This was a quick, sweet read just like always from the author. I wanted a quick read while on an airplane ride and I almost made it through the whole book in 3 hours. The side story with Heinz was my favorite part of this book. A very heart-warming, feel-good holiday read.

Such a lovely Christmas story! Mary Kay Andrews takes us from the mountains of North Carolina to New York City where the Tolliver family sells their Christmas trees. In this uplifting tale, we meet the people of this close knit neighborhood who welcome the Tollivers each year. This year there is a hint of romance in the winter air, along with Christmas cheer. If you need a feel good story, especially in this summer heat, this is for you! Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Adorable and fluffy Christmas book that fans of Mary Kay Andrews will love. The MC's brother was a bit much (such a jerk!) but I enjoyed it!

Christmas came early. I loved this Christmas book! I could see it being a Hallmark movie. I really enjoyed the cast of characters and the NYC at Christmas vibes. Very cute and cozy as per all Mary Kay Andrews’ books. Add it to your Christmas list!

Thanks NetGalley for the e-arc!

Bright Lights,Big Christmas is a wonderful and heartwarming story by Mary Kay Andrews!You will enjoy reading this with a cup of hot chocolate and your fuzzy socks.Kerry Tolliver and her brother plus his dog Queenie sell Christmas trees from their family farm in North Carolina.They truck the trees to New York City where they sell them to cash flow the rest of their year.Kerrie stays in a vintage camper by their tree lot and deals with the problems of retailing the trees and getting along with the people in their neighborhood.One special person is Patrick a single dad with a lovable little son.named Austin.Have fun reading this novella,Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this lovely book!

This was a cute and fun holiday read set in NYC for the most part.

Murphy and Kerry are selling Christmas Trees from their fathers tree farm. Usually, it is Murph and his dad, but due to health issues, Kerry is helping out since she is in between jobs.

This story has lovable characters even the cranky one will steal your heart! Clean romance and some drama makes for a great story! Just the story I needed!

I absolutely love MKA. This book is no exception. The relationships, the camper, the tree lot, the mysterious artist... all the love wrapped up with a nice homemade bow :). A wonderful Christmas book.

I have always enjoyed books by MaryKay Andrews and was pleased to receive a copy of Bright Lights, Big Christmas. I enjoyed and cared about the characters in the book and enjoyed the story very much. I was disappointed when it ended. The style of writing made me feel as if I was with Kerry and Murphy selling Christmas trees in cold blustery New York. I read this book during the hottest week of summer. I would recommend this book to those that enjoy "sweet Hallmark Christmas movie" books.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review your book.

Edit: Sept 6, 2023-- I am changing my rating to a 4. I can't stop thinking about the characters and wish the story didn't end. Thanks again for the opportunity to read this book in advance.

I do love a Christmas thing - Hallmark movie, yes! Christmas in July, yes! Contemporary Romance set at Christmas time, you bet! And I go in with expectations for sure. To be clear, I don’t mind the cliches; they are part of what I love. The really cool thing about Mary Kay Andrews’ Bright Lights Big Christmas is that she exceeds all of the Christmas genre expectations.

Kerry Tolliver has been hiding out at her family’s farm in North Carolina since she lost her job and has zero desire to travel with her brother gruff Murphy to sell Christmas trees in New York City. She has to live in a broken down travel trailer using the bathrooms of nearby businesses and apartments. But her dad is recovering from a health event, and she just can’t say no to her mom.

Cue the lovely corner tree lot, the handsome nearby apartment dweller, the helpful community of neighbors, an adorable little boy, and a mysterious artist. Let the magic begin. I love how the relationships develop between Kerry and the others. Seeing her creativity inspired through wreath making and illustrating is a delight. And while it is a lovely romance, the romance is not necessarily front and center. Kerry finding herself, learning to love her December neighbors, and trusting her instincts are. An intriguing mystery surrounding Heinz - who shows up to help Kerry rediscover her art - develops. (I confess, a small part of me wanted him to be Santa.) Along the way, Christmas is a delightful part of the setting.

So. If you love all things Christmas, this book is for you (maybe I’ll spend a December in NYC sometime?). If you are worried that this book will be formulaic and not transcend Christmas, do not. This book is for you. If you are facing change, if you want a burst of courage to pursue your dreams, if you love to watch friendships develop and love a neighborhood as a character, this book is for you. I am not as familiar with Andrews’ work as I intend to become.

