Sharing a tiny camper with her brother and trying to figure out what to do with her life, Kerry Tolliver is in NYC selling Christmas trees from her family’s Christmas tree farm. Kerry quickly falls in love with the neighborhood and the cast of characters who live there. At the top of the list is Patrick and his adorable son Austin.

When an elderly neighbor goes missing, Kerry must work with the neighbors to find him all while working to save her families Christmas Tree farm. She must also decided if Patrick and Austin are worth the risk of staying in New York or if she will be saying goodbye to everything she’s come to love.

Mary Kay Andrews is the queen of the beach read so what better place to read her newest Christmas book? It was the fun, lighthearted read I needed and it put me in the Christmas spirit, even though it’s 100 degrees. 5/5⭐️

I read a prepublication copy of this delightful book. In Ms Andrews’s usual smooth writing style, the characters she created grab the reader’s interest immediately. Eventually they also capture the readers’ hearts. The story is character driven, having a variety of endearing characters who relate to one another in unique ways. It’s a feel-good Christmas read.

Loved the Christmas tree stand set in NYC during December. Loved the endearing characters. Loved that it was a clean-ish romance. Made me want to either visit NYC in December even more than I already did or makes me want to sell Christmas trees in NY while living out of an old trailer🤣

Like most holiday themed books, the story was pretty predictable but isn’t that the reason we continue to read them anyway?😉

The one thing I didn’t like was the storyline of Heinz getting sick. I enjoyed getting to know him a bit better but I just felt like everyone searching for him then Kerry staying with him recover was a little forced.

Another great light read by Mary Kay Andrews. I will read anything she writes. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. Cannot wait to recommend this book in September.

Christmas in July at its finest with Mary Kay Andrews latest book. Even though it’s the middle of summer, I got all of the wonderful feels of the holidays. If you are wanting a sweet book filled with good cheer, then you will enjoy this book.

Thank you #NetGallery, #St.Martin’sPress, #MaryKayAndrews and #BrightLight,BigChristmasANovel for the advance readers copy for my honest review.

This is my second Mary Kay Andrews Christmas book. This follows Kerry as she heads to New York City to help run her family's Christmas tree stand. I really enjoyed watching the relationships being built and the feeling of community. I also really liked the tie in to The Santa Suit.

What didn't work for me was Kerry's relationship with Patrick. It was just too rushed and I didn't really buy that they both fell in love so quick. I also didn't really like Patrick, and felt like he was pushing Kerry to make a decision she wasn't ready to make.

All in all, it was a nice, Christmassy read and it kept me interested throughout.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I was super excited to be able to get early access to Mary Kay Andrews’ newest release, I am such a big fan of hers! The story follows Kerry, who just lost her job and then her romantic partner. She moves back to her hometown in North Carolina, where her family runs a Christmas tree farm. When her dad becomes too sick to help her brother sell trees in New York City, Kerry steps in even though she doesn’t really know what she is doing as it has been years since she sold Christmas trees. She spends two months with her brother in a trailer, pivoting and learning the ropes as she goes. She meets locals to the neighborhood and creates relationships she had not anticipated, including with a divorced father. I absolutely loved delving into the early Christmas spirit with this book, it was a total mood setter and such a fantastic feel good book with well-developed characters and excellent writing. I often felt like I was right at the Christmas tree stand and mingling with all of the locals.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book.

I loved a little Christmas (in July!) I have never read any books by Mary Kay Andrews, but this felt like I stepped into a Hallmark Christmas movie. Kerry Tolliver heads to New York City with her brother Murphy to sell Christmas trees from their family farm in North Carolina. Each day, she sees the neighbors passing by and befriends some of them. And, surprise, she meets a single dad with an adorable little boy.

This was such a sweet book. I would definitely recommend for an uplifting read!

A sweet Christmas romance.

This story follows Kerry, who grew up in a small town in NC on a Christmas tree farm. Having to move back home after college in Savannah, she has to travel to NY to sell the trees this year with her grumpy brother because her dad couldn’t make it due to health reasons. She’s not thrilled about it, but little does she know that she would meet some great people there in the neighborhood. She even meets a cute, single dad and his dragon loving son.
Such a good heartfelt story with that Christmas magic touch. It reminds me of Hallmark movies.


I personally enjoyed this one. Growing up in small town in NC (and helping out at the family business) and going to college near Savannah, this one hit closer to home for me. It made me enjoy reading those pieces of information even more.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me an arc copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

Christmas in July.... or that's at least how it felt reading it this month! What another wonderful book from Mary Kay Andrews.

Kerry has returned to her hometown after her employer merged with another company leaving her without a job. She helps the family Christmas tree business by accompanying her brother, Murphy, to New York City for their yearly trip to sell the family's Christmas trees.

While Kerry enjoys memories of these trips from when she was younger, she hasn't been on one since their parents split. Kerry being mostly raised by their mom and her brother being mostly raised by their dad. Kerry realizes just how much is on the line for the family business with this specific trip and gives everything she has to make it successful - even if it means sleeping in the family's old and less than perfect trailer named "Hammy".

