This delightful story follows three friends who escape to Scotland for a much-needed pre-Christmas getaway, only to find themselves snowed in at a remote B&B. Each friend seeks a break from being taken for granted by their families, and when the weather forces them to stay longer, they end up managing the B&B and its guests during Christmas. Despite the unexpected turn of events, everything works out in the end, with new relationships blossoming and others naturally ending. I loved the characters and the cozy, heartwarming storyline—perfect for a holiday read!

Any book named after a Taylor Swift song will immediately get my attention, and this book made me feel so cozy and comforted as a holiday read!

I absolutely loved this book. The characters were great and the storyline was fun and interesting. Who doesn’t get stressed in the weeks leading up ti Christmas. Enjoyed how the story progressed.

This humorous and heartwarming novel follows three women overwhelmed by Christmas preparations, who escape to a Scottish B&B for a break. Facing unexpected challenges, they bond, navigate family dynamics, and ultimately find happiness. Meanwhile, their families at home struggle to manage Christmas without them, leading to satisfying resolutions. The story is funny, insightful, and has a perfect happy ending, ideal for fans of women's fiction.

Utterly amazing. I truly enjoy Fiona's books and this did not disappoint.
Please keep writing!
And I really recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book. And will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Anything that has Christmas vibes (and a Taylor swift reference in the title) and you’ll find me!

Thank you!

The best part of this novel is the characters within - well written, well rounded and believable. The storyline is solid and well thought out, with good pacing and plotting. Highly recommended.

What a brilliant book. Sums up exactly how I feel about the season and how it falls to the female in the household most of the time.
Getting away for a few days gives you perspective and time to see the whole picture instead of caught up in the details that everyone expects with unexpected consequences..
If you get chance this festive season, curl up in a chair and make time for you in this reaffirming story.

Shelley, Lena and Pearl, fifty-something friends, escape their families for a few days before Christmas as the season threatens to swamp them. Staying at a B&B in the Scottish Highlands, they are able to relax (sort of) and view their lives from a distance. This is eminently readable.

Shelley, Pearl and Lena have been friends for more than 20 years. They all live in London. Now, shortly before Christmas, they decide to go on a mini-break to a BnB in Scotland. And it seems like all their lives may change in the course of a few days.
I loved this book. I liked all the main characters and especially that they are a bit older than your usual book heroines. From the start I felt for the three friends and hoped that their lives would sort themselves out. The story was believable and the setting in the Highlands made me want to go visit there - but maybe not in winter ;-)
Really a lovely book.

I’d love to see this as a movie! The story follows three lifelong best friends who, feeling unappreciated, decide to take a much-needed girls' trip right before Christmas. Of course, weather-related chaos ensues, turning their mini vacation into an unexpected journey of self-discovery. Each friend is forced to confront the deeper reasons behind their decision to escape. This book is a delightful mix of humor, heartbreak, and festive cheer.

I wanted to love this book so much, but I wasn't a big fan. :( I loved the beginning when Shelley and her friends were fed up with their families not helping for Christmas and deciding they need to get away... 5 days before Christmas. After that you lost me, they went from not wanting to prepare everything on their own to helping run their friend's air bnb. Maybe I just didn't connect with the characters, but was bummed about this one.

Meet shelly, pearl & lena they are all middle age & have had enough!
Shelly has had enough of her husband & kids thinking she should do absolutely everything, pearls son has moved his girlfriend into their home & she's taking over & on top of that she's found that her boyfriend is not what he seems, & lenas fiance parents who live in a mansion have decided they are coming to spend Xmas in lenas pokey flat so they can scrutinise her. So cue a last minute holiday to a secluded b&b in the Highlands!
Michael runs the b&b & the 3 women find out that he has an opportunity in London so they persuade him to go & they will run his b&b for him & this is where we meet the guests Niall, who is coming alone to do a magazine article & the Sampsons, mum, dad & 5 year old theo who are a family you definitely wouldn't forget in a hurry! Of course running the b&b doesn't go smoothly & then to top it all off the 3 women & the guests get snowed in on Xmas eve so none of them can get home for Xmas & have to spend it together, however, this isn't such a bad thing as it gives the women time to reflect & reevaluate their lives at home & make some life changing decisions.
I've read a few books by this author & this one was just as good, it was funny, thought provoking & a breath of fresh air as it wasn't all mulled wine & silent night! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a Xmas novel or wants to try one 😊

