This was a fun, light Christmas read filled with Christmas trees, family, friends, and plenty of Christmas magic. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

I have read everything Mary Kay Andrews has had published. She continues to entertain me with her, "Hey, it could happen," stories. Her characters are never perfect. Somewhere in the past, these characters have made questionable decisions. So, very true-to-life. I recommend her to my friends and book club. She is a delight.

The Tolliver Christmas Tree Farm’s stand in Greenwich Village is a holiday fixture. This year, Kerry Tolliver is hitching up Spammy, an old tin can of a trailer, and heading up to NYC to help her brother Murphy run the stand. Along with bringing new ideas to breathe life into the business, Kerry befriends a cast of characters from the neighborhood, including a reclusive elderly man, a dragon-loving young boy, and his hunky single dad Patrick.

I loved this heartwarming holiday read – no one does a feel-good Christmas story like MKA does! Kerry is spunky and relatable and the supporting cast is charming. The romance that develops between Kerry and Patrick is so sweet, and I was keeping my fingers crossed that they would be able to find a future to their holiday romance. The Greenwich Village setting is totally immersive: the Christmas tree stand, the siblings sharing a tiny quirky trailer, the snowflakes, pine boughs, and Christmas music all striking the perfect holiday note. This Christmas read is sure to put you in the holiday spirit!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I'm a HUGE MKA fan and Bright Lights, Big Christmas did not disappoint! I love that she's started writing Christmas books again (Blue Christmas written years ago is a favorite of mine). This was a cozy, warm, delightful read that although I wish I had read closer to Christmas instead of on an 87 degree day, still managed to put me in a Christmasy mood!

I loved Kerry, an out-of-work graphic artist who has been living at home in the mountains of western North Carolina with her family at the Christmas tree farm. She's all adrift, trying to figure out her life when she's asked by her mom to go up to NYC during the holidays to help her brother sell their Christmas trees like they have for 3 decades since their dad just had a heart attack and can't make the trip. She and her older brother Murphy, a grumpy, taciturn guy, aren't at all close since their parents divorced when they were younger and each of them lived with one parent. But maybe the time together in NYC, selling trees, and living together in the families' old RV Spammy will bring them closer.

I adored the characters, especially Austin, the sweetest little boy ever, and Patrick his dad. The neighborhood and neighbors in Greenwich Village were so nice. Heinz, the elderly neighbor was someone Kerry was drawn to and in the end, all though he was gruff and acted as if he wanted no one, they both helped each other.

A joyful, sweet holiday read to put you in the holiday spirit!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

After reading Mary Kay Andrews' The Santa Suit, I have been waiting for her to write another Christmas novella. Bright Lights, Big Christmas has everything a reader could want in a modern Christmas story. Kerry Tolliver is at a crossroads in her life, after losing her job in Charlotte, NC. Originally from a small town in NC, she accompanies her brother, Murphy and his dog, Queenie to Greenwich Village, NY to sell Christmas trees from the family's farm. There she meets an array of people who quickly become her friends. As stated in the book more than once. "friends can become family". Ms. Andrews novella is filled with love, hope, romance, and Christmas Magic. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Mary Kay Andrews for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A wonderful holiday story that warms your soul. Kerry and her brother Murphy, grew up on a Christmas tree farm in a smell Mountain town in NC. Every year Murphy and his dad set up a tree stand in NYC to sell their trees, but after his dad has a heart attack, Kerry is forced to go with Murphy. Kerry meets a little boy named Austin and his father Patrick. Strong bonds are formed. How will they handle life after Kerry goes back to NC after Christmas is over?

An unexpected twist ending, your sure to love as much as I did. So pre-order your copy today so you can read for your holiday enjoyment. Release date is September 26th.

I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review from NetGalley.

