This was such a wonderful story, full of your typical romance tropes (grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity) but it had so much more. There was a ton of character development in an idyllic setting: both characters are struggling with “what’s next” in their careers and learn so much more about themselves in the process. I loved the summer camp setting and the connections they were able to make based on their childhoods. This was the perfect escape when I wasn’t feeling well (though I would have loved it just as much if I was perfectly healthy that day). Highly recommended!

Teddy Knight is suffering from two breakups, one from his longtime girlfriend and the other his band, Concrete Temple. His sister suggests some time alone in a cabin in the woods. What he doesn't realize is that there's kids and mentoring involved. Wild Arts is a summer camp for students of the arts, totally not what he was expecting, but he can suffer through if it gets him some peace to write his own songs. If only he could ignore the infuriatingly, annoyingly cheerful dance next door.
Gretchen Miller runs a successful dance studio for children and is in the works to open a new location for adult classes. All while unsuccessfully dating in the real world. She's sick of all the swipe rights, dashed hopes, and absolute idiots she winds up with and has decided she's just done. Maybe just one last hurrah... but the guy. Scott, is the lead singer for a rock group and won't stop talking about himself the entire date. So done!! Her best friend suggests a month at Wild Arts to rest and take a break and she literally jumps at the chance. Until she finds out that a fellow mentor and her new neighbor for the summer is her disastrous date's bandmate! Ugh!
The banter between these two in the beginning was hilarious and then as they learned how much they actually had in common and became closer. I could see how perfect they were. It was such a cute story with some spice and I was looking up oldies songs mentioned in the book to add to the mood. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were easy to listen to, and easy to follow along with. Their reactions to the writing added depth to the story.
I voluntarily listened to and reviewed an advance copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

𝐀𝐋𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

🎧𝐃𝐮𝐞𝐭 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Teddy Hamilton & Kit Swann 🎙️

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨

⛺️𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩
🏕️𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬-𝐭𝐨-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
⛺️𝐆𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫
🏕️𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐌𝐂

✨Thoughts✨
𝐀𝐭 nearly 40 years old, Gretchen was tired of terrible dates and feeling like something was missing in her life. When she took on a role at a summer camp, she met Teddy, a grumpy rock star who ended up becoming her friend and summer fling.

𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, Gretchen and Teddy clashed, bringing out the worst in each other. But as time went on, they became each other's confidants and muses. Their fling was temporary, as Gretchen had to return to her busy life and plans to expand her business. Despite their inability to fully trust, they found solace in each other.

𝐓𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 and 𝐊𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐧’𝐬 duet narration made it easy to get into the story. Teddy is incredible as always. As for Kit Swann, she impressed me with her ability to encompass a range of voices. She particularly made Gretchen's inner dialogue very witty and entertaining.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 book delved into heavy themes like neglectful parents and poverty, adding depth and complexity to the characters. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the exceptional narration.

Thank you, Jenny Holiday, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with this ALC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

★★★★☆
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝟑/𝟓

Amazingly sweet, real and relatable even with the dancer and rockstar I still saw myself in these characters ! I need more from this author

The narration for this was really good. I liked the voices for both the FMC and MC. It was interesting to see how working at the camp and even working with each other, helped change the course of their future plans and made them better. Plus, they found each other. They were cute together even if they didn't really care much for one another in the beginning, not enemies in any way though.

Although I did like this book, it was still slow at times and then it moves into physical quicker than I would have liked but its not like there wasn't any buildup to it. I would say that they had good development up to it.

Overall, this was a good book.

This was fine overall, but nothing noteworthy and very forgettable. For these being characters in their late 30s, almost 40s, I feel like a lot their actions were very childish. Maybe this would have worked better if the characters actually were in their mid 20s or so.

The audio was well done though.

I wouldn't completely steer someone away from this, but I also wouldn't be likely to recommend it.

Into The Woods by Jenny Holiday is now the second book of hers that I've fallen in love with! I'm simply obsessed with her writing!

-enemies to lovers trope
-spice in all the right places
-dancer meets rock star
-mid-life crisis based (with self growth and wisdom only age can provide)
-self aware and sex positive
-summer camp meets Dirty Dancing vibes

Can I tell you how I ate up Gretchen's mid-life crisis!? It was incredibly refreshing to read all the truth nuggets for us readers also in our mid-life crisis era (here's looking at you 40's!)! Gretchen is a bad-ass! She's a self-aware, feminist that refuses to let societal norms define her! Her and Teddy's relationship developed so organically, and it was super refreshing to read!

This audiobook gets all the stars - Teddy Hamilton and Kit Swann nailed these characters perfectly! A swoony male voice rasped in my ear, while a sexy female voice took center stage, constantly demanding attention! Obviously this narration being performed in the best possible way was just the icing on the cake; no matter who's POV it was, that narrator voiced their character's dialog! (And I think Holiday is onto something with her audiobooks! Joshua Jackson narrated Mike for Canadian Boyfriend, and Teddy Hamilton narrated Teddy for Into The Woods!)

