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

🏕️ Marriage in Crisis (or Woman Experiencing an Existential Crisis lol)
🌱 Dual Timeline
🏕️ High School Sweethearts
🌱 Geeky Boy x Reader Girl

After reading Out On a Limb last year (and loving it like everyone told me that I would), I was really looking forward to Sarah and Caleb's story. They were such lovable side characters, that I really was interested to see what was in store for the two of them.

The thing was... I didn't expect this. Now don't get me wrong, I did not in any way hate this book. I found elements of this rather compelling actually. The thing was is that I expected this to be a traditional love story, similar to Out On a Limb.

However this is not Win and Bo's warm and fuzzy story about falling in love with a person you just recently met. This isn't necessarily even Caleb and Sarah's love story either. This Sarah's and her alone.

This is Sarah's story of grief & pain. A woman's story of finally wanting more for herself. (Oh & Caleb is there too, and he's cute lol). Because of this though I'd personally consider this a women's fiction story first, and a love story second. Which is all fine and good, but again not what I expected.

A much different vibe and general and I would recommend people go into this with an open mind and just no expectations.

With all that being said, let's get into what I liked about this...

I'm not a wife, and haven't been in a long term relationship like Sarah has been with Caleb. But her story of being stuck in the same moment in time for years on end and waking up one day and wanting more for yourself, but not really understanding what that "something" may be is HIGHLY relatable. Also the backstory with her mother, and the grief being so immeasurable that she can't get past it is also something I think a lot of people will understand.

The way that Sarah would react to things was at times really hard to read, but those were also the times that I saw myself a lot in Sarah (whether I liked it or not 😅). It was realistic at the end of the day and that gave me more hope in the end when Sarah inevitably turns things around. Hope that if Sarah can turn it around, maybe someone like me could too 🥹

But enough being sappy... the last (but not least thing) I enjoyed about this was OBVIOUSLY Caleb. Another lovely man written by Hannah Bonam-Young. I wish we could have seen a bit more of his own personal struggle, but I really enjoyed his character overall.

I'm just going to end this off by saying again, this was not what I expected (broken record I know). It's impossible to follow up a book like Out On a Limb. This tried its best to do so, but at the end of the day it fell a little flat for me on the romance side of things. But it did end up tugging at my heart strings in an unexpected way, so it made up for it in the end.

Look, Hannah is the best and there's just no disputing that. This book was so steamy and sexy and angsty and heartbreaking. I loved watching Sarah and Caleb find their way back to each other. I loved the side characters, I loved the setting. The whole thing is a masterpiece!

And of course we have another HBY banger on our hands. Out of the Woods surpassed all my expectations that I had when we first learned we were getting Sarah and Caleb's love story. I DEVOURED this on my honemyoon and was like "not now new husband, I'm reading about another hot husband trying to woo his wife again." I actually loved reading the marriage in trouble trope on my honeymoon because it reminded me of all the beautiful aspects of being married, but the struggles as well and how you can lose each other in the day to day.

When you find your person young, like I also did, its tough knowing that you of course are going to grow, but does that mean you are going to grow with the one you love? This was something explored in OOTW that I adored. We read so much about falling in love, but how do you stay in love? Or fall in love again? Or learn more about each other during each new phase of life? Hannah explores this SO WELL and I just felt so seen and comforted reading this book.

Some other things I adored about OOTW:
The intimacy of a couple who’s been together so long and knows each other (and each others' bodies) so well
Loved the setting, this camping trip was out of both of the main characters' comfort zone and that was needed in a story like this.
The flashbacks, they painted a picture of these two characters and how their lives and dreams intertwined from an early age.
Great portrayal of how young people can handle so much and be “mature” beyond their years but that just means

I can't recommend this book enough!

Thank you so much Hannah and Dell for the ARC!

After seeing Sarah and Caleb in Out On A Limb, I was very excited to see their story come to life. This was a cute story and I thought the author did a good job of showcasing the troubles and fear that can arise in a marriage after being together from such a young age. I know this is being advertised as a marriage in crisis but at no point did I think that Caleb and Sarah were headed for divorce which is something I actually really liked. I enjoyed the fact that the main focus for Sarah and Caleb was relearning to communicate and rediscovering themselves as both individuals and a couple. And, I felt that this was done well in their story showing both the messy parts and the good parts of their relationship.

This was sooo sweet and just what I needed! I really enjoyed the plot they had to come together in the woods to help rekindle their relationship!

