Grab your red gingham blanket, put some hot coco in your favorite mug and get in your comfy spot to read this book because you will NOT get back up until you’ve read the entire thing. The marriage in crisis trope is one i don’t often read but this one had me hooked. I loved all the flash backs during the story to show how much love they had for each other in the beginning of the relationship. And loved the story on how they get it all back. This was such a healing book for me, i lost my mom when i was 19 and dealing with grief and relationships is always something i find hard. This book was a healing book for me.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Out of the Woods follows former high school sweet hearts turned spouses Sarah and Caleb, who originally appear in Bonam-Young's book Out on a Limb, as they attend a wilderness retreat in attempt to work on the issues of their marriage. And you know your marriage is having issues when you miscommunicate one whole time.

Bonam-Young presents an interesting take on a romance book, where we are not getting a meet cute or a second chance romance but a couple who has spent over a decade together dealing with the consequences of falling in love before they truly found out who they were as individuals. As a concept, this intrigued me, but I felt as though the story fell short of what it promises. Primarily focusing on Sarah's personal growth as she realizes she never fully processes losing her mother so young, this book almost would have read better as Women's Fiction. Sarah's relationship with her mother and struggle to find a sense of self are the most interesting parts of this story. Caleb felt a NPC, lacking even the mild characterization he had in Out on a Limb. He was there for Sarah to resent before confronting her own issues and then he was there for Sarah to flirt with in between realizing difficult truths about herself. The romance almost felt out of place. I also found myself dragging my feet with reading this despite my initial excitement. Once I was about a chapter in, I felt as though I knew exactly where this story was going, so there was no incentive to binge read it. I loved Out on a Limb and still plan on reading Next of Kin, but Out of the Woods fell short for me. 3 stars ⭐️ and they're all for my girl Sarah, even though sometimes she sounded like a bot spewing randomly generated Relatable Tweets.

Sarah and Caleb were married at 19, now at 31 Sarah feels lost, and their marriage is suffering. The embark on a week long relationship retreat in attempt to repair their marriage.

Sweet, wholesome, moving, filled with trauma - this would be a great book for someone who can relate to the struggles of married young and growing together.

What I loved…
- Bo + Win cameos
- as usual the author does not shy away from talking about the hard stuff - she handles the topics with care!
- themes of grief & loss
- overall feel good story
- diverse + inclusive
- relatable FMC

What I didn’t love…
- the flashbacks added very little to the story for me and mostly took me away from the present - with was disjointing!
- I did not enjoy the 3rd act conflict and felt like it did nothing to improve or propel the story.
- Sarah’s actions felt ridiculously immature for a 31 year old with more than 12 years of marriage under her belt. You’re telling me they’ve made it that far in their relationship with that poor of communication until now?
- As with, Out on a Limb I felt like it lacked the tension and angst I want in a romance - it felt so low stakes, despite being a high stakes situation.

Hannah crafts a tale of grief and self-discovery through the eyes of Sarah, a young woman who still grieves the loss of her mother. Struggling to reconnect with her husband and feeling trapped in their routine, Sarah reluctantly agrees to a week-long wilderness camp for couples at the urging of her best friend, Win. As she navigates the challenges of the outdoors, she embarks on a transformative journey that helps her reclaim her identity and rekindle her marriage. The return of Win, Bo and Gus adds depth and warmth to the narrative, making this a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the courage to embrace change.

“You are the only thing that matters to me, and I’m tired of pretending otherwise. "
•

this is such a beautiful story of two people who’ve been together so long, they’ve essentially fused into one. but what happens when one of them has an identity crisis? it’s a turning point, for sure: one that will define wether they move forward together or apart. statistically, the odds are against them, but this could be the opportunity to defy those odds.

I loved Sarah and Caleb’s story so much! it’s such a lovely illustration of two people choosing to put in the work, together and individually, to move out of a rut and continue to build a beautiful future of love and joy. it was filled with the warmth of a familiar marriage and partnership alongside moments of grief, discovery, and rediscovery.

