Wow wow wow, I have been a Hannah Bonam-Young believer ever since I picked up Nex to You when it came out and have read every single book she has put out since, and her mind and ability to write never ceases to amaze me.
What she has done with Out of The Woods is truly magical, something I have always appreciated about Hannah is her ability to write characters, they feel like real people, like somebody you know, and makes you want to protect them and comfort them (I know that sounds cringe, but that's how I feel).
Overall, another amazing read from her, and cannot wait to read more from her.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

When Caleb saves the day again for Sarah, that is the last straw she can take and finally says something; however, her discomfort is news to her spouse, and he thought everything between them was ok. Sarah has been in a rut and wants more out of her life, and she is ready to take steps to change. Unfortunately, Caleb does not want anything to change. When Sarah suggests they go to a couples hiking retreat, he agrees because he will do anything for her and to make their marriage work. When they get to the meeting point, it is raining, but the sun breaks through before they start the hike: this turns out to be a striking metaphor. While they are there, they are able to openly discuss their issues and heal. The story alternates between the past when they were falling in love and to the present where they are starting to wither. The dichotomy was really interesting to see; their relationship used to be easy (despite their losses), but now they have to actively work on it if they decide it is with it.

Out of the Woods is one of those books that leaves a mark on your heart. This is Sarah and Caleb's story, and it felt so real.

The story goes by with Sarah trying to find herself without relying on her husband. After being together for so long, they find themselves on different pages. It's during a camping retreat; they work to find their way back to be on the same page.

Overall, I think the storytelling in this book is good. It definitely tugs on your heart. This can also be read a standalone, which I had done.

Releasing January 28, 2025. I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

At its heart, a book is about finding yourself when you have gotten stuck, 𝘖𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴, is less of a romance and more of a fiction work about self-reliance.
Sarah and Caleb Linwood are in their early 30s, clearly still in love. They are childless by choice (great rep) and have supported each other through life (and grief, Caleb’s career, friends becoming parents). Yet, their now pre-programmed roles have become suffocating. When their friend Win ( yay!) suggests a week-long couples retreat in the woods, they agree it could be significant.
Sounded kike something I would love, except for the fact that I did not. And I am struggling with that after how excited I was to read it.
So, Hannah is an incredible writer. Her prose is gorgeous. She captures grief and the mundane with similar skill. I could have had dozens of aesthetic quotes. Her cast of characters has depth and is created with great care. I could fully picture each of the couples on their retreat. Each secondary character had a distinct role,which is impressive in a setting like this. There were many things to like about this book.
Yet, I never emotionally connected with the outcome here. Where I cried through half of her previous work, I did not shed one tear here.
Caleb and Sarah’s relationship is strained by their damsel- rescuer dynamic. Sarah sometimes wonders what life would have been like had she met Caleb a little later. Had time to grow before they became routine. What to me are completely normal thoughts; however to Sarah they are intrusive and unending…
I just never bought into the conflict. Yes, they needed to communicate more but it I never felt they weren't each other’s end game. The push and pull of marriage felt so familiar that I couldn't understand why it was a problem for them. It felt like 70% of the book could have been a ten minute conversation.
While single POV there are flashbacks to Sarah and Caleb as teens and her relationship and time spent during her mom’s illness. Again I just felt zero emotion reading through what are meant to emotionally heavy scenes. I had trouble relating how each flashback impacted the future.
That said I loved getting to know a little more about Caleb. Perhaps it is because I relate to so many of caleb’s actions (fixing things before they are problems, sheltering my loved ones from my true emotions to prevent then harm, “over caregiving” if you will) but I do wish we had even one chapter from his POV.
Because I am me and cannot end on a negative note. Hannah does a beautiful job of including positive view of therapy (yes even for happy, well adjusted people), depicting friendship between married men and women as normal (because it is ) and honestly wrote some excellent tension between a married couple.
And I know a lot of people are going to love and relate to this book. Sarah and Caleb have a strong supportive relationship that those who have long term partners will certainly connect with

"A love letter to all of us who met their soulmate before they had a chance to fully meet themselves.”

