can we go higher than 5 stars? because this is definitely one of those ♾️⭐️ books.

after finally reading 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣, i was sooo excited to know more about win’s bestie sarah, and her husband caleb 💗 and this book did NOT disappoint. it ripped me apart and put me back together again. how will i ever recover? caleb & sarah 🥹

hby has such a way with words and storytelling, and it will suck you in completely, and you’ll feel everything that her characters feel and that's exactly what happened—i laughed, giggled, kicked my feet and sobbed. like really ugly cried. like had to take off my glasses because i couldn't see the words anymore type of cry. 😭 this book deals with grief, love, trusting and believing in yourself and so much more. it's about falling in love maybe a little too young and growing up faster than you should have to, and doing life together. and just trying your best because that’s all that you can do 🩵

thank you so much to netgalley & random house publishing/ballantine/dell for this arc of out of the woods! 🥹🤍🤍

I’m sure I woke up every one in my neighbourhood when I saw that my NetGalley request for out of the woods was approved last week! I have been waiting for this book since I first read about Sarah and Caleb in Out on a Limb.
Sarah and Caleb have such a warm loving relationship. It is very clear from the beginning that despite having been together for nearly two decades, these two are still very much in love. Maybe they have taken up some roles in their marriage that they need to let go of, but that they love each other is never in question.
They go to a wilderness retreat despite not being outdoorsy people in an attempt to reconnect with each other. We follow them as they hike and camp and in the process learn lots about themselves and each other. I honestly started this book out without a very high opinion of Sarah. Everything I learned through the course of the book changed that opinion. Caleb Ofcourse continues to be a sweetheart throughout.

Win, Bo and Gus make appearances as well and it was so nice to see Win and Sarah’s friendship in this book.

I didn’t love the timeline switching back and forth but it doesn’t take away from the book in anyway.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell Romance for sending me the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book was adorable!! I love the “fell out of marriage” trope, I find it so interesting to see how two characters that already know so much about each other get to relearn themselves and each other. Caleb and Sarah were such a heart warming couple. I relate to Sarah a lot and I thoroughly enjoyed her character

This! Is! What! I! Dream! About! A partnership where you truly fall deeper into love with each other every day. One that can change along the way because individually we grow too. One where you your commitment and love for one another is powerful enough to withstand all the bad days and exhausting fights and scary moments. Where you can be vulnerable and honest, especially when it might be uncomfortable or scary. A best friend, a soulmate. Hannah crafted the most incredible representation of just that. It was written so vividly, I felt like I was there going through it with them. I have no words, truly. In lovee with this book!!!!

4.5 Stars

Sarah and Caleb start dating at 14, got married at 19, and now at 31, Sarah feels like her life is at a standstill. She feels like she has yet to accomplish anything she really wanted and that her husband is always coming to her rescue. After another event where Caleb swoops in to save the day, their marriage turns tense. Sarah suggests a couples therapy hiking retreat and Caleb reluctantly agrees. They spend the week trying to fight their way back to one another.

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

When I tell you all I nearly screamed when I opened my email to find out I got an ARC of this book! I’ve been a HBY stan since I read Next to You almost two years ago and my obsession has only grown since then.

I knew this book was going to get me, but it hit me in ways I was not prepared for. As a single girl in her 30s, I swooned over Caleb and his attentiveness. What I would give for a man like that 😂 But it was Sarah and her internal struggles that spoke to me. Don’t read this on your lunch break unless you want to go back with puffy eyes.

I do think the conflict got resolved a little too quickly, but overall the story was so good! The number of times I screamed ‘Hannah!’ while reading this! She knows just how to break your heart and put it back together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC! Y’all made my dreams come true! 🩷

How does HBY keep churning out 4-5 star reads with every book? Such a fan of her writing and stories!

"Out of the Woods" introduces us to the BFFs of Win (and Bo) from "Out on a Limb". Sarah and Caleb met at 14 and have been inseparable ever since. In their short lives they have experienced achievement, great loss, and love and they do it all together. But at a turning point decades later, Sarah feels the need to succeed (or fail) on her own and wonders who is she even, without Caleb? This stirs up decades of unresolved grievances between the couple and threatens their future together. When they decide to embark on a couples' renewal outdoor wilderness retreat, they have to examine if they can get out of the woods and back on a path to forever together or not.

