This is a marriage in crisis contemporary romance where the main characters go on a retreat to work in their marriage after being with each other for over 17 years. I enjoyed both characters, i think they were very nuanced and complex and i don’t think anyone did anything wrong. I don’t think the marriage was really in crisis i just think the fmc wanted to find who she was outside of the relationship. I truly do believe a conversation would have helped them alot. I think the fmc’s journey and grief was real and relatable i just think 2 different stories were being told in this and the romance took a backseat. The romance was cute and i felt both characters i just didn’t feel like they were stakes in the crisis they had. I did love watching them rediscover themselves and make an effort into moving forward. Theres not alot of steam but there is some woods sexy time. There are flashbacks in this and i don’t know if all of them were necessary for the romance tbh. Overall this is cute thank you Dell for the arc!

When you cry in the first chapter & the last, & admittedly, a few places in between— you know it’s a well-written story. Out of the Woods was certainly that.

I think, in a way, I struggled to instantly fall in love with this book because of the FMC Sarah’s flaws. How selfish to have the cutest husband & be so taken care of yet feel like your life is falling apart. But I think it was hard because of how much I resonated with her personally.

I think the premise of this book is unique & refreshing. Capturing what it’s like to be with someone for so long, so well. & for that? Five stars.

This book will have you hugging your loved ones even tighter, & dreaming up possibilities for your own future.

I knew I’d love Out of the Woods simply because it shares a title with my favorite Taylor Swift song 🌲🌳

It wasn’t marketed as such, and maybe I’m wrong, but the TS Easter eggs are plentiful AND delightful 🪩

So TS and HBY’s signature writing? SOLD ✅

We join Sarah and Caleb as they figure out their relationship during a 5 day couples’ therapy in the woods. They’ve been together since high school and yet now years later, they’re full grown adults and not the same people they were 10+ years ago (Oh hi Hannah, did you come to my house and peek inside my own relationship? Cuz this hit real hard).

Marriage in crisis but add in childhood friends to lovers and this was heartbreaking and beautiful. A great example of choosing to love one another even as you change and grow.

The Vibes:

—marriage in trouble

—camping! but this time with outdoor sex!

—nerd in the streets/freak in the sheets with his favorite brat

—good boy (a very good boy)

Heat Index: 7.5/10.

The Basics:

Together since they were fifteen and married since they were nineteen, Caleb and Sarah have hit a major rough patch—one she's not sure they can come back from. At a friend's suggestion, they embark on a camping retreat together. The question is: Can Sarah find her true identity while staying with someone who's loved her since she was a teenager?

The Review:

THIS IS WHY I LOVE MARRIAGE IN TROUBLE.

We met Sarah and Caleb as Win's stable couple friends in Out on a Limb (also highly recommend, though I may love this even more). They're perfect for each other—apparently. When we meet them here, about twoish years after the events of OoaL, they're at a crossroads. Caleb is successful and well-meaning; Sarah feels directionless and smothered. Basically, she's a housewife; and no amount of Caleb supporting her takes away from the fact that she feels like she's nothing individually.

What's clear from the start is that it's not that these two don't love each other. It's not even that they aren't into each other (I mean, they very much are, and the tension is HOT). But have they outgrown each other? Sarah wonders at the beginning of the book if it's realistic for two people who've been together since high school to make it forever. And... the prospect of them breaking up feels real. Because, while they're not always perfectly rational, they aren't super mean to each other, either. They just—especially Sarah—feel out of sync in a "this spells trouble" way.

BUT. While this is a deeply emotional novel, it's also a remarkably uplifting one, and quite fun. I mean, you're taking two indoor people, plunking them in the woods, and telling them they can't have sex (For Therapy) when they clearly want to devour each other. Again, the issue with the marriage is NOT a lack of physical chemistry. I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, all bopping around and having their own camping couples therapy fun times (this would make a good movie, me thinks).

Woven into the story are flashbacks that center on Caleb and Sarah: The Early Years, naturally, but also a defining part of Sarah's life... which is to say, the loss of her mother to ALS. Just want to give people a heads up—while the details aren't graphic, it's still sad to read. Sarah's relationship with her mother is so well-characterized (and such a great contrast to Caleb's aloof relationship with his living parents) and really put me in that mindset of like... Where would I be in Sarah's shoes? Probably more of a wreck, to be honest.

