Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC. The story was short, and sort of predictable, totally Hallmark-y...... and I didn't really hate it, but I didn't really like it either. I felt like the characters had no personality and were getting on my nerves at certain points in the story. I did like the old man and how the story ends up circling around his family, which I did see coming but it was cute. Overall I gave this two stars on Goodreads. I would recommend it for people who enjoy short holiday reads.

I did not have high expectations for this going in, even though everyone seems to love it. Hyped books always fall flat for me, but not this one. It’s kind of a short, quick read. Every character in this I loved. It was a little odd reading about the main guy named Ezra, because that’s my sons name. But he was lovely and I was rooting for him. Ivy was likable and so believable as a person. I totally saw the online dating boo-boo happening with just the first mention of it. The setting was perfection and I absolutely adored Lawrence. Also….I now need some pepperymint chocolates in my life. This book could be a Hallmark Christmas movie. Seriously.

Cute, quick little Christmas novella that is very much a Hallmark movie! There is a bit of everything, with the city gril moving to the run down farm house, handsome neighbor becomes the fix all dude, a found family relic and the hunt for the owner of a long ago letter from Santa. This book is the perfect afternoon read by the tree!

The Santa Suit is relatively short and, in my opinion, suffers for it. Our love interest appears in the first few pages and seems instantly fixated on doing nice things for our heroine (not to mention kind of forcing Christmas upon her in the form of a massive tree she didn’t ask for).

The titular Santa suit appears equally quickly, as does the requisite quirky best friend who thinks she needs to lose 10 pounds, and the sad lonely old guy that the protagonist befriends to prove how tender hearted she is. Oh, and the down on her luck candy store owner who’s going to have to close shop because she just can’t get enough people to buy her secretly phenomenal candy.

This would all be fine if we ever got to know any of these characters any better, but… because the book has so much plot to do in so few pages, they’re all a bit flat and stay in their stereotypical lanes. I didn’t even feel like I knew Ivy, the main character, much better at the book’s end and I sometimes struggled to understand her motivations.

There are a lot of moving pieces, plot wise, and a lot of characters for such a quick read. So, it makes sense that character development fell to the wayside. It just made it hard for me to care what happened to any of them or invest in their stories.

I will say I did enjoy the twist towards the end, which I wasn’t expecting in spite of how formulaic much of the book felt.

In the end, though, this book didn’t translate those Hallmark movie vibes onto the page for me. I need a bit more time to care about and invest in the relationships I was supposed to root for, and it just wasn’t there.

If you enjoy a quick read and don’t mind a more plot driven book that moves quickly through to the merrily ever after, I’d definitely suggest this one for you! There’s also small town, learning to love again vibes along with the magic of Christmas element, so if that’s your jam, go forth and read!

I saved this book to read during the Christmas season to get the full effect, and I’m so glad I did. The story is as warm as hot cocoa and a hallmark movie, while snuggling under a soft blanket on a snowy day. Ivy, a recently divorced woman, decides to buy a fixer-upper farmhouse in North Carolina. The house needs several repairs, but her handsome real estate agent, Ezra, is happy to help. While cleaning out the items left behind by the previous owners, Ivy finds a Santa suit with a note in the pocket. It’s from a little girl asking Santa to bring home her father who is off fighting in a war. The note intrigues Ivy, who decides to make it her mission to find out if the father made it home.

2 1/2 stars

This book felt really hyped up this year and sadly, for me, it just didn't deliver. BUT! I can appreciate it for what it is... A sweet and sappy, entirely unrealistic Hallmark type book for the holiday season. I think I've just learned that these kinds of books are not for me. And that's OK! I still like to read them from time to time for lighter reads to break up heavier ones and because everyone's talking about them and I want in on it! Plus, the cover on this one is SO much fun!

Newly divorced Ivy Perkins has just bought an old farmhouse in a small town and discovers that the previous owners left a lot of their furniture and other belongings in the house for her to do with as she wishes. She finds an old Santa suit with a note in the pocket from a little girl asking Santa to being her dad home. She instantly decides she needs to find out what happened to the girl. In the meantime, she develops a bit of a crush on her super helpful realtor and additionally, struggles with where to go with her career.

I think I just didn't fully understand Ivy's obsession with the note and the ultimate conclusion felt totally unrealistic and weird to me. I also didn't understand the Jewish angle at all. In any event, I can totally see this book as a Hallmark movie, but one that feels formulaic and not memorable. But clearly, lots of people are loving it and maybe my heart is just too black and I'm becoming a Grinch...

Really enjoyed this one - LOVE all MKA books and loved that she made a Christmas one! Thanks for the opportunity to read!

The Santa Suit is one of those books that you enjoy from the moment you hit page one. From Ivy's arrival that the farmhouse to finding all the forgotten treasures left behind, I found I couldn't wait to see how the story unfolded. The journey Ivy found herself on led her to a treasure beyond her imagination. This is one book that will remain in your heart all season long.

Well written, with wonderful characters, this is one more book to add to your Christmas reading pile.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a story of starting over, making new friends, and finding the place that you knew you belonged your entire life.

This was a fun, festive read by one of my favorites authors. I enjoyed how easy it was to read and get lost in and could easily imagine the farmhouse and trunk of treasurers left at the house. I almost wanted a bit more of Ivy -- her happy ending felt a bit rushed to me. Still, an enjoyed holiday read!

After a divorce, Ivy purchased a 106-year-old farmhouse sight unseen... and discovered a Santa suit. While settling into her new small town, she also made a few new friends and perhaps even a love interest!

"It was the power of the Santa suit."