Out of the Woods is my first experience with Hannah Bonham-Young, but it won’t be my last!
•

this and that:
♡ chosen family
♡ cinnamon roll mmc
♡ dreaming again
♡ flashbacks
♡ found family
♡ forest adventures
♡ high school sweethearts
♡ marriage in trouble
♡ marriage retreats in the woods
♡ men in glasses
♡ open door heat
♡ paper airplanes
♡ single pov
♡ tent seduction
♡ waterfalls and nature
•

triggers:
☞ challenging in-laws
☞ death of loved one
☞ physical injuries
☞ terminal illness

Thank you so much to Netgally for providing me with a copy of Out of the Woods!

The dedication to this book sums it up PERFECTLY! This book was written for the Amy March girls and I could not love it more for it! It perfectly encapsulates the feeling of wanting to be great or nothing at all!

I found this book so entertaining! I seriously do not remember the last book I read this fast! The author’s writing style is always so engaging and fast paced in a way that makes you want to constantly keep reading!

I also absolutely love love LOVED Sarah and Caleb! They were both absolutely so much fun to read and follow along with in their little journey! The appearance of Win and Bo from “Out on a Limb” was also an amazing touch!

I really truly loved this book, but I do think I should mention the only thing that bothered me was that they supposably had a marriage in danger, but they literally had one fight. After having their one and only fight we heard about their whole marriage they’re googling divorce rates and going on a marriage counseling retreat. The relationship did not seem fully developed or like the author really knew about a realist relationship at all which is odd since she based these characters after her own marriage.

This story was great! I wasn’t sure quite what to expect since it’s a “romance” with a married couple. But watching Sarah and Caleb realize they need a change and choose to grow with each other was beautiful! I honestly cried through most of the book - happy, sad, funny, everything! It was so touching to see Sarah being ready to move forward and Caleb supporting her as they got on the same page. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2025!

Rating - 4.5/5

This book was a wonderful representation of grief and how it can strain beautiful relationships.

I loved Caleb and Sarah both individually throughout this book, but I loved them even more as a whole - together they were perfect! My favorite thing about this book was how solid their marriage felt, even in times of uncertainty. I didn't doubt them staying together because of their genuine love connection making this a comforting and heartwarming read.

Thank you Random House Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤

<b>4.25 ⭐</b>

oh my gosh. wow.... i went through the five stages of grief in this book. i love caleb and sarah both individually, but even more as a whole.

that being said, i loved this book. was the book perfect? no. did i still eat it up? yes.

marriage in crisis is the trope for this book but i didn't feel as if there was ever actually a time they might leave each other, even in the depths of there arguments. there entire marriage could have been solved by a few conversations of them sitting down and explaining there feelings to each other.

the last part of the book was completely pointless, but i still liked it even though there was absolutely no reason for it to be included in the book.

even though this book CAN be read as a standalone, i 100% recommend reading out on a limb first! we had so much win and bo content in this one which i absolutely adored!

my only other issue with this book is i felt caleb wasn't portrayed right. he's a nerd who plays dungeons and dragons just like bo but they were written very differently. caleb turns into a whole sex god and wasn't nerdy barely at all.

i'd definitely say that i enjoyed this book a lot, but i found a few issues that didn't make it a five star read for me.

here's my taylor swift lyrics that describe this book:

looking at it now
last December
we were built to fall apart
then fall back together

<i>thank you to random house publishing for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review!</i>

4.5 stars
2/5 spice - a few open door scenes

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advanced e-book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Such an encouraging story about self discovery, healing from grief, and fighting for your marriage. Highschool sweethearts, Sarah and Caleb find themselves in a rut with their marriage. Sarah full of self doubt and Caleb always wanting to be her hero, decide to attend a marriage retreat to reconnect and do a little self discovery.

The story is told from Sarah's perspective and we get glimpses of their past and how their relationship started. Sarah still grieving her mother’s loss begins to reflect on where she is in life and wanting to learn to deal with things without Caleb's help. A truly inspiring story about how a little self reflection and quality time with our partner is so important.

