Into The Woods by Jenny Holiday is now the second book of hers that I've fallen in love with! I'm simply obsessed with her writing!

-enemies to lovers trope
-spice in all the right places
-dancer meets rock star
-mid-life crisis based (with self growth and wisdom only age can provide)
-self aware and sex positive
-summer camp meets Dirty Dancing vibes

Can I tell you how I ate up Gretchen's mid-life crisis!? It was incredibly refreshing to read all the truth nuggets for us readers also in our mid-life crisis era (here's looking at you 40's!)! Gretchen is a bad-ass! She's a self-aware, feminist that refuses to let societal norms define her! Her and Teddy's relationship developed so organically, and it was super refreshing to read!

This audiobook gets all the stars - Teddy Hamilton and Kit Swann nailed these characters perfectly! A swoony male voice rasped in my ear, while a sexy female voice took center stage, constantly demanding attention! Obviously this narration being performed in the best possible way was just the icing on the cake; no matter who's POV it was, that narrator voiced their character's dialog! (And I think Holiday is onto something with her audiobooks! Joshua Jackson narrated Mike for Canadian Boyfriend, and Teddy Hamilton narrated Teddy for Into The Woods!)

Holiday, you're now an auto-read author - five amazing stars all day long!!!

(This book is a standalone, but it takes place in the same universe as Canadian Boyfriend, with Rory from that book and Gretchen from this book being best friends! I loved the glimpse back into Rory and Mike's world and I love when authors allow readers to reconnect with their past characters!)

Thank you NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Hachette Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Summer camp is back and all the cool kids are jumping on board! Now, sometimes I feel like a lot of these romance, takes with adults, revisiting their summer camp memories to fall a little flat, but Into the Woods, Jenny Holiday’s newest releasing tomorrow hit right in the sweet spot!

This story features a grumpy/sunshine pairing between an upbeat, yet cynical dancing instructor, and a prickly metal musician who meet when they both agree to go to a teen summer camp and act as mentors to the kids and artists and residence for the camp.

It’s your classic opposite, attracts vacation romance and it works perfectly in this scenario. I loved how both Gretchen and Teddy find their renewed passion for their craft and a reinvigorated by their experience at the camp and by each other. As for being at camp, these adults are not there just to take care of kids or just to be campers, but they get to experience both and really take away a lot from it in a real and genuine way.

Have to say something about our MMC, Teddy who is a rockstar - sometimes this can feel forced or more fairytale like, but I felt that the scenario and how they come together as different artistic mentors at the camp brought a lot of sincerity to the pairing. It didn’t hurt they both had similar ups that made them easy to relate to each other.

I listened to the audiobook with narration provided by Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton I’d really enjoyed the vocal pairing. Both of these narrators are old hat at narrating contemporary romance, and they do an excellent job. I felt like they added a lot of depth and feeling to the characters and helped bring this book alive.

Overall, I can easily say that Gretchen and Teddy need to be on your TBR and your next camp romance!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶️🌶️
💭My thoughts: This book was so wholesome, both Gretchen and Teddy were so easy to like. Teddy made me laugh, often thinking with the wrong head (if you know what i mean) but still being sensitive and sweet to Gretchen even though he’s usually a grump. The audiobook for this was amazing. It was so hard to put down, I just had to know how it ended. Definitely recommend this one if you love a good summer camp counselors romance!

Thank you to Jenny Holiday, Hatchette Audion / Forever and Netgalley for an advanced Listening copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

4.5/5 stars (rounded to 5)
3/5 steam

Gretchen is a badass #bossbabe who is on the verge of expanding her inclusive dance studio "empire" just as she turns 40. Done with mediocre men dimming her light she decides to start her next decade by becoming a badass business crone and to give up on romance. When she's asked to fill in as a dance instructor artist in residence she decides to take the opportunity to start her dating app and men cleanse. Of course things don't go as planned when she meets Teddy a grumpy teddy bear of a rockstar who is seeking to write his first solo album after his band broke up.