Holiday, you're now an auto-read author - five amazing stars all day long!!!

(This book is a standalone, but it takes place in the same universe as Canadian Boyfriend, with Rory from that book and Gretchen from this book being best friends! I loved the glimpse back into Rory and Mike's world and I love when authors allow readers to reconnect with their past characters!)

Thank you NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Hachette Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Summer camp is back and all the cool kids are jumping on board! Now, sometimes I feel like a lot of these romance, takes with adults, revisiting their summer camp memories to fall a little flat, but Into the Woods, Jenny Holiday’s newest releasing tomorrow hit right in the sweet spot!

This story features a grumpy/sunshine pairing between an upbeat, yet cynical dancing instructor, and a prickly metal musician who meet when they both agree to go to a teen summer camp and act as mentors to the kids and artists and residence for the camp.

It’s your classic opposite, attracts vacation romance and it works perfectly in this scenario. I loved how both Gretchen and Teddy find their renewed passion for their craft and a reinvigorated by their experience at the camp and by each other. As for being at camp, these adults are not there just to take care of kids or just to be campers, but they get to experience both and really take away a lot from it in a real and genuine way.

Have to say something about our MMC, Teddy who is a rockstar - sometimes this can feel forced or more fairytale like, but I felt that the scenario and how they come together as different artistic mentors at the camp brought a lot of sincerity to the pairing. It didn’t hurt they both had similar ups that made them easy to relate to each other.

I listened to the audiobook with narration provided by Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton I’d really enjoyed the vocal pairing. Both of these narrators are old hat at narrating contemporary romance, and they do an excellent job. I felt like they added a lot of depth and feeling to the characters and helped bring this book alive.

Overall, I can easily say that Gretchen and Teddy need to be on your TBR and your next camp romance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️
💭My thoughts: This book was so wholesome, both Gretchen and Teddy were so easy to like. Teddy made me laugh, often thinking with the wrong head (if you know what i mean) but still being sensitive and sweet to Gretchen even though he’s usually a grump. The audiobook for this was amazing. It was so hard to put down, I just had to know how it ended. Definitely recommend this one if you love a good summer camp counselors romance!

Thank you to Jenny Holiday, Hatchette Audion / Forever and Netgalley for an advanced Listening copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

4.5/5 stars (rounded to 5)
3/5 steam

Gretchen is a badass #bossbabe who is on the verge of expanding her inclusive dance studio "empire" just as she turns 40. Done with mediocre men dimming her light she decides to start her next decade by becoming a badass business crone and to give up on romance. When she's asked to fill in as a dance instructor artist in residence she decides to take the opportunity to start her dating app and men cleanse. Of course things don't go as planned when she meets Teddy a grumpy teddy bear of a rockstar who is seeking to write his first solo album after his band broke up.

What to expect: Grumpy rockstar x cynical but sunny dance instructor, MC's in their mid to late 30s (FMC - 39 turning 40, MMC - 35), summer camp artists in residence, forced proximity, he secretly calls her Sugarplum/Sourplum Fairy, banter, bonding over similar childhood experiences, rediscovering oneself, "midlife crisis" and finding a new direction, getting lost in the woods, sharing body heat, 80s movie references

The duet narration was great — Teddy Hamilton is always a pleasure to listen to and while hearing Gretchen call the character Teddy when that's also the narrators name threw me for a loop a few times (clearly an issue only for people who spend too much time also listening to interviews with Teddy Hamilton...lol) he was phenomenal. Kit Swann did a great too, I felt that Gretchen was a little whinnier at certain points then I would have wanted her to be but I'm not sure if that was narration, writing or a combo of both. Still a very solid performance.

Trigger Warnings/Content Warning: off page mentioning of violence (MMC destroys a hotel room), childhood neglect, growing up in poverty, references to shitty, coercive and abusive retoric when dating.

*Into the Woods* is a lovely romcom about two artists coming together to rediscovered their love and passion for their art forms.

This book includes:
- girl bossery
- a teen summer camp and an artist retreat
- healing and camraderie
- hot rock star MMC
- dual POV

This is a very cute story. The romance felt very real and the chemistry was fantastic between the two main characters. I also felt that the message of the story was lovely. It's all about learning, growing, and finding love that complements your dreams and goals, rather than holding you back. I would recommend this book anyone looking for a lovely breath of fresh air.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Jenny Holiday, and RHachette Audio for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across my socials under the username @tinynightingales, check out my GoodReads profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863
my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/
and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

gretchen is giving up men. teddy is healing from his band breakup. the two of them end up at a summer camp as their artists-in-residence. he’s so grumpy, so she completely writes him off. but as they spend more time in each others orbit, they realize their tension could easily be helped with a low key friends-with-benefits set up.

teddy goes from a big grump to a completely down bad obsessed with her. gretchen is more commitment phobic and is on a no-men journey. but she didn’t expect teddy and she didn’t expect to love summer camp.

this one had great depth character development. I really enjoyed reading about both of the characters journey and their slow burn love story.

