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.

It’s Mary Kay Andrews, so of course it’s going to be a wonderful book! This was exactly what I wanted from a Hallmark-esque Christmas in July (for me, as I read it in summer) situation. Lovely holiday setting, slow burn romance, happily ever after. Loved it!

Of course this book was wonderful--it is Mary Kay Andrews after all. However, in a departure for her this book takes place in New York City, which is a different locale for her stories. However, the main character is from the south and there is a southern flavor to the story. This is a book about relationships--family, friend, and of course romantic. I especially liked the give and take between Kerry and her brother Murphy. Another interesting relationship is between the characters and "Spammy" the trailer--it definitely had shades of Virginia Lee Burton as an inanimate object gets a personality. A perfect book to get you into the Christmas season--even though I read it in July.

This was my 2nd holiday book by Mary Kay Andrew's and probably my favorite holiday book I've read so far this year.
I loved the whole cast of characters, even Queenie the dog and the Spammy the old camper trailer.
Kerry has recently been let go of her graphic design job and has moved back home and in with her mom. After Kerrys father Jock has a heart attack, she helps her brother Murphy at their Christmas Tree stand in New York for the holidays. For 3 weeks there we see Kerry form friendship, improve her relationship with her brother, find love, and truly find herself.
I love while this is mostly about Kerry self journey to finding her way back to her passion, we got some excitement with some of side characters and their stories.
A great slow burn holiday romance.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this e arc in exchange for a honest review.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews . A charming and heartwarming Christmas story. The author has a unique way of describing everyday things. Spammy is my favorite, I saw a canned Dubuque ham can on wheels every time it was mentioned the story. All characters were realistic and reliatable. Enjoyed reading how Heinz and Austin interacted and of course, Kerry, Patrick, and Murphy.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This was everything you'd want in a hallmark Christmas movie. Slow burn single dad clean romance both in a small town/big city setting. It was a little too long for me with a lot of filler, but ultimately a good read with cozy Christmas vibes.

DELIGHTFUL! A truly lovely holiday tale from a talented writer. In Bright Lights, we meet Murphy - a man who travels annually to NYC to sell Christmas trees from his farm with his friend Jock. As Jock cannot assist, he brings along his daughter Kerry. Upon arrival in NY we meet various friends and neighbors who all know Murphy. There is a bit of romance and lots of kindness, help and friendship. It is truly a gift to readers and one you might want to savor alone after you have completed all of your holiday chores!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas
By MaryKay Andrews
Pub Date: September 26, 2023
St..martins Press
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
First of all.. I loved Andrews writing. I needed this sweet, clean romance and just in time for Christmas,
I read a lot of suspense and heavier books and this was refreshing. I highly recommend this book and author!
Great story!
5 stars

Another homerun from MKA! This warm and cozy novel would be right at home on the Hallmark Channel!

After being downsized, Kerry is living with her mom in rural NC when she is tapped to travel with her brother (who she hardly knows) to NYC to help with the family's Christmas tree lot. Between developing a friendship with a young boy and mysterious old man, and of course, a wonderful love interest, Kerry quickly realizes the magic of NYC at Christmas - and begins to regain her self-confidence!

As one had come to expect from MKA books, I loved the characters, relationship-building, and plot development. And of course, the laughs. I loved this book and can't wait to read it again at Christmas!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

While I wish I read it closer to the holidays it was the perfect escape. Heartwarming and a touch of a slowburn. MKA never disappoints!

I really liked this book and the storyline. The characters were great. Thank you Net galley for an advanced copy.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

What a great story, very nice.

I think this might be my favorite one yet! I love the characters and MKA really makes you feel the history and love in them all! I would love to see another book, I just couldn’t get enough! I haven’t stayed up this late to finish a book in a long time!!

Kerry recently lost her job where she was an Art Director so this winter season, she is going off to New York City with her older brother, Murphy, to see Christmas Trees from their family farm. They share a tiny camper that the kitchen and bathroom do not work on, and there is very little space. Leading up to the Christmas holiday, Kerry gets to know the people in the neighborhood and really forms a bond with them. Specifically, with a single dad, Patrick, and his son, Austin, who she will be really sad to leave behind. Will she make strong enough connections to want to stay forever?

I loveeee Mary Kay Andrews and Big Lights, Big Christmas was excellent. The character development was great and I loved seeing the friendship between the two siblings grow and improve. The romance side stories were small but Kerry and Murphy both had the love story with more focus on Kerry’s. I also loved how Kerry cared about the old man, Heinz, and how he loosened up to let her in and care for him.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a sweet cozy Christmas read. After Kerry's father has medical issues Kerry needs to travel to New York City with her brother, Murphy, to help with the annual selling of Christmas trees from her family's tree farm. Kerry is reluctant to go but finds herself surrounded by a neighborhood full of people that have helped her family out for years. The story had plenty of romance and drama but what stands out the most to me was the connections formed between all of the characters. It was heartwarming especially the bond that Kerry formed with her elderly friend, Heinz.

Her books are always such fun, quick, and heartwarming read. The entire cast of characters was loveable and you really were rooting for their happy endings.