I think that this author has a future in romance, but right now she's 16 years old. And that means that the flashback scenes with the character as a teenager, and current as the adult have no difference in tone. They feel flat and feel like teenagers even when they aren't.

I wanted to give this all the stars based simply on the fact that a 16-year-old wrote a whole novel! The premise was great, but it’s just lacking a lot of polish. The dialogue was rough. I also think it’s hard for a teenager to write believably from the perspective of a 20-something. Kimi Freeman will write great things one day, though, if this is the ability she has at only 16.

Christmas, second chance romance, and a lot of Taylor swift makes for a great holiday read ! Join Aspen and Romen as they reconnect over a holiday production in their home town.

Overall, I liked the plot of the book. It was more on the YA side, but I didn't mind. Although it felt kind of rushed, I was satisfied with the ending. Most of all, I loved the love shown between the main characters Roman and Aspen. However, there were a couple of things that made this only a 3-star read for me.

Because of the title, I was expecting there to be more of the holiday spirit throughout. It was severely lacking for me and really didn't even get incorporated until 75% of the way through. I wanted to read the book because it seemed like it was going to be holiday-themed.

This book was also a little chaotic for me. There was a lot of jumping back and forth between the main characters' teenage years and the present, and I felt some if it was just unnecessary. Some of the scenes weren't fully played out and just went to the next scene without describing any purpose. The book could have been a lot shorter.

'Tis the Damn Season really needs to be classified as Young Adult. It has a great story and plot. It just isn’t the romance I expected it to be. It is a great coming of age, finding your true self, kind of novel. The romance is really a beautiful friendship/relationship that took a back seat while these two grew into their own adult selves. It’s a sweet story, just marketed wrong. I enjoyed it.

Very cute! Here are some facts/tropes:
❤️romance
👫childhood lovers
🎬celebrity
🏘small town

This romance is absolutely adorable. I love the way Rome is there for Aspen while her life is falling apart and I am convinced that everyone needs a Rome. I also really liked the parts where the both of them interacted with the children in the show they were producing, that is very wholesome.

Recommend!

Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book feels very juvenile and isn’t grabbing my attention. Now I’m reading it was written by a sixteen year old. I wish I would have realized this one was YA! I’m DNFing it at 14%.

This was such a fun sweet holiday without being too holiday cheesy. I ended up having this as a book club book and it did not disappoint.

I’ll read anything with a hint of TS in it. This was cute. It held my attention and was a quick and easy read.

Aspen's glamorous Hollywood existence takes an unexpected turn when a scandal rocks her carefully built public image. Forced to confront the emptiness within, she retreats to her Pennsylvania hometown, where the past comes alive in the form of her first love, Roman Torres. The story navigates the delicate balance between the allure of stardom and the authenticity of roots, as Aspen and Roman grapple with a connection that refuses to be forgotten.

The author's skillful portrayal of the push and pull dynamics between Aspen and Roman adds depth to the narrative. Their attempt to keep the relationship platonic, given the geographical chasm and disparate lifestyles, creates a tension that resonates with authenticity. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, drawing readers into the emotional complexities of their journey.

The contrast between the glitzy Hollywood backdrop and the intimate connections Aspen rediscovers in her hometown serves as a poignant theme throughout the novel. The allure of fame is juxtaposed against the enduring warmth of a past love, leaving readers to ponder the age-old question of whether true happiness can be found in the pursuit of dreams or in the embrace of genuine connections.

The prose is evocative and laced with emotional resonance, allowing readers to feel Aspen's internal struggle and the magnetic pull of her past. The author successfully weaves a tale that explores the universal themes of love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of personal happiness.

'Tis The Damn Season is a beautifully rendered exploration of the choices we make and the consequences they bear, wrapped in the timeless allure of a love story. Readers seeking a captivating journey through the intricacies of the heart will find themselves enthralled by Aspen's quest for authenticity amidst the glamour of her Hollywood existence. Kimi Freeman has delivered a compelling narrative that resonates long after the final page is turned, making this a must-read for fans of heartfelt romance and introspective storytelling.