I loved the grand gesture at the end. teddy really is romantic (even if he wouldn’t say so).

what to expect
⟢ friends with benefits
⟢ just for the summer (camp)
⟢ slow burn
⟢ sneaking around

This one wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Gretchen & Teddy, and the steam was a little cringey for me.

Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday captured my heart from the very first page! The chemistry between the characters is absolutely electric—every interaction felt so real and genuine, as if I were right there experiencing it alongside them. Jenny Holiday has a way of weaving emotional depth into her storytelling, with just the right touch of humor.

This book isn’t just about romance; it’s about courage, self-discovery, and embracing the messiness of life and relationships.

Thanks for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

After loving Jenny Holiday‘s “Canadian Boyfriend”, I couldn’t wait to read “Into the Woods”. This heartwarming story follows Gretchen Miller, a dancer and dance school owner navigating a midlife career crisis, and Teddy Knight, a rock star recovering from his band’s breakup. They meet at a summer camp—an artist residency where creatives retreat to work on projects and mentor young talents.

Though Gretchen and Teddy are at odds initially, their brief interactions evolve into longing and curiosity. They soon discover they share similar dark childhood experiences—ones that have shaped their perspectives on life.

I got addicted to Teddy in the best way. 🤣 I thoroughly enjoyed watching him become more open, vulnerable, and willing to let down his walls. His growth throughout the story was so satisfying, and it made his connection with Gretchen—whose growth I also found joy in—even more impactful.

Holiday crafts a fun and romantic story that also explores how hun relationships and closeness unfold in different ways, while also offering a stark reminder of poverty, abandonment, and toxic relationships. Another book with profound quotes!

If you love music or any form of artistic expression, you’ll appreciate how Holiday uses Teddy, Gretchen, and the young campers to teach valuable lessons, making their journey resonate with you in a magical way.

Thanks to Hachette Audio for the audiobook. Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton nailed the voices and characters, bringing this funny and heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance to life.

Unfortunately, Into the Woods didn't quite work for me, which is sad because I have enjoyed several of her books. The writing is good, as is the premise, but the female lead, Gretchen, failed to resonate with me. I am slightly older than her, so this should have been perfect. She made me cringe several times. For someone turning 40, she acted like she was 20 while simultaneously trying to be 70.

Despite the above, there were several things that I did enjoy.

The setting. The camp location was fun, and I think it lent itself well to what Holiday was trying to accomplish with both the plot and character development.

The conversations. The conversations regarding mental health and their childhood trauma were emotional and helped me care about them as a couple despite not loving Gretchen.

The side characters. The side characters were great and added a lot to the story. I wish we would have gotten more of them in a group.

The duet narration. I believe that duet narration is superior to all other narration forms. Add Teddy Hamilton to the mix, and it's nearly perfection. I did struggle with the female narrator a bit, but I think it had more to do with the fact that I didn't like the character and not her actual performance - as I enjoyed the side characters she read.

I think people will enjoy the story. So, don't adjust your TBR based on my experience.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book. The summer camp was such a fun setting. I enjoyed community of the counselors and campers. As I get older I love romance books with slightly older main characters so Gretchen being 40 was great. Gretchen and Teddy had such a great dynamic. There was so much character growth and some serious topics were handled in a really touching way. Jenny Holiday is so talented and I have enjoyed her books in the past and look forward to her future books.

The dual narration of the audiobook was so good. Teddy Hamilton and Kit Swann did such a great job bringing these characters to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine, midlife-crisis story ;). The journey the main characters took as they were at a crossroads in their lives was very poignant for those of us that are perhaps mid-late thirties wondering, “is this all there is?” I loved how the author answers that question and the journey of self-discovery the characters go on. I appreciated that it was just “easy”. The MMC doesn’t magically say the right words-it comes out wrong and sounds almost offensive, when that’s not what he meant….and geez, how many times have my hubs and I had that same type of conversation??? So I appreciated the way I could relate to the stage of life and some of the “realness” too. I enjoyed both the narrators and loved the duet performance!

Yes! I loved Canadian Boyfriend, and Jenny Holiday works magic again in Into the Woods. Aurora, from Canadian Boyfriend, had a marvelous mentor and friend who helped her survive and triumph during trying misadventures. That marvelous mentor was Gretchen, and this is her story. Not as put-together and perfectly calibrated as Aurora believes, Gretchen has struggled to make it as a single, female business owner, and soon-to-turn-40, she's ready to give up on men as just one more aggravation she can live without. She decides to become a "crone" and abandon dating entirely, and then she unexpectedly ends up serving a short stint as an artist in residence at a summer camp. There she meets troublesome rocker Teddy Knight, and, well, you're probably a romance reader, so take a guess what happens next! Yes, the basic plot line won't surprise readers, but the lovely details (early dawn swims, beautiful music and dancing, and sigh-worthy love scenes) will leave readers everywhere impatient for Jenny Holiday's next book.

This book was not terrible. It just wasn't the best thing I have read lately. The story went on and on. It just didn't keep me as interested as Jenny Holiday's books usually keep me. I would recommend her other books before I recommend this one.