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!

OMG. Are you kidding me. I’m so obsessed I can’t even stop thinking should Win and Caleb.

I will be doing a reread soon.

🌲 Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young🌲

I’ve have heard such amazing things about Hannah Bonam-Young, so I was super excited when I received this ARC! Before I get into the review I want to thank Hannah Bonam-Young, Dell, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book exceeded my expectations! I become so attached to both Sarah and Caleb that I read this book so quickly and even after finishing this book, I kept thinking about them. I related to both Sarah and Caleb because of the fact that they both had to deal with so much at such a young age. I desperately fell in love with their character development, and I even felt myself grow and heal in a weird way. I loved the fact that they were both willing to step up and try and help each other out by going on this cute little outdoor retreat. Also can someone please find me a Caleb and like ASAP. The way this book causes you to be laughing to crying in a matter of seconds is insane. If you aren’t looking to cry, I would definitely wait until you feel like ugly crying to read this book! Out of the Woods comes out on January 28th, and I would HIGHLY recommend picking up a copy!!!

4.5 stars!

Sarah (Win’s best friend from Out of the Woods) and Caleb have been together since high school. Sarah feels that she has lost herself along the way and decides to host a fundraising gala to raise funds for ALS research in memory of her late mother. The event doesn’t go as Sarah planned and Caleb saves the day, which Sarah sees as typical in their relationship and leads to the longest-lasting fight of their marriage. In an attempt to save their relationship, they decide to attend a couples’ hiking trip to disconnect from the world and work out their issues.

Sarah and Caleb were relationship goals in Out on a Limb, and I was so sad when I read this book’s description and saw that it was about them! I just needed them to make it out okay! While this is a marriage-in-trouble romance, at its heart is a journey of grief and self-discovery. I love sweet pea Sarah as a character so much! She went on the hiking trip to save her marriage, but she really ends up on a personal journey and finds herself in the process. I enjoyed watching her character development and the way her discoveries improved her communication with Caleb. I wanted just a little more “will they, won’t they?”, but there was ultimately so much love and respect between the two of them from the beginning. I was so happy to have Win and Bo make appearances in this story. Sarah and Win have a beautiful friendship/sisterhood where they just know exactly what the other needs. This book was so sweet and heartwarming, and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to Hannah Bonam-Young, Dell, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Read if you like:
💕 Marriage in trouble
💕 High school sweethearts
💕 Outdoor adventures
💕 Dual timelines

How wonderful it is to exist in a world where HBY exists! Hannah’s books are so tender and never fail to bring out every emotion in me. Her writing is always such a comfort to read.

Out of the Woods follows high school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb Linwood, who you’re introduced to in Out on a Limb, as they navigate the ups and downs of their marriage while working on discovering their personal identities.

Their love story is filled with vulnerability and hopefulness. It explores how being with someone for years (and at a young age) can bring so much happiness and familiarity, but it can also leave you feeling like you’re not sure who you are without your partner.

I loved seeing them come together to communicate and rebuild their relationship. There’s never any doubt how much they care for one another. But they’ve both inevitably changed into different versions of themselves throughout the years as they’ve grown older and experienced grief. So with that they are having to relearn each other.

Hannah wrote a beautiful and heartfelt story that I can’t recommend enough.

Thank you Hannah and Dell for the ARC!

Hannah’s writing shines again. This story was not as fun and fluffy as Out on a Limb. You’re not reading about two people falling in love. You’re reading about a couple who’ve been together since they were teenagers and the growing pains involved in that kind of relationship. It was different and difficult to read at times because the two leads were struggling and taking it out on each other. I felt their pain. But Hannah has a beautiful way of telling stories and you have to get through the pain of their struggle to get to the happily ever after. It was well worth it, Sarah and Caleb’s story is heartbreaking but it’s also healing. I laughed, I cried and I felt a sense of hope and peace at the end. Loved this book and highly recommended it!

This book was beautifully written. It described the emotions and insecurities of life after feeling numb and unaccomplished for years. I liked the dual timeline flipping between Sarah’s life as a teenager with her mom and her life now as an adult wanting to make her mom proud.

Sarah and Caleb went out of their comfort zone to do this outdoor therapy to save or “reignite” their marriage. It’s very evident how strong their relationship is that they both share, despite their feeling of growing apart early on in the book.

This book was a reminder of how much nature can do for your mental health and your brain in terms of processing deep thoughts and emotions.

I really liked the addition of Libby. Despite this being a couples therapy program, Libby came along for the journey with her grandmas who run the program, after recently losing her mother. I think it was good for Sarah to have Libby around. They could relate to each other, but it also gave Sarah the opportunity to see how much growth she’s had since losing her mother and help Libby through her current emotions around losing her mother so young.
I can’t remember the last time I laughed and cried (and laughed and cried again) so much in a book.

Final thought: I agree. Paper straws are a sensory nightmare.

The main trope of this book is marriage in crisis. Sarah and Caleb married young, over ten years ago, and now the heroine realizes that she hasn’t fulfilled herself and that their relationship is no longer what it used to be. They decide to join a hiking trip to sort out their feelings and their relationship.

Though I could relate to Sarah’s issues, I found myself on Caleb's side. I really liked him, and I felt that Sarah was unfairly blaming him, as he supported her in everything and only wanted the best for her. It’s a pity we didn’t get any chapters from his POV.

Another thing is the topic of children. Sarah mentioned more than once that she doesn’t want kids, but we never learned the reasons behind this choice or how they came to it as a couple.