Not really sure how to write this review through my tears, but I’ll try I guess!!!

Out of the Woods is an achingly beautiful and tender story about establishing and understanding your own identity when you feel lost and unmoored.

Caleb and Sarah have spent over half of their lives together as high school sweethearts. In the 17 years they’ve spent together they’ve been though a lot, including the death of her mother, and Sarah is struggling to find herself and her own identity outside of Caleb, especially after he swoops in to save the day when her fundraising event goes wrong.

Watching Caleb and Sarah fall in love with each other in the past and then subsequently reconnect with each other was excruciatingly raw and filled with so many emotions (see last slide), hard conversations, romantic moments, and the witty humor that HBY consistently balances so well within her stories.

I teared up rereading my highlights to make this post so if that doesn’t convince you idk what will.

✨Read if you love
- marriage in crisis
- high school sweethearts
- flashbacks
- hiking and some spicy tent scenes
- a hot nerd with glasses
- forced proximity
- spit on it
- childfree by choice couple (love this sm)
- good boy

Thank you Hannah + Netgalley + Dell for the ARC copy!

She’s done it again. There’s something magical about Hannah’s writing—the way she manages to say exactly what needs to be said, in a manner so poetic and effortlessly beautiful, that it leaves me in awe every single time. Out of the Woods is no exception.

This book is a heartfelt exploration of love, identity, and growth, wrapped in a story that feels as real as it is tender. Sarah and Caleb’s journey—both literal and emotional—had me laughing, crying, and reflecting in equal measure. Their relationship, built on years of history, is put under a microscope, and what unfolds is a raw, honest portrayal of what it means to navigate life alongside someone while still trying to hold on to your own sense of self.

I’m so in love with my main girl Sarah. I GET her in a way that feels almost uncanny. Her need for independence, her drive to prove herself, and her tendency to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders resonated deeply with me. Watching her confront her doubts and insecurities, and ultimately grow into a more confident version of herself, was so inspiring.

It was also absolutely heartbreaking to read about Sarah losing her mother. The grief she carried and her determination to honor her mother’s memory struck such a deep chord with me. I don’t know what I’d do without my mom—I’d be as lost as Sarah was. Her journey through that pain and her fight to find herself again was both devastating and beautiful.

The way Hannah wove humor and heart (and spice) into these scenes was masterful—I couldn’t stop smiling, even through the tears. Out of the Woods is a testament to the power of love, not just the romantic kind, but also self-love and the love found in deep, enduring friendships. It’s a story that will stay with me for a long time.

This one was really complicated for me because the main character’s mother dies of ALS and this plays a major part in the plot and storyline. When I first received this ARC I was thrilled because Out on a Limb was one of my favorite contemporary romance reads last year. My mother battled ALS for many years before passing away a few years ago. When I saw the content warnings on the first page I was crushed because I didn’t know if I’d be able to get through this one unscathed. Ultimately, I decided to give it a try and put it down if reading it became too difficult for me.

I’m glad to say that I ended up really enjoying this book. Hannah handles Marcie’s illness with tender hands and although I cried (a lot), I felt stronger for reading this book by the time I finished. I had to set it down a couple of times but always found myself reaching for it again. Sarah and Caleb are such wonderful characters whose love for each other really shines through despite the challenges they face. The marriage is trouble theme wasn’t one I’d read before, but reading through their conversations felt like therapy in itself. I feel like we all owe Hannah compensation for her therapy services after reading this. This story was a rollercoaster of emotion for me, I laughed a lot and probably cried even more. HBY has a way with words and writing deeply emotional and moving stories that will keep me coming back every time.

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

You might enjoy this if you like:
💕 High school sweethearts
💕 Forced proximity
💕 Found family
💕 Flirty banter
💕 Marriage in crisis/second chance romance

1.5/5 🌶️ Two open door scenes

Thank you to Hannah Bonam-Young and Dell Romance/Penguin Random House for the early reader copy.