This was such a funny and good time!!

Hannah definitely knows what she is doing in the kitchen!!

Rating 4/5

Expected publication date: 1/28/25

In HBY fashion this sweet romance was Everything. I fell in love with Caleb and Sarah in Out On A Limb, but this book made me love them both even more. I love how she made them so real. How miscommunication and wrong love language can affect a relationship. The way HBY made them struggle to be able to come to terms with what’s happening. The grief, the frustration, the settled feeling you get in real marriage, she brought it all and made this book so relatable. The way I silently cried bc of the way Sar and Cay felt so close to my life. I hurt and loved and laughed and felt right along with them, both.

If you loved Out on a Limb, definitely read this one as well. 😭😭😭

I found this book at the worst point of my life. My sister had recently passed and I was worried about her not seeing our wedding, only for my wife and I to elope without her there. I have been having some issues communicating with my wife, and I felt myself, the ugly part of myself, relate with Sarah. Seeing the process of them build their relationship back up felt like a warm hug.

Hannah does it again.

Thank you to dell publishing for giving me this book in return for an honest review.

If you know me, you know Out on a Limb is one of my SOUL books, and I was STOKED to get my hands on Out of the Woods as soon as possible. Guys, this was absolutely beautiful! I loved every second of this raw & real story. AND THE SPICE?? YUM.

Sarah and Caleb decide to go on a wilderness marriage retreat to reignite the spark in their marriage. It was full of real and raw conversations that make you think. Relationships are hard, and they take work. This story was a beautiful depiction of forgiveness. Of showing up for those you love. Of not giving up. Of giving your best to the people who deserve it. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with these characters even more.

What’s inside 👇🏼
⛺️Soulmates
⛺️Growing Together
⛺️Marriage in Crisis
⛺️raw & real love
⛺️Forced Proximity
⛺️”Good Boy”

Happy release day Hannah, this is a beautiful work of art!

Hannah Bonam Young is such an underrated author. She has a way of writing books with such heart, emotion, and often tells stories that many others shy away from. From disability rep to mental health rep, the foster care system, and the loss of loved ones, she handles these delicate topics with such grace. It’s a beautiful thing!

I absolutely loved Out on a Limb! Winn & Bo’s story was so unique and heartwarming. It was exciting to see Sarah and Caleb get their own book! And our favorite characters from Out on a Limb make many appearances too – YAY! I definitely recommend reading OOAL prior to reading Out of the Woods. While yes, this can be read as a standalone, it’s so much more enjoyable to have a backstory on the characters.

Out of the Woods was a deeply personal read for me. I related so strongly with Sarah. As a woman who also lost her mom (who was her best friend & entire world) in her 20’s, it was very cathartic to read of Sarah’s struggles. It can be hard to figure out where you fit in as a woman in today’s world. It’s not easy as an adult to make friends, and there’s many times I’ve questioned the decisions I’m making. Am I going down the right path in life? Adulting is HARD! Over time, you drift away from people you thought would be in your life forever. Experiencing Sarah and Caleb figure out where they fit in life and with each other was emotionally gripping.

If you’re looking for a beautiful love story, full of heart, grit and life’s realities – this is absolutely the right book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing – Ballantine / Dell for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

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

First off, HAPPY PUB DAY to Out of the Woods! This book was such a special read for me this year. I started this journey by seeing a glimpse into Sarah and Caleb’s present day relationship as I read Out on a Limb. That storyline had me thinking that they had the perfect relationship, but starting Out of the Woods had me realizing that things aren’t always as they present themselves…

The book begins with Sarah coming to a realization that at 31 years old, she’s not sure who she is outside of being Caleb’s wife. They decide to sign up for a wilderness marriage retreat with the hope to get some answers regarding not only their relationship, but maybe a few about themselves as well.

I don’t think I’ve read many stories that revolve around an already established couple, but this one was written perfectly. The dual timelines allowed me to see Sarah and Caleb fall in love for the first time and refall in love all over again in the present. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and also made me realize that it’s okay to not be going at the same pace as everyone else or to live life in a different order than the “norm”. This book beautifully explored Sarah’s path of dealing with the pressure to make other people and herself proud of her own accomplishments, as well as her being able to decide on her own how she wants to view herself when she looks back on her life.

HBY knows how to write a book, and she knows how to write a sexy MMC with glasses - thank you for representing those that have fallen in love with the sexy nerds!

