In Out of the Woods, Hannah Bonam-Young takes readers on an emotional journey through the tangled woods of love, identity, and the complexities of marriage. The novel follows Caleb and Sarah Linwood, a couple who have been together since their teenage years. Their early marriage, fueled by Sarah’s desire to have her mother witness their vows, sets the stage for a whirlwind romance that quickly faces the real challenges of life.

As years pass, Sarah finds herself grappling with an identity crisis, a struggle that becomes all the more complicated as Caleb and her drift apart. This tension culminates in a painful argument during a party Sarah throws in honor of her late mother, leaving the couple estranged for an entire week. Enter Win, Sarah’s best friend, whose suggestion of marriage therapy sparks the beginning of a pivotal turning point in their relationship.

The couple embarks on a hiking trip designed to reconnect them—both physically and emotionally—as they navigate the wilderness of their feelings, their past, and their future. This journey isn’t just through the forest but also through the inner landscapes of their hearts. It’s a trip that will force Caleb and Sarah to face difficult truths about themselves and each other, testing their bond in unexpected ways.

Bonam-Young masterfully explores the theme of rediscovery. She captures the vulnerability of both characters, showing how personal growth and the weight of past decisions can chip away at a relationship. What I loved most about Out of the Woods is the way it portrays the highs and lows of a long-term relationship. It isn’t just about finding love, but also about working to preserve and nourish it when it feels like it’s slipping away.

Sarah’s identity crisis is a relatable and poignant aspect of the story, especially for anyone who has ever questioned their sense of self or purpose in a relationship. Caleb, too, is portrayed as a deeply human character, struggling with his own doubts and missteps as a husband. Together, they’re a couple that feels real—flawed, imperfect, but ultimately worthy of a second chance.

The hiking trip is the perfect backdrop for this kind of story. The physical challenge mirrors the emotional one they face, with each step through the wilderness symbolizing the slow and steady process of reconciliation. The tension, the quiet moments of reflection, and the ultimate realization that love requires both effort and forgiveness make this a deeply satisfying read.

While the plot follows a somewhat familiar path—struggling couple goes on a transformative journey—Bonam-Young’s writing elevates the story. She gives us enough nuance in the characters' emotions and motivations to make the ending feel earned, not forced. There’s no magical fix, just the understanding that love, like the wilderness, is both beautiful and unpredictable.

Overall, Out of the Woods is a heartfelt and honest exploration of love, identity, and the power of second chances. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven stories about relationships and personal growth. By the end, you'll be rooting for Caleb and Sarah, hoping they find their way back to each other, not just as spouses, but as individuals who’ve learned how to love themselves and each other more deeply.

My first 5 star book of this year!

This is a beautiful exploration of what happens when you meet your soulmate a little too soon, and are heading into your thirties unsure of who you are. When you marry your high school sweetheart, and nearly two decades years later that person is still your one true love, but your life is stagnating and things aren’t going so well, certainly the only way to salvage things is to go on a couples carry in, carry out wilderness retreat to reconnect–especially when neither one of you likes the outdoors very much. Sarah and Caleb gamely go along, though there isn’t immediate buy-in. Their relationship is very much stuck in a place where he is always the problem solver, and Sarah the problem to be solved, and until they can shift that dynamic, their chances of staying together are low.

The dual timeline is easy to follow, and serves to set the conflict in context and demonstrates how past actions impact their present. A diverse cast of couples adds drama to the plot. There is messiness and grief and humor and most of all, excellent modeling of adults learning to communicate their needs.

This companion novel to Out on a Limb features recurring characters, but worked for me as a stand-alone novel. If anything, I now want to read everything Hannah Bonam-Young has written. Pair with Do I Know You? and Rules for Second Chances for back-to-back stories about couples doing deep work to evolve their rocky marriages.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #OutOfTheWoods via #NetGalley courtesy of #RandomHouse. Review will post to HLBB 1/27/2025.

