I love a good romance that can touch the reader even when the circumstances are not the same. What’s more, I love a good romance that showcases the good, the bad, and the ugly of relationships, especially marriage. Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young does just that, and even if I did read this before Out on a Limb which is chronologically first, it is still a fantastic read and a solid recommendation for all you romance readers.

High school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb Linwood have always been a sure thing. For the past seventeen years, they have had each other’s backs through all of life’s ups and downs, achievements, losses, stages, and phases. But Sarah has begun to wonder…who is she without her other half? When she decides to take on a project of her own, a fundraising gala in memoriam of her late mother, Sarah wants nothing more than to prove to herself—and to everyone else—that she doesn’t need Caleb’s help to succeed. She’s still her mother’s daughter, after all. Independent and capable. That is until the event fails and Caleb uninvitedly steps in to save the day. The rift that follows unearths a decade of grievances between them and doubts begin to grow. Are they truly the same people they were when they got married at nineteen? Are they supposed to be? In a desperate attempt to fix what they fear is near breaking, Sarah and Caleb make the spontaneous decision to join a gruelling hiking trip intended to guide couples through rough patches. What follows is a life-affirming comedy of errors as two nature-averse people fight their way out of the woods in order to find their way back to their roots.

I first want to recommend that you do read Out on a Limb first. It is noted at the beginning of Out of the Woods by the author, and there are spoilers in Out of the Woods for Out on a Limb. I currently have Out on a Limb sitting on my tbr shelf which I will get to in the next week or so, and in hindsight I wish I read it first, but nevertheless my mistake with the order of the books.

Out of the Woods takes the ‘picture perfect marriage’ and gives an inside perspective, showcasing how the miscommunication between two people in love can develop into something more bitter, resentful, and darker than they initially thought it would get. It is a look into individual identity as much as it is the identity of a couple, a committed couple in a life-long marriage. I really appreciate the fact that there are themes of co-dependancy, self-discovery, and family trauma explored in this novel on top of the tropes and themes typical in this kind of romance book. Yes, there are couple moments. Yes, some of those moments involve disagreements, public arguing, and unresolved feelings. Does that take away from the deeper aspects of the novel? No. In fact, I would put money on it to say it makes the novel all the more relatable and impactful because of these bumps in the road. A couples therapy hike is never going to be an easy thing, and that is all part of what makes Out of the Woods so enjoyable to me.

By this point, everyone knows I am a sucker for a natural setting – this hiking location with its stunning environment, gorgeous focal points, and remote feel gives the novel the feeling of a breath of fresh air. It feels like a therapy session for not only the characters, but for the reader as well. The exercises, the one-on-ones, the setting that bleeds into the tone and ambience of the writing. It feels so relaxing and eye-opening to read, as well as funny, intense, and a little spicy. It has those layers to romance which I find myself really enjoying, the past and present crossing over each other to complicate character decisions. By stepping into the rain and the forest and seperating from the outside world of work, friends, and responsibilities, Out of the Woods makes the situation feel authentic, not just in the problem but the solution and path forward as well.

I can’t wait to read Out on a Limb and more books from Hannah Bonam-Young. She has such a lovely writing style and the characters are so rich and welcoming, you can’t help but want to get to know them even if you don’t like their actions. I highly recommend this for romance readers, especially contemporary romance reader looking for a little bit of spice on top of a well-written romance plot.