Into the Woods is a chaotic, enemies-to-lovers fever dream where a grumpy musician and a self-proclaimed wannabe crone are forced to coexist in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of artsy kids. Teddy is brooding over his ex-bandmate’s betrayal, Gretchen is actively hexing the male species, and their mutual hatred combusts into absolutely feral tension. Between campfire confessions, artistic angst, and Gretchen’s valiant attempts to avoid catching feelings, the romance simmers like a cursed summer spell. The woods are wild, their emotions are messier, and somehow, these two disasters might just be exactly what the other needs.

The audiobook narration was fantastic!

This book was heavy on themes of girl power, self reflection, family trauma, and a little bit of midlife crisis. The main characters Teddy and Gretchen each have their own personal struggles that they work on over their time at camp and it was nice to see them grow and evolve as the story progressed.

In terms of romance, I didn’t find that Teddy and Gretchen had much chemistry and some of their interactions felt sort of awkward. They helped each other on their respective self improvement journeys and proved to be good friends but I just didn’t feel the chemistry.

My three stars are less for the romance aspect of this book and more for how beautifully Jenny Holiday writes her characters. She has a great ability to write characters in a way that makes them feel relatable or at least like someone you might actually meet in real life. By the end of each of her books I feel like I know each character on an intimate level and I am rooting for their success.

Thanks to the publisher @hbgcanada for the ARC of this book☺️

Jenny Holiday is a VERY strong writer and has clearly been doing this for many years. This book had the perfect plot for a romcom while still being rooted in reality.

The audiobook is amazing! It feels like I'm listening to a movie, thanks to the dialogue being narrated by both characters. Honestly, we need more audiobooks like this! The book itself is cute! I liked the characters, but I wasn’t totally sold on them as a couple. Some of the spice scenes weren’t for me, and I did cringe a bit at times. It’s well-written, and I really enjoyed the time spent at the summer camp—would’ve loved more of that! Overall, it’s a super cute story! It’s a little on the slower side for my taste, but still a great read!

I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the author did an excellent job with the enemies to lovers trope. I was hooked early on, and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for more from this author. I highly recommend this novel to the romance readers.

Thank you Net Galley, Forever/Grand Central Publishing, and Jenny Holiday

I’d describe this book as “mid life crisis meets music summer camp for adults.” The description and cover were super intriguing to me and prompted me to pick this one up, despite not enjoying Jenny’s Canadian Boyfriend previously. Anyone else dreaming of summer camp vibes in the frigid midwest winter?!

DNF @ 26%. Unfortunately I found both of the MCs insufferable and the lack of investment I had in them/their journeys made it difficult to picture or want them together and getting through the book felt like a chore.

Read if you like: Older, eccentric MCs; rockstar romance; grumpy x sunshine; outdoorsy settings.

Thank you to Jenny, Forever, NetGalley for the advance copy.

My favorite thing about this book was that Gretchen is almost 40 and she still doesn't have it all figured out. As someone whose 30 and seems to have very little figured out it was comforting to see. I loved watching her and Teddy get to know each other and bond. They had so much in common and it led to a really special connection.

I really enjoyed My Canadian Boyfriend but this one blew me away! The character depth and growth was amazing and I loved seeing the young artists at the camp open up their eyes to some of the struggles our society creates for women. I hope there is more to this series!

Heartwarming. Addictive. The perfect cozy romantic read.
I will read any and everything that Jenny Holiday writes. It’s amazing every single times.

Last year I picked up my first Jenny Holiday book, Canadian Boyfriend, and it was an instant five-star read. Joshua Jackson's narration on the audiobook version definitely helped with this - and for Into The Woods the amazing Teddy Hamilton (one of my fave male narrators) knocked it out of the park, as usual.
Needless to say, I was highly anticipating Into The Woods.
This book was very different from Canadian Boyfriend and I loved how it showed Jenny Holiday's ability to write such vastly different characters. I enjoyed the camp setting and appreciated the FMC's emotional growth. This was a fun novel with a little bit of spice and a couple you couldn't help but root for! Thanks to @readforeverpub for the eARC and @hachetteaudio for the gifted ALC!

Gretchen is approaching her 40th birthday and has decided to give up on men. She is busy with her career and her dating life has been a let down. After agreeing to work as a dance instructor at a summer camp her plan to swear off men takes a bit of U-turn when she meets a struggling rock star. Teddy is a great character and the two of them together have amazing chemistry. Their romance was fun and the camp setting was perfect. Overall I loved this book!

