Into the Woods is a chaotic, enemies-to-lovers fever dream where a grumpy musician and a self-proclaimed wannabe crone are forced to coexist in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of artsy kids. Teddy is brooding over his ex-bandmate’s betrayal, Gretchen is actively hexing the male species, and their mutual hatred combusts into absolutely feral tension. Between campfire confessions, artistic angst, and Gretchen’s valiant attempts to avoid catching feelings, the romance simmers like a cursed summer spell. The woods are wild, their emotions are messier, and somehow, these two disasters might just be exactly what the other needs.

The audiobook narration was fantastic!

I really enjoyed this cute rom com! It was a quick read and I enjoyed the characters. I wouldn’t say it was one of the best romances I’ve read this year, but I did enjoy it. Thank you for the advanced copy.

I loved the audio how there was 2 different narrators. The story was good and very spicy. I do wish to have more camp vibes then just taking place at one overall pretty good

Thank you Hachette Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC. All opinions are my own.

I wish I could say more about this book/audiobook other than I really liked and enjoyed this! Teddy and Gretchen's grumpy and sunshine dynamic was fun. They fit well with each other. It was entertaining and I find myself wanting to listen to another chapter almost immediately. Another thing I like was how the book didn't shy from heavy and deep topics.

The narrators did a great job, too. I've listened to a few books narrated by Teddy Hamilton before, but this was my first work by Kit Swann. I couldn't have asked for a better combo and duo for this.

Calling all Camp Rock adults.

Enemies to lovers. Grumpy MMC. Existential Crisis. A rockstar. Camping.

That's all you need to know. Super fun audio book that is worth picking up. A pleasant surprise that had me kicking my feet.

This story was one that captures hope, love, growth, and rebirth. I loved reading about these two characters and their histories and futures. I also enjoyed how mature their love and career aspirations were. Teddy's story was refreshing as not many rock-star romances feature such a mature character trying to figure out his next steps. Gretchen was also a fun character to follow as we usually see dancers in romance novels where we are instead following a dance teacher looking to expand her studio.
I loved the narrators for this audiobook! Teddy Hamilton is one of the best male narrators in the industry, and he was such a delight to hear in Into the Woods. Kit Swann was such a great Gretchen and I think she captured our badass main character perfectly!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the opportunity to listen to this arc in exchange for a honest review.

I LOVED this audio! SO cute! The narrators absolutely made this audio! There were two narrators, and they made the story come to life as they switched perspectives. They both portrayed their characters perfectly.

The characters were so well written and it was such a fun story. Highly recommend!

I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narration was so well done. It made me love the book even more. I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the author did an excellent job with the enemies to lovers trope. I was hooked early on, and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for more from this author. I highly recommend this novel to the romance readers.

Thank you Net Galley, Forever/Grand Central Publishing, Hatchette Audio, and Jenny Holiday

I wanted to give this author another shot after not enjoying Canadian Boyfriend last year, but this one was not a hit either for me. The characters did not have any chemistry. I liked them as characters but not together. The spicy scenes were really awkward. This was just not for me, and I think I will call it quits with this author.

I really enjoyed this audio and appreciated the dual voices of the characters! OMG, we need more of this! It made it easier and better to enjoy.

Gretchen is a relatable character. I understand her desire to step back from dating to concentrate on her business. She is portrayed as a cynical dance instructor, while Teddy is the grumpy musician who has quit his band. When Gretchen decided to have one final hoorah, she chose to do it with Teddy Knight, who she met at an arts summer camp. They strike up a friends-with-benefits arrangement for her time at the camp.

Things take a turn for Teddy but not Gretchen. She is determined to stick to her plan of embracing a life without dating. However, Teddy feels differently and needs to express his feelings for her. It was a very heartwarming story. Both characters are going through something, but nothing too heavy. The growth between them when they are together and while they are apart is very well-developed and written. The truth can hurt, but it helps when one is at a crossroads. They both find their truth and their path.

I liked this one! Quick and easy read with well developed characters and an entertaining setting. The narrators were fun to listen to, making a good story even better. Highly recommend this one!

My favorite thing about this book was that Gretchen is almost 40 and she still doesn't have it all figured out. As someone whose 30 and seems to have very little figured out it was comforting to see. I loved watching her and Teddy get to know each other and bond. They had so much in common and it led to a really special connection.

