The Great Outdoors

by Kayla Olson

From USA TODAY bestseller Kayla Olson, a new rom-com about a high-maintenance woman who embarks on a wilderness trek to prove to her ex how low-maintenance she can be—only to find herself with no makeup and an extremely attractive trek leader.

Sadie Whitlock has always been praised for being the most prepared person in the room, the one who’s thought of everything—and every backup plan—for any given situation. She knows exactly what she wants, exactly what she loves, and goes to great lengths to make sure her life runs perfectly as planned.

So, when her laidback boyfriend breaks up with her for being “too high-maintenance,” Sadie is eager to prove him wrong, and signs herself up for a weeks-long guided wilderness adventure in the High Sierras of camping, hiking, rappelling, and kayaking. It’s the most miserable, uncomfortable situation she can think of.

Sadie’s a five-star resort girl at heart, but she has a compelling—and suspiciously attractive—tour August Thorn. Thorn lives for adventure and always keeps a professional distance from the trekkers under his care…but there’s just something about Sadie, and for the first time, he finds himself wanting to get closer. As they explore the wilderness together, Sadie realizes the great outdoors might truly be great with the right person.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Summer, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Rom Com

384 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 16, 2026

About the author

Kayla Olson lives in Texas, and can usually be found in near proximity to black coffee, the darkest chocolate, Scrivener, and an army of Zebra mildliners.

THE SANDCASTLE EMPIRE has been translated into 14 languages—for more specifics on where to buy in France, Turkey, Spain (Spanish and Catalan), Romania, Denmark, Brazil, Serbia, Poland, China, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Russia, and Germany, please visit www.kaylaolson.com

Social media:
Twitter: @olsonkayla
Instagram:@authorkaylaolson
Facebook: @authorkaylaolson
Blog: olsonkayla.wordpress.com

Reviews

[taylor ❤️‍🔥 · Rating 4 out of 5]

rating: 4.25 ★

"𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓— 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏 ... 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏."

sadie has never claimed to be anything other than herself - a planner who knows exactly what she likes and what she wants. when she's blindsided with a breakup by her long term boyfriend for being too high maintenance she's determined to prove him wrong. sadie immediately signs up for a hiking expedition that her ex had been talking about to show him she can be flexible and doesn't need her creature comforts. the only problem? her ex doesn't actually sign up. still wanting to prove her ex wrong she follows through with the hike. while she went into it out of spite what she quickly finds is a journey of self discovery, self love and a very attractive hiking guide named august thorn.

oh my god this book made my outdoorsy, hiker heart so happy. olson perfectly captured the backpacking experience down to whole body soreness, the blisters and exhaustion only to happily wake up and do the whole damn thing over again the next day. and the way she described the nature in each individual leg of the hike? perfection.

the progression of the romance was honestly so refreshing. no rushed i love yous, no insta love or lust just two people who getting to know each other and realizing there was something more there for both of them.

i really admired the way that every single character was written. from the main characters to the side characters the way olson writes makes them actually felt like real people. no one, and i mean no one in this book was written as if they were perfect. i also really appreciated that we got to know each of the side characters, even if it was just a little bit it was nice for them not to be "the tennis girls" or "the coffee bros."

this was my first kayla olson book but it definitely wont be my last. 😩

𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ⋆˚࿔

𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘢 𝘰𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸. 💖

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadie’s boyfriend breaks up with her because she is “too high-maintenance” and not into risky outdoor activities, so she decides to sign up for a weeks-long guided wilderness adventure in the High Sierras. Of course, the guide turns out to be very handsome and kind, so he immediately starts attracting her.

This book reminded me of early-2000s rom-com movies, where a girl is pushed outside her comfort zone. For example, the FMC brings a lot of unnecessary things with her, like perfume, pink fluffy slippers, etc. But throughout the book, she transforms and starts appreciating different things. Was it interesting for me to read this in 2026? Honestly, not really. In fact, she adapts to the new circumstances quite easily. The romance with August also felt very sudden, and I find it hard to believe that their relationship would last after the hiking trip in real life.

