In this second installment following Canadian Boyfriend, the owner of the dance studio, Gretchen is done with dating and ready to fully invest in herself and her dance studio. She gets invited to be a dance counselor at an arts camp in the woods, and when she arrives she meets Teddy, an arrogant and grumpy rock star whose band just broke up. After initially disliking each other, sparks begin to fly, and maybe Gretchen will have just one more fling before she completely gives up on men.

I'm glad I just listened to Canadian Boyfriend a few weeks ago (which I did in anticipation of this release) because it made it much more fun to revisit the characters (that being said, you don't NEED to read the first one). I really enjoyed this listen, the narrators were great (I have a new love for Teddy Hamilton) and I again ignored life around me because I needed to listen to this one (5 sponge rating for me, which means I did A LOT of chores around the house to continue to listen). If you liked the first you will like this one as well, and even if you haven't read Canadian Boyfriend - this is totally great on its own.

4.25

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ARC to review

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

First of all, what an absolutely fantastic audiobook! It is what we call an audiobook duet, where the female narrator did all the female voices, and the male narrator did all the male voices. I actually think this is the first time I've encountered this format, and it was great. Often an audio is ruined for me when the male narrators in a dual narration do the female characters voice.

Now, the story. A little farfetched, but in the most fun way. Two proper grownup (she's 40, he's 35) successful people (a dance teacher/business owner and a rockstar), who are feeling lost and end up being artist in residence at an art summer camp. They were both interesting characters, fairly well fleshed out, and fun to read about.
The setting was fun, and felt like a bit of a fresher take on a summer camp set; though it felt a bit Camp Rock. Reading this during summer with the air con blasting to keep the 30C heat at bay helped get me in the mood.
The steamy scenes were well written and fun (sorry to say it again!). Gretchen striving to become a crone that summer was such a vibe, but it did get a bit old after a while. Particularly with Teddy always seeing her as so vibrant and full of life in his POV. The term crone was used to describe giving up on love and moving on, but it really conjures images of a decrepit old woman (and there's nothing wrong with that, but that's not Gretchen).
There was a theme of feminism throughout, and how women are treated on dating apps and in the various arts industries. This was done well, and didn't overstay it's welcome. This is a romance book, and you want to root for the couple to get together, not necessarily for her to burn the patriarchy down. Teddy definitely comes across as the guy to hand Gretchen the matches though, and I loved that about him.
Overall, a quick and enjoyable read. I need to go back and read Rory's book which was already on my TBR.

Overall 3.4 🌟
Ihave like this book. There is quite a dynamic with the artistic aspects that i have loved. 🥰

The characters are complete and very well done. There are lot of conversations between then that are quite interesting. 🫶🏻

The main plot is well structured, there are some funny moments and the FMC is really funny 😂

The audiobook format is understandable and well produced 🎧

Thank you NetGallery for the copy🥹😁

I received an ALC (Advanced Listener Copy) of this audiobook from NetGalley & Hachette Audio
🎧 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🎧

🌞 Grumpy x Sunshine 🕶
🕶 Dual POV 🌞
🌞 Middle Age MCs 🕶
🕶 Summer Romance 🌞

Jenny Holiday’s writing sucks me in each time. She gives us a full story you don’t feel like you don’t fully understand the setting or who the characters are.

I don’t believe I have ever read a camp romance with adults before, and I was here for it. I loved the banter and back and forth these two had. It was a hard-fought friendship that grew to more.
I don’t know that I felt like this was a “camp” setting because it felt more like a mentor role for the summer. It was very different than what camp means to me.
Teddy and Gretchen both need to get away and self-reflect.
They both experience personal growth. We see Gretchen bloom and find herself in a role other than a dancer; she is more than that.
We see Teddy finding himself outside the band setting and trying to figure out where he is going. Can he still write? Can he still make music his career?

In the interim, they come to seek each other out and find they have more in common than they originally thought. It causes them to become closer and that turns to lust, and possibly more. Can they be long-term? Do they both want that?

Personally, I enjoyed the narration Teddy Hamilton is a favourite of mine he just delivers such an authentic experience. Kit Swann was the perfect Gretchen her voice was so easy to listen to. I need more from both of these narrators.