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed the camp vibes and the appearances from Rory from Canadian Boyfriend (another book I loved by Jenny Holiday). I loved how our FMC and MMC related on so many deep levels, which made them so relatable. They were two people who came from very little and made very big dreams into reality. My only beef with this book really was the overuse of the word "crone" which I felt was a bit distracting. I wish Gretchen believed in herself a little bit more and wanted more for herself earlier on. I figured she would go into choreography once she found that passion at camp, and was happy with that arc in the story. I loved how the parts that took place at camp really made me feel like I was back at camp as a kid (cheers to all of the nostalgia vibes). I did enjoy Gretchen and Teddy's chemistry and the growth that both characters experienced throughout the story.

This one was really cute! I enjoyed the summer camp feeling and loved the banter and connection between Gretchen and Teddy! I loved that they slowly began to realize how alike they are and how much they relate to one another’s childhood. I loved seeing Teddy get his muse for songwriting, I loved seeing him help sweet Anna, and I loved how He agreed to help Gretchen by being her fling before she develops into full crone mode. overall? It was cute and fun, I did get bored while reading at times because I wasn’t connecting with the story at first but I eventually couldn’t put it down.

If you read Holiday’s Canadian Boyfriend, you’ll already know Gretchen, Rory’s boss and best friend. Gretchen, on the eve of her 40th birthday, has built a successful dance school, but is eager to expand. At the same time, she’s decided to give up on dating and become a “crone.” On a whim, she agrees to fill in at a summer arts camp for teenagers, and not only finds a friend-with-benefits in rock star Teddy, but also begins to learn that she may be pursuing the wrong dream. However, she’s so determined to remain single that she rejects the evidence right in front of her.

This story is all about honest conversation, artistic expression, self-discovery, female empowerment, and finding your muse. The six artists-in-residence become an unlikely group of friends, and the way they discovers parts of themselves through their interaction with the teens and each other is heartwarming. If you’re looking for a mature romance with a perfect balance of vulnerability, humor, and parental baggage, you’ll love Into the Woods. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Forever Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

*Into the Woods* had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, it didn’t really work for me. The writing and premise were solid, and the camp setting was fun and perfect for character growth. The conversations about mental health and childhood trauma were emotional and definitely helped me connect with the characters, especially as a couple, even though I didn’t totally vibe with Gretchen.

Gretchen was kind of a mess for me. She felt like two different people—grouchy and standoffish one minute, then super bubbly and bouncing off the walls the next. I just didn’t get her, and the whole “crone” thing she clung to felt cringe-worthy. It didn’t make sense that she couldn’t find a good guy but still held on to that identity, especially once she *did* find someone. It felt like she was trying to act 20 while also holding on to a 70-year-old mindset.

But Teddy? I loved him. The broody rockstar with a secret heart of gold was exactly what I needed. It was nice to watch him open up throughout the book, especially when it came to the camp. And the side characters were awesome—honestly, I would’ve loved more of them in group scenes.

Overall, even though *Into the Woods* didn’t hit the mark for me, I think a lot of people will enjoy it. Don’t let my take stop you from giving it a shot!

Thank you netgalley for the eARC!

I fell in love with the author’s writing when I read Canadian Boyfriend, so I jumped at the chance to read this ARC. But unfortunately, I couldn’t connect with the characters in this book the same way. There were moments I enjoyed, but at times, I struggled to keep reading—I kept stopping and starting, and honestly, I even considered DNF’ing a few times. But I decided to push through, and I did appreciate the growth the characters had throughout the story. Even though this one wasn’t my cup of tea, I’ll still be reading more of the author’s work!

Into the Woods was a sweet romance with a satisfying ending, which is exactly what I look for in a romance.

The characters were a lot of fun to read.

I thought that this book was cute, and i enjoyed that camp environment with the main characters being older in their 30s and 40s. There is this journey where we feel like we are supposed to have it "all figured out" when we get to our 30s and 40s, and sometimes along the way we lose ourselves by trying to do that. I feel like both of these characters were able to come back to themselves by finding each other. There is such beauty in that!

LOVED this book so much. probably one of my favorite first kisses i've read in a book. it was so soft and endearing and such a contrast to who the characters were when you first met them. this was fun and honestly a little inspiring - i love a good badass FMC.

After a bitter band breakup, grumpy musician Teddy takes a summer camp gig to work on his revenge album. Gretchen, a dance teacher seeking refuge from a mid-life crisis, plans to abandon dating and embrace her inner crone. Despite initial clashes, a friendship blossoms amidst campfire talks and the magic of the woods. But facing their inner demons is the only way for a new beginning together.

This is essentially the story of two successful adults dealing with unresolved childhood trauma—yet it’s written in a humorous and endearing way that keeps it from getting too heavy. The plot is engaging and never drags. Gretchen and Teddy are wonderful characters—likeable, well-developed, and fun.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I loved reading about Gretchen and Teddy and watching their love story unfold. It was a soft, light read and that me hooked from the beginning and kept me hooked until the very end. I enjoyed reading about their banter and their camp experience in the woods. I recommend this book.