3.5⭐

this story was so sweet! i really enjoyed the self reflection in sarah and how she came to find what she wanted most in life. however, i thought there would be more romance and i had different expectations for this book and super high expectations because i absolutely loved bo and win (and it was so good to see them in this book as well 🤭). i really enjoyed the grief aspect but truly wish there was just more! the ending felt a bit rushed and honestly could've had at least a few more chapters to really make it feel like a solid ending. but i think that's a me thing since this was one of my anticipated releases.

I AM CONVINCED THAT HANNAH BONAM-YOUNG CAN DO NO WRONG! It's always perfect, and this is no different. They are completely adorable and have my whole heart. One of my favorite tropes is win back your spouse and this might be at the top of the list of favorites! All the hearts, all the stars, ALL THE PRAISE!!

Out of the Woods focuses on Sarah and Caleb who were first introduced in Out on a Limb. You COULD read this book without reading the first one, but I don't break the rules and when the author suggests to read in order, I'm going to.

Sarah and Caleb are in a bit of a rut since they have been together more than half of their lives. Rather than having a midlife crisis and someone buying a convertible, they end up going on this nature retreat to focus on their relationship. Honestly, most of the things that they're struggling with are pretty relatable if you've been in a relationship before so there were times when I was just like "come on, communicate already". Overall though, I enjoyed the book, but not as much as Out on a Limb. I'd recommend to check it out if you enjoyed Hannah's first book or want to read something that you can relate to a bit (minus the hiking... I will not be hiking). I've rounded this up from a 3.75.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the advanced reader's copy!

My Caleb and Sarah <3 What a special read this was. Broke my heart and stitched it back together like 50 times over.
Marriage in crisis is one of my favorite tropes (that isn’t done often enough in my opinion) but! I am very aware how painful it can be and I was fully bracing for impact with this!! However!! I’m really glad that Hannah found a way to write a marriage in crisis book that didn’t make me sick to my stomach the entire time. I will say though… the Sarah x Her mom flashbacks though. That packed a PUNCH!!!!!!

I really loved how once we got over that initial bump, Caleb was so open to trying absolutely anything Sarah wanted to fix what was broken. I also adored that they both mutually wanted to be better for the other. I think a lot of times in a marriage in crisis story there is one character that is (at least seemingly) checked out and ready to GO but I loved seeing two people who love each other, that experienced some challenges together, but don’t want to just throw in the towel. I never for one second questioned if either of them loved the other and I think that’s what made this one so special.
See also: A man that packs your kindle for you so you can keep your reading streak going while in the woods even when you’re going through a rough patch???? I never doubted them!!!

The only thing I didn’t particularly love about this was the little situation during the last 20% of the book. It definitely served as a catalyst for a lot of growing and learning but it just felt a tad unnecessary after all they’d been through. BUT! Boy did I love seeing my Bo and Win (and Gus!!) show up when they were needed!! That’s my fictional family!!!!

I also, of course, have to touch on the Taylor Swift of it all briefly as a full time career swiftie. I really really love that in the age of authors using Taylor references whenever they possibly can (which most times just comes across as cringey, gimmicky, and a ploy to get more reads) I love that Hannah did NOT! go overboard!! even though the title would suggest otherwise!! The only references in here are ones that you’d have to be true swiftie tm to pick up on and I loved that!! Yayyy!!

4.5 stars!

I absolutely loved this story! Hannah's writing is so beautiful and she really gets you in the feels!
I loved out on a limb and knew I would love this one too!

This story follows Sarah and Caleb. After being together for so long, something feels off in their marriage. Each of them holding things in and not communicating as much as they should... Win sends them on a couples camping retreat and ... youll have to read and see!

I loved these characters! You can truly see how much they love each other and how much they want to better themselves for the relationship! Add in the scenes with Bo, Win and Gus and the AMAZING side characters, this was an emotional, swoony read!

Highly recommend!

Some of my favorites of my highlights below!
“Do you want your e-reader?” “I didn’t pack it. It would’ve only lasted a few days before the battery gave out anyways.” Caleb smiles knowingly, his face still tilted up to the ceiling. “I brought it and a solar charger. I didn’t want you to lose your reading streak. Downloaded a couple of extra books too.”

“I swooned,” I add excitedly, then shut my mouth tight before another giggle has the chance to fall out. It’s not my fault, dammit! There is a shirtless, hairy lumberjack carrying me through the woods who distinctly resembles my husband. It’s like seven of my favorite horny book scenes all rolled into one. I am wetter than the bottom of a canoe right now."

"You make everyone around you feel that way. Me, Win, Bo, August. You love so deeply, it’s hard for me to understand. It seems exhausting, but you do it anyways. You leave yourself open for anyone who needs a safe place to land, even near perfect strangers. That is all, uniquely, individually, perfectly you. Something to be proud of that is all yours.”

