It has been a while since I last read a Fiona Gibson novel and at the moment I'm struggling to work out why. For this was really funny, and a thoroughly entertaining story.

I loved Shelley, Lena and Pearl's escape to the Highlands right before Christmas, as they reached their limits with their home situations. And what an escape it is, given they end up running the B&B for a few days!

We also get chapters from a couple of their other halves so we can see what is going on back home, and wow I did not like Shelley's husband, what a cocky git he is!

This is the sort of escape that I think many people wish they could do at a hectic time of year, especially if it feels like the Christmas preparations are rather one sided. There are many memorably funny moments in this book, including a situation with a tub of celebrations!

This is just a really enjoyable book that is a real tonic in the run up to Christmas.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A Christmas book set in the highlands is exactly what I needed! This was a lighthearted cosy read and it was laugh-out-loud funny in moments. I cannot wait to read more of Gibson's work!

This was my first Fiona Gibson book, and I absolutely loved it! As someone who can never resist a good Christmas read, Tis the Damn Season! did not disappoint. Shelley, Lena, and Pearl’s decision to escape the holiday madness for a mini-break in the Highlands had me laughing from the start. It’s festive, funny, and filled with heartwarming moments as the women reflect on what really matters. Big thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review!

'Tis the Damn Season by Fiona Gibson was a fun and festive escape. Lighthearted, without the cheesy Hallmark movie vibe. Multiple POVs, but very well done and added a lot to the storyline.

4/5 stars. I very much enjoyed this book and recommend it for a great cozy holiday read. Looking forward to discovering other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Fiona Gibson, and Boldwood books for the opportunity to read the ARC. I was not required to leave a review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

A great holiday season excape, to get us in all the christmas mood! Light and cozy and really enjoyable

What a delightful story! We follow a group of friends who, at the eleventh hour, decide to embark on a getaway before Christmas, entrusting their families to handle all the arrangements. These women are exhausted and feel undervalued, so they hope this trip will provide them with the opportunity to reevaluate their lives and find greater fulfillment. The author strikes a perfect balance between humor and drama, making this a truly enjoyable read during the holiday season.

Such a cute Holiday Romance. Iff try made me swoon and laugh. Definitely a book to add to your winter. TBR!!

What a well written and balanced book! As you follow 3 middle aged women through this journey and see the real struggles they face in their personal lives, one that many women can relate to. It makes you laugh and brings humor to the reality many can understand.

I liked the three story lines and was able to relate to all of them at one point or another. The getaway was spectacularly described and now I want to go to the highlands!

This book wavered between.a 3 and 4 for me so I will round up to 4 stars. This book is about 3 best friends who are all around 50 years old and all have their own reasons to dread the Christmas holiday. These women get a chance to escape to the Scottish countryside just before Christmas and they take it. Throughout this book, we read about the lives of these three friends but also their significant others, their children, and the lives of the other guests and the owner of the bed and breakfast. This book was very realistic about the struggles of marriage, parenting, divorce, and loss but also gives insight on what it takes to survive it all. Life is about connection and lasting relationships rather with a spouse or a best friend. At times this book moved slow for me but overall I found it a good read.

This follows the story of three overwhelmed friends who decide to ‘take a break’ just before Christmas ‘to catch their breath’. What happens after is a series of adventures, misadventures and surprises.

This was enjoyable and a perfect holiday read. It is a classic be careful what you wish for. I love how relatable the plot and events were. There was no sugarcoating of any of the experiences of the main characters.

The characters were real as they can be and you can’t help but immerse yourself in their lives and situations.

This was a celebration of friendship, family, self care and moving on. There is the description of the picturesque landscape of the Scottish Highlands which will make you want to visit.

The ending was nicely wrapped up and I would recommend this to women’s fiction lovers.

I completely, totally feel these women in my bones! The three main characters are all middle-aged women who are absolutely fed up with being the one that does everything in their families and relationships especially during the holidays while never being seen for who they are. I and many other women out there can/will totally relate to this feeling of drowning in responsibility. We want everything to be perfect for those we love, but who makes it perfect for us? The story is hilariously written while dealing with deep emotionally charged issues. The author also gives us snippets of perspective from some of the men in the story which only increases your need to smack some of them! You will run the gambit of emotions while reading this book. I also have to say that the book is also inspirational in that it would be wonderful to find a group of friends to support you the way these women support each other. This isn't the typical feel-good Christmas story, but it will make you feel good in different ways. I highly recommend that everyone grab a copy and settle in with a good drink to read the day away! My question when you are done reading will be, will you be making any changes to your holiday traditions or will you keep killing yourself to slog through to make everyone else happy?

