Bonam-Young knows how to write a romance story. I mean, Out on a Limb has been my favourite contemporary romance novel for a year now (it rivals Ashley Poston's and Jessica Joyce's works on the daily) and was skeptical about this instalment holding a flame to it. I was blown away by the tenderness and heart that was imbued in these words. It was an ode to love, in every sense of the word- encompassing the good and the hard parts of it. I loved getting to know Sarah and Cable more intimately, having loved them in OoaL and watching their trajectory in re-establshing themselves (as individuals and as a couple) felt so realistic and I'm so sad that this is the end of the "duet". Looking forward to her next works, but I know I'll be savouring this for quite some time.

Song rec for this book - Sixteen by Ellie Goulding

I cannot stress enough about how amazing and how wholesome this book is, every single chapter was flawless 😭

The book is about a married couple who've been together since high school (almost 20 years now), who go on a 7 day hike aimed at reconnection between couples - the banter and the setting were so romcom-esque, there was an amazing balance between past/present griefs and comedy and love. Like there's actual swooning on page okay.

I haven't yet read book 1, Out on a Limb, which follows the best friends of the main couple of this book, but they make so many wholesome cameos -- I can't wait to read their book as well 💫

Major TWs - death of a parent from ALS and the following grief (all on page), accident leading to hospitalization

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

As someone who LOVED out on a limb, i was very excited for this book and it did not let me down. i really enjoyed this story and how realistic it is for someone to feel the way these two did. i of course also loved seeing win and bo make an appearance in this. i loved the side characters and how they helped contribute to sara and caleb’s story and realizations within their relationships. the little girl was so cute and i liked her story being similar to sarah’s. 4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was unlike any romance I’ve read before, very raw and very real. Caleb and Sarah were high school sweethearts who married at a young age. Now seventeen years later, their marriage is being tested. The two embark on a couples counseling hiking trip which will be the true trial of their relationship. There was so much wisdom packed into this book and I gained a new perspective by the end. 🏕️🪵

I have not read Out on a Limb, but Hannah does a great job of explaining that relationship and the ties to Sarah and Caleb. It will definitely be a book on my TBR now though!

“I looked around and saw Caleb’s shadow in every single aspect of my life, and decided I had to do it all in my own”

“I want you to understand that you can be anything but not everything. And, sometimes, you have to make a choice for yourself, right or wrong before life makes it for you.”

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Out of the Woods will be published January 28th.

Absolutely loved this romance! Hannah is one of my favorite others and a gem of a person. This is one of the most unique romance books I've read and I loved that about it. As someone that is in a stable relationship, it was nice to read a romance that was more relatable to my life now. I love that Caleb and Sarah's love never wavered, they just had to put more energy into it. Beautiful book, cried multiple times.

Out of the Woods

Hannah Bonam-Young

MCs Sarah and Caleb are young 30 somethings that married right out of high school. Truly in love, these two highly caring individuals made it official for a treasured family member. Current day Sarah is floundering for direction and Caleb is still trying to make things easier for her or so he thinks. Unlike many, they are not struggling for money. Their connection and direction as a couple is in question and as two non outdoorsy people do, they sign up for a roughen it outdoor adventure. If you are fan of the author you will know and love the supporting characters. All of the characters are well written with unique details making them known. You’ll root for Sarah and Caleb.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group Ballantine, the author and NetGalley for an advanced digital copy for review.

I should have known better, but I thought this would be just another cute little romcom. To clarify, this had some of the most hilarious moments ever, but it was also such a great exploration of long-term relationships, family trauma, and struggling with who you are.

Sarah and Caleb have been together for almost half their lives when this story begins. And they've played the same roles in their relationship for the majority of that time. As someone who has also been married for over 10 years, I could identify with this on such a deep level. It's so easy to fall into a massive rut, and following Sarah and Caleb's journey out of it, really made me feel introspective.

