I am always a fan of Mary Jay Andres books and this one did not disappoint. I loved the story line, I loved the setting and I loved the characters. I honestly loved everything about this book- there isn’t a single thing I would want to change!

This book is SO CUTE.

I'm not a big holiday book reader - but I love me some MKA and this little novella packs an adorable Christmas punch without too much cheesiness thrown in your face.

It's a little bit magical, has all the warm and cozy vibes, some mystery, some romance, and is a charming starting over story. And there's a dog :)

The perfect balance of everything you could want in a holiday story!

A wonderfully written story wholly embracing the magic of Christmas. After buying a farmhouse without seeing it she is ready for work and to be alone, but the amount of junk that was left behind is more then she bargained for. When she discovers an old Santa suit in a closet with a note written by a young girl wanting one wish for Christmas she is determined to find this girl. This brings her into town and into a special Christmas with more people and community then she had wanted, but may very well be what she needed.

When Ivy buys an old furnished farmhouse, sight unseen, she gains more than just a place to live.

This is a sweet, light hearted Christmas story. A much needed change from the Holocaust stories I’ve been reading.

Thank you to Mary Kay Andrew’s, St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

The Santa Suit is a Hallmark movie in novella form. I know I just said this about The Holiday Swap, but it is even more true for The Santa Suit. You know the plot, just exchange firefighter with real estate agent.

Mary Kay Andrews tries to include not just romance but an uplifting, heart-warming storyline. Unfortunately, The Santa Suit is not so heart-warming and even less romantic. Instead, it is a shallow story filled with convenient coincidences, overly helpful neighbors, and people who seem to never work.

The Santa Suit is more contemporary fiction than romance. The romance was as nonexistent as the main character’s heating. (Ivy was apparently not as concerned about the freezing temperatures and heating in her house as she was with a random letter she found written 20+ years ago.) There was no chemistry, no courting, just all of a sudden kissing. She could have just tripped into his arms and melted into a kiss, and it would have been about the same. We all knew it was going to happen; I just wanted some chemistry and actual rapport built before it did.

I realize I sound a bit like a Scrooge, but this book has such high ratings. I was hoping for a bit more holiday magic and depth and a bit less luck. Ultimately, I found that That Santa Suit had nothing of substance within its 224 pages. It could have benefitted from at least 100 additional pages and some more descriptive writing. I am not a fan of super descriptive writing, but Andrew’s writing in this book was similar to if I was trying to write an unbiased, fact-based report for Congress. I have never read anything like it within the pages of something fictitious. If you told me that The Santa Suit had been rushed to publication, I would not be the least bit surprised.

Overall, The Santa Suit was a disappointing read that was meh at best. I think it has potential, but that potential was left unfulfilled. I do not see myself recommending this to anyone unless they need something super shallow filled with rainbows and Santa and luck.

A quick, Christmasy, satisfying read that will be sure to delight fans of Ms. Andrews. I wouldn't call it a surprise because we know Ms Andrews books never disappoint,

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews is the perfect novella to get a person into the holiday spirit! This was a really quick read, and it was super festive, as well as having a nice little mystery in the pages. The audiobook was a joy to listen to and so good I actually listened to it twice in a row. The narrator is Kathleen McInerney, and I can't even tell you how much I enjoyed both her narration and the way she made me feel while I was listening to her narrate. Her voice was spot on for Ivy, and I honestly think she made me love her character even more. I could totally see this being made into a movie and it would definitely make a great storyline for the Hallmark Christmas movies I love so much. The book is full of loveable characters as well as plenty of funny moments, and along with the dash of romance it managed to create the perfect trifecta.

Since this is a novella it is pretty short, so I don't really want to go into too many details. I will tell you that The Santa Suit is a heartwarming story as well as a solid mystery, and it really did give me all the feels. I loved every single thing about both the plot and the writing, and the audiobook isn't even 5.5 hours long so it's easy to fit into an afternoon whichever route you go to read it. It was a bit of a tearjerker as well and there is a rescue dog that I know will charm the hearts of many readers. This is the first time I have read any sort of holiday book from MKA, and I really hope she will write more in the future. If you are looking for an easy holiday read, then look no further and pick up The Santa Suit!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this cute story! It was a quick read (only about 200 pages) and I flew through it in less than a day! I loved the characters and the magic of Christmas. There wasn't a lot of character development, but there was enough surface information that made you invested in what was going on.

