Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this advance copy.
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Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorite comfort read authors. This was a rare summer without a new book from her, so I was thrilled to get my hands on her new Christmas release. Andrews creates a cast of lovable characters and a strong sense of community in this novel that takes place at a family Christmas tree stand in Greenwich Village. I loved the little Easter egg about the characters from her previous Christmas novel, The Santa Suit. This would be perfect to listen to on audio while decorating the tree or read under a blanket by the fire. A perfect way to kick start your Christmas season!

What a heartwarming Christmas story. The characters are all very lovable and the story is perfect for this time of year.

Sweet, lighthearted Christmas read that gets you in the holiday spirit! Mary Kay Andrews did an excellent job describing the adorable trailer “Spammy”, the tree lot, and the cute little neighborhood surrounding the lot. I felt like I was in a Hallmark movie.

Kerry Tolliver to leave her family’s Christmas tree farm in the mountains of North Carolina for the wilds of New York City to help her gruff older brother to sell the trees at the family stand on a corner in Greenwich Village. Sharing a tiny vintage camper and experiencing Manhattan for the first time, Kerry’s ready to try to carve out a new corner for herself. Filled with family ties, both rekindled and new, and sparkling with Christmas magic, Bright Lights, Big Christmas delivers everything Mary Kay Andrews fans adore, all tied up in a hilarious, romantic gem of a novel.

Christmas book on October, Why not. since I read too much of thriller recently, I need something make me happy.

I am glade I choose Mary Kay Andrews new book. it is such a warm, sweet, happy experience. This is the second book I read by Ms. Andrews. one thriller and one cont. romance, both of them from Netgalley.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press give me the opportunity to read and review this amazing book. I find a great author to follow.

3.5

Mary Kay Andrews knows without a doubt the formula for a bestseller!

What an interesting concept to locate your story on a Christmas tree stand in New York City!

As Christmas approaches, the author slowly introduces a great cast of characters that you get to love including a solitary old man, a dog and a small boy.

Kerry and her brother Murphy want to save their father’s tree farm in North Carolina and live in an old camper. They get to meet the neighborhood, shop’s owners and customers. Kerry is also at an impasse in her professional life having difficulties expressing her artistic talent. Can a kid with a passion for dragons along with the spirit of Christmas awake the magic?

There is also suspense as the old man disappears.

It is a very heartwarming light story about love, friendship, sense of community and discovering your path just around Christmas time!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a complimentary e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis

After losing her job, Kerry Tolliver goes back to her family’s Christmas tree farm to help out following her father’s heart attack. What she thinks is a momentary disruption to her real life might just be the turning point she needs

My Overall Thoughts

This is a quick, light, Christmas romance with lots of charm. Just what I needed to get in the holiday mood.

What I Didn't Love

Christmas romances are, by definition, a little cheesy. I always wish they were a little less so, but then I always read more. I must be okay with a little cheese.


What I Loved

The characters are so good and gentle and kind. In other genres, this might be a negative, but here, it fits well.

I love all of Mary Kay’s books! I was afraid this one wouldn’t meet my expectations after last year’s The Santa Suit. This book was just as powerful. I love the themes running through this book and the unraveling of the mystery.

I loved this Christmas book. It was a great story about finding family in the friends you make, taking risks and finding yourself in new places and fresh love. An easy, clean but romantic read in many different ways. It’s the perfect story to start your Christmas reading! It got me in the mood the season!
It was also cool to see reference to characters from this author’s previous Christmas book!
Thanks so much!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas has it all - Christmas, NYC, and Mary Kay Andrews! As a loyal MKA reader, I look forward to her Christmas stories every year.

Kerry Tolliver has recently moved home after being laid off. She doesn't want to be living with her mom in a small mountain town and she definitely doesn't want to have tow a trailer from NC to NYC to help her brother sell Christmas trees. But it is her family's Christmas tree farm and what else would she be doing instead anyway.

Things are a little strained at first, Kerry is sleeping in a tiny trailer with a gruff brother that she hardly knows. But as Kerry get acclimated to her new digs and manning the tree lot, she is soon enjoying herself. Tolliver's tree lot is always in the same neighborhood spot and the neighbors treat them as one of their own. Kerry finds herself not wanting to leave her new friends and love interest. But she still has no job and no place to live - it will take a Christmas miracle to make Kerry's wish come true.

If you like heartwarming Christmas stories, you will love this book! Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5/5 stars

This was a beautiful holiday romance! It was my first Christmas book of the season!

