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.

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.

cute but i wish the romance was better developed, it seemed pretty rushed as there were a lot of other plotlines

I found my new guilty pleasure, and it’s starting in on Christmas romance tropes in September rather than November. Mary Kay Andrews is one of my go-to cozy Christmas authors. I feel like there is so much merit in heartwarming stories, especially when they are set during the heart of Christmas.

Andrews’ latest novel, Bright Lights Big Hearts, is set on a street corner in Greenwich Village, New York. For the first time in decades, the MC, Kerry, is helping her family with their Christmas tree business by traveling to NYC to sell trees roadside with her brother. Kerry, a North Carolina native, quickly falls in love with the big city and its inhabitants. The story is filled with minor conflicts and clean romance. Mary Kay Andrews depicts Greenwich Village similarly to a small town in that its close community offers open arms to everyone they meet. The reader has to suspend disbelief a bit at how quickly the romance comes together. That said, I love the “friends become family” trope, and this one has the elements of that wrapped up in Christmas vibes. At 288 pages, this is a quick read and surely perfect for anyone who loves Hallmark Christmas movies.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced digital review copy.

Kerry Tolliver is having an identity crisis. She doesn't know where she belongs or what to do since she lost her job. The family has a Christmas tree farm in North Carolina. With her dad in poor health, she was told to help her brother in NYC. Murphy and her haven't seen eye to eye but they will do anything to save the farm. Little did she was going to blossom in the freezing cold. She is making wreathes and offering to help people to install their tree lights. She is also starting to get back to drawing again. Along the way there is Peter and his son Austin, whom she has become fond of. This area is a close knit community and everyone knows everyone. When Mr. Heinz stops being seen, the neighborhood gets into action. When they find him, Kerry is the one that brings him back to health. Christmas is still a magical time of the year and the best time to fall in love.

Lovely, feel good Christmas story. Great characters and always a good story flowing. This one includes a little Christmas romance beginnings and always some good humor and a touch of snarky. Cover gives good description of story, no need to repeat. You will enjoy he characters and the descriptions of the settings. I believe I've seen a similar Hallmark movie, if not, this would be a good one! I was provided an advanced reader copy at my request and was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks to the author, St.Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this rr book.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a heartwarming and uplifting must-read this holiday season! Kerry, Murphy, Queenie, Patrick, Austin, Heinz, Claudia, & all the surrounding neighbors are sure to brighten your holiday spirit and captivate your heart as they come together as a community. Everyone rallies around Kerry and Murphy during their busiest time of the year in NYC selling Christmas trees, offering food, coffee, restrooms, showers, & space to do their laundry, but also to help deliver trees and stand watch over their Christmas tree stand. Their kindness doesn't stop there. They come together when a neighborhood elderly man (Heinz) suddenly stops coming around, and it becomes a race against time to find him since the last time he was seen, he was sickly looking and coughing. No one knows much about him or where he lives. He's a rather private man and is always alone. Austin doesn't give up finding him and urges the adults in his life not to give up either. This is a cozy read that will leave you with that warm and fuzzy feeling this holiday season!

I enjoyed the update from MKA's 2022 Christmas novel The Santa Suit. Another holiday must read!

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-ARC. It was a truly enjoyable holiday read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Kerry is at loose ends after being made redundant after the ad agency she worked for merged with another larger company. Back home in North Carolina, she hasn't figured out what to do next but she knows staying in the small town is not what she wants. When her father has a heart attack and can't make the annual trip to New York City to sell the family's Christmas trees. Her brother can't do the trip on his own so Kerry is roped into. While she can't imagine a worse time than spending a month with a taciturn brother she barely knows in an old "spam can" camper that doesn't have a working toilet or stove, perhaps NYC at Christmas will work its magic on her.

I'm sure many Mary Kay Andrews fans like me were disappointed that there wasn't a new summer book this year. Thankfully there is a new Christmas book. Bright Light, Big Christmas is a great way to kick off the holiday season, and whether you are a MKA fan or just a fan of Christmas books you will want to start Christmas with MKA!

I don't usually like starting Christmas books until after Thanksgiving, but I just couldn't wait to start this book. And as I knew would happen as soon as I started it, I couldn't put it down - I read it in a day!

The characters are wonderful. I liked that they were a little older than you typically get in Christmas rom-coms. Kerry is in her 30s and her brother Murphy is in his 40s. I loved all the characters in the neighborhood where they set up their tree stand in NYC.