“You deserve good things.” Win lifts her chin on an exhale. “And I think you were right. I think we do. I think we have them. I think Marcie would be very, very proud of us.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

18 - one direction

being together since high school, it’s understandable sarah and caleb has reach a sort of standstill in their marriage so off to the woods they go, to not just figure what is going on with their marriage but to also figure out what is going on with themselves

a touching, emotional story about a marriage with realistic problems between high school sweethearts that have been together for so long as well as grieving the loss of a parent. this story felt so real and raw especially with the emotional flashbacks with sarah’s mom and the glimpses of young love between sarah and caleb. so emotionally vulnerable

I especially love the narrative writing! lively and you can hear sarah’s personality

sarah’s inner conflict where she felt like she hasn’t achieved much in life was very relatable. very giving this is me trying - "So I got wasted like all my potential” // “I was so ahead of the curve, the curve became a sphere”

I love caleb my acts of service king !!! And his love for sarah reminds me of those soft, calming types of love that sarah truly needed especially in high school.

taylor swift songs
soon you’ll get better
marjorie
cardigan
right where you left me
this is me trying
begin again

[ with that being said, this book is very slow pacing where it felt dragging and boring at times. Also, in terms of a marriage in crisis book, this felt very bland. Idk how to explain it like this felt lacking for me. 3.5 🌟

This story felt so close to home. High school sweethearts? Together for more than half their lives? I could totally relate.

In Out of the Limb, we see Sarah and Caleb's fun, loving side. But in this book, we get to see their vulnerabilities and struggles.

Sarah and Caleb Linwood have been together since high school. For seventeen years, they've been a team, but Sarah is starting to wonder who she is without Caleb. After a conflict at the fundraiser event Sarah organized, she is left feeling frustrated and full of self-doubt, causing them to drift apart. In an effort to save their marriage, they join a couples hiking trip called "Reignite," hoping to reconnect.

This story mainly focuses on rediscovering and rekindling their relationship. I love how the plot was written so maturely. It was so raw, real, and emotional. God! Caleb and Sarah are deeply in love throughout the book.

Caleb is such a sweet and gentle person. He's THE husband material, stable and consistent, always there for Sarah. He takes care of her like she's the most precious thing . Sarah, our girl, is like sunshine, Happy go lucky, yet with so many suppressed feelings beneath the surface. Also, girls! She likes reading just like us 🤭

This book also takes us through Sarah, Win, Sarah's mom, and Win's mom's past, and found it really sad and incredibly emotional to learn about their history. I truly appreciated how the book portrayed grief. Please check trigger warnings

I loved seeing their growth. how they learned to truly understand each other and adapted to the changes they thought were necessary. It was beautiful to watch them evolve, both as individuals and as a couple finding a way to grow together while still holding on to the love that first brought them together.

I also loved seeing Bo, Win, and all the new characters.

Favorite scene: Caleb brings Sarah's Kindle to the camping trip so she doesn’t lose her reading streak 🥹💗🤌

Rating - 4.25 ⭐️

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House for the eARC.

Release date - Jan 28 2025.

I genuinely cannot believe I got an arc of this!!! This book is beautiful, raw, and genuine. No spoilers of course, but a very poignant book for me in particular. Literally about to reread!!

High school sweethearts, marriage in trouble and watching two very non outdoorsy people backpack through the woods for a week, yes please! I listened to this author's earlier novels on audio book and so it was fun to branch out and read this one on kindle instead. (Although i am looking forward to listening to it once released!)

I loved getting to see Sarah and Caleb's story, I loved the new friends they met along the way as well as glimpses of Win and Bo. I would have loved a dual POV since this book felt very sarah focused but that aside, there were sweet moments and intentional moments and a little bit of spice making this, all in all, a great read!



Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the ARC in exchange for my review!

My excitement for this book was through the roof due to how much I loved Out on a Limb, so it had a hard shoes to fill. I enjoyed this romance, but not as much as the first. However, if Hannah Bonam Young writes it, I will read it.

Where a Marriage in Trouble Embarks on a Journey of Reigniting Love

| contemporary romance | marriage in trouble | man obsessed | finding yourself | couples therapy | couples retreat | spicy | nature | hiking | HEA | love takes work | patience | personal growth | communication | childhood sweethearts | death of a parent | dealing with grief | found family | single POV |

Do I recommend it? YES.
Is it sad? At times, but it does have a happily ever after.

I have become a huge fan of Hannah Bonam-Young. I read this story without first reading Out on a Limb. Although it is not necessary, I highly recommend reading Out on a Limb first because the characters and their personalities overlap. You may miss some of the jokes regarding Win and Bo if you choose to read this without having read the first book.