I loved this book so much! Something about HBY’s writing just feels so good while reading. I’m fully convinced all of these characters are real and I want what they have. This felt reminiscent of Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center but was still very uniquely its own. It was refreshing to see a couple that held strong to not wanting kids and that didn’t change in the epilogue.

4 ⭐️
1.5 🌶️

Oh, to the loved by a man written by Hannah Bonam-Young. I was so so excited to hear Sarah and Caleb were getting their own story but was so worried when it was *marriage in crisis* but in the end, this story was so heartwarming and wonderful.

After being together since high school, Sarah and Caleb have fallen into their comfortable but stagnant routines that have built Sarah’s frustrations. The two go on a hiking retreat (couldn’t be me) to reconnect and this is where we see so much growth. I enjoyed the flashbacks of their earlier years together and how those years shaped what was happening in their marriage today. And once they started really digging deep, I was sobbing (Caleb’s letter IYKYK 😭😭😭).

Sarah grew a lot during their retreat and I’m glad she had the time to work through some of her issues and insecurities. Caleb is an angel human and his use of “baby” melted my heart every time. I want my own Caleb in life!!!!

My only wish was that this was dual POV but it was still wonderful regardless.

Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for an ARC!!

Rounded up from 4.5 stars on The Storygraph.

Out of the Woods is the romance novel for the long-term relationship girlies, the high school sweethearts, and the lost girls.

Sarah and Caleb are characters that are so clearly crafted from the heart. I saw myself in Sarah in so many ways - big and small. Not only did this make me feel seen, it made me confront and learn things about myself, my relationships, and my approaches. When you connect to a character on a level like this, it makes it really difficult to hide from yourself. As for Caleb, he reminds me so much of my partner in the way he approaches the situations that we see play out in this book, which added an entire second set of roots for me. I know that this level of connection is a unique experience, but I do truly think that every reader will love these characters and be able to take something valuable away from the story.

I would be doing all romance readers a disservice by not mentioning that Caleb Linwood is a tall, fit, curly-headed, glasses-wearing nerd who is obsessed with his wife and is willing to do whatever necessary to hold onto her, maintain a healthy relationship, and support her as an individual. And the way Hannah Bonam-Young writes about water running down this man’s back muscles. I mean…the person I became while reading this was unhinged, sending voice notes to her bestie, kicking her feet, and squealing.

The setting and the premise for the story were so engaging and left so much room - in the midst of a heavy theme - for humour and those lighthearted moments we all enjoy in our romances. This was highlighted even more by the additional loveable characters and the almost found-family style relationships that were formed.

Without getting into spoilers, the last chunk of the novel masterfully completed the arc of Sarah’s journey towards confronting the grief that’s been holding her in place. Without sending the message that these hurts can be fixed or that we need to be whole people, there was a peace made with the loss that allowed Sarah to move forward and wake up into her life. It was a really well-crafted finishing point in my opinion.

My only criticism - the reason for my missing half star in my The Storygraph review - is that I did not just want more of this book but I needed more of it. It’s such an incredibly important story in my eyes and it felt, at points, that it was written for me and me alone. I don’t often come across romance books that address real experiences in the ways that Out of the Woods does. To feel so seen by a character and a set of circumstances, and to learn from them, is so special. I just wish I had the opportunity to sink myself into the pages more - to completely bask in the story as it unfolded. The pacing of events was just a little too quick to allow me to do this.

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ebook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Out of the Woods: ★ ★ ★ . 7 5

Hannah Bonam-Young

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

Sarah and Caleb have been married for years and been together for even longer, but Sarah’s having some difficulty finding her own identity in the midst of it all. In order to reignite what they had, the couple go on a camping trip to rediscover themselves as individuals and the spark they used to have.

Tropes:
– High school sweethearts
– Marriage in crisis
– Found family
– Forced proximity
– Dual timeline

So here’s the thing about a HBY book - it’s like the best hug… with a couple of thorns pricking you in the chest. There’s a very unique quality about Hannah’s writing that just feels so safe to me. Like I can give her my heart and pour all my trust and she’ll take me on a journey that’s gonna make me cry and is most certainly going to hurt but at the end, I’m going to believe in love so hard that i really can see it in everything around me. That’s how this book felt.

