Kerry Tolliver, recently fired and living at home, heads to NYC with her brother to sell Christmas trees from their family farm. Murphy, Kerry’s brother, has been selling tress in the same neighborhood for years and has made many friends during that time. As Kerry gets to know these friends, she becomes particularly close to a divorced father and his young son.

This is a sweet story that will get you into the holiday spirit. The characters are very relatable and the relationships they share will warm your heart.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader copy of this book.

🎄 Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews🎄

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Genre: Contemporary fiction
⚠️ TWs: Mentioning of losing a loved one/partner, health issues, vandalism, bullying, theft, cheating (off page), divorce, depression, anti-queer (off page)

📖 Read if you like 📖
🎄 Christmas in NYC
👨‍👩‍👦 Wholesome characters
🐶 A dog named Queenie
💋 Sprinkle of romance (closed door)
📊 Family-owned business
🗣️ Sibling relationship/banter
🎨 Painting/Drawing
👴🏼 The sweetest elderly man
🏳️‍🌈 LBGTQ+ rep

💭 Thoughts:
I loved The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews, so I was BEYOND excited when I got approved for this ARC. It was the sweetest, wholesome Christmas book that has characters that you will love and be INVESTED in- Kerry, Patrick, Austin, Murphy, Mr. Heinz, and we can’t forget QUEENIE! (I love when dogs are worked into books 😍). I won’t go too much deeper so I don’t spoil anything, but I definitely recommend this book as you switch your reading over from spooktober to holiday reads! This one will warm your heart!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have said to before and I will say it again.. I take every opportunity to read a Mary Kay Andrews book. It is always a pleasure to read and review. They are the types of books, I always go back to. Whether set in the south or in NY like Bright lights, Big Christmas.. you know there will be family, good values and a great story. A story that will end in love and I feel we absolutely need more of that in this crazy world. Kerry Tolliver, has to head to NY with her brother to sell their family’s Christmas trees. Her dad and her brother usually go but her dad is sick and has to stay home this year. Everybody pitches in, even her mother, who has to help her ex, back to help. Kerry is not looking forward to the time spent in NY. Her brother isn’t the easiest would to get along with and to be away and living in a trailer.. isn’t really her thing. But she goes and falls in love with Manhattan. The city is filled with the Christmas spirit and she can’t help but feel it. Selling the trees is slow at first but Kerry puts her touch on the “stand”, and they help so much. It’s the little things. She can’t believe the generous spirit of the locals who have taken such good care of her brother and father over the years. They offer meals, bathrooms and even the occasional shower. The neighbors fall in love with Kerry too. They can’t help but love her kindness and compassion. While in NY Kerry has her troubles. Conflicts with her brother, considerable doubt about her future and a possible love connection, that comes at the worst time. She even finds a person who needs her help but doesn’t want to take it. This story is all wrapped up in a Christmas bow.. people come together and rally to get to the finish line of selling trees, getting back home and enjoying the season. I really liked this story so much. Can’t wait to read the next Mary Kay Andrews book. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for my copy for an honest review.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a cute & cozy romantic comedy story with a Hallmark Christmas Movie vibe.
4 stars

This was a great Christmas romancey novel. Picture a small town family Christmas Tree stand in romantic New York City - fluffy snow, twinkle lights and a well behaved puppy. Throw in a cute little trailer that the family is living in named Spammy, and you have the perfect setting for a Christmas love story.

I adored how the community around the tree stand looked out for one another and welcomed the Tolliver's back every year. The surrounding area and the people who lived there didn't flinch at the prices of the Christmas trees or wreaths and seemed to treat Kerry and Murphy with respect. Even when you throw in the 'bad guys' that set up a stand across the street, it's still an enchanting read. All of the characters alongside the Tollingers were well developed and I became very invested in Heinz's health!

I loved the nod to The Santa Suit, her previous Christmas book that I had read! This book probably was 50 pages too long, I blame The Santa Suit for this since that book was so short so my exceptions were a little off.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews was a fantastic Christmas story. Carrie was fired from her job and back living with her mother in the little western North Carolina town where she grew up. Her father had a heart attack and her divorced mother needed to move in and take care of him. However, someone had to go to New York City to help Carrie’s brother sell the family’s Christmas trees from the family’s farm. In typical May Kay Andrews fashion, she created a story full of romance, comedy, friendship, a closer sibling connection, community, and a journey of self discovery all within the backdrop of a ratty old camping trailer, a Christmas tree stand, and the cold winter weather in Manhattan at Christmastime. There were definitely times when I found myself laughing out loud, and I always love the happy ending. What a wonderful book to get the reader into the spirit for a Christmas romance! I definitely recommend this book, which I give 4.5 stars. Readers of romantic comedy will love this single dad romance. I am voluntarily writing this honest review after reading an advanced complementary copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press.

