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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked this book, and found myself getting emotional at times! A must read for anyone that’s been in a long-term relationship or marriage with someone they met as a teen. Not a ton of spice, but the spicy scenes were done RIGHT. At first, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the FMC, Sarah, and found her spoiled, overly privileged and bored with her easy life. But as time went on and I got to know her more (along with her past traumas), I started to realized WHY her life is the way that it is, and how she needed to actively work on herself in order to fix her marriage. I appreciated the cast of characters that were on this couples retreat with them and how they added value to the plot and main character development.
I’ve noticed this author tends to write perfect men that can do no wrong. So I found myself on Caleb’s side for every conflict and got a bit irritated at how easy it was for Sarah to chase her dreams of being a writer since Caleb worked hard to provide for her + his trust fund financially supporting them.
Prior to the retreat, I really feel that Sarah could’ve done something in her free time as a SAHW to continue her education or strengthen her skillsets either for free or find something that didn’t involve a large financial investment. She could’ve pursued part-time work, freelancing…anything really. This was also something that gave me a sour taste with Out on a Limb as well—Wyn working minimum wage at her big age to make ends meet, then Beau swooping in to save her financially, set her up with savings and get her dream career and summer camp off the ground.
I took a star off because of the k-drama-esque plot device used towards the end of the book. I would’ve loved to see Caleb and Sarah finish out their hike and head back home to apply everything they’ve learned to their marriage and have a happy ending. While they did have a happy ending a la “10 years later” epilogue, I hated the book ended with Caleb getting injured on the hike and basically being comatose until he woke up RIGHT at the end. Definitely felt unnecessary, even if they used one of those hospital scenes to help repair Sarah’s relationship with her in-laws.
I’ve noticed this author tends to write perfect men that can do no wrong. So I found myself on Caleb’s side for every conflict and got a bit irritated at how easy it was for Sarah to chase her dreams of being a writer since Caleb worked hard to provide for her + his trust fund financially supporting them.
Prior to the retreat, I really feel that Sarah could’ve done something in her free time as a SAHW to continue her education or strengthen her skillsets either for free or find something that didn’t involve a large financial investment. She could’ve pursued part-time work, freelancing…anything really. This was also something that gave me a sour taste with Out on a Limb as well—Wyn working minimum wage at her big age to make ends meet, then Beau swooping in to save her financially, set her up with savings and get her dream career and summer camp off the ground.
I took a star off because of
I love everything Hannah Bonam-Young writes. I read this in one afternoon.
Out of the Woods feels like a therapy session—but in a good way. Discussing all of the shit you’ve been through and the heavy hand life has dealt you so that you can ultimately feel lighter, have clarity, and feel better understood
Out of the Woods feels like a therapy session—but in a good way. Discussing all of the shit you’ve been through and the heavy hand life has dealt you so that you can ultimately feel lighter, have clarity, and feel better understood
I absolutely loved Out On a Limb and was excited to read the follow-up book. What I liked the most about it was dropping in on a couple who has been together for years and needs help communicating. Most romance books only give a glimpse of a couple's future in an epilogue. I would have liked to see more complexity with their communication conflict. It felt like it resolved relatively quickly once they finally addressed it, and they're both very agreeable. Their conversations were almost too perfect during the resolution.
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unfortunately, I just didn't buy that these two characters actually love each other. Like? Sure. Lust after? Definitely. But as often as we are told they love each other, we aren't shown it. Add to that the way that these two mistreat each other, and I spent more than half this book actively rooting against this couple. Between weeks long silent treatments, an inability to listen to anything anyone says, an inability to come up with things they actively like and are proud of in their partner, an inability to give up control for the sake of growth, and the refusal to ever see a fight through actually to resolution, I just have a very hard time buying these two people as a happy, successful couple.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF @ 55% 6/11/25
This book is boring af. It's hardly a second chance romance to begin with considering these people were never divorced OR separated. This is a story about a woman having a mid-life crisis and taking it out on her husband because she doesn't feel fulfilled in her own life.
She's literally mad that she's a stay at home wife and that her husband donated 300K to her foundation??? Epitome of rich white lady problems.
Yes, she has valid feelings and stuff that she should sort out but idk how any of that was her husband's fault or issue. She was projecting hard. Get a therapist. I guess I should amend that and say, sure she got a therapist eventually but I'm not sure how you're gonna solve 10-14 (idk how many) years of resentment and unhappiness in one week???? Like what is the point of this story lol.
This shouldn't be marketed as a romance when it's basically lit/women's fic. I get why people like I guess but I was bored to tears.
This book is boring af. It's hardly a second chance romance to begin with considering these people were never divorced OR separated. This is a story about a woman having a mid-life crisis and taking it out on her husband because she doesn't feel fulfilled in her own life.
She's literally mad that she's a stay at home wife and that her husband donated 300K to her foundation??? Epitome of rich white lady problems.
Yes, she has valid feelings and stuff that she should sort out but idk how any of that was her husband's fault or issue. She was projecting hard. Get a therapist. I guess I should amend that and say, sure she got a therapist eventually but I'm not sure how you're gonna solve 10-14 (idk how many) years of resentment and unhappiness in one week???? Like what is the point of this story lol.
This shouldn't be marketed as a romance when it's basically lit/women's fic. I get why people like I guess but I was bored to tears.
it was a solid 5-star contender until about 70% through and then it just got boring