This was very cute! I loved the back and forth between present and past, and getting the glimpses into the love story’s beginning! I also really liked that there were songs and a playlist that went along with the chapters. I also was able to really see where the influence from the song came through in the story. Loved it!

dnf at 40%

I could see the that the story was slightly inspired by “tis the damn season” by Taylor Swift (it is even the title) and I do have to admit that I do love that song and that’s what drew me to this book. However, I did not find that plot well executed.

If I’m being honest, from the beginning, I found the writing to be a bit childish I have to say, it put me a bit off. I continued reading as I do not like leaving arcs unfinished but I cannot lie, it did not get better in my opinion. I had to stop at 40%. The characters felt bland and the story was not getting any better. The dialogue was awkward and again I have to repeat the word, childish. It did not feel in any way natural.

I just didn’t like what I’ve read of the book because of some of the points i’ve mentioned before. The idea of the book was good but it wasn’t well written.

I definitely feel like it should go through beta readers (again if it had before) and through an editor.

A Hollywood starlet caught in a scandal. The boy she never got over. A Christmas season they’ll never forget…

Aspen Moore is living proof that money doesn’t buy happiness. At twenty-three years old, the singer-actress has it all. Fame. Fortune. Her own headlining tour. And yet something—or someone—is missing.

When a scandal rocks Aspen’s carefully constructed Hollywood life, she’s forced to return to her Pennsylvania hometown, where she reconnects with her first love, Roman Torres. Aspen knows they must keep their relationship strictly platonic. This game of push and pull, catch and release she plays with Roman is bad for her. She’s not staying in Fertsville, and he’s not moving to LA. 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?
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5 stars
thank you kimi for this masterpiece

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! I received an early release copy in exchange for an honest review.

'Tis the Damn Season is a perfect little novel about a love that surpasses both time and life struggles, both issues that anyone can relate to. Rome and Pen's journey from teenage to adult love is beautiful, heart wrenching, and pure. Plus, who wouldn't fall in love with Rome? A cinnamon roll with a protective streak? Yes pleaseeeeee.

I loved that each chapter has a different song theme, and tried to listen to each song as I read it respective chapter. It was actually a super fun and interactive way to get involved more in the book and set such a beautiful backdrop to each chapter!

I only reduced to 4/5 stars because I wish there had been a little more organic flow and more spicy scenes. The back and forth perspectives were hard to keep track of and I think that it could have been done just a little cleaner but overall it was fantastic!

This book was cute. The playlist at the beginning shows a lot of Taylor Swift songs, so during the whole book, I had Taylor Swift in my head as the MFC. I loved the dual timeline that gave us a look at the main characters growing up, and where they are now. I think the only thing I didn't like was the lack of page breaks. In one paragraph, they would be doing one thing, and in the next paragraph it would be later that day or the next. It would throw me for a loop. Overall, the book was a cute read. If you like TSwift, I recommend this book for you!

This was such a cute book, and I was completely blown away when I saw Kimi Freeman was only 14 when she wrote it! I’m a huge T Swift fan, so the title of this book is what drew me in right away. I loved following super-star Aspen and small-town Rome throughout the story of their life. It really brought together small town PA and the hustle and bustle of LA. The story line was so similar to the T Swift song! This book definitely got me excited for the holiday season.
Thank you Kimi Freeman, Parson Press, and NetGalley for sending me an ARC for my honest review!

DNF (54%). This sounded really cute, especially with the musical references tie in...but the dialogue was hard to read through and there didn't feel like a difference between the FMC in the two timelines.

The book was a cute story, I liked the references to Taylor Swift songs and the whole theme of the book.

I wish there was a little more depth in the characters and it to be more age reflected in the present day chapters.

Overally a fun swift book!

DNF. This book is very poorly written. The writing is juvenile and the dialogue does not seem realistic in any way. If this MC was a teen or if this was a YA book, maybe the tone would have worked. But the present timeline scenes read way too young for a character that age, and it just wasn’t believable to me.

🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆 'Tis the Damn Season by Kimi Freeman

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Trope: Second Chance Romance
Pub Date: October 24, 2023
Rating: 3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is the story of Aspen Moore, current TV actress/pop singer and Roman Torres, small town boy who works at Aspen's father's auto shop.

Told in a dual time-line, we learn how Aspen and Roman fell in love when they were 17 to their relationship in the present day.

Always there to lean on each other, these two are meant to be but Roman doesn't want to be in the spotlight.

'Tis the Damn Season, a book inspired by the lady of the year, Taylor Swift, is a cute, second chance romance that was a fun, easy read.

I have to say I was pretty impressed that a 15 year-old wrote this story. I can't wait to see how Miss Freeman's writing continues to grow!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of this e-book. This book was so cute and fun. It could be cheesy at times but I enjoyed it.