You could tell through every page that even when Sarah and Caleb were fighting, they genuinely loved each other. This was a good and a bad thing for me when reading this book. It felt like there wasn't much of a challenge in the first 75% or so of the story, because it was so clear that these people deeply belonged together and wanted to make it work. Without giving away spoilers, something happened after that point that really helped to propel the plot and made me unable to put this down.

This was a fantastic book and I think Hannah Bonam-Young has cemented herself as a new auto-read author for me with this one!

First off, I absolutely adore this cover. I had all the feelings throughout this book. I love the characters together and separately. This book could be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first novel.

As someone who also got married fairly young, I think this is a really relatable book for a lot of people. I loved how it wasn't ever really a question if Caleb and Sarah loved each other. They clearly loved each other so, so much and they were willingly to do the hard work to keep their marriage going strong.

There were definitely parts of this book where things seemed to lull or I wasn't as interested in, but overall this was such a sweet story!

♥︎𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬
♥︎𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬
♥︎𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
♥︎𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐎𝐕

"When our perceptions begin to shift it is usually because we're ready for something new."

✨Thoughts✨
𝐖𝐞 initially meet Sarah and Caleb in the pages of "Out On A Limb." After many years of marriage, Sarah found herself struggling with an existential crisis. Despite Caleb being a source of strength for her, Sarah felt adrift in her identity as a housewife in her thirties and started resenting her husband. This led her to suggest a hiking trip to help reconnect with Caleb and at the same time try to find herself.

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐛 excelled in his role as a provider and protector; he was the ideal husband. However, his perfection made Sarah more aware of her own shortcomings. During their hiking trip, both Sarah and Caleb stepped out of their comfort zones, willing to try anything to mend their relationship.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 story captured my heart, and in my wild imagination, I believe I may have somehow manifested it. I was hoping for a romantic comedy with main characters that overcome challenges together, never losing sight of their love. This book not only delivered on that but surpassed my expectations. Even though Sarah was going through her crisis, her love for Caleb was profound, and his devotion to her was just as strong!

𝐈𝐟 you are searching for a love story full of genuine emotion and character development, look no further. Hannah Bonnam Young has created a touching, genuine, and occasionally funny story that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 you to 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐡 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐦-𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩, and 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 for this ARC.

★★★★★

I did not have reading a novel about a marriage in trouble on my 2024 bingo card, but here we go bc I will read absolutely ANYTHING written by HBY. ... No seriously, hand over your grocery list miss ma'am.

This is the long anticipated sequel to one of my favorite romances of all time, and I just knew it would gut me and stitch me back together. Sarah and Caleb were just wow. They were complex, vulnerable, and endured so much growth over the span of these 300+ pages.

Hannah's characters are so human that you forget that you're reading a piece of fiction. But you can tell her heart and soul goes into these books and you just can't put them down. They're raw and emotional, but guaranteed to make you believe in love.

Sarah is incredibly naive I the beginning, and Caleb is a little Clueless, but these traits are needed for their growth as characters and as lovers. Despite their flaws and challenges they are truly meant to find a second hea.💜

Also leave it to HBY to write the perfectly needy classes-wearing love interest of ny dreams. 😍🥵

TROPES
- marriage in crisis
- nerdy boy × reader girl
- high school sweethearts
- dual timeline
- hea

Thank you to Random Housing Publishing Group / Ballantine / Dell for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

ooooo miss hannah bonam-young hits another one out of the park! She previously absolutely slayed a controversial trope (accidental pregnancy in the book out on a limb) and now with another one - marriage in trouble!! Normally not a fav trope of mine but WOW this one did everything right. Two imperfect people, high school sweethearts, now married and finding themselves drifting, on different pages, and not communicating. Sucker punch, heartbreaking book 😭 Complete with character growth, a HEA, and little glimpses at Win & Bo’s (from OOAL) life now 🥹

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

INFINITY STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️♾️♾️♾️

Hannah Bonam-Young is one of my favorite authors, so I knew going into this I was going to love it but I had no idea it would become a new favorite for me.