But if you want to spend an evening with a light read with a summer atmosphere in the wilderness, then this is a good option. I felt like I had gone camping with them myself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

"She's the first person in years who's made me feel alive

This was so cute! Set almost entirely on a twelve day hike through the Sierra's, this has both a little romance and a great personal growth story.

After Sadie is unexpectedly dumped for being too high maintenance and not spontaneous enough, she signs up for a twelve day intensive hike. Originally thinking her ex will be there and she gave stick it to him when she crushes the hike, she winds up doing it alone and a little shocked about what a hike actually entails. Sadie loves her creature comforts and luxuries, and the plethora of items in her backpack originally included a curling iron, silk pjs and multiple books. I really enjoyed her story here. It felt realistic- she didn't come out of the hike a totally different person and throw out all of her makeup. She recognizes that sure, maybe she is high maintenance- but what's wrong with that? She loves being pampered and having nice things. But she isn't reliant on them. She struggles in the hike- she hates the bugs, has blisters and is constantly sore. But she also has a great attitude- constantly seeing the good in things and taking in the beauty of her surroundings.

The romance with Thorne was cute too. I loved how he saw Sadie- he knows hiking isn't her thing and sees how out of her element she is. He jokingly pokes at her about these things but genuinely likes that about her- how far out of her comfort zone she is pushing herself.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bethanys_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️!!!!

This is one of my new favorite rom coms of all time 🥹 after Sadie is dumped unexpectedly by her boyfriend because she is “too high maintenance”, she signs up on a whim for an intensive hiking trip to prove him wrong. She thought her ex would be there and she could show him that he was wrong about her, but he didn’t show up and she is there on her own. She’s not outdoorsy at all so it’s so outside of her comfort zone, and she slowly falls for the hiking guide! I LOVED her journey of self discovery and growth, and I thought her and Thorn were so good together and so supportive of each other! This is definitely one I’ll re read again and would absolutely recommend a million times over!!

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌄 The Great Outdoors🌄

✨Thorn & Sadie foreverrrr ✨
Ugh I loved this so much! Thorn was my absolute freaking favorite! Sadie grew so much and I loved her equally as much! Together they were honestly such a cute couple and matched so well. Thorn made some stupid decisions towards the end but he redeemed himself.

I did want to punch Matheo the entire freaking time! And Thorn was way too forgiving the entire book because honestly Matheo was scum and deserved everything that happened to him. There were a couple of others who also drove me nuts. But Matheo was actual trash!

🌲 What to Expect
• Opposites attract
• Wilderness survival
• Grumpy guide MMC
• High-maintenance FMC
• Forced proximity
• Outdoors adventure
_ _ __

📅 Pub Date: June 16, 2026
📝 Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay this was such a sweet surprise. I have to admit the first few chapters were hard for me to get into, just because I a) will also do something just because someone tells me I can’t, b) had a hard time believing that someone who read/watched so much to prep for her hike thought hiking boots were optional, and c) am also a hiking girly who doesn’t like how unpreparedness can lead to injury. (In other words, I needed to check myself).

I ended up LOVING Sadie and wishing I could go on a hike with her because she’d have good snacks and a happy attitude. The self discovery throughout this book for both Sadie and Thorn was beautifully written and also very believable in our connected and augmented world. It was simultaneously a celebration of being your true self but also pushing yourself to do hard things. Having been on hikes where you realize “oh no, I’m terrified but I literally have no option but to keep going”… the author nailed that feeling perfectly.

I’m so happy I read this, it’s a great summer read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.

[Lauren Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE GREAT OUTDOORS by @authorkaylaolson
📖 book review • out 06.16.26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

thank you so much @atriabooks for my gifted ARC!

oh I loveddd this book - the setting was 10/10 and the absolute best book to bring with me to the mountains! I completely binged this entire story in less than 2 days while staying in a secluded cabin in the blue ridge mountains • the vibes were 🤌🏻

Sadie is *high* maintenance & feels the need to prove to her ex exactly how *low* maintenance she can be by embarking on a two week long wilderness trek of hiking, camping, kayaking - and she quickly becomes close to the trek’s leader, August Thorn.

