At loose ends and living with her mother in North Carolina, Kerry heads to New York City with her brother to man the family Christmas tree stand because her father's ill health requires him to stay behind this year. The neighborhood where the Tolliver tree stand sits is inhabited by a great cast of characters and a restaurant to run a power cord to. Kerry hasn't done this since her parents broke up, so seeing everything through her eyes in the present was fun. It was a cute holiday story, and it turns out the Tolliver tree farm is from the same town in North Carolina where Andrews earlier book, The Santa Suit was set.

This book really has all the Christmas feels. New York City, Christmas trees, snow, and romance.
When siblings head from NC to NYC to sell Christmas trees on the corner of a lovable New York neighborhood, unlikely friendships develop. The neighborhood welcomes the two like family and they all begin to depend on one another. The main character, Kerry finishes up the tree selling season with more than she could have anticipated while finding herself and love.

This is a solid 4 star entry graded on the "Holiday" scale which is a bit more forgiving than traditional.

I LOVE Mary Kay Andrews and I adore her holiday books. They are almost always my favorite of the seasonal releases and they just make me happy. While I did love this one (which had a very very very faint tie to her last The Santa Suit) it fell a bit flat compared to the other holiday offerings by her.

For me it was a bit too twee/Hallmark and not enough of the humor and silly banter that I adore from Andrews. While it's still a sweet and fun read it wasn't quite up there with the others (you MUST read Blue Christmas if you haven't yet).

Overall it's a fun read, especially if you're looking to mentally escape to NYC at Christmas!

This was a happy holiday book set in a New York neighborhood. North Caroline Christmas tree farmers sell their trees here every year. This year looks a little different as siblings must work together to get the trees sold. They end up finding more than loyal customers on the road-side stand.
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and fun story for the season.

If you love Mary Kay Andrews you will love this book! If you don’t you may still love it because it was a little different than her books before. While it does refer to The Santa Suit from 2022 it is not a sequel and is a great holiday read!

With their father dealing with health issues, Kerry is reluctantly headed to NYC to stay in a dumpy camper with her brother Murphy to help sell the family farm’s Christmas trees.

Not exactly groundbreaking, but this is a solid hallmark style Christmas story. Although, it does an interesting reversal of a common trope by having the country girl with the faltering tree farm travel *to* the city in attempt to save it.

There she meets single dad Patrick - with an ex that is just unlikable enough you don’t feel bad not wanting them to reconcile - leaving potential room for her to join the family with his son Austin (the romance is slight and the chemistry felt more friendly than anything to me, but love has to start somewhere, right?)

Now I know the family is under stress - new (evil) competition in the form of competitors Brody Brothers - but I did find the brother overly pushy and hard to like. I also struggled reconciling rooting for the little guy with the fact that when they started their cheapest tiny tree was $60 and they had trees selling for $1800…not to sound old and stingy, but is that really what they go for these days??

Probably my favorite character was Mr. Heinz, a ‘mysterious’ older gentleman who helps Kerry find her artistic passion, and maybe the direction and a new purpose for her life. He’s a neighborhood fixture for sure, and a really interesting guy. Tbh he - and the neighborhood’s rally around him - probably saved the book for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and SMP for the ARC

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a magical book that puts you in the Christmas spirit. Kerry Tolliver is living with her mom as she lost her job and couldn't afford to live in Charlotte anymore. Kerry's parents have been divorced since she was seven and live in the mountains of North Carolina. She lived with her mom growing up and her brother, Murphy, lived with her Dad on the family's Christmas tree farm. Each fall, Murphy and her Dad take a trailer filled with Christmas trees to New York City. They set-up in the same spot each year and live in a camper that one of them drives. They have become part of the community and have many friends who look out for them while they're there. The camper has no bathroom so they have to rely on restaurants and some friends let them shower at their apartment.

