A funny, festive read, especially aimed at tired mums! I loved how easy this was to read and follow.
Much more fun than a standard festive romance!

Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. What a fun and festive Christmas read!. Shelley and her friends try to escape the demands of the holiday season by taking a getaway. The holidays and family can often be stressful and full of drama and this book brought that to life, but making it funny and relatable to read. When the girls take their getaway, they are able to support one another, build relationships, and question what is really important during the holiday season.

This was a cute,. quick story perfect for wives/moms who have been feeling underappreciated or who need to find themselves a bit.

Some of the characters were so awful (they were supposed to be, though maybe so much that it was a little annoying) and the ending wrapped up really quickly but overall I enjoyed.

This is a great holiday book, not fluffy and with no plot like other holiday novels, that are romances. I really enjoyed getting to know this group of friends and learning about their life and tribulations. This is a great holiday read and I very much enjoyed reading it.

Lena, Pearl and Shelley have had enough. It’s time to escape the frantic festive season and what better way than to take a spontaneous trip to the Scottish Highlands to get away from it all? After all, surely family can cope for just a few days before the lead up to Christmas?!

Yet, their absence just proves how much of a lynchpin they are at home. Pearl was enjoying leaving her small flat behind, especially as it feels as if it is being dominated by her son’s girlfriend. I was surprised that Gibson didn’t really focus on this element of the plot as I was really keen to see how Brandon and Abi would react now that Pearl has left. Lena was equally looking forward to the sudden holiday because it gives her a chance to escape her over-bearing in-laws, particularly as she has to suddenly host Christmas Day! Yet, when she sees that her partner is spending time with his ex-wife again, Lena can’t help but think she has made a mistake – either with coming away or with her pending marriage to Tommy. Finally, I totally agreed that Shelley needed to leave her husband to his own devices: Joel is a man-child who does little to help around the house, justifying his salary as giving him a free pass to do anything he likes. I was glad to see him struggle.

However, the holiday away soon becomes a bus man’s holiday. The three women agree to run the B&B whilst the owner, Michael, heads to London. As you would expect, things don’t go entirely to plan with trying to keep up the level of service that Michael has promised, and when heavy snow falls just before their departure date, plans are skewered even further.

I normally really enjoy Gibson reads and find them laugh-out-loud entertaining. However, while the first third was like that, I thought the story began to fall flat and was a bit predictable. It didn’t feel particularly fresh and energetic like previous Gibson books.

Furthermore, I didn’t get the sense of escapism that I look for in a festive read. I felt angry on behalf of the ladies for how much they are being taken advantage of – not really something you want to feel at Christmas time. In addition, the state of Shelley’s marriage was especially saddening and I wanted her to see how much she is taken advantage of by her husband. I don’t think her ending was the happy ever after I was hoping for. Finally, a couple of the guests at the B&B was particularly detestable and I wished Theo would have received some discipline – he really wound me up!

As far as Christmas reads go, this one wasn’t my most favourite this year. It didn’t give me the heart-warming feels that I was looking for, instead feeling frustrated for the characters and a bit empty by the predictable plot. In my opinion, there are definitely better Christmas reads out there and I think this was one of Gibson’s less enjoyable stories. It was a bit entertaining to start with, but I could have done with more sweetness and sugar canes.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was funny at times but, also a little sad as the fact that the relationship between wife, husband and children were not very caring at considerate even at Christmas. This made me a little uncomfortable at times which is a shame as I was looking forward to reading it. I disliked Joel a lot and really didn't like his attitude at all. I usually enjoy Fiona's books but, not this time. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This was an entertaining read. It could totally be an ensemble movie as well. I thought it was fun to get the perspective of several different characters in the book. The Christmas vibes were plenty as well, especially because I felt like it demonstrated the craziness that is the holiday season. This was a fun quick read for the holidays, and is something different than the typical Hallmark holiday romances if you're looking for something different. Also, Joel sucks and Shelley's kids are the worst. It likely isn't one that is going to stick with me forever, but my time reading the book was entertaining at least.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

I never expect too much from Christmas novels, simply a bit of light, festive escapism, of which Tis the Damn Season certainly delivered with the perfect setting of the Highlands. The plot was pretty predictable although I personally would have loved Lena, Pearl and Shelley to have had a wild break together and letting loose rather than jetting off on a little holiday, only to end up working! I was surprised by the depth of the book in places but then disappointed when it only really scratched the surface of certain storylines which felt like a bit of a waste. It felt a bit like why bother? There's a good set of characters generally, especially the three main women. I really felt for Shelley and Joel had me rolling my eyes constantly. Nonetheless, an easy, Christmassy read.

