What's more Christmassy than a tree lot in New York City? This story is full of the Christmas sights and sounds, it is very atmospheric. I loved the atmospheric quality but unfortunately didn't love any of the characters and found that it lacked a plot. The story seemed to resolve and then another subplot formed (which I found boring). I didn't believe the romance, the chemistry was lacking. I wanted so much more from this, my first miss from Mary Kay Andrews.

I received this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable holiday book. I loved the NYC setting at Christmas time. The plot and humor were delightful. MKA never disappoints!

This was a fun Christmas book that didn't feel like all the other Hallmark type Christmas romances I've been reading. There is a romance in the book but it's not center stage to the story and it was nice not to have all the angst and slow burn that a romance book has!

The real theme of this book was found family- which I think is becoming one of my favorite tropes! While most of the book will be forgettable the ending gave me all the feels and Heinz has my heart!

If you are struggling to get into this festive season and need a quick infusion of Christmas spirit, grab a copy of Bright Lights, Big Christmas and settle in for a sweet escapist read.
Kerry Tolliver and her brother travel from their family tree farm in North Carolina to set up shop at their usual spot in a quaint corner of New York City. Living out of a vintage trailer with her ornery brother and his dog is no bed of roses but the locals are friendly and a chance at romance, as impossible as that might be when you are relying on the kindness of strangers for the occasional shower, helps add some cheer to Kerry’s life. There are mysteries to solve and bylaw officers to dodge along with hot chocolate, a cute kid and his single dad and a trailer full of dirty laundry. Every cliche you have come to expect in a seasonal Hallmark movie is here and that is fine with this reader. Fans of Mary Kay Andrews will love this funny, gentle romance.

A copy of this book was received with thanks from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for review.

Kerry Tolliver is an artist who is currently unemployed and ends up going to New York City to help her older brother Murphy run the family Christmas tree stand while living in an old trailer affectionately known as Spammy. There she gets to know a variety of characters in the neighborhood, including divorced single dad Patrick and his son Austin, Claudia who loves her brother, and Heinz who is an older gentleman who takes Kerry under his wing as an artist. This was more of a Christmas book than a true romance novel, but it was an entertaining read. I enjoyed it very much.

Maybe I’m the problem but ??? This was not great??? The Santa suit was AMAZING so I was expecting that same kind of story. This was a bit too long and mundane. The premise was cute and fun but we needed something more magical or something. It was just like the day to day of selling these trees and the people in NY. Kind of just a whole lot of nothing until Heinz was missing but at that point I was over the book

This was such a cute, quick Christmas read! I liked how the NYC aspect was focused on one neighborhood so it wasn’t quite the “Rockefeller tree, Macy’s windows” portrayal you see in a lot of books. There was insta-love here and it felt FAST and lacked much chemistry, but by suspending disbelief I was able to enjoy it. The found family aspect was sweet as well. The main complaint I had was Kerry’s brother - his character felt inconsistent in many ways (I was confused by how often he was sleeping) but he was consistently a jerk. Otherwise, this was a good entry into the holiday book canon.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As a huge fan of Mary Kay Andrews, I was a little skeptical when I read that this book takes place in New York City. Sometimes my favorite part of her books are the southern small town vibe. However, the family Christmas tree stand and old camper offered a small town, cozy vibe of their own. New York City is also so magical at Christmastime and Andrews’ writing made me feel like I could smell the trees and feel the cold winter air. I loved the community rallying around Kerry and her curmudgeon older brother, Murphy. (I’m also dying to learn more about Murphy and his story- Maybe next year??). The romance between Kerry and Patrick felt a little rushed and sudden, but overall this is an excellent holiday romance! I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy Christmas romance!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy!

Love Mary Kay Andrews and her humorous writing! Perfectly delightful Holiday read that readers come to expect from this auther! The best book to get one in the Holiday spirit!

Kerry Tolliver's family's Christmas tree farm relies on the sales it makes in early December at their lot in New York City. But we soon learn, what they receive for their sales is way less compared to the other gifts they receive while there. Kerry hasn't traveled with her brother and dad to New York in years to sell their trees, but after her dad's surgery she has to step up and fill the role. She is dreading it in a way, the cold, being cooped up with her brother in the vintage camper affectionately named Spammy. However, once she finds her footing, she really helps out the tree sales and manages to make quite a few friends. She is embraced by all the charming neighbors that have become a second family to her brother and dad on their annual trips to NYC. And in true MKA style there is a little mystery when beloved, elderly neighbor goes missing and Kerry and friends work to find him.

This book was so cute and sweet, with that little bit of spice throw in that MKA is known for! Quirky characters, cozy setting, everything that screams snuggle in with a hot coffee and blanket for some Christmas reading!
This is a perfect Saturday/Sunday cozy read to get you in the Christmas spirit!

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

Delightful, light Christmas-fluff book. Easy read. Fun, Christmas story set on a corner of a village in New York City. I love watched the friendship dynamics play out with the backdrop of a corner Christmas tree lot. Light romance, not too graphic, multiple age and relationship dynamics with some seasonal spirit thrown in.