An absolutely fantastic festive read from Fiona, I have always loved all her books and this one is no exception!
A totally realistic and extremely relatable read for so many middle aged women juggling homes, work, children, husbands, menopause and then you add in the annual festive organisation, present shopping and wrapping, food shopping, cooking, relatives, tree buying and decorating and you wonder why we are stressed, harassed and totally not full of Christmas cheer!
Well this year it’s different for three friends who book a last minute break to Scotland just before Christmas, leaving their loved ones to continue the never ending Christmas preparations!
What ensues is totally different to what was anticipated being left to run a B and B, getting snowed in and entertaining paying guests, but during this time they bond, reflect on their lives and make life changing decisions buoyed by the wonderful friendship group they have!
A really enjoyable feel good read filled with plenty of laughter, perfect for getting into the festive spirit!
Would highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Shelley and her friends decide to go on a quick holiday before Christmas. There is not enough hours in the day to get everything done. I enjoyed this book.

What a brilliant read! I thoroughly enjoyed this relatable novel. The first chapter had me laughing out loud and the laughter continued throughout the story. I loved the countdown to Christmas, which stresses the short time-frame in which to produce another spectacular family Christmas. I have always found the run-up to Christmas a demanding time of year, trying to get everything done in time for the 'big day' and only realising I've survived another Christmas after the lunch is cleared away and everyone is too tired to want anything else.

I completely understood Shelley's plight, kids and a husband who expect her to provide Christmas, yet offer no help to ease her load.

Then there's Lena whose relationship with Tommy sounds good, apart from outside influences from his parents and ex-wife. I'm on the fence about his daughter Daisy, unsure whether there was malicious intent behind her social media posts or just a child of divorced parents wishing them back together again.

Finally there's Pearl. She's a widow and brought up her only son, Brandon, alone since his beloved father died. Brandon and Pearl work well together but Brandon has invited his girlfriend, Abi, to live with him in Pearl's small flat and that is grating on poor Pearl, yet she does not want to rock the boat so says nothing.

These three women have the opportunity to have a few days away before Christmas and take it. Pearl's cousin Michael runs a B&B in the Highlands, and with no bookings, he is able to accommodate them. Naturally things do not run smoothly, but the women cope admirably.

The story also follows the women's family members left at home to pull Christmas together without them. The best part for me was Shelley's husband Joel with his 'hands-off-parenting' style - or rather leave-it-to-Shelley-to-sort-out - getting his comeuppance.

I thought 'Tis The Damn Season was brilliantly funny, insightful, well-written and has my kind of happy ending. I would wholeheartedly recommend this novel to lovers of women's fiction.

"Tis the Damn Season" is full of wit and wisdom. It is a story of 3 fifty something friends who are at a bit of a crisis point in their lives. The women decide to absent themselves from their families for a few days to reset before the onslaught of Christmas Day. Shelley is a working mum with two teenage children and a husband who behaves like a young child. Lena is an Anglo-Asian divorcee engaged to an Englishman from a different class. Pearl is a widow whose son's girlfriend has recently moved into, and taken over, their flat. All 3 have issues which they feel require time out to consider, and they need a break from their families.

This tale of modern relationships was a joy to read and so much of it rang true. Thanks Fiona Gibson for a book to curl up and read when life is getting you down a bit.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

'Tis The Damn Season is a festive novel by Fiona Gibson.
I enjoyed this story. It's the perfect book to read over the festive season. It's easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. It was also funny in places. A good book that I would recommend to other readers.
💜 Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an enjoyable story of three friends, Shelley, Pearl and Lena who are fed up of everything happening at home just before Christmas and decide to take a trip to Scotland. I enjoyed the way the story showed the different relationships for each of the women and liked the fact the ladies were in their 50s so was from an older generations perspective.
The ladies have a wonderful friendship and pull together to help run the Bed and Breakfast they are staying at which belongs to Pearl’s cousin, twice removed) so that Michael can go to London to meet someone he has been talking to on the internet.
As usual with Fiona’s books this explores friendships, relationships and has some laugh out loud moments and I read this in a couple of days.
Thank you to Boldwood books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book with the opinions all my own.

Ich habe mich über das Buch sehr gefreut. Es ist nicht nur fließend zum lesen sondern auch sehr spannend.