This was a cute holiday read set in NYC! Kerry and her brother live in North Carolina but when late fall comes they head to NYC to sell Christmas trees they bring from their tree farm. Their dad usually makes the trip with her brother, but he is sick and can't make it so Kerry is there to help! They stay in this old camper trailer parked in a cute neighborhood with the best neighbors. They rely A LOT on these neighbors as they don't have a bathroom, running water, or really anything besides beds in their camper. When the trees start to sell out it will be time to leave but Kerry is really connecting with everyone she has met.

I really liked how the community they sell the trees in really helps them out. They provide food, showers, and bathrooms, and include them as one of their own. They really seemed to be struggling financially and being surrounded by the wealthiest of NYC was such a huge contrast! It was really interesting to see two sides of the income spectrum in this one.

The connection Kerry made with Patrick seemed to just happen, like there wasn't really a lead-up to it, and all of a sudden it was happening. I liked the mention of The Santa Suit in this one! I wish there was an epilogue to see how everyone was doing at the end, but I am just an epilogue girl so it didn't take anything away from the story :)

I have been a fan of MKA for many years because she does heartwarming family stories like nobody else and this book was no exception. This one is about family both blood and found, friendship and lots of holiday spirit. Perfect to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and settle in for the afternoon.
When Kerry lost her job she was forced to go back home to the small mountain town in NC where she grew up on a charter farm with her family where every year her brother and father would take the trees they grew to NYC to sell during the month of December. This year as luck would have it, her father is sick and he can’t make the trip, so she is forced to make the trip with her brother, who she is estranged from, so she is forced to drive their camper, which is adorably nicknamed Spammy, while he drives the truck full of trees to the city to set up their stand.
Once they get to their usual spot in the Village, Kerry gets to know a lot of the neighbors that have gotten to know her brother Murphy over the many years he’s been coming. One particular neighbor, Patrick, and his son, Austin, quickly win over Kerry’s heart. While there is downtime at the stand, Kerry practices her art by sketching the people and animals she sees on the street and one of the neighbors, an elderly man, stops and comments on how she can make her sketches better. She gets to know him over time until he suddenly stops coming by so she and the neighbors go on a hunt to find him to make sure he’s ok. Once they do, life changes for all of them, as he isn’t who they thought he was, and can change all of their lives forever.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.

This was my first read by this author and honestly, it wasn’t my cup of tea. However, I can see how it would be appealing to lovers of Hallmark movies with simple plots and quick love. It has all the cute neighborhood charm and camaraderie that you expect out of those plots with some Christmas cheer, a problem to be solved collectively and of course, a romance. I loved the southern goes to the City connection and the basic premise of the book. The narrator also did a great job with a fairly large cast of characters in dialogue including the kid voicing which is very hard to do in my opinion.

I liked Kerry and Patrick as characters and am usually a sucker for a single dad trope but the romance of this one was just too quick for my taste. The first kiss came out of nowhere and then the next thing you know, they almost sleep together but keep getting interrupted by his son. Don’t get me wrong, I love closed door romance and really appreciate when an author can bring all the tension and chemistry but still keep the door closed without sharing all the details. This one just didn’t give the build-up of the emotional connection between them at all and I think it tried to fit into an “almost spicy” niche but didn’t quite get there. I think it would be too much for some strict kisses-only, sweet romance readers but not enough for readers that want all the detail. I personally would have been fine with what was shown in that regard but only if there had been some build-up of the relationship prior to those moments.

Murphy was also horrible - I think the goal was gruff, mountain man but he was just a jerk for most of the book.

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook via NetGalley from Macmillan Audio. All opinions shared in this review are my own.

Content Notes: Kisses to interrupted intimacy scenes

3.5 stars. This was a very easy to listen to audiobook that I would recommend if you're looking for a Hallmark movie type read. It's a very light and heart-warming holiday book that would be fun to listen to while doing other holiday things, such as decorating, wrapping presents, making cookies etc. I found that the narrator did a great job and had a pleasant voice.

The story follows Kerry and her rough around the edges brother, Murphy, who travel to New York to sell Christmas Trees that were grown on their family farm. They stay in a trailer on a corner in Greenich Village while selling their trees onsite. They mingle with a variety of neighborhood residents. There is some romance involved with very little spice. At times I did feel that the story was a bit long and I think the romance could have been expanded on to help make it more believable.

Overall, I enjoyed this audio book, as I really loved the atmosphere created by the Christmas Tree business and the small RV/Trailer named Spammy.

Thank you to Netgalley, Mary Kay Andrews and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy.

3.5 stars | 0 spice | 5/5 audiobook

Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorite authors for light summery reads - and now has become a favorite for cute Christmasy reads! Bright Lights, Big Christmas follows the story of Kerry and her brother Murphy as they travel to New York to sell Christmas trees from their family business. In her usual style, Andrews introduces us to a wide variety of people in this neighborhood of New York and there's even a little romance and suspense.