I really enjoyed My Canadian Boyfriend but this one blew me away! The character depth and growth was amazing and I loved seeing the young artists at the camp open up their eyes to some of the struggles our society creates for women. I hope there is more to this series!

I listened to the audio and really enjoyed it! Teddy Hamilton is one of my favorite audiobook narrators and Kitt Swan did a great job too. Romance readers might recognize her from The Fake Out by Stephanie Archer.

Last year I picked up my first Jenny Holiday book, Canadian Boyfriend, and it was an instant five-star read. Joshua Jackson's narration on the audiobook version definitely helped with this - and for Into The Woods the amazing Teddy Hamilton (one of my fave male narrators) knocked it out of the park, as usual.
Needless to say, I was highly anticipating Into The Woods.
This book was very different from Canadian Boyfriend and I loved how it showed Jenny Holiday's ability to write such vastly different characters. I enjoyed the camp setting and appreciated the FMC's emotional growth. This was a fun novel with a little bit of spice and a couple you couldn't help but root for! Thanks to @readforeverpub for the eARC and @hachetteaudio for the gifted ALC!

Gretchen is finished with men. Too many bad matches and dates have her throwing in the towel. Teddy is in the middle of a career change, and he's not really sure exactly what that's going to look like. When chance throws these two together... Get the book to find out. Better yet, try the audiobook. Dual POV paired with dual narration makes this audiobook perfect. I enjoyed both characters and was especially happy with the straightforward conversational approach they both had. It was so refreshing to see between characters instead of the typical leaving things unexpressed mode.
Thank you, NetGalley and HachetteAudio, for the opportunity to listen and provide an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked it, I think. But it felt very long. It dragged a bit? But I also feel like all the content was important to the story so I can’t say that there is anything that could be removed to shorten it. The epilogue fell a little flat for me, but I really like the concept of the whole thing.

The narration was good, I’m a huge teddy hamilton fan so that was great, I didn’t love the FMC narrator but I think that’s more of my personality preference than anything else

Grouchy Teddy and Sunshine Gretchen meet at a camp and fall in love. Both of these characters were intense, artistic, and hot!!. At crossroads in their careers and the direction their life needs to take, both protagonists have to dig deeper into their heart for what matters to them, professionally and personally.


The narration was well done, though I really liked the Kit Swann way better than Teddy, whose accent was a little off.

#netgalley #IntotheWoods

‘Into the Woods’ by Jenny Holiday is a refreshing, heartfelt romantic comedy that expertly balances lighthearted moments with poignant reflections on personal growth, identity, and past traumas. The story centres around Gretchen, a woman nearing forty who is in the midst of a midlife crisis, and Teddy, a brooding ex-rockstar struggling with the aftermath of a band breakup. When they both find themselves teaching at a summer camp, their shared space for self-reflection and growth leads to a tender and heartwarming romance.

Gretchen is instantly captivating — sharp-witted, unapologetically feminist, and grappling with the chaos of her life. Her struggles with aging, career, and relationships feel incredibly relatable, particularly her frustration with the men she’s encountered. Enter Teddy, who, despite his initial gruffness, turns out to be a thoughtful and caring individual. His growth throughout the book — especially as he learns to engage with the kids at camp — is an endearing element of the story. Their relationship unfolds slowly, with both characters giving each other the time and space they need to heal and understand themselves before diving into anything more serious.

What really stands out in ‘Into the Woods’ is how Jenny Holiday handles heavier topics like childhood poverty, food insecurity, and the long-lasting effects of those experiences. The sensitivity with which these issues are explored adds depth to the characters, particularly Gretchen and Teddy, without overshadowing the romance or the humor. It’s a perfect example of how a romcom can tackle real-world challenges while still providing plenty of heart and light.

The dual narration — featuring Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton — is a brilliant touch, bringing the characters to life in a way that makes the audiobook feel like a movie. Their voices complement each other well, enhancing the intimate, character-driven narrative.

If there’s one thing that holds the book back from being a perfect five-star read, it’s the portrayal of the friend group. While they’re present and add to the story, they never quite come alive the way Gretchen and Teddy do, leaving the side characters feeling a little flat. Still, the book’s strengths — especially its focus on self-discovery, healing, and the growth of the central relationship — make it a compelling and enjoyable read.