Something about Hannah Bonam-Youngs writing is that it is plot-driven. Yes, there is some spice and lots of tension, but there are always these deeply emotional elements that drive her stories right into your heart. I cannot tell you the depths at which this story will touch your heart. One moment you're crying because it is a bit sad, and within pages, you are happy again because the sadness turned into something beautiful.

The duality of happiness and sadness I attribute to who the characters are. Sara is dealing with a less-than-savory hand in life. She feels a little lost and very undeserving of her partner. Caleb loves Sara no matter what, and he hates to see her sad or upset. He loves her so wholly and so fully that he would do anything to keep her happy, even if he has to risk upsetting her. He is supportive, dedicated, and loving above all else. Sara is the center of his universe. For Sara, Caleb is always her knight in shining armor. He always comes through for her, and sometimes a girl just wants to be able to stand on her own two feet. She doesn't want to resent Caleb for the ways that he tries to be there for her, but she comes to a point in her life where she realizes that she is unhappy, most of all, with herself.

This couple embarks on a journey to reignite their love and find balance in their marriage. However, the journey also helps them both in personal ways that go beyond their love for each other and embrace their love of self.

Out of the Woods is a beautiful story with a heartbreaking past and a bright future. It's a story that I won't soon forget. I cried, I laughed, and most of all, I loved it. I highly recommend this story and any story written by Hannah Bonam-Young.

Happy Reading, Friends xx

🦇 Out of the Woods Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD How did you meet your significant other?

🦇 High school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb Linwood have always been a sure thing. But after 17 years, Sarah has to wonder: who is she without her other half? Caleb always seems to step in to save the day, making her the damsel. In a desperate attempt to fix what they fear is breaking, Sarah and Caleb make the spontaneous decision to get out of their comfort zones and join a grueling hiking trip intended to guide couples through rough patches. Can they navigate their way out of the woods and their messy uncertainty to find their way back to their roots?

💜 First of all, I'd like to reassure readers that no, you don't have to read Out on a Limb to enjoy this book. Out of the Woods focuses on Sarah and Caleb's relationship (friends of the FMC in book one). Let's break it down:
✨ Characters: We're given very little about each character independent of the other. Sarah is deep in grief while Caleb is...well, he seems perfectly supportive and loving, but that's unfortunately stifling Sarah. Once they begin to work through their problems, they're cute together, but there's no major depth. I will say that Sarah is incredibly relatable. She feels stuck and uncertain of who she is outside of her relationship, but it feels like she takes that out on Caleb when he's simply content (and there's nothing wrong with that). It does highlight the importance of recognizing who you are outside of a relationship (a lesson some people haven't learned, which then affects the relationship).
✨ Plot and Pacing: Usually, I love a flashback to show rather than tell. Unfortunately, the CONSTANT flashbacks slow the pace down. They don't show us moments that really define Caleb and Sarah. The plot (Sarah having an identity crisis and feeling like a NPC in her own marriage) had a lot of potential, but ALL the introspection leaves the story dragging. There's just not much going on.
✨ Romance: The absolute best moment for me was Sarah realizing Caleb brought her e-reader so she wouldn't lose her (nearly 2,000-day) reading streak. The little flowers and notes they left for one another were precious. Their relationship is well-established, and they heal with each other, which is sweet. There is smut, so, enjoy that.
✨ Mystery/Suspense: Alluding to a moment that occurred between Sarah and Caleb as young adults without revealing it entirely would have given the story an element of tension and suspense, both of which were lacking.
✨ Tone/Prose: Sarah's narration is relatable, but her constant, page after page of introspection adds nothing to the story. A little more descriptive language while we're in the woods could have placed readers in the moment, but instead, we're stuck in Sarah's head.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🏕 Adult Contemporary Romance
⛺ Camping
🏕 Couples Therapy
⛺ Flashbacks
🏕 High School Sweethearts
⛺ First Person POV
🏕 Loss of a Parent/Grief
⛺ Part of a Duology

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #OutoftheWoods

💬 Quotes
❝ It’s the cursed roles we’ve been stuck in since the eleventh grade. The gallant knight riding in on his white horse is here to save me once again. And shit, if being the damsel in distress isn’t getting old. ❞
❝ “I brought [your e-reader] and a solar charger. I didn’t want you to lose your reading streak. Downloaded a couple of extra books too.” ❞
❝ I am a simple creature, at my core. Give me books, sunlight, water, and a handsome man looking at me like I’m some rare jewel, and I’m all set. Especially when it feels like a long time since I’ve shined for him. ❞
❝ “If you give me the space to grow, I’ll plant myself next to you. Always.” ❞
❝ “We have the rest of our lives to fuck each other’s brains out. I’m here to get your heart back first.” ❞

Hannah has done it again! Out of the Woods was an incredibly beautiful story about self-discovery, rekindling a marriage, and just enjoying what life has to offer. This book made me cry, laugh, and smile. Truly one of the best books I have read so far.