Kerry meets the various people around town and quickly helps her brother turn their Christmas tree business into a quick seller. I enjoyed the aspects of the Christmas tree business and Spammy, the RV they traveled and slept in. I will say the Christmas tree stuff does get old quickly, there's only so much I can listen to about selling trees, delivery issues, and the different customers buying the trees.

This is a zero-spice romance book, there are some hints but (sorry spicy romance readers) it's a fade-to-black. Kerry meets local single dad, Patrick, and quickly falls in love with him and his son, Austin (she also meets the ex and the ex actually LIKES her). I liked Kerry and Patrick together but I did not like the way he seemed a little pushy when it came to taking their relationship to the next level. Kerry was clearly uncomfortable doing anything with his small child in the house and yet he was like "WHAT IF WE JUST CUDDLE, BUT NAKED." Like chill dude.

The audiobook was fantastic for this story. The narrator had a great voice and it was easy to listen to. It would make a great tale to listen to while doing some Christmas baking or even wrapping some Christmas presents. It isn't overly Christmasy - but I did really love the character references from Andrew's other book, The Santa Suit.

A 3.5-star read for me that I would recommend for a holiday read! It was a little on the long side and lost me at times, but overall it was an easy and fun read!

When fall rolls around, it’s time for Kerry Tolliver to leave her family’s Christmas tree farm in the mountains of North Carolina for the wilds of New York City to help her gruff older brother & his dog, Queenie, sell the trees at the family stand on a corner in Greenwich Village. Sharing a tiny vintage camper and experiencing Manhattan for the first time, Kerry’s ready to try to carve out a new corner for herself.

In the weeks leading into Christmas, Kerry quickly becomes close with the charming neighbors who live near their stand. When an elderly neighbor goes missing, Kerry will need to combine her country know-how with her newly acquired New York knowledge to protect the new friends she’s come to think of as family,

And complicating everything is Patrick, a single dad raising his adorable, dragon-loving son Austin on this quirky block. Kerry and Patrick’s chemistry is undeniable, but what chance does this holiday romance really have?

Filled with family ties, both rekindled and new, and sparkling with Christmas magic, Bright Lights, Big Christmas delivers everything Mary Kay Andrews fans adore, all tied up in a hilarious, romantic gem of a novel.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the advanced audio arc! This is a perfect, heartwarming Christmas read!

𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑳𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔, 𝑩𝒊𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞: Christmas in NY, saving a Christmas tree farm business, holiday reads, found family, single dad love interest
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Sept 26, 2023

“New York at Christmas is magical. Walking down Fifth Avenue to see all the store windows decorated. Getting hot chocolate at the market at Union Square ..?”

Alright friends, grab your hot cocoas because the Christmas books are coming!

This new Mary Kay Andrews holiday read is a quick, short story that will help you get in a festive mood.

It’s Kerry first time in NYC! Having just moved back home in North Carolina, she was guilt tripped into helping her brother sell their Christmas trees in their little stand around Greenwich Village. Aaand this is how our story basically starts.

I adored this one so much! It gave you that small town vibe while being in NYC! This has romance, a cute little kid, a grumpy old man, charming neighbors, a quirky camper van, saving a family business story, and a found family trope! Pretty much everything you need to kickstart your holiday reading needs!

I loved this author’s The Santa Suit from two years ago and you’ve enjoyed that, you’d definitely want to pick this up too!

Thank you so much, @stmartinspress for sending me a copy!

3.5 stars

A fun, light read interspersed with holiday cheer, good deeds, love, compassion, friendships, and a quirky unforeseen character, Spammy! This audio book warmed my heart and the narration was easy to listen to.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are solely my own and are a honest review.

Four generations of 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 Kerry was young, the whole family drove up and stayed in a small trailer. Kerry has wonderful memories of this time. Now 34 and living with her mother, she is between jobs. Her father, Jock Tolliver had heart surgery and can't make the trip, so Kerry is convinced to go and help her older, curmudgeon and taciturn brother, Murphy. They head up but "Spammy" is not the same. There is no plumbing and the kitchen doesn't work, so they depend on neighbors and business owners to use their washrooms and get food. Things do not go smoothly and Kerry and Murphy have issues, but this is a Christmas story, so you know things will work out with a bit of Christmas Magic. When a discount tree seller sets up shop across the street, they have to do something, or the tree farm could be in danger. With social media, a handsome single father and great neighbors, this story made me smile and feel all Christmasy, even though it is only September.

The big city of New York is always one that makes me think of impersonal neighbours and non-stop action, but this book shows a neighborhood that is a community, not unlike the small town romances I have read. The characters were wonderful from Kerry, Patrick, his son and the older artist "homeless" man who disappears for several days. I love how they all rallied around to help and what they find out about him. I am not always a fan of social media and influencers, but in this book, I loved how it helped Tolliver Farms and their sales. If you want a Christmas book that is a romance, but much more, then I recommend you pick up Bright Lights, Big Christmas. With themes of family, dreams, small town vs Big City, community, supporting others, romance, grief, friendship and new beginnings, this was a great start to my Christmas reading. I did a read/listen and enjoyed Kathleen McInerney's narration. She always does a great job and this was no exception. I highly recommend this one in whatever format you prefer.

