Expect to laugh and cry quite a bit on this one. Beautiful written. This read tackles topics some may find difficult including loss of a parent, navigating grief, and marital conflict.

eARC via Netgalley.

I loved Sarah and Caleb in Out on a Limb, and I’m so glad we got to experience their story from the beginning. This book made me FEEL, and after finishing it, I immediately gave it 5 stars!

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

thank you to Penguin Random House, Dell, and NetGalley for the ARC! well folks, hannah bonham-young has done it again: she poured her heart out into these characters, told a vulnerable + realistic love story that never felt pedantic, and had me crying on public transit 😭

you can tell when this author writes from the heart. hannah’s characters have a way of pulling you in, making you feel like you’re hearing from an old friend. her sentence-craft levels up the story, bringing a lyrical quality to a genre that rarely reaches those depths.

more than anything, sarah + caleb’s love story felt REAL in a way deeply personal to me. it wasn’t until i was halfway through that i realized i’d never seen my love story written before: two soulmates lucky to meet early in life, weather their toughest moments as a team, and in the calm afterwards wonder “what’s next?”. caleb’s declarations of love + fear + anxiety by the fire hit me so hard, and manifested a very real question in long-term partnership that’s often missing in media.

i truly didn’t believe she could top out on a limb, but hannah did and we’re all the better for it 🫶

All the stars! HBY doesn’t miss. Every time she writes a trope that might not be a favorite of mine I go in cautious only to be met with such tender and heartfelt writing that I can’t help but love it. Sarah and Caleb first appear in her novel Out on a Limb, and while this can be read without having read that one, I was happy I already knew our main couple upon starting. This was more than just a marriage in crisis romance. This was also the main character Sarah, truly finding herself after spending most of her life in the shadows of those around her. I loved her journey and how supportive Caleb was even when he didn’t fully understand.

Highly recommend!

first, im so thankful that queen hby and her team at netgalley allowed me this honor
second, i absolutely loved this book and seeing an actual established couple struggle and grow together, i loved being inside of sarahs mind and seeing how she processed everything that had happened to her, although in that some of the choices she made weren't my favorite and i couldn't understand why she made them but i've never had to experience the things that she went through so thats on me lol, i also LOVED caleb so much hes just such a nerd and so obsessed with sarah and just wants to love her well, the only thing that knocked it down a star was the bit about religion at the end, as a Christian it felt like it was making it seem like praying and having a relationship with God wasn't beneficial, when i felt like everything that happened to sarah was meant to happen to get her (as unfortunate as it was) to get to what happens in the epilogue <3

Thank you NetGalley, Hannah Bonam-Young, and Random House Pub for this e-arc!

Out of the Woods is about soulmates who found each other way earlier in life than most are lucky to.
But it is also about the struggles someone can have when they lose themselves and their identity in another person; when their identity IS that other person.

Hannah wrote Sarah and Caleb so so well. When I was reading the past chapters (there is a past and present timeline) I saw them fall in love, saw them just FIT with each other. they are truly together in every universe. I loved Caleb and how he was always there for Sarah and the acts of SERVICE!! he spoke his love but also showed it in the little things he would do for her.

the scene where she can't walk to the tent because of a long hike day, or when he remembered her kindle will forever be the standard.

Sarah i love you girl and you are so strong. that is what i was thinking the whole time i was reading this masterpiece of a book. The grief portrayal in this story was so thoughtfully written and it really hit home for me. I saw alot of myself in sarah in both the struggles she had with having no idea how to move forward in life, but also in her love for stories and escaping into them.

Hannah has quickly become an auto buy author for me. She writes characters with so much depth and nuance that I can't believe that they aren't out in the world playing Dungeons and Dragons or going on wild marriage retreats.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a good, quick read. although I could not get invested in the characters or their relationship. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

“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.”

- 𝑶𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑯𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒂𝒉 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒎 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈, 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑱𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝟐𝟖𝒕𝒉
𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
✰ 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘴
✰ 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴
✰ 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩
✰ 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 & 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨
✰ 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯

The best feeling in the world is reading a highly anticipated book and it being just the perfection you expected it to be!
Hannah did it again in delivering a soft, comforting yet angsty and emotional romance. Sarah and Caleb's journey from meeting amd falling in love when they were kids to growing up together and being now at 31 in crisis was quite emotional. I really liked how it was never about falling out of love with each other but more like learning to communicate their feelings better.
I truly adored it and I think this is a book you wouldn't want to miss out.

