Blown away. Honestly. I wasn’t sure at first. There is a lot of pain and sadness in the first 50% of the book but the payoff by the end leads to a deep, thoughtful and touching story with just the right amount of spice.

I was sobbing at one point.

I like that the book had flashbacks, as this couple were high school sweethearts and having marriage struggles. I liked being able to see how they started and where they went.

Hannah’s books have all been amazing. Must read for sure.

Being back in an HBY book was like being wrapped up in a warm blanket. I was so torn between reading it in one day or trying to make it last! Caleb & Sarah’s story hit so close to home, and opened my eyes to things in my own marriage. Being married to my own high school sweetheart, being a stay at home mom for 5 years and suddenly having to find myself again after my daughter goes to kindergarten- there were SO many similarities. My gosh, what a beautiful story. It was so validating that these are all real things other people feel, and that I’m not alone. I laughed out loud, I cried, every emotion was pumping through my body. When they’re making their lists for where they want to see their life in 10 years, I was balling. Seeing them finally have conversations they put off for so long was just a breath of fresh air. The slow burn usually drives me nuts but holy moly seeing them reconnect on an emotional level with all their lust filled moments had me 100% invested. I didn’t even mind the wait! This book contained so many heavy topics that could have made it though to read, instead it was done so beautifully that I could reread it again immediately. I cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this book. I love this series and it will forever be one of my favorites.

This quote at me rollllllling on the floor.
“I don’t even fight it this time. Because what the fuck? Who is this bodice ripper and what has he done with my soft-spoken, gentle, nerdy-ass husband.”

Perfection. The conflict between the married main characters felt so real that it made me squirm. The author handles this so well, and I can't wait for friends to read it so I can discuss. As always she handles tough issues with tact and care. Five stars for sure!

This was PHENOMENAL!!!! Out on a limb is one of my favorite books EVER, and seeing the announcement for this one had me giddy with joy! I am so grateful to have received an arc.

For all the gals with their high school sweethearts, I think this will hit you particularly hard. Growing with a person and never really on your own and how that may affect your person. There were so many parts in this book where I was like, mhm yes that's so true. Even when Sarah was being unfair. This is also for the gals who have gone through more than others at a young age. We are different because of how quickly we had to grow up. Sarah always felt like she was doing too little, being too little, or just wasn't enough. She, since her mom died young, had to grow up early. With traumatic life events, sometimes there's no room to "dream". No room to find yourself because all you're trying to do is survive.

Enter Caleb, Sarah's to-be comfort person, who she leans on codependently through her mother's death, and so on.

Let's just say that on a personal level I felt every aspect of this book. I too have struggled with finding myself and my "passion" when the privilege of having one was never available for me. As someone who's also been with someone since HS, I do find myself relying on that person for probably too much.

While it all sounds sad, there are wonderful moments in this book! Win and Bo make their reappearance which made me SO happy. Sarah and Caleb have some good banter here and there. The side characters (their hiking buddies) are also funny.

This story was handled with poise. With real emotions, real experiences, and real mental processes. It felt like looking through a mirror. I adored every single second of this and could hardly put it down.

hannah bonam young - you will always be famous.

out of the woods is going to be the book of 2025. i truly cannot get over how incredible sarah and caleb are. these two are the definitions of soulmates. these soft, gentle, sweet characters deserve everything and more.


this book will make you laugh and make you cry (many times), but boy is it worth it.

thank you hannah bonam young and dell for the early copy <3

Out of the Woods is a contemporary, marriage-in-crisis romance that follows Sarah and Caleb as they embark on a week-long hiking retreat designed to help couples reconnect. Given how much I loved Out on a Limb, which featured Sarah and Caleb as supporting characters, I had high expectations for this standalone sequel. Unfortunately, I have to say that I was quite disappointed with this book.

I think the main problem was that it was trying to do too much. The story begins with a blow-up fight between the couple at their ALS fundraiser about Sarah feeling like she has nothing to be proud of as a housewife and Caleb always trying to fix things for her. At first, this seems like the reason for the widening rift between them. However, as the novel progresses, the conflict gets more and more muddled by frequent flashbacks that highlight how young Sarah and Caleb were when they married, Sarah's shattered dreams of becoming a writer, and how difficult it was for Sarah to cope with her mother's death due to ALS. While this additional information did add context to the story, it also made the book feel overcrowded and its theme hard to decipher. Was the book about finding one's purpose? Was it about the consequences of marrying too young? Was it about the grief of losing a parent early? Instead of one of these themes taking precedence, it felt like all of them were competing for space.

Other things I want to mention:
- I wish we'd gotten Caleb's POV. It would have rounded out the story and served as a nice counterpoint to Sarah's POV
- The final act of the book pulled focus from the marriage-in-crisis plotline and made the book seem more about Sarah and her mom than Sarah and Caleb
- Though set way in the future, I couldn't help but feel that the epilogue undermined the story's message that marriage isn't easy and takes continuous work

Despite these critiques, I did enjoy the initial premise of the book. Sarah's reevaluation of her role as a housewife as the primary source of conflict was quite an original take on the marriage-in-crisis trope.

