Such an enjoyable read! I wasn’t sure I could get into a Christmas themed read in July, but turns out it’s exactly what I needed. Warm hearted story with really likable characters. Makes me miss my growing up days when everyone in the neighborhood knew and watched out for each other. Kerry and her brother set up their annual family Christmas tree stand from NC in the village in NYC. Although they’re not close and can barely tolerate each other they are lovingly influenced by the colorful characters of this neighborhood. A nice feel good read I really enjoyed.

I absolutely adored this sweet book and could not put it down! Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGallery for the ARC!

Kerry finds herself unemployed after a merge of companies leaves her as an excess employee. She goes home to NC to live with her mother. Her parents divorced when she was young and she lived across town with her mother while her brother lived on the family’s tree farm with her father. After her father suffers a heart attack, Kerry (reluctantly) joins her brother in NYC to run the family’s tree stand.
While in NYC, Kerry falls in love with the community, the tree stand and a local. The entire book will leave you smiling and ready for the holiday season!

The reference to the Santa Suit in the middle made me smile as well. Also, a wonderful read!

This was exactly the feel-good read I was hoping it would be. If you are also a lover of heartwarming Christmas season stories, you will want to grab this one.

One of my quirks is craving Christmas books in July. Even having read this in the heat of summer, I was transported to the holiday season charms of NYC. This was cozy and had great characters. I absolutely loved the storyline of the Christmas tree lot, the sense of community, the mystery of who one of the characters was, and the romance elements.

This was charming and the book equivalent of a mug of hot chocolate. I received an ARC from the publisher.

It was time for a little Christmas in July so I picked up Bright Lights, Big Christmas and absolutely fell in love with a neighborhood in New York City where Kerry and her brother Murphy sell their families North Carolina Christmas trees. The whole cast of characters is just plain ole fun and I couldn't get enough of little Austin, Queenie the pup and Heinz. Great story with a wonderful happy Christmas ending. I highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 26 September 2023

Bright Lights, Big Christmas was a charming New York City at Christmas time story. On the shorter side (which I want in a holiday story) and read just like a cheesy movie that we all love for that time of year.

Kerry heads to NYC to help her brother with their family tree stand and falls in love with the neighborhood, learns more about herself and even finds some romance in the form of a cutie divorced dad.

If you're looking for a quick holiday read to enjoy while curled up by the fire this is a great choice!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved "Bright Lights, Big Christmas". It is one of the best Christmas novels that I have read in awhile. It had a little bit of everything. Family drama, budding relationship, grumpy old man, a dog, bad guys, a crisis to be solved. The characters were great; they were very relatable and you really felt like you knew them. You could picture where they were and everything that was going on. Definitely a keeper!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This is a fun Christmas romcom to get lost in. It’s got the Hallmark-Christmas-movie-level of cheesiness and allows you to not think about real-world stress for a little while.

I didn’t connect to the characters all that strongly, which was a little bit disappointing. Because of that, I think this book will be rather forgettable. But it is a fun way to get in the Christmas spirit (which is 5 months from today YOURE WELCOME! Yes, I keep a countdown to Christmas on my phone year round—love me through it!)

This is a completely uplifting, feel good, Christmas Story. Loved the characters and all the different relationships within this small piece of the city. Loved it from start to finish. Highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am normally not one to enjoy reading Christmas books in the summer and I often am annoyed by the Hallmark Channel's big Christmas in July stories, but I was pleasantly surprised by Mary Kay Andrews' book Bright Lights, Big Christmas. This book was a delight, and I am glad that I was able to read it. Kerry moved back home to North Carolina with her mother, her career with advertising ended and she wanted to figure out something new and different in her hometown. Her parents are divorced, and she has a brother she hardly knows, she grew up with her mom, and her brother grew up with their dad. Her family are owners of the Tolliver Tree Farm and every year around Thanksgiving they trek to New York City to set up shop and sell their trees. This year, her father has a health issue, and she is thrown into the business to a city she has never been, with a brother she doesn't know and sharing an old airstream that has seen better days. Kerry is not looking forward to this family adventure, but knows she has to do her family duty. She does not expect to fall in love with the city, the neighborhood, the neighbors, or find a new romance. She actually gets along with her brother after a time and helps create a big success for the family business and their Christmas Season. As the season ends, she has to decide if she wants to stay or return to her hometown where no real prospects exist in her career or her personal life. I enjoyed the characters and have always loved New York at Christmas Time. Highly recommend this book to those who are looking for some magic and warm-hearted connections during the Holiday season. Thank you #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

MKA does it again!!! This book is everything you want in a Christmas book and more. I absolutely adored Kerry and Murphy (even though he is a little grumpy) and Austin and Patrick and Heinz. What a wonderful cast of characters!