The chapters about the past touched me deeply, especially the chapters about Sarah’s mother, which pulled at my heartstrings. And, of course, I was thrilled to see Bo and Win from Out on a Limb again! Although this is a standalone story, I’d recommend reading that book for better context.

I liked that Out of the Woods is about ordinary people facing relatable problems, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions and take something meaningful away, but I prefer Hannah's other books more.

Tropes:
✓ marriage in crisis
✓ flashbacks
✓ Bo & Win cameos
✓ high school sweethearts
✓ therapy

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House (Dell) for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Oh. My. God. BEAUTIFUL.

What an incredible, heart-wrenching, emotional read! Honestly, I cried (almost) from beginning to end. This was so SAD, but a beautiful, tentatively-hopeful sad.

Obviously, I loved Sarah and Caleb from Out On A Limb (I definitely recommend reading OOAL first). They were the adorable, steadfast, loving couple and I just needed them to BE OKAY in this book.

It's a book about a marriage in trouble, so obviously, I knew I would be anxious and sad, but I also felt so much love: I could feel Sarah and Caleb's love for each other, even through their struggles and doubts.

This is a contemporary romance, yes, but it's also so much more: it's a story about growth, grief, self-discovery, love and self-love. It's about realizing that you don't need to be perfect 100% of the time to deserve love and to honor those who have passed. It's okay to not have everything figured out, even in your 30s or 40s or any time.

Caleb. What a sweet, kind, gentle, perfect man. I wanted to shield him from harm at all times!

Sarah was such a relatable FMC, her grief and her growth just perfectly written. Her relationship with Caleb felt so real, both their vulnerabilities so honest and understandable.

To say I loved this book is an understatement. I hope I influence some of you into reading this and Out On A Limb! I'm now the President of the Hannah Bonam-Young's fanclub and I'm planning on reading the rest of her backlist ASAP as well as anything else she comes up with!

Love and growth in the great outdoors!

After falling in love with Out On A Limb, I eagerly counted down the days for this one, and it completely exceeded my expectations! Stories set in the great outdoors hold a special place in my heart, as that's where I grew up, and this setting added so much depth to the story.

While I was initially nervous about diving into a "relationship in trouble" plot, this was beautifully written about two people who deeply love each other, they just need to communicate and work through their challenges--some of which extend beyond their relationship.

The emotional journey was powerful, making the reader reflect on what truly brings joy and when it's time to let certain things go. Being able to see Win and Bo again made my heart so happy. Catching glimpses of their HEA was an added bonus I adored!

What a beautiful story!! HBY is the queen of mastering the tropes I typically avoid. This one being a marriage in crisis. I absolutely adored the entire book.

What got me the most was Sarah’s evolution to learning to stand on her own two feet and not rely solely on others. That really resonated with me. 💛

I know that Hannah Bonam-Young writes good books and I know that I liked the others. I just couldn't get into this one. I had to DNF it because I just couldn't get behind the FMC's reasoning. I just felt like she was complaining about nothing. I didn't want to be rooting against her for the whole book, so I put it back down. I might come back to this book in the future, but it wasn't for me at this time

4.75⭐️

this is my second hannah bonam-young book and let me tell you, she did not disappoint with this one. i’ve never read a marriage in crisis book before and the way she wrote is was very well done. i love how no matter what scenario sarah was thinking about, the way her life could change, that caleb was always in the picture. it just goes to show that they truly care for one another but they just got lost in the routine they were in for so long.

thank you netgally for proving me an arc of this book.

Honestly one of the best books i’ve read in the last two years, this was absolutely gorgeous and so relatable, It’s so nice to have a romance books which reads as relatable for those who are in relationships, not just those seeking, I love the outdoorsy nature of the book and will be seeking out more outdoor romance based upon this read. Fantastic book! so excited for more!

I received an ARC of "Out of the Woods", and could not put it down. I have loved all of Hannah's novels because her characters are so relatable. "Out of the Woods" is no different. I loved seeing Sarah and Caleb grow back together, but also grow independently. A wonderful feel good book that is deliciously warm and spicy.

i was overwhelmed with excitement when i first heard we were getting a book about sarah and caleb. their story was everything i could’ve hoped for and is one that definitely will stick with me!

my life looks very different compared to sarah’s but i’ve never related to her so much—overwhelmed with the expectations we put on ourselves and feeling stuck at times. it was beautiful watching her journey of finding herself again. i haven’t gotten this emotional while reading a book in a while but hannah really wrote something amazing!

caleb and sarah are amazing individually but oh are they the cutest together. i was rooting for them so hard and i loved seeing them work together to fix the difficulties they were facing. they truly got the ending they deserved and im so happy for them

hannah never fails to write such authentic characters with raw and heartfelt stories. she handles topics so well, especially grief in this story. her writing has become one of my favorites and i can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this story tomorrow!

thank you so much dell romance (random house) and netgalley for the eARC!

This is the second book in the "Out Series", interconnected with Out on a Limb. Sarah finds herself in an early thirties crisis. Her and Caleb go on a trip into the woods to get "out of the woods" in their marriage crisis. They go through a journey of discovering who they are as a couple, setting new goals and growing back together.

Read this if you like:
- Highschool sweethearts
- Identity and marriage in crisis
- MC's don't want children
- Flashbacks to younger self
- Single POV (Sarah's), first person

This book hits home for anyone who has been with their partner for a long time. Sarah and Caleb are in a bit of a slump and instead of letting it fester, decide to do something about it and go to a retreat. They grow together, become even more open than they were before and come back stronger with new goals. Love this book!!

My star rating: 4.5/5 (rounded up to 5)
Spice rating: 2.5/5 (a couple descriptive scenes, some vulgar language)