Wow! Really enjoyed this holiday novella by Mary Kay Andrews! It was short and sweet with tons of holiday cheer and warm feelings. A perfect read for the holidays.

*Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the egalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Oh friends, this one was super cute, and just what I needed! It’s short, sweet, and full of holiday cheer. Ivy Perkins, the main character in The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews is an absolute delight. I took a liking to her instantly. She’s helpful, selfless, kind, caring, and truly is the perfect friend or neighbor to have on your side. I loved the small town vibes, the old farmhouse Ivy moves into, the candy store, and the Christmas stroll in the neighborhood. What I appreciated the most was the little mystery that Ivy was trying to solve. It added a little oomph to the story, and kept me very intrigued. If you’re looking for a book to kickstart your holiday reading, this is definitely the one! 4/5 heartwarming stars for The Santa Suit!

A totally fun and delightful book - perfect to put me in the Christmas mood. It shows how the smallest of actions can have a wide effect on the lives of others.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Mary Kay Andrews for the ARC of The Santa Suit in return for my honest review.

This is the first book I have read by Mary Kay Andrews. A very enjoyable easy read. If you are looking for a feel-good holiday book with a happy ending. A delightful and charming holiday novella that celebrates the magic of Christmas and second chances.

This was a very quick, fun read. It follows most of the tropes, but in a satisfying way. Ivy’s quest to figure out the Santa letter is a great B-plot, and it’s resolution was quite satisfying in light of the holiday season.

The less believable part is that Ezra is clearly interested in Ivy from the very beginning. Okay, they worked together via phone/email for her to purchase the house, but they had never met in person—and he’s pursuing her practically from page 1.

This was what I would term a “clean read”. There’s some kissing and drinking of adult beverages—by adults.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The perfect feel good book to read over Thanksgiving weekend! I loved the charming town and characters. I loved the farmhouse and the quaint small town vibe. I’d love to visit this place during Christmas. Quick and heart warming. The best mix!

In hopes of a fresh start following her divorce, Ivy moves away from the city and purchases a rundown farmhouse in desperate need of some love. While cleaning out boxes in the attic, Ivy finds an old Santa suit with a letter from a little girl in the pocket, and Ivy hopes to discover the story behind this young girl’s Christmas wish.

The novel follows the perfect Hallmark formula of “big city girl moves to a small town”, and of course the small town was full of charm and Christmas spirit. This was the perfect feel-good story, and at only 224 pages, it was a fast and festive read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is a really warm and fuzzy book to kick off your holiday reading! While there is no steam involved in this read, it does totally scream hallmark Christmas movie.

One thing I loved about this book is there was far more layers than simply the romance aspect, Honestly the romance is subtle and focuses more on decoding the past and getting a precious letter to Santa back to its owner.

The only reason I did knock a star off is because it did take a bit to really feel invested in the story and the characters, which in a story just over 200 pages I would like to feel invested a bit sooner.

Overall definitely make sure this is on your Christmas reading list! You won't regret it!

Thank you Netgalley for the gifted copy of The Santa suit in exchange for an honest review!

This review will be featured on my Instagram no later than 12/7/21

This is a traditional romance with the storyline trope of a woman, freshly single, moving to a small (NC) town to restart her life. And as with most small town romances, there are quirky townspeople, blue-collar love interests, and a bit of holiday magic

Absolutely charming! The Santa Suit is my first Andrews novel and I'm confident it won't be my last. It's like a warm cup of cocoa, quiet Christmas carols, and a hug from a friend all wrapped into one. I'm quite smitten! Ivy is a lovely protagonist and the large cast is introduced in a great pace with each character getting their own story arc and ending. I've already recommended it to multiple friends as the perfect book to kick off and enjoy during their holiday season.

Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

This is the cutest, most heartwarming, little book that is the perfect start for holiday reading. I read this book in one lazy morning and just had to know how it ended. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I always love seeing old houses being fixed up in Mary Kay Andrews books, but this Christmas farmhouse might have been my favorite.

This was a delightful, quick holiday read! While somewhat predictable, there was a twist at the end that surprised me! It was the perfect Hallmark-holiday movie-type read to get me in the spirit as the season begins. Full of holiday spirit!