Family is what you make it. Jock Tolliver and his son, Murphy, have been hauling Christmas trees from North Carolina to New York City for years. They have their established location, the neighbors all know them, and all is well - until it isn't. Jock has a heart attack and can't go. Murphy can't do the job by himself, so Kerry agrees to go with her brother and sell trees. They are already at least a week behind. When they arrive in the city, they discover rivals have set up across the street from them. The Tolliver trees aren't selling fast enough to pay for the trip. What to do? Kerry decides to take matters into her own hands and starts making and selling wreaths and swags and other Christmas items made from the discards of the well-trimmed trees. Success is on the horizon.

Then a gentleman in the neighborhood goes missing, Murphy has to go back to North Carolina for more trees and Kerry has a dilemma on her hands. One of the newer neighbors is Patrick, single dad, raising his son, Austin, part of the time. Austin, age seven, starts helping at the tree stand and his irresistible looks and sales pitch do the job. In true Mary Kay Andrews Christmas stories, happiness is just around the corner.

(3.5 Stars) Mary Kay Andrews is a name I recognize but I have never read one of her books. Why not start with a holiday romance. The blurb gives the basic set up. Because her father has a heart attack Kerry Tolliver agrees to go to NYC with her older brother to sell Christmas trees. Her family has the largest tree farm in NC. The NYC sells get higher prices and account for a lot of the farm revenue. She is a graphic artist and doesn’t normally work for the family farm. Once in NYC she become part of the neighborhood around her. She and her brother live in a small trailer but surrounding neighbors open their homes or work place for food, bathrooms and even a hot shower. She befriends an older man who critics her sketching and a father Patrick and his son. She also uses her artistic talents to create wreaths and center pieces to sell.

Love is in the air, as is a sense of community. This is a sweet women’s fiction with with a romance. I would have enjoyed more scenes of her and Patrick together but as this isn’t marketed as a romance I won’t criticize for that. I thought this was fluffy and enjoyable. It is filled with kindness but it didn't make me jump to read the authors catalog of books. The book is clean with kissing only. If you’re a fan of the author you will enjoy this holiday story. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and I’m leaving an honest review.

Mary Kay Andrews’ latest Christmas novel, ‘Bright Lights, Big Christmas,’ is a heartwarming holiday read that captures the essence of the season. Andrews’ skill in character development shines through as she introduces us to Kerry Tolliver, a relatable protagonist who finds herself back at her family’s Christmas tree farm during a time of need.

The story beautifully unfolds as Kerry embarks on a journey to New York City, towing the family’s vintage travel trailer – a setting that evokes nostalgia and warmth. Andrews paints a vivid picture of Kerry’s encounters with the charming local businesses and residents, each contributing to the story’s heartwarming atmosphere.

One of the standout features of the book is the sense of community that permeates the bustling city. Despite the urban setting, it feels like a close-knit small town where kindness and goodwill prevail. As Kerry’s relationships with her fellow New Yorkers deepen, readers will be enchanted by the bonds that form and the genuine care they share for one another.

Romance weaves its way into the narrative, adding an extra layer of warmth and intrigue. Kerry’s emotional journey and the decisions she faces as her month in New York draws to a close keep the reader engaged until the very end.

In ‘Bright Lights, Big Christmas,’ Mary Kay Andrews crafts a memorable story filled with the true spirit of Christmas. This book is a delightful choice for readers who seek heartwarming tales that capture the magic of the season and the power of community. It’s a must-read that will leave you with a cozy feeling, perfect for enjoying by the holiday fireside.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

4.5 stars (rounded up to 5).

It's that time of year again where the Tolliver family loads up and heads to New York City to sell their family farm Christmas trees. This year Kerry Tolliver has to tag along with her brother, Murphy, due to their father not being in the best health. Neither of the siblings are too keen on working together but Kerry is determined to make the best of it.

This was a warm and cozy Christmas read. It has a little bit of romance and some found family elements. It is a perfect feel good Christmas story. If you are a fan of Mary Kay Andrews, you'll love this one, and if you have never read from her, give this one a try! I don't think you will be disappointed.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher (St. Martin's Press/Macmillian Audio) for the allowing me access to an early copy/recording of this story. All opinions are my own.

This was a fun cozy holiday rom-com of a book. I always like reading Andrews books as they are like a nice breath of fresh air. Loved following the story of the Tollivers and the surrounding cast of characters that make up the New York city enclave that is the setting of the book. Would love to see a short story seeing what happens with all the characters a year or so from the setting of the book...a wedding or 2???

3.5 stars
A sweet holiday story filled with Christmas spirit!

