Mary Kay Andrews’s The Santa Suit is the book equivalent of cradling a steaming cup of cocoa while seated in front of a blazing fire while snow softly falls outside. It is cozy, warm, and the perfect Christmas book.

Ivy Perkins has just uprooted her life and moved to a small North Carolina town, buying an old farmhouse sight unseen. She arrives to find it just as whimsical and Instagram-worthy as the real estate listings showed, but also drafty and in need of a lot more repairs than she considered. When she finds a letter inside an old but luxurious Santa suit left behind by the previous owners, she sets off to find out what happened to the letter’s author. Along the way, she may just find the community she’s been longing for.

Like all of MKA’s books, The Santa Suit is chock full of great characters in a fabulous setting. Ivy may start out a little prickly, but seeing her with her beloved dog and learning her backstory quickly explains why. Each townsperson she meets, from the diner waitress to the county clerk, is vividly described and easily pictured. And the setting! It’s like a Christmas movie set, complete with sprinkles of snow, a town square (with a clock tower, of course!), and a Santa Land. And chickens— we can’t forget the chickens!

I may or may not have texted my friend to tell her this book had me daydreaming about moving to a farmhouse in the North Carolina mountains, where white Christmases are the norm and I can hear the crunch of snow under my boots. This is the kind of book that’ll have you on Google and Zillow, trying to find the perfect farmhouse with gorgeous views and a magnolia with arms spread wide to welcome you home. This novella is that evocative— it’s the kind of sweet story in the perfect setting that has you reimagining what your life could be like.

I can already tell this may be one I re-read every Christmas. It’s wholesome, intriguing, and full of the details that just make Mary Kay Andrews’s books stay in your memory. From vintage ornaments to aluminum trees to rebuilding a chicken coop to the utter peace found when walking on fresh snow early in the morning, the details in this book are spectacular. This lovely novella is sure to be a comfort read.

The Santa Suit will be available September 28, 2021, from St. Martin’s Press. Thank you to Net Galley, Mary Kay Andrews, and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced e-copy such that I could write this review. It’s just the comfort read I needed.

I loved loved loved this book. Small town romance and at Christmas time makes the best reads. Did she pick the house or did the house pick her.

This is a quick and cute novella by Mary Kay Andrews about the spirt of the holiday season. I love that Andrews books always include a bit of mystery and a bit of romance, and this book did not disappoint!

One of my favourite part of Mary Kay Andrews books is her ability to write settings that transport you. This was no different here, she had me ready to find myself a farmhouse and pack up and move to a small town.

This book really is able to capture the magic of Christmas. It was a quick, fun read, where I was able to connect to the characters and fall in love with Christmas in a small town. I will continue to read and love Mary Kay Andrews books! I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher for an open and honest review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book! I thought it was light and fun and a great book to flip through on the plane.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews is a heartwarming blend of romance and mystery. I remember first reading one of the author's books this year when I read Newcomer. Back then, I really enjoyed how the author combined elements of a beach read with a typical mystery. For The Santa Suit, the author did it again! There are emotional family and found family moments, potentials for new-town romance, and a lovely Christmas mystery at its core.

The story revolves around Ivy Perkins buys and move to her dream farmhouse in a new town after she gets divorced. When she gets there, she discovers the previous owners have left it in less-than-ideal conditions. She finds a Santa suit in a pile of junk, along with letters that a young girl wrote to Santa asking for her father to come back from the war. Can Ivy figure out the identities of the letter-writer and Santa Suit-owner while settling into her new town and new house?

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 1, when Ivy sees her new house for the first time:

"Her heart began to race as the house came into view. There was the front porch she’d been dreaming of. Complete with a row of rockers! Four narrow brick chimneys rose from the corners of the single-story wood-frame house, which meant four fireplaces. Ever since she’d spotted the house in the online real estate listings, she’d been picturing herself, seated in front of a cozy fire, in the parlor, sipping hot cider. Okay, to be honest, she pictured herself sipping a good Cabernet. Punkin’s bed would be pulled close to the hearth. She would start listening to classical music. And learn to knit. Or crochet. Maybe both.
As she got closer, she noticed the porch seemed to—no, it definitely did have a major sag in the middle that hadn’t shown up in the online photographs. And that white paint? Unless the light here was very bad, the color that best came to mind was more curdled buttermilk than white. But all of her online search engine words had very specifically consisted of “old” and “white” and “farmhouse.”
She added paint to the list of home improvements."