What to expect: Grumpy rockstar x cynical but sunny dance instructor, MC's in their mid to late 30s (FMC - 39 turning 40, MMC - 35), summer camp artists in residence, forced proximity, he secretly calls her Sugarplum/Sourplum Fairy, banter, bonding over similar childhood experiences, rediscovering oneself, "midlife crisis" and finding a new direction, getting lost in the woods, sharing body heat, 80s movie references

The duet narration was great — Teddy Hamilton is always a pleasure to listen to and while hearing Gretchen call the character Teddy when that's also the narrators name threw me for a loop a few times (clearly an issue only for people who spend too much time also listening to interviews with Teddy Hamilton...lol) he was phenomenal. Kit Swann did a great too, I felt that Gretchen was a little whinnier at certain points then I would have wanted her to be but I'm not sure if that was narration, writing or a combo of both. Still a very solid performance.

Trigger Warnings/Content Warning: off page mentioning of violence (MMC destroys a hotel room), childhood neglect, growing up in poverty, references to shitty, coercive and abusive retoric when dating.

*Into the Woods* is a lovely romcom about two artists coming together to rediscovered their love and passion for their art forms.

This book includes:
- girl bossery
- a teen summer camp and an artist retreat
- healing and camraderie
- hot rock star MMC
- dual POV

This is a very cute story. The romance felt very real and the chemistry was fantastic between the two main characters. I also felt that the message of the story was lovely. It's all about learning, growing, and finding love that complements your dreams and goals, rather than holding you back. I would recommend this book anyone looking for a lovely breath of fresh air.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Jenny Holiday, and RHachette Audio for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted across my socials under the username @tinynightingales, check out my GoodReads profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863
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gretchen is giving up men. teddy is healing from his band breakup. the two of them end up at a summer camp as their artists-in-residence. he’s so grumpy, so she completely writes him off. but as they spend more time in each others orbit, they realize their tension could easily be helped with a low key friends-with-benefits set up.

teddy goes from a big grump to a completely down bad obsessed with her. gretchen is more commitment phobic and is on a no-men journey. but she didn’t expect teddy and she didn’t expect to love summer camp.

this one had great depth character development. I really enjoyed reading about both of the characters journey and their slow burn love story.

I loved the grand gesture at the end. teddy really is romantic (even if he wouldn’t say so).

what to expect
⟢ friends with benefits
⟢ just for the summer (camp)
⟢ slow burn
⟢ sneaking around

This one wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Gretchen & Teddy, and the steam was a little cringey for me.

Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday captured my heart from the very first page! The chemistry between the characters is absolutely electric—every interaction felt so real and genuine, as if I were right there experiencing it alongside them. Jenny Holiday has a way of weaving emotional depth into her storytelling, with just the right touch of humor.

This book isn’t just about romance; it’s about courage, self-discovery, and embracing the messiness of life and relationships.

Thanks for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

After loving Jenny Holiday‘s “Canadian Boyfriend”, I couldn’t wait to read “Into the Woods”. This heartwarming story follows Gretchen Miller, a dancer and dance school owner navigating a midlife career crisis, and Teddy Knight, a rock star recovering from his band’s breakup. They meet at a summer camp—an artist residency where creatives retreat to work on projects and mentor young talents.

Though Gretchen and Teddy are at odds initially, their brief interactions evolve into longing and curiosity. They soon discover they share similar dark childhood experiences—ones that have shaped their perspectives on life.

I got addicted to Teddy in the best way. 🤣 I thoroughly enjoyed watching him become more open, vulnerable, and willing to let down his walls. His growth throughout the story was so satisfying, and it made his connection with Gretchen—whose growth I also found joy in—even more impactful.

Holiday crafts a fun and romantic story that also explores how hun relationships and closeness unfold in different ways, while also offering a stark reminder of poverty, abandonment, and toxic relationships. Another book with profound quotes!

If you love music or any form of artistic expression, you’ll appreciate how Holiday uses Teddy, Gretchen, and the young campers to teach valuable lessons, making their journey resonate with you in a magical way.

Thanks to Hachette Audio for the audiobook. Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton nailed the voices and characters, bringing this funny and heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance to life.

