It was cute! This book is a 2nd chance romance that jumps back and forth between past and present. Aspen is a singer/actress who moved to la and left her first love, Roman behind. She returns to her hometown after some drama with friends and rekindles her romance. They are both in charge of the children’s Christmas play at the church. It was an entertaining quick read! 3 stars!

‘Tis the Damn Season by Kimi Freeman is a cute YA romance! I enjoyed the switch between modern day and the flashbacks to a few years earlier to learn more about the main characters’ love story. I loved that the chapters were titled with popular songs, just like the Taylor Swift-themed title!

This book is cute - but very much more on the YA side than I was expecting. The main character comes off being younger than she is supposed to be. Overall it was a cute holiday read - but wish it had gone more towards the YA high school arena versus twenty somethings.

Really wanted to love it but it just fell a little flat.

As a swiftie the title immediately hooked me. Ultimately the writing did not do it for me. The dual timeline felt rushed. Characters felt juvenile and immature.

Overall not a terrible book but also not my favorite.

Let me start this off by offering a much needed tw - there's mention of sa (grape). This tw wasn't offered anywhere and it completely caught me off guard reading it on the book. So please, beware of that if you decide to read this book.

Onto the review.

I was extremely excited to read this book. I loved the cover, the blur sounded super promising and the Playlist is simply chef's kiss. But I'm afraid to say it didn't fully lived to my expectations.

It was a quick read. The chapters fly by quickly and the writing is easy to read.
It was, however, a little juvenile. Which, after finding out the author is only 16, makes perfect sense and it made me look at the book in a different light.

The first like 60% of the book, I was loving it. It's when the issues start appearing that mine come with it.
The mmc suddenly acts like an idiot and throws really harsh unnecessary words at the fmc. And then, without even an actual apology and a little grovel, it's all fine and dandy??
The characters were pretty immature for someone who's 25 years old. Unnecessary miscommunication and attacks and then anticlimactic resolve of the issues.

Thank you NetGalley and Parson Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Aspen Moore flees to her home town after her model best friend accuses her of hooking up with her boyfriend. In an effort to escape the Hollywood scene, she agrees to help direct the local nativity play with her former high school sweet heart.

There was a lot happening, and I'm not sure that I got what I thought I was supposed to get. Kudos to Freeman for writing at novel at her age! That is super impressive, but I think this may have been more appropriate if she left the characters as teens. Even though the characters were supposed to be in their low/mid twenties, they read like teenagers. I think I also just don't do well with the whole Hollywood starlett with ordinary guy trope.

The perfect christmas book for swifties!! Aspen comes back home after some drama in hollywood and comes back to her high school sweetheart. second chance romance, small town, christmas pageant, christmas tree farm, a playlist full of taylor swift songs. it’s such a cozy book that really makes me wish I lived somewhere that it got cold and snowed. also, apparently the author is only 16 years high is so impressive and wild!

my only note: aspen needs a therapist.

📚 Book 75/25 of 2023 📚

I would like to thank the author, Kimi Freeman and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

⭐️ 3.5/5 stars!

🍑 PEACHES & PITS (likes and dislikes) 🍑

peaches:
- the chapter-by-chapter song/playlist!! it was PERFECT and such a vibe! For the first half of this book, I followed along by playing each song per chapter and it was such a vibe. honestly, why can't every book be like this?? (I only had to abandon this method because the playlist I found didn't download on my phone properly and I boarded an airplane and couldn't listen 😒)
- such a cute, low-angst book that was perfect as a beach read for my vacation
- the tswift inspo was lovely - and the lyrics were fun little easter eggs to find while reading
- tropes: small-town, second chance romance, holiday inspo
- dual timelines was a nice aspect

pits:
- felt like the characters/plot read as really young compared to their stated ages --> turns out that the author is sixteen! which made me go HELL YEAH! what an accomplishment to write this book. this helped me reimagine the book as a teenage holiday romcom which made it fit really well for me (instead of the New Adult rating it's pitched as)
- didn't get super attached to any of the main characters
- plot felt a bit underdeveloped

When I saw the title and realised it was based on one of my favourite Taylor Swift songs, I was excited! I'm a big Swiftie and loved all the song references dotted throughout the story.
I wasn't a huge fan of Aspen as a character although a lot her self-centredness was purposeful for the storyline. Roman was a cute love interest though and I enjoyed their interactions.
I do think the story was a bit rushed at times and you can tell the author was quite young (15) when this was written - Aspen definitely felt very immature at times and didn't act like a woman in her early twenties, in my opinion.
But, it's a cute romcom with lots of Taylor Swift song references so great quick read for Swifties!

So it turns out this is really more of a YA contemporary romance - which is not really my thing. I was expecting melancholy late twentysomethings reconnecting with their lost loves, but this definitely has more of a high school/college teen drama vibe.

BUT - I found out Kimi is actually only 16 herself, so it makes sense that she’s writing what she knows! Way to go girl for publishing a whole book at your age!! I’ll be looking out for what she writes next!