Overall, The Santa Suit is the perfect book for Mary Kay Andrews fans or people who have never read her books before but are curious about all of the hype. This book is a fun, light-hearted, sometimes emotional read with mystery elements, and it will appeal to readers who enjoy many genres. Last year, everyone was reading In a Holidaze around the holidays, and I can see everyone reading The Santa Suit this year. It's the perfect book to bring on a winter vacation or by yourself, while you're waiting for friends to arrive at your holiday party. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of heartwarming romances and mysteries, then you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in September!

A sweet Christmas romance (even thought it's August)? Yes, please!

Ivy has just moved to a small town in North Carolina with her dog following her divorce. She bought an old farmhouse and is now moving in to start over. Her real estate agent is eager to help her move in and things start heating up between the two of them. Ivy starts meeting more people in town and becomes entwined in the lives of those who live there. Ivy finds herself investigating a mysterious note in the pocket of a Santa Claus suit she finds in the farmhouse, saving a candy store in town and helping a new friend find love.

I loved this short novel! It was a sweet romance and there was a lot happening in the plot but it all wrapped up nicely in the end. The romance was a slow build, which I always enjoy, and the side characters in the town added to the overall story. I particularly liked the ending of this book. I'd recommend this fun romance to anyone fan of the genre, especially around the holidays.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Just divorce Ivy Perkins decides it is time to start over. One of her wishes is to buy a farm house and she buys The Four Roses, an old farm house, sight unseen. Little did she know all the work this home would need and that pervious owner left behind furniture and so many other things. While cleaning up she discovers a beautiful old Santa Suit with a note from a young girl that made a wish. A wish to have her father return from war and this peaks Ivy's interest as she wants to know if the young girl ever got her wish. Her desire to learn what happen will lead Ivy down a path of becoming part of the community, finding her way back to herself, and maybe a second chance at love. Who knew a house and a Santa Suit could provide such magic.

Mary Kay Andrews does it again with this holiday read! The magic of Christmas is big in this book and I love a good Christmas inspired book. It was a quick and fun read and you fall in love with all the characters. If you love Christmas and the magic it can inspire pick up this book. It doesn't disappoint.

Such a cute story Lots of little twists that you sure do not see coming. So heartwarming and healing in a small town where angels guard and and old Santa suit brings long lost family together and new love brings safety and happiness

Ivy Perkins is moving on from Atlanta, her ex, and her half of the business. Looking for a fresh start away from everything. She has pretty specific wants. A white farmhouse with land. So sight unseen, she purchases what looks like an adorable farmhouse in North Carolina.

Four Roses Farm must have used photoshop because the house is going to need a lot of work. It looks as if the former owners just up and left everything behind.

As Ivy is clearing out, she finds a beautiful Santa suit. It’s old and well-made and in the pocket, she finds a note from a little girl, written long ago. This little gem becomes a mission for Ivy. Who is this little girl? And why all the Christmas stuff?

The former owners, the Roses, were the town Santa and Mrs. for a long time. They did a lot to help the community and even though Ivy isn’t really a Christmas person, the town may change her mind.

With some help from a hot realtor and a new friend, she may find not only her purpose but love again.

A lovely Novella of the magic of Christmas and the enduring love of family. This really lifted my spirits at a time when we all need a little of that.

NetGalley/September 28th, 2021 by St. Martin’s Press

4.0 stars

I received a complimentary Kindle book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book may have been set during December, but it is a great book to read any time. It just was a lovely book and the characters, location, and storyline were fun and enjoyable. It is nice to read FUN books during this time of COVID19 uncertainty.

DEFINITE RECOMMEND

You can't go wrong with an MKA book. This novella is a sweet sure fire winner to out you in enholidwy mood. Ivy takes a leap,of faith and buys an old farm house to begin anew. Soon she finds a lovey little community who welcomes her, especially her realtor. A little bit of Christmas magic from the previous owners, who were special people, gives a boost to Ivy's holiday season. Just like all her books, this one was over too soon, but suit up for the Santa Suit.

