My goodness. I don't think I have ever devoured a book so quickly. After reading and loving Out on a Limb, HBY became one of my favorite authors! I was so glad to get more of Sarah and Caleb with this interconnected book! What an adorable story with just the right amount of humor, spice, and adversity. It's not as common to get romance books about couples who are already married, and it was such a breath of fresh air. The plot was perfection, and I loved how we got to see the inner workings of a long term marriage and what it takes to make it work. I need more HBY!

I am now firmly more convinced than ever that HBY can do no wrong. My gosh, Hannah has left my heart tender, in a puddle of feels, but I am so full of hope and love after reading Sarah and Caleb’s story.

Like a multitude of others, I fell in love with Sarah and Caleb while read OOAL and was ecstatic when Hannah announced they were getting their own book. This marriage in trouble (a personal favorite trope) had me feeling ALL the feels and what a privilege it was to journey alongside Sarah and Caleb and bear witness to their healing and growth. I love a marriage in trouble story because it doesn’t hold back in exploring miscommunication, hurt, and brokenness… BUT because we get into the gritty, we also get to see the BEAUTY in the moments where the couple fights for each other and there is reconciliation and healing.

Hannah’s gently reminders throughout were so encouraging and liberating. We’re all doing our best, stumbling through life, and making mistakes along the way and while on some level we know this to be a universal truth, it’s always nice to have that reminder, especially when social media presents perfectly curated snapshots.

I adored everything about this book and cannot wait to reread it!

This book was simply perfect.

Sarah was an incredible character with so much depth, and her relationship with herself and her growth was my absolute favorite. Her relationship with Caleb is so accurately portrayed and I couldn't help but love him!

This book was heartbreaking, hopeful, heartwarming, and just perfect. It will make you feel, but I think that's the point, isn't it? I couldn't believe how much I loved this book and am so thankful for the ARC from Netgalley!

As someone whose bookstagram is basically a Hannah Bonam-Young fanpage, it's no surprise that her fourth novel, Out of the Woods, was my most anticipated release of 2025. If I were being dramatic, I’d say it was probably my most anticipated release ever. Full disclosure: I’m generally going to be biased towards anything HBY writes—that’s just how it is. I’ve never claimed to be an impartial reviewer.

Anyway

It’s such a special experience to be incredibly excited for something (like a book) and still have it blow you away and connect with you on a soul-deep level. That was Out of the Woods for me. It’s a testament to Bonam-Young’s growth as an author, filled with new little flairs that speak to her evolving style while maintaining the quirks that are so uniquely her.

Out of the Woods such an intentional story, from the writing to the strong themes, and well-crafted character arcs. I love when a romance novel’s foundation is built on deeply studying the characters, stripping them down to their core and examining their past and how it affects their relationships in the present, and this book does exactly that. It’s technically dual timeline, but calling them vignettes feels more fitting . They may seem inconsequential at first but as the story progresses, they accumulate into a vivid portrait of teenage Sarah and Caleb and explain why they’re in a tough spot in their marriage now.

Yes , it’s a marriage in crisis book but it largely explores grief too . I don’t typically read for relatability, but Sarah’s grief journey hit so close to home that I had to take multiple breaks.. she is me , I am her , we are the same , Hannah bonam actually crawled into my brain and wrote my thoughts on paper . I literally rationed my reading into 10% increments over two months. My favourite part was how mirroring utilised from the very first chapter , it was a such a clever tool to connect those vignettes to the present as well as drive home the themes presented .It really tied everything together.

Since Out On A Limb s Bonam-Young’s most popular book, I think it’s important to set expectations for fans of it : Out of the Woods is not Out On A Limb 2.0 . The best analogy I have uses light as an example: Out On A Limb is soft, hazy light that warms you down to your bones . There's a lot of pining , with mostly external conflicts. In contrast, Out of the Woods is this cold , harsh, interrogation room light. . There is a lot of introspection and the conflicts are solely internal. It’s angsty, but don’t get me wrong - it's still funny, lighthearted (and hot), yet centered around reckoning with your past.

Tonally, it leans closer to Next to You, but with a more mature edge and a sprinkle of the religious trauma as seen in Set the Record Straight. There were so many passages where I thought, "Damn , This is the writing of someone who has been hurt (by religion).” and as someone who has this brand of religious trauma , I was repeatedly stabbed in the chest (in a good and bad way)

I remember watching an instagram live where the author mentioned readers’ concerns about “ruining” Sarah and Caleb. but in my eyes , this book did them justice and then some . Ultimately, it’s a very hopeful story . It. has a piece of my heart .This is corny , but it inspires to brave and try again.

also , WIN , MY BABY GUS, BO , SARAH AND CALEB ARE MY FAMILY!!!!