I loved both the main characters so much, loved their chemistry, and found myself laughing out loud and giddy so many times. I can’t wait to read the rest of her backlist 🤍

[Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! The setting was so fun and the characters were so lovable. I really enjoyed Sadie’s journey (as a chronic overpacked myself) and think a lot of girls will relate to her. Kayla Olson always delivers a swoony read and this book is a great addition to her romcoms! This would be such a good book to take with you on vacation, or read outside at home. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Full review to follow.

[Kloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review of: “The Great Outdoors” by: Kayla Olson

Format Read: Digital Netgalley ARC
Pub date: June 16, 2026
Publisher: Atria Books
Page Count: 384
Recommended for readers who enjoy: Katherine Center and Christina Lauren!
Notable Tropes: Forced-Proximity (kinda?), Outdoorsy Guy x City Girl, Summer Romance.
Minor complaints:
- While this book might qualify as “insta-love” to some, it does not feel as fast paced, as each day of the characters wilderness hike feels well paced. The characters actually get to know each other on a deeper level, rather than just being initially attracted to each other. (So this isn’t really a complaint lol, just a warning for those wary of this specific trope!)
Favorite Aspects:
- Great description of nature and camping details. I felt like I was standing next to Sadie and Thorn in the wilderness, and was kept on my toes with the general plot of their hike.
- “Sadie makes me feel alive.” - I love the trope of an mc feeling reawakened in their life through their partner.
- There are amazing character developments and self discovery aspects in this story. Both inner and outer relationships were rekindled with care, which translated on the page.
- As someone who can relate to the fmc, Sadie, I feel she is well written, and all challenges faced by this character are very relatable and real.
Final recommendation: When it comes to a star rating, I give this book a 5/5🌟’s! This book was very cute and had an overall positive message, which I loved.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review!

[greta ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

This tour company needs to be shut down fr

This romance was fine, kind of cute, I like that both characters did a lot of introspection. Even though they’re very different I believe that they would work together, they’re two idiots, but they had compatible flaws haha. I didn’t really feel any chemistry between them though, which was my main problem with the book.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!

[Liz Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had a cutesy setup, and I was immediately interested in the idea of a backpacking trip spiraling off course. While I enjoyed the scenic California mountain backdrop and the adventurous atmosphere, the characters never felt fully developed to me. Sadie came across as the stereotypical social media influencer having a dramatic self-discovery moment, while Thorn fit the predictable I’ve given up on love until she came along and was a pain in the ass on my hiking trip mold. Even so, the hiking elements were fun and reminded me of some of my own adventures. There’s always that one person who overpacks! By the end, though, I felt ready to part ways with both characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Kayla Olson for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this one was adorable.

Sadie is a chronic overpacker, type A, always prepared, queen. She’s been told she’s too much, too high maintenance, too everything.

Thorn is wilderness trek leader that spends most of his time in the mountains with a rotating door of trekkers.

Sadie, trying to prove a gross ex boyfriend wrong, decides to go on a trek to prove she can do it. With Thorn as her trek leader, Sadie discovers so much about herself, and surprisingly, Thorn makes his own self discoveries.

This is a no spice, slow burn, opposites attract, HEA. An absolute feel good summer book!

Sadie is a comfort to every person that’s been told they are too much, too this, or that. You are never too much for the right people!

Thank you NetGalley & Simon & Schuster for this ARC!

[Annie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being dumped for being “too high maintenance,” Sadie decides to prove she can rough it by joining a group backpacking trip through the Sierras. Except, things don’t go quite as planned — and what starts as a personal challenge turns into something much more complicated when she meets Thorn, the rugged, rule-abiding trip leader who seems to like her exactly as she is.

This book was so much fun — especially if you love the outdoors! Sadie and Thorn’s romance is sweet because he genuinely likes her for who she is, which felt so satisfying after everything she’d been through. And the “no relationships with hikers” rule? Totally believable. Sleeping with a client would be such a real-world mess, so I loved that it added real tension.

