HANNAH CAN DO NO WRONG. I will never not fall completely in love with Hannah’s writing. This was romantic, emotional, and heartwarming. I truly could not love a story more. I am so happy to finally have read this book. A top read of the year.

5 stars - sweet sweet Hannah Bonam-Young!! I love her writing, and her book Out on a Limb stamped something deep in my soul. Sarah and Caleb were the same people from OOAL but we got to see more of them, in their element (or I guess, not in their element lol) but they felt so REAL! What REAL couples go through! It was fun, honest, raw, and omg, the past and present POVs! Teenage Sarah and Caleb GUTTED ME.

Overall this was so good, and I shed TEARS!! (the only qualm I had was over the spicy scenes... they felt a bit forced on page, and I almost could've done without them??!!!)

Out of the Woods is a heartfelt and witty exploration of love, growth, and rediscovery. Hannah Bonam-Young crafts a compelling story that centers on Sarah and Caleb Linwood, a couple who, after seventeen years together, find themselves at a crossroads. The story dives deep into the complexities of long-term relationships and what happens when individuals start to question who they are outside of the roles they've played in each other's lives.

Sarah, in particular, struggles with her sense of self, having always defined herself in relation to her husband. After a failed fundraising event in honor of her late mother, her desire for independence leads to conflict with Caleb. This rift opens old wounds, and the couple embarks on a challenging hiking trip meant to help couples reconnect. The setting is perfect for this kind of journey—both literally and metaphorically—and the humor that arises from their nature-averse personalities provides many laugh-out-loud moments.

The book does a wonderful job at blending humor with emotional depth. Sarah and Caleb’s bickering and awkward attempts to navigate the hiking challenges are not just funny but also reveal the layers of their relationship—the love, frustration, and the growing pains of being with someone for so long. The author also addresses the difficulty of maintaining one’s identity within the confines of a long-term relationship, which is something many readers can relate to.

The pacing is strong, and the twists and turns in the couple’s emotional journey keep the story engaging. There were moments when I found myself rooting for them to work things out, and other times when I wished they'd communicate better. That tension is what makes Out of the Woods so compelling; it’s a very real portrayal of what many couples go through as they evolve both together and individually.

The only reason this isn’t a five-star review is that at times, the characters' actions felt repetitive, and I wished there had been more depth to certain secondary characters. While Sarah and Caleb's journey was the highlight, I felt like a bit more focus on the supporting cast could have added another layer to the story.

Overall, Out of the Woods is a poignant and humorous read about finding your way back to love and rediscovering yourself in the process. It’s a great choice for anyone looking for a heartfelt story about relationships and personal growth.

Hannah Bonam-Young is one of the romance greats of this generation and I’m so happy to be able to witness it and have the pleasure of enjoying her work. Out of the Woods is so full of heart and such a personal feeling yet universally relatable book that I may never shut up about it and quit recommending it.

This was such cute and fun read. I love how you can easily relate in HBY's books and her writing is such a breath of fresh air. Very much worth the time to read and enjoy this story. Thank you so much for letting me read this early!

4.75 ⭐️

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

Out of The Woods is the first book of 2025 that made me shed some happy tears. It's one of those reads that came to me at the perfect time, and I just loved it so much! It's everything I wanted and craved in a romance that's a little bit angsty and a whole lot of comforting🥹

I was truly hooked from the very beginning and not shocked at all by the fact that I finished it in a couple of hours. The story was an emotionally hard-hitting one between overcoming grief, the journey of self-discovery, and mending a marriage. It’s all so beautifully balanced and written in a way that truly resonates, guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings❤️‍🔥

The author excelled in writing genuinely authentic characters who face relatable challenges.
Sarah views herself as a burden in her marriage, believing she doesn't add much value to her relationship with Caleb. She feels like her self-worth is tied entirely to him.
Caleb embodies the classic "knight in shining armor" trope, loving Sarah unconditionally. Seeing his confusion and fear over Sarah's sudden unhappiness was truly heartbreaking😭
However, their path to mending their marriage was both beautiful and inspiring, and these babies truly deserve all the happiness in the world!

