5⭐️

I’ve always been a fan of Hannah’s writing and after reading Out on a Limb, I was so intrigued by Sarah and Caleb, and I JUST KNEW I wouldn’t be disappointed.

Out of the Woods follows a dual timeline where we see Sarah & Caleb fall in love as teens while Sarah is going through the most challenging phase of her life: her mother’s passing. On the other hand, in the present day, Sarah and Caleb are reaching over a decade of being married, but Sarah is finding herself in her early thirties and has a feeling that she hasn’t accomplished anything worth while in her personal life. She struggles to find her purpose and wonders if getting married so young, to someone as textbook perfect as Caleb, was worth it.

To save their marriage, Sarah and Caleb embark on a week long camping trip that doubles as couples therapy. In the middle of nature, they reflect on their marriage, open up to each other about their goals and plan for their future.. all while in the companionship of other (funny as hell) couples seeking guidance too.

Both Sarah and Caleb are such complex characters, I found myself just FEELING for both of them. All you want to do from chapter 1, is root for them. You’ll feel joy for them, and also sadness, and at one point, even anger. But you’ll ultimately, feel the love behind all else and it’s so so beautiful. These are the types of characters/couples you read about and have no doubt that they’ll end up together till the end of time.

And bonus! We get more Win & Bo and their daughter Gus, so my heart was just FULL & by the epilogue, it burst. These stories are so wonderfully real. I love this little world.

This book is out a week from today, so go preorder a copy! Thank you so much to NetGalley & Dell for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review :)

DNF 5% in. Thank you to Dell for providing me with an arc.

I really want to love Hannah Bonam-Young's books but I just don't think they are for me. I really hated Out on a limb but did like the writing so I wanted to give her another chance but this one didn't work for me either. I read the first chapter pretty much and I could tell that I wasn't going to vibe with the book, the conflict wasn't what I was expecting for a marriage in trouble and It felt too women's fiction for me personally.

While I found the last 100 pages of this read entertaining, this book (and perhaps genre) just wasn’t for me - and that’s okay. It veered a little too far down the “hallmark” spectrum for my liking.

“I begin wondering what is worse: being overly familiar with one another or fading into strangers who USED to know it all. I think it’s definitely the latter.”

Caleb and Sarah have been together since they were teenagers. They essentially grew up together and have done so much living with one another.
As Sarah is heading a fundraiser in honor of her late mother and it’s wrapping up, she realizes it’s not going to raise the money she needs and chalks it up as a fail (even though that’s a huge disappointment).
In steps Caleb to save the day, but instead of feelings of gratitude, it causes a riff of doubts to surface.
Who is Sarah without her other half? She convinces Caleb to go on a week long hiking retreat to reconnect and rediscover themselves- not just as a couple, but as individuals too.
Are they still the same couple they were when they married? Perhaps they’re not supposed to be.

Talk about a relatable read! Like Sarah and Caleb, my husband and I have been together since we were teens. I think any marriage goes through rough patches and it’s always important to check in with one another; we can get so caught up in our day to day that we forget to stay connected to the one who we choose to do life with. While a week long outdoor retreat may not be the right answer for everyone, stepping out of your comfort zone could be the ray of sunshine you need ☀️

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

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young follows high school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb Linwood. After loving Out on a Limb, one of my all-time favorite books, I was eagerly anticipating Sarah and Caleb’s story—and it did not disappoint.

What can you expect?
❤️ High school sweethearts
💍 Married couple
🏞️ Hiking as foreplay
🌲 Outdoor spicy scenes
🤓 MMC with glasses
📚 Hot, tall nerd
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found family
🚪 Forced proximity
⏳ Flashbacks

4.5⭐ | 2🌶️

“You have to shine on your own. And you will, baby. I know you will. Because you shine brighter than anyone I’ve ever known.”

Synopsis:
Sarah and Caleb Linwood, high school sweethearts, face a marriage crisis when Sarah’s solo fundraising project fails and Caleb steps in uninvited, unearthing years of unresolved tension. Hoping to rekindle their connection, they join a grueling couples’ hiking retreat. Amid misadventures in the wilderness, they rediscover themselves and their love.

My thoughts:
Sarah and Caleb have been together for 17 years, starting their relationship at just 14 years old. Now, Sarah is struggling with an identity crisis, questioning what she has to be proud of as an individual. After organizing a fundraiser for ALS in honor of her late mother, who passed from the disease when Sarah was 19, she falls short of her goal. Her frustration leads to a heated argument with Caleb, exposing years of unresolved issues in their marriage.

