Thank you to Netgalley, Mary Kay Andrews, and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of Bight Lights, Big Christmas in exchange for an honest review. The narrator did an amazing job bringing this story to life.

To start, I love Christmas novels and I am a Mary Kay Andrews stan. I absolutely devoured and loved everything about this book. It made me smile throughout the whole story while we met a whole neighborhood of fun and eclectic characters! The bonds that The Tollivers made with this neighborhood was magical too! This novella rings in around 280 pages and is the perfect addition to your Christmas reading! This one is available on September 26th!

In the middle of all the twinkling lights and cozy holiday excitement, this book brings up the idea of second chances. Just like Christmas, it's about getting another opportunity to make things better. The characters? They're like decorations on a Christmas tree, each with their own story hanging next to the shiny ornaments.

Imagine this: while the snow falls and people sing carols, the characters are going through their own ups and downs. They're showing us that, kind of like the holiday magic, life gives us a chance for a fresh start. The story unfolds like unwrapping a gift, revealing moments of strength and a chance to make things right.

It's like sitting by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa—it warms you up and makes you feel cozy inside. It's a reminder that even when life throws a challenge at you, you can turn it into something positive. So, if you're up for a story as hopeful as a Christmas morning, this book could be a great choice for you.

This book was adorable. It was a hallmark movie in writing. It was a feel good, happy ending, cheesy Christmas story that was easy to read and with many lovable characters. The way that New York and the neighborhood is portrayed is slightly comical, it is more like a fantasy novel with how kind and helpful people are! You just need to suspend reality a bit and let the charm and Christmas spirit wash over you. I am now totally ready for a cozy snowy winter day!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for a sneak peek of this new audiobook!

I listened to this audiobook after reading a pretty heavy book and this was just what I needed! I have only read a few of this author's books but I really like her character development, this book was no exception!

Kerry Tolliver returned to her hometown in the mountains of North Carolina after losing her job. She grew up on this Christmas tree farm and every year her dad and brother Murphy would drive hundreds of Christmas trees to New York City. They knew it was there that they would get a good price for the beautiful trees.

This year her father isn’t able to accompany Murphy and so Kerry has to take his place. Her brother drives the tree truck and Kerry drives their small camper (fondly named Spammy because the shape reminded her mother of a canned ham!).

Once set up in Greenwich Village Kerry gets to know a lot of the neighbors. They have been buying their trees from Toliver’s stand for years. One customer and new friend is Patrick, a newly divorced man with a young son who quickly wins over Kerry’s heart. There is obviously chemistry between Patrick and Kerry too!

Kerry is an artist and finds herself sketching scenes around the tree stand. An elderly man stops by occasionally and comments on her art - he knows just the right “tweaks” to make the sketches better.

When this neighbor disappears for a few days, it takes Kerry and her new found friends some time to find him.

This book is about families, both old and new found, trust, love, friendship and a lot of holiday heart. Definitely a great book for holiday gifting!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and look forward to more books from this talented author.

I received the audiobook from the publisher and MacMillan audio through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to listen to and review this title.

This was sweet romantic listen that takes place at Christmas time, but isn’t religious based. Siblings, Kerry and Murphy haven’t been close for many years. She lived with her mom and he lived with his dad when their parents divorced, plus they are truly very different people. When their dad has a health scare Kerry joins her curmudgeon-like brother to leave North Carolina and head to NYC to work their Christmas tree stand that Murphy and his dad manned for years. It was a wonderful story of the siblings reestablishing their relationship as adults, each of them figuring out what they want out of life, discovering their capacity for love and what they truly want during their month long stay in a lovely Manhattan neighborhood and yes they do exist! I truly enjoyed this listen. Great characters and a wonderful storyline. Particularly loved listening to a winter story in the midst of a blistering hot summer. Oh and a seriously great little boy and dog. Who can resist that?

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS is the latest romance by Mary Kay Andrews.

It's a candy-cane sweet, heartfelt story about a brother and sister from North Carolina who end up building a community of friends (and lovers) while they set up temp digs, selling Christmas trees in NYC.

What I loved:
--Great story with good vibes... likeable characters doing good for others.
--How the NYC community came together at the end.
--Short and sweet and easy to follow along. Only 8 hours, so 4-5 if you speed up the audio.

What I didn't love:
--parts of the narration (at times) was just a bit too over-the-top sticky sweet, especially for the character of young Austin


Special thanks for the advanced listener copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via the NetGalley app.

