I first heard of Mary Kay Andrews when a clerk at my local bookstore mentioned her to someone else and I'm glad I made a mental note. This is a heartwarming, feel-good story about a young woman from a NC Christmas Tree Farm who finds herself in New York City for Christmas, and winds up falling in love with the city and the people. There's a mystery, some romance, and a lot of Christmas magic. If you're looking for a nice holiday read, check it out.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publishers, and Mary Kay Andrews for an ARC of Big Lights Big Christmas! Well, I guess we can skip spooky season and go straight to Christmas because I’m in the Christmas spirit now. This is my 2nd book by Mary Kay Andrews and it did not disappoint! I understand Kerry on so many levels and the reference to Santa Suit just warmed my heart and brought back more happy memories. When I finished the book I kept going back and forth because there was no way it was just over! I need more!! If you need a light, sweet, Christmas rom com, you have came to the right place!

A very sweet family-centric holiday romance that evoked my own childhood memories of packing up in the car to go pick out a Christmas tree and walking around the lot sipping hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music.

I love a good Christmas book any time of the year and this one by Mary Kay Andrews did not disappoint.

Kerry Tolliver travels to NYC with her brother to sell Christmas trees from their family's Christmas tree farm. Kerry hasn't made the trip since she was a young girl. Filled with lovely local characters, this is a perfect, gentle, feel-good read for the holiday season.

Such a cute and enjoyable love story! At first you might not catch on that its actually romance, but you soon will understand why. You will instantly fall in love with the characters, and question some of their motives, but in the end all questions and concerns are answered.

This is a heart warming quick novel, and one that I am sure readers of this genre will enjoy.

MKA does it again! I am not one for reading Christmas books, but MKA has had some really good ones lately with her style of humor that I can’t resist. Such a great read when a brother and sister from the NC mountains (sister stepping in for dad) sell Christmas trees on a corner in NYC. The characters are so much fun with a tad of romance, a dog named Queenie, and a mystery about a man who appears to be homeless. I highly recommend putting this one on your list to read for the season. I laughed and smiled !! Thanks to the publisher and a Netgalley for the ARC

A beautiful, sweet and heartwarming story. It's a Christmas story about a family reuniting, making new friends, kindness and a tree stand in a new place. Sweet romance and a few surprises and yes, kids and dog all kept me quickly turning the pages to see what would happen. I'm so glad I was able to read an early copy of this beautiful story and it was perfect for Christmas in July fun. Now, I will re-read at Christmas time so I can feel the "spirit" all over again. I love feel good stories like this one.

This is definitely a feel good Christmas story. It has a little romance, but it's mostly about making connections with people. Making your own family through new friendships and finding home with people you never thought possible. It is the perfect book to read at Christmas, because it is a great reminder of kindness and the true spirit of the season.

This sweet Christmas story had me wanting to pull out a blanket, put on some Christmas music and grab a cup of hot chocolate even though it’s 117 outside!

Kerry leaves her family home in North Carolina to help her grumpy, older brother run the family’s Christmas tree stand on NYC. It has all the vibes of a NYC Christmas with sweet characters that genuinely care for each other. Kerry befriends the charming divorced dad, Patrick. Austin, his son and neighborhood recluse Heinz.
This is a great feel good story about friendship and community.
I would have liked a bit more spark between Kerry and Patrick- but maybe that’s another story.

Fun Christmas story about a Christmas Tree Stand and the family who has sold their trees for generations and the neighborhood that adopts them for the month. They have built relationships and partnerships with so many members of the community they are like family. Their interactions and connections make their holiday season seem so warm and welcoming. Even though they are in New York their community is strong and tight nit. These is one story where I think that the romantic relationship was not needed. The main characters relationships with her brother, mentor and herself seemed so much more important and so much stronger.

I was gifted this read from NetGalley and the Publisher.

This book had me wanting to turn on my fireplace, grab a soft blanket, and drink a steaming cup of hot chocolate in July. I loved that this story was full of family, friendships, and romantic love. I never really thought about those Christmas tree stand in cities and how they get there. Normally, these tales have the big city girl go to the small town life. I really liked that this tale flipped it.

Kerry and her brother Murphy, who is so wonderfully described as looking like the paper towel guy, leave North Carolina mountains to sell their family Christmas trees and while here Kerry falls in love with New York and the people. The brother/sister relationship with Kerry and Murphy was great. He is rough, and she can stand up to him. I loved seeing how Murphy has these different parts to him that Kerry didn't know about. I loved the neighborhood around the Christmas tree stand. The people being so generous and open to them was sweet. This is in contrast to how people normally can be described in New York. It was refreshing, and it was great to give Kerry the love that small towns can bring in the big city. I was surprised at the pricing used at times, but that could be a city thing.