How sweet was this book!! Aspen is down on her luck and one bad PR incident after another when she returns to her small town to shake off the dust and take a break. While paired up Roman to produce the towns much anticipated Christmas play, Aspen comes to realize she was always more than she thought when she recognizes herself in some of the plays young talent. Aspen and Rome have fantastic banter and confidence in one another. Feel good story to sink into this holiday season.

Is this cheesy? Yes.
Are there a ton of Taylor Swift song references slipped in whether they worked or not? Yes.
Did I get tired of hearing about her heart and insides melting all over the place? Yes.
Did I still read this in one sitting? Also yes.

It's definitely not the best writing, but it's a fun light read, especially if you're a Swiftie.

oh this book was so cute! I absolutely loved the dual timeline story. It allowed so much of Aspen and Roman's relationship to be known. This one had great banter and tons of cute moments. It was a quick read that is perfect for the holiday season.

3.5 stars rounded up


I admit I decided to read the book purely due to the title and cute cover. I don't think I even read the synopsis before diving in. Tis the Damn Season is the debut book by Kimi Freeman, who is only 16 years old.

I love when books include a Playlist in them. Freeman assigned each chapter a song that reflected the events and tone of the chapter, thus enhancing the overall emotion of the book. Most of the songs were by Taylor Swift, but there are other artists she chose. The author's choice to "name" her chapters this way opened me up to New artists and songs.

I really loved the characters and the plot. I don't typically like dual timelines being told in alternate chapters, but I felt it worked well with the story. I adored the romance between Aspen and Rome.

At times the story did feel a little juvenile and the writing in the present day chapters could have been a little more age reflective, but the book was very enjoyable and the author did a great job, especially for someone so young. If this is what we get from her debut, then I can see her growing into a great author as she gets older.

This book was cute, but I wasn’t in love with it.
Aspen is a Hollywood star going through a rough patch. When she finds herself with nowhere to go, she goes home. Her first love, Roman, is there and apparently the whole time she’s been gone they’ve had an on/off thing. But they’re both not giving each other the full story, or what the other deserves.

This book had some cute moments, like the Christmas program. But for the most part, I thought the plot was pretty predictable, the romance was either never enough or too over the top, and there was just something about it that I really struggled with. I wouldn’t read again.

This was a super cute and easy read that I was able to get through In a couple of days.

This is a second chance romance between two childhood lovers and was a very sweet book.
I recommend it if you are looking for a book that is easy to read. I absolutely loved the relationship between Roman and Aspen and how pure the love between them was.

The tropes for this book are:
- second chance romance
- small town romance
- Famous girl x Small town Boy
- Forced proximity


There are mentions of SA so be aware of that but overall this was a super cute book with holiday themes in.

After doing super light research into the author for this one, it's super obvious where my problems stem from. She's just too young. The writing lacks emotional maturity. Don't get me wrong, this was decent, it's just very obvious that the author was 15-16 when she wrote it. I did love the Taylor Swift references though, and it was a super easy read. Just not what I was looking for at this point in my life.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Aspen ‘Pen’ Moore was a loner in high school till Roman Torres, the football star, become her friend in junior year. Due to bullying, she is riddled with insecurities. Luckily his confidence and encouragement, made her come out of her shell.

Now she’s a successful TV actress turned musician with a big tour and LA bestie whose boyfriend’s band filled the tour’s opening act. Everything is sunshine and daisies till Cane accuses her of coming on to him. Tabloids run with this and make their own story out of it. Leaving her friendless and in ‘negative press’, so she decides to turn back home to Fertsville for Christmas early this year. Only to discover Roman at her parents’ table and working for her dad. The same dad who convinces both to join and help with the annual church production, which is the start of this books’ journey.


This small town romance switches between the present and their high school times every chapter.
Where I liked that in the first half of the book, it switched a bit too quickly from one to the other for me to feel like I’m really in the story.

High school Aspen & Rome were really cute and gave textbook first love vibes.
While as grown-ups they have a big gravitational pull, their different lifestyle means they remain friends instead of lovers until they are forced to work together on the church nativity.
Making for a second chance romance where I sometimes felt like the friends-to-lover would never happen. It was a cute and easy read, although the dialog feels off from time to time.


Since Aspen finds a muse for her music in Roman ‘Rome’ Torres, it is fitting that this book has a big playlist with a dedicated song per chapter. A lot of these are Taylor Swift songs but since I’m not a Swiftie, I just might not understand the link with her lyrics or the <‘tis the damn season song references> in the title.


Thank you to Netgalley and Parson Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this story was fluffy, light-hearted and cute. I loved that each chapter had the song it was inspired by noted, and appreciated the nods to Taylor Swift songs. It was a quick and cute read and I will look forward to more books from Kimi Freeman.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.