Such a cute story!! I’m a sucker for a second chance, small town romance and Tis the Damn Season is the perfect book! Aspen and Roman are perfect for each other and don’t let anything stop them from a HEA.

This was so cute! The book of Swifties dreams, I loved all the Taylor Swift references!

Thank you to st Martin’s press for sending me an advanced digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for review

I saw this book circling tiktok and I wanted to check it out. The author is only 16 or 17, which is pretty amazing! I loved the Taylor Swift references, and the book was cute, but read a little young. I'd recommend this to someone in their teens or early 20s, but for myself it just felt a bit young.

Love a book with a playlist & anything Taylor Swift coded. I really enjoyed the premise of this book being focused on a pop star with a misunderstood reputation heading to her hometown to reset and falling back in love with her high school sweetheart.

While the writing could use some work and a voice that is a bit more mature for an older character, I think the author made a solid attempt.

This was an incredible book, so much more than the breezy rom-com I had assumed it would be. I loved the authentic insights into the celebrity industry, with the fragile and unreliable nature of relationships built there.

Aspen's true strength was always here core bonds in Fertsville. Freeman demonstrated the show don't tell strategy so well, in making the interactions between Aspen and her family so unique and real, that she never once had to state their comfort levels. Roman was the perfect guy, the perfect green flag, with no faults whatsoever. Yet he is emotional and vulnerable, with instances where he needed his space and distance from Aspen. Yup, even the model boyfriend gets angry and says things he doesn't mean, but honestly, I loved him.

I think the second chance trope is great and makes for an interesting read, with events from the past and present converging. I also found the whole experience very immersive, and I got pretty caught up with the story, Descriptions of Aspen's thought process while writing songs and dealing with mental block were new to me, and I'm happy they were included in the novel.

My biggest problem with the story was Aspen's inability to come forward with her side of the story till the very end. The whole time she's sitting silent when there's rumors everywhere about her, and she's thinking no one will believe her. It was pretty frustrating to see her lack of confidence which was probably crafted on purpose, or there wouldn't be a novel to write at all.

Apart from this one thing (which was quite massive), I really enjoyed the read so I recommend it to anyone who's in search of a deeper, meaningful romance.

In this debut novel, we follow a pop star and actress whose career is in jeopardy due to false accusations made by her best friend's boyfriend to the media. She decides to hide out in her hometown for Christmas and directs the church's Christmas pageant that her dad normally directs. With the help of her friend and first love, Roman, she successfully manages the event. However, when she takes Roman to a Hollywood event, things go wrong.

Overall, the story is pretty sweet, and it would be great for young adults. The characters are adults, but they have had some hard times. We explore several themes, including first loves, bullies, the treatment of young women in Hollywood, and the illness of a parent. Roman and Aspen go through a lot, and considering their age, they are a bit emotionally immature, but that is okay. The young characters in the story are enjoyable, and the bully in the play is acting out due to the treatment of a parent and learns how to relate to her castmates in a non-confrontational way.

Aspen's parents are sweet and wholesome, and so are all the non-bully characters. The story is formulaic, but the author wrote it at the age of 15! That is amazing. Knowing her age explains some of the simplicity and inexperience of the characters. She did a great job working out the timelines of going from past to present in alternating chapters in such a way that they related to one another.

Overall, the story is a simple, sweet romance with an adorable couple and some hard truths that they have to face. The book has a playlist, and each chapter has its own song, which is pretty neat as well.

I love seasonal Christmas romances and this is one of my rabbi hood this year. Look forward to more from this author. I was able to escape to another world during a hard time last week.

'Tis the Damn Season is a beautifully woven tale of love, sacrifice, and the rediscovery of one's roots. Aspen Moore, the epitome of Hollywood glamour, finds herself at a crossroads when a scandal rocks her seemingly perfect world. Forced back to her hometown in Pennsylvania, she faces her past, including her first love, Roman Torres.

The story, told in a captivating dual timeline, showcases Aspen's life amid the glittering lights of fame and her nostalgic return to her small-town origins. Freeman's skilful storytelling skillfully captures the dichotomy of Aspen's reality, juxtaposing her Hollywood facade with the raw, authentic connections from her past. Aspen and Roman's rekindled bond is the heart of this novel. The chemistry between them crackles off the pages, drawing readers into their push-and-pull dynamic. Their relationship is a delicate dance, laden with unspoken emotions, longing gazes, and palpable tension. Freeman masterfully crafts their interactions, painting a vivid picture of two souls torn between the comfort of the past and the allure of the present.

The narrative unfolds with a tender exploration of Aspen's internal conflict, her emotional vulnerability, and her struggle to reconcile her ambitions with matters of the heart. The portrayal of her personal growth and introspection adds depth to the storyline, making her journey of self-discovery relatable and impactful. Moreover, the novel's holiday backdrop adds a touch of warmth and nostalgia, making it a perfect seasonal read. Freeman's vivid descriptions beautifully capture the essence of the festive season, creating a cosy ambience that envelops the reader.

It is an emotive and engaging romance that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Kimi Freeman’s eloquent prose and well-crafted characters resonate with authenticity, offering a poignant reminder of the enduring power of love and second chances. It's a heartwarming tale that will surely resonate with fans of contemporary romance seeking a story that will tug at their heartstrings and leave them yearning for more.

