Roughing It

by Andi Ellis

ROUGHING IT by ANDI ELLIS
They’ll survive the wilderness—if they don’t kill each other first.

Holly Keane is a big-city food blogger on a mission: meet her online boyfriend, Charlie, at a cozy mountain resort and finally end her dating slump. But when she winds up lost in the remote Montana wilderness, her rescue comes in the form of Vance Gordon—a rugged wildlife biologist with a soft spot for grizzly bears and a knack for driving her crazy.

Forced to rely on each other for survival, Holly and Vance face treacherous trails, scheming poachers, and the most dangerous threat of all—unexpected feelings. Vance is wild, infuriating, and everything Holly didn’t know she wanted. But she’s already chasing a future with someone else … isn’t she? Caught between the life she planned and the one she’s starting to crave, Holly must decide which path will truly lead her home.

'Roughing It' is a laugh-out-loud, slow-burn, low-spice adventure romance about finding your way—even if you have to get a little lost first.

Genres: Romantic Comedy, Romance

214 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2025

About the author

Andi Ellis writes smart, funny romantic comedies with big hearts and sharp teeth. Based on the East Coast of Canada, she lives in a charming state of mild chaos with three rambunctious dogs, too many coffee mugs, and a well-worn emotional support sweater. When she’s not writing about complicated women and the people who (try to) love them, she’s probably tracking snacks, making playlists, or overthinking text messages. 'Roughing It' is her debut novel.

Andi Ellis is a pen name from author Peter Hicks.

Reviews

[Mattie LaPointe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m typically into thrillers—I do love a romance now and then but I do find a lot of parts of romance novels repetitive. Such as, dialogue between two women sounding as though it was written by a man who has never met a real woman in his life, the FL being defenceless, dumb, and 4 foot nothing….etc. This wasn’t the case with this book. I read the entire thing in one sitting and loveddddd the characters AND the plot line. The FL was intelligent, relatable and funny and the ML’s career made him so likeable.
I don’t want to add any spoilers, but I loved the bear storyline so much and found myself giggling and veryyyy satisfied with the slow build of the relationship and the ending.

[Laura Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good. A very enjoyable slow burn rom com about a big city blogger who ends up lost in the wilderness. It truly just made me smile and laugh. I was a great read after a rather heavy read. So many great moments and I love supporting a local author.

[Sandra Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story. Well written, nicely paced with plenty of tension.
A romance with a cast of interesting characters. And a strong shout out to Nature and the environment. Loved it.

[Carol Reimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished a fun modern rom- com by new author Andi Ellis. Enjoyed getting to know Holly Keane, a food blogger on her surprising mountain adventure. And seeing Holly get to know herself. The romantic lead is a nice guy with just the right amount of quirky. Although look out for Rocky!

[Jessica Doiron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll be blunt. This book is nothing like I expected.
The FMC is insufferable, and the MMC isn't interesting at all. For a romcom, the romance was lacking and out of place when it does appear. It felt forced and almost shoehorned in.
I expected this to take place in the Canadian wilderness due to the author being Canadian. Well colour me surprised when it takes place in Montana.
One last warning, there is what I feel is an abnormal amout of descriptions around the FMC peeing. Maybe thats just me though.

[Katherine MacPhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roughing It is an amazing book! It is a well-written romantic comedy with excellent imagery and analogies. The vivid descriptions make the story feel real and relatable. Each chapter keeps you engaged and on the edge of your seat. A wonderful book filled with romance, humor and adventure.

[Arielle D. Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure I do know this author personally.

If your idea of "roughing it" is a hotel room without room service, this book is a hilarious reality check!
Take Holly, a big-city food blogger on a mission to meet her online boyfriend, and drop her into the deep Montana wilderness. When things go sideways, she is forced to team up with Vance—a rugged wildlife biologist who has a knack for driving her crazy.
Roughing It is a laugh-out-loud, slow-burn adventure romance. Pack your hiking boots and a sense of humor—this cozy rom-com delivers the perfect blend of survival, banter, and chemistry. Such a cute summer read!

[Joyceline Mazerolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great super fun read! Throughly enjoyed this author’s debut!

[Rachel Doucet · Rating 4 out of 5]

fast paced & fun romcom!! perfect for reading in one-sitting

[Alicia Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a fun great paced funny romance had so much fun reading the story loved the characters and such great banter between them was giggling so much.

[Chris Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roughing It has all the vibes of a Hallmark plot, but is fantastically funny and fresh. I found myself running to my husband and listing off all the wild hijinx like I was providing colour commentary at a sporting event, all while I fell in love with the story, the writing, and the characters. Holly is as bonkers as her adventure, but charming enough that I was cheering her on the whole way.

Andi Ellis is a name to keep an eye on--this kind of wit is something to grab on to.

[Toby Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I am a friend and colleague of the author. I am an avid reader and read romance novels often, so was asked if I would like to be a reader and reviewer. I joined Goodreads just to post this review. It's my first review but there will be more! As for "Roughing It," I was fortunate to read it twice during it's development, once as a draft and once after revision. It's a fascinating process. I really love the premise of the book. It's funny and clever. There are definitely enough familiar elements for traditional romance readers but this book put a spin on it for me. The set-up was hilarious from the bee and the bear. The main character Holly is a wild one and Vance is the perfect contrast. Their chemistry takes time but it's believable, even as ridiculous things are happening around them. I won't get into the storyline, but it kept me reading. I laughed out loud so much. I highly recommend it!

[Sarah Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked from Page 1, Roughing It was a great introduction to Andi Ellis books. A Perfect Rom-Com Blend. A mix of laugh-out-loud comedy and action and suspense. It follows the classic enemies-to-lovers story: girl meets boy, girl dislikes boy, and girl inevitably falls hard. The true magic lies in the characters and their witty banter. Easy fun reading keeps you turning pages, completely invested in watching the main couple finally get together. It is an entertaining, funny, and deeply satisfying read. Take it with you on your next camping trip!

[Debi]

Loved it! I also definitely benefitted from learning the definition of “romcom” first, andt once I got that down - I was ready for this great piece. Will be recommending to others for Christmas gift ideas and as a great read for the cold months ahead. A lot of wilderness adventure, some unexpected plot twists, a dash of spice, and some cover your mouth laughs - lol.

[Bev Bramble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked Roughing It. A pleasantly surprising mix of romance and fast-moving woodlands action adventure with unexpectedly dangerous and potentially deadly twists and turns. The dialogue was fresh and clever, and the descriptions vivid and imaginative. It’s like Andi has been writing all ‘her’ life. And the overall theme of getting lost to find oneself was handled compellingly.

[Sandra Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was just what I needed for a quiet weekend in. A light-hearted romp in the mountains. Lots of laughs and a few surprises. More action and adventure than I was expecting but nothing too intense. I loved how it unfolded, though I wanted a bit more at the end as the story resolved. Vance was a great character. Quiet strength. And the best friend Becky made me wish I had a Becky!

[Hannah State · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and light-hearted read

I don't typically read romantic comedies but wanted to try something new. Met the author at a book fair. Read most of the novel at the beach over one weekend in the summer. If you're looking for something engaging, witty, and fast paced, with high stakes and a little spice, I highly recommend it.

[Levi'sMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this so much! Good pace, interesting and engaging characters (loved the BFF!). Ticked all the boxes for me. Looking forward to reading more from Andi. :)

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 3/4 in.