Kerry and Murphy's Dad had a heart attack recently and had bypass surgery. He can't make the trip this year, so Kerry must step in and do her part. Kerry's not looking forward to sharing a small camper with her brother who she barely knows. They've grown up in separate houses their entire life and neither one knows the other very well. Kerry will be helping Murphy sell trees and Queenie, his dog, will make it bearable. Being in Manhattan at Christmastime excites Kerry and she'll be there for a month or so. Kerry and Murphy don't see eye to eye on many things relating to the Christmas tree lot, but once Kerry starts selling wreaths she's made, things look brighter. She bought some beautiful ribbon and supplies at the craft warehouse and is able to sell the wreaths for a lot of money.

Kerry fits right in with the neighbors and they are happy to give her a hot meal, coffee, and bathroom use. Kerry grows particularly fond of Patrick and his son, Austin, who live across the street from the lot. Austin enjoys helping and he and Kerry start writing a story with her sketches. One day an elderly man sees them together sketching and writing the story. He offers to sketch a few things and he's really good! His name is Heinz and Austin grows very close to him. They begin coming together daily to work on the "book" and the story is really coming along. Kerry realizes how much she has missed her artwork.

As the Christmas season gets closer, the relationships grow stronger, and soon Kerry will have a very hard decision to make. Will she stay in New York and give a new relationship a chance? Will she start sketching again and give herself a chance to be an artist? Who is Heinz really? Where does he fit in with Kerry's future? Will Kerry and Murphy come together? Will they sell enough trees to keep the Christmas tree farm going and pay their Dad's medical bills? This is a warm hug of a book that will have you rooting for the sale of Christmas trees and wreaths, the dreams that weren't pursued, the hope of new relationships, and friends that become family! I enjoyed Bright Lights, Big Christmas tremendously. I rate Bright Lights, Big Christmas 5 stars with my highest recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a fair review. #BrightLightsBigChristmas

Bright Lights Big Christmas By Mary Kay Andrews is loosely based on a real family who travel to New York City to sell the families trees. I loved this story it's adorable!

Great holiday book! So sweet , I enjoyed all the cheesy parts too! Definitely a warm good feel story that’s perfect around Christmas.

I really enjoyed this book from Mary Kay Andrews. I saved it to read a bit closer to the holidays, and it sure was a cozy winter novel. There were many parts that I loved about the story, but my favourite part was the character of Heinz. I truly look forward to the author’s next book.
Big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!
4.5/5 rounded up!

I usually love Mary Kay Andrews books because they're light, heartwarming and funny. This one had all of those things. However, I didn't love it because it felt so cheesy and unnatural at times. I mean, the main character and her love interest are trying to get it on with the man's child only 2 ft away multiple times and I just found it so cringe, weird, and unnecessary. I would have preferred a more heartwarming approach, especially since it was surrounding Christmas time. I loved the concept and thought this had a lot of potential but miss the mark many times . Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So, this was my kickoff Christmas novel for the year, and it was awesome. I read it, and bam, I'm right there feeling the weather, soaking in the lights, and riding the happiness wave—it's basically a movie in my head. Like always with this author, the writing's spot-on, packed with touching and emotional moments. I totally fell for the story and all the characters. Big shoutout to this fantastic read—I'm all in for recommending it!

Losing your job around the holidays is never easy. No one knows this better than, Kerry Tolliver. Shortly after moving back home, she mist uproot her life once more to help her brother sell Christmas trees. With her family’s business on the line, comfort takes a backseat. But when everything is stripped away, she quickly learns the importance of community.

Mary Kay Andrews is one of the biggest names when it comes to Christmas Fiction. Bright Lights, Big Christmas was my first introduction to her as an author. But, it won’t be my last.

While Christmas is often thought of as a happy time, the reality is it can also be very difficult. I loved that Andrews did not shy away from this. Instead she embraced it head on. Her use of found family was a beautiful depiction of community and how we can come together to spread love.