If you're in the mood for a heartwarming holiday story, this book is definitely worth a read! While it may not have the most intricate plot, it's perfect for those who just want a cute and cozy story to get them in the Christmas spirit.

As someone who loves Christmas in North Carolina, I can totally relate to the protagonist's desire to experience the magic of a New York Christmas. The way the author weaves in the Christmas tree farms just adds an extra layer of charm to the story. Kerry and her brother's journey to finding a home in Greenwich Village was heartwarming and made me feel so welcomed into their community.

Mary Kay Andrews never fails to deliver when it comes to holiday stories, and Bright Lights, Big Christmas is no exception. If you loved her previous work, The Santa Suit, then you're sure to enjoy this one as well!

Another Christmas delight from Mary Kay Andrews. I look forward to her annual holiday stories and once again she knocked it out of the park. I will never look at tree shopping without grinning again .

great book and loved the mystery through out the book. I loved the characters and how they grew through all of their adventures. I enjoyed this book and this author and will check them out again add them to my reading pile.

I really enjoyed this book. It felt like the perfect warm hug and gave Hallmark movie vibes. The characters were sweet and the plot was just the right amount of cheesy. A good fireside with hot cocoa read.

Having worked at a Christmas tree farm as a a teen made reading Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews all the more fun. I am also a huge fan of MKA, so that was another reason I was really excited to read this book. It is the story of Kerry Tolliver from North Carolina spending the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas in New York City at her family's annual tree stand. Kerry wouldn't normally do this, but she's hit a rough patch in life and her father isn't able to go this year, so she agrees to go in his place to help her brother. Kerry and her brother aren't close, having not grown up together, so this is also a good chance to strengthen their relationship. Upon arrival in NYC, Kerry finds the neighborhood to be charming and full of kind and helpful neighbors. Kerry is especially drawn to one in particular, Patrick, a single dad raising his young son. There are other characters that grabbed my heart, my favorite being Heinz.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I can't believe thisis my first book I read by Mary Kay Andrews. What a nice holiday story filled with love, family and second chances.

Kerry has driven one of the trucks and trailers loaded with Christmas trees from NC to NY where her brother and father always run a Christmas tree lot. Kerry needs a career jump-startand looking for love and her brother needs an attitude adjustment. Kerry meets Patrick who is a single dad looking for a second chance at love and building a family for his son. Patrick goes missing and everyone is searching for him.
The identity of Patrick is a shock to all.

This book felt like a Hallmark Christmas movie… cozy, lovely and so festive. It put me in the Christmas spirit in October and I’m not mad about it! Thank you for the advance read NetGalley!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews
What a great recipe for a holiday book! 🎄📕 👩‍🍳⌨️ 🎄
1. Start with family members, neighbors, old friends,and new acquaintances.
2. Slowly stir in a big helping of life’s challenges that can affect the amount of happiness or sadness in life: family responsibilities and expectations, aging parents, career choices, marriage, raising children, divorce and new romance.
3. Sprinkle liberally with holiday magic, compassion and love.
4. Quickly find Mary Kay Andrews so that she can create characters that are true to life.
5. Turn up the heat and bake (I mean read😅) until done.

As soon readers starts turning the pages of MKA’s creation, they will not stop until they have reached the last page. Her creation is a delicacy.

“ Bright Lights, Big Christmas “ will have you talking to the characters as if you were in the book with them. I loved this story!!!❤️ This NY Times best seller is available now. Reading this book any time of the year would be good, but now would be perfect! Put a bow 🎀 on a copy of Bright Lights, Big Christmas and put it under the tree as a gift to yourself or another reader.
Happy reading!🎅🤶🧑‍🎄🎄⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

MKA writes another perfect Christmas novella! Sweet and easy to read, with characters that truly care for each other. Kerry and Murphy Tolliver grow and learn about themselves as they sell their family’s Christmas trees in a close knit NYC neighborhood. Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy of this book. Out now!

What a cute and cozy book for the holidays. Kerry is back at home living with her mom when she learns that she will have to go to New York with her brother to sell Christmas trees from their family farm. Follow Kerry as she builds friendships with the neighbors, and you learn what community is all about.

This is a quick and easy read. The plot while predictable is still engaging and keeps you interested.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas was a delight! I borrowed the audiobook from my local library and really enjoyed the clean, feel-good romance that really put me in the mood for the upcoming holiday season. It was fun to get a little surprise reference to The Santa Suit, last year's holiday romance the author. This book had such a Hallmark movie feel (and Hallmark movies are my obsession)! Narrator Kathleen McInerney did a wonderful job and her performance added so much to the experience.

I really loved this one!! 5 stars! If you want to get in the holiday mood, just read this book! This is a sweet story of family, friendship, and love! I enjoyed every minute of reading it!