With encouragement from her best friend Wyn, Sarah agrees to a couples’ hiking retreat, hoping it will help them reconnect. While Caleb and Sarah are financially stable, Sarah feels stagnant and unsure of what she truly wants or who she is outside of their marriage.
Sarah’s dream of becoming a writer was crushed years ago when, after winning a contest, an author she admired discouraged her. Ever since, she believed she wasn’t good enough—a feeling that added so much depth to her story. Her grief, compounded by these long-standing doubts, looms heavily over her. Though everyone handles loss differently, Sarah’s struggles have gone unaddressed for years. Flashbacks of their younger years, particularly Caleb supporting her through her mother’s illness and passing, add emotional weight to their journey.

During the retreat, Sarah and Caleb confront their issues and gain new perspectives on each other’s needs. Caleb’s instinct to always protect and support Sarah—like stepping in during the fundraiser—comes from love but has unintentionally contributed to their disconnect. Being in the outdoors, away from distractions, allows them to rebuild their bond in ways they haven’t in years.

I related to Sarah’s aversion to the outdoors (camping without showers—no thank you!), but their shared abstinence-breaking moment felt both inevitable and rewarding. The spicy scenes revealed a different, bolder side of Caleb, contrasting perfectly with his sweet, nerdy personality.

I loved how they fought for their marriage, communicated their needs, and worked toward individual growth. Sarah rediscovered her passions, while Caleb stepped back from his father’s workaholic tendencies. Their mutual commitment to building a more balanced life was heartwarming.

Seeing cameos from Wyn, Bo, and Gus was such a treat! Their found family dynamic is so heartwarming, and it’s clear they’re each other’s safe haven. While this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading Out on a Limb first for a richer understanding of the characters and their relationships.

The emotional depth of this story, especially around themes of feeling lost and directionless, is something many readers will relate to. While I wish the mental health aspects had been explored more deeply, this was still a fantastic read.

Trigger Warnings: Please check them before diving in.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the advance copy!

Caleb and Sarah have hit a rough patch in their marriage, which makes total sense because they're been together since high school. Seventeen years is a LONG time, and Sarah feels trapped in the roles they've been in for their entire relationship. Caleb is afraid of change, but agrees to jump-start their healing, and join Reignite, a couples' retreat meat to help people reconnect with their partners. Caleb and Sarah will have to reflect on their own behavior and learn to grow together through their growing pains.

I really, really love Hannah Bonam-Young, and I was so excited to receive an ARC of Into the Woods. This was such a lovely, emotional story, where it's so clear that Caleb and Sarah deeply love each other, but have forgotten that people can and should change over the course of seventeen years. Seeing their relationship through flashbacks gave great insight into their relationship and the patterns they kept repeating. Their relationship is honestly something to truly admire and aspire to.

I've been a fan of Hannah's since the early, indie days of "Next of Kin", and even when I think she's at her best, she gets better!

Caleb and Sarah have such a sweet relationship. Even though this is technically a "marriage in trouble" book, what I appreciated the most was that it wasn't just a blame game between the two of them. They were quick to be honest with each other and desired to move forward together in a healthy way. With that, Sarah was able to see that a lot of her frustration had to do with some things from her own past that she needed to work through, and not solely the fault of Caleb. And Caleb had some things to work through too. Hannah wrote these characters in a way that felt so relatable (and I'm single!) - characters in their 30s who are just trying to figure out what they want the next chapter of their lives to look like.

I adore this book and I know I will re-read it. And if you haven't read Out on a Limb, I recommend reading that first :)

I am not okay.

I am undone. Unraveled. I can't go on.

This book... it's not just a story. It's an experience. It's a visceral, raw, gut-wrenching plunge into the deepest parts of grief, trauma, and the complexities of love. It's the kind of book that consumes you, that burrows under your skin, and refuses to let go long after you've turned the final page. I'm left with this gaping hole in my chest, an ache that echoes. I feel like I've lived a lifetime in the span of this novel, felt every heartbreak, every fear, every glimmer of hope. How can I go back to my ordinary life after this? How can I face the mundane when witnessing such profound beauty and devastation? I am not okay. And honestly, I don't want to be. I want to stay in this shattered state, to hold onto the intensity of what I've just read. Because even though it hurts, it's also the most alive I've felt in a long time. This book has broken me, but maybe, just maybe, it's also broken me open.

Childhood sweethearts are still married 13 years later and are going through some life changes, as I imagine happens when you reach 30. In order to reconnect the geek and the reader head into nature with a group called Reignite in order to reconnect with each other.

I absolutely loved this book! This is my first book by Hannah Bonam-Young, but she has been on my TBR for close to a year and a half, and I am not disappointed. I feel like often we in romance books we don't see the couple already married and I loved that aspect. They already had so much chemistry, the characters were so loveable. Caleb is a total geeky sweetheart that clearly has no much love for Sarah. And Sarah is a motivated reader who is looking for her drive.