Very well written!

4.5/5
Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young is a remarkable novel that transcends the typical romance narrative, offering a profound exploration of identity and the internal conflicts faced by its protagonist, Sarah. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy.

The story follows Sarah and Caleb, a couple who, after years of marriage, confront the uncertainty of their future together. They embark on a hiking expedition to reconnect, which becomes both a physical and emotional journey. Through this adventure, the book delves into Sarah's struggles as she grapples with her identity outside of her relationship and seeks to find her own path following the loss of her mother.

Bonam-Young captures the essence of these conflicts with poignant prose and relatable characters. The narrative goes beyond romance by addressing themes such as independence, self-exploration, and personal growth. The moments of humor and unexpected twists make the reading experience even more engaging, allowing readers to deeply connect with Sarah and Caleb’s dilemmas.

I gotta say i LOVED it, this book is an enriching read that not only entertains but also invites reflection on relationships and the journey of self discovery amidst life's challenges.

Sarah and Caleb, such a beautiful love story. This book had spice, love and grief. Their marriage was in crisis but through this book, you saw them fall in love all of again. The inside jokes, the history they shared it was so sweet. Beautiful ending would recommend

Beautiful story about young love turned forever soul mates! What started as a love that had grown apart, finished with a love just as strong, if not stronger when they first got together! Really enjoyed this one! Highly recommend!

OMG, this book was beautiful! This is my first HBY book and will not be my last! I'll be going to read Out On A Limb in 5 minutes!

Dare I say, this is one of my top reads of 2024! ♥️ it was the perfect mix of love, grief, spice, and just overall such a great story. I related so much with Sarah and the grief that she experienced losing a parent. She was lost and needed to find a way to move forward. We all grieve differently, and this book was a great example of that.

Oh, Caleb. You stole my heart during the camping trip and made me teary-eyed on a few occasions! I absolutely adored this couple, and I'm sad that the book is over! I want more of them now!

This was the first book I’ve read by Hannah Bonham-Young and I will absolutely be reading her previously published novels soon. I was such a fan! Out on a Limb is the first book in this duology, but I was able to read Out of the Woods without having read it and followed the plot and background well.

Sarah and Caleb had me laughing, crying, swooning, hoping, yearning…literally all the feels. I highlighted passages A LOT and that’s not something I typically do while reading, but I knew there were portions of this book I’d want to add to my physical book journal so I could revisit them.

As someone who has been with the same partner for 10+ years, their growing pains and challenges felt familiar. The ways they worked through things was earnest and full of hope: two people who continuously wanted to choose each other and working toward a future of doing so. But also recognizing their own desires and how they could support each other as they learn and develop themselves. Yes please, more of this!

This is an absolute gem of a book! The story of Sarah and Caleb is beautifully written, capturing the essence of love, loss, and personal growth. The dual timelines of their past and present add depth to their characters and make their journey even more compelling. I found myself rooting for them from start to finish. Hannah's portrayal of Sarah's inner dialogue is so relatable, especially for those of us who tend to overthink. The themes of grief and found family are handled with grace and sensitivity, making the story both heartwarming and thought-provoking. Caleb is the perfect book boyfriend, setting a high standard with his unwavering support and love for Sarah. The book's exploration of a long-term marriage is refreshing and offers a realistic look at the challenges and beauty of enduring love.

If Hannah Bonam-Young writes it, I’m going to read it!! I fell in love with Sarah and Caleb in Out on a Limb and fell even more in love with them in Out of the Woods. I could relate so so much to Sarah as someone who got married young, has no college degree, and is a 30 something year old stay at home mom and questioning who I am. I felt personally attacked so many times while reading and I just loved that Sarah wanted to figure out who she was and what she wanted for herself out of life. Out of the Woods was such an emotional but heartwarming read. Reading about Sarah losing her mom and dealing with the long lasting grief from that made me tear up quite a few times. Sarah is so strong. And CALEB!! What a man. He really really really loves his wife and would do anything to save their marriage and I loved that Sarah recommended the camping trip and he didn’t put up a fight about it. I just love love love them both so much and had a great time reading this even though the last 20% gave me quite a scare!!! I can’t wait for everyone to read this and fall even more in love with the Linwoods. And the cover is perfection!