Sarah and Caleb found each other and fell in love as teenagers, married young, and now that they're in their early thirties, things have hit a rut. In an effort to figure things out, both as individuals and together, they go on a seven day relationship-building excursion in the woods. Though their love for one another is not in question, they have to learn how to move forward and continue to grow together when they aren't even sure who they are as individuals. The trip gives them a chance to confront their fears and desires while becoming closer and more confident.

Sarah and Caleb, secondary characters in Out on a Limb, get their own story spotlight here. Alternating between present day and their teen years, readers get a look at what first brought them together and also the events that have led to Sarah's insecurities and fears. A bit unbalanced - Sarah is definitely the main character here - the relationship between Sarah and Caleb is a nice change from the usual romance tropes. Not really a second-chance romance since they never fell out of love or broke up and nor really a broken-marriage storyline, Out of the Woods looks at a couple who are still in love, but never quite got a chance to grow up before growing together. The challenges and resolutions feel realistic and the relationship loving and sweet. Plus readers get a chance to catch up with Win and Bo again!

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Out of the Woods early in exchange for a review.

I absolutely loved Out on a Limb and was so excited to see Sara and Caleb got there own story. This was a beautiful depiction of how two characters can love each other so much and still fall out of synch but work together to find their way back to each other. The love between all the characters is so obvious.

I love Hannah's work and will continue to make my way through her works!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young | ARC Review

Thank you @authorhannahby and @netgalley for this ARC! A very special thank you to Hannah, for forcing us to sit with the uncomfortable, to learn from it, and to choose to be better, everyday. 💚

5⭐️//2🌶️

Oof, I don’t even know where to begin with this review. This book broke my heart, and it put it right back together❤️‍🩹. There were so many moments of reflections, in which I just sat and pondered life (while also crying😭).

Sarah and Caleb have known each other for seventeen years, high school sweethearts who got married when they were only nineteen. Now, at thirty-one, Sarah is confronted with just how stagnant her life has been since her mother’s passing. It all comes to a crossroad when after a non-so-successful auction gala set up in her mother’s memory, Sarah realizes that she never had anything of her own, something that she should be proud of, that all of the accomplishments were tied to Caleb and their marriage.

As a mean to get out and confront the rut they have found themselves in, Sarah and Caleb decide to go on a couples’ nature retreat, where they will learn how to effectively communicate to better their relationship. Being stuck in close proximity, on a nature retreat that neither of them were fully prepared for, Sarah and Caleb are forced to air out all their grievances and learn how to find their way to one another again.

The story was refreshing, but so relatable, and so very raw. This book made me reflect on how difficult in can be to achieve self-growth while also growing along someone, in learning how to be yourself, while also holding other titles in life (wife, mother, sister, daughter), you might lose sight of what dreams and aspirations you once had. Sarah and Caleb’s journey taught me how crucial it is to address the unpleasant feelings and the uncomfortable avoidance limbo; only then you are able to learn, and be better, kinder, and more honest to yourself, and to others. 💚

Favourite scene: Ten years from now list 🥺
Favourite 🌶️ scene: Perverted chipmunk 🤭

i loved this book so much! the characters were amazing and the writing was so heartfelt and perfect! hannah bonam young is such an incredible writer and that really shines through on this one.

This was my first book by Hannah Bonam Young, and I was, unfortunately, left feeling quite underwhelmed. I was really enjoying myself in the first 50% of the book and actually felt myself relating to Sarahs character. Her struggle for self-love and self-acceptance is something I believe a lot of women, married after some time, go through.
I was looking forward to Sarah and Calebs story and the trials they go through as they try to 'reignite' their love for one another. The side characters were very enjoyable, and the eclectic mix of personalities made it fun to imagine.

Time after time I found myself wanting more and just never got it. There was not a huge conflict to allow their connection to grow in any deep or meaningful way. It seemed as if Caleb listened and said all the things she wanted to hear and that was it. There seemed to be a lot of opportunities for a deeper conflict to occur where each character could learn and grow from, but the author never took that leap. It seemed like a lot of hand holding and a lot of Caleb changing his way to exactly what she needs. Sarah didn't seem to make any huge changes to bring their marriage back together.