This story was so sweet and I thoroughly enjoyed Kerry finding her path, reconnecting with her brother and developing relationships with the lovely neighbors in this community. The only problem I had was that I attached so much to the characters and the relationships, I didn't want this story to end!

Publication Date: September 26, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Mary Kay Andrew for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are completely my own.

Like a warm hug in a book! I couldn’t put this one down even in the middle of the summer so can’t imagine how cozy it would be to read by the fire this fall. Bright Lights, Big Christmas is everything you want in a holiday book. Likeable characters, a sweet story about a family Christmas tree farm they’re trying to save and of course a romance or two. Would recommend this to friends!

Who doesn’t love a heart warming Christmas book. This is exactly what this book brings. Bright lights, Big Christmas was such a fun book to read I honestly couldn’t put it down. This is a well put together story which brings the characters and places to life with each turn of the page. A brother and sister who haven’t been on good terms for years have to sell the family trees in NY. They have a few obstacles that happen to them. But it’s Christmas time in NY and everything is possible. I loved this book.

I love Christmas novels. I also love Mary Kay Andrews. I can always count on her for a solid read. Christmas books are always such great palate cleansers. Even though I read this well before Christmas, it still did its job of making me feel all warm and fuzzy.

This was such a heartwarming story of Kerry, who leaves her family's Christmas tree farm in North Carolina, to help her brother sell trees in Greenwich Village. In comes Patrick, a single dad with an adorable son. The book is perfect and I gobbled up every single page. Andrews is an amazing storyteller and I'm going back to read more of her stuff!

Excellent, fun, light, holiday read! Just what I was looking for right now.

Kerry and her brother Murphy, from North Carolina, come to NYC to sell Christmas trees every year from their farm. It has been a family tradition for over 40 years.

This is a heart warming story about how a community comes together to help one another. The character and relationship development is excellent. As I was reading I wanted to become a part of this "family".

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC for my honest opinion. I highly recommend this book as an excellent, enjoyable holiday read!

MKA used to be my go to beach read. I love that we now have her for cozy Christmas stories! This was such a feel good book with an amazing cast of characters. I loved the storyline of Heinz. I do wish we had a little more at the end- maybe an epilogue as to life once they settled into their new roles. Overall, another great one from MKA!

Mary Kay Andrews does not disappoint with a new heart-warming novel about the Tolliver family. Each year the Tolliver family travels from their home in the South to New York City to see their beautiful Christmas trees. This year however, there is more difficulty as the patriarch of the family, Jock, has suffered some medical complications. Therefore, Kerry steps in to assist her brother, Murphy with this huge endeavor. Christmas is truly a magical season, and this is supremely captured in this read. Reading this book, made me want to curl up under the covers in front of a roaring fire. Themes captured in the book include: family togetherness, helping others, looking out for others, performing good deeds, and just good old wholesome fun. Romance and friendship will bloom throughout this book and family ties will be strengthened. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun, festive and light holiday read, very much in the vein of Hallmark movies.I did think the romance aspect kinda felt shoehorned in and out of nowhere, the found family aspect was greatI would still recommend to read this during the holidays especially sitting by a fire drinking cocoa.

A fast read to get you in the holiday spirit. Nothing earth shattering, but that's not why patrons pick up a Christmas themed book. It puts you in a jolly mood!

I loved this sweet, clean romance set in an idyllic New York City neighborhood, where people know and look out for each other. The need for words of encouragement and concern for others cannot be overstated these days, and the author does an excellent job of drawing you into the lives of the folks that live around the small trailer where Kerry and her brother live while selling Christmas trees.

Family friendly.

A Christmas tree stand in West Village, NY brings people together and reminds us of the spirit of Christmas in Mary Kay Andrews’ new holiday novel.
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For the past four generations, the Tollivers have grown Fraser fir trees on their western North Carolina tree farm and transported them to a stand in the West Village, NY to sell over the holiday season.

When the patriarch of the family, Jock Tolliver, has a heart attack and surgery, his children, Kerry (34) and her brother Murphy (39) step up to take over. They aren’t used to working together and living in small quarters, but they make it work to continue the family tradition. Their patience wears thin when the competition moves across the street. Readers soon become aware that it’ll take a lot more than Christmas spirit to keep their Dad’s business alive.

I always look forward to Andrews’ Christmas novels as she always seems to capture the magic of Christmas in a captivating read. At the heart of this novel, is ‘reinvention’ and she reminds readers that sometimes we can’t rely on the old way of doing things in a modern world. In order to keep the business afloat, the siblings learn to reinvent things at the Tolliver Christmas Tree Stand.

I loved the reminders to believe in oneself, to quit hiding out and playing it safe, to remember to stop and have fun, and to replace our fear of failure feelings with something productive. The message about the importance of intergenerational friendships is woven throughout and readers see characters learning to put others' needs first to ensure happiness for all.

The reference to one of my favourite books, Dragons Love Tacos, made me smile and I was driven to Google the differences between an eastern and a western Carolina BBQ.

This fantastic novella celebrating the magic of Christmas and second chances needs to be on your holiday reading list this winter.

I was gifted this book by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.