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.

My most anticipated read had me in tears for pages and pages…

ARC Review!
Thank you Dell Romance for the ARC copy!

Finally - a book that felt so relatable and meaningful. I felt seen and vulnerable reading this in the best of ways.

I love the story behind Caleb and Sarah and when they met vs who they are now but I love the reminder to everyone that it’s never too late to become the person you want to be. This book hit deeply with me and will always be one of my most memorable books ever.

Hannah BY always finds a way to mix the right amount of spicy with the deepest and most beautifully authentic stories that truly feel like a hug from home. Her writing is unmatched and is uniquely crafted with love that you can feel through the pages.

5/5 stars - bring tissues

After reading Out on a Limb, I was so excited to see Sarah and Caleb’s story unfold. I enjoyed the book but it wasn’t a home run like Out on a Limb, when I was hooked by the first couple of pages.

I had a hard time with Sarah’s character at first because I felt like she was picking fights just to pick them. They were very one sided.

As the book went on, I felt differently about Sarah. I do like these characters and enjoyed their journey.

Hannah does it again d Out on a Limb has a special place in my heart, and I'm so happy we got more of these characters in Out of the Woods! This was my first book with a "marriage in crisis" trope so I wasn't sure what to expect. I loved it. I loved the realness, the vulnerability, the relationship development, the new friendships, all of it! There were high highs and low lows for Sarah and Caleb, and at times my heart broke for them, other times I was cheering. I love the friendship/sisterhood between Sarah and Win and I LOVE that we got to learn more about them. Also, Caleb and Bo are both hot nerds sooooo l'm even more sold.

If you read Out on a Limb, definitely read this one when it comes out!

Out of the Woods is the story of Sarah and Caleb, whom we met in Out on a Limb. They have been married since they were 19 years old and need to reconnect and rekindle their love after over a decade together. They embark on a week-long hiking/couple’s therapy retreat. They need to be pushed outside their comfort zones to find their way back together.

The story is told through Sarah’s viewpoint, and we see her go through so much, from losing her mom at a young age to having her hopes devastated by her idol author. Sarah’s journey to find herself in this story is emotional and impactful for the audience as we are along for her growth in every stage of life. Sarah also builds meaningful relationships with the other campers, and we really get to see her shine as a friend.

The only part that kept this from being a 5-star rating for me was that I felt the conflict in Sarah and Caleb’s relationship was primarily one-sided, and I think getting to see snippets from Caleb’s POV would have helped with that.

Overall, I would recommend this book, especially if you read and loved Out on a Limb. I am not usually a big fan of second-chance romances, but I never felt like Sarah and Caleb’s marriage was in trouble and could still see their love for each other even in tough times.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read, "Out of the Woods", by Hannah Bonam-Young. I love the set scene of this story along with it being about a couple who had been together for a long time and how they navigated coming back together. It just made the story more real and relatable.

Hannah Bonam-Young done did it again! There is so much I loved about the book. From the beginning I was hooked. I love the emotion that this book was able to make me feel. I’ve never been married and somehow I felt like I went through this journey with Sarah?? I will definitely be reading this when I get my hands on the physical copy!!! I just want to add that if I could be friends with Caleb, Bo, Win & Sarah, I’d be one happy gal haha

Book Review
Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young

What Its Got
A marriage in distress
A personal journey of growth
Bereavement
Bo and Win cameo
Multiple POV ( past and present)
High school sweetheart Love
Poor vs privileged upbringing
Close family relationships vs cold ones

FMC - Sarah
Your inner narrator and my inner narrator sound like siblings- soo many thoughts/ comments/speculations sounded familiar
( I will be bringing this up with my therapist)

MMC- Caleb
Patience of a Saint!!! Loved his easy going attitude, his willingness to be open to therapy, his humour, how his upbringing taught him what he wanted and did not want from a partner, from life… le sigh

Hannah B!!!!!!!
Damn gurl!!!! I think this may be my fav from you.
You have a gift my Dear! A knack for putting everyday trials and tribulations into words… for seeing the depth and scope of meaning behind life’s little Things-
And its those little Things that mean soo much in a relationship , whether its a parent, child or spouse.
I had to put my book down and just breathe…. Several times…. My therapist is Gonna hear about all of it- she thanks you for MY financial contribution to her practice
😩🥺😭🥰

Thank you to Hannah , Dell romance and Netgalley for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

I was reeeeally excited to get a chance to read Sarah and Caleb’s story a bit early! Thank you NetGalley and Dell!!