As expected, not challenging but not boring either. Solid romance read and a well read audiobook. Somewhat predictable.

This book will make you feel the warmth of the holiday season! I really loved this story of Kerry and her brother, who travel to NYC one December to sell Christmas trees harvested on their family’s North Carolina farm. While this is a family business and Murphy comes here every year, this year Kerry accompanies him for the first time in many years, in place of their father who is recovering from a heart attack. She falls in love with the neighborhood and quickly makes friends. The book is filled with interesting characters, from a young boy who loves the trailer in which Kerry and Murphy live for the month, to a grumpy old man who helps Kerry rediscover her love of art. And the Christmas-in-New York setting is fabulous. The audiobook is wonderfully narrated and I hated that it had to come to an end. I’m hoping for a sequel! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

Mary Kay Andrews is one of my favorite authors.

I love the way that in this holiday book MKA has brought the south to New York City for an uplifting book of family, friendship, and romance.

I think the characters and the setting and even the tiny camper makes this book perfect.

Solid 4.5 stars! I love nothing more that reading/listening to holiday books outside of holiday time! There's something about Christmas stories that are light and heart-warming. That is definitely Bright Lights, Big Christmas! This book would play out exceptionally well as a Hallmark or Lifetime movie. The characters are likeable, and all ages/personalities are included, as well as a lovable dog. And no holiday book would be complete without a love interest.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is an endearing story which delivers holiday spirit!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an advanced listening copy.

Lovely Christmas story about family, friends, and romance. Kerry's father is ill and unable to help her brother run the Christmas Tree stand. She leaves the family tree farm in North Carolina and drives to New York City to help her brother. She quickly becomes friends with the community and finds a love interest in Patrick and his young son Austin. This is a great seasonal read or listen.

A sweet holiday story. I don’t normally read Christmas novels until November, but I snagged an audio ARC from the lovely folks at NetGalley. This was definitely a snuggle up with hot chocolate kinda tale. I did enjoy it, but I love when MKA’s sweetness comes with a little bite. I’d kill for another Weezie and Bebe Christmas or any Weezie and Bebe story, actually.

Kerry Tolliver is a graphic designer that was recently let go after the company she worked for merged with another. With her dad recently having a heart attack, Kerry's mother ropes her into traveling from North Carolina to New York with her brother Murphy to work on the Tolliver Tree Lot. She has to drive up to New York hauling the family's old camper Spammy.

While working on the tree lot, Kerry gets to know Murphy again. He lived with their father after the divorce and she lived with their mother. Kerry also gets to know the regulars of the tree lot and the locals who help with food, place to shower and use the bathroom, and do laundry. She also gets to know Patrick and his son Austin. Kerry and Austin with the help of another local named Hienz start to work on a story. Hienz and Kerry draw the illustrations as Austin changes what happens next.

When Hienz becomes sick, Kerry forces him to allow her to help him. She realizes he is a famous artist that suddenly stopped make art in the 1990s. They end up help each other in the end and Kerry agrees to stay in New York to be his assistant and create her own art. It also makes Patrick and Austin happy that she is stays.

I yet again loved a Mary Kay Andrews book. This is my eleventh book by her. Kathleen McInerney did an amazing job with the narration.

A (very) sweet holiday story. Cute clean romance and lots of holiday vibes. If you like the author and are looking for a holiday read thisbm year, you will enjoy. Narrator did a great job of voicing all the different characters!

This was a very sweet, zero spice, Christmas story. I loved the framily aspect of the story. For me, the book was slow and fairly uneventful. Its worth the read if you're looking for a sweet Christmas story. I just reviewed Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews. #NetGalley

Put down that remote and grab yourself the perfect holiday Rom-Com on paper (or in audio). Bright Lights, Big Christmas was a great story perfect for getting readers in the holiday spirit! This book fills you with the same joy as finding that perfect tree and getting to enjoy its sparkle in the weeks that follow. Definitely recommend!

A storyline I've never heard before - check. Likeable characters that you are rooting for - check. What seems like the opportunity to expand on those characters in more books - check, check, check. AND as a bonus - some non in your face "Gift of the Magi" level reminders about the impact of kindness and humanity - CHECK!

As is typical for Mary Kay Andrews books (and the reason I keep reading them) this book feels mostly like a big comfortable blanket that is easy to snuggle in. It's festive, sweet, pretty corny, and very easy to read. As I have also noticed with her books, the story is an extremely slow burn until about the last quarter of the book when it gets quite a bit deeper quickly. I did feel like this book required a little suspension of reality - the neighborhood taking in itinerant Christmas tree salesmen so completely felt strange, for example. The romance portion moved so slowly I questioned where it ended up. Overall - if you are looking for a feel good Christmas season tale, this could be just the ticket.