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Absolutely brilliant book !
Three Christmas fairies , and we all know people like that! Decide to change their lives and disappear to Scotland for a weekend leaving the Christmas chaos behind them.
Fantastic characters, brilliant and funny storyline and an absolute must read !
Highly Recommended
Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Fiona Gibson for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun book. I enjoyed it a lot!

Such a good book, Shelley, Lena and Pearl, three besties are on a precipice of midlife. Shelley is downtrodden, put on by her kids and lazy husband Joel who sadly is a man child. Pearl has been widowed and has recently started dating and quickly realises that she won’t stand for second best ever. Lena is being swept along by the man she loves who needs a backbone!
They go away to a pre Christmas holiday in the highlands. Life changes for ever. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

A totally realistic and extremely relatable read for so many middle-aged women juggling homes, work, children, husbands, and menopause, and then you add in the annual festive organization, 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!

This is a sweet read, three friends decide to visit Scotland close to the Christmas season, to get a change in their ordinary lives. The storytelling, the nice characters and you can imagine breathing the fresh air. Taking in the scenery even when not being there. This is the story of Shelley, Pearl and Lena, long time friends, who all need to get away and off they go to a friend's B&B in Scotland. Michael the owner of the B&B is happy to have the Three women come and visit him. It's kind of an adventure in the Highlands where, there are happenings and a cute eventful season. Totally different to what the three women are used to in their ordinary lives. I was certainly captured from the first few pages and had difficulties putting the book down. A relaxing read putting forward the spirit of friendship during the Christmas season and a change of scenery.
Thanks to the author and publisher giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
Charlotte N

4.5⭐️/5

I ADORED this book! Shelley, Lena, and Pearl, were a delight to get to know. They are all strong, capable women, each with the quiet confidence that comes from experience and understanding of self. As friends, they buoy each other, defend and provide shoulders to cry on - the kind of friendship that we all hope to have guiding us through our next stages of life.

The set up drew me in from the first moment: the overworked moms and partners (sick of the drama of getting ready for Christmas when no one else seems to even care about getting down grandma’s ornaments, or sharing space with unlikeable extended family) deciding to take a pre-Christmas break to a B&B in Scotland to recoup. Because of romcom reasons, the trio end up playing hostesses at the B&B, and get snowed in with their guests, while their families are left back home, starting to realize just how much they miss the ladies.

A couple of things really stayed with me after finishing the book:

1) Shelley, the traditional housewife and mom, does not automatically forgive her absolute piece of garbage husband at the end. She has a clear love for her family, and she values her marriage (imperfect though it was) - and she does not compromise those values just because it is a better ending to have a reconciliation. There is room for interpretation as to whether she may be open to forgiveness in the future, but it seems equally likely that everyone will be happier with the space and distance.

2) Lena’s partner is a genuinely good man, who loves her. Yes, he is put into situations by his family (including g a teenage daughter, who he shares joint custody of with his ex wife) that could have left room for temptation or doubt. But there is never a moment of doubt for him. He knows that he needs to keep Lena updated on what is happening so that she doesn’t feel blindsided - and yes, he screws that up. But not once is there a moment from his POV when he has doubts or is tempted by his old life. It was refreshing, and heartwarming, and made the ending that much sweeter.

3) By the end of the B&B trip, I actually LIKED the miserable family that was staying at the inn. As someone that has worked in retail, I knew a Karen as soon as I saw her… and yet, she is not a villain. The pushover husband stands up when it matters, and even the bratty son has some genuinely endearing moments. At the end of the day, the message is clear - every family is different, and as long as they truly love each other and want what’s best for each other, then that is worth something.

A fantastic read that filled the need in my heart for the same feeling of warmth and hope and Christmas spirit that I have not felt since the first time I watched Love Actually. Do yourself a favor and add this to your Christmas TBR!!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy to review.

This was a very cozy and warm reading. I enjoyed the plot and the characters even more. It was sweet.