Review: Tis the Damn Season by Kimi Freeman
Thank you to the author for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
When I saw the title of this book, I immediately got so excited. I’ve always been a huge fan of Taylor Swift and the folklore/evermore albums are some of my favorites with “tis the damn season” being on repeat for me. When I learned how young the author is, I was even more impressed that she was able to write and publish a book that meant something to her!
I had a tough time trying to figure out the categorization of this book. It takes place in two timelines and since the second timeline takes place when the characters are 18+, normally I’d categorize it has Adult. But it does read on the younger side* and it felt more like a fun YA in my opinion.
*please note I do not thing “reading young” or “reading as YA” is a bad thing. But, I think it’s important to note who I think this book is for/would enjoy it more. I love YA and I’m incredibly impressed with this author’s work ethic and drive! Writing and publishing is HARD!
Overall, I thought this book was cute and I think if the author keeps writing, she will continue to grow and (hopefully) write more Taylor Swift inspired books!
Synopsis:
“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? “—NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Premise—Tis the Damn Season is one of my favorite songs and I’ve always wanted to read a book about the story!
The Structure—I thought a second chance/now and then timeline worked great for this premise.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
The Pacing—Overall, my biggest issue with this book was the execution of the pacing. Maybe it’s because I had the song in the back of my head. but I just didn’t click with what was prioritized in the story.
Some of the Plot Points—I was a little shocked towards the end when a sexual assault was revealed. I didn’t see it coming at all and I never want to judge characters for their response to something, but something about it felt more like shock value than authentic to the character.
The Dialogue—I didn’t vibe with the dialogue at all. Some of the character all felt/sounded the same and I struggled to find the flow.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3/5
Content Warnings:
sexual assault, cancer, death of a parent, parkinson’s disease