This book is absolute perfection, and I just loved this! This was a first from this author for me and I want to go back and read others. Out of the Woods has all the feels!

This was so much fun! For all the couples out there who found each other young. Sarah and Caleb's relationship has changed so much because they have grown up together. Their healing journey together was sweet and sexy. You could really tell that they still loved each other and wanted to make it work.

As a Little Women fangirl, this book had me from the dedication. But in all honesty, I knew I would love it before I even opened it. I was just not expecting to relate to Sarah in so many ways. From her insecurities to her self doubt. She made me feel seen.

I’ve read a decent amount of marriage in crisis books, and for most of them, I felt that if there was more communication to begin with, things would’ve been fine. That wasn’t necessarily the case here.
Sarah and Caleb’s conflicts made sense considering their background. For the sake of not spoiling the book though, I won’t go into detail.

What I can say is that the disconnect between them is so normal, so natural and so raw. When you’re married, it's hard to be on the same page as your partner every single day. Even more so when, at times, it feels like you're reading two different books. And while Sarah definitely could’ve communicated how she was feeling sooner, I understood where she was coming from. Feeling like you don’t know who you are, especially in an established relationship, can be terribly disorienting.

There’s a lot that happens between these two but I love that throughout the entire book, they never once regret each other. And taking out the angst of Sarah and Caleb trying to save their marriage, the whole set up of this book is hilarious. The side characters were very entertaining and added some much needed comic relief.

Also, I can’t write this review without mentioning Win and Bo, omg!!! Sarah and Win’s friendship is everything, they are so funny together. Also, Bo just being Bo. And August! Love her sm. Ugh, these characters will forever live in my heart. That epilogue??? I’m unwell.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I haven't read Bonam-Young's first book, Out on a Limb, but I still really enjoyed this one! It's nice to read a romance about an already married couple that is trying to get back to why they fell in love in the first place. So relatable! If you're looking for a fantasy romance, this isn't it, but I loved it more because of that.

I have never read a book with a troubled marriage trope. I thought it was very interesting and relatable. As all relationships have their struggles and it brought real situations to light. Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. However, I think I just read this book during a hard time in my life personally, which is the reason I rated it what I did. I recently lost my mom and that part of it was especially hard for me. Overall it was well written and I loved all the messages. Some of it was just hard for me personally.

Absolutely adored this book! This story follows Sarah and Caleb, who we met in Out on a Limb, after they just had a major argument. To help save their marriage, they go to a wilderness retreat for a week.

This book was the romance book I didn’t know I needed! Hannah did such an accurate depiction of navigating grief, communication in long term relationships, and how ultimately choosing yourself makes you a better partner. Go get this when it comes out in January!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

The main trope of this book is marriage in crisis. Sarah and Caleb married young, over ten years ago, and now the heroine realizes that she hasn’t fulfilled herself and that their relationship is no longer what it used to be. They decide to join a hiking trip to sort out their feelings and their relationship.

Though I could relate to Sarah’s issues, I found myself on Caleb's side. I really liked him, and I felt that Sarah was unfairly blaming him, as he supported her in everything and only wanted the best for her. It’s a pity we didn’t get any chapters from his POV.
Another thing is the topic of children. Sarah mentioned more than once that she doesn’t want kids, but we never learned the reasons behind this choice or how they came to it as a couple.

The chapters about the past touched me deeply, especially the chapters about Sarah’s mother, which pulled at my heartstrings. And, of course, I was thrilled to see Bo and Win from Out on a Limb again! Although this is a standalone story, I’d recommend reading that book for better context.
I liked that Out of the Woods is about ordinary people facing relatable problems, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions and take something meaningful away.

Tropes:
✓ marriage in crisis
✓ flashbacks
✓ Bo & Win cameos
✓ high school sweethearts
✓ therapy

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House (Dell) for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved getting to read more about Sarah and Caleb. Their story was so touching and heartwarming. Hannah can never disappoint.

Hannah Bonam-Young is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors. I really enjoyed Out of the Woods. I don't like second chance romance books, but I do appreciate the occasional "working on your marriage" book. My only complaint about this book is that I do feel like they resolved their issues kind of quickly - I felt like there was maybe more for Sarah and Caleb to process from 10 years of marriage. But I did love their banter and interactions - I loved the small enclosed group and the members were fun. Again could have had even more from them - especially Maggie.