All things said and done, I'm still eager to give Hannah Bonam-Young another try and I'll be sure to check out her next release.

This review will be posted a couple days before the January 28, 2025 release date on Storygraph.

4.75/5 ⭐️
I can’t even begin to describe just how amazing this book is. I already loved Sarah and Caleb from Out on a Limb, so learning about their intricacies and meeting them in a new way was such a treat. This book was so unlike anything I’ve ever read before. The plot is unique and the hard topics are handled so beautifully. From a writing perspective, Hannah’s writing style is so beautiful and poignant, but also has the ability to make me literally laugh out loud. The perfect combination. Out of the Woods is everything and I cannot recommend it enough!

I LOVED this book so much!! It honestly blew me away and I wasn't expecting to adored it this much. It was emotional, delicate and beautifully human. I saw myself on both of these characters and I feel like that was the main reason why this book resonated so much with me.

Hannah Bonam-Young has DONE IT AGAIN!
I have never not loved a book that she has written and Sarah and Caleb’s story just further proves that Hannah’s stories, characters, and writing is top tier!

I loved reading about Win and Bo in Out On A Limb but reading Sarah and Caleb’s story both shattered my heart and put the pieces back together in the end. Not only is it obvious that the love they have for one another is so deep and impenetrable, no matter what rough patch life throws their way but the found family is so heartwarming that it is impossible not to love the them as a couple (and of course the four of them as a friend group).

The relationship between Win and Sarah is also something that I loved to see more of in this series. The way they are always there for each other like sisters is something that reminds me of my best friend and I. It is so special to read about them especially with the dual timeline that Hannah writes in this story, going from present time back to when Sarah’s mom was sick and where her love story with Caleb began.

Overall, I truly loved this book and felt that it is the perfect book to accompany Out On A Limb! I would absolutely recommend it (as well as all of Hannah’s other books)!

Absolute perfection but I expected nothing less from Hannah. If I could rate this higher, I absolutely would. Pure perfection.

i truly have no words and too many words on how perfect this book is. when i first read the synopsis i was scared. i didn’t want this perfect couple to have problems and possibly break-up. i’ve read books where the entire book is about the couple having struggles and then at the end they solve it and all i feel is sadness. BUT NOT THIS BOOK! there’s something about HBY and how she can take a trope that worries me (accidental pregnancy or marriage in crisis) and make a story that has you second guessing that opinion entirely!
✨
this is truly a story of found family. Win and Bo and Sarah and Caleb they are all a family even if they don’t share DNA.
✨
SARAH- i truly related to her more than i have with any other character. with the loss of a parent, how that affects someone and how it can change your views on religion. it was like i was reading my thoughts on paper!
✨
CALEB-he makes mistakes, he’s flawed, but he’s real. and he realizes his mistakes and makes up for it perfectly. his personality was written so well, i could really imagine him in my head.
✨
you can 100% feel the growth between these two. they go on a journey together and make changes for the better of their relationship and come on the other end in a positive way.
✨
this is the most flawless series ever. literally no notes. each book captivated me and had me wanting more and i never wanted it to end.

ARC Copy of OUT OF THE WOODS!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!! AGHHHHH PERFECT!
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Thank you NetGalley and Dell Romance for the ARC and especially to Hannah Bonam-Young for being an amazing person and author! I had the loveliest time meeting her back in July and i wouldn’t change a thing!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Perfect Stars
Phenomenal! Hilarious, Swoon worthy and a Sob fest!
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Hannah Bonam-Young, as we know is one of my favourite authors. Has done it again! She’s written a phenomenal Marriage in turmoil, With spice, finding yourself apart from your partner, and Gorgeous found family with the other couples on the Retreat. Another 5⭐️ from me :)
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I sat with my own “Caleb” and devoured this in two days, between shifts at work and watching him work on his car, i felt entirely connected to Sarah and Caleb, as characters and as a couple. I can’t help but feel like a part of Hannah’s own story is written in alongside theirs. I think that made it so easy to devour! I love the snippets of Win and Bo, with their little family, as well as the flashbacks where we see Caleb and Sarah coming together with moments of mom & daughter as well. Marcie was such a wonderful soul to see us reflect on, and every chapter of this book had me tearing up, happily or downright sobbing. I think Hannah is an absolute master and I will continue to read anything and everything she writes.
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This is hopeful and endearing and everything i could’ve asked for.
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#netgalley #dellromance #hannahbonamyoung #hannahbonamyoungbooks #author #indieauthor #newreleases #arcreview #reviewathon #review #canada #books #bookish #bookstagram #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookstack #booksta #bookseries #bookseller #booknook #bookbabe #booknerd #bookworm #bookaddict #booklover

Out of the Woods is heartfelt, raw, and an absolute treasure, The characterization, tone, and voice really are bar none. Hannah Bonham-Young is easily one of the best romance writers today.