This was a sweet Christmas-themed romance with a bit of a mystery too. Since I also work in the marketing industry, I loved learning more about Ivy's career especially when she redid the candy store's website, etc. Normally, the huge coincidence at the end would irritate me, but this time (since I enjoyed the characters, story, and writing style), I can chalk it up to the magic of Christmas and/or the Santa suit (wink wink).

Location: Tarburton, North Carolina

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A cute and sweet read that will definitely put you in the holiday spirit. I enjoyed Mary Kay Andrews’ charming novella. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars

*Thank you to St. Martins Press, Mary Kay Andrews, and NetGalley for an Arc in exchange for an honest review*

Ivy is a recent divorcee who buys a dilapidated farmhouse, sight unseen, and brings herself and her dog to live in it. This is an adorable Christmas story about Ivy finding a Santa Suit, left behind by the previous owners. When she is asked for the millionth time if she will decorate her new house for Christmas, she decides to do it. This is a fun and cute story with a bit of romance, lots of holiday cheer, and a joyous reunion. If you love all of those things, then this is the book for you!

This was a lovely Hallmark-style Holiday book. It was exactly what I expected and wanted from Mary Kay Andrews. It was a wonderful feel good read and not to be missed if that’s what you love at this time of year.

After her life falls apart Ivy Perkins does something spontaneous, she buys the old farm house of her dreams sight unseen. When she arrives at Four Roses she realizes that she may have just stepped into more than she can handle. The porch is sagging, the windows are drafty if they are intact at all and the previous owner left so many things behind. While cleaning out Ivy discovers tucked into the back of one of the closets a box with a beautifully tailored Santa suit inside. Tucked into the pocket she finds a letter that sets Ivy on a journey to uncover whatever became of the little girl with such an impossible Christmas wish. Mary Kay Andrews has written a heartwarming, feel good Christmas read that I thought was over too soon. This quick read will fill you with Christmas cheer and a great escape during the season for holiday stress. Don't miss this one before year's end. Thank you to NetGalley & St Martin's Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m calling it now- the Santa Suit will be the next book to TV movie Hallmark makes! This book is begging to be made into a movie! A small town’s Christmas festivities, home renovation of a beloved landmark, helping the elderly get into the spirit of Christmas, several romances; what’s not to love!

This absolutely heartwarming mug of book is absolutely 5 stars for me. I loved the leap of faith Ivy took with the farmhouse and of course I loved her poochie, Punkin. The town itself is just precious and the cast of characters of comes with reminds me so much of Gilmore Girls.

I know this is a novella, but I would really love more of Ivy’s story. I just really connected with her and I want to see where she goes!

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress, @marykayandrews, @netgalley, and #tandempublicity for the gifted copy. This is definitely one I’ll reread next year!

I’m calling it now- the Santa Suit will be the next book to TV movie Hallmark makes! This book is begging to be made into a movie! A small town’s Christmas festivities, home renovation of a beloved landmark, helping the elderly get into the spirit of Christmas, several romances; what’s not to love!

This absolutely heartwarming mug of book is absolutely 5 stars for me. I loved the leap of faith Ivy took with the farmhouse and of course I loved her poochie, Punkin. The town itself is just precious and the cast of characters of comes with reminds me so much of Gilmore Girls.

I know this is a novella, but I would really love more of Ivy’s story. I just really connected with her and I want to see where she goes!

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress, @marykayandrews, @netgalley, and #tandempublicity for the gifted copy. This is definitely one I’ll reread next year!

I love a good Christmas tale as much as anyone, but now I can say that I have a number one favorite. The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews isn't special, per se, in terms of the storyline, but the writing in it sure is magical. Andrews brings to life the gumption that grows in a woman after a divorce, she brings to life the magic of the holidays, and she captures small town warmth like no one else. Ivy Perkins is a newly divorced woman on a mission: to take her rundown farmhouse and turn it into the dream she's always harbored. Nevermind she used all her money and savings to get here, that she's potentially without a job, and that it's significantly more rundown than she expected. The Four Roses farmhouse is famous in the small town, and not just for it's gorgeous style. Ivy discovers the owners were once the famed Mr. and Mrs. Claus and the home used to be visited by travelers far and wide for its spectacular lights. Divorce has left Ivy as a bit of a Scrooge though and Christmas just isnt in the card.

Luckily, the house, and the residences of the small town, have other plans for Ivy. The local realtor, a friendly neighbor, and a box filled with Christmas surprises give Ivy all the hope and joy she needs. She wasn't looking for love, friendship, or Christmas, but Four Roses gives her all that and more. This story is sweet, magical, and so very heartfelt. It's the kind of story you cozy into a blanket to read, it just feels good, and yet somehow it's also a powerful story of making life your own. Ivy finds herself, the spirit, and a family in the mountains of North Carolina.

I’m a city girl and this was dream like for someone wanting to start over and have a farm house just in time for Christmas. I suffered a painful divorce and know what it like to want to start over. This fresh start had friendly, safe people with a small town feel.
The farmhouse had family history that was steeped in the spirit of Christmas. With realistic events the story reminded me of the simple joys of slowing down and taking in my surroundings. Appreciating Christmas traditions.
The story had:
• Glass ornaments
• Vintage lights
• A giant Christmas tree
• And HEA
The annual Christmas stroll was precious that they have every year and I wish we had something like that here in my sweet town of Lyman. The novel was magical and just what I needed. I highly recommend it.
Thanks St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley.

A perfect Christmas read. Mary Kay Andrews does holiday drama like no other. I love a good tale with a bit of history and mystery involved and this fit the bill!