Ultimately, ‘Into the Woods’ is a delightful, feelgood romance with a surprising amount of emotional depth. It’s a book about second chances — both in love and life — and watching Gretchen and Teddy navigate their personal and romantic growth makes for a truly rewarding experience.

“I think you are my muse.”
“No.”

That sums up the vibe of this book perfectly. Incredible dual narration by Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton brought this story to life. But let’s talk about Gretchen—a woman who loudly and unapologetically hates men. She had me sold within the first few lines. I went into this book with low expectations for no reason other than the fact I’ve been in SUCH a reading slump this month, and this book pulled me out like it was made for that exact purpose.

Gretchen is absolutely in the throes of a midlife crisis when we meet her. She’s nearing forty, grappling with the headaches of running a newly purchased dance studio, and fresh off a date with yet another self-centered, egotistical, sex-first-ask-questions-never man who would’ve served the world better as a stain on his father’s pants. So when the chance comes to teach dance at a summer camp—two weeks of swearing off men, embracing aging, and letting her bones and spirit settle into the idea of becoming a crone—how could she say no?

Enter Teddy. He’s got his own mess to untangle: a very public band breakup, an ex-girlfriend squatting in his apartment, and an urgent need for some head-clearing solitude. Except...he didn’t read the fine print and accidentally signed up to teach at this camp instead of just retreating to nature. Oh, and that awful date Gretchen went on? Yeah, that was with his ex-bandmate. What could possibly make this less complicated?

What follows is the sweetest, most heartwarming journey. The way Gretchen and Teddy hold space for each other to exist, to feel, and to grow—it’s so tender it hurts. Gretchen, who often has a sharp quip at the ready, lets Teddy piece together thoughts he’s never said aloud. Teddy, my sweet consent king, gives Gretchen the time and space to figure out what she wants, even when he’s ready to be more than a hookup so much sooner than her.

Into the Woods is such a good example of how you can have deep and sort of heavy topics in romcoms without sinking the vibes and the plot, but instead adding weight to your characters and their connections. The discussions about childhood poverty and food insecurity were handled with so much care, and as someone who’s lived through that, it hit home in a way that made me feel seen. Jenny’s writing doesn’t just skim the surface of these topics—she dives deep, and it’s clear how much she cares about her characters.

Watching Gretchen and Teddy grow into themselves while working at camp filled me with a kind of hope that sticks with you. Knowing that somewhere, a crone and an ex-rockstar asshole are slow dancing under a blanket of stars to the soft hum of Moon River? That’s the dream.

Oh, and shoutout to the fact this is part of an interconnected standalone series. I cannot WAIT to read Rory’s story in Canadian Boyfriend! (and hopefully about Teddy’s ex-girlfriend or sister? 👀)

If you’re in a slump, this is the book to pull you out of it. Endearing characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and all the emotional depth you could ask for. Truly, it’s a gem.

Spoiler (but funny):
When Gretchen went on that terrible date at the start? I paused the audiobook because I thought, “Oh god, this asshole is the love interest, isn’t he?” Thank you, Jenny, for proving me wrong.

**Thank you to Hachette audio and Forever for the ALC in exchange for an honest review

3.5 Stars
Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday is an enjoyable and fun romance that shines with light banter and the ever-enticing enemies-to-lovers trope. The chemistry between the main characters is delightful, and their witty exchanges kept me smiling throughout. It’s the kind of book that feels like a warm, breezy escape—a perfect pick for fans of playful romances.

However, I couldn’t help but feel like the story was missing a bit more depth. While the romance was engaging, the overall plot felt thin at times, with some moments bordering on repetitive. A stronger, more layered storyline would have elevated the book and made the journey even more satisfying.

Despite these shortcomings, Into the Woods is still an enjoyable read for those seeking a lighthearted romance with plenty of charm. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s a sweet and entertaining escape. Perfect for a cozy weekend read!

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchet Audio. #IntotheWoods #NetGalley

I really enjoyed the narrators in this book. I feel like Teddy's narrator I have heard in other audiobooks, so it brought a sense of comfort because his narration is always great! I thought that this book was cute, and i enjoyed that camp environment with the main characters being older in their 30s and 40s. There is this journey where we feel like we are supposed to have it "all figured out" when we get to our 30s and 40s, and sometimes along the way we lose ourselves by trying to do that. I feel like both of these characters were able to come back to themselves by finding each other. There is such beauty in that!