A heartwarming novella just in time for Christmas. It takes a village, doesn't it? In this case, it's the East Village in New York City when Kerry and her brother Murphy are selling Christmas trees from the family farm in North Carolina. They're living in a trailer (with a dog as well) and spending long hours but all of that melts away for Kerry as she falls for the neighbors and the neighborhood. There's single dad Patrick, his son Austin, older fellow Heinz and so on. There's a small crisis and everyone pulls together. This is a very idealized version of life in the big city but it works with these characters and for the season. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC A relaxing read.

Bright Lights Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews is the perfect holiday story for me because it’s full of authentic relationships and relatable characters. It’s a closed-door romance, but the story is more about Kerry finding herself and getting back on her feet after she unexpectedly lost her job than it is about a romance. Kerry feels she needs to reinvent herself professionally, but she’s unsure what that will look like.

I loved the found family themes, too. Is there anything more heartwarming and Christmas-like than a found family? Not to me, and the one that develops in this story is just right because all the characters are developed so well that it is easy to believe they would come together in fellowship and love. I could relate to the main character and narrator of the story - Kerry, but Heinz and Austin grabbed my heart and wouldn’t let go. Heinz is an older gentleman whom everyone thinks is homeless, and Austin is a seven-year-old boy with an old soul. And when those two come together with Kerry and create a story, I could easily believe all would be right with their world.

Also, the setting is sublime (NYC in December), with a bit of quirkiness provided by Spammy the camper. An adult brother and sister who haven’t spent much time together since their parents divorced when they were young, living in such close quarters is a situation just made for some well-timed laughs. And NYC at Christmas is just magical, so what a fantastic backdrop for the Christmas tree stand. This story made me feel like Christmas, and for that, I am grateful.

This was cute, nothing terribly exciting tho. I did like how it had a small connection with The Santa Suit.

Bright lights Big Christmas is a perfect holiday read. Set in New York City at Christmas time which happens to be a magical Christmas place for me and the main character has my name which is rare! (Although not spelled the same) a failing Christmas tree farm selling trees in NYC Kerry and Murphy are brother and sister helping out the family business. A very heartwarming holiday light romance read.

This charming story is a Hallmark Christmas movie waiting to happen. It has all the ingredients ~ woman moves from her childhood home in the country to the city, unique profession (selling Christmas trees on a NYC street corner), grumpy old man, villains trying to drive them out of business, romance, and found family, and I loved every minute of it! It's very sweet and heartwarming and is the perfect gateway to the holiday season. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for giving me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest seasonal novel by the queen, Mary Kay Andrews, and wonderfully narrated by another favorite, Kathleen McInerney - 5 stars!

Kerry is back home living with her mother after being let go from her job. When her dad becomes ill, Kerry has to take his place at their annual corner in Greenwich Village with her older brother selling Christmas trees from their family farm. They have to share a tiny vintage camper that sounds more charming than it is. Kerry soon becomes close with nearby neighbors and becomes to think of them as family. Then there's Patrick, a single dad raising his son, Austin, whom she has instant chemistry with. But with time ticking, is there any chance for them?

Although it's not quite fall, any chance to read a Mary Kay Andrews Christmas novel is perfect! Her writing invokes all the sights, smells and feelings of the season, and I was totally in! This book hit all the romance notes, but also family loyalty and bonds, and a community looking out for each other, Filled with great characters, it's the perfect start to Christmas!

If you like holiday romances, you will love this book. It was a SUPER fast read and just as cute as most books by this author. I would almost say it was a bit sappy but sometimes that's what you want in a holiday romance. Definitely add this to your TBR!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas comes out next week on September 26, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.

Kerry Clare Tolliver couldn't remember a time when the smell of a Fraser fir tree didn't make her smile.

Tollivers had been growing this particular variety of Christmas tree, in this particular patch of farmland in the mountains of western North Carolina, for four generations.

But today, standing in front of the flatbed trailer loaded with hundreds of freshly cut and baled fragrant firs, she wanted to cry.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a sweet, fun, easy-to-read story with interesting characters and a great holiday vibe. The Tolliver family has been driving to NYC to sell their North Carolina Christmas trees for three decades. Having recently moved back home after losing her job, Kerry Tolliver ends up making the trip with her older brother and his dog when their father is hospitalized and can't go himself. Living in a vintage camper with no bathroom on the street next to the tree stand for weeks isn't Kerry's idea of fun, but she soon discovers that this corner of Greenwich Village is a welcoming community that takes care of its own. This is a story of self-discovery and the importance of friendship and family, with a side of romance and twist of humor. It held my interest from start to finish and I wouldn't have minded if it had been longer!

Sweet, feel-good Christmas read. An easy read with likeable characters. The romance between the two main characters could have been explored more but overall, a heartwarming read.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley for this advance e-copy of Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews.This is another of Mary Kay’s gems that will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit.It is the story of Kerry and Murph Tolliver who travel from North Carolina to NYC every Christmas time to sell their home grown Christmas trees. This year is different.Usually it is Murph and his dad but this year the dad is sick and Kerry who is trying to find herself ,amid a job loss and a bad breakup ,accompanies her brother north.This book is full of drama, romance and some bad guys too.It is a story of love, family and kindness .A perfect Christmas book you won’t want to put down,Highly recommend.

I first want to thank Mary Kay Andrews and NetGalley for this ARC eBook edition.