That said, my backpacker brain couldn’t ignore a few details — these people needed bear canisters, and the idea that only a few knew what switchbacks were made me laugh. Sadie also should’ve been in way more pain for someone new to backpacking! But beyond that, I had such a good time with this story.

Tropes I loved:
🪵 Forbidden romance
🎒 Opposites attract
⛺️ One bed (tent!)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mylissa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew I was going to love this book from the dedication page. . . "To anyone who’s ever been made to feel like they’re too much (or too little, somehow at the same time)—I hope you find your people, and that they love you for exactly who you are." ❤️ I immediately feel seen

This novel is a second chance romance for FMC (Sadie) who has been dumped by her ex & is looking to embrace her adventure side. From her overpacked backpack and lack of hiking shoes, I knew where this story was going but I still enjoyed every step of the journey. This is a closed door romance that had me cheering for the characters HEA from their mis-step meet cute 🥰

This novel includes heartfelt and relatable dialogue, thoughtful gestures and scenes that were so vividly described I could imagine being on the trail with these characters. If you enjoy the outdoors, hiking/camping or rediscovering who you are, I think this gentle and sweet romance is perfect for you.

[Amanda Oggier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this and was honestly sad when I finished this because I was enjoying it so much. I had a feeling it was going to be good based on the dedication alone… Legally Blonde + Survivor + over packing?? I’m in.

I don’t think I’d be as brave as Sadie was to tackle a hike like this! I think one of my favorite parts of this was the personal growth with Sadie. And it wasn’t by putting down who she was before… it was more like acknowledging there wasn’t anything wrong with who she is and what she likes and finding someone who appreciates her for her.

I thought Thorn had a lot of growth too. I thought he was really sweet. And the banter between Sadie and him was really quick and funny.

I do want to note that I was lucky enough to win a Goodreads giveaway for this book but did not allow that to influence my thoughts on the book. I was just lucky enough to get a book I ended up loving.

And can Netflix option this for a film??? It would be so CUTE!!

[Hunter Villarreal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read another ARC!

This was amazing. I loved every second of it. This was such a light hearted, easy read but in the best way possible.

Sadie is going through a tough break up that gives Legally Blonde vibes. She’s too much for the guy she’s with. Too high maintenance, too girly. So to prove him and herself wrong she signs up for the 12 day hike excursion. But, he didn’t sign up and now she’s going at it alone. Or so she thought. The hot hike leader, August, has caught her interest and she’s caught his. And they have 12 days to explore their interest in each other. And at one point, one tent ❤️‍🔥.

Sadie and August were so cute. The drama was well written in my opinion. The story flowed. It had enough twists and turns to keep interest going. No spice. Definitely a 1/5 on the spice. But the tension and yearning were great.

I will definitely be reading more of Kayla Olson’s books!

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like Kayla’s other romance novels, The Great Outdoors is an adorable, no spice romance with fantastic aesthetics and adults who know how to communicate with one another.

I love the premise of this book. I love a good female protagonist who is going out of her comfort zone to prove she can because a man said she couldn’t. I love the hiking-nature setting. Kayla always does a great job bringing setting details to life through her descriptions, and this one really made me want to plan a camping trip or go on a hike.

While I do not have an aversion to nature like Sadie, I did relate to her overpacking and micro-scheduling personality. But I love that we also get chapters from Thorn’s point of view because I also relate to his love for hiking and nature and “roughing” it. It was a nice balance to have the story told from both of their perspectives.

But what I appreciate the most about this book is that it doesn’t resort to the dreadful “miscommunication trope” to create conflict. It’s common that once the characters “get together” that something has to happen to keep them apart, and this book does a good job of giving an actual reason for such a conflict and not just the characters refusing to talk to each other because they feel hurt.

The plot does wrap up a little too conveniently for me, but overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters and all the drama that ensues. Highly recommend to someone who wants a sweet, no spice romance with fun banter and excellent character growth.