Overall it was a sweet love story, and her writing was nice, but I just wanted more.

Convinced Hannah is my soul sister 🫶🏻 I have loved these characters since reading OOAL, and they continued to jump off page and right into my heart. I love Sarah, Caleb, & their crew, and I loved getting to dive into their story. As someone who met their soulmate at 19, I related so heavily to so much that Sarah was grappling with. This book made me even more grateful to have all that extra time with my husband. 💞

Thank you to NetGalley & Dell Romance for letting me read this eARC!! ♥️

Marriage in crisis is not often my cup of tea in terms of tropes, so I was a bit wary going into this one. I enjoyed Sarah and Caleb a lot in OOAL, so I was definitely curious to see their relationship and how they manage to get through a hard period after being together for so long. I think this book will resonate deeply if you have a relationship/love story
similar to theirs.

I loved the back and forth dual timeline so we can understand their history and how they got to where they are today. It was also great to meet Sarah’s mom after what an impact she had in OOAL.

I always forget how SAD HBY books can be and damn, the last 20% of this book had me stressed.

If you’re a huge fan of HBY and her previous works, I think you’ll really like this one.

-I GOT AN ARC 😭💚

5 ⭐️ (first one of 2025!!)

Wow, where do I even begin? I was expecting to love Sarah and Calebs story but I wasn't expecting to find a new comfort read. This story is so beautiful, yet emotional and tender. I felt called out and comforted all at the same time. I wasn't expecting to relate to Sarah so much, but oh how I wish I could give this sweet girl a hug. I love seeing Win and Bo as well!

One of my new favorite books. It may only be January, but I know this will be one of my top reads for 2025 💜

Thank you NetGalley for the arc 💓

Hannah never disappoints. I am in awe of her writing and these characters. I laughed, I cried, and I'm in the biggest slump of my life because how can I possibly get Sarah and Caleb out of my head?

(4.5 Stars) Thank you, @netgalley @dellromance and @prhaudio for the #gifted advanced digital and audio copies! #prhaudioinfluencer #dellromance

Sarah and Caleb Linwood are that rare couple - they met and fell in love at fourteen and have been together, through the highs and lows ever since. But now, after seventeen years together, Sarah is beginning to question what she’s doing with her life. When she organizes an ALS fundraiser in her mother’s honor, she’s intent on making it a success she achieve on her own, until it tanks and Caleb once again swoops in as her safety net to save the day. What Caleb saw as kindness unleashes a torrent of pent-up frustrations that rock the core of their marriage. When their best friends Winn and Bo (!!!) are unable to attend a wilderness couples retreat, Winn suggests Sarah and Caleb take their place. Sarah and Caleb reluctantly agree, despite being two of the least outdoorsy people imaginable. What follows is a life-changing camping adventure with a quirky group of couples, all seeking to heal or strengthen their bonds. Told through dual timelines, we experience both the present and pivotal moments in Sarah and Caleb’s past - from their teenage love story to her mother’s passing.

This book will resonate differently depending on the reader’s life experiences. For me, it hit deeply. HBY captures the nuanced emotions of being grateful for the love of a devoted partner while grappling with feelings of personal stagnation - of being caught between past aspirations and present obligations. The growth both Sarah and Caleb achieve feels subtle yet monumental, embodying the reality of marriage. HBY beautifully illustrates the simultaneous complexity of deeply loving someone while yearning for change. Their raw honesty is wrapped in tenderness, rooted in years of respect and connection. It was also a joy to revisit Bo and Winn from Out on a Limb, one of my all-time favorite romance novels!