🏕 high school sweethearts
🏕 nature therapy / marriage counseling
🏕 MMC wears glasses
🏕 found family
🏕 childless by choice
🏕 grief exploration
🏕 dual timelines / flashbacks

Thank you Dell Romance and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Out of the Woods by @hannahby
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Happy Release Day!!

Hannahby's novel Out on a Limb was one of my absolute favorite books last year. I was obsessed with Bo and Win's story, so I was very excited when I heard there would be a book two starring Win's best friend Sarah and her high school sweetheart, Caleb.

Sarah and Caleb's story is told in multiple timelines, shifting between the beginning of their love story and the present- when Sarah and Caleb venture out on a camping relationship retreat to get their marriage back on track.

You guys. I loved this book so much. The witty dialogue, Sarah and Caleb's vulnerability, appearances by Bo and Win (and August 🥹), the character development, the wilderness adventures, and the quirky fellow camper side characters...it all made for a truly wonderful, heartfelt read.

Read this if you like:
💫 dual timelines
💫 high school sweethearts/first loves
💫 marriage in crisis/second chance romance
💫 reader/writer girl + nerdy guy
💫 outdoorsy adventures
💫 and obviously if you liked Out on a Limb!!

Thank you to @netgalley and Random House publishing group for this eARC in exchange for an honest review

✨ A Heartwarming Journey of Love, Found Friendship, Family, and Second Chances ✨

I actually didn't expect it to be this good! At its core, the story is about Sarah Linwood as she navigates her life, questioning her sanity, and struggling with existential questions. She wants to be proud of herself, to have a life of her own, and to build something for herself—success or failure—without hiding in the shadow of her husband, Caleb Linwood.

When I first read about Sarah's life, I questioned what she was looking for. Her life seemed perfect as it was. She had her best friend, Win, her perfect husband, Caleb, and a life of luxury as Caleb managed his company while Sarah stayed at home, taking on the responsibilities of a housewife. However, as I delved deeper into Sarah's world, how she had to grow up so fast and marry Caleb at the very young age of 19. I found myself deeply resonating with her. She had every valid reason for wanting to create something for herself. Sarah might outwardly seem like she was "winning in life," but she was slowly losing herself over the years. She felt lost.

Meanwhile, Caleb was perfectly content with their routine and lifestyle. Having gotten used to Sarah being a housewife, managing the company, and living up to his father’s legacy, he was afraid to disrupt their lives. He was so focused on protecting Sarah at all costs that he forgot Sarah had her own life to live, her own dreams to pursue.

As Sarah and Caleb joined the "Reignite" camp led by Helen and Yvonne, I found myself completely immersed in their world, navigating through the forest, imagining the camp, and connecting with the other campers: Nina, Jai, Maggie, Phil, Henry, Kieran, Helen, Yvonne, and Libby. Through Helen and Yvonne's guidance, as they helped Sarah and Caleb work through their inner struggles and relationship issues, I found myself learning a lot from their journey. As someone who also struggles with existential crises and feelings of being lost, this book hit me right in the feels. Hannah Bonam-Young is such a talented author and has quickly become one of my favorites.

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young is a powerful and heartwarming story that I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone, especially if you’re struggling to openly communicate your feelings with your family or spouse. This book feels like a self-help guide wrapped in fiction, offering valuable lessons while telling a compelling story.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for giving me the opportunity to experience this wonderful and amazing story of Sarah and Caleb.

✨ WHAT I LIKED:
📌 Win suggesting the camp
📌 Sarah and Caleb’s journey through adulthood
📌 Win and Sarah's platonic friendship
📌 Sarah finally opening up to Cyrus! (Wow! That was intense!)
📌 Michelle finally living for herself
📌 Bo and Caleb being supportive husbands to Win and Sarah

✨TROPES:
📌 Second Chances at Love
📌 Marriage in Trouble
📌 Healing and Growth
📌 Platonic Friendship
📌 Found Family
📌 A Moderate Amount of Spice

🖥️ GOODREADS REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7240239139

👩‍💻 INSTAGRAM REVIEW: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFXjrRgyEVo/?igsh=eW8xOTdqbm0xZHFk

💻 BLOG REVIEW: https://kimthebookdragon.com/2025/01/28/arc-review-out-of-the-woods/

💻 LINKED IN REVIEW: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kinanahmanalao_arc-review-out-of-thewoods-activity-7289963676638265344-VyFE?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

