Member Reviews

Mary Kay Andrews has written another magical christmas read with Bright Lights, Big Christmas and I read it in one sitting! I don't think you can go wrong with any of her books! And while I miss her summer novels, her Christmas ones are just as good!

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Mary Kay Andrews does not disappoint-this was a quick fun Christmas read, full of likable characters & a great dog. I didn’t want it to end, thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

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This a wholesome beautiful story. I hope this comes out during christmas season as this will be a great holiday read. I love Kerry’s journey of self discovery and rebuilding her relationship with her brother with the dose of Christmas as a background and romance on the side. Truly amazing.

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I received an Advanced Reader copy from Netgalley for my honest review. I enjoy Christmas and Mary Kay Andrews novels. This met my expectations. As I was reading it, I felt like I knew the characters already. I checked Goodreads and hadn’t read it before. The trailer “Spammy” and the close knit neighborhood that the Christmas trees are sold in every year made New York feel like a welcoming community. Family dynamics, divorce, and believing in yourself play a huge role. One of my favorite characters is Heinz. He has many layers to be revealed. This is a feel good Christmas story that I recommend.

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Kerry has such a big heart and a talent for so many things! Her art and her floral designing both are an asset in the tree sales stand! She and her brother definitely have their ups and downs, but this is such a wonderful Christmas read! You don't want to miss this great book this season!!

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Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews is an absolutely adorable Christmas romance novel that will warm your heart. Set in Greenwich Village, the story follows Kerry Tolliver, who reluctantly leaves her North Carolina Christmas tree farm to help her brother sell trees in New York. Amidst the bustling city, Kerry finds unexpected friendship and a budding romance with Patrick, a single father, and his dragon-loving son, Austin.

While the book falls under the romance genre, its true charm lies in the genuine friendship between the characters. Mary Kay Andrews beautifully portrays the bonds that form, making their interactions feel authentic and heartwarming. The story captures the spirit of Christmas, blending warm childhood memories, sparkling possibilities, and the magic of the holiday season.

As the plot unfolds, a mysterious elderly neighbor goes missing, prompting Kerry and her newfound friends to come together and create their own makeshift family. This adds a touch of mystery and drives the narrative forward, complementing the themes of love, hope, and second chances. While romance plays a role, the underlying message of finding a sense of home and belonging shines through.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a delightful and cozy read, perfect for the holiday season. Mary Kay Andrews' engaging writing style, endearing characters, and the enchantment of Christmas make it a book that captures the essence of the season. If you're looking for a heartwarming story that will leave you with a smile, this book is a wonderful choice. 4 stars!

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I requested to read and review this book for free from St. Martin Press an Imprint of St. Martin Publishing Company. This is another great story line created by Mary Kay Andrew's. Yes this story takes places ar Christmas time! But it has a great message that can be ready anytime and anywhere. Kerry is a girl that is down on her luck. Had it all going for her when it got swept away. Can she trust herself to move on. Doesn't matter your age great advice can from someone any age a child or an adult. Trust in yourself and others is a hard thing to do. Starting over isn't easy whether it's with family or without. Love can come to those who least except it. This book is for a mature reader!

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Bright Lights and Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews is a nice Christmas story.
Kerry Tolliver finds herself moving home to the family Christmas tree farm when she loses her job.
She and her brother Murphy drive to NYC to sell Christmas trees. This has been a tradition for many years. The neighborhood becomes friends and love is found.
I have read most of MS Andrews books and have enjoyed them all. This is a nice feel-good story for the holiday season.

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I really wanted to enjoy this Christmas book, but it felt very choppy. It was hard to see the flow in the story or any of the connections between the characters as it was kind of not descriptive. I don't know if I was supposed to be picking up on the romance aspect of this book, but it seemed to me as it was coming out of no where.

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Bright Lights, Big Christmas is another feel good Christmas story that will have you ready for the holidays. When her father falls ill before the holidays, Kerry Tolliver finds herself in New York’s Greenwich Village selling Christmas trees with her cantankerous older brother. In a run down camper where the plumbing doesn’t work, Kerry does her best to sell her daddy’s trees and keep their North Carolina tree farm afloat. With a lot of help from their New York neighbors, Kerry finds out about real friendships, following her dreams, and the beginnings of a sweet romance. The characters tug the heartstrings and the story leaves you wanting to string holiday lights for a sweet, memorable Christmas novel. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

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It's always enjoyable to read a Christmas story before the holidays arrive. Make it a Mary Kay Andrews story and it's a winning combination. Kerry and Murphy drive to NYC to set up their Christmas tree stand which has been a tradition for years. It's interesting to see the dynamics between the siblings and through Kerry we meet more of the people who live in the neighborhood where there tree stand is set up. I will never turn down a MKA book and appreciate getting an ARC from the publisher and net galley. Recommend reading!