And I want to make it clear: This is a Romance. Capital R. But Bonam-Young, in this book and in OoaL, truly understands what makes the genre so good. It's not that every moment in the characters' lives is perfect or without conflict. They don't always make the best decisions. But the emotion, dude. The love. That comes through in such a true, tangible way.

The Sex:

SO GOOD. There isn't a ton of sex on the page (a couple of fully explicit scenes, plus some largely off the page flashback stuff) but what we get is well-written, full of detail and heat and passion, and such a great payoff.

Plus, the sex scenes in this novel truly feel unique to Caleb and Sarah and their relationship, which is not a guarantee in romance. We get a lot of brattiness and good boy. Caleb is a voyeur. I SO approve.

I also really liked how much casual intimacy, sexy and otherwise, is in this book. Caleb and Sarah really read as a long-term couple. There's a moment where she's deep in thought for several paragraphs, and then it's like, cut to Caleb lifting his head from between her legs like "You good?" This is why I love marriage in trouble (and second chance, for that matter). CASUAL. INTIMACY.

This is just a really good feel your feelings book, and I read it over the course of a couple sittings, basically. More of this in contemporary romance, please.

Thanks to Dell and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Shout out to Netgalley for this e-arc! I was HYPE for a new Bonam-Young book! All of their past books have been a HUGE hit for me! This outdoor centered book should have been a homerun for me, but I'm not a huge fan of second chance romance (which this is the main trope). Overall, still a smashing success and I'll absolutely keep coming back for more books written by this author!

Big thanks to Dell for the ARC of this book! I have adored all of Hannah Bonam-Young's books and this one is my new favorite! It isn't a traditional romance book as the characters are already married, but was truly a beautiful book. Reading about how the characters are able to find themselves again and grow closer in their marriage after navigating complicated feelings of grief, inadequacy and uncertainty was just spectacular. It is definitely in my top 5 books of the year. Hannah Bonam-Young truly knows how to write a book that just pulls me in from the very first page! This one will be beloved my many people I am sure! I also really enjoyed catching with Win and Bo from Out on a Limb, which is a must read if you haven't already read it! See below for a synopsis.

Sarah and Caleb are high school sweethearts who have been married for 10 years. They have navigated their relationship amidst all of life's struggles including a catastrophic medical diagnosis for Sarah's mom in high school. Caleb has always been strong and steady in caring for Sarah but she feels like she has not purpose or accomplishments. When they reach a breaking point in their marriage, they decide to go on wilderness marriage retreat to reconnect. While on the retreat, the find true connection and love and remember all over again why they fell in love in the first place. It is a beautiful and unique love story and I'll be thinking about for quite a while. I would give it infinity stars if I could!

5 out of 5 stars!

There's something about HBY's writing that will ALWAYS get me.

This follows Sarah and Caleb, who we meet in OOAL, as they navigate their marriage. Sarah and Caleb have been together since they were 16 and now more than half their life has passed and Sarah's not sure who she is and who she's meant to be. Under the guidance of Win, Sarah and Caleb join a couple retreat to find their way out of the woods and back to one another.

I feel like I really resonated with this book because I saw myself in both Sarah and Caleb. My husband and I were each other's first real relationship at 18 and got married at 25. And while 25 doesn't sound young, in the grand scheme of things and in comparison to my friends it is SO young. Married, two kids, two dogs, and bought a house before 30? Sometimes I feel like my identity got lost along the way. All of Sarah's worries, of who she is with and without Caleb is so so real and valid. As someone who relates to having a partner make more than you, or be the person of the house, all of Sarah's insecurities were so tangible. As for Caleb, his people pleasing and fear of change was SO on the nose. You can tell he loves Sarah SO SO much and the regret of not showing and expressing that just tears at him. Honestly, tears at me too.

And while this is all deep, it's not the only point of the book. This book is FUNNY and SPICY. The tension between Sarah and Caleb is CHEFS KISS WITH TONGUE CAUSE WOW. I was WAITING for their waiting to be over haha. I also loved the ensemble cast and how each of them interacted with Sarah and Caleb. Also, I loved loved loved the excerpts of the past and how Sarah and Caleb came to be.