💻 FABLE REVIEW: https://fable.co/post/6bd91186-341c-4deb-8ee0-98f07918894a

💻 FACEBOOK REVIEW:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Eh1CAPihT/?mibextid=wwXIfr

💻 THREAD REVIEW:
https://www.threads.net/@kimthebookdragon/post/DFXmjLdyGTD?xmt=AQGz_Dp5DlNlxlQ_NxtJhu0CQQvEhwOKJ7SiB1ZxCqcxBA

Okay, this book was something. I don't think a lot of my thoughts are positive because I do think Sarah made up a lot of problems in her relationship that weren't there, and most of the time I did understand why she felt the way she felt, but I was just so mad. Like overall sometimes I felt bad for Caleb. It was a bit slow and the smut scenes were just not for me.

I will say this didn't have the magic Out of a Limb had, and I get why a lot of people didn't like it.

It was okay.

This book did NOT disappoint, but HBY never does.

The story begins at a fundraising gala Sarah organizes in memory of her late mother. When her hard work falls short, Caleb, her husband, makes an anonymous donation to save the event. Sarah resents his interference, sparking an argument that forces her to confront her growing unhappiness. After giving up her dream of writing and still grieving her mother, Sarah feels unfulfilled, and her marriage with Caleb feels strained as resentment and questions about their relationship’.

Eventually, Sarah agrees to a week-long couples therapy hiking retreat. The journey pushes both Sarah and Caleb to their limits, forcing them to confront their fears and past hurts and see if their marriage can make it through.

Perfect for lovers of: marriage in crisis, high school sweethearts, camping, dual timelines,

What can I say? The story perfectly balances the humor of marriage with the heartfelt struggles of Sarah and Caleb’s relationship. Watching Sarah try to express her feelings while Caleb grapples with understanding her pain feels real and gut-wrenching. Their conversations are written so perfectly that it's impossible not to feel every moment. I was UGLY crying by the end of this.

Out of the Woods is a book that deserves to be read more than once, and I recommend it to everyone who loves a truly emotional read.

This book was so lovely and refreshing. It’s a companion to Out on a Limb (so Win & Bo are around too) and follows Sarah & Caleb this time. They are trying navigate a difficult time in their marriage, and decide to go on a wilderness retreat/couples counseling trip. They have been together since they were in high school so there are also flashback scenes which give so much insight into Sarah’s emotions surrounding the loss of her mom. That being said, it’s also really funny. Hannah Bonam-Young always finds the perfect balance between humor and honest emotion in her stories, which makes the characters feel authentic. It’s just a wonderful book, with great characters, and a unique love story full of heart. 4.5 stars ✨

First of all I LOVED that this was a romance that was repairing an existing relationship, I feel like this isn’t a theme I come across or read very often, but I’m going to be searching for it now!!

Our FMC did frustrate me a little at the beginning, but I found I warmed up to her fairly quickly. I appreciated the depth of the characters and the struggles they’d faced. Particularly with Sarah, reading about her grief was emotional for me due to personal reasons, but she felt so real to me.

I thought the setting of an outdoorsy retreat was so fun too, definitely something I want to read more of! The supporting characters felt very distinct and unique, and I loved their group dynamic.

I read this in two sittings - I couldn’t put it down! It had moments of sadness but was perfectly balanced with humor and sweet interactions between our MCs. I can’t recommend this enough!! It didn’t give me that 5 star feeling, but I can see Hannah Bonam-Young hitting that mark with their future releases. Thank you so much Netgalley for the arc, I may have just found a new auto-buy author!

4/5 ★

SO SO grateful for this arc ahhh!!! i loved caleb and sarah in out on a limb and was so intrigued knowing their trope was marriage in crisis!!!

their love story was so heartwarming, seeing how they went from high school sweethearts and got married so young and they went through so much at such a young age and have come so far together is everything! seeing the flashbacks of all of them together growing up and sticking to together was so good and comparing it to the present where they are struggling with so much stuff they have bottled up from then to now was written so so well!

sarah omg…my girl she needed this retreat SO BAD and i’m so glad how everything turned out, the way her life crisis and issues with losing her mother were written was absolutely amazing, and the way she portrayed her pain with how she treated caleb and how it affected their relationship was so good! her journey was so so healing and i loved seeing the growth, especially THE PAPER AIRPLANES SCENE!!!!