The journey in this one is great. I think you really see HBY’s growth from Next of Kin, her first self-pub (now trad pubbed!) novel. And I had really enjoyed NoK!

This one didn’t quite hit the Out on a Limb high for me but that’s okay. This journey was so fun and I also love a solid marriage-in-crisis. Caleb is a gem of men.

If you enjoy romance at all, you should easily enjoy this.

This book was really cute! I really enjoyed reading parts with Win and Bo again. I do think the male main character had some red flags at times when it came to reassuring the female main character. The spice was good but some parts made me cringe a little bit which isn't something I've ever had an issue with from this author, only with this book. Overall though a cute, quick read

I’ve been a huge fan of Bonam-Young’s writing since the beginning, and this is no exception – you can feel the way these characters love each other, and the ways they’ve slowly disconnected over the years. This particular story is likely to resonate with women’s fiction fans more than romance readers, as it’s very much focused on our heroine’s personal journey of self-reflection, with the romance taking a backseat for much of the book. I will say that it was a little odd to read a marriage in crisis “romance” solely from the wife’s perspective, with her husband appearing on the page only about a third of the time – maybe less. It definitely was not as romance-focused as I would’ve preferred, but the story was still very good. I loved the exploration of marrying young and evolving as people together, knowing that you love your partner but still feel isolated from them. There are some good therapy moments and a look into grief, which was interesting. I did not connect to the romance as strongly as I’d like – I still feel like I barely know the hero – but I did enjoy the book, and I devoured it in one sitting.

The story follows Sarah, a woman who is coming to the realization that her marriage is in trouble. Sarah and Caleb fell in love as teens and have been together ever since, but they have very different opinions on how things are going. While Caleb is happy in their marriage, Sarah feels like she’s stuck in place, never truly having bounced back after the death of her mother and unintentionally becoming a bored housewife after setting aside her dreams. When Sarah suggests that they attend a week-long couple’s therapy retreat in the woods, Caleb is crushed. As the two push their limits and connect in a way they never have, their marriage is put to the test.

Marriage in trouble is a trope that I love, and I’m such a huge fan of Bonam-Young – and Out on a Limb – that I couldn’t wait to dive into this. Not gonna lie, it was a bumpy start for me. We’re exposed to Sarah and Caleb’s marital problems at a fundraiser for wealthy donors, and I did not find the characters relatable one bit. However, as we get to know Sarah better, it was much easier to empathize with her. Her mom’s death was a turning point in her relationship with Caleb, and it’s shaped her life in the years since. That grief is a major part of the story, so Sarah and Caleb’s relationship can’t be repaired without diving into those feelings as well. I wish more of the flashbacks focused on their marriage, so we could see them in a happier, healthier time. I could absolutely feel their love in the present day, but I really didn’t understand why Caleb was so happy with Sarah. Definitely some pieces missing there. Their present-day journey was great though, and I loved how gone Caleb was for his girl. He was sweet, loving, loyal, and patient – genuinely too good to be true, though wildly oblivious lol. I liked the second half quite a bit, and there’s an authenticity to the story that shines throughout. Not a home run for me, but still very solid.

This book was special, in a way no other book was so far. The story, the characters, and every single emotion that they went through was so relatable, and so close to my heart.
Have you ever read a book that makes you fall more in love with your life, inspires you to help yourself/your family and just makes you feel whole?! (if you have, please gimme recs :D) this was one such book for me and I don't know how Hannah Bonam-Young has done this again and so beautifully well!

Out of the Woods is an absolute MASTERPIECE.

Caleb & Sarah were both beautiful in their own way. Their story is one that will make you believe in love, make you cry, laugh, and squeal with joy. Their story is so RELATABLE and on so many levels! This is not a superficial girl meets boy love story - but is one that deals with complex emotions, one that deals with "What do you do when love is not enough in a marriage?" and is one that shows that a display of vulnerability is a strength in a relationship.