All in all, an incredible read, 10/10 would recommend. I would say you don't have to read Out on a Limb to enjoy this book, but I do think it would have added a little to the read. So, I guess I know which book of hers will be read next on my TBR.

Thank you Random House Publishing for the ARC copy of this book. This review is my own personal opinion and honest review.

I am a fan of Hannah and this book just cements that thought for me!!

From the flashbacks of their relationship to the friendship of Sarah & Caleb with Win & Bo just had my heart!!

This book was a great reflection on long relationship and how they may feel like you have hit a standstill but that is not the case.
Sometimes all you are lacking is communications and some alone time in a tent.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book and also the fact that there were so many thoughts in Sarah's pov that I could connect to!

The writing style flowed in an ease for me and I just was vibing with the book just fine.

“Out of the Woods” by Hannah Bonam-Young is such a beautiful, emotional ride that hit all the right notes for me. It’s about Sarah and Caleb Linwood, high school sweethearts who’ve been married for a long time but are starting to feel a little lost in their relationship. To get back on track, they go on a week-long wilderness trip to reconnect and, honestly, it’s such a heartfelt journey.

The story dives deep into what it means to grow with someone over time, and it totally pulls at your heartstrings. It’s not just about falling in love but staying in love, which makes the romance even more meaningful.

It’s a curious fact that I read this right now and I’ll be getting married in less than two weeks now. I cried, reflected and felt SO proud of these characters. This made my head going into marriage with a newfound appreciation for the little things, for choosing a kind person as a husband and being truly understood. And a lot of what I read will for sure be imprinted in my brain for a long time, the one quote that struck the most to me being: “If you give me the space to grow, I’ll plant myself next to you. Always.” It’s a book I’ll make sure to read again as a reminder of that. Thank you so much for Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC, the publisher and Hannah Bonam-Young, for such an incredible story. All thoughts are my own.

Read nearly a quarter of this book and gave up. Sarah was a brat and Caleb didn't want to talk. Also felt like the author couldn't get her mind out of the gutter long enough to create and actual storyline for me to get invested in.

Once again, HBY has written a relatable, warm story full of heart. I took my time with this one, relishing in Caleb and Sarah’s story. It feels like witnessing one chapter of their lives, with a few glimpses at their early days told through flashbacks. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the arc- the joy I felt getting access to this early was pure glee.

Some highlights for me with this one:
-I cried 4x. Teared up numerous other times
-Bo and Win! And Gus!
-the person we experience early on is not the best version of Sarah, her struggles and frustrations and response to them are super relatable. Her low self esteem and insecurities are painful to read- which speaks a lot to Hannah’s talent.
-there’s an element to Sarah’s past that tugged at a raw spot for me, but how that played out at the end was deeply satisfying!

I’m grateful to Hannah for writing these stories and sharing these characters with us.

Thanks to NetGalley, Dell Romance and PRH Audio for the ARC/ALC.

This might be the first book I have read by Hannah Bonham-Young but I don't think it will be my last. I thought this book was super adorable and I loved the chemistry between Sarah and Caleb. I am very much looking forward to Hannah's next book

As far as the audiobook goes, I thought Victoria Connelly did a great job with the narration and I would definitely listen to more books narrated by her in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley, Dell Romance and PRH Audio for the ARC/ALC.

"Out of the Woods is my love letter to all of us who met their soulmate before they had the chance to fully meet themselves."

I started off 2025 with my first ever eARC and I'm so incredibly lucky it was Hannah Bonam-Young's incredible book, Out of the Woods. The story follows Sarah Linwood as throws a fundraising gala in memory of her late mother who passed away from ALS. Fail or succeed, the event was Sarah's opportunity to prove to everyone and especially herself that she was capable of doing something on her own. As the evening progressed, it was becoming clear that they were far from reaching their goal and once again, she was a damsel in distress with her safety net of people there to save her at every moment. The world seems to crash around her as she tries to figure out exactly who she is without her husband, Caleb, there to save the day once again.

"Name one thing that I should be proud of, Caleb. Something that's only mine. Something that I've done entirely on my own."

After 17 years of marriage, Sarah and Caleb decide to go on an outdoor couples retreat to reevaluate their marriage and address the changes they both felt were brewing. I completely fell in love with Sarah and Caleb's story. The beginning of their relationship was unveiled slowly as we bounced between two timelines. We see how Sarah came to be and how her past has forced to become an adult when her mother needed her most.

Hannah draws you in and never lets you go until the very last page. She had me laughing out loud at times and ugly crying the next. Sarah and Caleb's story will always be in my heart and mind. Thank you, Hannah, for this incredible gift of story.

"If you give me the space to grow, I'll plant myself next to you. Always."