🎧 About the Audiobook 🎧 Victoria Connolly beautifully narrates the audiobook, bringing to life all of the humor and tenderness of this story. Her narration of chapter 13 brought me to tears. (10h)

This book is beautiful. It’s beautifully written, and it handles incredibly hard topics with such grace and care. It’s still deeply romantic and has moments of humor woven into it. Truly truly an amazing book.

however... I didn’t have fun reading it. and not all books need to be fun!!! I get that! But that is what I’m looking for in a book and this book hurt to read. It’s so heavy, and to be honest, while I still loved Sarah, reading from her point of view, she came off rather entitled and ungrateful. I know that’s one of the main themes throughout the book and maybe its my own life experiences that are sharply skewing my opinions, but my gosh if I had a man who loved me that much and took care of me I wouldn’t be that rude.

I still wept throughout the book. How could you not, its so filled with what feels like a desperate yet inevitable kind of love.

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young is the follow up book to Out on a Limb, where we get to focus on Sarah and Caleb! I was so excited to get an early review copy of this book and couldn't put it down! I have fallen head over heals for Hannah Bonam-Young's work and can't wait to see what she has in store for us next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Enjoyed this, but it didn't live up to Out on a Limb for me. That book just has my heart and is a total comfort read. I know I'll always love it, which is why I was so excited to read this follow up about Sarah and Caleb. I think maybe my expectations were just a little too high, though.

I did love the fact that Sarah and Caleb had been together since they were young teens. I met my husband at the same age and phew, you certainly go through a lot when you grow up together. I could totally relate to a lot of their struggles and Sarah's concerns with herself, her life and their marriage. I also enjoyed the setting in the majority of the book, but I feel like I didn't get enough of their romance. It was very reflective and focused on growth, which I like, but I wish I had more of the two of them and their romance. Overall, an enjoyable read and I'll still be looking forward to Hannah's next book!

5⭐️

I’ve always been a fan of Hannah’s writing and after reading Out on a Limb, I was so intrigued by Sarah and Caleb, and I JUST KNEW I wouldn’t be disappointed.

Out of the Woods follows a dual timeline where we see Sarah & Caleb fall in love as teens while Sarah is going through the most challenging phase of her life: her mother’s passing. On the other hand, in the present day, Sarah and Caleb are reaching over a decade of being married, but Sarah is finding herself in her early thirties and has a feeling that she hasn’t accomplished anything worth while in her personal life. She struggles to find her purpose and wonders if getting married so young, to someone as textbook perfect as Caleb, was worth it.

To save their marriage, Sarah and Caleb embark on a week long camping trip that doubles as couples therapy. In the middle of nature, they reflect on their marriage, open up to each other about their goals and plan for their future.. all while in the companionship of other (funny as hell) couples seeking guidance too.

Both Sarah and Caleb are such complex characters, I found myself just FEELING for both of them. All you want to do from chapter 1, is root for them. You’ll feel joy for them, and also sadness, and at one point, even anger. But you’ll ultimately, feel the love behind all else and it’s so so beautiful. These are the types of characters/couples you read about and have no doubt that they’ll end up together till the end of time.

And bonus! We get more Win & Bo and their daughter Gus, so my heart was just FULL & by the epilogue, it burst. These stories are so wonderfully real. I love this little world.

This book is out a week from today, so go preorder a copy! Thank you so much to NetGalley & Dell for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review :)

DNF 5% in. Thank you to Dell for providing me with an arc.

I really want to love Hannah Bonam-Young's books but I just don't think they are for me. I really hated Out on a limb but did like the writing so I wanted to give her another chance but this one didn't work for me either. I read the first chapter pretty much and I could tell that I wasn't going to vibe with the book, the conflict wasn't what I was expecting for a marriage in trouble and It felt too women's fiction for me personally.

While I found the last 100 pages of this read entertaining, this book (and perhaps genre) just wasn’t for me - and that’s okay. It veered a little too far down the “hallmark” spectrum for my liking.

“I begin wondering what is worse: being overly familiar with one another or fading into strangers who USED to know it all. I think it’s definitely the latter.”