I also appreciated that Andrews wrote relatively short chapters. By formatting the book in this way it not only kept the book moving at an appropriate pace, but held my attention the entire time. This was especially important with some of the heavier topics discussed.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Mary Kay Andrews, and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I lovedddd this book. My only complaint is that there wasn't an epilogue. Maybe we can get a sequel, 0f their adventures next Christmas, from Murphys POV? Please oh please Mary Kay Andrews!!!! 5 big stars!

Perfect read for the busy month of December! Charming heartwarming story with plenty of "Christmas" in it. Mary Kay Andrews writes a fun Christmas read that will put you in the holiday spirit. Kerry and her brother are in the big city selling Christmas trees on a busy city corner. The residents of the city streets embrace Kerry and her brother, and there's even a little holiday romance thrown in. A great feel-good story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Mary Kay Andrew’s has provided. a perfect holiday novel for her adoring fans as well as readers new to her books. The details included in the book make reader feel a part of the story as well as experiencing the emotions of the storyline in addition to the holiday spirit. Five stars for a ,most excellent novel/experience!

Every year, Tolliver Christmas Tree Farm brings a trailer full of fresh-cut beautiful trees to NYC to sell at a corner stand. Except this year, Kerry has been volunteered to go with her brother after her father's heart attack. And it's critical to whether there will even be a farm next year. Living in a dilapidated trailer named Spammy, Kerry discovers more about herself while selling trees and becoming a part of the neighborhood. Mary Kay Andrew's stories are always filled with memorable personalities and events. Read this one for a touch of the holiday season.

Kerry and her brother,Murphy, were on their way to New York City to set up their family Christmas tree lot. It had been a hard year on their farm. The weather destroyed a large part of their trees and then their Father had a heart attack. So with a trailer full of trees and a motor home, that had seen better days ,they really needed to do well this season so they could continue with their farm.

After arriving they are surprised to see a rival lot. This has never happened before. The neighborhood has a lot of interesting characters. All taking care of each other. Will Kerry find her true calling and leave home?

This was a heartwarming Christmas story.

When her mother requests her help, Kerry Tolliver answers the call. She’s not thrilled, but she has to go with her older brother and his dog to New York City to set up their family’s Christmas tree stand. It’s not the most glamorous thing to do especially since they are traveling and living in the family’s very old camper.

Kerry is at a stage in her life where she is trying to decide what she wants to do next and she’s hoping she can find the answers she's looking for while helping out. When she meets their neighbors, Patrick and his son, the sparks fly. She knows it can never last since she will be leaving New York after the Christmas tree shop closes for the season. Patrick's life is in New York, while Kerry's in North Carolina. There's no way anything can ever last with this relationship.

This is a sweet, heartwarming story. It’s perfect for this time of year. I always enjoy this author’s books, but this one really grabbed my heart. It’s filled with characters you can truly care about. A poignant, touching story for the holiday season. A real "feel good" story.







FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Bright Light, Big Christmas By Mary Kay Andrews

Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the e-arc!

My Rating: I liked it!

This book is your total typical happy holiday read. It could easily become a Hallmark holiday movie- cute characters, big city meets small town, cut and dry plot.

Kerry and her estranged brother are taking over the family Christmas tree stand this year for their sick father. Each year the family drives Spammy, a large metal trailer resembling a can of Spam, up from North Carolina to a New York City block to sell Christmas trees from their farm. Kerry's life is at a standstill and this is the perfect opportunity to mix things up.

Somehow, despite a giant city, Kerry never leaves this neighborhood, but manages to find love- in literally all its forms- family, friends young and old, and romantic. This book was definitely heartwarming and sweet. Her brother Murphy was such a grump but eight year old Austin totally makes up for him. He was the highlight of the story!!

The Christmas tree selling was definitely a main focus, but it felt like Christmas magic was a side theme, which is unusual with this kind of story. I just wanted more!

Pick this one up for a quick get-in-the-holiday-mood read!!