I’m a sucker for a marriage in crisis, so when Hannah announced this book I knew I needed it asap. The whole read felt like an exercise in being comfortable with vulnerability to really appreciate the more tender moments of life and love in a magnified way. They’re just so real—flawed and human and perfect and truly two pieces of the same puzzle.

My only qualms were that I don’t really think that this was a marriage in crisis book strictly speaking. I think that Sarah just wanted to figure out who she was outside of the relationship, which is obviously completely valid. I also think for the most part they were doing their growing and facing their realizations in very siloed ways and not really addressing a lot of of their issues together, except for when it would be in the form of a fight… like, we saw so many conversations between Sarah and literally everybody on the camping trip, but I feel like there weren’t that many conversations between her and her husband? Idk that threw me off a bit because I wish they did more of their healing as a couple.

Sarah and Caleb (and Hannah) are a gift so do yourself a favor and pick their story up. Hannah knocked this out of the woods ;)

one of the most emotional and incredible books that i had the privilege of reading(early!!!) in 2024 is out so so soon! this book was absolutely incredible, 5 stars, no notes! sarah and caleb teach us that you can go through hard things and find yourself while still choosing your person! i am so excited for this book to be out in the world! highly highly recommend 🏕️🔥

Five stars! Oh my gosh, this book was EVERYTHING! The premise had me anxious— I’m a Lover girlie and love my romance novels, so I was nervous to read about a marriage on the rocks. However, not only was this a love story, but also a story about managing grief, rediscovery, and two people finding themselves outside of their relationship for the better. My favorite thing about Sarah and Caleb was at no point did it seem like they didn’t love each other. They bickered, which was necessary to be raw and open, but they were always rooting for the other and clearly wanted to find their ways back to each other and strengthen their relationship for years to come. I related to Sarah so much, both on the aspect of parental grief and questioning my own self-worth and identity. Hannah Bonam-Young did such a fantastic job at detailing every emotion in their journey, and I am so excited for this beautiful story to be out for everyone to experience 🩷

I loved Sarah and Caleb from Out on a Limb so I enjoyed getting to know them more in this story. I liked how the author included flashbacks at the end of some of the chapters to give the readers a glimpse into the start of Sarah and Caleb’s relationship. Despite the issues they were going through, Sarah and Caleb’s love for each other always shined through.

"Out on a Limb" was one of the BEST books I read in 2024, so I was incredibly excited to receive an ARC of "Out of the Woods" and it did NOT disappoint.

This had a similar balance of cute romance and emotional depth that I've come to recognize from all of Hannah Bonam-Young's other books, but with fresh characters, tropes, and plot.

Sarah and Caleb were both extremely loveable and complex characters with incredible banter, great chemistry, and a few issues to work through. It was so lovely to follow their journey of reconnecting and redefining their relationship so they could each have the room they needed to grow. You can feel throughout the book how their relationship evolves as they grow closer again and rediscover the things about each other they fell in love with. One of the things that I really loved about this book was just how much they both matured over the course of the story and worked on communicating their feelings to build a life that they both wanted. Their relationship had incredible moments of comedy, sadness, and the intimacy that comes along with being married for so long that you know almost everything about your partner. This was such an emotional book and I just wanted to give both of them a hug.

The other characters on the retreat were also great additions to the story that gave Sarah and Caleb new perspectives on their relationship and some fun new friends. But it was also so nice to see Win, Bo, and their cute baby girl again!

I read OUT ON A LIMB last year and loved it. I'm so glad Hannah Bonam-Young returned to this world with OUT OF THE WOODS because I truly think it will be one of my favorite romance books of 2025!

This book evoked so many emotions in me and I could have spent another 100 pages with these characters. I loved the dual timeline that flashed back to Sarah and Caleb's past. It was so sweet seeing how they met, but it was also heartbreaking reading about Sarah's mom being sick with ALS.