This one time, at band camp...etc. First of all, I did not know that this is a 'sequel' to My Canadian Boyfriend, but after a bit I kinda caught on, which is delightful because you get a glimpse of Rory's lift after getting married. But this is really about Gretchen & Teddy. Gretchen is at a midlife crisis and wondering what's next for her life. She decided that expanding her dance studio business is the way to go, as part of her journey to bad-ass-ness before she turns 40. Also, one more date and see if there's anything to it, of course that was an epic fail which confirms her believes of men, in general. Rory suggested her to lend her time at this Art Camp, as a break from life and break from the business as.a change of scenery. That's where she met the angsty rocker, Teddy.

At first, he was standoffish, coming off the breakup of his band, but she fascinated him in just a few minutes, I think simply because she's so different from him. Her outgoing personality, knowing that she's not like the resident artists who are here to run camp as well as flushing out their artistic needs. Teddy was there to hide, while Gretchen thought she was there to do someone else a favor. Thru their time as camp, teaching kids they found themselves and of course, they found each other. I think Teddy knew he fell for her by actions long before Gretchen did. She was so hell bend on her mission to rid of men, just needed a good time. Of course, feelings get tangled and all sorts of silliness ensues.

I really liked Gretchen & Teddy. However broken they each are, they are also very honest, and very vulnerable and very supportive. I love how positive they are. There were some 3rd act stuff in there, but glad that their camp-mates help them get their heads out of their asses to get them to see straight. Of course, we get our HEA.

I got the audio book version of Into the Woods. Love love love Teddy Hamilton, he portrays the angst well, but can also so the thoughtful and change of heart too. This is my first time having Kit Swann, and she can play flirty, to panic, to badass, which play up this book.. It was a good match.

Thank you NetGalley & Hachette Audio for the ARC.

This is my second novel by Jenny Holiday & I really enjoyed this one!

I really enjoyed the main characters, Teddy and Gretchen. They made a lot of sense together. I was happy that the big reveal didn't end up being ridiculous. The ending was very well done. I loved the setting of the art camp and all the "counsellors".

I'd love another story with more about Teddy's sister though!

Huge thanks to NetGalley & Hachette Audiofor an advance copy

Out of The Woods is a charming, humorous story that captures the struggles and self-reflection of a woman approaching 40, grappling with the age-old question: “Is this all there is?”

When Gretchen is unexpectedly invited to fill a last-minute spot as an Artist-in-Residence at a summer camp for creatively inclined youths, she starts to question more than just her summer plans (like her quest to become a single-for-life “crone”). She’s also reevaluating some of her bigger life choices, such as whether she’s still as passionate about growing her ultra-successful business.

Enter fellow artist-in-residence, Teddy, a talented but grumpy musician whose band recently split up. His only goal for the summer is channeling all of his bitterness into writing the perfect “revenge album.”
Despite his initially prickly exterior, there’s more to Teddy than meets the eye, and when he and Gretchen meet, sparks fly—both in humorous and heartfelt ways.

The chemistry between the Gretchen & Teddy is light and fun, and their dynamic is full of warmth and wit. I loved them together.

Out of The Woods is a delightful exploration of personal growth, second chances, and the unexpected twists life can throw at you when you least expect it.

4⭐️ 1🌶️

Into the Woods is a contemporary romance about two adults (FMC -40 & MMC - 35) who have a lot of self-work to do.

I love a good contemporary romance and Into the Woods did not disappoint! The story takes place in an arts camp called Wild Arts which gave me all the Camp ROck vibes! Except we follow two adult counselors instead of the students. Gretchen is a dance teacher and Teddy is a musician. They each attend the camp as counselors for their own objectives and they soon learn they have a lot in common.

I loved how vulnerable they became with each other. They each were able to talk and discuss some big moments in their childhood and reflect on how that trauma shaped them into the adults they are today. I loved these moments! It allowed their relationship to build not from lust, but from understanding and learning each other. I don’t often see this in romance books, and I find that I want more of it!

I listened to an ALC of the book and the narration was perfection! I loved the duet narration portrayed by Teddy Hamilton and Kit Swann. I will listen to anything with Teddy Hamilton so of course I LOVED IT! I thought they brought the characters to life! Narration: 5⭐️

✨Dance Instructor x Rockstar
✨Summer Romance
✨Banter
✨First Person & Dual POV
✨Bonding Campfires & Late Night Swim

Thank you to Forever Grand Central and NetGalley for the early copy!