The magic of Christmas comes alive in this sweet holiday book. Did Ivy chose this old broken down farm or did it choose her? Readers will enjoy Ivy making her dream come true as this small in North Carolina welcomes her into their town. Cute story. Wonderful characters! Recommended!

A beautiful feel good Christmas story. I see this being made into a movie. Ivy has decided to take a leap of faith after her divorce, she purchased a rundown small farm the Four Roses Farm. Her realtor Ezra has gone over the normal duties of a realtor. He has come to Ivy rescue a few times when things went wrong at her place. Ivy getting to know her new town made some friends quickly, but she also finds a child’s Christmas letter to Santa. This starts a mystery waiting to be solved.
I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story.

This was the cutest story and just like a hallmark Christmas movie but as a book. It was a really fast read and just a fluffy awesome rom com. When Ivy Perkins and her dog Punkin buy an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life and while the house is a little more of a fixer upper then she thought it well she is ok with that. Ezra Wheeler the realtor who sold her the house is attractive guy who is there is lend a helping hand with anything she needs and of course sparks fly even when she doesn’t think she is ready. When Ivy finds an old Santa suit in the house with a note in the pocket from a little girl who wanted Santa to bring her dad back home from the war safe and sound. She has a mystery on her hands and starts trying to track down who the girl was and what happened with her wish from Santa. Oh man this was just so great and I really loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

We all know I'm a Hallmark movie junkie. So I was very excited to read this book and it didn't bother me in the slightest that I was reading it in June!

Speaking of Hallmark, this would be a great movie and that it is a lovely romance with low to no steam. We are talking fade to black scenes.

I enjoyed my time reading the book and it did give me cozy vibes. There were quite a few quotes about the coziness of Christmas that I highlighted while reading it and I could see them being made into cute Etsy shirts. Who doesn't love a cute Christmas quote?! Only a monster…

The downside for this book is that I didn't connect with the love story at all. It felt very forced and rushed. They seem like they were really into each other but it felt like I missed it and I was reading it all along…

There were plot points that seemed like they were attempting to be character building that felt very rushed.

Overall it was a quick three-star read that I enjoyed. Would definitely recommend to read when you are feeling the need for a cozy Christmas book!

A quick fun read with romance, mystery and some Christmas spirit. I love Mary Kay Andrews and this one didn’t disappoint! Loved it. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read.

Mary Kay Andrew’s is one of my favorite authors! I was so excited to see she had a Christmas book out. This tale of starting over after a huge loss really hit the spot for me. The main character falls in love with and subsequently buys a farmhouse that she has never seen. She meets some amazing new friends as she unravels the mystery behind an old dear Santa letter she found in her new home. She starts to feel like the old farmhouse has a hint magic going. Read it!

The Santa Suit becomes its own character in this charming Christmas story with all the hallmarks of a Mary Kay Andrews book! Ivy Perkins purchases a farmhouse in a small town with plans to renovate the house and as a fresh start for herself. Ivy founds an old Santa suit left by the previous owners. Through her renovation projects and a note left in pocket of the Santa suit we met the townspeople and experience the magic of the Christmas season. This book was a delightful read.

THE SANTA SUIT by Mary Kay Andrews is a delightful and charming holiday novella that celebrates the magic of Christmas and second chances. Still reeling from her recent divorce and the loss of the successful business she helped build, Ivy Perkins decides to leave Atlanta behind and make a new start in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina. She buys an old farmhouse sight unseen and when she arrives with her dog, Punkin, she soon discovers that the farmhouse is in desperate need of many unexpected repairs. Lucky for her, her realtor lives nearby and turns out to be both very handsome and handy at fixing things. On her first night in the house, Ivy discovers an old velvet Santa suit on a closet shelf with a crumpled note inside from a young girl asking for a special Christmas wish. Intrigued by the note, Ivy and her new friends try to unravel the mystery of who the girl was and whether her wish ever came true. What follows is a heartwarming and emotional story of how the lives of the characters become intertwined in quite unexpected ways. THE SANTA SUIT is an uplifting story of friendship, love, community and fresh starts and I highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

This was a quick read and one that will get you in the Christmas spirit even in hot weather! I enjoyed getting to know the characters a little bit and wondered what it would take to get a Christmas Stroll started in the little town where I live! Maybe I should get to work and find a magical Santa suit!