I read this book in one inhale, that’s how much i enjoyed it. Ok fine, maybe I took a few million more breaths 😅 but basically this book was so great and that I felt like I inhaled it and CHRISTMAS has is here already!! Even though fall hasn’t technically arrived when I read this book I dont care! CHRISTMAS has areived!🎄🌲🎅🏼🤶🏼

About the book, Kerry being down on her luck, has to move back home and because her dad recently having health issues had to help her family by selling Christmas trees in the Big Apple (NYC). Although the conditions on an old broken down trailer is awful, she gets to the know the neighbours and how wonderful the people really are. Dont even get me started on Kerry sharing the tiny trailer with her brother Murphy because their banter is hilarious. Then there’s the love interest Patrick, cue squeal! That meet cute was everything becuse I love a ranting & raving woman who just wants to go pee!

Im not going to give you any spoilers, so I just want to say that this book brings such warm fuzzy feelings for me because:
1) I LOVE CHRISTMAS
2)Mary Kay Andrews is such a great writer
3) the characters in this books were absolutely charming, specially Heinz & Queenie! Did i mention its paced well too? I love a good pace book.

I love books based around the holidays and this book will officially be put in my holiday rotation! I loved reading every minute of this book. Every character was fun and interesting. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a sweet, holiday, closed-door book! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Kerry has temporarily moved back home to the North Carolina tree farm she grew up on. Now she must accompany her grumpy brother (whom she really doesn't know well) to NYC for the annual Christmas tree sales trip. She is not looking forward to living in the run down trailer for a month.

Once there Kerry meets many people. The secondary characters in this one are interesting and quirky. Although it is a Christmas book, it isn't dripping in Christmas which can be good or bad depending on your point of view. I liked how Kerry was determined to help the people who she has only recently met.

I would categorize this one as a beach read but for winter.

Thanks to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.

After small town girl Kerry’s father has a heart attack, she must travel to New York City with her grumpy brother to sell family grown Christmas trees and live in a tiny dilapidated travel trailer. Kerry befriends many people throughout the neighborhood and has the experience she least expects, which changes the projection of her life.

Overall Bright Lights Big Christmas was a heartwarming Christmas romcom, but I found it a tad predictable and uneventful. I think it would be better as a Hallmark movie. Hopefully that happens! 🤩

Favorite quote: “Sometimes even the best ideas don’t work out.” ✨

Favorite character: Kerry 🤶
Steamy rating: Mild 💙
Profanity: None 😇
How I discovered: Mary Kay Andrew’s Newsletter 💌
Method: Hybrid read & listen through NetGalley 💚

This is a heartwarming story that is a great one to add to your Christmas reads, filled with a lovely setting and wonderful characters and a sweet dog named Queenie.
The Tolliver family has owned a Christmas tree farm for many years in the mountains of North Carolina. For thirty years, they have taken a load of Christmas trees a month before Christmas to sell in a village in New York City. This is the first year that Kerry has gone to sell trees since her family went when she was very young. Her father is recovering from a heart attack, and she takes his place working with her brother. Rough living conditions, sibling tension, and mean competition add interest. But I enjoyed seeing the friendships that have developed over the years between the residents of the neighborhood and the Tollivers. This has a feel-good ending with the promise of a new beginning for Kerry, all with the happy holiday atmosphere.

Apparently I am one of the few who have never read Mary Kay Andrews. I read the synopsis and was hooked on the idea of Xmas in NYC. All the elements of a great Hallmark.movie are here, and I think pacing on screen would move the plot along more cohesively. The story as written, develops very slowly. But, for a clean holiday read this season, this would be a great starting place.

the plot overall was very cute. Despite them being Christmas tree sellers, it wasn’t overly Christmas, which I’m sure could be a pro or con depending on the reader. Also, even though it took place in NYC I never got the *magical New York christmas* setting vibes and I think it could’ve taken place in any mid size city which was a bummer because nyc at Christmas is really the best.

Mary Kay Andrews never disappoints. Another charming, sweet, heartwarming story. I especially enjoyed how the area in New York City showed that it really had a small-town atmosphere. Wonderful variety of characters. Nice mix of issues. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

This is a cute book filled with family drama and sweet holiday cheer centered around a Christmas tree farm. Kerry has to improvise to help her brother make money when another tree stand moves across the street. With the help of a good friend and an IG influencer, they pull it off! I love the relationship between Kerry and Heinz, the grumpy old man!