"...𝑯𝒂𝒍𝒇 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑴𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆..."

This one just made me all the more excited to read Out On A Limb, which I know I should’ve read first, but I know it will be just as perfect as Out of The Woods😍

What to expect:
🏕 highschool sweethearts
🏕 marriage in crisis
🏕 only one tent
🏕 dual timeline
🏕 wilderness retreat
🏕 acts of service

*𝘈 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤! 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.*

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing and HBY for an advanced copy of this book.

4.25 ⭐️

Adorable! I saw so much of me in Sarah and so much of my boyfriend in Caleb that it really made it easy to relate to this story, even if our relationship dynamics aren’t the same. I think everyone who reads this will find a little bit of themselves in this book, which makes it so special. Another great ready by HBY!

Cute. Fun. I love Hannah Bonam-Young’s humor, wit, representation, and romance. There were great characters and I just really enjoyed this book. Thank you for the chance to read it early.

I loved Hannah Bonam-Young’s first book ‘Out on a Limb” and ‘Out of the Woods’ brought me right back into the world. I love how Hannah takes deep topics and is able to rip my heart out making me sob then also put my heart back together. She is an incredible author and I loved diving back into Caleb’s and Sarah’s relationship and how realistic it is. I really enjoyed this one.

10 stars ⭐️
I needed to take a breather at the 60% mark because it was that good.

Can i break the 5 star rating ? I need it to have a ‘forever mind blown’ tier. I’m feeling overwhelmed over life via a book. In a good way.

Thank you NetGalley and Hannah Bonam-Young for this ARC. All opinions are of my own.

Hannah can do no wrong. I ate this book up and I love marriage in trouble so much!! This was fast paced and it gave me so many feelings, something Hannah does so well is making you FEEL her writing.

Absolutely devoured this book. Hannah has such a way with words to make the reader laugh, cry, and feel every emotion that her characters do. I will think about this one for a long time!

OH MY STARS! 🤩

How precious is a rekindling romance, especially with someone who knows you so intimately and is the absolute perfect definition of loyal and considerate.
Caleb is willing to do whatever it takes to save their marriage, and while him and Sarah (his wife) are not particularly outdoorsy people, they face their issues head on and engage with one other in thoroughly hard, uncomfortable, yet important conversations. Caleb was willing to fight for what they had to get a resolution and I thoroughly enjoyed his character so much. I really enjoyed how Sarah always told Caleb what she wanted, how her grief was dealt with and how her past and present jump made her story more realistic. Caleb had a ton of patience for her (WHICH WE LOVE IN A MAN!!!) and it reminded me of my husband and how much patience he has for me.
The spicy chapters were extremely well written and the way everything wrapped up was absolutely beautiful and just so realistic, I loved how natural all of the interactions between Caleb and Sarah felt and their connection.
"And, when you're not near, you occupy every corner of my life. Half of my thoughts are about you. All of my dreams involve you. My hopes and fears and purpose revolve around you."

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of this digital ARC!

Rating: 4.25/5
Steam: 3/5
CW: Death of a parent from ALS, mention of an accident

Thank you to Dell Romance, PRH Audio, and NetGalley for these advanced copies in exchange for my honest opinion.

Out on a Limb was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, so when Hannah Bonam-Young announced Out of the Woods, I was immediately sold. Then, when I found out it was a marriage-in-crisis story, I was even more intrigued.

This book follows two people who fell in love early in life, bonded by grief and tragedy. Over time, they’ve changed, but their love for each other remains. The story delves into facing both buried and surface-level issues, having brutally honest conversations, and truly listening. The crisis in their marriage wasn’t the “fault” of either person but rather a natural progression of growth and change within a relationship.

The final chapters left me deeply emotional, and the conclusion was both heartwarming and incredibly satisfying. I loved Sarah and Caleb’s journey, beautifully interwoven with reflections on their past and present. Hannah Bonam-Young’s ability to craft relatable characters is one of the reasons I’m such a huge fan of her work. I also adored seeing Bo, Winn, and their family intertwined with Sarah and Caleb’s story.