I almost quit this within the first few minutes of listening. There is a jarring bit where Gretchen talks about herself in the third person and then switches back to first person narration. I found this to be quite frustrating. I ended up enjoying the story a lot more than I expected but that part really got to me.

Gretchen is a bad-ass. She grew up mainstream poor and opened a dance studio and is ready to expand her empire all before her 40th birthday. When the chance to work at an arts camp for a few weeks pops up, Gretchen takes it, not expecting to hit it off and on with grumpy rockstar Teddy Knight. She has sworn to use this time to become a crone, but she never got to squeeze in that chance to go out with a bang!

The romance is excellent and the story is interesting. There is no huge drama, and that makes for a nice read.

All in all, an enjoyable romance for those who love romance. Just grin and bear it through that first section.

The narrators were excellent and really enhanced the story.

Thank you to Hachette Audio, Forever, and Net Galley for the DRC! All opinions are my own.

Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday is a delightful follow-up to Canadian Boyfriend that stands beautifully on its own. Fans of the first book will love getting to hear Gretchen’s story, but you don’t need to have read Canadian Boyfriend to fully enjoy this charming romance.

The dual narration truly elevates the audiobook experience, with two narrators perfectly capturing the voices of the main leads. Their performances bring Gretchen and her love interest to life, adding depth to their chemistry and enhancing the emotional beats of the story.

Gretchen’s journey is filled with relatable challenges, personal growth, and a romance that balances humor, tenderness, and just the right amount of steam. The dynamic between the leads is compelling, making their love story one to root for from start to finish.

While a few plot points felt slightly predictable, the strength of the characters and their heartfelt connections shine through, making Into the Woods an engaging and enjoyable listen. If you love romance with dual perspectives and fantastic narration, this audiobook is a must!

Jenny holiday is such a comfort author for me. Much like her previous works this book was sooooo funny and the romance gave me all the butterflies. I couldn’t stop listening and I highly recommend

Gretchen is about to turn 40 and is swearing off of dating after so many failed dates. She fills in at an art camp for kids as the dance expert where she meets Teddy, a rockstar whose band just broke up. She decides she can do one last hurrah.

This book was really cute!! I loved the characters in this story. Gretchen is an independent woman who owns her own business and is expanding it in celebration of her 40th birthday. She works with the girls at the dance camp on girl power songs. Teddy is a grumpy rockstar whose band just broke up and he’s at this camp because he didn’t read the fine print and didn’t realize he would be working with children.

They form a friendship based on their similar upbringing and they also help one another realize and work through things they need help with.

I listened to the audiobook and loved the duet style narration. Teddy was narrated by Teddy Hamilton!

Narrators Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton did a wonderful job here. I really liked how they voiced the characters and brought the story to life. I also find it funny how Teddy Hamilton narrators for a character named Teddy.

I enjoyed this story a lot. I'm not usually a camp love story person (perhaps because I never went to camp) but I thought the camp setting was fitting here. It made sense for the plot and the forced proximity romance. Think Camp Rock but the MCs are older.

Gretchen and Teddy are for the grumpy x sunshine lovers. These two do not get off to a good start but slowly form a friendship that's really sweet and heartwarming. I liked their connection and flirtation. They had good chemistry.

This book touches on serious topics like child neglect and poverty. I felt the author did a good job handling these topics. The way the characters delt with these issues felt realistic.

This book was the perfect combination of sweet and emotional. A wonderful contemporary romance!

I really enjoyed this read. I finished it quick because it was hard to put down. I related to the characters and the plot ran smooth. I laughed and felt all the romance vibes! I will be purchasing this for my shelf as soon as I possibly can!

This was such a cute listen! I really, really enjoyed it. I haven’t listened to a Jennifer Holiday book in the past, but this one makes me want to check out her other work. Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton do an excellent job as the narrators.

Gretchen is having a mid-life crisis. After one too many bad tender dates, she has decided she is done with men. As a dance studio owner and teacher, she has a bit of free time and spends a couple weeks as a mentor at a summer camp for the arts in northern Minnesota. The fresh air might do get some good.