The narrator is 34 year old Kerry Tolliver (female 3rd person POV). She is a former art director who loves art and is extremely creative. She goes to NYC with her brother Murphy to help sell Christmas trees from her family's North Carolina Christmas tree farm.

What I liked about this book:

The fun times with her brother at their Christmas tree stand and in their tiny camper. The neighborhood and amazing neighbors (I loved these people!). The romance (Patrick was such a kind and caring man and father). Heinz (what a fantastic charming elderly curmudgeon). Austin (the adorable little boy who was so fun!).

In November and December I'm always looking for holiday reads. This is the perfect holiday novella. This is a quick read that will make you feel good!

Oh I just ate this sweet little cozy Christmas novel up!

I loved the little nod to last year’s book, The Santa Suit, with this one’s internal story- so cute!

The story line is a North Carolina tree farm family always tows a trailer of trees to NYC and sets up in a particular neighborhood- one they’ve been at for years. Only this year Kerry has to go and help her brother, since their father is sick.

Kerry brings her own artistic flare and update to the booth, and drives sales like a boss. There were times her brother really irritated me, full disclosure. I felt like he literally slept through half of the novel. Kerry owned that stand though!

In the midst of the storyline, Kerry meets neighbors Patrick and his son, as well as an artistic friend, Heinz. This turns out to be one of my favorite internal storylines!

I recommend you add this to your Christmas reads this year, it is cute, and you will love that it melds both the North Carolina mountain vibes with the heart of NYC.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is an adorable, wholesome, Hallmark-worthy holiday story that takes place in New York city. It's charming (I mean, how could it not be when she leaves her family's Christmas tree farm to travel to NYC to sell Christmas trees?!). And I loved the sibling/family dynamic. This is definitely a feel-good story, but I do feel like the romance could have been a little more developed. But as a North Carolina native, I really enjoyed this story!

One of my all time favorite Christmas books! I’m a sucker for a great Christmas romance and this is just that!

Sweet and cozy Christmas "hallmark" story.
Great setting with lovely characters. Predictable but cute love story.
Nothing to dislike but also not something I will remember.
Definitely a good read when you are just looking to sit back and enjoy a story without thinking.
Both read and listened to audiobook and I enjoyed the audiobook more.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Tis the season for love, family, and Christmas magic that we've all come to love from Mary Kay Andrews!

Kerry leaves her family's Christmas Tree Farm for NYC (the opposite of every feel-good Hallmark-y Christmas read!) She brings her samll-town know how to the Big Apple to help protect the new friends she's made since coming to the city to sell trees. On the same block, she meets Patrick and the two have undeniable chemistry.

I don't want to give much more than that away, but I'll just say this is yet another un-put-down-able holiday read by Mary Kay Andrews!! Make your favorite warm holiday drink and curl up next to the Christmas tree for this adorable read!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is Mary Kay Andrews' Christmas story and it's a fun read. This novella is the story of Kerry and Patrick and it has definite Christmas movie vibes which makes for a fun light read for the holidays. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bright LIghts, Big Christmas is available now.

You can’t start off the next season without a Christmas book from THE MKA. Bright Lights Big Christmas was just what I needed for some early festiveness. I loved Kerry’s attitude and I loved reading her character. If you’ve read other MKA Christmas books, you’ll have to let me know if you caught the Easter Egg from The Santa Suit! I loved that little snippet in the story.

MKA is a staple in my reading library and I’m thrilled every time a new book comes out! I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book was very heartwarming, and it was so easy to get sucked into. The author did a fantastic job bringing the holiday spirit alive on the page, and it was the perfect book to get me feeling the holiday vibes. I really enjoyed the premise of this book, all of the secondary characters, and the little community they built together.

My only critique was that the relationship between Patrick and Kerry felt a bit rushed and undeveloped.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the author for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.*

Kerry and her brother go from North Carolina to New York City to sell Christmas trees. Kerry is astonished at the friendship between neighbors in the city.
You can't go wrong with a book by Mary Kay Andrews. She always tells a great story.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher St Martin's Press.

I loved Bright Lights, Big Christmas!
It was a holiday romance that I’m still thinking about.
The story has so much heartfelt moments!
Family
Christmas magic
Romance
Humor
New York setting
Endearing characters
Just a perfect, heartwarming Christmas story, Mary Kay Andrews never disappoints me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.