Marriage in crisis is typically not one of my favorite tropes -- but I'm now questioning that after reading this! It's probably my favorite marriage in crisis book I've read. Sarah and Caleb are high school sweethearts needing to reignite their love. I adored these characters and it was evident how much they loved each other. Being out in nature with other couples was the perfect place for them to get back on the same page. The other couples were wonderful side characters.

And speaking of side characters, I was so happy that there were cameos from Win, Bo, and Gus from book one! I will always be a big fan of inter-connected series <3

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars- full review to be posted in goodreads and on bookstgram @fadhee.reads

Finished it around 3 a.m. today and all I got to say is this book was too raw, realistic and beautiful!😭💙 I loved reading about Sarah & Caleb, them trying to mend their relationship and also learning about eachother all over again and trying to change themselves for each other for the better. They made me giggle like a teenager, and they made me sad at so many moments.🤧 I just wish I could give the biggest hug to Sarah for going through so many things at such a young age 🥺🫂❤️‍🩹 Also the characters like, Nina, Helen, Libby, Yvonne and all the others from the camp were so good! And meeting Win & Bo again with their baby girl Gus was EVERYTHING!!🥹💗 Overall, the epilogue ATE, it was so wholesome!!!🫶🏻💘

Thankyou to the Author, the Publisher and Netgalley for this beautiful ARC inexchange for an honest review 💌

1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an advanced copy of Out Of The Woods.

Sarah is feeling like a failure and that she has accomplished nothing in her life. She feels like her life has been wrapped up in her husband Caleb so they decide to change it up and go on a week long camping retreat. Can they find their way back to each other?

I did not like the female main character at all. She came off as selfish, ungrateful, and blamed everyone else for her problems. She honestly came off as a spoiled brat. I was not a fan of this book at all.

"Out of the Woods" by Hannah Bonam-Young is a fairly decent marriage-in-crisis romance about high school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb Linwood, who have been married for seventeen years. Sarah, grieving the loss of her mother, wants to prove to herself—and everyone else—that she’s capable of being independent by taking on a fundraising gala in her mother’s memory. But when the event fails and Caleb steps in uninvited to save the day, it creates a rift between them. This forces the couple to confront years of unspoken doubts, eventually leading them to join a grueling wilderness retreat for struggling couples to try to rediscover their relationship.

It was surprisingly cozy, with relatable characters. I liked Sarah and Caleb, and I don’t think anyone was truly at fault in their struggles. It didn’t even feel like their marriage was really in crisis—Sarah just wanted to find who she was outside of the relationship. I do think a conversation would have resolved a lot of their tension without the drastic steps they took. The flashbacks to their earlier years were okay but didn’t add much to the story. Honestly, they could’ve been condensed into one chapter, and the story wouldn’t have lost anything.

The romance itself was a lackluster as it often took a backseat to Sarah’s personal journey. While I enjoyed watching them rediscover themselves and make an effort to move forward, the stakes didn’t feel particularly high. The steam was minimal, except for a scene in the woods that gave me the ick—it’s hard to find a moment sexy when they haven’t showered in days, but that might just be me.

Overall, this wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t amazing either. The author did a wonderful job portraying a natural, realistic marriage, but the story lacked focus, and the romance didn’t pack much of a punch. Decent, but not remarkable.

Hannah has become one of my very favorite authors, and I will read literally anything she releases! Out on a Limb is one of my top favorite books, so I was so excited to read about their best friends, Caleb and Sarah! I’ll be honest, I’m not usually the biggest fan of the “marriage in trouble” trope, but as per usual, Hannah absolutely killed it, and I loved every second! Sarah was freaking hilarious, and everything that came out of her mouth made me laugh! I loved getting to hear their story from the beginning and seeing how Sarah and Win became best friends. The way Caleb loves Sarah so deeply is swoon-worthy, and I can only hope my future husband is as good to me as Caleb is to Sarah. This one comes out on Tuesday(January 28th), and I hope you all love it as much as I did!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5!