Overall, and enjoyable and cute Christmas read but a little too Hallmark for regular MKA fans, and an awkward length. Straddling somewhere between a full-length novel and a novella, this one is a breeze to get through but not quite short enough to be a short story. This book was fun but ultimately forgettable.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars - 6/10

A novel about new beginnings set in North Carolina at Christmas time. Mary Kay Andrews gives us a heroine that's easy to love - her upbeat yet realistic spirit is contagious to almost all who meet her. I smiled a lot while reading and loved the magical quality (not magic) of the time of year. If you read a lot of the Christmas romance subgenre you'll know to suspend your need for realistic plot points. Recommended to anyone looking for a light Christmas novel with a small town Hallmark-esque setting that's sure to put a reader in the mood of the season. I enjoyed it.

I love how versatile Mary Kay Andrews is. I read her books with only one expectation: total enjoyment. The streak continues with The Santa Suit. It was so sweet. I was basically choked up, in a good way, the entire time! The characters were all so wonderful, from Ivy, to Ezra, Phoebe, and my favorite, Lawrence. If you need a little warmth in your heart - a book without a villain, a tragedy, or high stakes - with a little mystery, a dash of romance, and some magic dust, The Santa Suit is for you.

Looking for a fresh start, Ivy buys an old farmhouse based solely on the photos she's seen on the internet. When she arrives at her new home, she's dismayed to discover that she will need to do considerably more work on the house than she'd planned. On top of that, the house is filled with the previous owners' furniture and belongings, which she needs to get rid of before she can truly make the house her own. Among other things, she finds an old but beautifully made Santa suit, with a child's letter to Santa in a pocket. Ivy is intrigued by the note, and sets out to learn who wrote the note and if the child's wish ever came true. While pursuing her mission, she meets many of her new neighbors, and learns that the town expects her to live up to the Christmas traditions of her home's previous occupants.

I love Mary Kay Andrews' books, which are always well-written, feel-good stories that are enjoyable to read, and this book was no exception, although it was hard to get into the Christmas mood during a late August heat wave :) The author paints a vivid description of the long-neglected farmhouse, and introduces the reader to the joys of leaving all of your possessions in the hands of a moving company. I enjoyed meeting the residents of the town, but I was astounded that so many of them expected Ivy to assume the same role as her home's previous owners!

I also had a hard time imagining that anyone would buy a house in an unfamiliar town sight unseen. Ivy wouldn't have been surprised by all the repairs and upgrades the house needed almost right away if she had at least visited the house once before making her purchase. She seemed to have a good amount of money available to pay for all those repairs and upgrades, which was also hard to believe.

The book has several plot lines woven into the story, and each of them takes a predictable turn as the book progresses. That said, I didn't expect the way a couple of them intersected, and that was a pleasant surprise. I'm not a fan of insta-love, and we got more than one case in this book, but it fit with the rest of the story and wrapped everything up very nicely in time for Christmas. As always, I look forward to reading the next Mary Kay Andrews book.

Ivy Perkins buys a farmhouse online and moves from Atlanta to a small town in rural North Carolina after her divorce. Because she bought it sight-unseen she ends up getting more than she bargains for in the repairs department, but she has a very handy realtor who is always up to the challenge, thank goodness. As she is delving into all of the furniture the former owners left behind, she discovers a pristine Santa suit, and in one of the pockets a letter asking Santa for her father to return home from the war. Ivy makes it her mission to try to find the owner of the letter to see if her wish was granted. The quest not only brings closure for one family, but also makes Ivy several new few friends and possibly one romantic interest in her new town.
This book was so good. If this doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will! Full of light-hearted fun, romance and laughs, this holiday rom-com is the perfect way to jump-start your holiday.

Her ex-husband in her rear-view mirror, Ivy Perkins leaves her old life in Atlanta behind and heads for a small North Carolina town! Looking for a change, she buys a 100+ year old farmhouse, The Four Roses, sight unseen. When Ivy moves in, she discovers that the former occupants left furniture and an attic full of boxes.

Rummaging around one day, she finds a box with a beautifully made and decades old Santa suit with a treasure in the pocket – a letter to Santa from a little girl asking for her father to return home from the Vietnam War. In need of a good mystery, Ivy embarks on a mission that will not only change her life, but the lives of many in her new community. Who wrote the note? Did her wish come true?

This is the BEST CHRISTMAS NOVEL I’ve ever read! It captures the magic of Christmas, the essence of a small, welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved and a second chance at love. Exquisite characterization and an ability to tap into the magic of Christmas with the sights, sounds, and flavours of the season, Mary Kay Andrews has written a story that I’ll re-read every Christmas.

I guarantee this wholesome novella will give you all the feels and have you counting the days to Christmas!

Publishes September 28, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

If you are in the mood for a quick-reading, feel-good Christmas story, this is it! Ivy Perkins, a young, recently divorced woman in marketing/advertising, buys an old farmhouse -- sight unseen -- in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina for a fresh start. What unfolds is her a tale of her new relationships with various townspeople and the town itself (including its history and past inhabitants) and her rediscovering herself -- with romance blossoming all around just before Christmas.

Although perhaps somewhat sappy at times, as well as predictable, this novel is a charmer that can lift your spirits and is much like a good Hallmark Christmas movie. And, a nice unexpected twist adds to this novel's charm.