Publishes on September 26 2023

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is putting me in the holiday mood in August, and I can see it being a perfect read or listen this holiday season!

Kerry Tolliver's family sells Christmas trees from their farm every year in New York City. This year, her father is unable to go on the trip due to a heart attack, so she goes to help her brother Murphy. They park a camper along the street and sell their trees in a charming neighborhood full of interesting characters.

The story is charming, lighthearted, and tells of the good in people around the holidays as neighbors help one another out. I loved the descriptions of the wreaths Kerry made, the bitter chill in the air, and the holiday hijinks.

I had access to both the eARC and the audio, and found myself preferring the audio due to the fantastic narrator, Katherine McInerney. She handles the various accents and character voices with aplomb, making for a delightful listening experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Bright Lights, Big City
By: Mary Kay Andrews
5🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

This novel is absolutely charming. Just like her last Christmas novel The Santa Suit I could see this as a Hallmark movie. There is even a mention about that in this Novel.

Kerry Tolliver and her brother head to NYC to sell Christmas Trees from their farm. Every year they have the same spot and bring in much needed money. This year everything is on the line since their dads medical bills are racking up.

Kerry quickly becomes friends with several of the neighbors. This novel is full of charm, hope, family, friends and so much more wrapped up in the perfect bow. This would make the perfect Christmas gift for the readers in your life.

Available Sept 26, 2023 by Mary Kay Andrews. Thank you Netgalley and MacMillian Audio for this advanced audio.

#brightlightsbigcity, #marykayandrews, #macmillanaudio, #netgalley, #friendsandfiction, #audioreview, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #stamperlady50, #stmartinspress

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a charming Christmas book with the potential to be a Hallmark Christmas movie. The story was heartwarming and a great way to start the holiday season. I loved that a small Christmas tree shop from the south would bring people together for the holidays. The amount of compassion and love they had for their neighborhood was heartwarming. The slow-burn romance between Kerry and Patrick was a great addition to the story, and their chemistry felt very natural. Patrick’s son Austin was hands down my favorite character. I did not care for Kerry’s brother. He was a massive ass throughout the book, and I do not think he ever redeemed himself. This book will make you believe in Christmas cheer and uplift your spirits.

I had access to both the kindle and audiobook versions but I loved listening to the audiobook more. Kathleen McIneray did an amazing job at narrating and incorporating all of the different characters.

Thank you to NetGallery and to both St. Martin Press and Macmillan for giving me a copy of the book.

Mary Kay Andrews' newest Chritmas book, Bright Lights, Big Christmas is an absolute delight. It definitely puts you in the holiday spirit by being filled with such a lovely sense of community and wonderful acts of kindness. I highly recommend this go on your Christmas reading list.
Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan audio for the advanced listener copy. Kathleen McIneray does a wonderful job narrating.

Quick Summary: An enchanting general fiction/women's fiction story

My Review: Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews was a standalone novel all about family and community. The story featured two siblings, a sweet six-year old boy and his dad, a darling dog named Queenie, a neighborhood of colorful characters, and a cantankerous, old man with a secret and a heart of gold.

About the Book: The ups and downs of life often have a way of bringing people together. Such was the case with this ragtag group of people.

Favorite Quote: "Friends are the family you choose."

My Final Say: This sweet story took a ba-hum-bug situation, added some Christmas magic, and birthed life into the hearts of some very special people.

Rating: 3.75/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: 🍬💬

Thanks to the author, to the publisher (Macmillan Audio), and to NetGalley for granting access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

Each fall, Jock Tolliver and his son, Murphy, leave their family’s Christmas tree farm in North Carolina to sell trees at their family stand on a corner in New York City. When Jock becomes ill, his daughter, Kerry, agrees to help her gruff older brother sell trees. After losing her job and moving back home, Kerry is ready for a fresh start. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Kerry becomes close with the charming neighbors who live near the stand, including Patrick, a single dad, and his adorable 6-year-old son, Austin.


This was such a cute, feel-good Christmas story! So lightheaded and wholesome. I loved every single character, and by the end of this book they felt like old friends. There were so many heartwarming and humorous moments. This was a quick read that you could easily binge in a day. I can see myself reading this over the holidays with a big mug of hot cocoa.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kathleen McInerney. Her performance was delightful, and she did a fantastic job voicing the full cast of characters, with a wide range of adults and children.