*arc kindly provided in exchange of an honest review

I found the perspective of two HS sweethearts was so fascinating especially as Sarah explored her codependency on Caleb. I had fun reading the reigniting story of Sarah & Caleb but I just found myself not caring much about either of them. Found Caleb to be too perfect at times and while Sarah was relatable, her character just didn't resonate with me.

The frustrations between the two never seemed too serious enough to jeopardize their marriage and I think that's where the story kinda lost me. It just felt as if we already know they're going to make up in a matter of time and not much is at stake. Them running through the woods was fun but a therapy session could've had the same outcome. The last part of the book also felt rushed with Caleb's parents as nothing felt resolved.

Little disappointed in the execution, especially having loved HBY's other works, but it's an entertaining read nonetheless.

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The amount of love I have for this story is just ridiculous at this point! I already adored Sarah and Caleb from their spot in Out on a Limb and this has just fully solidified my love for these people that don't even exist in real life (so unfortunate...)! It was captivating and raw and I could not stop reading, I was so upset when it ended, even though we were given a decent length for an epilogue. The marital problems hit hard and true, as I'm sure a lot of married couples have experienced after a good amount of time being together, especially those of us that were together during a much younger phase of life. The surrounding couples were all amazing as well and made me so curious to continue following them to their every day lives! The growth and healing and self-confidence that Sarah was able to gain throughout this story was so encouraging, along with Caleb. P.S. it's not just emotionally great, the steam is very much steaming, y'all. Do yourself a favor and get this the second it comes out!

I was SO excited to get this advanced copy and honestly, I put off reading it for a minute because I knew I would be in for an emotional read. I laughed and I cried, but oh my goodness did I fall in love with Sarah and Caleb and their love for each other. I enjoyed them both in Out on a Limb, but following Sarah through her journey of rediscovering herself was special. This book had everything: high school sweethearts, found family, grief, self doubt, rediscovering yourself and your partner. This was everything I hoped it would be and I can't wait for it's release in January and to see all of the love that Sarah and Caleb will get from everyone. Hannah really out did herself with this one.

I love a good second-chance romance, but it's been a while since I've read one this good.

I appreciate that this couple has never doubted that they're still in love; they're just feeling like they are stagnant and no longer the same people they were when they fell in love. Throw in some trauma and misplaced guilt and you're bound to have a rocky patch in your marriage.

The woodsy-camping atmosphere provided the perfect setting to make this rom-com both rom-my and com-my. There were moments I was hurt for the characters, laughing with them, and generally just sharing their every emotion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Oops, she did it again. HBY could host a masterclass on tugging at my heartstrings without making me suffer through too much angst. Sarah is a force and I could spend many more hours reading about life from her perspective. Caleb may not top my chart of HBY men but lemme tell ya, he’s not too far off. (I’m so sorry, Bo4EVA)

Beyond grateful to have been able to read an early copy of this book and glad I had the sense to preorder a physical copy months ago. Is it 2025 yet???

I knew that this story was going to hit me in the chest, and I was right. It was achey, but always hopeful. It made me laugh, and blush, and cry (a few times). It’s a refreshing, realistic, heartwarming story about love. Long love, old love, love that is long past shiny and new. It is a story of the work it takes to maintain that kind of love and the vulnerability it takes to show up like that for your partner.

There are so many pieces of this that touch my life in personal ways, of course I absolutely loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing!

I honestly wish I was good as words as Hannah is because how do I describe a book that actually changed my brain chemistry. Out of the Woods follows Sarah and Caleb, who have been together since they were 14, married at 19 and are now 31. Sarah is going though some internal struggles and starts to reflect what she’s done with her life; has all she’s ever accomplished really just been to be Caleb’s wife? They end up going on this wilderness expedition that is supposed to help them reconnect as a married couple.

