turnthepages_nl 's review for:

Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young

5.0

emotional funny hopeful reflective 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

Thank you PRH for the digital ARC! #PRHInternationalPartner

This story absolutely blew me away. It exceeded all my expectations! Hannah Bonam-Young is now in my top three fav author list!!

I already fell in love with Sarah and Caleb in 'Out on a limb' but it was so so lovely to get a closer look at them, their dynamic and inner thoughts.

Sarah is spiraling. She feels adrift. She feels like she has no purpose. Like she is doing nothing with her life. Caleb is almost living on autopilot. And is pretty oblivious to how Sarah is feeling. So when their bubble bursts, Sarah asks Caleb to go to a couples retreat in nature. Being outdoors with other couples who are maybe struggling and having some time with a counselor too during the trip. He is a bit hesitant as they are NOT outdoorsy people. But he wants to work on their relationship and their communication. So he accepts and goes with her!

As a child of divorce, it is hard for me to read about a couple struggling. But I knew this story would have a happy ending. And I knew Hannah Bonam-Young would take care of my heart. And she did. This story was written with enormous care!
Real issues arose, and they were talked about and handled. Caleb and Sarah both grew as individuals and as a couple. They improve their communication. Get to know each others goals and ambitions again. Start living in the now, being present. And it moved me to tears sometimes.

Sarah lost her mom to ALS (as was briefly mentioned in 'Out on a limb') and throughout the book we have flashback chapters. To before the news, when Caleb and Sarah met each other for instance. But also when they got the news of her mom being sick. And her health getting worse and worse. It was sad, but beautiful. Because it shed so much light on why Caleb and Sarah are (stuck) in these patterns. How these patterns came into place. And how they maybe are not neccessary anymore!
I don't know much about ALS so I can't tell you if the representation was good. But the grieving and fear was portrayed very well. How you can grieve someone who is still alive and yet also live in denial still.

I applaud Sarah for sticking to her desicions to not have kids. She and Caleb are in agreement about it. They don't want kids. They love being auntie & uncle. They love kids, but don't want any of their own. And it was so refreshing! How many times (in real life or in media) do you see a couple struggling in their marriage and try to have a baby to "fix the marriage"?! I hate that people do that. And I feel sorry for that child and the pressure that is put on them. So it was amazing to see how Sarah and Caleb stuck to their decision to not have kids. And worked on their actual relationship instead of throwing a baby into the mix (a recipe for disaster if you ask me...)

The setting was amazing too. I don't read many books that don't take place inside house or town. This outdoorsy setting felt really intimate even if they were out in the wild. Because there is no reception, they don't get distracted by the outside world or work. You really are stuck with each other, with your partner and the other couples. And I really loved the other couples. It was such a nice mix of different personalities and people in different stages of their lives and with different priorities also. Some beautiful friendships formed and I am very happy for them.

The ending was intense, but it did not feel over the top. If it was written by anyone else I would find it too much. But how Hannah did it, it actually works?! And that surprised me! And the epilogue made me so so happy and proud!! I feel deeply conncected to these characters, simply because they are written so well and lifelike. So to see them succesful and happy and setteled and content and present. Ah my heart sighs a happy sigh.

This beautiful vulnerable book really will forever hold a piece of my heart!

Content Warnings