A Hollywood starlet caught in a scandal. The boy she never got over. A Christmas season they’ll never forget… So this description hooked me right in. I did enjoy this book, I loved the Taylor Swift references, the setting. This was a great start to getting into the Christmas reading mood.

This book came across as very immature and I think should have been marketed more as a YA read than New Adult. I didn’t love it but it was a relatively quick read. If you’re looking for a cutesy high school level romance, this is for you. If not, I would pass.

DNF @32% - I’m sorry I just couldn’t do it. This book was so extremely juvenile it was painful. Why are these grown ass adults in such stupid high school drama situations? It just absolutely made me eyes roll. There are also flashbacks to when the two main characters were first getting together in high school, and there truly was no distinction between that timeline and the present day one. They felt completely the same. I also didn’t really like the romance. I just feel 0 chemistry, and it mostly felt like the guy pushing her into things most of the time. On top of that the writing was just extremely simple, with several extremely forced Taylor Swift refferences. Yeah, I just wasn’t a fan. It was quite a quick read though, so there’s that at least.

i didn't get to read the book because netgalley never gave me a chance to download it. But i have the copy so I will read it soon.

I loved this book! I devoured it in only a few sittings and wish there was more to read. The story line was paced very well and the characters were easy to love!

Well I love a book that has a playlist attached and even though the snappy chapters are often shorter than the songs on the playlist, this was a fun peppy read from the opening chapter. With the returning home after a heartbreak (and a friendship one too, which made a nice change!), this really felt very Hallmark movie. This will really appeal to the cross section of festive romance reader and Taylor Swift fan, with the Americana vibes throughout. This is a really cute and easy read to cosy on up with during the holiday season but might be slightly saccharine for more mature readers.

Thank you, Net Galley, for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was originally drawn to this one because of the title and I am a HUGE swiftie. I also love a good holiday read! For some reason, I couldn't really get into it. I wasn't super attached to the characters or the storyline, and it felt a little young for me. The characters felt more teenage age to me, instead of mid twenties. It was a cute read, just felt a little young.

I wanted to love this one based on the title, Swifty vibes, and tropes listed in the description, but it fell flat for me based on the juvenile dialogue and flat character growth between the dual POVs. I kept setting it aside and coming back to it, but eventually decided to DNF the book around 45%. There is a lot of potential here and I look forward to trying again on Freeman’s next project.

3.5 out of 5. A really sweet, yet also very predictable Christmas love story. It is the perfect plot for a fabulous Hallmark Movie, and you know how much I love those. I know I enjoyed it, I also forgot all about it very shortly after, so the characters were not very memorable to me.

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.]