Thank you Netgalley, HBY and Dell for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read and loved Out on a Limb, and when I saw a few months ago that this would be coming out I was SO EXCITED. This book once again proves that HBY can run me through an emotional wringer and I still finish the book smiling and wanting more. I loved that Caleb and Sarah wanted to work on their relationship - there weren't thoughts of divorce or separation, and they knew they still wanted to be together, but they had work to do. Even when they fought, they still came back together to talk about what was wrong and even with some big revelations they still figured out how to work together to continue being happy together. It was sweet, and funny, and sometimes poignant, and heartfelt, and made me tear up way more than I was expecting. It can sometimes take a lot to get a strong emotional response from me but this book - yes.

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

Thank you Random House for the ARC!!

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam Young left my heart full of warmth and joy. I was captivated by the journey of Caleb and Sarah as they navigated their past and rediscovered each other, learning to reconnect in meaningful ways. Their story is a beautiful reminder that with patience, effort, and a willingness to grow together, even the most complicated relationships can find their way back to happiness. By the time I turned the last page, I couldn't help but smile, feeling hopeful that love, when nurtured, can truly endure.

I just loved getting to see Sarah and Caleb grow after meeting/loving them in Out on a Limb. Hannah’s books are a delight.

This books dives into the love story of Sarah and Caleb from Out on a Limb. This book is not only just about their love story, but family, the lost of a love one and how it shapes us. I loved how she portrayed marriage and how life and events takes us off track of the expectations we put on us. I absolutely loved Sarah and Caleb's story because it was raw, real, sext, and hilarious.

I was incredibly blessed to receive a digital ARC of this book. After reading Out On A Limb, Hannah Bonam-Young has become one of my favorite romance authors and I practically screamed when I saw I was approved for this ARC as Out of the Woods was one of my most anticipated releases of 2025.

This book was absolute perfection and om-nom-nom, I DEVOURED it, couldn’t put it down, couldn’t stop SOBBING.

This was very unique for me because I don’t think I’ve ever read a romance novel where the main characters start out already together. This isn’t a second chance romance, as there’s never a point in time where they’re not together and I LOVED it.

Sarah and Caleb are high school sweethearts who get married at 19 years old so Sarah’s mom, who has ALS, could attend the wedding before she passes. Years later, Sarah feels like she’s done nothing with her life while her husband is a successful entrepreneur who is always “bailing her out” of situations and being a caretaker for her. She wants a change but doesn’t know how, so they go on an outdoor couple’s retreat to work through their issues together.

Every character in this book is gold. They are deep and complex and it helps add to the very realistic feel of the book. We also get glimpses of Win and Bo (from Out on a Limb) which is DELIGHTFUL as I still think about that book all the time.

Utterly un-putdownable and Sarah is wonderful and relatable and I love her deeply. This character really resonated with me and she will remain close to my heart forever.

4.25/5 Stars | EMOTIONAL DAMAGE

What I liked: How much this book made me feel. This was SUCH a beautiful picture about growing with someone and how grief and fallback patterns can impact our partners in a relationship. ALSO so SO SO SO SO PRECIOUS a story about two people who want to grow and change TOGETHER and love each other better.

What I didn't like: How much this book made me feel. LOL But on a serious note, I think some of the depictions of how our FMC felt about religion felt a little sandwiched into the overall story. I wish that it either had been more in-depth an explanation of her feelings or more woven into the book. It felt out of left field for me, but it may just be me!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an Advance Copy of this book!

THIS DELIVERED SO HARD OH MY GOD!!???!?!?!??!!

let me just say this first - this story was heartbreaking. it was raw, it was emotional, and it felt so real. there were many tears involved. many times where i just had to set my kindle down and take a second. so definitely check tw and be prepared when you go into this!

sarah and caleb were so amazing as individuals, but they were absolutely perfect together. seeing the love that they had for each other and being able to feel it through the pages was so beautiful. caleb was so supportive and understanding through everything. we all deserve a caleb in our lives!!! anyways, they were so clearly soulmates and their love was just so genuine and beautiful.

this is my second hannah bonam young, and one thing about her is that she is going to write. i mean, WRITE write. it's so easy to read, but it also packs a punch. she can write characters and their experiences to feel so real, and the way she writes about love is so... beautiful. someone get me some synonyms for that word pls.

anyways, i'm screaming at all of you to READ THIS the second it releases next year. you don't have to read out on a limb first, but i would def recommend it because (1) we see win and bo in this book and they're the absolute cutest, and (2) it's just a really damn good book. okay that's all for me, gonna go think about this book nonstop for the next several business days <3

First of all thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was stellar. One of the best books I have read all year. The way it just breaks your heart and then puts it back together at the end. Chef's kiss. Hannah does complex emotions with ease as a reader these characters feel so real. It's as if they're people in our everyday lives. The plot was creative and I was not expecting the twist at the end. But it definitely raised the stakes and made the HEA all the sweeter.