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A very engaging and lovely holiday story taking place in New York City. The story revolves about a family selling their Christmas trees and the troublesome family problems. The characters are so warm, you felt as if you were part of their lives. A wonderful read.

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Kerry Tolliver finds herself unemployed and moves back to her home in North Carolina to help with the family business of growing and selling Christmas trees. Her father ends up ill and so she has to then move to New York for the month with her brother to help sell the trees at their pop up stand. While there, she ends up building a second family, making friends with all the neighbors, and meeting a handsome single dad and his son. She also finds herself getting back into her true love of art.

My only complaint was the insta-love between the main characters. I didn’t feel like they were given depth to their story. Overall this was an enjoyable, lighthearted read.

Thank you to Mary Kay Andrews, St Martins Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.

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Loved loved loved this latest book from Mary Kay Andrews!

Kerry Tolliver is out of work, living back at home when she is asked to go with her brother to NYC to man their family farm's Christmas tree stand. Living in a small camper (no bathroom!!) with a brother who she hasn't lived with in decades, and having to sell trees to ensure the family's farm is in the black does not sound appealing. But Kerry sets about making a community and makes the stand Instagram famous, all while getting to know a new romantic partner.

This book was perfect, and gets you ready for the Christmas season, hopefully with a visit to the Tolliver tree stand.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

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What a feel-good Christmas novella!
Thank you to St. Martins and NetGalley for sending me an ARC. Kerry Tolliver is at a crossroads in her life (newly single and unemployed, trying to reconnect with her family and figure out the next steps in her career) when she's drafted to help her gruff older brother, Murphy, make the annual trek to New York City to man the family's Christmas tree stand. During the three-week selling season, she and Murphy have to live in a dilapidated trailer they call Spammy, with no bathroom or kitchen. Fortunately, Murphy has friends in the neighborhood who provide them with meals and shower facilities.
Conflict arises when a rival tree seller sets up shop across the street, undercutting their prices. If profits don't meet expectations, the Tolliver family might lose their farm.
But Kerry and Murphy have allies, including Patrick, a divorced father, and his eager-to-help son, Austin. Predictably, Patrick becomes a love interest for Kerry.
During downtime, Kerry practices her sketching. A secretive old man stops by occasionally, offering unsolicited feedback. Eventually, he grows on Kerry, and she values his suggestions. A bond forms between the old man and Austin, extending to Kerry and Patrick, which leads to new opportunities and a new direction for Kerry's life.
Recommended!

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This was a super cute Christmas themed book. It gave me all the warm and fuzzy feelings that I want around the Holiday time. I would read it again on a nice snowy day.

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I loved this heartwarming holiday story about siblings Kerry and Murphy. Murphy and his dad normally bring their Christmas trees from the family tree farm in North Carolina to sell in NYC every holiday season, and have built up a community of friends that they depend on every year to help them while they are there. This year however sister Kerry has to substitute for dad when his health keeps him from coming, and her recent job loss allows her to be guilted into helping the family business even though she hasn't spent time with her brother in many years.

Even though this novel takes place in NYC vs. the authors usual small town scene, she makes this corner of the city feel like a close neighborhood, and although this still is a trademark MKA romance, it also has a wonderful found family element which was the most important part of the story for me. I highly recommend you adding this novel when you are ready for that holiday story to give you some joy and happy tears.

. Thank you to Net Galley, Mary Kay Andrews and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Relationships unfold brilliantly and Andrews' characters feel like old friends, as they go about their business, making a living and exhibiting kindness along the way. I imagined the hustle and bustle of busy New York City as people ready themselves for Christmas. A heartwarming and uplifting book in which a magical Christmas will prevail.
Andrews is a master of storytelling. Her subtle messages of kindness and finding healing strength is transformational and something we sorely need in today's world.

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I love a good Christmas movie, but I’ve struggled to find any worthwhile holiday novels. The struggle continued with this novella… If you’re into Hallmark movies, you may be into this, but it was too generic and “sweet” for me.

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The perfect holiday read! Kerry is helping her brother sell Christmas trees in New York. The trees come from her family’s tree farm. Along the way Kerry makes friends, both young and old. The story is magical!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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