Unfortunately, Into the Woods didn't quite work for me, which is sad because I have enjoyed several of her books. The writing is good, as is the premise, but the female lead, Gretchen, failed to resonate with me. I am slightly older than her, so this should have been perfect. She made me cringe several times. For someone turning 40, she acted like she was 20 while simultaneously trying to be 70.

Despite the above, there were several things that I did enjoy.

The setting. The camp location was fun, and I think it lent itself well to what Holiday was trying to accomplish with both the plot and character development.

The conversations. The conversations regarding mental health and their childhood trauma were emotional and helped me care about them as a couple despite not loving Gretchen.

The side characters. The side characters were great and added a lot to the story. I wish we would have gotten more of them in a group.

The duet narration. I believe that duet narration is superior to all other narration forms. Add Teddy Hamilton to the mix, and it's nearly perfection. I did struggle with the female narrator a bit, but I think it had more to do with the fact that I didn't like the character and not her actual performance - as I enjoyed the side characters she read.

I think people will enjoy the story. So, don't adjust your TBR based on my experience.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book. The summer camp was such a fun setting. I enjoyed community of the counselors and campers. As I get older I love romance books with slightly older main characters so Gretchen being 40 was great. Gretchen and Teddy had such a great dynamic. There was so much character growth and some serious topics were handled in a really touching way. Jenny Holiday is so talented and I have enjoyed her books in the past and look forward to her future books.

The dual narration of the audiobook was so good. Teddy Hamilton and Kit Swann did such a great job bringing these characters to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this grumpy/sunshine, midlife-crisis story ;). The journey the main characters took as they were at a crossroads in their lives was very poignant for those of us that are perhaps mid-late thirties wondering, “is this all there is?” I loved how the author answers that question and the journey of self-discovery the characters go on. I appreciated that it was just “easy”. The MMC doesn’t magically say the right words-it comes out wrong and sounds almost offensive, when that’s not what he meant….and geez, how many times have my hubs and I had that same type of conversation??? So I appreciated the way I could relate to the stage of life and some of the “realness” too. I enjoyed both the narrators and loved the duet performance!

Yes! I loved Canadian Boyfriend, and Jenny Holiday works magic again in Into the Woods. Aurora, from Canadian Boyfriend, had a marvelous mentor and friend who helped her survive and triumph during trying misadventures. That marvelous mentor was Gretchen, and this is her story. Not as put-together and perfectly calibrated as Aurora believes, Gretchen has struggled to make it as a single, female business owner, and soon-to-turn-40, she's ready to give up on men as just one more aggravation she can live without. She decides to become a "crone" and abandon dating entirely, and then she unexpectedly ends up serving a short stint as an artist in residence at a summer camp. There she meets troublesome rocker Teddy Knight, and, well, you're probably a romance reader, so take a guess what happens next! Yes, the basic plot line won't surprise readers, but the lovely details (early dawn swims, beautiful music and dancing, and sigh-worthy love scenes) will leave readers everywhere impatient for Jenny Holiday's next book.

This book was not terrible. It just wasn't the best thing I have read lately. The story went on and on. It just didn't keep me as interested as Jenny Holiday's books usually keep me. I would recommend her other books before I recommend this one.

Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday was a delightful and entertaining audiobook. I really enjoyed the fact that the characters were middle aged, which is something that we don’t usually get to see in romance novels. I loved that this story explored the topics of self-discovery and second chances and it did a wonderful job of making everything seem plausible. Into the Woods was a swoony slow-burn romance and I cannot wait to see what else Jenny Holiday writes. The audiobook narration was also fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed my time listening to this book.

Gretchen is approaching 40 and she's left wondering 'is this all there is?". She's on the verge of a midlife crisis- she's sworn off dating after too many failed attempts on dating apps and she's decided to go into the woods and become a crone. The going into the wood part of her plan happens when she agrees to attend an arts summer camp as the dance teacher/choreographer while she also works on her own projects. While at the camp, she meets Teddy, who is a grumpy rockstar trying to figure out his next steps after his longtime band breaks up. Teddy and Gretchen are enemies at first, but they start to see that they could be good for each other.

They have great conversations and sizzling chemistry, which leads to a friends with benefits/ hooking up for the summer situation. Soon, they are spending each night together, and both of them are fighting their real feelings for each other.