BIG BIG BIG Thanks to Dell romance and the author for the e-ARC <3

Hannah Bonam-Young has quickly become my favorite author. Her characters all have depth and are real, and OOTW is no different.
I fell so in love with Caleb and Sarah. They have my whole heart. Going along with them on this journey was so rewarding. But, of course, as with any HBY book, there were many tears.
Counting the days until my preorder arrives to join her family on my shelf.

Buckle up buttercups, HYB takes you on an emotional journey with this one!! I honestly stretched this book out as ling as I could!

We got to see Sarah and Caleb from Out on a Limb be the start of the show this time…and thankfully we saw a bit of Bo and Win! #foundfamily ❤️

Marriage in Crisis might be one of my favorite things to read about because there is so much depth to a story with it. The inside jokes, the knowledge of each other, but also the journey of trying to be your own person. Hannah eloquently walks the line of having joy, grief, and humor on page! ❤️

Marriage and love are worth fighting for. ❤️

I cannot wait to hold the phyiscal copy in my hands! Thank you @authorhannahby and @dellromance for the copy via @netgalley

Wow, I loved this book so much. Such an incredible follow up to Out On a Limb, but it stands on its own so beautifully. Sarah and Caleb love each other and that’s never lost on us as readers, but when you’ve been couple as long as they have you have to grow together and sometimes you need help learning how to do that. I felt everything so close to my heart. The communication, the vulnerability, the steam!! A perfect wholesome romance.

This was so good!! It was really interesting reading a rom-com from the standpoint that our 2 main characters were already married. But I loved it - read this in a few hours. Our characters were real, raw, messy, imperfect and that is what made this story. I was moved to tears multiple times throughout this book! Perfectly paced, nothing felt silly or out of place - so so good! 4/5

This was a unique second chance romance that was so much deeper than a tropey romcom. I enjoyed it very much, and I will be recommending this to my reader pals.

Out of the Woods | Hannah Bonam-Young
4.75⭐️

_____

Oof. I ate this up in less than 48 hours and was on the verge of tears for about 36 of them. After reading Out on a Limb, I was expecting a sweet, hopeful, butterfly inducing romance. Instead, I sort of feel like my heart got wrenched out, stomped on a bit, and put through an emotional wash cycle. I LOVED it.

The realness of Caleb and Sarah was so relatable. Growing up is messy. But then BEING grown up is messy too. Communicating can be hard. Figuring out who you are at different points of life is confusing. The dialogue in this book is so realistic, and when I finished it I felt like I'd gone to therapy - a little emotionally worn out but with a fresh outlook on life.

“A love letter to all of us who met their soulmate before they had the chance to fully meet themselves.” —> this one gave me allllll the feels!

THINGS TO LOVE:
+ second chance
+ high school love
+ marriage in crisis
+ forced proximity
+ camping life
+ learning to communicate
+ softie mmc
+ a supportive partner
+ self-discovery
+ honesty


~ favorite quotes ~

“A lot of people will say relationships are fifty-fifty, but I think that’s a load of rubbish. We all have seasons and periods where we require more from our partner. The trick to a long, lasting relationship in my professional experience is not getting stuck at a set percentage.”

"I am sorry if it’s too late. Sorry for myself that I’ll have to go on as half of a whole. And I hope that if you have to rewrite your life, you won’t erase my part in it, that you’ll let me stay a part of your story.”

"I think I’m dead. I think heaven might be real. I think it’s you.”

_____

{a gigantic thank you to Hannah, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for the advanced copy!! Out 1/28/25}

Adored being with Sarah, Caleb, Bo and Win again! This is a beautiful story about rediscovering yourself and each other in marriage. I enjoyed Sarah and Caleb's story, although I did miss a bit more of the humor and banter that was present in Out on a Limb. This story is a great reminder that we can continue to change and strive for new things, and reconnect with the loves of our lives. Love all the modern storytelling that Hannah does within her books. This was an enjoyable read that has you reflecting along the way.

The plot of this book follows high school sweethearts, Caleb and Sarah, who have been married for 17 years. After an argument, they hit a rough patch in their marriage, and despite not being “outdoorsy people,” they attend a weeklong couples counseling camping retreat. The novel mainly follows their journey at the retreat, with flashbacks to the past for context. Trust me when I say Hannah Bonam-Young even knows how to turn a camping retreat into an engaging and enjoyable read! 🫶🏻

I absolutely adore this book. It made me feel so many emotions—I cried, laughed, smiled, and blushed. I really enjoyed Hannah’s writing style; she effortlessly puts me in a state of reading where I don’t notice the time passing. Her words truly paint a picture, and the comically accurate descriptions had me cracking up.

