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.

Mary Kay Andrews is a long time favorite author, and this book didn't disappoint. It's a sweet, romantic, holiday piece of women's fiction. Kerry is at odds in life, and a month in the city living in a camper teaches her some big lessons about her life and future. A cheery, lighthearted, quick read.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a warm and cozy read. Kerry and her brother Murphy travel to New York City after her father takes ill to sell Christmas trees. They are coming from their tree farm in North Carolina. You will love the characters from the neighborhood and how they take care of each other. This book has a little bit of everything from drama, romance and some Christmas magic. I enjoyed this book very much. Mary Kay Andrews delivers another winner. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. Really enjoyed reading it because the characters were well developed and held my interest. The background story about the family tree stand in NYC was a great way to dive into the book. I liked Kerry's ingenuity when she came up with other ways to make money when the tree stand wasn't doing as well as what her brother thought. It was a great book to read and I enjoyed it even while it was hot outside. I could picture the cold and almost feel it.

Oh my gosh, what a delightful book!

I always love a cozy little Mary Kay Andrews book, and I love her southern characters and settings. This book takes place in NY, so there was a teeny bit of that southern charm and feel missing for me. But Kerry, Murph (and Queenie & Spammy =) are Southern and the story is sweet, festive, and heartwarming so that more than made up for it.

I want to go hang out on this tree lot in December, read the stories Kerry, Austin, and Heinz create, and camp in Spammy (but maybe not in NY in winter). Another wonderful MKA read for me!

{This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.}

4.5 rounded up. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book I couldn't wait to read! It was a great story to get you in the Christmas spirit...or I guess in this case Christmas in July! I loved this story of a Christmas tree stand in New York. The characters were all so lovable and the plot was feel good and merry. The romance was a little rushed for me but that was mostly due to the length of the book. I loved the Christmas references sprinkled throughout and of course Spammy! I would definitely read again over the holiday season!

📚Book Review 📚
Bright Lights, Big Christmas
by Mary Kay Andrews
Pub Date 9/26/23

Kerry Tolliver, a recent out of work artist and graphic designer, is needed to help out with her family’s Christmas tree farm since her father is recovering from a heart attack. Each year they travel to Greenwich Village to sell their trees on a corner. Their travel trailer nicknamed Spammy is where they sleep. Kerry’s brother is the gruff sort and they haven’t spent much time together since they were children. Memories of when her family was together and she was young come back to her.

The neighbors are like family. Kerry comes to love the neighborhood and especially single Dad, Patrick, and his son Austin. Elderly neighbor, Heinz, is also an artist and needs help that he denies at first.

I loved this cute story about family, friends, neighbors, and taking chances. A great read. I look forward to reading more Mary Kay Andrews.

Thank you @netgalley @marykayandrews and @stmartinspress for an electronic book ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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I haven’t read a ton of Mary Kay Andrew’s books, but what I have read I have enjoyed. I looked forward to getting into the holiday spirit with this one. It was a cute, quick, lighthearted read with a theme of found family and a little romance.

There is an eclectic cast of characters in the neighborhood Kerry’s brother, Murphy, sets up camp for their family Christmas tree lot every year. Kerry has been struggling to figure out where she wants to be in life after losing her job and ending a relationship. During her first season helping Murphy sell the trees, she gets to know the neighbors and finds her place among them.

If you’re looking for a light, festive read this book is a great fit for that. I really loved what the characters of Heinz and Austin brought to the story, and even Queenie the dog. They really added personality and pure heart to it. The romance between Kerry and Patrick all happened at warp speed and could’ve used a lot more development, but we can all use a little departure from realism while we’re embracing the holiday setting.

I really enjoyed this story about Kerry Tolliver who was going to New york to help her brother sell Christmas trees from their North Carolina Christmas Tree farm. She was driving the trees there in the farm truck. It took her awhile to get there. After they got set up they had their trees and Kerry made wreaths to sell also. They met a lot of the people in the Neighborhood and then Kerry meant Patrick and his son Austin. Her brother made a trip back to the farm to get more trees but the neighbors helped her out. . See what happens does Patrick and Kerry begin to see each other and does she decide to stay or go home. A VERY GOOD READ.

Mary Kay Andrews delivers another great holiday novel with Bright Lights Big Christmas.

The story is about Kerry Tolliver who returns to her small town after her big city job is eliminated by a company buy out and merger. She is needed to help with the family Christmas tree farm after her father suffers a heart attack. She is to spend three weeks with her brother Murphy, whom she hasn’t really been around since her parents divorced when she was seven and who lived with her father while she stayed with their mother.

Being forced to live in a small RV, nicknamed Spammy, Kerry and Murphy are forced to work on their relationship all while trying to sell their Christmas trees to save the farm. Literally.

Their relationships with the residents of the New York City neighborhood help them with basic needs, have friendships with Murphy and Kerry and show the spirit of friendship and community.

While Kerry is there, she develops a special bond with Patrick and his son, Patrick. She helps the neighbor Heinz.

This is a sweet book that would be a perfect holiday read.

I was given this ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine.