Charming. Cozy. Heartwarming.

I LOVE this book. It should be on everyone’s holiday TBR. I also need a NYC Christmas.

Such a sweet read as we close out the summer season! Kerry moves to the sweet neighborhood of Abington Square to sell Christmas trees with her brother. I absolutely love the story of these pop up tree sellers and how they are such a beloved tradition in the community- who take them in to shower, do laundry, etc. This heartwarming story is about chosen family, and how a neighborhood can be as cozy as a small country town.

It was a simple story without much deviation from the romance angle. A bit hard to believe the NYC angle, and despite being set on a Christmas tree lot, not a whole lot of feel-good holiday elements for me. Characters were fine. Narration was fine. It was just a wholly forgettable story overall.

Overall: 3 stars

I'll tell my students about: alcohol, language

**Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

Kerry Tolliver, drives to NYC from her family's Christmas tree farm in North Carolina to set up their long time annual Christmas Tree stand. Living in a camper van with her gruff lumberjack brother Murphy, Kerry is shown love and community by the surrounding neighbors as they sell through the trees from Tolliver's Farm. The community consists of a hunky neighbor, his charming son, his cranky ex-wife, a loving family that owns the restaurant near the Christmas tree stand, and then the mysterious old man that walks the streets- the book has something for every reader in there.
This was a sweet Christmas read but not one of my favorites!
Thanks NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the arc!

I had the good fortune of receiving both the ebook and the audiobook versions of Bright Lights, Big Christmas. I alternated between listening and reading.
I was immediately drawn into the storyline. Bright Lights, Big Christmas is well written and the characters are well developed. I very quickly became attached to all of them, albeit for different reasons. I loved the descriptions of the New York neighbourhood - its quaint eateries, shops and diversity of people I highly recommend Bright Lights, Big Christmas. Truly a feel good story of an unlikely community coming together.
The narration, by Kathleen McInerney, is well done. It’s well paced and very easy to follow. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook version of this ARC.

Very cute, Hallmark-movie-ish Christmas story set in NYC. I liked the twist of taking the Christmas tree farm to the big city!

I liked the neighborhood and the people who lived there. However, I often felt bogged down by repetitive and mundane details. So much about showering (or the lack of), specific trees sold, going to the wholesale flower supplier, etc...

Another thing, the timeline was kind of a mess. It was very specific at times (today is Tuesday), but the next thing you knew, several days passed and it felt discombobulated. Either be specific and keep track of the calendar, or keep it vague. They had the stand set up only 3-4 weeks, but I swear there were way more weekends than three or so.

The audiobook is narrated by Kathleen McInerney, who never disappoints.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a review of an Advanced Readers Copy of Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

🎄About🎄
Kerry Tolliver’s family owns a tree farm in North Carolina where they grow trees that they sell in New York before Christmas. This year, her brother needs her to help him with the tree stand, filling in for her dad. She must stay with her gruff, grumpy brother for a month in an old camper with no bathroom or kitchen, while they try to keep their family’s business afloat.

During their stay, they rely on the neighborhood families and business owners for assistance. Kerry meets Patrick and his son, Austin, whom she develops a connection with. Also, there is a fun older gentleman who likes to help Kerry with her drawings. Everyone looks out for one another in this little part of the big city, and is willing to lend a helping hand whenever needed!

🎄Thoughts🎄
I really thing the side characters made this story the most interesting. Kerry and her brother are where the story is centered, but without the lovable neighbors and business owners, they wouldn’t be able to thrive. This gives the book that holiday feel - people loving their neighbors and helping in times of need, even when people do not want help at all.

Kerry has her own internal life struggles, she isn’t sure where life is leading her next, job wise and living wise. She develops a romance, which was a small part of the story, but I don’t think it’s what made the story. Kerry had to learn that she needs to step out of her comfort zone if she really wants something great in life. And she gets taught that lesson by the grumpiest of people!

You will like this book if you like:
🎄New York Christmas Stories
🎄Found Family
🎄Self-Discovery
🎄Animated Side Characters
🎄Single Dad Romance

Mary Kay Andrews does it again with another sweet, heart warming, and lovely Christmas story! I wanted to hang out with Kerry at the family Christmas tree stand in NYC. The cast of supporting characters felt like friends by the end and I was sad to see them go.
I typically won’t read or listen to Christmas books before December, but for MKA I made an exception and I’m so glad that I did!

MARY KAY ANDREWS never disappoints! I have been a fan since day one and I have a large collection of her books! This one was no different! I fell in love with the characters and the plot, such a lighthearted feeling every time I read her books, there's always a connection to the characters and what they are going through. Tis the season this will be a hit!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I thought this would be like every other Christmas Tree lot story I have read over the years, but I was wrong. This story had so much depth to it, and the multiple storylines and well-written characters made me want to keep reading long into the evening.

🎧 3/5 ⭐️

I LOVE hallmark type Christmas stories, especially clean romance. Add the tie back to the previous books and it’s set up to be the perfect Christmas read.