I cannot begin the describe how incredibly well Hannah as described the loss of Sarah's mother and the grief that comes with it - and how that grief played a major role in shaping Sarah's character.
I love how we got to see the past and the present from Sarah's POV which gives us so much insight into how the base of their relationship was established. Even though the book is from Sarah's POV only, we do get a lot of insight into Caleb's mind and his thought process behind his fears, his need to make everyone happy and how that made him 'him' and affected his relationships.

The best part of this book was the portrayal of how real and vulnerable the marriage between Sarah and Caleb was. It was incredibly easy to fall in love with Caleb and Sarah and root for them. I haven't stopped thinking about these two and their love for each other through everything!

Cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the ARC!

Hannah Bonam-Young is a literary genius and I will forever love every book she puts out. Out of the Woods is an absolutely MASTERPIECE and Hannah takes on the marriage-in-trouble trope perfectly.

Caleb and Sarah’s story is so beautiful, it will make you cry and laugh and squeal with joy. This book is so unbelievably relatable on so many levels and I truly feel like every reader will connect with these two.

The way that Hannah writes Sarah’s struggles with losing her mother so young, the grief that follows and how it shapes her is extremely well-done. We get to see the ways that it has affected her outlook on herself, her relationship, and her overall purpose in life. The lost feeling that Sarah has, the feeling that we have really nothing to show for ourselves, is something I think we can all relate to on some level. And while this book is written in Sarah’s perspective, we also get to see deeper into Caleb and his need to make everyone around him happy. His fears of change, no matter how big or small, and how that has affected his relationship is handled so well.

Hannah does an incredible job at showing the highs and lows of a long-term relationship, of love and marriage. Caleb and Sarah’s relationship is so realistic and presented in such a vulnerable way, it is incredibly easy to fall in love with them and root for their growth. We get to see Caleb and Sarah wade through the murky waters their relationship is in and while it made me want to bawl my eyes out at times, it was so beautiful getting to see how deeply these two love each other.

I loved this book so much, and haven’t stopped thinking about these two for weeks. I cannot recommend this one enough!!!

I really enjoyed Caleb and Sarah’s story. A marriage in trouble romance is not easy to write. As always I enjoyed the warm, cozy feel of Hannah’s writing.

It obviously had a very different feel than Out on a Limb. I will say that the first half of this book felt a bit heavy, rightfully so because Sarah and Caleb have been through a lot. But I wanted more tension and romance between them. As I was getting to the end of the book, while I was enjoying it, it all felt a little anticlimactic. So I understand why the twist was thrown in, but it felt out of place to me. I also wanted more time with Bo and Win but they were apart almost the entire book!

Overall enjoyed and still recommend but out on a limb was forever my favorite.

I was in at the beginning - a couple has a conflict and the story is set up that they need to work through their issues. I liked that they weren't just screaming at each other; it felt like a mature couple trying to work through somethings. But rather quickly the conflict just wasn't there. Sarah and Caleb are obviously still in love and they both say they are not breaking up. Which is fine and probably realistic for the most part. But it made the plot lose any stakes whatsoever.

The story turned into two people just hanging out in the woods with a quirky group of people (who get pushed to the side and are not really developed at all). Sarah and Caleb barely argue; they barely have issues to work through.

Then in the last quarter we get an injury that makes Sarah...what? I guess it was meant for her to face her fears from her mom being sick? But even that wasn't completely set up.

I still really like Bonam-Young and will continue to read whatever she writes. This one just fell a bit flat and didn't deliver what it was advertised as.

This is a marriage in crisis story done in the most respectful beautiful way possible remember Hannah made us all love the accidental pregnancy trope so trust me when I say she will make you love the marriage in crisis tripe. In the first chapter of this book, Caleb does what he usually does for Sarah and saves the day the only difference is Sarah is tired of being saved. She wants to deal with it, she's been saved by Caleb since she was 14 and she starts to wonder what has her life come to. In 10 years, she still sees her life with Caleb but unless something changes, they are headed for some serious trouble, so they head for weeklong, off the grid therapy in the woods. Individual and group introspection.