Overall, a fun and unique romance story that I highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh how I love Mary Kay Andrews novels! Bright Lights Big Christmas is another wonderful Christmas story from this author. The storyline is original and I especially enjoyed the captivating New York City characters who were authentic and right on the money.

Even in August, in 100 degree temperatures, it’s a delight to be transported to the mountains of North Carolina &
New York City for a couple of weeks. This is a lovely story of hope and renewal, friends who become family
and the goodwill of pretty much everyone. I highly recommend this story to everyone, but especially to the long
loyal fans of Author Mary Kay Andrews. Also, the Narration by Kathleen McInerney is delightful.
My thanks to St Martin Press and Net Galley for this audiobook copy, in exchange for this honest review..

A new Mary Kay Andrews Christmas novel always means the holidays will be here before you know it. I enjoyed the sweet story of Kerry, who recently lost her job and reluctantly agrees to travel to NYC to help her brother sell Christmas trees from the family Christmas tree farm. Kerry quickly makes friends with those in their neighborhood as the chaos of the holiday season unfolds. Fans of MKA will love this heartwarming story, which is a quick read that is also festive and fun. Many thanks to NetGalley for early access to both the audio book and e-book in exchange for my honest feedback.

What better way to escape a summer heat wave than reading a cozy romance about snowy NYC at Christmastime?
The story follows Kerry Tolliver, coming to the big city from North Carolina to run her family’s Christmas tree stand with her curmudgeon of a brother. Things get off to a rough start, staying in an old camper in the middle of Manhattan and trying to compete with a wholesale corporate tree seller across the street, but some hijinks won’t stop them from making a permanent impact on the local neighborhood. As Kerry adapts to New York, love is not far to follow. This is a sweet story of family (and chosen family) as well as new beginnings, wrapped up in a perfect cozy holiday read. And from kids to adults to an old man, the narrator brings a dynamic performance to all characters.
Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This comes out 9/26!

Kerry Tolliver is struggling to find her place in the world when she’s enlisted to help her brother with their annual Christmas tree sale in New York City. This is a world away from their tree farm in the North Carolina mountains, and it’s not an easy transition, especially given a tumultuous relationship with her brother. But it turns out it might be just the change that Kerry needs. She feels a creative spark ignite, helping take the struggling business in a newer, better direction, and she also finds herself surrounded by a community into which she quickly, delightedly is welcomed.

Hijinks ensue, romance abounds, friends gather, family finds shared ground.

This is a light, wholesome Christmas story- and for me a great holiday-escape-in-August after a couple weightier reads.

Thank you Mary Kay Andrews, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS was a delight to listen to. I enjoyed Kerry's character the most, she was compassionate and caring of others and it showed throughout the story. I also liked that she took a leap of faith and decided to pursue her real passion. Of course, what else would make a holiday story better than a sweet romance added in. I thought Patrick and Kerry were just the cutest couple!! If you enjoy a story that makes you smile and laugh, you'll love this one. It's a perfect story for the holiday season.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for my gifted ALC.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

Kerry recently lost her job where she was an Art Director so this winter season, she is going off to New York City with her older brother, Murphy, to see Christmas Trees from their family farm. They share a tiny camper that the kitchen and bathroom do not work on, and there is very little space. Leading up to the Christmas holiday, Kerry gets to know the people in the neighborhood and really forms a bond with them. Specifically, with a single dad, Patrick, and his son, Austin, who she will be really sad to leave behind. Will she make strong enough connections to want to stay forever?

I loveeee Mary Kay Andrews and Big Lights, Big Christmas was excellent. The character development was great and I loved seeing the friendship between the two siblings grow and improve. The romance side stories were small but Kerry and Murphy both had the love story with more focus on Kerry’s. I also loved how Kerry cared about the old man, Heinz, and how he loosened up to let her in and care for him.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews
Narrated by Kathleen McInerney
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Women's Fiction
Expected Publication Date: September 26, 2023

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a standalone Christmas romance by Mary Kay Andrews and is a must read for 2023!

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were interesting, the story was fascinating and I felt like I was a part of the neighborhood in New York! I was captivated by this book! It's a fun Christmas story and I look forward to re-reading it this holiday season! This is a heartwarming book that I didn't want to put down!

I loved the narration by Kathleen McInerney. She did a great job bringing the story to life!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.