3.8
A little cutesy for me, but not in an obstructive or offensive way. I'm not wild about either of the romantic leads, but that's just a preference, they weren't inherently flawed or anything.

Jenny Holiday writes such fun contemporary romances. Into the Woods is a swoony, hilarious summer camp romance–featuring Gretchen (a badass ballet teacher) and Teddy (a grumpy rockstar bassist). They both find themselves as artists in residence at a summer camp for the arts–mentoring teenage dancers and musicians. Gretchen has decided she’s done with men, and she’s decided that spending the summer in the Minnesota woods is the perfect time to embrace her inner crone. But she didn’t expect the mutual attraction with Teddy. He offers to be her last hurrah–and if one last hurrah turns into multiple last hurrahs, then maybe a camp affair is exactly what they both need. With a firm end-date, Gretchen doesn’t have to worry about her heart getting involved, except that’s not how these things work.

Thank you so much to Hachette Audio for the advance listening copy. Teddy Hamilton is one of my favorite male narrators–his voice is an absolute dream–and I love how he captured the character’s grumpy charm. And Kit Swann’s narration is charming and energetic, a perfect match for Gretchen’s personality.

Thanks to Hachette Audio, Forever, and NetGalley for early access to the title in exchange for my honest opinion. Into the Woods follows Gretchen, one of the characters from Holiday’s previous book, Canadian Boyfriend. While I was disappointed that Joshua Jackson did not narrate this audiobook (as he did Canadian Boyfriend), Teddy Hamilton does a great job narrating with Kit Swann. This is a standalone, and you don’t need to have read Canadian Boyfriend to be able to enjoy Into the Woods.
Gretchen is professionally doing well as a dance studio owner who is in the midst of a large expansion. Personally, though, she is done with the apps and getting ready to give up on love. I completely understood her feelings! When a dancer/choreographer has to cancel on the summer arts camp, Gretchen takes the job as a last minute replacement, moving to live on site at the camp for a month. It takes place in the north woods of Minnesota (and I read it right after finishing another MN set book, Four Weekends and a Funeral), and the setting made me long for my old days working at summer camp in the midwest.
Into the Woods combines some of my favorite things to read about: summer camp, dance, and a fun summer fling! But the story deepens when the summer session ends and Gretchen returns to the life she put on hold. Is she actually happy with things the way they are or should she make some big changes? I think readers will understand this dilemma, too, and connect with Gretchen. I can’t wait to hear what others think when this book publishes in early 2025!

Rating 3.5 stars

Pleasant, well intentioned book failed to deliver an emotional punch. The setting was interesting, but I never became invested in the characters. A bit two dimensional. The author kept telling us her main character, Gretchen, was a “bad ass”, but there wasn't enough bad assery to convince me. The premise of women not appeasing men in a relationship against their own interests was promising, although the idea was repeated enough to come across as a bit too much of a crusade, instead of being more organically integrated into the story. Although the main character was turning 40, it felt almost like a young adult book rather than written for an older audience.

The narration was well done and added to the books appeal.

I would read more by the author in the future.

Good romance book I found myself laughing out Loud a few times and it was sweet just 3rd act break ups annoy me so much but everything else I loved

Into the Woods
by Jenny Holiday
Narrated by Kit Swann; Teddy Hamilton

I received an ARC of this audiobook through Netgalley

Narration: *****
Plot: *****
World-building: *****
Character Development: *****
Romance: *****

Instead of going into what I liked about this book, I am going to pivot away from my usual M.O. and tell you what I took away from my time listening to this book. These are going to be my thoughts and might be a bit spoiler-esque.

As humans we go through life learning who we are and we create boundaries against things we know have hurt us. For example: Say you’ve had 3 significant others with green eyes and all broke your heart, you might choose to avoid green-eyed partners in the future. It is something we all do.

We create barriers (walls, boundaries, stop gaps) that are meant to protect ourselves emotionally.

What we usually forget to do is to remember that just because this barrier works for a time, be it days, weeks, or years, it doesn’t mean the barrier needs to stay.

Oftentimes the very thing we build to protect ourselves finds its way from helpful into being hurtful.

We become our own worst enemies. We use these barriers to get in our own way. And, sometimes it takes damn near a miracle to rid ourselves of a now useless barrier.

I definitely recommend this book! It has helped me and maybe it will help you too.

Gretchen Miller is almost 40 and she has decided to give dating, focus on her dance studio, and buying a new building to house a yoga and pilates. When Grecthen gets a last minute invitation to work at a summer camp with other artist and kids can't say no. There she meets Teddy Knight a member in a popular band. Unlike Gretchen's bubbly personality, Teddy is totally the opposite with his grumpyness. This was such a cute and funny audio book that had me laughing out loud. I really enjoyed the way that the audio book was done with the voice actors. I wish more audio books were like that. I would like to thank both NEtGalley and Forever Publishing for letting me listen to the advanced copy of this audio book.

