Well let me just say I love this author and I love Christmas so it was perfect for me. I love a holiday story I even made an iced cocoa smoothie so I could really get in the mood. Fluffy holiday books are my thing and I love it.

This was a fun short Christmas story with some drama and some romance. Mostly set in NYC Kerry and her brother Murphy are there to sell Christmas trees from their father’s tree farm. Kerry is between jobs and has an artistic talent she doesn’t recognize. Mary Kay Andrews books are such fun and this one may be the best. The characters, even the crabby ones, are easy to like. If you like Christmas books, women's fiction and romance, this is a great book for you to read. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Another Christmas hallmark movie in book form by Mary Kay Andrews. Bright Lights, Big Christmas is set in New York City at the Tolliver family Christmas Tree lot. This year, Kerry has joined her brother selling the trees after being strong armed by her mother. While working the lot, Kerry meets many wonderful and interesting people in the neighborhood including Mr. Heinz and especially Patrick and his young son Austin. When Mr. Heinz stops visiting them at the tree lot, Kerry and company become very concerned and set out to find him before Christmas.

Enjoyable Christmas book that’s a super quick read. So if you love Hallmark Christmas movies and books set in New York City definitely at this one to your tbr.


Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Great book that should become a Christmas classic to read and watch every year.

What a fun Christmas read. I usually don't read a lot of Christmas books in the summer. But this one caught my eye.
The characters in this story were well developed and had strengths and weaknesses, which made them very believable. The descriptions of the weather, places and people are so vivid you feel like you are part of this story. The characters get to know each other at the same time as the reader gets to know them.

Nothing is better than Christmas trees, lights, family, dogs and romance. Read this one.

3.5 *

I love Christmas in July! 🎄

Another hit book by Mary Kay Andrews. This was an interesting premise that worked out well.

The Tolliver Family has owned a Christmas Tree farm in the mountains of North Carolina for many, many years. Each year one month before Christmas the family would drive down to New York City in their rusty old camper and trailer and set-up shop on a neighbourhood corner with Christmas trees for sale. Now all grown up Kerry Tolliver will go to NYC with her brother Murphy as their father is convalescing after a heart attack.

This is a heartwarming story. I enjoyed reading about the different people in the neighbourhood and all the different customers that would stop by the Christmas Tree shop on the corner. It was a "feel good" story about people coming together to help others in need. Lots of nostalgia for Kerry and sweet surprises. I liked the connection with another Mary Kay Andrews Christmas novel, The Santa Suit. (Must say I still enjoyed that one a little bit more than this one.)
I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this Advance Reader Copy.

Available September 26, 2023

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!