I’m giving this a 4.25 because, while I loved it, I felt like something was missing—but I can’t quite put my finger on what. I even waited to write this review to see if I could figure it out. One thing that stood out to me was the need for Caleb’s POV. I know this isn’t the author’s usual style, but especially in a marriage-in-crisis story, having both perspectives can be so impactful. Even just a glimpse into Caleb’s thoughts would have added more depth for me. I kept thinking about After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid—how the second POV came through emails, giving insight into the other person’s raw thoughts. Something like that could have enhanced the emotional depth here as well.

Unlike most contemporary romances that tells the beginning of a relationship, this book shows a couple that has been together for YEARS. Sarah and Caleb has spent more time of their lives in relationship with each other than not, and after 17 years she felt like apart from Caleb, she don’t have something that belong to her alone. Despite loving each other still, she felt like the spark wasn’t there anymore.

Per Win’s suggestion, they went on a hiking program for couples called Reignite, even though they both are SO not nature persons.

This is about maintaining a long-term relationship, about putting in the effort, about how only love isn’t enough to make the relationship last long. With the storyline going back and forth between past and future, It’s vulnerable and tender, exploring difficult talks and revelations instead of the sweet moments.

I enjoyed it overall, loving Wi & Bo’s cameo because of course they’re still best friends and make a wholesome dynamics together.

By the time I read Out Of The Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young, I was already very emotionally invested in her characters and their stories!!!

Admittedly, I started this one, read the author's note, got one page in and called it quits because I needed the back-story Out On A Limb would provide. So naturally, this led me to re-read Next Of Kin, followed by two other Bonam-Young books before finally diving headfirst into Out Of The Woods (all in quick succession, might I add). As each book continuously got better and better, I became a Bonam-Young super fan! Now, each of these books has a different, equally special place in my heart!

All of this to say... I knew I was in for a treat when I re-arrived at Out Of The Woods (with a strong hunch this would be the one to make me cry)!

Have I mentioned I'm a sucker for a dual timeline? Because this got me from the go! I've also been very into second chance romances lately, and I really liked that this one didn't follow the traditional formula! (And yes, I absolutely did cry!)

Of the four Bonam-Young books I've read, Out Of The Woods is the most real-life, touching my heart in a quieter way. This story was really about letting Sarah shine; of course Caleb was so incredibly wonderful, but this story was all about Sarah - her path, her journey, her growth. I already loved Caleb's love for Sarah from Out On A Limb, but it was presented even more strongly within this story. The dynamic between Sarah and Caleb was perfect, those shared years making their bond incredibly strong, with the tension between this married couple ratcheted up in unique and clever ways!

What should your take-away be? Bonam-Young writes lighthearted, easy-going romances with incredible depth and character growth, while being real-world messy! In short: they are utter perfection!

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine and Dell for the complimentary copy to read and review.

Hannah Bonam-Young can do no wrong. This book was easily a 5 star read, and I cannot stop talking/thinking about it! I thought Bo and Win were my favorites of her characters, but Sarah and Caleb are right there with them. Their story is incredible, and extremely relatable. 100000/10!

This was a decent read, although it was not really exciting to me. It felt like it was dragging at times. I'd grade it 3.5. I enjoyed the characters, but the plot was somewhat lacking. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, publisher, and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really good, it wasn't what I thought it would be at the beginning but I truly loved it!


Tropes:
– High school sweethearts
– Marriage in crisis
– Found family
– Forced proximity
– Dual timeline
“If you give me the space to grow, I’ll plant myself next to you. Always.”
I really enjoyed reading about a mature love between a married couple and the challenges they face after the “happily ever after” of most books. Normally you dont get this side of the story and I loved the way that it was conveyed

This one is so much more than a book about a marriage in crisis. So if you’re someone that doesn’t love that trope, don’t let it stop you from reading this great book. At its heart, it’s a book about finding yourself and remembering your why. The flashbacks set the scene for the how we got here and why our characters are worth rooting for. Sarah and Caleb are both so special. The grief section about Sarah’s mom was so well done and it made me do a lot of reflection. I loved that this one had me laughing, crying, and swooning