And can I just say every single word in this book was brilliant? I feel like I read Hannah’s books when I need them the most. As someone who got married at 23 (and as Nina would say that’s practically a child bride) fresh out of college, still in a churchy-cult so lived zero experiences, I related HEAVILY to this book. I love Hannah’s vulnerability in being able to put a piece of herself in every book, because you can definitely tell when you’re reading it. This book was absolutely incredible, I loved the entire premise, the plot was executed beautifully. I loved Sarah and Caleb in Out on a Limb, but in this book? They were EVERYTHING. I loved the relatability for me for both Sarah and Caleb. I loved how they constantly were choosing each other, honestly I was left like “this is the kind of marriage I want” like they had been together for sooooo long, but we’re still deeply in love with one another because they never stopped fighting for their marriage. I also loved the representation of a married couple not having children in life to feel fulfilled, I think that isn’t done a lot and I was scared they were gonna go down that route but no, Sarah and Caleb stayed authentic to themselves and I’m here for it.

I laughed, I cried more times than I can count to this book, I screamed, I felt every emotion while reading this book, I felt completely seen with this one, and it was scary.

I can’t express my gratitude for being able to be approved for this arc, I probably won’t be able to shut up about this book for the foreseeable future. Even though this book comes out next year, I think it’s gonna be my top book of the year.

i ADORED this book! what a beautiful story that didnt lack in love. i loved the communication, the rawness, the humanness of this story and the way i never felt like they didnt love each other. i adored this.

4.25 stars!

it was so lovely to finally get caleb and sarah’s story!!! I will say there were moments I felt bad for caleb bc he’s truly a king and I felt like he was doing so much for sarah but it sometimes seemed like it wasn’t enough for sarah. I wanted to be like GIRL U GOT URSELF A GOOD MAN WHAT’S THE PROB!! but I also know that she had a lot to work through with her grief. I loved the camp aspect of the story, it really helped challenge caleb and sarah to work things out. I loved seeing them grow together and get past their obstacles. the third act conflict defo had me emo and crying my eyes out! I loved seeing how everyone came together at the end for caleb. truly so beautiful!!!

When I tell you, I have never *needed* a book so desperately as I have needed this one… and it lived up to all my hopes and expectations, tenfold.

A huge thanks, first and foremost to Random House Publishing Group, Netgalley and Hannah Bonham-Young for giving me an advanced copy of Out Of the Woods.

I have fallen in love with all of Hannah’s characters throughout her books and was both extremely excited and devastated to hear that Sarah and Caleb would be the subject of her next book following Out on a Limb. I am and always have been a sucker for friends to lovers, second chances and people finding their way through troubles to stay together and if you are too, all of those things are done to their absolute best in this book. Without giving much away, Sarah and Caleb have been together since high school and, as Hannah so eloquently put in her Author’s Note, met each other before they were able to fully meet themselves.

This is a beautiful book about friendship, loss and what it’s like to love someone through the many seasons of their lives.

In addition to the the continuation of their love story is also the story of Sarah and her family and, while it’s the not the plot line I expected to move me as much as it did, it might have become my favorite. Sarah and her mom’s relationship with religion and prayer in particular was really moving and, as with any HBY book, a very unique and thoughtful take on a topic we’re all familiar with.

This book comes out January 28th and I can’t wait for you all to get to know Sarah and Caleb even better!

As I get older, I find myself leaning more into "what happens after 'happily ever after'" romances because life doesn't just STOP once you meet The One, and as you go on in life, you grow and navigating how and whether you grow together or grow apart is part of that journey. I enjoyed seeing how Caleb and Sarah fought to grow together rather than relying on patterns dictated when they were still in high school, and ultimately, this was a sweet reflection on burnout and resilience and how to learn to rely on yourself while balancing a lifelong relationship.

This review is much drier than my feelings about the book, but unless I want to sit here and cry about it, I gotta keep it brief. Hannah Bonam-Young knocked it out of the park, as always.

I am such a HBY fan, and it hurts my heart to only give Out of the Woods three stars when Out on a Limb is one of my all time faves. I still love her writing, but the conflict was lacking for me—it’s a marriage in crisis story but I was never worried that Sarah and Caleb weren’t in love/going to stay together forever. I know that because it’s a romance there is a HEA but I wanted to feel their struggle more. They kept assuring each other that it was going to be OK, and it felt like high vibes, low plot, which didn’t work great for me.