I hope she writes a million more books I will love and cherish each of them the way I did with this story.

I think marriage in trouble is a hard trope to do right and Hannah Bonam-Young truly nailed it in Out of the Woods. Sarah and Caleb are high school sweethearts that have been through a lot together, and sort of inadvertently grown into patterns that weren’t the greatest situation for their relationship.

I definitely had high hopes for OOTW because of how much I loved Out on a Limb (def my favorite of the two)! I like that OOTW gives us more backstory to not only Sarah/Caleb but also Sarah and Win’s friendship (really a sistership). While I do think you could read them as standalone books, you’ll definitely have a better time and appreciation if you read OOAL first.

The banter, the sadness, the pining/horniness and love were really well done. HBY’s writing is strong and she definitely cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me! Sarah and Caleb’s communication really grew in the story, through the fun times and horribly bad, which led to the ultimate HEA journey. OOTW is all about loving yourself, loving your journey, and navigating deep love for your partner at the same time as going through a struggle.

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley and advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

“Having you in my arms like this. Feeling you . . . feeling you come around me. Being out in the open. I think I’m dead. I think heaven might be real. I think it’s you.”

Oh my god. I loved this book so much. Hannah’s words are just so real and personal and such a damn joy to read. This book is light, raw, funny, intimate, and shows how much this couple changed in their marriage, as they grew up.
There’s actually nothing better than knowing you’ll love a book but then end up loving it even more than you thought possible. That’s how I felt with this. As someone who’s been trying to find her place in life, I loved reading Sarah’s journey. I’ve felt like she did for a long time, starting projects or jobs and realizes that’s not what I wanted to do, or thinking I’m not good at anything just because I had a teacher tell me I wasn’t smart. Sometimes simply existing is hard, let alone figuring out who you are!!
And every scene with her mom was so special 🥲 I absolutely loved their relationship.

CALEB LINWOOD IS A GIFT TO THE BOOK BOYFRIEND MANUAL. Nerdy, soft, glasses-wearing men>>>
I wouldn’t change a thing about this book. I will miss these characters so much 😭😭

3.5
I was so excited to get this arc because I loved out on a limb so much. The nature/camping aspect was fun and I enjoyed the flashbacks to when they were younger. I love a good second chance romance, especially when the characters started dating so young. The Win and Bo moments were everything. Excited to see what the author does next!

3.25⭐️

This story follows Sarah and Caleb, high school sweethearts of seventeen years. Still grieving the loss of her mother Sarah struggles to find fulfillment in life and her marriage. To help fix their marriage Sarah and Caleb go on a couples retreat to reconnect.

I really connected with Sarah with how hard it was to lose her mother, as one of my parents is diagnosed with the same illness.

The way this couple was able to communicate and fix there problems together instead of working against each other proves that they are unbreakable.

A bit slow at times, I wish it had been a bit more engaging.

Overall I enjoyed reading this and will DEFINITELY be reading her other works.

*I will be posting my review to TikTok, Instagram & Goodreads on Jan/14/25.

I thought the concept for this book was really fresh. I liked they are married and finding their way back to one another.

The end was heavy but luckily there is a warning at the beginning! Thank you for that!

I will be a Hannah Bonham-Young fan until the day I die. She is one of the only authors who has never let me down-- I love everything she's written, and it all started when someone recommended I read Out on a Limb. I admit I was slow to reading her other works; I just read Next of Kin last month and have yet to read Next to You, but I swear every book of hers I read gets better, and this is no exception. God this book was rough- in the way that it was so raw and real and gut wrenching. Everything that Caleb and Sarah went through was a testament to their love and their ability to find themselves in the midst of what seemed to be their worlds crumbling. Staying strong and being a caregiver because it's the only thing you've ever known, feeling useless because you've always been the helped rather than the helper, not knowing where you want to go or even who you are because your entire identity has been tied to who you were before, during, and after the death of someone you loved so dearly. All of these things could've torn Caleb and Sarah apart. They each had so much built up inside of them, so much that needed to be explored, so much that was ready to burst out of them. Everything within was handled with such care, as Bonham-Young's books always are, and I will never stop recommending her books to anyone. I will shout my love for her books from every rooftop until I can no longer find a way up to those rooftops.

Thank you Dell and Random House Publishing for giving me the honor of reading this ARC by Hannah Bonam-Young. Like all of Hannah’s books this one was written beautifully and gave me all the feels. Sarah and Caleb are high school sweethearts who got married at 19 and have hit a bump in their marriage where Sarah’s trying to figure out who she is outside of just being Caleb’s wife. This book dives into loss of a parent and how it shapes a persons future and what they think of themselves and others. The way HBY wrote how honest Sarah was being with herself, what she wanted, and her relationship with Caleb made me feel like I got a free therapy session. This book made me write some personal notes down for myself, made me cry, and made me eager for more written by Hannah.