It’s always a bit of a challenge to read a Christmas novel in September. I mean, we’re not even into autumn yet! But this charming and festive audiobook helped to make the record high temperatures we are currently experiencing in the northeastern US a bit more bearable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of the Tolliver siblings as they come from North Carolina to New York City to sell Christmas trees and live—for a month—in their beloved but ratty trailer. I admit I found the setting a bit hard to believe, but once I got past my skepticism I fell into the warmth and charm of the story. I loved watching relationships develop both between the siblings and with their “found family” in the city. The story captured what I imagine Christmas in the city to be like without being overly sentimental.. Kathleen McInerny’s narration was engaging but understated. I will definitely be looking for more of Mary Kay Andrews’ Christmas novels to read when the holiday season actually rolls around!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.

I really enjoyed Bright Lights, Big Christmas. I liked that Kerry and Patrick were completely different but just seem so right for one another. As always Mrs Andrews wrote a book that is so descriptive that I felt.like I was there in the Greenwich Village. All the supporting characters just seemed to wrap up into a pretty little bow on top of the Kerry and Patrick present. The narrator of the audiobook got hard to listen to at times but it absolutely didn't affect how much I liked the story.

I love this author's books so much , I loved this sweet Christmas story , with Kerry and her brother selling trees ,the cute little trailor and meeting the side characters that brought joy to the meaning of friendship. Perfect holiday read!

I truly enjoyed this whole book. I was expecting a cheesy wholesome hallmark movie in book form (which I still would have loved), but this was so much more. There’s a little of romance, but to me, the overall theme in this book was finding yourself but also allowing people to help you.

Kerry heads to New York to sell Christmas Trees with her estranged brother. While Kerry is in New York she meets the great people and is thrown into this new New York community that pushes her to figure out what she truly wants out of life.

Christmas is my favorite holiday and this book got me so excited for Christmas season. I loved every part of this book.

What a warm hug of Christmas cheer! It’s a great hallmark movie 🍿 type of book. I loved the FMC & all the side characters! I also enjoyed the talk of the Santa suit book, I read it last year during Christmas time and it was so cute.
Christmas tree farm family goes to New York every year to set up shop for the trees. It’s super interesting so much plot & so heartwarming it’ll definitely put you in the Christmas spirit.

The audio is so good the narrator gives so much emotions.
I want to see this book as a movie 🎥

I just finished listening to Bright Lights, Big Christmas today. This story is cute and very entertaining.

I couldn’t stop listening to it.

I recommend.

A sweet Christmas story to make you smile. I knew I could count on Mary Kay Andrews to deliver. This Christmas story is sweet but not saccharine and has plenty of humor too. Kerry Tolliver has to go to New York City with her brother Murphy to sell Christmas trees for their family business. During their time in New York City she finds friends and romance. This book has everything and then some.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance reader copy of the audiobook.. This book will be published on September 26, 2023.

This was a fun easy Christmas read. I feel like the end was a bit anti climactic but it was a charming small town to big city story with an eclectic ensemble cast.
I also liked the narrator a lot!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a wonderful holiday read brought to you by the wonderful Mary Kay Andrews. Filled with Family drama, new friends and love. This story is a wonderful holiday edition and is so much more than just romance.
I loved all of the characters and how they interacted and were tied together. The story flowed and was simply idyllic. I adored it and highly recommend it be added to your holiday to-be-read pile.
My only complaint with the audiobook was the way the narrator voiced the child in the book, it was a little annoying.

I loved this Christmas book! This is the third book I have read by Andrews and I have to say I will be reading more of her work. I love her writing

What a great way to start out the holiday season. I could definitely see this story as a Hallmark movie. It has all the characters a lively young boy, gruff older brother, curmudgeonly mysterious older gentleman and a southern lady willing to take on the big city and find love. Thank you for the advanced copy. The narrator did an excellent job. I highly recommend the read while wrapping gifts for under the tree! Or at anytime to get you into the holiday spirit!

This started out a bit slow — but I got attached to the characters quickly— and enjoyed the sense of community and the interactions between the Christmas tree seller family and the locals where they sell their trees each year- leading to new friendships, family ties and quaint romance. The narrator was good at doing the different characters voice and helped bring the story to life. A great cozy Christmas book! This is my second book by this author and I would definitely read another . Recommended !

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC , this is my honest review .

Kerry Tolliver grew up spending the Christmas season in New York selling Christmas trees at her family stand in Greenwich Village. This year, she gets roped into going with her brother as her Dad's health prevented him from helping. She goes reluctantly, but ends up becoming close with all of the neighborhood people. Notably, Patrick and his son Austin. But Kerry has no intention of living in New York with her current financial situation so how is this possibly going ot have a happy ending?

