Kimi Freeman’s 'Tis the Damn Season delivers a holiday-themed romance with all the trimmings—small-town charm, festive cheer, and a rekindled romance. The novel follows a familiar storyline: two former lovers find themselves reunited during the holiday season, leading to a mix of nostalgia, unresolved feelings, and new possibilities.

The novel’s strength lies in its festive atmosphere and its ability to evoke the holiday spirit. Freeman’s writing captures the essence of small-town life and the joy of the season, creating a warm backdrop for the romance. The setting itself becomes a character in the story, providing a cozy and inviting environment that enhances the narrative’s appeal.

However, while the holiday charm is evident, the story sometimes feels a bit predictable. The plot follows well-trodden paths, and the development of the romance, while sweet, lacks some of the depth and surprise that could make it stand out. The central relationship is heartwarming, but it unfolds in a manner that feels familiar and safe, lacking the complexity or twist that might have made it more memorable.

Came here for the Taylor Swift inspired title - loved the nods to her discography throughout. Enpyed this book and thgouht was cute, but it felt more geared for a younger audience rather than adult romance. But ! This premise is so fun and cute and I enjoyed following the story.

I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I struggled to get into the book at first; it didn’t really grab my interest, and I was close to DNFing. However, the second half turned things around, becoming progressively cuter, and Aspen’s character development really won me over (she was a bit annoying at first, but I loved her growth).

The book includes some music references that might appeal to fans, though I didn’t connect with them personally. The chapter titles featuring song names were an interesting touch, even if they weren’t quite my style.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I’m looking forward to more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This one was a cute and quick read – had no idea the author was only 16 when she wrote it – that’s so cool! It started off kind of slow, and took some time to get my interest. The characters seemed a bit immature, but overall the story had lots of family, relationship, and friend drama that kept things interesting. There were also some really sweet moments, and it fit the holiday vibes! I probably rounded my rating up due to all the Taylor Swift references, and I think other Swifties would enjoy for that reason alone - just the idea in general is so fun!

This book is for fans of:
- Second Chance
- Celebrity Romance
- Forced Proximity
- Small Towns

Thank you Netgalley and Parson Press for this ARC!

It was a beautiful book that makes you feel like you are on a Hallmark movie, it felt like sometimea everything was too good to be true, you feel like the love interest felt like the perfect man but it felt unrealistic, the main character was just okay but I feel like something was missing in the characters and the chemistry. I loved the Taylor's references which was one of the reasons the book caught my interest.

I read the title of the book and was intrigued by the story. I am a huge Taylor fan and I liked the idea of a book inspired by her songs and I love reading books about musicians and famous people. The whole premise of the book sounded like a perfect story for me.

At first I couldn't put the book down and wanted to know what would happen next. Most of the chapters are not that long which helped me to get into the story very easily. I also liked that each chapter had a designated song. It really suited the vibe of the book.

The story itself, especially the past pov, felt like they're straight out of a Taylor song. It gave a Speak Now (TV) vibe. The whole story also had a lot of Taylor references and quotes in it. Non-Swifties probably wouldn't have understood the references, but as a huge Swifite it did feel a bit weird at times. For me, it felt like the author was trying to get as many references in as possible. Sometimes they fit really well, but at other times it didn't feel like a story about the main characters but about how to fit in the quotes random sentences.

Unfortunately, I couldn't really connect with Aspen and after 75% of the book I was just annoyed by her. The problem was that I didn't really like Roman either. Both characters annoyed me from time to time and felt extremely selfish and egotistical for most of the story.

I still liked the story and how it was written, but too much happened in the last 20-30%. The story could have survived with fewer problems and plot twists. It was quite overwhelming for me.

It was a good debut book and I would like to read more from Tami Freeman.
Thank you to NatGalley and Parson Press for this EARC!

This is such a brilliant Christmas book that reminds me exactly of the hallmark movies. I really enjoyed this book and it has really got me excited for the Christmas season! I love the damsel in distress at Christmas trope and this book was just so warming ❤️❄️

I’m not usually a huge fan of dual timeline as I can get confused with it sometimes, but it worked well with this book and I still reallt enjoyed it!

This was a cute read, but the characters seemed really immature for their age. It read more as a YA novel than an adult romance.

There was also some SA that occurred out of nowhere, and it just seemed random.

Anyway, this is told in past and present timeline, and we really get to see the love between Aspen and Roman. It was cute, sweet, and low angst.

Side note: I didn’t realize the author was so young, but I look forward to seeing how her writing improves.

What to expect:
Low Angst
Second Chance
Small Town
Past and Present Timeline
Closed Door
Holiday Romance

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free eARC!

I got about 45% of the way in and couldn't finish. I'm a huge swiftie, so the title hooked me. But unfortunately the storyline didn't quite keep me around.

If I wanted to know who you were hanging with while I was gone I would have asked you. Much like this lyric, I did not care about this book at all

First I’d like to say, my favorite part of this whole book.. a TAYLOR SWIFT playlist?? Every chapter had a song and I died!! Come on, as a HUGE Swifty, I was immediately sold!!

I’m a huge lover of duel timelines and anything to do with Christmas!! It read like a hallmark Christmas movie and I just loved it. The one thing I was worried about was I’m not a huge fan of celebrity MC’s but this book left me pleasantly surprised. Had me smiling the whole time!! Definitely recommend to all my romance loving friends!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the e-ARC. It was a pleasure getting to meet these characters and added a new automatic buy author to my list!!

‘Tis The Damn Season by Kimi Freeman was wonderful. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging. A true a joy to read. I highly recommend this!

**Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the e-ARC. All opinions expressed are voluntary and my own.**

This was a quick and easy holiday read. It was more on a YA level contemporary romance. It had short chapters which i for one love.

This was a really sweet holiday romance. The relationship between Aspen and Roman feels so fated from the beginning. I think the book does suffer a little from underdevelopment of story. Having everything wrapped up so nicely with a bow in just a singular moment feels a little forced. Especially after the angst and problems throughout. I loved Aspen and Roman working with the kids on the Christmas performance. Their interactions there and with the children felt the most genuine.
I should also mention that I really enjoyed the incorporation of the song linked to each chapter.

This book is adorable.

Told in dual timelines of first love and second chance love. It’s a perfect blend of contemporary and Hallmark Christmas Movie vibes.

The story is engaging, well plotted, and a perfect read for all the holiday feels.

This was a really cute story. It was a bit too cheesey at times, but overall a lot of fun. I would love to see this turned into a Hallmark movie, or something similar. I can definitely see myself re-reading this at Christmas time.

Kimi Freeman’s "‘Tis the Damn Season" is a delightful and refreshing holiday romance that combines humor with heartfelt moments. Set against the backdrop of festive celebrations, the story follows two characters who rekindle a romance that’s as unexpected as it is charming. Freeman’s witty writing and engaging dialogue bring the characters and their holiday escapades to life with warmth and authenticity. The novel seamlessly blends romantic tension with seasonal cheer, making it a perfect read for fans of lighthearted, feel-good stories. "‘Tis the Damn Season" is a fun and uplifting holiday treat that captures the spirit of love and celebration.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY ↡
⏪ past + present POVs
🔥 old flame
🎤 celebrity main character

thank you to netgalley and parson press for this arc!

REVIEW ↡
i decided to read ’TIS THE DAMN SEASON to cross another netgalley arc off my list, this time in honor of christmas in july! overall this book wasn’t for me for a few reasons. i don’t like musician/actress celebrity MCs, so i wasn’t attached to aspen’s character. the plot was disjointed, and it felt like certain themes/events were randomly thrown in and then never mentioned again.

the positives for me were 1) the book was clearly written by a swiftie and i loved the playlist/swiftie references!! and 2) the author was 16 when this book came out, which is beyond impressive!! this was also a quick read and i started/finished it in one day.

I ate this book, even though I read it in October and not December.

Whenever I see a playlist, I always appreciate the effort of the author in sharing their inspiration and matching the vibes of the book to music. I also absolutely loved the little TS references and hints... and lets face it, it would have been disappointing without them.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me this arc to review!

Kimi Freeman's "‘Tis the Damn Season" is like a holiday cocktail—sweet, a bit tangy, and occasionally too strong. The story follows Holly, a big-city girl who returns to her small hometown for the holidays. Cue the cozy vibes and quirky townsfolk! And how about that Taylor Swift reference?!?

Freeman nails the small-town charm. Aspen is a relatable protagonist, though her journey feels a bit predictable at times. The romance subplot is cute but doesn't break any new ground.

The book shines in its humor and quirky characters, but sometimes it feels like it's trying a bit too hard to be juvenile. Overall, it's a fun holiday read that brings the cheer, even if it doesn't completely dazzle.