When I read Out On a Limb last year, I was left longing for Sarah and Caleb’s story, but honestly didn’t think I was going to get it since they had already been together for so long. I instantly loved S & C in OOAL because of how much the characters felt like my husband and I. I was SO beyond excited when Hannah announced Out of the Woods.

This story was heartbreaking, raw, vulnerable, and beautiful. Sarah and Caleb feel so personal and real to me. We follow them as they go on a backpacking trip to reignite their relationship. The pacing was perfect and I loved the dual timelines.

One thing I love about HBYs books is that they not only focus on the relationship between the love interests, but also on the relationships with friends, family, etc. The deep rooted friendships in Out Of the Woods was so special to read about.

If you loved Out On a Limb, love the marriage in crisis trope, as well as the “i’ve loved you since we were kids” trope, please please please read this!!! Even if you don’t love those tropes, do yourself a favor and read this when it comes out on January 28th!

I love you, Hannah! I love you, Sarah and Caleb!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC.

I felt so many emotions reading this book and I absolutely loved it.

After reading Out on a Limb I felt that Caleb and Sarah’s relationship was perfect from the snippets we got in Win and Bo’s story. Out of the Woods showed the perfection and imperfections of their relationship. Comparing these two books wouldn’t be right because they tackle different issues and they get solved or addressed in different ways.

I cried during at certain beautiful but heartfelt moments. I even cried when I read the book title in the book. I laughed so hard at Caleb’s answer for “what hill will you die on”. The humour was amazing.

This was a 5 star read for me because it wasn’t one sided. I felt all the appropriate emotions when I got to some parts and the therapy was therapeutic. I learnt valuable lessons that I can apply to my life in a relaxing fun way.

I love Hannah Bonam-Young’s writing and I’m so grateful I got to read this early. I’ll definitely be purchasing the physical book as a trophy! The cover page is adorable and I want it, haha.


I am so happy to review this book. I love it.

I think like most coupled people, whether high school sweethearts, newlyweds, or long-term partnerships, we all deal with similar thoughts and feelings as Sarah and Caleb. I will admit that upon immediately reading the first 15% of this book, I thought the situation pretty surface level - but I was reading the words on the page. It's easy to see one moment in time and say "oh, well that's not really anything major" and not take into account all the small moments that have led up to this one. Once I remembered who these characters were and what their time together symbolized, I couldn't put this book down. I felt their fears and longings and grasped the emotional turmoil that exists when you silently suffer, too afraid to say what needs to be said for fear of hurting the person you love and trust the most. But also afraid if you actually change, your person won't want to (or can't) change with you. Sarah and Caleb show a very relatable, relatively average relationship and that time and circumstances can warp and alter our paths until we don't really know who we are or what we want anymore, but that there is a way to merge those paths back together and start moving collectively toward a new future. It just takes time, effort, patience, and love.

2.5-2.75 🌟

I am so upset because I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately it didn’t quite hit the mark for me, and ended up being a DNF. It was one of my most anticipated releases for next year, but as much as I tried to get into it, I found myself underwhelmed. The biggest issue for me was the "conflict", if you can even call it that. What was supposed to be a source of tension just came across as another typical disagreement, lacking the emotional gut punch I was hoping for. I started with high expectation, and the beginning did show promise, but then the story dragged and lost its momentum and ultimately my interest

Instead of the second-chance or marriage-in-crisis romance I expected, the focus shifted a lot to the FMC's grief over her mother's death and her personal struggle, which, to be honest, I didn’t connect with.. Sometimes, even if I don't relate to a character’s specific experience, an author can still make me feel for them. But here, the writing lacked that emotional depth. the story felt more like women's fiction than the romance I had been hoping for. I kept wishing for some kind of outside dramato shake things up, just to add some tension or emotional stakes to the story.