The spice was STELLAR!
And the communication!! the two main characters excelled at communicating their feelings and emotions and that's what we love to see. I will be reccomending this and Out on a Limb to all my friends.

I recently came across the phase “5 stars is a feeling” and that feeling is the feeling I experienced while reading Hannah Bonam-Young’s last book Out on a Limb. I have been searching for it ever since.

My bottom lip was wobbling from the first word to the last. The magic HBY weaves into her stories continues to get better and better. The emotionality and depth of each character in this story was captivating. Out of The Woods was heartbreaking, intimate, hopeful, authentic and honest. Life is so hard and can take so much from us. I saw myself in Sarah, in probably more ways than I’d like to admit.

That bittersweet feeling of being on the cusp of something — scared, hopeful, nostalgic, all at once. HBY bottled that feeling and put it into Sarah and Caleb’s journey.

I feel so lucky to have been given the opportunity to experience Out Of the Woods early and I am so grateful to have been given the chance to read and review it. It’s something special.

I've been such a huge fan of Hannah's since Out on a Limb and I could not have been more excited to fall in love with Sarah and Caleb. I thought this was a lovely representation of what it's like to feel stagnant in your life and not quite sure where to go from there. I felt Sarah's struggle to be very relatable and while you always had such love and hope for their reconciliation and for them to be on the same page again, their journey felt very earned! I never felt like the problems they were having or the struggles they faced were trite or something that couples wouldn't actually go through! Another 10/10 from HBY and I can't wait to see what comes next!

Five stars ⭐️

I was a tiny bit scared to read this as I don’t typically love books where a couple is trying to save their marriage since I’m not a huge fan of angst and sometimes I can’t get over things as easily as the couple can… but this was the perfect exception.

I loved this SO much. There’s just something about Hannah Bonam-Young’s writing that just immediately pulls me in and has me hooked by the first page every single time.

I loved how even though there were problems between Caleb and Sarah, they still loved each other SO much and neither of them were afraid to fix things.

The way Caleb loved Sarah? Man, I hope I have that someday. He would’ve done absolutely anything for her🥹💙

This made me laugh and cry and feel all the feels. As someone who has also lost my mother, seeing Sarah’s perspective of her mother was so beautiful.

All in all, this was such a comforting read and I loved every second of it.

Huge thanks to Hannah Bonam-Young, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC! I’ll definitely buy this one when it’s out in the world to keep on my bookshelf.

I don't think there was ever going to be a scenario where this wasn't a 5 star read for me. I love the way Hannah takes these really high stakes ideas (a surprise pregnancy in OOAL, a couple struggling with how to communicate and questioning their marriage in this one, etc.) and makes them feel very low stakes and wholesome. You know you're going to be safe in this world and with these characters.

Granted, I was probably primed to love this from the get go. I met my husband when I was 15, and reading about a married couple who grew up together and had to learn how grow together and adjust as adults hit a little too close to home. I loved how even when they're fighting and not on the same page at all, they both still have love and attraction for each other. There's that level of comfort with each other that no amount of silent treatments and arguing can truly come between when you've been together for so long.

I won't spoil the ending, but the last chunk of this book made me fully cry. I already can't wait to reread this.

Side note: I also love how HBY writes spice in a way that is both always sweet and HOT.

Sarah and Caleb have my whole heart in this book! I found pieces of myself and my marriage in this story and it’s the first romance book I’m making my husband read (and he already agreed)! I cried alongside Sarah as she grieved and understood Caleb at so many parts. The humor was delightful, as were the side characters. I loved Sarah and Caleb’s story and how they were so committed to each other for so long. I’m still relatively young in my own marriage and reading a book about still figuring yourself out while being in a marriage was invigorating. There was so much that can be taken from Sarah and Caleb’s story and it’s so important to show being in your 30s and staying committed to your partner isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it. I love how well Hannah Bonam-Young captures that. She has a magic in her stories that brings them to life and has the reader grow alongside the characters. I loved seeing Bo and Win again, but I mostly just adored being back inside Hannah Bonam-Young’s worlds again, if only for a few hours. 5⭐️, 2🌶