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.

Huge thank you for allowing me to read and review this book. I absolutely loved it! The ending was predictable, but I wasn’t sure what was going to happen to Heinz. I love a good happily ever after, especially at Christmas time!

With her father ill, Kerry must step in to help out with her family’s Christmas Tree farm. This requires her to stay in New York with her brother in a tiny camper that’s falling apart. They have a corner in Greenwich Village that the family has used for many years. Her brother doesn’t appreciate any of her suggestions for improvement. However, Kerry has a mind of her own and gradually puts her ideas into use. The family has made friends with neighboring businesses, and they take Kerry under their wing. She makes some new friends as well, including a single father with an adorable young son. She also befriends an elderly man who lives in the area and is perceived to be grouchy and unfriendly. Kerry soon becomes an integral part of the neighborhood. This is one of the best Christmas stories I’ve read in a long time. I only wish there were plans for a sequel as I would love to know what happens to Kerry in the future.

Also reviewed on B&N (1IrishEyes430) and Kobo (IrishEyes430)

Mary Kay Andrews does it again! Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a sweet story of Kerry Tolliver who's life is not where she thought it would be. When she learns that her Dad is unable to make the annual trip from NC to NYC to sell their families Christmas trees, Kerry is roped in to help save the family for another year. Mary Kay Andrews once again does a wonderful job of building the characters and by the end of the book it feels as if you the reader are living inside of her story. There is a slight nod to last years Christmas book and it has me hoping for another Christmas book next year to tie into this one! This is a must read for this years Christmas season! Grab a cup of hot chocolate and a cozy blanket and dive right into this book!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I've read many stories of those who own Christmas tree lots, so I didn't think this would be as good of a read as it was. The story had wonderful support characters that kept you reading along the way.

The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without a new feel-good title from Mary Kay Andrews.

In Bright Lights, Big Christmas, Kerry, the youngest in the Tolliver family, is drafted to help at the family’s Christmas Tree stand in New York City. Since Kerry is recently unemployed due to a company downsizing, she and her older brother must bring the trees from North Carolina to New York for the holiday selling season. Forced to live in a small camper on the lot, the siblings quickly reconnect and discover a variety of charming characters in the neighborhood. From the mysterious old man to the handsome single dad and his friendly son, Kerry’s first New York City experience is filled with the magic of Christmas.

Full of all the heartwarming vibes of a Hallmark Channel movie, Bright Lights, Big Christmas is an upbeat and picturesque tale perfect for the season. A touch of romance and a variety of appealing characters create a cozy, small town feeling within the busy Greenwich Village setting. A perfect escape read for the holiday season.

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

I was really looking forward to reading Bright Lights, Big Christmas as I've heard wonderful things about author Mary Kay Andrews and there is nothing I love more than a Christmas story. This book definitely checked off a lot of boxes for me. The characters were lovely, the setting was straight out of a Hallmark movie (my favourite!) and just the right amount of nostalgia.

This was a sweet and wholesome read, Kerry Tolliver sets off with her brother from her family tree farm in North Carolina to New York City to fill in for her dad at the tree stand they operate on a corner in Greenwich Village. For the several weeks the stand is open the family stays in a vintage camper and it is absolutely heartwarming how they have become a part of the local community. You often think of NYC as this big and scary place but this neighbourhood is something special. I loved how well-developed the side characters were and had so much fun getting to know their quirky personalities.

There were a lot of great moments in this book, and a few minor mysteries worked in but my favourite has to be the relationship between Kerry, one of the neighbourhood kids and an old man. I am a sucker for intergenerational friendships. The romance between Kerry and Patrick was sweet and very organic but I felt this storyline somewhat underdeveloped and would have loved to see more of their relationship.

Overall this was a wonderful holiday read and I will certainly look forward to reading more by this author.

The Tollivers have a Christmas tree farm in North Carolina. For about forty years they head to West Village, NY right after Thanksgiving to sell their trees.

Kerry doesn't normally go, but this year she has stepped up to help her brother as their father is ill and just out of the hospital. They live in "Spammy", and old trailer. Kerry, her brother, Murphy, and their dog Queenie.