What is this book really about as MKA and her F&F co-hosts ask authors each week? To me this book is about kindness and friendship and hardship and having people around you that help you through all the good and the bad.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the chance to read and review this amazing book!!!

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.

Kerry has recently moved back home after her agency merged with another, her job as art director became redundant, and her relationship of two years just drifted to an end. When her mother has to take care of her father, even though they've been exes for years, after he has a heart-attack, Kerry suddenly has to help out with her family's tree farm. When her parents got divorced, Kerry went to live with her mom and her older brother Murphy went to live with their dad but now she's going to have live in a small trailer, affectionately named Spammy, for a month in New York City while they work their tree stand and try to keep the family farm afloat.

It dawned on her that in less than a month, these few crowded city blocks had become her home and these strangers now felt like neighbors.
And one of those neighbors was . . . something more.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas was a chik-lit story that was great at showcasing how close knit neighborhoods in big cities can be. Small towns seem to get more of a spotlight in holiday books and I loved how this delivered on the good feels of neighbors helping neighbors and that holiday community feel. Growing up and not having much to do with the farm, Kerry was a little bit fish out of water with knowing how to help and how much hard work goes into the tree stand and her older grumpy brother Murphy seems to harbor a little resentment that she's just showing up now to help. As they get to know each other more, Kerry learning that the farm is in financial trouble and Murphy acknowledging how Kerry's new ideas can bring in money, they start to thaw toward to one another.

As Kerry works the tree stand, we get to know the people that live and work in the neighborhood, from Claudia that runs the restaurant where they can get occasional free food (and Murphy might have a crush on), to the new mother of twins that lets them shower and do laundry at her place, to the older gentleman named Heinz who wanders the neighborhood but no one seems to know much about, and to the newly single dad Patrick (who's allergic to pine!) that Kerry may have had a bad first impression with but now they both can't seem to keep their eyes off each other.

There's some of that quirky Andrews-ness, the trailer Spammy has a personality all it's own and rival tree sellers provide some hijinks but there's also some cuteness, Patrick's son Austin, Murphy's dog, and the couples and families that we get little glimpses into their lives as they purchase trees. The romance between Kerry and Patrick was very thin, don't expect any depth, just a sudden kiss on the lips from Patrick to alert that he was liking her and then invites to dinner. Kerry is only running the tree stand for a month and before that time is even up, Patrick is telling her she can move in with him because he wants her to stay in the city, I guess he was really feeling the Christmas spirit.

It was in the later second half when Heinz turns up missing and shifts to reveals about him. The reveals lead and provide for a happy ending for Kerry and Patrick, with this and another earlier happy happenstance involving an Instagram Influencer and the tree stand, it's a Merry Christmas for all. This was a little stark in the depth of emotion departments but if you want to read a cozy, bedroom door firmly shut, holiday story that was great at showcasing how big city neighborhoods care for each other, this would be one to pick up.

This book made me smile. It made me feel good. It made me want to hug the world. How much did I like this book? I made my dog wait outside longer than she'd like while I hurriedly finished the last few pages. To be honest, I didn't expect to be that taken with the book but found myself not just enjoying the back-and-forth between Kerry and her brother Murphy, but all the characters that we were formally introduced. Note, I said formally, hence leaving out the guys who tried to horn in on the Tolliver's Christmas tree sales.

In other words, expect to fall in love with these characters, from the hesitant but strong willed Kerry to adorable Austin (and his handsome, kind father, never mind he was known in Kerry's mind as the arrogant Mercedes guy initially) and all the rest. And, oh, don't put your dog out until you're done reading. Grin.

Bottom line, this is a Christmas story, with all the heartwarming feels you would imagine. Hey, there's even an adorable dog and cantankerous old guy who, well, I won't say more about him. He's an important part of the story, however. Reality tells me that NYC isn't quite as charming as depicted but, hey, as I said, this is a Christmas story. Think Hallmark. Think happily ever after. Think...well, whatever makes you smile when you think of Christmas. Christmas trees? Oh, boy, does it have Christmas trees. So, Christmas trees, romance, plural at that, an adorable kid and dog, snow, and all the starry eyed hope and wonder that the Christmas season can muster. Read the blurb for more detail. Family really are the friends you choose.

