just the overall vibe of this story. I especially enjoyed Sarah coming into her own journey to find her passion.

Caleb [and Bo] is the blueprint for men because he’s so supportive and thoughtful when it comes to his wife.

WOWOWOWEEEE this was freaking amazing. I wasn't sure how this would measure up to its interconnected standalone peer, Out of the Woods, but Caleb and Sarah's story flowed perfectly from Bo & Win without missing a beat. This was such a beautifully written love story, and truly made me believe in soulmates by the end. I honestly can't recommend this enough (or any of Hannah Bonam-Young's previously published works) and I can't wait to read it again soon.

I knew about halfway through this was going to be my new fave HBY book. The way that Hannah wrote grief of losing a parent, of losing who you expected to be, and trying to find your way through that realization all while feeling stuck lowkey gutted me. I cried about 30ish% of the way through this one. I loved seeing Win&Bo&Gus throughout, and the new cast of side characters, but the focus truly was on Sarah and Caleb and them finding themselves and each other all over again, moving forward to something better.

ah!! i had a lot of fun with this one. reminiscent of “Happiness for Beginners”, Caleb and Sarah partake in a camping retreat in hopes to rekindle their otherwise stagnant marriage. i fell in love with Hannah's writing in “Out on a Limb” (seriously, who didn't after that book?), and this one was just as good. just as tender. just as meaningful. their problems felt real and honest, something i always value in a romance. truly, i resonated very much with Sarah, frequently felt flushed by Caleb simply existing on the page, and let the record show: i love Maggie and Phil with my whole heart. thank you bunches to NetGalley, Dell, and Hannah Bonam-Young for providing this eARC! until the next one <3

ARC REVIEW: thank you to Dell Romance and Hannah Bonam-Young for my e-arc.

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young
🩷genre: contemporary romance
📱format: ebook
🔥spice: open door
🗓️Available now

📌Book includes: high school sweethearts, forced proximity, marriage in trouble, dual timelines, found family

Listen, at this point Hannah Bonam-Young is an all time fave author of mine. Her books speak to me in a way that I don’t even know how to describe. It’s a tradition now that I re-read Out on a Limb every year and I will have to add this to the lineup now too. Sarah and Caleb and their story together is so painfully beautiful! I found myself almost tearing up multiple times throughout this story. But don’t worry there is plenty of laugh out loud moments too. They are such an unlikely pair but they bring out the absolute best in each other. I hope HBY continues to give us more stories with this group of friends because I don’t know what to do without them.

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.

Oh my god.. Where do i even begin? Hannah Bonam-Young has done it again!

Out of the Woods follows Sarah and Caleb who are high school sweethearts with some new found marital problems. Sarah is feeling lost without any purpose, and feels like even her husband doesn’t believe in her. In hopes in reigniting their marriage, they go on a wilderness retreat for couples.

I felt such a strong connection to Sarah throughout this book, it was unreal. Sarah suffers from self-doubt and not feeling adequate enough, and I completely understand the feeling. Also, seeing how her grief affects her years and years down the line was so relatable. The song “right where you left me” by taylor swift reminds me of the beginning of her journey. I also really resonated with her striving to be her own person in a relationship that she’s been in for years. When you’re with someone for such a long time, sometimes it gets difficult to find where they end and you begin, and I think that HBY depicted that SO well in this book.

I also LOVED the book girly representation!

I genuinely loved reading Sarah and Caleb’s story, it hurt at times, and other times I was laughing out loud. Hannah Bonam-Young just knows how to write a romance that will truly make you FEEL.

This was 4.5⭐️ and it solidified Hannah Bonam-Young as an auto-buy author for me!

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for an early copy in return for an honest review.

OUT OF THE WOODS
By Hannah Bonam-Young
5 Stars
Swipe for GoodReads Synopsis
Publish Date: January 28, 2025

I’ve been a huge fan of Hannah’s for a long time, and was FLOORED when I received an ARC for her latest book. I still think about Out on a Limb a lot. If you haven’t read that one, read it immediately!

Out of the Woods follows high school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb (who we first meet in Out on a Limb!) as they navigate growing as individuals and as a couple.

My husband and I have been together since I was 20, and I’ve always craved reading a book like this. As I told my husband it’s a “lover to lover romance” 😍

I love Hannah’s books because she captures the ups and downs of real life so beautifully. Her characters are fully formed. They make mistakes but keep trying. Her books are my ideal romances. A perfect mix of reality and hopeful optimism.

Also Caleb. Hubba Hubba 🥰🤣

Make sure you pick this one up!! It’s out tomorrow (Jan 28!)!!!

Congrats Hannah on another incredible novel!

Thank you to Hannah, Dell Romance, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Wow I simply have no words! Out of the Woods is similar to Abby Jimenez’s Part of Your World Series where the books are standalone, but you see some cute Easter eggs from earlier books. Because of that, I was going to jump into this one, but changed my mind and read the first, Out on a Limb. I’m so glad I did because A) the first book was amazing and B) I loved getting glimpses of Win and Bo and this second one!

Buuut, as for this book, I was initially skeptical. It seemed like the miscommunication trope was going to be the focal point, which it is. But, just like with Out on a Limb, Hannah takes this trope that a lot of folks have a negative reaction to, and writes such a beautiful story.

I loved Sarah and Caleb’s growth. I loved the emphasis that “perfect” couples have imperfections. I loved the humor, the tension, the revelations - every single little moment was perfection!

The only thing holding me back from a 5 is the final little surprise. It felt a bit rushed and unnecessary to drive the point home. (Intentionally leaving that vague to not spoil anything)

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, NetGalley and Hannah Bonam-Young for letting me read this book early! Out of the Woods releases Jan 28!

I absolutely love Hannah Bonam-Young (HBY)! She has never missed in terms of the beautiful and inclusive romances she's written so far. Out of the Woods has not broken her streak. I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in a day. Out of the Woods is already one of my favourite books of 2025!

This is a story about Sarah and Caleb who fell in love young during tough circumstances and have been each other's pillar of support since always. They got married young and were never able to define themselves out side of each other, especially Sarah. It's not so much a marriage in crisis or second chance, but rather giving yourself a second chance to be the person you need to be so that you can love yourself and the love of your life.

I loved seeing the loving and vulnerable dynamic between Sarah and Caleb. It felt so real and there are so many points that I got misty eyed seeing how genuinely they expressed their feelings about themselves and each other. They're two kids who had to grow up so fast but found their person to experience life the whole way. How many people are lucky to find 'The One' so early in their life?

HBY has the incredible ability of making her characters so genuine and life-like. All of Sarah and Caleb's arguments feel real - they're raw, cutting and sharp because the two of them have held so much of their feelings inside and they know each other so well. Similarly, their chemistry is so burning hot because of how well they know each other and how long they've loved each other. Caleb loves every inch of Sarah and everything she's brought into his life. They're so kind to each other while also figuring out how to be better without hurting each other. In a few short pages, HBY managed to show second chance/marriage in crisis stories don't always have to be toxic and biting - they can be a slow build up of unhappiness that can be dealt with in a healthy way so that everyone benefits. She convinced us that Caleb and Sarah Linwood are meant to be together and that they will be together until their final breaths.

Thank you so much Dell for the opportunity to read and review this book!