Thanks to Netgalley, Kimi and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Thanks @netgalley for this review copy.

Aspen is a 23-year old singer. When a scandal hits her, she goes back to her hometown. There she reconnects with Roman, her first love.
We go back and forth to now and 7 years ago.
Dating a celebrity is a very difficult life.

This was a cute book. About a Popstar falling in love with her high school boyfriend again.
But it was not very special. There was not a lot of humor. And the book could have been (a lot) shorter. Because there isn’t happening that much.

Liked it, but didn’t love it.

"Tis the Damn Season" by Kimi Freeman is a captivating contemporary romance novel. In this story, Aspen Moore, a young and successful singer-actress, grapples with the harsh reality that money and fame do not necessarily equate to happiness. When a scandal disrupts her carefully cultivated Hollywood life, Aspen is compelled to return to her hometown in Pennsylvania.

The novel introduces readers to Aspen, a character who initially seems to have it all—fame, fortune, and a thriving career. However, as the story unfolds, we see the vulnerabilities and insecurities that lie beneath her glamorous exterior.

The heart of the story lies in Aspen's reconnection with her first love, Roman Torres. Their chemistry is undeniable, and the push-and-pull dynamic between them adds layers of tension and excitement to the narrative.

However, some readers might find the pacing a bit slow at times, particularly in the first half of the book. I felt like the story was heavily dialogue driven, which just didn't work for this particular story. I loved the chapters flew by, but there were some parts where it didn't seem like much was happening.

Thank you Netgalley & Parson Press for the ARC of this title!

Unfortunately, I did not like this book. It was very juvenile for the characters all being in their 20s.
I'm also not on the Taylor Swift hype train so that got to be obnoxious too. While others may enjoy it .. it was not for me.

If you're looking for Taylor Swift's 'tis the damn season vibes and a cute second hand romance written YA-style, this book is for you. But, unfortunately if you want characters with a personality and a captivating writing style, and a story that feels earned this book is not for you.

3.5 stars | Thank you Netgalley for an early copy! All opinions are my own.

What a super cute, fun read! I loved the juxtaposition of their past and present relationship. I liked seeing the growth of the characters as they overcame the various challenges in their relationship.

The main characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. There also seemed to be some inconsistencies through the book.

Overall, a good read with fun Easter Eggs for the Swifties!

I would like to thank netgalley and Parson Press for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The writing was in need of more editing.

When I applied to this ARC it was because I looked the cover and the description, I had no idea that it was a Taylor Swift book, and discovered this while I was reading the book was the hype of my reading journey

This is a friends to lovers slow burn book about Aspen, a Hollywood start and Roman, her school ex boyfriend. The story was really light, basic sometimes, I felt like the book was really boring sometimes. Every chapter I was waiting for something to happened, something huge but nothing. The "plot twist" was not interest and the relationship between Aspen and Roman did not have any hype point. I felt like I was reading a teenagers love story instead of a adults relationship. The whole book was about how Aspen could not be with Roman because he did not want to be involve in any Hollywood situation, and how everyone was against her and no one believe her except for Roman, the only person she trust but did not want to be.

There were so many characters that did nothing to make the story more interest it, they were just there. It was really light to read, nothing too excited. If you like Taylor Swift, read the book, you're going to have a nice time, if you are not a fan, don't read it, not worth it.

Thank you to Netgalley for a gifted ARC of this book- my review is voluntary and my honest opinion.

TW: FMC references past rape. Between FMC and past character (not MMC), not directly on the page due to being blacked out.

This book was delightful! Seriously so sweet! This story is single POV with alternating past and present timelines, young adult, (and zero spice). This flashback layout makes the story fly by. Much like the song, it’s not a holiday story; it just takes place in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Evermore girlies, unite! After a Hollywood scandal, Aspen returns home to her small town to lie low for the holidays. Where of course, her high school boyfriend Roman still lives.

They still love each other, they’ve hooked up when she’s visited in the past, but this time they’re just going to be friends. The two direct a holiday play together, go to NYC for a music event, and generally spend the whole book together. Aspen has to balance the social media chaos and her privacy.

There’s also a past sexual assault experience dropped in right at the end. It doesn’t really tie in with the story anywhere else, so for those that would like to skip it: Ch. 47 after Cade’s interview.

Taylor lyrics are sprinkled throughout the story, and each chapter starts with a song title.

'Tis the damn season is the name of one of my faorite Taylor Swift songs so I HAD to read this book! A Hollywood scandal during Christmas season. Undeniable chemistry between a singer-actress and her former lover causes her to contemplate life and the season of life she is in. THE ENDING!!

I read this ARC and was excited.
Taylor Swift inspired? Yes.
Amazing playlist? Yes.

Good story? No.

This had way too much going on. Too many problems and hardships and the writing was amateur and a bit juvenile. If you were looking for Christmas vibes, this won't cut it. It's okay for me to read it in October, but not if you want the warm and fuzzy Christmas magic feeling.

It's a bit disappointing, but you can't love them all.