~Thank you to the publisher for providing an early digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.~

[Danielle Ramey · Rating 4 out of 5]

EEK! I just knew I was going to love this book when the opening author note said this book was for anyone who would 100% go on survivor if not for the whole surviving off the land thing, knows all the words to “a little bit Alexis”, and takes inspiration for the way Elle Woods went to Harvard just approve a point. I really resonated with the main female character Sadie for the way she feels that she is “too much”. She is super prepared, overly organized and likes to have a well structured thought out plan. She likes the comforts of the indoors and would never see herself doing a backpacking trip… it’s hitting close to home. But I loved reading about Sadie‘s transition from day one to day 12 of this trip to find that she is wonderful just the way she is, strong enough to do anything she puts her mind to, & even found love in a super attractive and thoughtful tour guide along the way! I’m super thankful for, ATRIA books, and NET galley, and Kaitlyn Olsen for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Ashley Tipton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I've read by Kayla Olson. I'll definitely be picking up others by her! I can genuinely say, I did not want to put this book down. I loved the chemistry between Sadie and Thorn and the way the progression of their relationship felt natural. One of my favorite parts was getting to read Sadie and Thorn's journal entries throughout the trek.

This is one of the few books I've read where I felt connected to so many characters. I loved that Sadie went outside (literally) her comfort zone and did something that scared her. Thorn and his relationship with his Dad and flashbacks of their adventures was so sweet. All I have to say about Abby is, everyone deserves a friend like her. I also really enjoyed hearing about the other people in the group throughout the trip. Maybe if I speak it into existence we can get another book that expands on Matteo's next adventure or even more about what Zoe decided to do next.

The descriptions of the scenery throughout the hike was on point. I especially appreciated the stargazing scenes. It's one of my dreams to go somewhere remote and camp under the stars.

Highly recommend picking this book up! I think my official rating is a 4.5/5. I really think this could have been a 5 star read for me if the ending wasn't so rushed. I could have used more details about how it went from the trip ending to the happily ever after.

A huge thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 Can a couple that vacations differently stay together? An age old question that Carrie Bradshaw could most certainly write an article on with an opening just like this one…

My husband prefers to stay at home while I always have the itch to travel so he holds down the fort while I get to fulfill my wanderlust and rotate traveling with our four kids. It works perfectly for us. Sadie has not found that groove with her now ex-boyfriend: she’s all in for adventure in Italy while he has planned a serious trek through the Sierras. Hoping to prove him wrong, she signs up to take on the great outdoors only to find out that he never actually signed up. It’s a lesson we all hopefully learn at some point in our lives - the right person will love us for who we are, not who we think we should be.

It does not even matter if you like to backpack because Sadie’s adventure into the wilderness is led by the handsome August Thorn - better known as Thorn. I hope you have figured out where this is going because The Great Outdoors is pure rom com gold. And while I totally support whatever your plans are, I would definitely recommend just craving out some time to binge this one because it is impossible to put down. My backpacking days might be in the past but this one felt like I was in semi-retirement and almost broke out my tried and trusted snacks from back in the day to enjoy while reading this (carrots dipped in peanut butter and tang!)

[Samantha Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC of The Great Outdoors!

The best way to describe this book is just an incredibly solid romance novel. I was initially drawn to this title because of the descriptions of hiking and adventure, which are two of my favourite things. However, this book has officially found itself as one of my favourite romance books because of the characters who I was so drawn to, the excellent writing style and pace, and of course the beautiful descriptions of the Mackenzie Lake Loop.

So often with the ‘city girl forced outside of her comfort zone’ trope, the character lacks depth or more importantly, they lack any kind of relatability. However, Sadie is someone that I think everyone can see themselves as, in some way or another.

Kayla Olsen with this book has single-handedly made me want to sign up for another group hiking trip!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[felicia]

What happen to the engaged couple that broke up? I’m more invested in them and why they feel insecure

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.

🏔️The vibes:
- Flirty banter
- Wilderness hike
- Forbidden romance
- Forced proximity
- Opposites
- Closed door (make outs)

🏔️ My thoughts:
When Sadie’s boyfriend breaks up with her for being too “high maintenance”, she decides to go on a big hiking trek to prove that she can do hard things. Her hiking guide is Thorn - the ever professional who never gets involved with a trekker….until now.