Teddy’s band just broke up. It could be Teddy’s fault. He is in a bad spot and needs to get himself into a better headspace. He joins Camp Wild Arts as a last minute add-on to mentor aspiring musicians.

Gretchen and Teddy have chemistry. Unfortunately, Gretchen has sworn off men.

In this super cute listen. I definitely recommend. I found myself smiling often.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

didn't love this the same way i loved 'canadian boyfriend.' the romance between gretchen & teddy was fun, but the overall plot just didn't spark my interest after the first half.

This was such a fun book! I loved the characters and the setting made it even better. The narrators were also amazing and did a fantastic job at bringing this story to life.

Teddy and Gretchen are an unlikely couple since Gretchen is trying to enter cronehood after too many failed dates but they make it work. I love how they support each other through out the book and encourage one another to chase their dreams and be better people.

Overall, I thought this was a fun read and I would absolutely recommend listening tot he audiobook!

Now this is the kind of rom-com I’ve been missing! Love that we have mid to late 30s and early 40s characters. Love the setting at camp and all the lovely nature. Love the brooding rockstar, come on! Realistic, but fun, easy to understand character struggles and the story had believability. The details about song writing and dancing were interesting and different, so it didn’t seem like a story I’d read before. I enjoyed this one!

The narrators were excellent! I really felt like they took on the characters and their personalities so well which made this book a really fun listen.

Many thanks to Hachette Audio and Netgalley for this ARC!

This was such a fun and cute story.

Gretchen is going to a creative camp to quit dating and especially dating apps. She wants to come closer with herself and to figure out what she wants for her future. In the camp she meets the rock star Teddy, who didn't know that he will be a teacher in the camp. Gretchen and Teddy couldn't be more different from each other.

I really liked the camp setting. It gave a cozy vibe to the story. The book has all the typical tropes (grumpy x sunshine, insta "hate"/dislike) paired with getting lost in the woods (which is also kind of a typical trope?) but it all fitted really well together and created an interesting story. Both Gretchen and Teddy had difficult pasts through which they could connect with each other and understand each other better. Most of the story was predictable, but it was still a lot of fun to listen to the story and to see where it's going. I would have probably enjoyed the story more if something really unpredictable had happened.

The pacing of the story matched the topics really well. It didn't felt too rushed or as if something was missing.

The narrator style was a bit different to other audiobooks I listened to. When for example the story was told from Gretchens POV, the narrator for Teddy would say whatever Teddy was actually saying. It added a lot of dimensions to the story and I was pleasantly surprised. It took me a bit to get used to it. Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton both did an amazing job narrating the book.

This will definitely not be my last Jenny Holiday book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for this Audio-EARC!

Another great read from Jenny Holiday!

Adults at summer camp romances (as counselors, or specialty teachers as is the case here) seems to be a trending new plot idea, since there are several out now - but this is the best of them all!

Gretchen and Teddy have an interesting Six Degrees connection, but he isn’t aware of it, and part of why she takes the last-minute job covering the other dance teacher who backs out… after giving up on dating when yet another awful Tinder attempt winds up with a rockstar who is yet another terrible person, so she flees to the woods to start her transformation into an independent woman who is about to turn 40 (she’s got a funny idea about turning into a crone as a part of her midlife crisis), ready to swear off men for good.

Teddy has just endured a hugely publicized band breakup (with his longtime buddy who was Gretchen’s last Tinder date, but he doesn’t know this… nor does bandmate Scott’s wife!), so heading to teach the music students at the fine arts summer camp is a perfect escape.

When the pair gets past the grumpy-sunshine, instant dislike, after being lost in the woods when left behind on a group hike, a special benefits (horizontal hugging) arrangement for Gretchen and Teddy is made, before she is going to leave men behind forever, since it benefits them both… until it really doesn’t.

Narrated by Teddy (Teddy voicing Teddy!) Hamilton, one of the very best in the biz, and Kit Swann, both were just fantastic in this duet version. I wish more authors were able to splurge on duet style because it really makes a difference having it done this way.

Excellent story and quite unexpected twists coming up a few times. Definitely a recommended one from me! Jenny Holiday really knows how to write the perfect amount of steam and storylines with the perfect chemistry and all the banter.

Thanks to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Hachette Audio for the early read and listen copies. This is my honest opinion.