Christmas Romance? Check.
Taylor Swift references? Check.
Small town vibes? Check.
Big city girl, who is a famous singer/actress?! Check, check.

This book was cute and fun, but even for me (a MASSIVE Swiftie) - I found the TS references a tad too much. They became a bit distracting... and the story wasn't as developed as I would've liked. It felt really young, even though the characters are in their mid twenties. The story did not flow well unfortunately, and the dialogue didn't feel unique to each character... they all had the same voice as the narration, not unique to how each character would speak.

All of this being said, I found out the author wrote this book at 16 years old - which is impressive! I commend the author for releasing this, and look forward to her future books and growth as a writer.

[Gifted by Parson Press & Netgalley - thank you! All opinions are my own.]

This was an easy fluff book, kinda reminded me of a Netflix film or Hallmark film.

Overall the characters were very likable but I wish there was a little bit more about Roman - felt like a very surface level romance since we didn't get as much insight about his struggles.

Cute book with a second chance romance and dual timeline. I really enjoyed that each chapter started with a song reference. It was a cute book and a bit festive, but it felt a bit juvenile for my taste,

Thank you NetGalley and Parson Press for my e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was super curious about this book, the title immediately caught my attention as a Taylor Swift fan. I couldn't resist getting my hands on a copy of this book. I loved the chapters all related to different song titles , but unfortunately I couldn't make it through the whole book and stopped at about 20% in. I couldn't get into the story as it seemed like the relationships were thrown together and the plot was rushed from the beginning. The main character's relationship started fast, when it seemed like before the male character asked Aspen out, they had never even spoken before. To go from never speaking to each other, to being completely smitten - it just wasn't realistic and felt a little "cringe" and juvenile..

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

When a scandal shakes popstar Aspen’s carefully constructed life, she’s forced to return to her small Pennsylvania hometown, where she reconnects with her first love, Roman. Aspen knows they must keep their relationship strictly platonic. But their chemistry is undeniable, and amidst rumors and drama, the bright lights of Hollywood begin to pale in comparison to the dark brown eyes she fell in love with all those years ago. Could Aspen be willing to give up everything she’s ever wanted for the best thing she’s ever had?

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC! This was a quick read that I was able to get through in one sitting on a flight home from visiting my in laws. It was a little cheesy at times but overall a cute and sweet story that lovers of second-chance romance will enjoy. And it was full of Taylor Swift references, which is always a treat! 3.5 stars

This was cute. The character growth was a little stagnant for me. But it was a quick read! And helped get in the holiday spirit.

I loved this so much it was such a fun quick read for me I couldn't put it down I was completely hooked

Unfortunately this book was a huge miss for me.

I think that the characters were written very young, and the voices would have been better suited for high school age as opposed to new adult.

I found myself skimming through very large portions as the writing was disjointed, and the two timelines felt forced and could have been better served every few chapters instead of every other.

I think the concept of using a song as inspiration for a story is a really good one, this just fell flat.

this is a 2.5 -
this wasn't a bad book, it was actually super cute and i liked the idea behind it.
i did however find it to be a little repetitive. the on again off again really frustrated me
i also couldn't get my head around just how famous the mc was? in some chapters she was hyped up to be a huge star but then it was mentioned how she lived in a small studio apartment and hoped with future projects she'd have more money to move? it was just a little hard to picture who she was because of this so i struggled to connect with her unfortunately
THAT SAID, i know that the author is only 16! so i think as a debut novel at 16 years old this is actually pretty good! the author shows a lot of promise and i look forward to seeing what she does next!
thank you to netgalley and the author for my copy of the book!

This was a quick easy read but sadly I just didn’t connect with the writing style and found myself getting irritated throughout the book.