I enjoyed the dual timelines of their teenage beginnings to present day. The themes of love and loss and especially the exploration of a couple who met very young trying to stay together was unique. The backstory of Sarah also shed more light into the deep friendship/kinship she had with Win as a child which was a treat for fans who wish "Out of a Limb" had a sequel.

HBY writes steamy scenes like no other with angst, pining, sweetness, and spice that feels more intimate than most contemporary romance/rom-coms.

Her surprisingly deep evaluation of spirituality, especially in the presence of loss hit me harder than any other "light" read. I feel like she personified in words my same experience. (Thank you!)

HBY (and this book) is a gift to readers. I was so pleased to receive my first ever ARC e-book from NetGalley in exchange for my candid review. I will look forward to a physical copy and hope for the audiobook too as I am now obsessed with who the narrators may be to bring this story to life!

Hannah just doesn't miss. Out of on a Limb is favorite book of mine and this one didn't disappoint.

The story starts with Sarah failing at throwing a fundraiser for ALS in honor of her mother. What ensues causes a big fight between her and Caleb and has her questioning her life. Win suggests they try a couples therapy outdoor hiking retreat to try to reconnect.

Their 7 day journey is physically and emotionally grueling while they face their buried issues and find out how to be really honest with each other.

This was such a sweet and emotional read about a marriage in crisis. You really never doubt that they still very much love each other deeply, so the angst isn't too high.

This is an interconnected standalone, but I did read Out on a Limb recently and it always add some magic to see characters I loved from the opposite focus. It’s also Sarah and Caleb’s story and I just want you to know I will probably be crying multiple times while typing this review. I always love a dual timeline and it’s the perfect way to follow how they started while balancing the dynamic they have in the present. Now onto the actual story, in the present things aren’t great between Sarah and Caleb. After hosting a fundraiser for ALS research and some drama, the pair is even worse off. After several weeks of weird tension, this is where Win suggests a couples retreat. Initially hesitant, Sarah comes around to the idea that a big change to their routine could be just what they need to save their marriage. The retreat’s goal is to reignite the love and passion between couples by submerging you deep within the forest with no access to technology. I laughed, I cried, and I pushed through second hand embarrassment right beside Sarah over the week in middle of no where. There’s lots a deep chats and silly moments taken between the campers, making the pair lifelong friends. Also, fuck Cecilia Floodgate.

Pub Date January 28 2025

ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group— Ballantine, Dell Romance and NetGalley. Thank you.

review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads

As a committed fan of everything Hannah writes I was so SO excited to dive into her latest. Marriage in crisis is a tricky trope to make me fall in love with, but HBY’s already proved herself with Out on a Limb that she is more than capable of making me love tropes I usually steer clear from! This story follows childhood sweethearts Caleb and Sarah as they’re figuring out what their relationship and identities now look like in their 30s, all within the context of a wilderness adventure camp/ couples therapy retreat. I really enjoyed this! For marriage in crisis it felt relatively low stakes and I never really felt like the couple’s relationship was truly in danger - this made it more of a comforting read than angsty, which some people might not like but I found made for a quick and fun read. As always, HBY’s characters are well rounded, relatable, and loveable, and I absolutely devoured the book in one sitting!

I received an ARC from Net Galley for Out of the Woods. I will admit that I read this whole book before just now realizing the title is a play on words to Taylor Swift’s song, as well as the physical exploration that takes place in this storyline. Oops. I actually love it so much more after realizing that link though! This story was an enjoyable novel focusing on self exploration- on relationship, spiritual and individualistic levels. I enjoyed witnessing the growth of Sarah and Caleb. I could feel something ‘bad’ brewing in the story and I was definitely surprised at the turn of events that took place. Also, an honorable mention for the way that grief is described and explored throughout this novel— very well done. Add this one to your must reads for 2025!

