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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I absolutely loved Bright Lights, Big Christmas. I was sad when it ended and I truly hope for a sequel. The characters were wonderful, from the brother and sister selling Christmas trees from their North Carolina farm on a New York City corner, to the quirky artist who befriends them, to the hunk of a single dad and his cute son. Even the dog and the vintage trailer helped make the story. They are all so real and likeable and I couldn't get enough of their story. I haven't read a Mary Kay Andrews book I haven't liked but this one is one of the best so far. Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this wonderful book for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. The Tolliver family owns a Christmas tree farm and every year the father and son go to New York City to sell Christmas trees. This year due to their father’s heart attack Kerry is guilt tripped into going to help sell the trees. Little did she know that the trip would change things for her. She establishes many friendships including one with single father Patrick and his son Austin. The longer she is in the city the harder it is going to be to leave.
I loved all the different characters. I didn’t want the book to end. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book is very heartwarming. Even though I found that the romance plot between the main characters were too sudden and a little bit off, their interactions were really sweet afterwards. I also really enjoy the found family trope here, I wanted to be a part of their friendship! If you are looking for a short and light read during the Holiday Season, I'd highly recommend you this book!

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

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Kerry is working with her brother in New York during the holiday season. While their she meets a father and don who she has feelings for. This is a heartwarming book that will put you in the Christmas spirit.

I loved this story! NYC, Christmas, wonderful characters are my cat nip. I loved the sweetness, kindness, wit, banter of the characters! I loved the healing, kind way the story is told, all set in the most magical city in the world at the most magical time of year. Mary Kay Andrews, as always, writes an amazing, uplifting, fun story!

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

What a sweet and heart warming holiday book.

Kerry is recently unemployed and moved back to North Carolina with her mom. She is guilted into helping her older brother sell Christmas trees in New York City. The family has sold trees there for decades and it is tradition. While there, Kerry meets Patrick and his sone and soon they become fast friends. Kerry is falling for Patrick but knows she has to go back to North Carolina after the trees are sold out. What does Kerry do?

I loved how connected I felt with the characters and just wanted to give them all big hugs after the book was over.

Exactly what you'd expect out of a Mary Kay Andrews Christmas novella. Lovely and comforting, and loved the NYC setting.

You know how some people describe a book as a warm hug? This book was a warm cup of cocoa on a rainy day for me. All the warm fuzzies of a hallmark movie with classic Mary Kay Andrews quips and we’ll rounded characters. Andrews always brings life into characters, they feel like real people with real flaws without being overly dramatic or cliche. Kerry feels like a normal thirty something woman going through a bit of a mid life crisis and finding herself again after losing her job and fiancé in one fell swoop. The reader gets to see Kerry as she reconnects with her brother, along with some really beautiful found family, revamp her career, and of course finds love with cinnamon roll Patrick. Patrick is a single dad, newly divorced, and his son is actually here and present in the book, he’s also the sweetest little boy. I hate books where the main character or love interest is a single parent but the kid is always somehow MIA, you get to actually see Pat be a father and his little community helps too of course. The found family component to this book really pushed it over the edge for me, this little community is so cute. All around I loved getting to visit the warm Christmas feelings while I read this even though it’s May, Christmas spirit never dies, it just rest. It was nice to get to plunge into this book and have a classic Christmas love story that didn’t feel as cookie cutter as gingerbread men.

Another great Christmas story from Mary Kay Andrews. Loved the story between Kerry and Murphy - great sibling story. And seeing the relationship/friendship between all the people in the story is awesome. And I totally want another book to go with this one. Need to know where Kerry and Patrick end up.
This book will be perfect for Christmas.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. My thoughts are my own.

In this heartwarming story, Kerry, one of the main protagonists, unexpectedly finds romance with Patrick, a divorced man. However, the true essence lies in the nurturing power of friendship. Set on a North Carolina Christmas tree farm, Kerry's father, Jock, is recovering from a heart attack, while her mother, Birdie, selflessly supports him despite their divorce. Kerry, who recently lost her job, reluctantly agrees to help her brother Murphy sell their reduced Christmas tree crop in New York City.

The neighborhood they encounter in New York surprises them with its kindness and generosity. Likable characters rally together, offering help and support. Taryn, a mother of young toddlers, opens her home for Kerry's showers and laundry. The local Italian restaurant provides an extension cord for electricity. Amidst it all, an unexpected bond forms with a 90-year-old man who becomes dear to their hearts during a crisis. The genuine goodness of these characters is truly captivating. The book also delves into the value of the Christmas trees and the daily interactions of Kerry, Murphy, and the background characters.

While Kerry and Patrick's romance unfolds, the story explores Kerry's artistic background, which she shares with a 90-year-old man and Patrick's empathetic son, Austin. Throughout the narrative, the characters consistently exhibit empathy and kindness, especially during times of crisis. Ultimately, the book beautifully highlights the themes of family, deep friendships, and the unwavering support they provide, leaving a lasting impact and deserving of a four-star rating. This novel serves as an engaging escape from everyday worries, presenting a realistic and heartfelt experience without veering into sentimentality.

I absolutely loved this novel!!! Mary Kay Andrews + Christmas = Bliss! From the moment I started Brights Lights, Big Christmas it felt like a literary version of a warm hug! I was completely captivated from start to finish and throughly enjoyed the well crafted storyline. As per usual, Mary Kay Andrews has created characters that are so realistic, relatable, and so darn endearing! If you are looking for something to get you into the Christmas spirit, then I highly recommend this five-star gem!

This was such a fun story of Christmas in NYC, Such a change from rural North Carolina and a change that Kerri needs to get herself back on a track to new friends, a new job, and a new life and love she never expected

A perfect feel good Christmas story about taking chances, making friends and finding love! A must to read every year!

“Bright Lights, Big Christmas” is a touching story of new friendships, new beginnings and helping those in need. Kerry Tolliver is back in New York City where she had spent many fun holiday seasons with her family when she was a child. The magic of Christmas had been absent from her life for a long time but now that she was back, she jumped into the holiday season with child-like exuberance. She sold her family's Christmas trees, played joyful holiday music and created beautiful and sought after Christmas wreaths that soon would be gracing fashionable doors around the city. Kerry made many new friends and began dabbling in her artwork again which got her thinking about where her life was going. Kerry was at a loss of what to do until she met an old and wise man who needed her as much as she needed him.

Kerry had many decisions to make and among them was what to do about her “relationship” with Patrick and his adorable son, Austin. She wondered if the spirit of the season was making her fall in love with the idea of a life with Austin, or was she just being overly dramatic? Kerry is a kind person with a loving heart who brought everyone together as they shared in the joy of the season and I am sure she will find the perfect present waiting for her under the tree!

I absolutely loved this book! Christmas in the spring/summer? Yes please! This book makes me believe in the goodness of strangers and gives me hope for the future. I loved the character development and how they all tied in together. Another great read from one of my FAVORITE authors!!