caleb was and has always been everything i love my sweet nerdy man, he loved sarah so much and would do anything for her and i loved seeing how even he was affected by everything not because he was mad or upset with her but because he loved her so much, seeing how he dealt with everything and his own issues that he wanted to work on that went back to his family was written so well, their ups and downs were portrayed so well and they just loved each other so much!!

one of the cutest quotes from thew book: “‘If you give me the space to grow, I’ll plant myself next to you. Always.’”

woooowwww. i already expected to love this book as much as i did because i am in love with any and everything Hannah writes. however, i did not expect this book to hit me as HARD as it did. this felt like a heavy weight champion delivering the winning blow to my gut seventeen times in a row. i know that it's hard to believe i mean that in a good way, but believe me when i say i mean that in the BEST way. from a momma's girl (as in, my mommy's my best friend), this book kicks your ass pretty hard in that department (shout out to the 845 people who saw me crying in my story. where did u all come form???)

i loved everything about this book. the individuality of sarah and caleb, even though the story is told from one perspective. you really walk away feeling like you know both sides of the story and you're able to empathize with both of them. i loved the importance of bo and win in this story, even though they aren't the main characters they don't feel like ghosts nor do they feel like they're trying to take any attention away from the story as a whole. i love that it talks about grief, about a positive mother-daughter relationship (sometimes, very rare in books, especially in romance, i've found).

now, bare with me, you know i gotta get a little in my feels (as i so often do)

weirdly, this book also helped me understand myself a little more when it comes to how i was raised and my faith -- or lack thereof, i suppose, and how it's tangled in how i work through grief. the first quotes i highlighted in the book were, "My mother was religious in the same way that leggings are pants. By that I mean whenever times were desperate or for comfort." and "Desperate prayer is the only kind I've ever known.". it's funny how, after you've lost someone you love, even if you aren't very religious yourself, you turn to desperate prayer in hopes that you can either a.) speak to them just one more time and b.) send out a plea and hope that there's something bigger out there who is willing to take some of this sadness from you. some of this anger, anxiety, hopelessness. i'm not religious by any means, i do not subscribe to nor do i practice any type of faith. and that's not to say i don't believe in something bigger than me, but i think books like this (open to interpretation) are so beautiful. prayer, or whatever else you want to call it. it's so personal, it doesn't need an answer, it doesn't even need to make sense to anyone else except you.

now did any of *this* make sense? like most of my rantings - probably not. if you're still reading this (hi, especially you hannah), i just want you to know i love this book. i want to hug it into my chest until the heat from my body melts it into me. thank you, bye bye <3

thank you dell romance and netgalley for an earc in exchange for an honest review :)

This book offers a refreshingly raw and honest take that sets it apart from other romance novels. It goes beyond the typical happily-ever-after, delving into what happens next—the balance between growing together as a couple and fostering individual growth. The story is deeply relatable, not just for those who married young but for anyone navigating a period of feeling stuck or unfulfilled. The flashbacks and backstory of Caleb and Sarah’s high school relationship are seamlessly woven into their present-day struggles, creating a compelling and heartfelt narrative.

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

PUB DATE: January 28th, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing an advanced reader’s copy 🤎

Hannah Bonam-Young has done it again! Out of the Woods is an absolutely work of art and the marriage-in-trouble trope is written well. Caleb and Sarah's story is full of self-discovery, joy, importance of communication, the realities of marriage, and it will make you cry & laugh. It is pure, raw, and beautifully emotional. The lost feeling that Sarah has, the feeling that we have nothing to show for ourselves, is something I related to on a really deep level. My heart ached for her. I just wanted to wrap her in a warm hug. We see parts into Caleb and his need to make everyone around him happy. His fears of change and how that has affected his relationship is handled perfectly. I saw myself in him. This relationship is realistic and presented in such a vulnerable way, it is easy to fall in love with them and root for their growth. Sarah and Caleb's story both shattered my heart and healed it back together in the end. I adore these characters. It is a beautiful story. I cannot recommend this one enough!

"We've opened our hearts, let the ugly out, and welcomed each other's darkness with kind regard. And this is our reward."

"I don't want easy. I don't want anyone else. I want you, Sar. I want to be the only man ever lucky enough to be loved by you."

"You can go as far as you need to, but you'll always be a part of me.
You will always be the second voice in my head. The force that surrounds me. The source I pull inspiration from. I am sorry if it's too late. Sorry for myself that I'll have to go on as half of a whole.
And I hope that if you have to rewrite your life, you won't erase my part in it, that you'll let me stay a part of your story."

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