I’m very disappointed but I just couldn’t finish this book! I did see that the author is only 16 and it’s a brilliant achievement for her, but as other reviews say additional work could be done to clear it up. Likewise marketing it as a YA rather than for an adult audience would be more suitable, even if the age of the characters comes down.

I love the idea and the overall concept, as I adore the inspiration of the song title, but the execution was just off for me. The nicknames really irritated me too and I felt the story had no depth, despite it being about an ongoing relationship. Definitely more of a YA feel and could be marketed that way with some tweaks.

An incredible achievement for the author though and at such a young age!

As a huge fan of Taylor Swift, I was super excited to read a romance novel based on one of Swift’s songs. And while I liked the idea that the author was going for, unfortunately this one missed the mark for me. It’s supposed to be a new adult romance but it reads very much like a YA novel. As I was reading it, the book was giving me Wattpad vibes (but not in a good way unfortunately.) I felt like the story moved very fast but lacked context during so many parts. A few thing’s absolutely irked me including Aspen’s nickname: Pen/Penny. Why would you shorten Aspen to that. I just couldn’t stand that nickname. Also Roman (the MMC) calls her a pet name (for the first time) but the FMC notes that he calls her that name all the time. Keep in mind that she just returned home and has just seen him for the first time in a long while.
Later in the book you eventually find out that they do see each other every time Aspen comes home (when taking a break from her pop star duties) and they hook up. You don’t know that until way later in the book and I rink that’s something that needs to be mentioned earlier. Otherwise their reunion at the beginning feels super weird.
While there are a bunch of things I didn’t enjoy about this book, I liked the playlist at the beginning of the book. Those are always fun to see in novels.

This author is very young and it’s evident in the writing of this book. If they had held off publishing, I think it could’ve been cleaned up and it would make for a great romance. But unfortunately this one was disappointing.

I loved the concept of the story and the second chance aspect. It was so fun including a playlist. The book was cute, but seemed like Taylor Swift or someone similar fan fiction.

This was a very cute, Christmas (without being too Christmasy) vibe! I loved all of the Swiftie references, reading about a singer and also getting the small town vibes. Also, the author wrote this at FIFTEEN! I think that is incredible and amazing. I think as Kimi Freeman continues to write more her books will become incredible romance novels.

I do think that with the age of the author, this would have been a little more successful as a YA book but I also understand being a teen and wanting to be *risqué*. I think this would be a good book for an easy read over the holidays. I loved that each chapter had a song attached to it. :)

Thank you NetGalley for the free copy for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The novel is driven more by the love story and musical aspect - main character Aspen is an actress and pop star who is clearly still in love with her high school boyfriend Rome and each chapter title is addressed with a Taylor Swift song or other artist's song. The story just happens to take place during the Christmas season when Aspen and Rome reconnect when she returns to their small town and they volunteer to put on the annual Christmas show; that's where the Christmas feels start and stop. The story is mainly about their on/off relationship and where they stand currently. If you're looking for a full on Hallmarky Christmas story, this is not it....but if you're looking for a cute love story, this is a good read.

what a heartwarming, beautiful story to kickstart the holiday season!

such a unique take on romance. each chapter name is the title of a well known song (most being taylor swift songs.) i loved this take because it gives you an idea what’s to come in Aspen and Romans’ relationship.
along with each new chapter starting as a new song, the timeline switches between past and present with each new chapter. i loved this take as well, it allows you to really feel the whole story and go on this journey of love and growth with the characters.
it was perfectly laid out story!

if you are a swiftie who loves love, this is a must read!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of ‘Tis the Damn Season by Kimi Freeman. Super cute Christmas book. Fast paced. Second chance romance. Absolutely loved it!

This book is based on a Taylor Swift song which immediately got me interested. I really liked the premise of this book and felt that it was going to meet my expectations. Unfortunately it did not, I felt that this book was written by a teenager, the same sort of lines as fan-fiction. I skim-read through most of the book as I really did not enjoy some of the writing style present in the novel.
I liked how the book presented the reader with a backstory for the main character Aspen, however I felt it lacked depth and some description was not necessary and again, felt quite immature.
I feel this book would have benefitted from more depth and maybe a dual point of view from Roman.

After reading this book, I learned that it was written by a teenage girl. Which is quite impressive for her age, but does not make for a good read for an adult, contemporary romance reader. The story was very childish and contained any editing errors. I feel like the maturity/experience level just wasn't there.

It was a fun book. I enjoyed the idea of it being based around the Taylor swift song. But it was difficult to connect with the characters

This is not the book I was expecting from the description, "based on 'Tis the Damn Season." What I wanted: a super sexy winter wonderland weekend fling. What I got: a long angst fest filled with flashbacks following controversy and sexual assault with some... not so inspired song lyrics.

This objective review was based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

although i wasn’t a fan of the overall writing, i enjoyed this cute read! roman was amazing and kind and gentle. he was so selfless in supporting aspen, i loved it! i’m a huge sucker for christmas books (+ taylor swift) and this was a perfect mix of both! i also enjoyed the dual timeline.