This book is very unique compared to most romances I’ve read, because the two main characters have been together for nearly 2 decades and are going through a rough patch in their marriage. I loved the relationship between Sarah and Caleb, the flashbacks to include the early days of their relationship as well as her mom, their friendship with Win and Bo, and the idea of two not-so-outdoorsy people going on a camping marriage retreat. This book is funny but also touches on some heavier subjects like grief. My favorite kinds of books are the ones that make me feel something and this book definitely made me tear up. The only thing I didn’t like about this book is the conflict in the beginning that led the couple to go on the retreat in the first place. To me, it seemed like it was more so an issue that Sarah needed to address herself rather than something that would cause such a strain on their marriage. Overall, I loved this book and would definitely recommend it.

The review will be published on Goodreads onJanuary 28, 2025
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My rating: (3) ⭐⭐⭐

Out of the Woods is part of a series of interconnected standalone books, starting with the first book, Out on a Limb. Sarah and Caleb are the "happily" married best friends of Win and Bo, the protagonists of the first book. As mentioned in the book’s Foreword, I’d recommend reading Out on a Limb first, but it’s absolutely not necessary to enjoy Out of the Woods.

My undeniable favorite was Caleb, who is the embodiment of a “green flag.” Caleb is the perfect combination of strength and vulnerability. He’s loyal, caring, intelligent, and funny.

I really missed having Caleb's POV in the book because some moments would have been interesting to see from his perspective. At times, Sarah’s behavior toward Caleb seemed harsh and childish. Also, the events in the book happened too quickly. I would have preferred more backstory in the present. And the more I think about the spicy scenes described, the more questions I have.

I also really enjoyed the groundedness of the story, the imperfection of the characters, and their "flaws" and vulnerability. This book serves as a reminder that to move forward, you need to let go of the past and not drag it into your future. Dwelling on "what ifs" doesn’t lead anywhere good. It also shows that a beautiful picture on the surface can hide thousands of different emotions, not always positive—pain, fear, and doubt…

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy Ever After Always (Bergman Brothers #3) by Chloe Liese.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Plot? 10/10
Spice? Well done, 10/10
Vibes? Immaculate

It is so refreshing to have an ACTUAL HEA that doesn’t require miscommunication and other typically negative tropes. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes those are great, but HBY writes fights and things more realistically, which endears me more & more to her writing.

Love Sarah & Caleb’s progression & seeing them do the work to get them back to people they recognize and appreciate each other even more ❤️❤️❤️

I had a great time reading this book. I loved Out on a Limb and it was fun to see Win and Bo in this story. This book was funny and heartwarming. It was so fun watching Sarah and Caleb’s character progression as individual people AND as a couple. This is amazing read for anyone who has been with their partner for years and it looking to reignite that spark. After years of being with the same person there’s still so much more to learn. There wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like about this book. Thank you ❤️

Another solid book by this author! After reading and loving Out on A Limb, I knew I wanted to get my hands on this author's latest book? because I felt I would enjoy it also. I'm so glad I did. This was such a quick, easy, and enjoyable read. It can be read as a standalone, but I'd recommend reading Out on A Limb first, not because you necessarily have to, but you'll be missing out on a great book if you skip over it.
Hannah's books remind me alot of Katherine Center's writing. They have characters with alot of depth and emotion like Center's do and even this book reminded me of Happiness for Beginners by Center. Not because they had similar plots, but because they both used hiking and the wilderness as the main setting and background to help the characters' with their soul searching and grief. I'd highly recommend picking this book up when it releases.

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the advanced copy!

Wow, wow, wow. I truly wish I could put into words how much this book means to me and how much I connected to it. Where to even begin? I was highly anticipating this book as Hannah Bonam-Young is one of my favorite authors and I have loved everything written by her. I read Out on a Limb when it was first indie published and re read it earlier this year. I loved Bo and Win and was so excited to see we were getting a story focused on Sarah and Caleb.
I have such a soft spot for Sarah and Caleb and their relationship and where my connections start. I am with my high school sweetheart and he’s become my partner in every sense of the word (an engagement is on the horizon) We met in our senior year of high school and has been together ever since. I could relate to so many things Sarah was going through, not to discredit these relationships but it’s hard to discover who you are as a person when you’ve spent your adult life with a partner. Sarah’s struggle with discovering what her “thing” is and not just being a stay at home wife. Trying to do things for her and not just for Caleb. I recently moved states in a sense for my boyfriend’s job, as rewarding as ever in the end for me, it was scary but that was a choice I had made putting his needs first. The similarities didn’t stop there but I don’t want to spoil other aspects of the book. Both Sarah and Caleb’s character development and relationship development was done so well and felt so raw and relatable.
The side characters at the camp were so special and I love that we got to know them too. Win and Bo’s cameos were everything to me of course.
I wish I could accurately get across how relatable this book was to me and how I’ve never felt so seen before. This is definitely in my top 5 of the year and I will be talking about it A LOT before it comes out in January 2025!
Thank you Hannah Bonam-Young: you get it

Thanks again to NetGalley and Dell for the advanced copy!

