Such a great twist on the usual festive read. My goodness what would I give to be able to run away in the build up to Christmas, and there are only two of us!! There are so many amazing moments with this story, all three of the main characters have great stories to tell, and some of the others also have great stories as well, you just get pulled into each story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

‘Tis the Damn Season exceeded my expectations that I would read a cozy novel about women sick of being holiday doormats who then find some independence when escaping just before Christmas. Yes, this absolutely is about that, but the details of what exactly happens to them in their journey- and the consequences, were not cozy but supremely engaging and really tied to the user to the conflict and discoveries in the book.

Three women who formed a friendship while working at a magazine years ago, Shelley (a mother who is 100% being under appreciated by her husband and kids), Lena (engaged to a lovely man who can’t seem to say no to his terrible family and bleh daughter), and Pearl (a widow whose grown son and his slobby girlfriend are living at Pearl’s and nowhere near good guests) get together every year just before Christmas. This year is trying for all of them with their families and situations getting to be extra stressful so they decide to escape to Scotland for a Highlands pre-Holiday. There are little unexpected adventures that crop up during their trip and the women ultimately get snowed in over Christmas - while at home all hell breaks loose.

Each women’s story is different but all found their way to a good place. Shelley was the best explored main character and perhaps that’s why I loved her plot line most and felt the most hopeful for her at the end. I don’t want to reveal too much, but suffice to say this is a little harder hitting than I expected but that just made the book all the more satisfying. I would categorize this as true women’s fiction and focusing on the hard (and real stuff) with generous doses of humor and friendship that help balance things out.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and won’t be the last. This was such a great holiday read and some parts were super relatable! Thanks for the opportunity to read this one. Loved it!

QUEEN OF EASY READ ROM COM 🩵

3 best friends take a trip to the Highlands & end up snowed in over Christmas… But how will their families cope without them!? Because a lot can happen over Christmas!!

My first Christmas read of 2024 and I really enjoyed it!

Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Laugh out loud fiction
- Festive and fun books
- Love and friendship stories
- Drama storylines

Thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for my ARC

Such a lovely book. I love this author’s writing style and I feel almost part of the story with her descriptions of people and places. I was willing Shelley and Michael together at the end, and fingers crossed that happens somewhere in the future!
Definitely a perfect festive read to cosy up with on a cold winter’s evening

An enjoyable book about love and friendship. Shelley, Lena and Pearl have been friends for a long time and are all struggling with different aspects of their lives in the run up to Christmas. Pearl suggests a pre-Christmas visit to an old friend who owns a b and b in Scotland.
Whilst away, they realize things about their lives, as fo those they left behind.
A fun, festive read.

A fabulous cheery, heartwarming novel that had me laughing out loud. Loved the characters and the banter. A festive read with a difference.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, written with great humour and a lovely style. Three female friends decide that they need a break and that a trip to a b&b in Scotland would be the very thing. Once there things take a different turn and they friends find themselves running the b&b and finding out more about themselves and their lives back home than they bargained for.

Plenty of laughs and a great book with some good romance and witty comments on life in general, which readers will be able to identify with. Not that I’m sure most of us would offer to run a b&b that close to Christmas miles away from home!

Highly recommended as a festive fun read. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

'Tis the Damn Season by Fiona Gibson is a look at family stresses during the holiday season and the support to be found in friends, old and new.
I have to admit, given the title and the cover, I expected this book to be more entertaining and less like a soap opera. There are plenty of tense instances, some absolutely unlikeable characters, and others that are difficult to find much sympathy for. The switching back and forth between not only the three main characters, but to their significant others as well. It makes for a somewhat confusing read. There are a few amusing moments, but not as many as I'd hoped.
Of course, the book is technically well-written, but for me it just missed the mark. I have enjoyed other books by Gibson, and hopefully will again.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TistheDamnSeason.

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.

4 stars! I liked the Christmas book and theme. Christmas is always my favorite season and reading Christmasy books in August is like a magical calming atmosphere.

The characters and the banter had me read this!

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.