Tis the Damn Christmas is a geeat read.

I was expecting just another Christmas story, but instead got a read about how friendships can help you through nearly any challenge life can throw at you.

4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

This book ticks all the boxes when it comes to a holiday romcom. I loved the banter and the characters so much!!

What I loved most about this holiday book is that it wasn’t a romance. I know, I know—Hallmark holiday romances are usually all the rage this time of year. But this story was refreshingly different, focusing instead on a sort of "coming of age" journey for three middle-aged women.

Pearl, Shelley, and Lena are burnt out and seeking a much-needed escape to the Scottish Highlands. What begins as a simple getaway transforms into a journey of self-discovery, love, acceptance, and deepening friendship.

💄 Pearl sheds her metaphorical (and literal) armor, realizing she doesn't need makeup or a polished facade to feel confident or worthy.
💔 Shelley confronts the draining reality of her marriage and learns she’s better off without her leech of a husband.
🌟 Lena embraces her life as it is, recognizing her happiness is hers to define and protect.

Their adventures in Scotland are filled with laughter, growth, and heartwarming moments that left me inspired to carve out time with my own friends this holiday season.

This is a truly lovely book that reminds us of the importance of friendship, self-love, and finding joy in the everyday. If you're looking for a holiday read that breaks the mold, this one is a must!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read 'Tis the Damn Season by Fiona Gibson.

This was exactly the book I needed! The three best friends were women I could easily relate to and enjoy spending time with. A perfect Christmas book.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find the audio version through my local library.

This book was interesting. I was drawn to the cover and I am sucker for any rom com chiclit Chrisrmas novels. It said perfect for Sophie Kinselle fans and I just disagree with this statement. Because I think that this was not even close to her style writing. The language was really bad in this book and it is extremely sexually explicit to the point where it was tacky to me and made me not finish it. It was just too much. And it being a Christmas novel I found it even tackier. Sadly this was a no for me.

The concept sounded great and different from many other chick-lit Christmas novels. There are three lead female characters, all middle age which allows for a variety of backgrounds and not just some romantic pursuit as is often the case in this genre. However the large cast was also a bit of a hindrance to keep up, and I also had a hard time finding the characters endearing. I think I still needed more sparkle and didn't find it in this book. So in the end, it was a bit of a miss for me.

This is the first book I've read by this author and have to say I found it very relatable. A nice easy read about three women who are being taken advantage of by their families. The setting was lovely for a Christmassy feel. Overall I would recommend this one and look forward to reading more of this authors backlist.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy of this one

Shelly, Lena and Pearl are best friends who are fed up being taken for granted book and decide to book a last-minute break to Scotland during the week before Christmas, leaving their families to continue the preparation for Christmas.

What happens is totally different to what they anticipated as they get snowed in, are left to run a B&B and have to entertain the other guests (including an obnoxious family). During their time away, they reflect on their lives and make life changing decisions aided by the wonderful friendship group they have!

An enjoyable feel good read with likeable, relatable characters and plenty of laughter. Perfect for starting to get into Christmas mode!

This book presents a fun but absolutely realistic look at what life is like around the holidays. I know what it’s like to feel responsible for making sure everything is perfect and magical and I love that Shelley, Lena, and Pearl got themselves out of town and took a break! I also loved how each of their stories turned out. It was the perfect ending for all of them!

This was a refreshing take on a festive read. By this I mean that yes of course it has some festive warm fuzzy moments but it also addresses the stress of the season from varying perspectives. Shelley with her cheating husband and ungrateful adolescents, Lena and her partner's pushy parents and Pearl whose son's girlfriend appears to have moved in.
A great read. Thanks to netgalley and boldwood books for the advance copy.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Another great read from this author who I find really funny. Great characters and a great storyline. Enjoyed it.

Perfect Christmassy Holiday read. Absolutely loved this book. Full of festive drama. Certainly one to curl up with under the fairy lights this Christmas.