I loved Canadian Boyfriend! So I was excited to see Jenny Holiday was coming out with a new book! Into the Woods is a stand alone, but I enjoyed the crossover characters from Canadian Boyfriend making an appearance! I really enjoyed this fun summer camp romance! It brought back the nostalgia of summer love.

All of the Tinder references reminded me why I’m still single and anxious about meeting someone on an app. The trauma and drama is real! Gretchen met some real losers. I thought all of those references made the story more relatable!

Teddy and Gretchen were cute together. I enjoyed their banter and chemistry. Teddy was such a great guy. I liked how he helped Gretchen work through some things from her past.

Overall, I really enjoyed this sweet summer camp romance. I highly recommend the audiobook! Teddy Hamilton is such a fantastic narrator!

This audio could not have been better! Teddy Hamilton is my favorite male narrator and was so perfect for Teddy! And Kit Swann matched Gretchen so well. Both the characters and story were brought to life and my listening experience was so enjoyable. Thank you!

Hmm some mixed feelings here on this one. I love an audiobook when it's read in duet and this one was done really well. With that though, Teddy definitely stole the show, Teddy the character and Teddy the narrator.

Gretchen was a little to whiny for me, she leaned a little too hard into becoming a crone. Teddy was warm and welcoming and so much more open minded. They certainly balanced each other out, but Gretchen almost made me DNF this one. I stuck it out, more invested in Teddy’s story and I’m glad I did- his journey was so fulfilling and I loved it.

Overall, the story was a fun romp in the woods with takes on aging, finding yourself and finding your person.

Into the Woods is a fun and relaxing read. I loved the premise of Gretchen’s ‘crone era’, a second chance after giving up on love.

The characters felt more mature, which was refreshing. Both brought their own baggage as they grappled with relationships, aging, purpose and experiences of early life. I really appreciated the way they supported and gently nudged each other through personal growth. The concept of the summer camp was so fun, and I loved that the story played on the idea of summer camp as a coming of age experience (but in this case much older than usual!)

The duet narration was so snappy and really enhanced the experience of reading. The narrators played off each other so well, enhancing the banter and emphasising the emotional experience of the characters. I’d strongly recommend enjoying this in audio form.

Thank you Hachette Audio for a copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this ALC, in exchange for an honest review.

"Into the Woods" by Jenny Holiday is a super cute romance that focuses not just on love, but also on finding your true passions again. Set in a unique camp environment, the story brings together Gretchen and Teddy in a way that feels fresh and engaging. Gretchen is a strong, independent woman, especially as she nears 40, and her character is both inspiring and relatable. Teddy, a talented Rockstar, is dealing with deep insecurities and painful memories from his past. Their connection is special, helping them both grow as individuals, and they support each other in overcoming personal struggles.

The supporting characters, added a lot of fun and depth to the story. Both Gretchen and Teddy have tough pasts, and the story explores how those childhood experiences shaped who they became as adults. The book also touches on the challenge of finding creative inspiration, something both characters struggle with throughout the story. In the end, the romance wraps up with a heartfelt gesture, and both characters find peace with their creative journeys in a way that's imperfect but satisfying.
The narrators were fantastic and brought the characters to life.
4.25 Stars!

A not-so meet cute between Teddy & Gretchen turns into an unexpected friendship and connection that blooms in a cute art camp setting ❤️🏕️

Teddy is a down and out rockstar looking for a place to write his revenge album. Gretchen is a woman having a mid-life crisis who is looking for an escape from dating men. The two clash from the start and the spark a fly 🔥

This novel is dual POV and dual narrators (Kit Swann and Teddy Hamilton) who did an incredible job bringing the characters to life. I found this to be a quick and light contemporary romance with medium spice (🔥🔥🔥/5)

Thank you Hachette Audio for the ALC

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

What a great book! I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t put it down. The author has such a good writing style. This was a first for me by this author but will not be my last! I enjoyed the characters. They had good chemistry.

This is very much a romance for millennials. I promise I don't say it in a bad way- it's just who our characters are. Gretchen, a dance studio owner, is ready to leave men in her past and initiate her 'crone era.; She decides to kick it off at an artistic summer camp. Through her time there, she forms a unique connection with another artist and finds herself creatively inspired by the campers. One element of the romance I found particularly interesting about this book that is different from other romances is that while both romantic love interests are currently financially successful, they both grew up in households that weren't financially secure, and they talk about how that impacts their lives.

I am forever a Teddy Hamilton lover and enjoy everything he narrates! I was pleasantly surprised to find that I loved Kitt Swan just as much. It was done in such a way that Gretchen and Teddy had completely different perspectives and sounds. I really enjoyed Into the Woods, and I'm so grateful for NetGalley and Forever for granting me access to an ARC!