If only there were a way to rate a book a bajillion out of five stars.... I think that is the only way I could accurately rate "Out of the Woods" by Hannah Bonam-Young. I want to say I've never had a book make me laugh/sigh/huff/cry so much as this one did but that would unfortunately be a lie since ALL of HBY's book have made me do all of those things (in the best way, I assure you). But I will say "Out of the Woods" made me feel these on an especially deep level. Here's why...

From her characters to their backstories to the manner in which they live/laugh/love, every single second of it feels real and raw and beautiful. Being in a nearly ten year relationship, I've felt a lot of what Sarah & Caleb have felt. Maybe not the same type of loss that is so significant to Sarah, but I've grieved experiences and people in other ways that made me feel so woven into fabric of this story. The beauty of their story that I heard Hannah say (on an IG Live maybe?) recently is that Sarah & Caleb love each of all of this book. Never do these two not love one another. They're both desperate to get back to the other but be their own people. It's so easy to lose yourself in a partnership and it's refreshing to read their story and how HBY doesn't shy away from that.

Hannah, thank you for always telling such viscerally real stories of love no matter what shape or form they may come in. I will forever be a fan of yours.

Growing up my great grandmother always told us “I like you” and when I asked why her response was “I’ll always love you but it’s important that I like you too.” and I’ve thought about this a lot after losing her in 2019. Out of the Woods embodies this so perfectly and I couldn’t have loved this book more.

Very rarely do we get romances that focus on long-term relationships and the struggles these couples face as they learn and grow. Hannah did such a phenomenal job of capturing the struggles of still learning yourself and growing while also knowing you found your person. Will they like the new you even though they fell in love with the old you? Have we become complacent in the life we live?

Out of the Woods follows high school sweethearts, Sarah and Caleb, as they embark on a week-long camping trip to help them reconnect and find themselves outside of their relationship. Every part of this book is filled with emotion and little moments. It keeps its lightheartedness while handling difficult topics. This was absolutely a five star read there was never any doubt from the moment I opened the book. I loved seeing both the past moments of Sarah and Caleb’s relationship from high school to the present day. It felt like I could really understand where Sarah’s mind was throughout the story because of this. Hannah I love you!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much to Hannah and Dell for an eARC!

I have been following Hannah Bonam-Young since reading her first book, Next of Kin. I felt a connection to her writing and as I've read her new books, the connection keeps growing, therefore I was ecstatic to get an eArc (thank you Hannah, NetGalley & Dell!) of the latest release in exchange for an honest review. With her latest, Out of the Woods, Hannah gives us a closer look at Sarah and Caleb, the seemingly perfect couple in her prior book, Out on a Limb. Sarah and Caleb hit an unexpected bump in their marriage which forces them to look deeply in their relationship as separate entities versus as a couple and figure out what they really wanted out of life.

I absolutely loved Out of the Woods! Sarah and Caleb give us a different view of the marriage in crisis trope, something that can be so true to many of us who married younger than expected. Hannah portrayed them in a way that was true to their character, respectful of their relationship and centered on their love for each other. Reading about Sarah's past, the way she and Caleb came together and witnessing the challenges they faced so early in life, just made their journey and end so much sweeter. I loved the plot of this book, which was exactly what Caleb & Sarah needed to make the the time and meet halfway.

The side characters were great in what they contributed to the plot, much of which I felt was advice I would also take for myself. I found myself constantly empathizing with these characters and their world; which isn't typical for other books I read. I guess that's the beauty of Hannah's writing, it paints a vivid picture of the characters and their challenges, takes you on a journey that feels just as rewarding for you as it does for the couple. Though it is early in 2025, I am convinced that Out of the Woods will a top read for the year.

I read Out on a Limb right before reading this and loved how this booked picked up the timeline of Out on a Limb. For those who have read Out on a Limb, it is Win and Bo's story. There are a few remarks by Win of how in love Caleb and Sarah are and how seemingly perfect their life is. Reading Out of the Woods was beautiful, heart wrenching, and had me crying the last hour of the book. I enjoyed how it went back and forth between two different timelines and how it wasn't necessarily a traditionally boy meets girl and falls in love storyline. Caleb and Sarah are married and have been married for several years when the story begins and as a reader you follow along with the trials of growing together rather than growing apart. This was different from the many other romances I've read and was such a good book!

I stand by my word that you can't go wrong with Hannah Bonam-Young's books. I love all of her books, and Out of the Woods was no different.

Even though it has a theme/trope I’m not usually a big fan of, she managed to keep me hooked from start to finish. I also loved that at no point do the characters regret their marriage or stop loving each other deeply – the focus here is on something else.

The way the characters develop and overcome their fears and grief is just amazing. I really love Hannah Bonam-Young’s writing.