On a positive note, I did like the fact that they were each other's first and only, but beyond that, the book just didn’t capture my interest the way I hoped.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

HBY does it again! What a fun and deeply emotional story. I usually stay away from marriage in peril books, but this one was a treat. We truly get to see the journey of a married couple, as well as two individuals who are just trying to navigate life. The story was well placed, each development of both characters was needed and amazing, and all intimate moments felt necessary and important. This story is one in a million and HBY is a one in a lifetime talent. Please pick this book up!

🌲 Out of the Woods 🌲

Hannah Bonam-Young

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tropes
- Flashbacks
- Guilt & Grief
- High school Sweethearts
- Mental Health Rep
- “It was always you, it will only be you”


Im sending my therapy bill to HBY after this book. I was so excited to see Caleb & Sarah’s relationship after seeing them in Win & Bo’s book. The feelings of self doubt, not knowing who you are, insecurities, feeling lost, grief & being so mad at the world are all captured so well. I genuinely cannot say how many times I full on sobbed reading this, while also cackling bc they’re hysterical together. Sarah & even Caleb’s growth as individuals & a couple in this book was BEAUTIFUL. The vibes are different than out on a limb but I love this book just as much. I adored seeing their playful moments, their fights & the communication after, and above all just their pure love for each other. Getting glimpses of Win, Bo & Gus was also great!!! How their friendships have stayed true to their core but also have grown. Idk I just love this book so much.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing for an e ARC in exchange of an honest review!

I cried the whole time & it was amazing.

After reading Out on a Limb, I knew I loved Sarah and Caleb’s characters. So when Out of the Woods, was announced I was so excited.

Sarah & Caleb have been together since they were 14, 17 years later they need to recenter and find themselves again. They attend a therapeutic camping trip to figure out what they want in life - what could go wrong for people who hate the outdoors?

HBY… you never cease to fail me as a writer. The emotion, the story telling, the spice sprinkled on top… I will always recommend your books.

Thanks for the ARC! Can’t wait for the rest of you to bawl your eyes out!

I was blessed to receive an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book and get the opportunity to read it early in exchange for an honest review. And let me just say, it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time in my life, as I was currently reading Out on a Limb for the first time, to which we get an initial introduction to the main characters of Out of the Woods, Sarah and Caleb. Needless to say, I was super hyped to be able to dive right back into this world with these amazing, relatable characters immediately after finishing the first book.

I knew from the start that Out of the Woods was a story that was going to hit me hard. Sarah and Caleb are high school sweethearts who got married at a young age and have no desire to have children, so already, I felt a deep connection to this couple and was heavily invested in their relationship. I also found it really refreshing to have a story start right off the bat with the main characters already being married and in love. While reading this book, I kept seeing bits and pieces of myself and my husband in Sarah and Caleb, which naturally, caused me to become very emotional during quite a few scenes in this book.😅✌️

Out of the Woods is told from Sarah’s point of view and the chapters switch back and forth between present day and the past, where we get little glimpses into Sarah’s life and her relationship with Caleb. We learn about how they met and fell in love, about their inside jokes and their unique quirks, and about the trials and tribulations that life has unfortunately brought them over the last 17 years.

The main trope is marriage in crisis and the story begins with Sarah struggling to find purpose in her life and feeling like she has not accomplished anything significant. She’s also grown tired of Caleb always coming to her rescue and has started feeling resentment towards him. After he once again saves the day, she confronts him, starting an argument and causing a big strain on their marriage. Desperate to find a solution, Sarah and Caleb decide to go on a week-long outdoor therapy excursion for couples so they can reconnect with each other and “Reignite” the flame in their relationship. At the start of the trip, things are looking a little grim for these two, but don’t worry, in classic Hannah Bonam-Young fashion, true love conquers all in the end… but not without a little bit of therapy, a few outdoor spicy scenes, and a whole lot of self-discovery first.

Long story short, I enjoyed every second of reading this book. Out of the Woods is now my favorite out of the four Hannah Bonam-Young books I’ve read (sorry Next to You, I still love you I promise 💜) and I can’t wait to add it to my library when it officially comes out on January 28, 2025.