witchbuns

Kayla Olson, 2026

4 Stars for the view.

In the preface, Kayla Olson says this book is meant for the girls who relate to the 80’s movie Troop Beverly Hills (alongside Elle Woods of Legally Blonde) and she had me hooked. It’s a light rom com version of Wild, with a determined and dumped Sadie going on a two-week wilderness hike to prove that she can handle anything. 

Sadie’s stubborn determination is actually keeps her steady on the two-week trek with strangers, lead by a hunky tour guide named Thorn, and we see that she’s quite lovely, engaged, and community focused. She never complains about the aches and blisters, she handles the fear and panic from nature’s natural destructive forces, and she offers kindness to everyone. The superficial judgements she carries for being too much, for overpacking, for seeking bougie comforts in silk pajamas and spa days – all of that lends to her advocating for what she needs, anticipating what her trail friends need, and sharing comforts around the campfire. She quickly stows her phone and we don’t see her influencing or creating content past day one, because she sees the danger of the hikes and pivots her focus. I was relieved that she began to disconnect so quickly, and Kayla Olson builds the story around the natural environment, the details of the hiking, and the side plots about the other hikers. Her descriptions of nature and being outdoors were very inspiring, and she took the time to establish each setting quite well as the characters progressed through the hike. 

The pacing of the novel is perfect and doesn’t include traditional third act romance tropes, because Olson is too smart of an author to make that swerve. The dual POV is very evenly matched and I enjoyed seeing Thorn go through his personal growth to navigate the mess of his past and stand up for himself to look ahead to his future. Between the two of them, Sadie and Thorn share their stories and journal together (yes, it’s that healthy). We see them truly enjoying each other’s company and connecting so honestly that it makes sense for them to see a long-term future. This book is also very light on spice (fully closed door), focusing on trust instead of exploding chemistry, but there’s still a good slow burn between them. 

I recommend this book for anyone seeking a light rom com that emphasizes wellness, self-acceptance, with a sweet love story. I’ve been reading a lot of dark, traumatic love stories and this was refreshing and well-balanced. Although I’m not an Elle Woods, I really enjoyed this story because Sadie supported everyone around her in a gentle way. Honestly, we could hang. This book comes out next June and I expect it to top summer reads, because it’s very likable, grounded in decent human beings, and well-written. 

Thank you to Kayla Olson, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

(Reviewed for NetGalley, October 26, 2025)