Not only does it save themselves, but it also saves each other. This book is dual timeline and goes back to their beginning, we also get to see how Sarah and Win were raised in their chaotic household. We also get to see more of Win and Bo. Hannah brings out all the feels as usual so get ready for them. This is such a beautiful and special book. It talks about grief, mental health, and love in such a special way. There is some on page couples and individual therapy and parental abandonment.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, as always, all words are my own.

Out on a Limb is one of my favourite books of all time, so I was so excited to be given the privilege of reading an early copy of the second book in this series. My favourite part of Hannah Bonam-Young’s writing is her ability to depict real and raw relationships. It is always so heartwarming to read about the real adversities individuals may face within their relationships and be able to connect to them in some ways. As someone who has been in a relationship since high school myself, I was able to relate to Sarah and Caleb’s relationship and some of the challenges they face on a deeper level. Getting into a relationship so young it is easy to wonder who you are as a person, without your other half. I have never read a book that was able to depict a high school sweethearts relationship in such a realistic manner.

I really loved how they rebuilt their relationship through a wilderness therapy. Allowing them to meet and observe other couples rather than working on the problems they faced in a clinical one-on-one setting was a very unique touch.

Another aspect I loved was the flashbacks to their relationship in high school. It allowed me to get a deeper understanding of why Sarah came to resent Caleb in some ways as just her saviour during her challenges in life.

Overall this was hands down one of my favourite books from this year. Hannah Bonam-Young gave us another book where readers could immerse themselves in a realistic and emotional relationship that took us through the challenges people may go through in their lives. Sarah and Caleb will forever live in my heart.

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

I'm a huge fan of Out on a Limb and was thrilled to receive this ARC. If you aren't familiar Sarah and Caleb are the best friends from Out on a Limb. This book follows their struggles a married couple, especially that of a couple who married very young.

I thought HBY did a great job with the flashbacks to Sarah, Caleb, and Win from when they were young and first met. Flashbacks can feel a little out of place at times but they flowed really well here and helped us understand the bigger picture of the couple. In order to try and reconnect and work out their martial issues, Sarah and Caleb take part in a hiking/camping retreat where we meet a few other couples. I really enjoyed the side characters here and how different they each were.

The only real issue I have is with Sarah because I had issues connecting with her fully. It felt like the issues in the marriage were more along the lines of personal struggles. And that was totally understandable! It just felt like she wanted Caleb to be upset too when in his mind, things were just fine at home. She tended to space out a lot when others were talking and honestly, I wonder if that's part of their struggle at home. No one was stopping her from going back to school, or finding something outside of the home. The fact that she let some random person from her teen years really affect her path in life (becoming a writer) was just mind blowing to me. Yes, when we're teens our idols are everything, but as we grow we learn they're just people like us and don't actually know everything.

All in all I did enjoy the story, it was just missing that connection I had with all the characters in the previous book.

Oh my, did I ever love this book. I discovered Hannah Bonam-Young with Out on a Limb, and was thrilled when I got an ARC of Out of the Woods. And it really delivered.

It follows the story of Sarah and Caleb, featured in Out on a Limb, as they hit a bump in their marriage and go on a wilderness couples retreat to see if they can reconnect. The wilderness component wasn't a favorite part of mine going in, but I ended up enjoying it a lot as a great setting for the story to explore Sarah and Caleb's personalities, histories and their current relationship. It was funny, touching, heartbreaking and full of hope. I highly recommend it.

3.5/5⭐️ 1.5/5🌶️ 0/5😢

Out of the Woods is one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2025. I am a huge fan of HBY books and the author’s unique writing style that makes her characters and plots interesting without being too over the top. They feel so real and comforting!

While I enjoyed many parts of this book, especially the cameos from Win, Bo and Gus, the actual romance fell flat for me. My main issue is that I simply could not connect with Sarah as the FMC. I found her conflict to be hard to understand (personally) and had very very little empathy for. I did absolutely adore Caleb and appreciated their ability to work through there martial issues and reconnect. The side characters were cute and the resolution to the book was satisfying.

Overall this was a solid read and I can totally see others really enjoying this book. Unfortunately, Sarah’s non-stop pity party for her past choices took out the “comfort” I love so much in HBY’s writing and left me sad for most of the book.