I loved this book !!! It is an enchanting and feel good Christmas Tale!!! TThe characters are like old friends by the time you finish reading it. I didn't want it end. So much fun to read. The author wrote on her Goodreads page "Bright Lights Big Christmas is me, offering my readers a hot cocoa hug of a happy holiday story. I hope they enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it." She succeeded!!! Thanks to St. Martin's Press and #NetGalley for this Holiday Tale!!!

Really enjoyed this book and it was absolutely perfect going into the holiday season! I have several titles on my shelf from Mary Kay Andrews, but this was somehow the first book that I’ve read by her- it certainly won’t be the last. So fun!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced digital copy.

They say summer starts with Mary Kay Andrews and now I guess Christmas does too?? I love an MKA book - strong female protagonist, family dynamics, romantic entanglement… this time all centered on Kerry, who treks from North Carolina to NYC to sell trees from her family’s Christmas farm. What starts out as mere family obligation turns into realizing her art dreams, competing with the tree stand across the street, and being wonderfully surprised at how kind and caring the neighborhood is, and how they all take care of each other. This read is short and sweet and will definitely put you in the Christmas spirit.

Do you have a live Christmas tree or an artificial one? In Bright Lights, Big Christmas, Kerry Tolliver is helping out her family after her father’s heart attack, by traveling from her family’s Christmas tree farm in North Carolina to New York City with her big brother Murphy and his dog Queen to sell their Christmas trees. This is how the family makes their money for the year. Their family has been selling Christmas trees in the same location since Kerry was a child, but she hasn’t been a part of it since she was a kid. She is now in her thirties and at a crossroads in life. What does she want to do moving into the future?

Kerry meets a handsome single dad, Patrick, who lives nearby with his son Austin. She grows close to them both, but how can she start a relationship if she returns to North Carolina soon?

Kerry also befriends an elderly man, Heinz, that stops by her Christmas tree stand daily. She is an artist, and together with Austin and Heinz, they start to create a Christmas book. When Heinz goes missing, Austin will not stop until they discover what has happened to him. Will they find him before it is too late?

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews was the Brenda Novak Book Group pick for October, but I didn’t read it until December. I greatly enjoyed this book. It was a light tale filled with second chances, found family, and the spirit of Christmas. I loved the characters in the community surrounding the Christmas tree lot including Spammy, the old camper Kerry and Murphy live in that does not have any heat or a functioning bathroom. I felt very cold reading about this. I enjoyed the mystery at the end and the romance.

This is a clean read and it felt like a Hallmark movie. I would love to see this story as a movie.

Overall, Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a feel-good Christmas novel with great characters.

BRIGHT LIGHT, BIG CHRISTMAS
Mary Kay Andrews, author
Christmas Fiction/Romance

Kerry Tolliver never leaves the small Christmas tree farm her family owns. When she is forced to travel, with her brother and his dog, in their vintage camper to go to New York, she is a bit overwhelmed. As she meets the people of the block the Christmas tree lot is on, like the handsome Patrick and his adorable son, she starts to realize she doesn’t mind this trip so much.

This book is a perfect short holiday read. With some romance and a missing person thrown in, Mary Kay Andrew’s book will not disappoint her fans or anyone looking for that perfect holiday read. This was definitely a 5 out of 5 stars read for me.

Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the e-arc.

This is officially my favorite Christmas book of the year!! It was everything I needed in a holiday read. I love that authors venture out to include these holiday books into their collection. Mary Kay Andrews is a staple summer time author for me so it is great that she is also a winter time author. I get super excited to read her books for that warm and cozy feeling. MKA delivers heart-warming plots and the best characters. This book captures what the Christmas spirit is really about: family, friends, and loved ones.

The setting was perfection - Christmas tree lot + NYC. Its like my dream come true!!
The sibling banter - older brother/younger sister relationship, SWOON, reminds me of my kids
NYC community - I love all the neighborly love and support
Supporting characters - love the single dad and son, old man, and dog <3.

P.S. there is a nice mention of 'THE SANTA SUIT' within the book (a previous holiday book for MKA)

Its tough to read a Christmas book when its not the right season but the latest addition from Mary Kay Andrews was an artistic delight!

This book is the equivalent of a warm hug!! 💕 The characters are loveable, the New York setting is iconic for the holiday time of year, Queenie the four-legged canine steals the show, and the entire story is overflowing with heart-felt relationships!

There's elements of found family, and each character, even the secondary characters, adds a little something to the story to make it that much better.
I loved the mystery surrounding Heinz, and learning about what he's been through was heartwarming.

All around, I would definitely recommend reading this one during the holiday season, if you haven't already!

Thank you Mary Kay Andrews for another enjoyable holiday read!! 🎄🎅🏼🤶🏼

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eArc in exchange for my honest review!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews. This book was absolutely perfect for a December read. It was the perfect mix of RomCom and cozy mystery. There were definitely parts I was not expecting and the book kept me interested the entire time. The perfect book to get me in the mood for Christmas! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!