I loved the duel timeline, great characters that are lovable with real problems, and the humorous parts woven into the otherwise serious story. I chuckled, cried, and self-reflected throughout the entire story. This is my first Hannah Bonam-Young book, and I am now a fan! I can’t wait to read Win and Bo’s story (even though it came first).

Wow, I didn't think Hannah Bonam-Young could top Out on a Limb but she did it. And this comes from someone who typically doesn't love second chance romances. We were introduced to Sarah and Caleb in Out on a Limb (Sarah is Win's best friend) as the couple friends to Win and Bo who have been married since their early 20s. This book follows Sarah and Caleb as they go on a couple's camping retreat in the woods and try to reconnect with themselves and each other. Through flashbacks of them as teenagers, the reader is given the full history of their relationship. This book felt like therapy to me. I love that Hannah captured the complexities of growing individually together and how sometimes life can get in the way of prioritizing that. I love a romance that has great character development and Hannah nailed that with Sarah especially. This is my second Hannah Bonam-Young book and she is now an auto-buy author for me and I am eager to read her previous works! Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Dell Romance for this e-ARC. I will post a review on Instagram (@bookologist_phd) in January.

˚˖𓍢ִ໋`🌿:✧˚ Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the opportunity to read & honestly review this early ˚˖𓍢ִ໋`🌿:✧˚

A Note from the Reviewer:
🏞 I'm going to try to review this without getting too personal. However, I am nothing if not an overshare-er, so I apologize in advance. 🏞

What I Liked:
🏞 The flashback scenes of Sarah and Caleb's relationship when they were younger and how it laid the foundation perfectly for the people they became.
🏞 The side characters and the influence they had. Seeing Sarah and Caleb bond with the other hikers was nice to see because they gained other perspectives from those people.
🏞 The love that never wavered between Sarah and Caleb. This was handled in such a mature, thoughtful way and it just felt so real.
🏞 The tension. Anyone who has been in a relationship for a LONG time has had those dry spells. But when the dam breaks, boy does it break.
🏞 How in touch Caleb was with his emotions throughout Reignite. It was eye opening to see him have this realizations in real time and actually made me feel some sympathy toward my own husband.
🏞 Everything. I liked/loved everything.

Final Thoughts:
🏞 As someone who met their person young - this book felt scary to read. Marriage in trouble is a terrifying trope and I was scared I would read something so deeply personal that I'd never recover; and I did. But it wasn't in a bad way. This book made me realize that everything I have felt and have been going through doesn't have to be an isolating experience. Hannah Bonam-Young wrote such an amazing example of what it feels like to be so deeply in love with your partner, but still feeling empty. Going on this journey with Sarah resolved some things in my own life; or at least helped to. This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time, and I suggest everyone reads it when it comes out.

There were a lot of things I loved about this novel. There such tender moments, humorous moments, real moments. It shows that marriage isn't perfect but that it can be worth saving. But....
Honestly, I couldn't stand how ungrateful and harsh Sarah was. Caleb was an absolute DRRAM of a husband. The more I learned about their love story the more her stance to simply divorce him made NO sense.
She was blaming the ONE person (besides Win) who stuck by her, understood her in her time of grief, never complained, did everything to make her happy....for making her feel unaccomplished?
Excuse me but quitting school was your decision. Not finding a job was your decision. Getting married a joint decision. It was just sad how she put her insecurities and self doubt all on Caleb.
During their wild journey he learned to maybe speak up for himself too and maybe do a little LESS for his wife to give her room to grow. Which is valid! Loved that. Just hated how for granted and small she made Caleb feel and how ready she was to give it all up.
I've seen marriages were the men ACTUALLY suffocated their wives and made them feel insignificant enough to feel they were nothing without them. Caleb wasn't that man. I'd take a Caleb in a heartbeat 🥹😍
That being said, the arguments and desires felt legit and real. The frustration of taking city people and taking them camping made for fun times and the side characters were a riot 😂
Also loved the friendships old and new and how even the counselors were shown to be imperfect humans but with wise advice 😊

I love everything this woman writes!! I hadn’t ever read a romance book with a couple trying to save/revive their marriage without some period of time spent separated/divorced, so I was curious how it would be handled. And I really enjoyed it! I’m such a sucker for a road trip/adventure/nature-centered novel, so this was right up my alley. I also really appreciated how she dealt with grief and how it can manifest in such different ways for people. Out On A Limb is still my favorite of her books (and I absolutely LOVED getting more of Win and Bo in this one!), but definitely recommend this one too.