If you love a good 'Hallmark' holiday show, then this book will be right up your alley. Plenty of angst and conflict along with people finding their person. All set in NYC during the holiday season.

Important things you need to know about the book:

Bright Lights, Big City was a fast-paced book. It took me over two days to finish reading. The author could have slowed the book’s pacing down a little, but considering that it takes place from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the pacing suited it. There was some lag toward the book’s latter half (during the search for Heinz), but it didn’t affect my enjoyment.

There are trigger warnings in Bright Lights, Big Christmas. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

Bullying (on page: Kerry and Murphy experience bullying from their competition)
Cheating (off-page: Kerry reveals her parents divorced because of her father’s cheating)
Death (off-page: Heinz’s boyfriend died three years into their relationship from a brain aneurysm)
Depression (off and somewhat on page: Heniz suffered from a deep depression for years over George’s(his boyfriend) death)
Divorce (off-page: Kerry’s parents are divorced)
Homophobia (off-page: Heinz reveals that his parents disowned him because he is gay)
Theft (on page: The competing tree stand steals Murphy’s cart that he uses to deliver Christmas trees)
Illness (on page: Heinz is severely ill with the flu)
Violence: (off-page: Murphy settles a dispute with the competition that results in bloody knuckles)
Sexual Content: There is no explicit sexual content in Bright Lights, Big Christmas. There are a couple of kissing scenes and one scene where I think Kerry and Patrick hooked up (not sure).

Language: There is some mild language in Bright Lights, Big Christmas.

Setting: Bright Lights, Big Christmas is set mainly in Greenwich Village, New York City. There is a chapter where the book is set in Tarburton, North Carolina.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

When Kerry Tolliver’s larger-than-life father, Jock, suffers a heart attack and has surgery afterward, she volunteers to go to New York City to sell Christmas trees in his place. Since losing her job, Kerry has been floating along, and she figures that New York City is perfect to reinvent herself. At first, New York City is everything that Kerry thought it would be. But, with competition set up a block away and the stand losing business, Kerry needs to focus on how to get those trees to sell. What Kerry wasn’t expecting was her attraction to Patrick, a single dad living in the brownstone the stand is in front of, and her growing affection for the residents of the street. Is Kerry and Patrick’s romance just a holiday romance? Or will they be able to make it work? What about the elderly neighbor? Will they be able to find him?

Main Characters

Kerry Tolliver: I had mixed feelings about her character. She both annoyed me and made me laugh. I know it’s a weird combination, but that’s how I feel. Kerry wasn’t the best employee (she left the stand with people she didn’t know a few times) and was kind of rude to people. But, she had a great heart. She cared about the people she met, even after knowing them for weeks. Her attraction to Patrick was a given from the first moment they met. I was looking forward to them having an enemy-to-lover type relationship, but it flipped soon after.

Patrick McCaleb: I liked him, but I did wonder if he had some complex when it came to women. His ex was difficult (and that is saying it mildly), and Kerry was a little immature for him. But he was a great guy and a great father to Austin. He also supported Kerry regarding her choices (at the end of the book).

Secondary characters: The secondary characters made this book. They added extra flavor and depth to the plotline. My favorite secondary characters were Heinz, Austin, Murphy, and Claudia.

My review:

Bright Lights, Big Christmas was a good, sweet read. The plotline was simple, and I didn’t need a diagram to understand what was happening. I didn’t need to reread chapters or pay much attention to the characters’ backstories. It was a good, clean read that made me happy and sad.

The main storyline centers around Kerry and her time in New York City. I liked the author’s version of New York City (no rude people, kind neighbors, or police that understood agreements) but found it slightly unrealistic. But that unrealistic part made this book so good to read. I liked seeing Kerry interacting with the brownstone tenants and her brother. I also loved reading about her blooming relationship with Patrick (and Austin by default). My only quibble is that their romance was Instalove and what I said above about New York City.

The other storyline centers around Kerry, Patrick, Austin, and Heinz. This storyline was a sweet storyline that made me tear up a little bit. I also got very aggravated with Austin’s mother for her assumptions, but no harm was done at the end of the day. Heinz’s backstory, almost at the end of the book, was heartbreaking. I also loved what he offered Kerry.

As much as I dislike Instalove, I did like Kerry and Patrick’s romance. It was cute, and I liked how the author did try to let it grow organically at first. The romance felt forced by the end of the book, but I chalked that up to what was going on and Kerry’s decision.

I saw the end of Bright Lights, Big Christmas coming since the middle of the book. I liked that the author wrapped everything up the way she did. But I did have questions about Murphy and Claudia. I hope the author writes their story next.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Mary Kay Andrews for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Bright Lights, Big Christmas. All opinions stated in this review are mine.