In The Great Outdoors by Kayla Olson, Sadie Whitlock has never really been tempted to go on any outdoor excursions. While she is usually the most organized person in any group, she’s 
more comfortable being indoors–preferably with air conditioning and all the amenities a girl could ask for. But when her boyfriend breaks up with her and laughs when she says she’s not as high maintenance as he’s accused her of being time and time again, she’s had enough. Sadie signs up for a twelve-day hiking trip in the Sierras to show Caden who she really is. Okay…so it never occurred to her exactly how exhausting and dangerous a trek through the California mountains would be. Particularly for someone as inexperienced as her. Good thing her group’s hiking leader, August Thorn, is a great teacher. And handsome. And seriously patient with her as she learns the ropes. Sadie wasn’t expecting months after her relationship with Caden ended to find a guy who would treat her like she was someone special and worthy of time and affection. But the Sierras are turning out to be the perfect background for romance to bloom.
“You do know an apocalypse is unlikely, yes?”
“We’re out in the woods for almost two weeks,” I say, only a little overdramatic. “No electricity. No refrigeration. No reliable internet signal. No mattresses or plush duvets. It’s basically the same thing.”
Thorn has spent his life on the trails of the Sierras. First with his father, now as the leader of expeditions where he takes a new group of trekkers up the mountains several times a year. He’s seen a lot up in the wilderness. The good *and* the bad of humanity and nature. But Thorn has never met a client so inadequately prepared for the adventure they were about to take as Sadie is. Overpacked, missing necessary equipment, and looking more like she’s headed to the spa than about to walk several miles a day on rough terrain, she could be a problem. As they make their way through the first couple of days on the trails, Thorn realizes he was right. But not for the reason he envisioned. Nope. Sadie is a problem because he can’t stop thinking about her. Outgoing, personable, funny, whip-smart, and simply a pleasure to be around, she’s proving to be an asset to the team–and to Thorn. Because as things keep going off the rails a little bit at a time, mostly with one particular unhappy couple and a blast from his past with an attitude, Sadie helps navigate all the issues seemingly with ease. And it makes Thorn wish his life was a little different so he could have more time with her to explore their growing feelings.
‘I’ve met a lot of different people out here, but I’ve never met anyone like her: someone so completely out of their element that, somewhere along the way, she made it her element.’
Every book Kayla Olson writes is an adventure. But THE GREAT OUTDOORS was a literal–and literary–adventure that brought romance, friendships, breathtaking scenery, and life changes to every single page.
‘Being out here is changing me on a molecular level, though, I can feel it: this place, this experience, is carving its mark on me–and Thorn is bearing witness to it.’
This was the type of story that challenged the characters in every way imaginable. Most definitely our heroine Sadie, who was a self-professed planner and overpacker, was uber organized, and wasn’t really a fan of the outdoors. So, why did she go on a twelve-day hike in the California Sierras? To prove a point. And rightly so, quite honestly.
I loved that Sadie had enough self-awareness to openly say she was on the trip to show her ex that she wasn’t too high maintenance to try something completely out of her wheelhouse. And not only did Sadie face every challenging day with a smile, but she also excelled at each task. At the same time, though, she knew how to laugh through the difficult bits while not taking herself too seriously. Something that the other trekkers loved about her. Because Sadie was a people person who showed compassion and care at every turn. And boy didn’t their leader Thorn notice.
Where Sadie was an “indoorsy” person, August Thorn was as “outdoorsy” as he could be. He had spent his entire life hiking those trails with his dad so his job as a hike leader was the perfect fit. And knowing how dangerous the mountains could be, Thorn was also a rule follower. But when it came to his attraction to Sadie, that’s where the lines began to blur. He’d never been so tempted to break the company rules–mainly because he’d never met anyone who intrigued him as much as she did. It was fun to see them banter, have an easy camaraderie right from the start while their attraction grew bigger each day. And where this was a dual POV story, we got to see Thorn’s struggles up close as well as each piece of his life he began sorting out on the trip. I just adored his selflessness and how steadfast he was in helping others. Sigh.
TROPES/VIBES:
📋 Type-A indoorsy heroine
🌲 At-one-with-nature hero
🔥 Slow burn clean romance
🥾 Trail drama & funny antics
⛰️ Gorgeous Sierra Mountains backdrop
CW: View Spoiler »
If you’re looking for a book that will take you from the quirkiness of Austin all the way to the top of the scenic Sierras, with a whole lot of romance and self-empowerment along the journey, THE GREAT OUTDOORS will most certainly do the trick.
QOTD: Have you been on a hiking trip or outdoor group activity that put you out of your comfort zone? If so, how did it turn out?
Book Info:
Publication: Published June 16th, 2026 | Atria Books |
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 guide 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.
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