I was a little afraid that there would be a country bumpkin in the sophisticated Big Apple type plot line. But there isn't. Kerry's family has been selling trees in this neighborhood for at least 3 generations and the neighborhood is very welcoming to them - they let them use the bathroom, shower, eat, and do laundry in their homes and businesses. And this is a well-to-do area where you would expect snobs. I mean who carries around $200+ in cash on them when they are on their way to the gym to do pilates?

The dynamic between Kerry and her brother is good. Their parents divorced when Kerry was 7 and she went to live in town with their mother while her brother stayed on the farm with their dad. So they don't really know each other. Murphy is short-tempered but I don't think he really means to be. He has the weight of keeping the farm going as the next generation of Tollivers and that weight is even heavier now that their dad has had a heart attack. I don't think Kerry gives him enough credit either. I think the trip is good for their relationship.

The main focus though of the story is Kerry finding herself and determining what she wants out of life. And the trip to NYC definitely brings into focus where her true passion lies.

As this is a Christmas book, there is, of course, some romance. Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a clean romance. The Christmas tree-selling business doesn't really lend itself to traditional dating so much of the getting-to-know-you phase takes place on the tree lot.

I liked the setting of the Christmas tree stand. It's a different setting but it works really well for this sweet Christmas book.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Wednesday, Sept. 6 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/09/bright-lights-big-christmas-by-mary-kay.html

Nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit like Mary Kay Andrews holiday books! A wonderful story of a New York Christmas tree stand in the heart of the city which is manned by The Tollivers from NC each year. This year Kerry helps her brother Murphy since their dad is down with a heart attack.

The most idyllic setting and a wondeful cast of characters really pulled me in!

My first Christmas read of the year. It was so cute. I loved the story about a family Christmas tree lot. Loved the MC and the side characters and Heinz was so great!! Only thing I couldn’t really get into was Kerry and her love interest. Overall, I would def recommend for a light Christmas read to get you into the holiday spirit.

Thanks to Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press for my electronic advanced readers copy.

Publish date: September 26, 2023

I already love a Christmas read, but throw in a Christmas tree farm and I am extra happy! Leaving North Carolina behind, Kerry Tolliver is tagging along with her brother (and their vintage travel trailer) to sell trees at their family-owned stand on Abingdon Square in New York City.

Filled with delightful locals and a crisp, wintery setting, this was a super cozy, grab-your-hot-cocoa type of story. I especially enjoyed seeing the daily ins and outs of the struggling Tolliver Family Tree Farm. The sibling bickering between Kerry and her perpetually grumpy brother, Murphy, was too fun.

I wanted more buildup within the romance, though. Patrick, the love interest, felt too pushy at times, making it hard for me to believe their relationship developed organically. I never quite connected with their chemistry. But overall, a cute holiday read with a heartwarming focus on learning to believe in yourself.

A very cute story that draws you in to the characters quite quickly! I would recommend everyone pick up this novella this holiday season!

This is another wonderful Christmas story from Mary Kay Andrews. Lots of humor mixed with love of family and new friends. Due to her father being in recovery from a heart attack and surgery, Kerry has to go to New York City from NC to help her brother run their Christmas tree lot, something she has not done since her parents got divorced when she was 7. This involves living in a small camper by the tree lot and depending on the generosity of some people in the neighborhood for a bathroom break and warm showers. Kerry quickly becomes enamored with a young boy and his father who live close to the tree lot. This is a quick heartwarming read that ends too soon.

What a wonderful story of how different ages and backgrounds can teach each other the important things in life.

(A review for Netgalley!)

I love a good Christmas novel/story so regardless it was going to get an okay rating! The story is cute and I love the family friendly neighborhood feeling! But I didn’t love the romance storyline development at all! And honestly, it felt rushed.

I also felt like the story ended abruptly too.. I guess I would have liked to have seen it end on Christmas Day itself! So continue on with Kerry’s transition a tiny bit into NYC (like a prologue)! It left me wanting more.

All in all; the storyline is cute! It just left me wanting more and a more developed romance!

4.5 stars. This book was all the Christmas magic and NYC magic rolled into one.

The found family in this book was so strong! The characters were a unique hodgepodge, that fit together perfectly within the story.

I loved the love story woven in, though it definitely took a backseat to the self discovery and community being built… but I’m not sad about it. It was a nice little touch in the background.

This book made me crave cold nights and hot cocoa and the smell of evergreens something fierce. Highly recommend to get you in the holiday spirit!!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review an advance copy.