Member Reviews
Guaranteed to put you in the mood for Christmas!
Kerry Tolliver agrees to accompany her brother, Murphy, to New York City to sell their Christmas tree stock while her dad recuperates at home in North Carolina. The Tolliver Family corner tree lot is filled with friendships that convey a small town feel.
The story has both, likable and lovable characters, challenges from business foes and secrets from the past. Kerry and her somewhat estranged brother learn how to work together, and overcome an absence of modern conveniences while living in a broken down r.v. for a month in hopes of saving the family tree business.
Mary Kay Andrews has done it again!! Order this book now, and you will be prepped for the holidays. Pub date 26 Sept. 2023.
Than you to NetGalley for an early eArc in exchange for a honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It's weird reading a Christmas novel when it's 80 degrees out, but here we are. "Bright Lights, Big Christmas" is the feel good, Hallmark movie, warm sweater on a cold day kind of book we all deserve at Christmas time. A very enjoyable read, and I'm thinking I will actually reread it when it's winter!
Gosh, I didn't want this book to end. The author does such a great job of making the reader feel like they are right there in New York selling Christmas trees. There were so many characters to love in this story but I especially loved Heinz and Austin. I really liked how the characters cared so much about each other.
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
_Bright Lights, Big Christmas_ is a cozy Christmas romance that reads just like your favorite holiday Hallmark movies. Filled with all your favorite character types from the grouchy brother to the sweet neighbor boy to the hunky single father, this novel is a relaxing way to spend a few hours with kind characters who look out for each other and remind those who have forgotten in the magic of Christmas.
I love a feel-good book for the Holidays and Mary Kay Andrews has not disappointed me in the past. This book did nod disappoint. This book has a large focus on family and friendships with a little romance thrown in. It was heartwarming and a a refreshing read.
Another fun, cozy, feel good, Christmas novel from MKA. Always makes the season a bit brighter.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65214218
Murphy and his dad Jock have been driving up from their North Carolina tree farm to New York City every year to sell Christmas trees. This year Jock is ill, so his daughter Kerry, who has recently lost her job, is accompanying Murphy. Many of the people in the neighborhood already know Murphy, and they welcome Kerry, especially Patrick and his young son, Austin. The kind and friendly people and the holiday atmosphere help to create a wonderful feel-good Christmas story--Mary Kay Andrews at her best. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.
New York at Christmas time is my dream. This book has a lot of cute friendships and romance involved. It was a quick, fun read.
Absolutely adorable book! Got me in the holiday spirit in May..laugh out loud! Mary Kay Andrews never disappoints as she has done for many years. I have recommended this book to my bookclub as our November read and recommend it to anyone who wants their spirit lifted. As a North Carolina resident, I have been in our mountains and seen Christmas trees farms where the trees are growing from 1 foot to 14+ feet so this story brings memories of those happy times.
Bright Lights, Big Christmas was a warming, sweet Christmas read. I fell for the characters and NY neighborhood. It was a great book to relax and find respite from the world. Highly recommended!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing access to a digital ARC in exchange for my opinions.
The Tolliver family of North Carolina always travels to the same corner in New York City to sell the Christmas trees they grow on their farm. This year due to their father's health problems Kerry has to come with her brother Murphy in her father's place. They set up their Christmas tree lot in the cutest neighborhood in Greenwich Village. Kerry soon befriends all the neighbors including a single dad, his young son and a kindly older gentleman who may or may not be homeless.
This is the perfect read for the Christmas season. It gives you all the holiday feels and makes you wish you were right there to buy a Christmas tree from their corner lot.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book for review.
I was totally charmed by this delicious novel. Great mixture of romance, art, friendship and kindness, all here in New York City. When Kerry and her brother come to NYC to sell Christmas trees, she becomes delightfully involved with all the denizens of the Greenwich Village neighborhood. As a New Yorker, I felt moved by this positive portrayal of a NYC neighborhood, especially at a time when we get so much bad press.
The story quite literally leads to a Christmas when the greatest gift is allowing all the characters to open their hearts and lives. Andrews’ does a great job of focusing on Kerry. Despite coming in contact with other people in the area, it doesn’t feel crowded. Her meeting with one special neighbor and his child is simply the cherry on top of this yummy Sundae.
I definitely recommend this feel-good novel. I think readers will appreciate this holiday joy.
Thank you Netgalley for this lovely novel.
If you are a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies, don't pass this one up! Mary Kay Andrews is always a joy to read and this one made you feel good! When it is time to 'read' a Christmas movie, this is the one!
I wanted to sit by the fire and drink hot chocolate while reading this one but…..it is June. Kerry Toliver has moved from North Carolina to New York with her brother to sell Christmas Trees. Not exactly what she thought she would be doing but she did so because of family. Bonds. Although when she arrives and settles in, she realizes it is not as bad as she thought. She loves the area AND she meets someone, a guy named Patrick who has an adorable son Austin who just happens to love dragons. She makes friends and they become more like family but one of the elderly gentleman on the block goes missing. This starts a search that brings together a family that will look out for each other. I was rooting for the protagonist, Kerry the whole time. The reader will get to know the characters and their flaws. It really is a great story
5 out of 5
Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
Mary Kay Andrew's latest novel is a heartwarming and feel good holiday story about two siblings from North Carolina trying to save their family's Christmas Tree farm by selling all of their trees in a neighborhood in New York City. We meet a whole cast of likable characters who reside in Greenwich Village. I enjoyed the storyline and all of the characters in the book. It was a light and enjoyable story. I would recommend this holiday read! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
Kerry Tolliver is adrift in her life. She is unemployed and living back home with her mom. The family owns a Christmas tree farm in North Carolina. Each year, the treees head up to New York City and are sold in the same spot. This year, Kerry’s dad is unable to head up with her brother, Wes, and she is tagged to go. Apprehensive about making the trip, she is given no choice. What she finds in the city is herself! Friends are the family you choose for yourself, and Kerry finds quite a cast of characters! Great read, especially if you are a fan of Mary Kate Andrews! I never miss one of her books!
This was a lighthearted holiday read. I enjoyed the character descriptions and the setting - Christmas time tree sellers in Manhattan.
Some characters were more well developed than others. My only real complaint is the way things all worked out in the end. More often than not these days, women's fictions book end a little too easily for the main character. I mean, it's easy to make a huge life change when you don't have to worry about a husband, children, employment or a mortgage.
Aside from that I enjoyed this read, which went in a different way than I expected with one character, which was a nice surprise. If you like happy holiday romance books, this one is for you.
This story is wholesome and sweet and heartwarming, just what the heart needs at Christmas time. Yes, the depiction of the city was somewhat unbelievable, but that adds a certain sweetness.
This was such a cute book! I absolutely loved it! The story moved along well without any big gaps or slow moving sections. I really liked the characters, I thought they were well fleshed out and were believable as a couple.
Amusing story of a woman who helps her brother sell Christmas trees from their farm in North Carolina in the big city of New York City. There she meets a boy with a good looking father, and an old man who critques her artwork.