I gotta say that I LOVE Mary Kay Andrews books. Her writing style is just so easy to jump in and lose yourself. This one just tugged at all of my heartstrings. I really felt like this could be one of those warm and fuzzy Christmas movies that come on your TV in the Holiday Season. This book combined two things I'm a sucker for, a New York Christmas and a Christmas Romance. I give this one a 4 out of 5 stars and hope to grab a few backlist books of Mary Kay Andrews during this upcoming season. As I was given an audio version to review, I will add that this narrator was quite pleasant to listen to and added value to this version. I can be fairly picky and will avoid certain narrators and I would gladly listen to Kathleen McInerney again.

Thanks to St Martin's Press, Macmillian Audio, and Netgalley for providing me an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas didn't do it for me but I believe this was very much one of those "it just wasn't for me" situations because I believe a lot of others will love it. I'm not a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies either and this book had those kind of vibes. So I definitely recommend to anyone who's a fan of that kind of wholesome holiday story.

Kerry has found herself unemployed and living back home with her parents. Her family runs a Christmas tree farm and every year they travel to NYC to sell them. This year, her dad is unable to travel due to health reasons so she goes to help her brother sell the trees. What follows is a sweet nostalgic story of found family, friendships, and community. I did really enjoy the description of the beautiful neighborhood setting. I also enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this! It was heartwarming, sweet, and hopeful. For any artists (including aspiring authors) Kerry's lesson is inspiring. Go for your dreams!

Some tropes you might enjoy:
* Christmas spirit? Check. (duh)
* Found family? Check.
* Imperfect bio family that looks out for each other? Check.
* Smalltown charm in the big city? Check.
* New York at Christmastime? Check.
* Single dad who's a reasonable human towards his ex? Check.
* Said ex is not entirely evil? Check. (With a caveat - Andrew does paint the ex-wife as nastier than she needs to be.)
* Regular people without a ton of wealth still having a great life? Semi-check. <spoiler>There's a bailout of the 'A Man Called Otto' archetype character, who's fittingly called Heinz (we love a German grandpa).<spoiler>
* HEA? Check.

The love style felt pretty insta-love to me and our protagonist is, of course, a sweet girl from the South who absolutely everyone loves (except the ex-wife). It's a four star, not a five star, but you'll still definitely get your warm fuzzies from this quick read.

There were definitely some cringe moments like when <spoiler>Patrick tells her no one will ever love her like he does... after a few weeks of semi-dating??? Um WHAT? You're claiming you love her more than her parents in that moment? Patrick, I think her mother would like a word.<spoiler>

Another instance is when <spoiler>they try to hook up (all the way) in a tiny space with Patrick's sleeping son right there - imagine how upset that little kid would have been if he woke up from the noise to the sight of his dad and a relative stranger butt-naked. I'm no prude, but this is a case where they need to get a room (without anyone else in it).<spoiler>

This book isn't doing anything new, there aren't any unexpected revelations, and I've seen the movie(s) before - but that's not what we came for. We come to these kinds of books for the promise of coziness, and Mary Kay Andrews delivered on that promise.

Thanks, NetGalley and Macmillan, for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Such a good “Hallmark”-esque Christmas novel! I really enjoyed all the characters and their dynamics in this book. I blew threw it and it kept me invested all the way through. Definitely gonna re-read around Christmas time.

My only complaints are fairly minor… 1. The narrator uses a god awful fake New York accent for a few of the characters and it really just takes away from the story because it’s so obviously fake and bad. 2. There is a set of twins in the book named Oscar and Elmo… as a twin mom myself, naming children matching names (let alone names from Sesame Street) like that is so unrealistic and a tad bit irritating. I cringed so hard everytime I heard their names. They’re children not dogs.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and I will definitely recommend it to others especially around Christmas time.

This audiobook gave me all the feels! It’s more than a festive Christmas book! It’s a story about family, obligation, generosity, reconciliation, new opportunities & compassion.

Living in NC, I frequently drive by the Christmas tree farms that line the mountain highway. I imagine there are family businesses making plans right now to set up shop in NYC just like the Tolliver family in Bright Lights, Big Christmas.

This was such a cozy book that drives the Christmas spirit and brings people together. I loved the genuine connections Kerry makes with her northern neighbors through her caring disposition. Even though she’s been down on her luck, she manages to remain positive to save her family’s business.

2.5 stars. Meh. This is certainly a Christmas story, very light on the romance though. More family and found family focused. The MC Kerry is kind of annoying with her mixed signals and self-doubt. The subplot with Heinz (mispronounced through the entire audiobook) was sweet but...just the whole book is sweet but...not for me. I really enjoyed The Santa Suit so I was expecting to like this too. Thanks to NetGalley for access to the audiobook

A delightful Christmas tale brimming with the warmth and festive spirit reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. The characters came to life vividly on the pages. The narrator did a great job!

*Thanks to NetGalley for the audio*

Mary Kay Andrews is always good for a sweet, charming, light read. I enjoyed most of the story but got hung up on how quickly the love interest “fell in love”. But overall this was a cute festive story about a woman finding a new path in life via selling Christmas trees with her brother in New York. Adorably predictable but still leaving me want more from this author!