Out of the Woods is absolutely the best book I've read this year. Hannah Bonam-Young writes beautiful love stories that feel real. I feel like I am watching her characters fall in love, experience heartbreak, and overcome every issue they encounter. I adored Sarah and Caleb's love story. I was already in love with them in Out on A Limb, and getting a whole book following their love was so special. I loved the writing in this story and I love that we got into Sarah's head. I sadly related WAY too much to Sarah and Caleb, so there were multiple parts of the books that hurt me. But that's what Hannah Bonam-Young does, she writes stories that make you FEEL. You fall in love with her characters and you feel what they feel, cry when they cry, and laugh when they laugh. I absolutely loved this book and I'm not sure how I'll ever move on from Sarah and Caleb.

This story was so good especially being in a relationship myself for many years. I feel most of us hit that part of life where we ask what am I doing and am I on the right path? I loved the relationship between high school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb. You can really feel how much they truly love and appreciate each other. 5 ⭐️!

Out of the Woods was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 so imagine my excitement when I got the email from NetGalley!!!! This book lived up to every single expectation that I had. It has the typical humor, and heart that you expect from Hannah Bonam-Young but there was this really deep additional level about grief, acceptance and building a life that brings you joy. I wouldn't change a thing, no notes, absolute perfection!!!

I loved this book. I could relate to the main characters who got married young and then years later wondered if they'd changed too much as individuals to work together. Everyone needs a little space. Hannah Bonam-Young's books are a great read and this one made me think.

wow. hannah has done it again! out of the woods is so refreshing, so heartfelt, so brilliant, you will wanna read it again as soon as you finish! even though we meet sarah and caleb in out on a limb, their love bleeeeds through these pages. this book tackles so many different things: marriage in trouble: self esteem/confidence issues, neurologic conditions, grief, and so many more. how do you find happiness in your life experiences?

this book brought me to tears, made me giggle, made me so excited for the paperback so i can annotate some lines that will stick with me. if you haven't read anything by HBC yet, i feel like if you wanted to start here you could, just be warned for spoilers for out on an limb.

please check your trigger warnings and if you can - read this book. it will stick with you forever 🤍

thank you so much netgalley and ballantine for the arc!! check out my review on goodreads posted 11/26/2024 🫶🏽

Where do I start this book. First I just wanna say Hannah Bonam-Young is a phenomenal writer. I don't know how she's does it but you fall in love with the character so quickly. But this book we had a little taste of Sara and Caleb and you luv them in Out on a Limb but this book you fully fall head over heels in love with them! I'm not usually the biggest fan of "saving a marriage" trope but from truly getting there back story to the vulnerability of these two characters to just their willing to do the work to "save" there marriage is so fricken good! Also just the way they love each other and talk through things was EVERYTHING! This book is truly beautiful! I laughed and I cried a lot. I will always recommend Hannah's book but this one is going to top tier now!

hannah bonam-young refuses and can not write a bad book. this book made me feel every single emotion possible and made me instantly want to reread it and experience it all over again.

I will suggest this book to EVERY married person I know! I took my time with this book because I knew it was going to be good from chapter 3. I feel like books about saving your marriage are far and few these days. I truly LOVED this story! Thank you to Hannah for this story, she brought it to life! I loved every page. Thank you to Natgalley for the ARC in return for my unpaid opinion on this story!

A great story of a couple who married young reconnecting within their marriage after reaching a stagnant point in their lives. Sarah and Caleb work together to communicate and grow since they're still so in love after all this time. Really lovely story.

As soon as I started this book I knew it was going to be a new favorite. As someone who’s been with her high school sweet heart for 16 years and married for 13 this book hits close to home.

You have Sarah and Caleb who are high school sweethearts. A few years into their marriage, Sarah feels like she hasn’t accomplished anything. She feels like she’s been relying on her husband, Caleb so much. Which leads to them taking a getaway trip.

I felt like I could relate to Sarah in so many ways. Seeing her grief broke my heart. Caleb is literally a dream. The way he’s been there for Sarah through everything. Their relationship is so beautiful. It felt realistic. I just adored everything about them.

Seeing win & bo again made me so happy.

As soon as this hits the stores I’ll be adding a copy to my library.
Thank you netgalley for this arc.