Kerry and Murphy are quickly a part of the neighborhood. There's romance and even a little mystery. Great holiday read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for an ALC and ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews
I just loved this one and truthfully it has been a while since I really loved a book by this author and I have been reading her books for too many years to think about. In recent years I have thought that some of her heroines were just either too whiny or too screechy for me. This one took me back to why I used to love her books so much. I hated for it to be over. It has family, friends, romance, redemption and lots and lots of Christmas. Falala!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews is definitely a book you need to put on your list to read for Christmas. I love a book by Mary Kay Andrews but, when she writes a Christmas book I know I am in! This book is so full of the Holiday spirit and love, I couldn’t put it down. My husband doesn’t often hear me comment that the book I just finished was a great book that warmed my heart.

Kerry Tolliver has to leave her North Carolina home to go with her older brother to New York City to sell Christmas trees. Their family has sold trees for the holiday for years and due illness her father is not able to go this year. They set up an old  camper on the corner of a quaint neighborhood. Through the years her brother has made friends in the area but this is all new to Kerry. 

The neighbors compose most of the characters in the book. There is an old man that is quite critical of Kerry’s drawings and I think he turned out to be my favorite neighbor. There is a little boy by the name of Austin who loves to come and help out with the trees. His dad and mother have divorced and they rotate in and out of the apartment so Austin is not disrupted. Kerry’s brother is pretty gruff and doesn’t appreciate all of her suggestions. He wants to keep things the way they have always been. So, you can see that there is an interesting cast of characters and this is just the beginning. 

The Christmas Spirit is alive and well in this book. It is not a romance and it is not strictly Christmas. It is family, loving each other, putting up with each other and doing what is right to make the world and their life move forward, the important stuff. I am fairly new to Mary Kay Andrews and always wondered what all the hype was about. I have read two of her Christmas stories and a couple of novels and have enjoyed them all so I have to say I know what the hype was about. 

If you want to know why her writing is so loved or you're already a fan of Mary Kay Andrews, I highly recommend this book to put you in the Christmas Spirit. I always love this time of year when the Holiday books hit the shelves. Don’t you? Until next time…Happy Reading! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #Netgalley, #St.MartinsPress and #Mary Kay Andrews. Thank you! The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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I was excited to read this after reading Santa Suit last holiday season. Mary Kay Andrew's books are the perfect balance between a true Christmas romance and a feel good comedy, and never veer into too-cheesy territory. I also appreciated the Hallmark movie Christmas tree farm setting- helps set the scene for sure!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the early copy in exchange for my honest review!

Why did I think this was releasing closer to December??? Macmillan Audio, I am so sorry I am behind giving this one feedback, because it is the perfect Christmas read from Mary Kay Andrews! Bright Lights, Big Christmas kept me smiling from start to finish. There are so many characters to focus on in this one that it kept my attention all the way through.

Kerry Tolliver gets sucked into working for her family's tree business in NYC when her dad has a medical emergency and she's the only one who can assist her brother Murph. Right from the start, Kerry is more sunshine and. her brother is the grump. Then in the city, Kerry meets so many lovely people who have been supporting their family business over the years. People include a mysterious Mr. Heinz, Patrick and his darling son Austin, Claudia who works at the diner, and many others. Gah, I could gush over this one for days because it really just activated my holiday spirit. Halloween, what?! Move over, I'm ready for my tree!

This book was amazing. I couldn’t put this book down. Kerry tolliver goes to New York to help her brother sell Christmas trees. She feels so at home in New York. She meets Patrick and his son Austin. She can’t decide if she wants to stay in North Carolina with her mom where is very unhappy. Or move to New York to start over with her art. I would so recommend this book!

Thanks NetGalley and st Martin press for letting me read this amazing book from Mary Kay Andrews!

OMG what an amazingly cute book by Mary Kay Andrews! I loved the little tid bit from the Santa Suit included in Kerry's story. I always felt there was a little more to that story and I am glad I got to know there was a Nick that came around in the picture. I want to go out and buy me a littl Spammy and run a Christmas Tree Lot now. LOVED THIS BOOK!!!