I love a good adult Summer Camp love story and to add dance into the mix made that even more exciting. I really enjoyed this book and coming off of Jenny Holidays 2024 release Canadian Boyfriend I was ready to dive into this. As I do like Canadian Boyfriend more this story was still a lot of fun.

The only thing I had an issue with is her saying that having a dance studio for kids left the studio open at night to start her Dance Company. I have danced my whole life and a Dance Studio can only be open at night or these kids wouldn't be going to school. I know that is nothing to ruin the book just had me questioning.

But all in all I had a lot of fun listening to this book and I will continue to pick u[ Jenny Holidays new books especially if I can get them on audio.

OMG this book was so freaking cute! Such an entertaining coming into yourself type of story! Finding love, finding passion, finding art, and horizontal cuddling! Love the MMC he was so perfect! The FMC was so relatable! A perfect romance read! Also... Teddy Hamilton *swoon*

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Forever for providing me with a copy of this audio book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I will be honest and say the reason I requested this book was because Teddy Hamilton was narrating. He is one of my top two male narrators and I will listen to anything he puts his voice to. As I was expecting, I really loved his voice for his namesake character in this: Tennison "Teddy" Knight. Whenever he plays a character, it's easy to feel the emotions in his voice. And he makes the characters he narrates so likable. Even with whatever flaws the author might give them, Hamilton makes sure you see all their sides. This was my first time listening to Kit Swann narrate. I really liked her for Gretchen Miller's voice. One of the things that made me like her even more was her tone and inflection. You could tell she got into the character, feeling the emotions of the scenes, and portraying that with changes in her lilt and pitch. There were scenes where the character was very distraught and it was easy to feel that from her. I enjoyed that dual narration the most. I love when the characters voices are done by the male and female narrators to coincide with those genders. Sometimes when that is not done, I have a hard time liking the character as the voices are not quite what I would expect.
I enjoyed the story Holiday created for these characters. I feel like it could have been a little tighter in its execution. I think there was a lot of fluff woven into the story that did not necessarily lend to the plot and didn't push it along as I would have liked. Actually, it often times slowed the pace a bit for me. But it was worth it to push through and see where the characters landed on the other side of it all.
I loved the setting. This is not the first book I've read this year with a camp setting and, even though the main characters were adults, it really brought me back to my times at sleep away camp. Especially this camp being specialized as I attended a specialized gymnastics sleep away camp when I was young. The author made it easy for me to connect with the story in this way.
I also loved that the characters were a bit older (FMC 40, MMC 35). So they've lived some life and have some experience to go on. It was refreshing to hear their perspectives in that way. I will say I didn't quite believe the FMC to be the age stated, she seemed a bit younger. But that could have been due to the narrators voice and may come across differently if I were to read this in a print version. I definitely got the midlife crisis vibe Holiday was going for, though. There is a ton of growth with the two main characters in this book, as well. They truly come into who they are. They find out things about themselves they didn't know and then lean into that part of themselves.
There's some great banter surrounding the more serious topics hit on with this book (poverty, child abandonment, fear of love). I thought they were done very well and I could really understand the characters related to their backgrounds. I advise you check the trigger warnings in case you have any. The story also explores the power of friendships, old and new and the realization that those friends can also be family. There's also some spice in it, though it's not explicit (at least not for me, but check those triggers, as I said before).
This was my second holiday book, I recently listened to Canadian Boyfriend (mostly because Joshua Jackson narrated the male character and who can resist him) but also because the story line seemed interesting. Holiday appears to be an up and coming romance writer and I can see she is has honed her craft a bit with this new story. I love how she writes characters who have relatable and understandable flaws.
Overall, this was a pleasant read and I would definitely recommend it to my audience. Especially those who enjoy a good audio book!

This was a fun stand alone romcom by Jenny Holiday. This is the story of Gretchen and Teddy both dealing with their own midlife crisis events. They meet when they are Artists in Residence at a camp in Minnesota and their story unfolds. The story is told from both characters POV and is insightful for what each character is working through.

Slow start and it gives insight into each of the characters struggles and growth - keep going it is worth the read!

Publication date: January 7th, 2025

Set against the lush backdrop of a summer Wild Arts camp, this romance brings together two characters at a crossroads. Teddy, a grumpy musician nursing a broken heart and career, reluctantly takes a gig at the camp, hoping for solitude to plan his next move. Gretchen, a spirited dance teacher escaping a mid-life crisis, arrives ready to reinvent herself. Sparks fly as their clashing personalities give way to late-night conversations, creative inspiration, and the slow bloom of connection.

With witty banter, emotional depth, and a magical camp setting, this story explores art, reinvention, and the healing power of unexpected friendships

The audiobook narration is outstanding, bringing them to life with distinct voices and capturing both the humor and emotion of the story.

Thank You Netgalley and Hachette Audio
The publisher provided an ARC audiobook via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review