Thank you so much for this much needed dose of joy, #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress. My Daisy dog sends Queenie a doggie kiss, btw, even if her humans' story did mean she had to practice her patience waiting to come back inside.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for this arc in exchange for my review.

This is my second book by this author and I liked this one much better. Although I'm still not sure what category this would fall into, it's not a mystery and not really a romance. But nonetheless I enjoyed it.

It was a fun, whimsical Christmas themed story, that was fun to read in July. It is filled with family, friendships and life lessons to not hide from the past or possible future.

4 stars for me.

North Carolina siblings Murphy and Kerry Tolliver are in charge of selling their Christmas tree farm’s trees at their usual Greenwich Village corner. It’s been a tradition for decades but this is the first year their dad won’t be able to make the trip due to recovering from a heart attack.

Mary Kay Andrew’s story is warm and funny and tugged at my heartstrings. It features neighborhood residents including a handsome man and his young son. Murphy added a dose of grumpy brother comedy while Kerry was intent on helping the family business. She was also trying to figure out her next step in life. And then there was the mysterious older man who seemed drawn to the tree lot. He might just help Kerry with her decisions. I loved the setting, the people and got all the vibes of a Christmas movie.

You’ll want to put Bright Lights, Big Christmas on your list this year!

4.5 stars

#BrightLightsBigChristmas #MaryKayAndrews #StMartinsPress #SMPInfluencers

A heart warming Christmas read with lots of holiday spirit. Kerry is a fun main character. This was a closed door romance.

Mary Kay Andrews does it again.
What a perfect Christmas book!! I enjoyed everything about this book. Brother and sister traveling to New York from North Carolina to sell their Christmas trees. Grouchy brother cracked me up. I loved watching Kerry uncover her true talents and see her passion come alive. I just wanted to hug Heinz. Patrick, Kerry’s love interest and his son Austin. I mean, this whole cast was just so good. I wanted to know them all!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a heartwarming holiday novel with a touch of romance. The short chapters made it a quick read. I enjoyed all of the characters and they were all love able. Minus one star because at times the story started to feel a tally of total Christmas trees sold. I love NYC at Christmas time and the author does a great job at capturing the holiday spirit. Overall I really enjoyed this light hearted book.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital ARC.

Here comes another New York Times best seller!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy of Bright Lights, Big Christmas. This will appear on Goodreads and opinions are my own.
A few months ago I was in Columbus Ohio, in an author visit with the Fab Four, Friends and Fiction, including Mary Kay Andrews. Admittedly I read one Christmas book a year, just to stay a little current for my patrons. Last year it was The Santa Suit and I thought it was darling! After the author visit, or was it during?, I pulled up NetGalley and requested all four upcoming books or my library if I couldn’t get it. This is my last one to review and I’ve been waiting for the Christmas spirit to move me.
Well, it’s Christmas in July. This book too is darling and fun, with heartwarming characters in a terrific christmassy setting. It leaves you with a true Christmas spirit.
These siblings are trying to save the family tree farm and head to NYC to sell their trees in their annual spot. The scene is painted well, the characters developed, although I thought Murphy was way more of a jerk than he needed to be.
I’m telling ya, I read historical fiction, but I really enjoyed this book! It will surely be in the best seller list so place your orders now!
4*

This was my first Mary Kay Andrews book, and it definitely won’t be my last! I can’t wait to read this again around Christmas!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas
Mary Kay Andrews
5⭐️

Oh my goodness, and all of the stars! MKA writes the most feel good stories and her captivating Christmas novellas are becoming some of my absolute favorites. Her stories are like a cozy hug, and her charming characters are all people you would absolutely want to envelope in said hug! I went in totally blind and devoured it basically one sitting. Who needs to read a synopsis when MKA’s name is on the front!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a charming second chance story filled to the brim with Christmas cheer and so many heartwarming moments that had me smiling the entire time I was reading.

There are so many beautiful relationships and friendships woven into this story all mixed with Andrew’s subtle message about the power of kindness. I adored Kerry, Murphy, Patrick and Austin so much. But “Grumpy” old characters are my favorite, and Heinz had my hole heart.

What I adored;
🎄 Spammie
🎄 Found Family
🎄 Queenie
🎄 NYC Christmas Setting

Pub Date: 9/26/23
This was the perfect Christmas in July read for me, and I cannot wait for Bright Lights, Big Christmas to be out in the world for everyone to fall in love with it. Add this one to your TBR and pre-order your copy now! I’ll say what she loves to say when she promotes other authors books … “Buy her damn book”! 😂

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.