🏔️I thought this was fun. It's always a bonus when I really enjoy a book that has elements that I’m not naturally drawn to. I don’t know that I would call the relationship between Thorn and Sadie “instalove”, but it was definitely a very fast-moving connection. Typically this isn’t something I love, because it can feel like I got left behind or I’m unable to feel the connection in that speed of time. In this book, the author gave the couple enough time together on page that while it was a really fast timeline, I got to see enough of them on page that it worked for me.

🏔️At some points, their bond felt a bit physical-focused- with Sadie’s “x- rated dreams” (we don’t get these one page), and their overall physical attraction is constantly at the forefront of the interactions between the characters. But even with the strong physical attraction, I saw enough emotional connection alongside it which I appreciated.

🏔️This read like a rom com movie in my head. Some of the other trekkers on the hike pulled some wild punches that leaned into the humor and chaos that comes with romcoms. But even in the humorous moments, I saw a lot of depth in Sadie’s journey. As a fellow Type A high maintenance girl, I related to her struggles a LOT. Her character really inspired me.

🏔️Lastly, I loved the nature setting. The wilderness felt like a whole character itself which felt so immersive.

Note / spice content: language (light. A*, sh*); closed door (make outs)
Release date: June 16, 2026.

Thank you so much to Kayla Olson, Atria, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. I received this eARC from the author/publisher, but this honest review is voluntary.

[Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5☆

Thank you Atria books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the setup of this book--the premise and setting were amazing. Hiking is one of my favorite things to do along with reading romance, so combining the two just made such a great mix. Kayla Olsen’s vivid writing of the Sierra's in California was so immersive that it felt you were right there along with Thorn, Sadie, and the rest of the tour group .

With how the first chapter was set up (Legally Blonde vibes) it immediately gave the tone for the rest of the story, a lighthearted, quick-witted tale of journeying back to yourself. And as much as I eat up a story of finding yourself, it didn’t really land for me. It’s not that the book was bad per se, more so lacked differentiating itself from other romance novels to stick out to me.

The one thing I wished was mentioned on the blurb of the book was that Sadie is an influencer, and as much as it’s unique to the story with the videography directions, that was the part I wasn’t necessarily fond of. If anything, it pulled me away from the storyline. It didn’t really deepen a connection with Sadie, if anything, it felt a bit superficial.

I did really love Thorn influencing Sadie to journal, and getting glimpses into their mind as they each wrote about their day and encounters. It added meaningful moments that the book needed.

All in all, not bad, maybe just not my cup of tea.

[Lei · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book ended up being so much more personal for me than I expected. Going into it, I thought I was getting a cute outdoor rom-com, and it absolutely delivered that. But somewhere along the way, I realized I saw parts of myself in Sadie.

I’m not exactly high-maintenance, but I have always been an indoor person. Before I met my husband, the idea of camping, hiking, and outdoor adventures would have sounded like my worst nightmare. My husband, on the other hand, loves all of those things. Reading Sadie’s journey honestly reminded me of learning to step outside my comfort zone without losing who I am. And that’s what I loved most about this story.

In Sadie’s defense, I never thought she was “too much.” She simply knew what she liked. Being prepared isn’t a flaw. Having preferences isn’t a flaw. Wanting a plan doesn’t make someone difficult to love.

I also adored Thorn. He never tried to change Sadie into someone else. He accepted her exactly as she was, and I think that’s what made their relationship work so well.

If you’re looking for a super spicy romance, this probably isn’t the book for you. But if you want something sweet, comforting, and full of heart, this is exactly that.

For me, the biggest takeaway was this:

You don’t have to change for someone.
Being prepared isn’t a flaw.
The right people won’t make you feel difficult to love.