I could have done without the main character love story. The relationship felt thrown together and when they were finally alone it was cringy and condescending, which the main character didn’t seem bothered by. If someone pushed me for sex after I said no and then stated “Yeah, it’s called adulting” in a later conversation they would never see me again. After that point I was just irritated when he appeared.

It’s the neighbors made this story. The true Christmas story wasn’t the romance story (that was cringy at time) but the community that took care of each other. The experience of real Christmas in New York and the way they come together to support each other.

Cut out the main character romance to shorten the story which puts the focus back on the community and it would have been the perfect Christmas read. For me this would have been a 5 star read with these changes.

Overall easy Christmas read.

This has been posted to Goodreads already.

When I started this book I was worried I would not be able to channel the necessary Christmas Vibe I needed to read this book in August, but no no no Mrs Mary Kay Andrew delivered all the feels! The only thing that would have made this better would have been if I could have been wearing my Christmas Pajamas (all family members in matching ones of course) sipping hot chocolate with a Christmas Tree next to a crackling fire. (Side note, I mainly listened to this book on my walks in 100 degree hot steamy, humid August North Carolina weather, in nike tempos, a t shirt and SPF 50 slopped on my face--not too Christmasy)--despite all that I got all the Christmas Cheer!!

Kerry and her gruffy older brother make the annual trip up to NYC to sell the family's Christmas Trees , however Kerry takes the place of Jock their father because he has recently had a heart attack. In NYC they live out of the family trailer, Spammy. The story chronicles the comings and goings of the Tree stand in busy New York City, I think it does a little bit of "un truth" as the block where they set up camp feels more like a small southern tow (very kind friendly people, letting them bathe, wash clothes and warm up in their apartments) No offense to northerners but it felt more like they were in the South. But whatever, maybe it was just the characters were in the Christmas spirit.
There was nothing "major" or "dramatic" that happened in this book, except for the developing relationships amongst the characters. I enjoyed watching Kerry grow more confident in her abilities, spread her charm and fall in love. The little boy in this book was precious-I Loved him!!
But my most favorite character of all was...get this....the Tin Can Trailer, SPAMMY! AH! That little trailer had so much personality, I almost *almost* cried over Spammy at one point.
Great easy quick read that will set in motion your Christmas excitement! Warning if you are a big Christmas person, wait to read until Thanksgiving so you don't go out and buy your Christmas treee...tomorrow, because I was tempted........
Great Job MKA!

Thank you Net Galley for this advanced copy read/listen. I was not influenced or paid for this honest review.
(I would like some Spammy T shirts, key chains......any kind of paraphanelia)

Loved the story. It was engaging, taking you through the story and making you wonder what would be coming next. Had you celebrating with the heroine and hoping that everyone came together. Loved the happy ending and the feel good feeling at the end. Great story. We will be adding it to our collection.

Exactly what I come to expect from Mary Kay Andrew's, sweet, simple, and hopeful. This was essentially a Hallmark movie come to life, and I say that in the most positive way possible

This was such a sweet and cute story! I loved that it wasn’t a typical love story and had a complex storyline that was more than just a love story. Definitely a great Christmas read ❤️

Even though it’s only August- I am totally in the Christmas spirit after reading this book! I would love to be transported to NYC and spend time at the Tolliver Christmas Tree farm. This is a sweet story and I loved the small tie in to the Santa Suit. Thank you for the advanced copy!

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a great book to get in the 2023 holiday season spirit! I loved this book. Mary Kay Andrews is amazing at setting the scene of both New York City and the North Carolina mountains where the Christmas trees of Tolliver Christmas Tree Stand are grown. This heartfelt story with intergenerational characters is charming and festive and the plot is uplifiting. Definitely pick this one up when it is out 9/26!

I think the audiobook narrator had great energy and I like the different tones she used to represent the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

After getting a late start, Kerry and her gruff brother set off for New York City from their family’s Christmas tree farm in North Carolina. In the span of a few weeks, Kerry finds a chosen family that she shows she’ll do anything to protect when and elderly member of the neighborhood seemingly goes missing.

It took me awhile to really start enjoying this book. I didn’t click with anyone right away. Kerry wasn’t very likable in the beginning, her brother felt underdeveloped, and the surrounding characters were just there.

This really found its footing about half way through though, and then I got hooked. It’s a sweet Christmas-y tale of found family, friendship, and purpose.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.

Such an inspirational Christmas story about starting over and believing in yourself. Kerry Tolliver is in a rut, both personally and professionally. With her career on hold she agrees to go with her brother to New York and help at the family Christmas tree stand. She discovers an eclectic group of people that quickly become like family. Together they give her the inspiration to believe in her talent, take a chance on herself and a chance at love. Kathleen McInerney does an excellent job of narrating.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

This is my first book by Andrews and was a wonderful palate cleanser after some heavy historical fiction and thrillers. I loved the charismatic characters, the adorable dog, and the lovely inter generational relationships. It was quite the cute read that would be great in the winter wrapped up in a blanket next to a cozy fire.

And if, like me, you don’t need crazy spice levels in a romance then this very G rated book is for you!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the alc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.