Book Review: Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young
You know that feeling when a book just reaches in, grabs your heart, and refuses to let go? That’s exactly what happened with Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young. I swear, this woman writes stories that don’t just entertain—they heal. This book felt like a warm hug and a deep therapy session all rolled into one. It made me laugh, cry, and reflect in ways I wasn’t expecting.
We’re following Sarah and Caleb Linwood, high school sweethearts who seemed like they had it all figured out… until they didn’t. Seventeen years into marriage, Sarah starts asking herself the big, scary question: “Who am I without him?” Determined to prove her independence, she throws herself into organizing a fundraiser in memory of her late mother. But when things go south and Caleb swoops in to “save the day,” it cracks open years of unspoken grievances. Cue the tension, the tears, and the decision to sign up for a couples’ wilderness retreat (because nothing says “facing your issues” like blisters and no cell service).
Hannah’s dual timeline approach is chef’s kiss. We get to see Sarah and Caleb as young, bright-eyed teens falling in love, and then as adults navigating the messy, complicated reality of staying in love. What I appreciated most was how real this felt. No overly dramatic, sweeping gestures here—just two people trying to figure out if love is enough when life gets hard.
Sarah Linwood, oh how I adore you. She’s confident, sarcastic, vulnerable, and painfully relatable. Her struggle with self-worth outside of her role as a wife hit me right in the feels. She’s been carrying the weight of expectations for so long, trying to be strong for everyone else, that she forgot to be kind to herself. Watching her unpack all that emotional baggage was both heartbreaking and inspiring.
And Caleb Linwood? Be still, my heart. He’s the nerdy, steady, quietly swoon-worthy type. The guy who’s always there, holding it all together… until he realizes he’s been holding in his own fears and insecurities too. Caleb isn’t just the “perfect husband” trope. He’s layered, flawed, and deeply human. Watching him fight for his marriage, not with grand gestures but with patience and understanding, made me fall for him over and over again.
Their relationship felt like real life. The kind of love story that isn’t just about the big moments, but the quiet ones—the knowing looks, the shared inside jokes, the hard conversations when it would be easier to walk away. Hannah captures all of that with such raw, honest beauty.
The side characters? Equally amazing. Bo, Win, Helen, Yvonne, Nina, Libby… each one brought depth, humor, and warmth to the story. It felt like being wrapped in a cozy blanket of found family, the kind that makes you feel less alone even when life gets messy.
And the epilogue? PURE PERFECTION. It left me with a big, goofy grin and that warm, satisfied feeling only the best books can give. (Bo and Win having their fourth kid? Stop. My heart can’t handle the cuteness.)
Out of the Woods isn’t just a romance—it’s a love letter to the idea that relationships take work, growth, and a whole lot of heart. It’s about finding your way back to each other, even when you get a little lost along the way.
Trust me, you’ll want to pack this one in your emotional survival kit. It’s that good.
