I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. The characters are loveable, and the setting cute. Perfect little Christmas story. Thank you to net galley and the publishers for the ARC

I absolutely love Christmas books and this one did not disappoint! Small town siblings sell their family's farm grown Christmas trees in a New York City neighborhood every year. All of the neighbors were the best cast of characters and had a little found family feeling. Heinz was my favorite! Spammy the old camper brought feelings of nostalgia. A little rivalry, a little love and a lot of holiday spirit made this like reading a Hallmark movie. Be sure to put this on your list for holiday reads this year! Thanks to St. Martin's Publishing Group and netgalley for the advance copy!

Mary Kay Andrews is a must read author for me. I usually start my summer vacation with her book, and despite the fact that this one is set in the winter during Christmas time, I held true to my tradition.

What started as a light fluffy read for me, turned into a heart-warming, character driven novel which I truly enjoyed,

Positives:
Quick read (novella)
Cozy, heart-warming Christmas story
Universal themes like believing in oneself and not being afraid of change
Almost all the characters were extremely likeable
A sweet romance

Negatives:
I may have to read this one again during the Christmas season,

I hope she continues to write both summer and Christmas themes books.

Kerry is stuck. She’s out of a job, out of a boyfriend, and living with her mother. So she has no excuse when her mother asks her to drive to New York (in a beat-up, heatless camper) and stay for the holiday season, selling her family’s Christmas trees. Oh, and she’d be sharing the camper with her brother, whom she doesn’t really know very well.
What starts as a bit of a nightmare – no heat, no bathroom, annoying brother – turns into a magical holiday season that includes some romance.
This is definitely a book I could see Hallmark turning into a movie. It’s got all the “hallmarks” of a good Christmas romance: New York City at Christmas, a tree farm, romance, and a kind stranger with a mysterious past. Was it cheesy? Oh, for sure. But on a snowy day, this will be a nice book to read while sipping hot chocolate.
The biggest disappointment in the story was with Kerry’s brother, Murph. Though their relationship did evolve during the book, I thought it could have been a little more central to the book. It was a more complex storyline than the romantic subplot between Kerry and a single father. There was a lot to unpack about Kerry and Murph’s family (and how they grew up). Most of the scenes with him in the book showed him as surly and tired (he was always going to the camper to “catch some shut-eye.”). And author Mary Kay Andrews usually does dysfunctional family storylines so well!
Overall, though, it’s a sweet, bright book that will make readers hum Christmas tunes.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's a fun, heartwarming story. It's an easy read that will take no time at all to read. It's a great book to read if you're looking for something that won't require too much concentration and won't overload you with emotions. There is always a time when one is looking for this type of book.

I will say, this book had some very unnecessary scenes, which were mostly repeats of themselves, that could have been taken out and the book would've had the same effect. It had a little too much filler to pad the page count.

I loved the characters. They were fun, and they made the book worth reading.

I am not disappointed I picked this one up. It's not my favorite of this author's books, but I still quite enoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Kerry Tolliver is cold and frustrated. Her life hasn’t exactly been going to plan lately and bunking with her burly brother in their tiny tin-can camper is less than ideal with no shower and no toilet. She only agreed to be here because her dad is sick and the family Christmas tree stand needs two people to run it. Kerry knows she needs to work on a long-term plan for life: a job and a place to live other than her mom’s house for starters. But now she’s in New York City for the next month, missing out on Christmas with her mom, and relying on the kindness of strangers just to take a shower. To keep her mind off it during the downtime, Kerry sketches the animals and people she encounters. Those drawings lead her to a fast friendship with August, a dinosaur-loving boy from the building next door, and Heinz, an elderly man with art skills of his own. As Kerry begins to feel more at home in the big city, she learns that friends really are the family you choose for yourself!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a story of belonging and family ties filled with Mary Kay Andrews’ signature humor. This holiday romance will keep you laughing between the family drama and the witty dialogue! Andrews delivers vivid imagery with descriptions that transport readers to the Big Apple in winter. The friendships and connections between the neighborhood and the Tolliver family prove that a little kindness and warmth go a long way.

I give Bright Lights, Big Christmas 5 out of 5 stars. Traveling to New York during Christmas is a bucket list item for me – the city in snow has always seemed so magical. Andrews uses that magic to deliver a beautiful tale of redemption and friendship in this novel. I enjoyed the twists through out the book, and the inclusion of a little drama with a competing tree stand company. I do wish that rivalry had been played up a little, or continued a little longer – the exit didn’t feel quite right. However, the character development and the surprise Christmas gift twist at the end felt just right!