This book reminded me of Silver Bell, the book. They own a Christmas Tree farm and go into the city to sell their trees. Heartwarming and drew me in. The characters felt real. It meshed together good. A story about friendship, found family and romance. It truly felt like it was book describing what the real meaning of Christmas is.

Mary Kay Andrews’ Bright Lights, Big Christmas is an adorable holiday read. It is filled with charming characters, interesting situations, and heartwarming holiday cheer.

A family-run Christmas tree business, a couple of artists, and a neighborhood full of interesting characters made this book a pleasurable, one-sit read for me. I loved the family story, the slow-burn romance, and most of all I loved the magic of the holidays as seen through the eyes of a child named Austin.

This feel good book made the holidays in New York seem magical, and life in the country seem idyllic. With strong messages about family and friends, Bright LIghts, Big Christmas was like a giant, warm hug.

A charming holiday story about siblings from North Carolina who travel to NY city to sell trees for Christmas. Throw in a diverse group of neighbors, two rivals setting up on the opposite street corner, and you get a funny and uplifting story of friends that become family.

There's a bit of drama, romance, and a mystery surrounding their location. Working together to sell trees to save their family farm after their father suffered a heart attack, brings the two estranged siblings together. All in all, it was a great story to kick off my holiday reading !

Although I received a free ARC e-book from Net Galley and the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bright Lights Big Christmas
By: May Kay Andrews
Publication date: September 26, 2023

Kerry is spending time on her family’s Christmas tree farm after losing her job. When fall rolls around she to New York to help her older brother sell Christmas trees. Once she gets there she quickly gets close to cute single dad Patrick.

Let me start off with what I liked about this book:
- [ ] Kerry is a great MFC
- [ ] The little boy/Kerrie’s relationship
- [ ] The hallmark movie vibes

What wasn’t my favorite:
- [ ] The brother bothered me and idk why
- [ ] Patrick was to heads over heals for Kerry

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me this ACR in exchange for my honest reviewer.

Big Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews is a must read this Christmas season. I am a huge Mary Kay Andrews fan and I am especially fond of her Christmas stories. She always seems to capture the magic of Christmas. This is another heartwarming tale with wonderful characters.

The Tolliver Family owns a tree farm and sell their trees in the Village of New York City. This year will not be the usual trip to the city. This year Kerry is going to New York with her brother Murphy. Murphy is used to taking after his father and doing the same thing year after year at the family tree stand. At the center of this story is reinvention. Ms. Andrews reminds her faithful readers that sometimes we can’t rely on the ‘old’ way of doing things. Kerry and Murphy learn to reinvent the Tolliver Christmas Tree Stand.

Another thread running through this story is inter-generational friendships. Each of the characters is seen putting the needs of others ahead of their own. The relationship between old and young is endearing to say the least.

The characters are wonderful. They are original, funny, kind, and definitely memorable. Even the secondary characters were charming and as the reader you feel drawn to them as well. It was heartwarming to see the relationships/friendships that the Tollivers have made over the past thirty years running their tree stand.

As usual Mary Kay Andrews has another winner on her hands. This is a fun captivating read and I recommend it highly. Well done.

I would like to thank Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for a happy Christmas Story with a delightfully, lovely ending this book is for you!!!!!!!!! I fell in love with these characters and you will too.

I loved the characters, the setting and the storyline of this book! A cute story of a family Christmas tree farm in NYC and the challenges but positives. The supporting characters are fantastic! I highly recommend this for the holiday season as a feel good read! I am even going to go back and read Mary Kay Andrews backlist holiday boos!

What a delightful holiday warm cup of cocoa of a book! I loved the characters … especially Kerry and Austin. It was entertaining to watch Kerry and her brother learn to appreciate each other and what they had to offer to help sell Christmas trees in Greenwich Village, NY. The people they interacted with as they passed them on the street or stopped to purchase trees or wreaths, the shopkeepers in the area, the neighbors who took the time to interact with them … made the story heartwarming. Of course, there were a few of the typical irritating characters that you would expect in New York during the Christmas holidays, but overall, there was a feeling of warmth and caring. Sharing a small camper, Spammy, with her brother will have you chuckling. And as Kerry tries diligently to find one of the gentlemen who always stopped by the tree stand, Heinz, you will discover that she has a heart of gold. This is definitely a heartwarming tale with a little bit of romance … but not over the top. It will definitely be a book I buy for my friends to enjoy.

A special note: I smiled at the mention of The Santa Suit, a previous novel by Mary Kay Andrews. And if you haven’t read that one yet, you need to rush out and buy it! A wonderful holiday treat!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

An oh, so enjoyable story of family, friends, and love centered around a family Christmas tree lot in New York City. Brother and sister Murphy and Kerry bring their family farm Christmas trees to their longtime lot in the city. Kerry does not usually go but her father’s illness has forced her to go. She meets Patrick and his adorable son Austin and they bond with the mysterious older man Heinz as they write a story together. The sense of family and friendship flows off the pages.
If you have never read any of Mary Kay Andrews novels, you will find them to be great stories with wonderful characters. I love her writing and how much she adds to each character's personality and background. Her novels are always a delight to read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a sweet little Christmas read. As cozy as drinking a cup of hot chocolate and watching your favourite holiday movie.

I really liked Kerry Tolliver as the MC. I enjoyed her spunkiness in dealing with a less than ideal situation. I didn’t really feel the chemistry during her and Patrick, but his son was sweet.

The most enjoyable part of this book was the setting. The author does a great job of setting the scene, and it really has that holiday magic feel.


Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with an ARC of this book to read and review.