Thank you Random House Publishing, Dell Romance, and Net Galley for the eARC. I absolutely loved Sarah and Caleb’s story. From having read Out on a Limb, I was always very drawn to their characters and dynamics, and now having read their story, I love them dearly and find so much of myself in their characteristics.

Sarah’s nature of wanting to show up and do everything for everyone else just to make sure they feel heard and seen while simultaneously feeling so out of place because she’s struggling with her identity and purpose is almost too relatable. Although I’m younger than Sarah, it was refreshing to read about someone in their 30s navigating the same thing as me because it limits the isolation that comes with these feelings. There’s so much pressure as young adults to find out what to be and what to make of your life when you’re freshly 18, but for the people who’ve emotionally had to grow up and mature faster than their peers, we never actually had the time to explore interests or discover passions because we had to take care of ourselves or someone else before being able to live like a normal kid. And the system that is imposed on us was never designed to consider that, and can easily be used as tangible proof that we somehow “failed” in life, which isn’t true. I identify so much with Sarah and feel for her.

Caleb is literally the sweetest guy, and he does everything in his power to protect the ones he loves deeply. He’s so so caring and gentle. In comparison to Sarah though, he owns his own successful company, has passion for analytics, and has drive everyday to work and be hands on with his company. Caleb never judges Sarah or bats an eye for being a stay at home wife, but Sarah definitely gets caught up in the web of comparing herself to her husband. Because Sarah struggles with voicing her true emotions and feelings about what she’s going through, when she starts a fundraiser in honor of her mom and it doesn’t meet the expectations she had in place, Caleb goes into fixer mode to make the situation better in his eyes. This action causes a tipping point in the relationship with a flood of new emotions, buried feelings, new self discoveries that land both Sarah and Caleb in a dire position. Their marriage isn’t feeling all that it used to be as high school sweethearts. Deciding to go on a guided nature retreat as a last resort, it leaves them both having to confront their own issues with themselves and each other.

I loved watching their own growth, independently and as a couple, unfold. Learning about different sides to them as the story progressed was a beautiful process. This was the first romance book I read with a married couple as the main characters, and it did not disappoint. I can’t wait to share this review and talk about this book with others. I truly believe we can all find a part of ourselves in this book.

I’ve read all of Hannah’s books, but this one takes the cake for making me tear up.

The duality between Sarah and Caleb, going between the storylines of their “thens” and “nows” as well as the way they take up space in their own lives is beautifully written.

HBY goes into the multi-faceted sides of loss, whether that was death, an unwelcome shifting of a relationship, or even a positive change within yourself.

Even though sometimes I wished I could grip Sarah by the shoulders and tell her to tell Caleb everything she’s thinking in her head, I saw a lot of myself in Sarah in the way of overthinking and my mind drifting away during conversations.

The way Hannah wrote Sarah’s inner dialogue felt frustrating at times, part because it felt a bit disconnected from the storyline, but also that’s kinda the beauty of it too. My mind talks to me and creates worst-case scenarios, thinks about how things could go differently, or replays a bad interaction in my head. It doesn’t wait for me to be in a better head space, it just happens.

I typically read romance books where the main characters establish their relationship over time and not ones where they have such an in-depth history with each other. That’s why I didn’t know what to expect going in, but HBY made this type of relationship a stand out with how she wrote Sarah and Caleb.

This was such a great book! I breezed right through it. It was such a comfort read for me. I was rooting for Sarah and Caleb the whole time. I loved seeing Sarah come more into herself. Caleb sets a new standard for book boyfriends. Grief and found family are major topics in this book and they were done gracefully. I recommend to any romance reader who craves the outdoors by reading indoors…