Kerry and Patrick were so sweet together. She embraced his son, and they helped open the creative drive in her. I loved that their falling in love was just part of the story. Mr. Heinz was a surprise character. I loved that there was more to him than just the strange old man that everyone knows. The short time span for falling in love throws me, but I expect it when reading stories like this around holidays. If you're looking for a sweet and cozy holiday read, I definitely recommend this one

I've read a few of Mary Kay Andrews’s books, and I happen to prefer her Christmas books. "Bright Lights, Big Christmas" is another short and sweet story with a NYC Greenwich Village setting. The title is catchy because it makes me think of "Bright Lights, Big City," which is the heart of this novel...the bright lights of Christmas twinkling in a big city like NYC. Despite it taking place at Christmas time, the story focuses more on holiday traditions and the importance of family and friends, rather than any religious themes. At times it felt like the making of a cheesy Hallmark movie, but mixed in with a few heavier themes (health issues, career, divorce, financial, etc.), it was the perfect balance for me. After driving up from their tree farm in North Carolina, Kerry and her older brother are tasked with running their family's Christmas tree stand in the heart of the Village. Lots of issues arise as we meet a host of quirky neighbors and other characters. With a romance tossed in, I was left with that cozy feeling you get when you are reading a book by the fire on a cold and snowy night. This took me longer than I expected to finish, but I think I was just savoring the warm holiday glow in the middle of summer, ha! Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. The expected pub date is September 2023. A perfect stocking stuffer!

A wonderful novel that will get you into the Christmas spirit. Even though it’s still summer. I’ll definitely read this again at Christmas time.

This is everything you want and expect from a cozy Christmas romance. A sweet story with an interesting plot line. I actually enjoyed that the romance was only a part of the story. The setting was great, classic NYC but still a small neighborly feel. I even enjoyed learning about Christmas trees.

Such a sweet book. Loved all the people in the neighborhood. A fun holiday read for any time of the year.

Kerry Tolliver is at a crossroads in her life. She is back in North Carolina living with her mother on her family’s Christmas tree farm when she is asked to help with the tree stand they have every year in New York. This charming Christmas-time romance has family drama and friends and neighbors caring for each other like family. This is an enjoyable read for the holidays. Thanks to author Mary Kay Andrews, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thanks for the review copy. It was fun to read a Christmas book in July. Cute but sorta predictable story about family and love with a happy ending.

Christmas in July! Bright light, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews captures the essence of Christmas. It's like being in the magic of a Holiday Hallmark Movie.
For generations, the Tollivers, have grown trees on their farm to transport to NY and sell for the Holiday Season. When their dad has a heart attack, brother and sister, Murphy and Kerry need to step up and take over. This book explores their siblings dynamic, some love interests, and what change can bring.
I would recommend this book to someone looking for a cute, clean, easy, Christmas read filled with a community of lovable characters.

3+

It's a cozy Christmas romance following last year's release. Although it barely mentions the first story, as it takes place in New York City, miles and miles away, so you can read it as a standalone. I got to know Mary Kay Andrews writing rom-coms, so I was a little surprised when I found her more recent releases to be halfway thrillers (some going even farther). Thus, I'm happy to see her writing just romances again, and this is the perfect comfort read for the holidays, it's even more so than the first volume that still had an obvious mystery to solve (this second isn't free of some plot twists, don't worry).

Kerry has lost her job and had to move back home, and now her father is out of commission she needs to spend a month sleeping in a camper with her brother in New York to sell Christmas trees. There she meets single-dad Patrick and his six-year-old son, who takes a liking to Kerry and her art.

Though we still have some elements of "too good to be true" about how Kerry deals with her situation, it was close to believable how her story develops and she manages to overcome how hopeless unemployment made her. The romance is very cute but it could have been more prominent, they're such a good couple I was left wanting more cute scenes with the two (but the conclusion is great, don't worry, I just wanted more).

Unfortunately, I couldn't help but compare this with the first part of this series, and the previous book had that something more that this one lacked. As the story continued, despite the superb beginning, it fell into the routine of a romance book, with few parts to distinguish it from others. Of course, I mean, at a level you'd expect from the author. Her average is still very superior to an average romance.

You'll have a good time with this story, even if it's not so memorable.


Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.