If your bucket list includes that NYC holiday trip like mine, you will love this book! The novel is a great quick weekend read – I finished it in under 4 hours. I recommend this novel for book lovers looking for a lighter read for the holidays. With some minimal inclusions of sickness and divorce, along with some veiled references to sex, this book may be best for readers over 13.

I chose Bright Lights, Big Christmas as soon as I saw it was available on NetGalley. I adore Mary Kay Andrews as a writer and as a person. Her works are always so enjoyable for me to read, and if you’ve ever met her in person, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say her personality really draws you in. I really enjoyed getting Christmas in July with this book – it is my favorite holiday! Plus, I felt an instant connection with Kerry Tolliver from her rural upbringing, to her career challenges, to befriending a dinosaur-loving kid like my son.

This book is incredibly charming and the perfect Christmas read. The writing is done so well that you feel as if you're living in a dilapidated trailer with your brother making wreaths and selling trees at Christmastime in New York City. All the while making friends with people in the neighborhood because your family has been selling trees at this spot for decades. Then you happen to meet a newly single dad with an unorthodox living arrangement and his delightful son. While you're helping the family business you make some time for art and one of the neighborhood regulars starts giving you tips on how to improve and all of the sudden you're ensconced in this life that you're not sure you want to give up come Christmas when all of your trees are sold. The author develops main characters and side characters well and you will adore curmudgeonly Heinz, savvy Claudia, and pushy Susannah to name a few. If you need a great book to escape that has a happy ending, this one is definitely for you.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this title in advance.

I love me a little Christmas in July. This is my first Mary Kay Andrews book and it won't be my last. I think this book would be a fabulous Hallmark Christmas movie as it has so much charm and coziness. A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for bringing me some Christmas cheer in July.

This is a total Christmas winner! And just a winner in general.

When her father is too ill, Kerry steps in to help at the annual family Christmas tree stand in New York City. Along the way, she sleeps in a tiny trailer, meets a cute little boy and his equally cute dad, and helps a whole community of awesome people.

I can't say enough wonderful things about this book - and I highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Mary Kay Andrews for this ARC!

Christmas books will always have my heart. I love that it takes place in NYC! This heartwarming romcom had me in a hood from page 1.

In Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews, autumn finds Kerry Tolliver unemployed and back home in the North Carolina mountains. Fall is a busy time for her family as they own a Christmas tree farm and spend November in New York City selling their trees. Kerry (taking the place of her recuperating father) and her brother Murphy set up their tree stand and tiny trailer in their traditional spot in the West Village.

Author Andrews delights us with fabulous characters (who wouldn't want to meet Heinz? artistic Kerry? or handsome Murphy?). Andrews satisfyingly weaves a story full of the magic of Christmas - complete with the scent of a Fraser fir tree, romance, and Christmas as seen through the eyes of an innocent and compassionate child, Austin. Austin and his handsome father Patrick quickly become friends with Kerry with definite sparks between Patrick and Kerry. Kerry uses her artistic background to craft a story with young Austin. Heinz, an elderly fixture in the neighborhood, helps with the story and offers Kerry suggestions for her illustrations. Heinz goes missing for a few days, and Austin, Kerry and Patrick are determined to find him. "What's that saying? Friends are the family you choose? I guess we've chosen you. Whether you like it or not." The life of Heinz alone is incredibly touching and poignant. I loved how Heinz and Kerry's story developed at the end...which offers the hope we want for Patrick and Kerry. Perfect!

It is such a charming read - complete with hot cocoa, reindeer underwear, decorating artistry, and even a mention of The Santa Suit!

Delightful - highly recommended for library collections. For that matter, this book is perfect for November gifts to get your friends in the Christmas spirit.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, author Mary Kay Andrews and NetGalley for this ARC.

While this was my first Mary Kay Andrews novel, it won't be my last.

Go with Kerry as she goes from North Carolina to New York to help with her families Christmas Tree stand. While there she has a run in with Patrick fairly early on. Things go a little by the wayside as she puts her own twist on the stand and may or may not find love in the process.

This book brought a little Christmas to my July and I think I'll try to hold off on some of her others until the actual Christmas season. No promises 🤣

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was JUST what I needed to get me into the holiday spirit already! I absolutely loved The Santa Suit, and this one was even better. The charm, the romance, the cozy vibes all sold me from the very beginning. I couldn’t have asked for anything more, and I’ll be buying this for all my friends come the holiday season!