Book Version of Hallmark Christmas Movie. The title is basically all you need to know here. If you like the Hallmark Christmas Movie craze, you're going to love this book. If that isn't really your thing... you should still try this book out, since it *is* funny and includes a compelling small-town mystery of long-lost family. This is an excellently written story that fits well within the space intended, and thus is another sure-fire winner for an author who seems to be in that "groove" now. All the feels, a touch of humor, a dash of Christmas magic, and no true anxiety/ fear inducing drama. Truly, all you can really ask for in a story of this type. Oh, and this one is a short and easy read too - perfect for a quick bite to get you in the Christmas spirit or to kick off your three months of Christmas. Or for when your family is over for Christmas and you need a break! :) Very much recommended.

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
A wonderful heart felt Christmas time story. Ivy Perkins and Ezra Wheeler's story she is newly divorced and has bought an old farm, he is the real estate agent. Is there magic in a Santa Suit she finds? The mystery of a note found in the pocket and how it brings everything together. There are lots of laughs and mishaps that aren't so bad, many happy tears (I had to stop reading for a few minutes before I could finish reading the book), a couple of love stories, found family that all get to a fantastic HEA.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read Romantic Page-turner Happily Ever After Great world building Unpredictable Entertaining Funny Wonderful characters Whimsical

This is a sweet, charming story that at first appears frothy. But under that froth are real feelings and backbone! I was totally engaged by the characters and how, step-by-step, the plot expanded. Even more delightful was how various puzzle pieces came together for a satisfying, heartfelt ending. I am ready to pack up and move to that town!

‘ The Santa Suit’ is an Uplifting Christmas novella by Mary Kay Andrews. It is a short easy to read story with a happy ending. MKA did a wonderful job of entwining these characters in a feel good holiday story.

“The Santa Suit” is a delightful tale of new beginnings, new friends and appreciating the wonder of the holidays. Mary Kay Andrews has a gift for inviting her readers into her books so they can get to know the characters and share in their laughter and tears, their hopes and dreams. The magic of the Santa suit brought Ivy and Ezra together and united the town at Christmas.

Ivy Perkins was starting over in a farmhouse that she bought online with a car full of her belongings and only her dog, Punkin, and her new chickens as company. She had a blank canvas with which to create her new life and reflect on her past while shutting the door on what came before. Ezra Wheeler was more than willing to assist Ivy with her old house issues as well as giving her his full attention on matters of the heart.

When Ivy found the Santa suit hidden in an upstairs closet she knew she was holding something special. The minute she stroked the soft velvet she was transported back to her childhood, when little Ivy had asked Santa for a special gift for Christmas. She had no idea why this Santa suit brought back such vivid memories. Perhaps she was meant to find the suit so she could share her good fortune with others. Maybe the magic of the Santa suit would make people smile and feel warm inside during the holidays.

Mary Kay Andrews has given us an early holiday gift with this warm and endearing book. Reading “The Santa Suit” made me long for the closeness of family, the twinkling of lights on the tree, and the joy of baking Christmas cookies. Thank you, Ms. Andrews, for making me feel young again.

Very engaging Christmas (or anytime) romance. It's a great escape from the days worries. Thoroughly enjoyed Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews.

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews was a very sweet story. The story takes place in a small town in North Carolina. The main character moves there from Atlanta to start her life over after a divorce. She meets and befriends some of the hometown folks. She buys an old farmhouse that has lots of treasures from the past. She finds an old Santa Suit that the previous owner used to wear at Christmas time. The discovery of the suit and the magic that it possesses brings the town together. A very sweet story.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I normally wouldn’t read a Christmas story in August, but when it’s 90+ and super humid, a Christmas tale seemed to be what I needed.

This was short, sweet, and an enjoyable piece of fluff to read. Nothing earth shattering and at times a bit unbelievable, but a nice escape.

This was a cute little Christmas story. I could see it as a made for tv movie - and I would totally watch it! I liked the characters and how quickly and smoothly the story went along. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital arc of this title!

This book was received as an ARC from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was in the mood for a heartwarming holiday romance and The Santa Suit delivered beautifully. As I was reading this book, I could not help but think of The Hallmark Channel and their original movie, The Christmas Card that also has the same plot of someone returning from war and they are on a mission to find that person. In this case, it's a Santa Suit and it's a note from a little girl wishing for her father to come home from war. If I were in Ivy shoes, I would definitely take on that mission and see where it would take me. Mary Kay Andrews did an excellent job with the language use, vocabulary and word play that made the reader along with the ride with Ivy and see where her journey will take her. There were so many surprises which made the story even more exciting and I really hope this turns into a Hallmark movie. I also can't wait to hear the opinions of our library community.

We will consider adding this title to our Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Super-sweet holiday read about starting over, how people connect through seemingly small moments, and the miraculous ways things sometimes come together. This book (like all of Mary Kay Andrews’ writing) is a much needed antidote to the pervasive cynicism of our time. The Santa Suit is wonderful, light, and uplifting, even in the heat of summer.

From the first chapter, I felt like I stepped into a Hallmark movie. I could picture every scene, and 100% could see this playing out on our TVs in the future. This was such a sweet story. A leap of faith, second chances, and so much more. Reading this warmed my heart and soul. It was a perfect Christmas in August pick me up.

Also, this is my first Mary Kay Andrews book and I may have just discovered a new auto-buy author! Can't wait to read more from her!

I received an eARC of The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
5 stars! Mary Kay Andrews has produced yet another fabulous read. A charming and heartwarming story with well-developed characters. I enjoyed this fun read.