Caleb and Sarah have been together since they were teenagers. They essentially grew up together and have done so much living with one another.
As Sarah is heading a fundraiser in honor of her late mother and it’s wrapping up, she realizes it’s not going to raise the money she needs and chalks it up as a fail (even though that’s a huge disappointment).
In steps Caleb to save the day, but instead of feelings of gratitude, it causes a riff of doubts to surface.
Who is Sarah without her other half? She convinces Caleb to go on a week long hiking retreat to reconnect and rediscover themselves- not just as a couple, but as individuals too.
Are they still the same couple they were when they married? Perhaps they’re not supposed to be.

Talk about a relatable read! Like Sarah and Caleb, my husband and I have been together since we were teens. I think any marriage goes through rough patches and it’s always important to check in with one another; we can get so caught up in our day to day that we forget to stay connected to the one who we choose to do life with. While a week long outdoor retreat may not be the right answer for everyone, stepping out of your comfort zone could be the ray of sunshine you need ☀️

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

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young follows high school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb Linwood. After loving Out on a Limb, one of my all-time favorite books, I was eagerly anticipating Sarah and Caleb’s story—and it did not disappoint.

What can you expect?
❤️ High school sweethearts
💍 Married couple
🏞️ Hiking as foreplay
🌲 Outdoor spicy scenes
🤓 MMC with glasses
📚 Hot, tall nerd
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found family
🚪 Forced proximity
⏳ Flashbacks

4.5⭐ | 2🌶️

“You have to shine on your own. And you will, baby. I know you will. Because you shine brighter than anyone I’ve ever known.”

Synopsis:
Sarah and Caleb Linwood, high school sweethearts, face a marriage crisis when Sarah’s solo fundraising project fails and Caleb steps in uninvited, unearthing years of unresolved tension. Hoping to rekindle their connection, they join a grueling couples’ hiking retreat. Amid misadventures in the wilderness, they rediscover themselves and their love.

My thoughts:
Sarah and Caleb have been together for 17 years, starting their relationship at just 14 years old. Now, Sarah is struggling with an identity crisis, questioning what she has to be proud of as an individual. After organizing a fundraiser for ALS in honor of her late mother, who passed from the disease when Sarah was 19, she falls short of her goal. Her frustration leads to a heated argument with Caleb, exposing years of unresolved issues in their marriage.

With encouragement from her best friend Wyn, Sarah agrees to a couples’ hiking retreat, hoping it will help them reconnect. While Caleb and Sarah are financially stable, Sarah feels stagnant and unsure of what she truly wants or who she is outside of their marriage.
Sarah’s dream of becoming a writer was crushed years ago when, after winning a contest, an author she admired discouraged her. Ever since, she believed she wasn’t good enough—a feeling that added so much depth to her story. Her grief, compounded by these long-standing doubts, looms heavily over her. Though everyone handles loss differently, Sarah’s struggles have gone unaddressed for years. Flashbacks of their younger years, particularly Caleb supporting her through her mother’s illness and passing, add emotional weight to their journey.

During the retreat, Sarah and Caleb confront their issues and gain new perspectives on each other’s needs. Caleb’s instinct to always protect and support Sarah—like stepping in during the fundraiser—comes from love but has unintentionally contributed to their disconnect. Being in the outdoors, away from distractions, allows them to rebuild their bond in ways they haven’t in years.

I related to Sarah’s aversion to the outdoors (camping without showers—no thank you!), but their shared abstinence-breaking moment felt both inevitable and rewarding. The spicy scenes revealed a different, bolder side of Caleb, contrasting perfectly with his sweet, nerdy personality.

I loved how they fought for their marriage, communicated their needs, and worked toward individual growth. Sarah rediscovered her passions, while Caleb stepped back from his father’s workaholic tendencies. Their mutual commitment to building a more balanced life was heartwarming.

Seeing cameos from Wyn, Bo, and Gus was such a treat! Their found family dynamic is so heartwarming, and it’s clear they’re each other’s safe haven. While this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading Out on a Limb first for a richer understanding of the characters and their relationships.

The emotional depth of this story, especially around themes of feeling lost and directionless, is something many readers will relate to. While I wish the mental health aspects had been explored more deeply, this was still a fantastic read.

Trigger Warnings: Please check them before diving in.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance copy!