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

The story is cute enough, but I had trouble really getting into it which sucks for a short book. I also expected the missing elderly person plot line to happen much earlier in the story, not 2/3 of the way through. I liked the characters for the most part, but this was unfortunately one short story that was too short to develop any romance for me.

Recommend for a cute Christmas-time story, but not if you’re looking for a real romance.

I think I would categorize Mary Kay Andrew's books as "cozy romance" if there is such a category. They are sweet and heartwarming, with just a hint of romance between a couple characters. Her books are great for a breath of fresh air and enjoyable to read. I would recommend going into this book blind, without reading the summary because it gives too much of the plot away. Most of the things described in the summary don't happen until over halfway through this book.

Overall, it's a great holiday story that would be fun to read during the Christmas season. I definitely recommend it for something light and cute. Also, her book The Santa Suit (which links into this one slightly) is another great holiday read.

This is a lovely and warm Christmas story. Kerry and her brother go to New York City to sell Christmas trees after their dad gets sick. There they interact with members of the community. They form great and meaningful friendships that have lasted throughout the years. Romance also develops as both siblings find love. Kerry is able to change her life and the life of two of her new friends for Christmas. Readers will be delighted and pleased by this page turning story.

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS was a fun, quick Christmas/winter novella set in New York City – but somehow, Mary Kay Andrews was able to make NYC feel like it’s own little small village with close-knit neighbors who care about one another. It focuses on Kerry Tolliver, and her brother Murphy, who set up a family Christmas tree stand in the city each year. BLBC was a return to a more traditional MKA romance book with very little mystery to it at all. BLBC unfolds just like a Hallmark Christmas movie. Although, while this is a personal preference, I would have liked to see just a little more Christmas interjected into the story <spoiler> (was I the only one holding out hope that Heinz would turn out to be Santa?) </spoiler>.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get into a Christmas story in September in North Carolina (where the weather is still in the 90s), but MKA does a great job of making the reader feel like they are in a winter wonderland in the heart of NYC. My biggest critique of the book is that I wanted more buildup within the romance between Kerry and Patrick. While I quickly grew to love Austin, Patrick’s son, the relationship with Kerry and Patrick felt forced and not as believable. I don't feel like Kerry and Patrick connected or even spent that much time alone together, and when they did, Patrick was always making moves that weren't reciprocated by Kerry. I did really love Austin and Heinz, the mystery man in the neighborhood, and how by the end of the book Kerry was able to create her own community in such a big city.

Overall, this was another cute and quick holiday read with heartwarming and festive themes of family, community, and taking a chance. Long-time fans of MKA, Christmas stories, and Hallmark movies are sure to enjoy BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS this holiday season. 3.5 stars rounded up because MKA is such a gem.

A special thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I just enjoyed reading this beautiful heartfelt story that takes place in New York City during the Christmas 🎄 holiday season. The Tolliver family commute from North Carolina to bring their trees 🌲 from their farm to the big apple state. This season Kerry will be helping her older brother Murphy with this, since their dad isn't well. You will meet a bunch of amazing characters throughout the pages. Spammy, their trusted transportation and home. The lovable dog Queenie. A dad named Patrick, and his awesome son Austin. A bunch of very helpful and caring neighbors that will assist Kerry & Murphy Tolliver in trying to reach their goal.

You will have suspense with a missing person, drama with the other tree selling family that moves across the street, and romance for a few characters too ❣️.

You will also get Mary Kay Andrews funny 🤣 one liners, ex, "Truck Full of Muggers". I liked learning about a new musical 🎶 instrument, the Dobro 🎸, what a beautiful guitar, would love to hear the sounds it makes one day.

I've also read "The Santa Suit", and I like the way the author adds a little info about a little boy named Nick in this. A lovely added surprise.

I live in NYC and I sold Christmas trees🎄 one year, wow that was fun, and so is this book, you will love it. Enjoy.❤️

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ebook arc copy in exchange for my honest opinion & review.

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