Shortly after Thanksgiving, Kerry Tolliver travels with her brother, Murphy, and his dog, Queenie, from North Carolina to New York City where they live in an old camper van in Greenwich Village while selling their family's Christmas trees during the holiday season. As the weeks go by, Kerry becomes close to many of the neighbourhood residents particularly a gruff elderly artist and a single father with an adorable son and starts to feel a sense of belonging that she hasn't felt in a long time.

Mary Kay Andrews consistently delivers her trademark feel-good Christmas book filled with the magic of the season - a sweet romance, a heartwarming story of family, friends and community, a message about being brave enough to follow dreams and take chances, and a festive New York City neighbourhood.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I love a good Christmas book, so I had really high hopes for this one... but I have to say this one was only okay for me. In many ways, it had all the makings of a good Hallmark movie (you know, with more language and such) ... lots of Christmas cheer, some romance and a sense of community and found family. Still, I found I didn't really connect with it very well. Perhaps if the romance would have played a bigger part of the story, or if we'd have gotten to the found family aspects earlier in the story... but it seemed like it was just a slower start perhaps than I would have liked. It wasn't a bad story by any means, just not that really set itself apart for me. Still, if you're looking for a quicker holiday read, this is one to check out for yourself.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.

Mary Kay Andrews has often been synonymous with favorite summer reads for me, and now her holiday romances are also works I look forward to.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a delightful walk through a winter wonderland in the big city, complete with a brother and sister living in a camper while they sell trees from their Christmas tree farm. It follows Kerry, who is at a crossroads in her life as she works with her brother over the holidays and connects with a community, From the local restaurateurs, the older, grumpy recluse, the generous neighbors, and one particularly appealing man and his adorable son, in ways she never has before.

Like all of MKA’s stories, the characters and dialogue are top-notch. There’s something about her writing that pulls me in and creates such vivid pictures of the setting and characters. I could just picture Kerry driving through the streets of New York with her old camper in tow. I could imagine their cute little tree stand and could totally see myself picking up a wreath or tree there just to absorb the festive ambiance.

I also loved all of the secondary characters. They and Kerry brought the story to life. It’s a diverse group of people who are all very different, and their personalities shine through. It was lovely to see so many helpful and thoughtful people embracing Kerry and others in need and helping them through difficult times in their lives. And there’s one particular relationship between Kerry and an older, enigmatic grump that has a profound effect on Kerry’s life. As Kerry learns more about him and his life, she becomes more certain of her future. I loved their friendship and the hope they gave to each other. And there’s another character who sparks Kerry’s interest, and he sounds like a total cinnamon roll. His son is adorable too, and they are both so sweet on Kerry. It’s adorable. I also really liked the sibling relationship, which felt very realistic and relatable.

My only complaint is that the ending felt a little abrupt, and I wish there were an epilogue so we could see what happened to the community members and the main couple. However, overall, it was a warm-hearted, feel-good contemporary romance with amazing holiday vibes. Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Kerry recently lost her job so heads home to the family Christmas tree farm in North Carolina. Her father and brother go to New York City every season to sell their Christmas trees but this year her father is too ill to go so she takes his place ... she has nothing else going on. Kerry and her brother, Murphy, spend the month living in a small unheated trailer with no kitchen or bathroom on the lot where they sell their trees. At first Kerry's not crazy about being there but eventually feels a sense of community as she gets to know people in the neighbourhood including a divorced dad named Patrick and his young son, an elderly man named Heinz who everyone assumes is homeless, a restaurateur named Claudia and more.

I thought the story was okay. It is written in third person perspective with a focus on Kerry. Since this is an annual thing for Murphy, he knows lots of people in the neighbourhood who are only too happy to let them use their washrooms, laundry facilities, etc. Considering it's New York City, I found it unbelievable that anyone would give them their key and free access to their condo. They seem to leave the tree lot unattended often and surprisingly no trees are stolen ... it's New York City! Given Patrick and Kerry have only known each other less than a month, I wasn't buying how they fell in love so quickly given the small amount of encounters they had. If you are looking for a nice Christmas story with a happy ending, this is it.

Another "lose yourself" book from a very reliable author! I loved this one, even though it doesn't feel remotely like Christmas here! I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put the book down! I love her books.

I do love a good Christmas story and MKA delivers. I enjoyed watching Kerry and Murphy learning to appreciate each other. What a sweet caring child Austin is! What a surprise Heinz was! If I had to live in New York City, I would want to live in this neighborhood with these awesome, caring folks. I feel like Kerry and Patrick’s story is just beginning. Maybe someday we will see them again. I hope so because I would love to hang out with all these nice people again. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.