I was thrilled to read the book when I saw I was selected for the ARC! I already loved Sarah and Caleb from Out on a Limb (OOAL) and was so happy to see their story unfold. I also adored all of the cameos of characters from OOAL!

Sarah and Caleb are such beautifully complex and realistic characters, and this shines through on every page. I also want to express my appreciation for Caleb because I love how thoughtful, caring, and supportive he is, and how unconditionally he and Sarah love one another. Some books make you think, “There is no way these characters would last in real life,” but Sarah and Caleb are different—they have a depth and authenticity that makes their relationship feel truly lasting. There was so much healing in this book, and it really warmed my heart. I would definitely read this book over and over again.

I was in love with Sarah and Caleb through all of “Out on a limb”, and I was hopeful I would see them again. I am so glad that they have their own book now. Two years after the events of “Out on a limb” Sarah is throwing a fundraiser in memory of her Mom. While she is in agreement with Win that it didn’t go well, she is very upset about Caleb coming to her rescue and donating the money. And then after another prolonged argument they decide to go on a week long retreat in nature to reconnect. I absolutely loved this book, and being able to see the start of Sarah and Caleb, as well as more of Sarah’s Mom was so great to read. I laughed, cried, and everything in between.

I wish this book wasn’t a part of the same story as Out on a Limb just because OOAL is one of my favorite books and I don’t think we needed to add on to those characters; however, I do love Hannah’s writing and the characters she builds. I enjoyed this book and the premise.

This author has me in stitches one minute and emotional the next! This book was perfection! I try was atmospheric and s perfect fit for this time of year! An outdoorsy romance with such great plot and characters !

OMG OMG OMG ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED WITH SARAH AND CALEB I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

Honestly still in tears after finishing this one 😭😭😭😭😭😭 It was everything I wanted and more: deep, meaningful friendships, found family, pseudo second-chance romance (rekindling a long-term marriage), the great outdoors, hot, steamy wilderness spice, and a not-to-be-named incident that left be bawling through many, many chapters.

This book put me in my feels in every which way—I loved it!!!! And it also felt a little too close to home as someone who has been in a long-term relationship for 12 years AND also named Sarah… but I digress.

Out of the Woods has quickly become, hands down, my favorite Hannah Bonam-Young book to date. Couldn’t recommend it more!!! 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and 4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

(Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.)

The book was wonderful. I love all of her books and Out of the Woods is just as excellent! Sarah and Caleb are great characters that feel like realistic, complicated people. Their story was a great blend of like emotional damage and the trauma of the past, but also moments of joy and love and healing.
The plot of the book is that Sarah and Caleb are high school sweethearts and have been married for seventeen years. Their marriage is in a rough patch following an argument that led to years of things that had been swept under the rug coming out. They sign up for a couples camping counseling retreat to unplug and reconnect. The bulk of the book takes place in the woods on that trip. You get a whole range of emotions from them on that trip, they’re happy, sad, hurt, angry, tense, and definitely horny lol.
Some random thoughts… There are some great side characters we meet, and of course our beloved Win and Bo from Out on a Limb that we get to see again. I related to Caleb and Sarah so hard as indoorsy people struggling camping. Hard pass. I was deeply unprepared for the third act conflict but it was also really well done. I won’t say more because I’m not trying to give anyone spoilers.
Obviously would recommend this and any of her books, I’m a big fan and will continue to read her future releases!

4.5 ⭐️ wow such a beautiful representation of grief & finding yourself. Sarah my beautiful girl! I wasn’t expecting to relate so much to her - I felt so seen with the way she handled her grief. I loved the snippets included of Bo & Win! The epilogue was beautiful!! 🤎

Oh I’m gonna have a hard time with this review because in ways I loved it because I think she had great metaphors and writing. But, it pains me to say that this was more of a miss than a recommendation for me. I think if marketed different as a book about sarah coming to find herself it would feel different, because it didn’t really feel at all like a marriage in crisis but more that sarah needed to work through some things. Also, admittedly she was hard to relate to, and felt very rich girl stay at home wife is bored and needs find herself. Ugh I’m sorry I will always love her books but this just didn’t fit for me!

I absolutely loved this book, even though it left me on the verge of heartbreak more than once. Sarah and Caleb are the sweetest couple, and their story completely drew me in. They are high school sweethearts who have drifted apart, so they join a couples' hiking trip in hopes of reconnecting. Along the way, with the support of others on the trip, they slowly open up and begin to communicate again. Despite all they’ve been through as a young couple, they’ve always had each other. If you're in the mood for a heartwarming, emotional read that will tug at your heartstrings, this book is a must read!