Kerry’s family owns a Christmas tree farm in North Carolina and sells their trees in New York City. This year Kerry’s dad is recovering from a heart attack and Kerry must go with her brother, Murphy, to help sell the trees. Murphy lived with her dad when her parents divorced, and she moved with mom. Kerry doesn’t really know Murphy and is concerned about the month they will live together on the street in an old camper and sell trees. I loved this book! There are so many colorful, loveable characters from the woman who opens her bathroom and café to Kerry and Murphy, old man Heinz who gives her drawing lessons, and Patrick and his son Austin who quickly fall in love with Kerry. Their hard work in trying to make enough money to live on and work the ranch until the following Christmas season is admirable. It was heartwarming to watch the love and appreciation between brother and sister as they get to know each other as adults.

I always enjoy books by Mary Kay Andrews, and after enjoying her book The Santa Suit, I was excited to read this newest Christmas book by her. It follows Kerry as she travels to New York City to help her brother sell Christmas trees from their family farm. Full of delightful supporting characters, this book’s plot was enjoyable.

However, I do think some things fell a bit flat. Kerry’s self-discovery of her next steps in life and her romance with Patrick needed more elaboration. Normally I don’t mind books under three hundred pages, but I needed more content in this one.

Overall, I think it’s a cute story and one you should add to your list this holiday season if you want a quick read that will make you feel warm and fuzzy!

Christmas books will always have my hearttttt ! Absolutely love that it took place in NYC because it’s such a classic !!! Captivating you from start to finish it was truly such a heartwarming book!!!

What? You guys aren't reading Christmas books in the dead of summer?
This was SO CUTE! NYC at Christmastime, a beloved old airstream named Spammy, a pup, a crotchety old man and romance, all taking place on a corner road Christmas tree stand. Was it a little fluffy? Sure- but it was really well done. Heartwarming and magical.
Netgalley and St, Martin's Press for a free copy of this ebook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love Mary Kay Andrews books and was so excited when I saw she was coming out with another Christmas one. After her father's heart attack, Kerry and her brother are set to run their family's Christmas tree stand in New York City. While she doesn't really want to be a part of it, Kerry quickly finds all sorts of friends in the quirky neighborhood. And when one of those friends needs help, can she find a way to bring Christmas to each and every one of them? While I liked this story and especially the commraderie of the entire neighborhood, I still felt like there was just something missing. I loved the ending and wanted more of what happened afterwards. This one was still definitely filled with all the holiday vibes though! Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my copy! This one will be out Sept. 26th.

Kerry (rhymes with Merry, I’m sure) is unemployed and living back home with her mom. Her dad just had a heart attack so it falls to Kerry to help her curmudgeon of a brother load up the vintage camper and go to the big city to sell the semi trailer full of fir trees from the family Christmas tree farm. It just so happens that they set up at a corner where a building full of ever-so-helpful-and-kind New Yorkers live. These sweet people let them shower in their apartment and use their toilet. And the apartment has Patrick, the romantic interest, with his darling boy and the not-so-bad ex-wife. Oh, and let’s not forget the mysterious is-he-homeless-or-not artist old man who immediately is charmed by Kerry, who single-handedly finds ways to save the family Christmas tree sales.

Sound like a Hallmark movie? It did for me, too. Kerry does charming, cute things like finding the cute vintage top shop and confessing her finances to the snooty shop girl who turns out to be just like her. Seriously, the only thing she didn’t do was play hospscotch like so many “cute girls” in so many bad movies. I felt like the author wrote a book she hopes will gets bought for a direct-to-movie Hallmark Christmas contract. I didn’t feel much depth from the characters, just gloss and potential movie moments.

But- and this is the big but- This book will be PERFECT for the holidays. There is nothing in it to drag out any introspection or negative emotion. The story is all lightness. For the holidays, that is what most people need. So, for being perfect for its purpose, I’m giving it four stars.

A heartwarming holiday story! After losing her job and returning to her family home in North Carolina, Kerry is tasked with helping her brother, Murphy, sell Christmas trees in New York City, after their father has a heart attack and subsequent surgery. There, she meets several local residents of the neighborhood, comes up with some new ideas to help the Christmas tree business, and ideas of what she wants for her future. She gets closer to single dad, Patrick, and his son, Austin, and though there are sparks, she’s sure it can go anywhere. She also meets a man everyone believes to be homeless, and he interacts on a regular basis with Kerry and Austin. When he goes missing, Kerry and the neighbors work together to solve his disappearance.

A story of following one’s heart, friends and neighbors helping one another, new beginnings, family dynamics, and more!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.