The premise was beautifully written and well-paced. The past and present timelines were nice, as it gave us snippets to Sarah’s relationship with Caleb from the beginning and her mother’s condition and death.

There were some sensitive topics throughout the story such as grief, which I thought were handled and written perfectly. There were definitely moments that made me tear up.

Sarah’s journey was realistic, heartbreaking, beautiful and inspiring. Caleb’s support and understanding of her journey was amazing as well. I will say though, I wished we would have gotten a bit more from Caleb and his journey/struggles. There were also a few subplots that could have been more developed.

The couples therapy retreat in the middle of the woods lead to some amusing, sweet and spicy moments. The rekindling their marriage aspect did have me a bit worried at first but there was truly nothing to fear. Sarah and Caleb’s marriage and love story was one filled with support, care, devotion and love. The understanding, compassion and trust they had in one another was beautiful.

There was no third act breakup/conflict but those last few chapters definitely had me nervous and tearing up. The conclusion and epilogue were perfect though. Overall, just another fantastic story filled with so much heart and love from Hannah.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and PRH Audio for the early access to the digital and audio copies of this new book. This was my first—though I’m going to be going back to read Winnie and Bo’s story. You can still definitely read this one without reading Bonam-Young’s first novel.

This book touched me deep in my soul. As someone who also met their spouse in high school and have been married for 16 years and together for 21 years—over half our lives…there were SO MANY TIMES I felt like the words Caleb and Sarah were saying were taken straight from my mouth, my soul, my journals. I felt seen. I had tears in my eyes so many times because I just resonated so much. A book hasn’t felt like therapy in awhile!

There is definitely some spice. And the trigger warnings at the start of the book for the touchy topics were good. But I laughed. I teared up. I smiled. So freaking much. This was a really beautiful book about relationships and making marriage work through the hard times. I loved it.

After reading and loving Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young, I was ecstatic when I was approved to read this ARC!!

This book follows Sarah and Caleb through so many hardships as young teens into a marriage at an early age. As many marriage experience up and downs they felt each other slipping away. I loved seeing them reclaim their independence and their love for one another. They had tough conversations that helped them grow closer and see the new and improved spouse. I was also glad we save a glimpse into Bo and Win’s relationship post Out on a Limb.

This book will be in my bookshelf once it’s released! Another must read by Hannah Bonn-Young. Thank you so much for allowing me the chance to experience this read and give my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Bonam-Young and Ballentine for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was so adorable. I loved every minute with these characters and their personalities. I haven’t read any of the authors other books but they are all a must read for me now. These characters felt like friends and it was so perfect.

I am beyond happy that we got a chance to see the inner workings of Caleb and Sarah’s relationship. Deep, deep in my millennial heart I feel this love. These two characters who were so supportive and loving in the first book just shined in their own story! True love isn’t perfect and it isn’t easy but it can be beautiful. I’m so thankful we got a chance to see the friendships in the family shine once again! There is something so beautiful and true about Hannah Bonham-Young’s writing and I’m just so grateful I got a chance to read this book early. I will literally read anything she writes.

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Hannah Bonham-Young can literally do no wrong. Caleb and Sarah’s relationship was just the most beautiful thing to read. Meeting them in Out On a Limb, not knowing they were going to be getting a book made me so interested in their relationship as high school sweethearts and this book did not disappoint.

Another adorable love story from HBY 🥹

I continue to be in awe of the characters that she writes. I love how they are flawed, they have disagreements and face challenges like any couple, but these two, much like Bo and Win,(characters from Out on a Limb, who are also a part of this book)handle things with a level of maturity and respect you don’t always see in romance novels.

This is a story of a couple who have been together since high school, and during that time have faced challenges that many couples don’t face until they are much older. They’re in a phase of life where they’ve “made it”, as it would appear from the outside, but get lost in the day to day routine of it all and fall a bit out of sync.

As the couple realizes they may be in more trouble than they thought, they decide to embark on an adventure that is completely outside of their comfort zone: attending an outdoor camp for couples that focuses on improving connection and communication.

I loved this concept. It was so much fun to read about the different challenges, the dynamic of being around other couples, and how being in a new environment is sometimes all you need to rekindle that *spark* 😉

With hilarious banter, adorable wholesome moments, steamy spice, and some painful and emotional moments too, this was another heartfelt story that just further solidified my love for HBY.

Hannah Bonam-Young does it again! Sarah and Caleb's story is one I needed to read, and I have been recommending this book to everyone. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for review.