I find it really relatable to contemplate life changes and decisions at 40. I turned 40 last year, and I embarked on a career change and faced uncertainty, just like Gretchen. Gretchen thinks that expanding to another dance studio and being an entrepreneur will bring her happiness. When her new building brings her dread and leaves her feeling empty, she begins to see that it's okay to make changes and it's okay to find a new dream.

I loved Gretchen and Teddy's connection, and I found myself smiling as I listened to the duet narration of Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton. Both narrators did a fantastic job of having different voices for each of the characters that they voiced, and they swept me away. I was right there at the summer camp with them.

Thanks to Hachette Audio for the ALC of this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I find myself more drawn to middle aged characters instead of those who are barely out of high school. I remembered Gretchen from Canadian Boyfriend and was so excited to see that she got her own story! I LOVED that she was ready to embrace being a crone, it was such a fun little quirk. Teddy was also a great character, albeit a little grumpy. As someone who never went to camp, it was really cool to see the adult side of things, without it being too camp-y.

Everything Teddy Hamilton does is gold, and this is no different. I *think* this was my first Kit Swann audiobook but will not be my last!

Story 4/5, Audio 5/5

Into the Woods by Jenny Holiday is a delightful enemies-to-lovers romance set against the charming backdrop of summer camp. The story follows Gretchen, a dance instructor looking for a romantic reset, and Teddy, a grumpy rockstar recovering from a messy band breakup. Their unlikely pairing brings sparks, humor, and heart in equal measure.

The audiobook was a fantastic way to experience this story, thanks to the excellent narrators who brought Gretchen and Teddy’s voices to life. Both narrators captured the characters’ personalities perfectly—Gretchen’s mix of sass and vulnerability, and Teddy’s broody charm—which added depth to their evolving relationship.

I loved the way their initial snarky banter gradually gave way to meaningful conversations and undeniable chemistry. The camp setting was beautifully atmospheric, and the side characters added warmth and humor without stealing the spotlight. The pacing was just right, making this an enjoyable and quick listen that I didn’t want to put down.

While the romance is the heart of the story, Into the Woods also explores themes of self-discovery, healing, and second chances. My only minor critique is that a few plot points wrapped up a bit too conveniently, but it didn’t detract much from my overall enjoyment.

This book is perfect for fans of witty banter, slow-burn romance, and a cozy yet vibrant summer setting. Whether you’re listening on a road trip or curled up at home, Into the Woods is an entertaining and heartwarming escape.

a fantastic romance. summer camp adjacent as they are artists in residence at an arts summer camp. so the vibes are there. lots of taking accountability apologizing when needed.

From the very first chapter, I fell in love with this story. Jenny Holiday’s writing is so quick-witted and sharp, which made for a very entertaining read. I loved the character of Gretchen. She’s not your typical mid-twenties, tiny, down-on-her-luck heroine. Gretchen is strong, confident, and quite successful, if not a little lost and lonely. Teddy, too, is not your typical grumpy MMC. There was so much depth to these characters and I liked how they came to fall in love with each other. It wasn’t quick and wasn’t purely based on physical attraction. It was all the heat and sweetness you’d expect from a summer romance.

The author really taps into the atmosphere of summer camp — lake swims, guitar songs by the campfire, hiking in the woods. If you’ve gone to summer camps as a kid, you know that sense of living in an alternate reality. You make close friends and feel like nothing will separate your new bond. So it was interesting to see that feeling develop for adults. Gretchen and Teddy are at Wild Arts as Artists in Residence, so not quite camp counselors. They form new friendships, as well as a relationship.

Now, let’s talk audiobook… I HIGHLY recommend you pick up the audiobook. These narrators do such an excellent job. This is a duet narration but both narrators do a wonderful portrayal of the other voices as well. Teddy Hamilton nails that perfect baritone voice without sounding too grumbly. And he portrays so much emotion in that voice, it’s obvious why he’s so popular. This was my first audiobook with Kit Swann as a narrator and I will definitely be looking up her backlist. She is so freaking talented. I was amazed. From different character voices to sound effects, she truly brought the character to life.