Thank you to Kayla Olson and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this early. ❤️

[Jessica Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you atria for the early copy of this book. #atriapartner

What’s it about?
Sadie’s boyfriend thinks she’s too high maintenance and bails on her planned couples trip to Italy (and their relationship) to go hiking without her. But Sadie has a point to prove and signs up for the hike anyway. But when she gets there, her ex isn’t there, and now she’s faced with a long hike with no experience and an overpacked backpack.

Good thing she has a good hike guide in Thorn… even if he constantly gives her a hard time. But Thorn is battling his own struggles with his co-leader and former best friend, and grief over his dad.

But somehow opposites attract on a hike through the Sierras!

My thoughts:
This one was adorable. I loved the setting and all the details of a 9-day backpacking hike. The dynamics between the whole hiking group were dramatic and fun. And Thorn and Sadie were precious together! I loved the hint of a forbidden relationship, and how they both have to come to terms with what they want out of life.

For my romance reader friends, this one is kisses only, but there is great chemistry with sweet and hilarious moments.

Fun summer read!

[Keles Wyntor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley.

I was so excited to read this book after reading the description! I actually was broken up with by someone right before they started their Appalachian trail hike which made me spiral into trying outdoorsy activities so I actually found this premise to be oddly relatable haha. I really really loved Sadie and Thorn. Sadie was extremely funny, and very emotionally intelligent. I really loved her character development and how much her and Thorn helped each other grow and heal. Their Banter was so funny and such a bright spot. It felt so natural. I thought this story offered a lot of twists and turns that I did not see coming that were great in pushing the characters. I really loved the Dual POV. I think it was very important to get to see into both characters perspectives. While I was already excited to read this book, I was immediately locked in and was so enthralled I cancelled my plans to finish it, and I did not see that coming!

[Alecia H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance copy of The Great Outdoors by Kayla Olson.

This story follows Sadie, who’s freshly heartbroken after her boyfriend Caden breaks up with her, calling her “high-maintenance” and “too much.” Through a series of revenge type moments Sadie books a 12-day hiking trip in California despite her desperate need for comforts (like coffee and her favourite things) and embarks on the hiking journey to prove to herself that she can do it despite Caden and his opinions and his decisions.

From the moment Sadie meets Thorn, the experienced but quietly guarded trail guide, the story unfolds into something much deeper than a breakup-revenge hike. Olson writes a tender and empowering journey of self-discovery, healing, and unexpected love. Sadie’s growth felt so genuine — from struggling to lighten her pack to saving a fellow hiker and facing her fears head-on, she transforms in such a relatable, inspiring way.

The chemistry between Sadie and Thorn builds slowly and naturally, with so many heartwarming, funny, and occasionally heart-stopping moments.

This book was not just a romance, but a story of self-discovery about finding your strength, your joy, and your place in the world.

The Great Outdoors is uplifting, heartfelt, and full of adventure, reminding us that sometimes feeling lost is exactly how we find ourselves.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC of The Great Outdoors.

I had a great time with this story. We meet our two MCs, seemingly from very different worlds. Our FMC is used to a life of comfort and luxury, where our MMC is rugged, scorned, and from the great outdoors. What starts as a story of redemption turns to a story of growth, love, and finding oneself where you least expect it.

I appreciated the slow burn, the teasing, the restraint that went into our characters' love story. I am not a big smut reader, so really enjoyed the slow-paced desire that made this story so flirty and fun. Both characters experienced trials of the body and mind, ultimately leading them to epiphanies about how they have been living their lives.

The way Kayla sprinkled in some drama, as well as tons of character development, was masterful. The story flowed so naturally and not one moment felt forced. I loved how she added the character of Zoe, who was living a life that could have been a glimpse into Sadie's potential future, had she stayed with her ex. It felt like a turning point when Zoe shared her feelings and ended things with her fiancé.

The only real critique I have is of the ending. I felt like a solution to the LDR issue was wrapped up so quickly and neatly. I liked the fact that Sadie's best friend surprised her with Thorn, but the way it went from 'how will we make this work' to 'I already got a place here and gave up my whole life out there' seemed slightly rushed? I'm not sure if that's just me.

I loved this book overall and would give it 4.75 stars! Highly recommend.