Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my copy of Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews Narrated by Kathleen McInerney in exchange for an honest review. It published September 26, 2023.
First off, narration was really well-done.
This book was really cute, sweet, and I loved the character development. I loved the found-family aspect, and the whole Christmas tree farm was fun too! Definitely a great read for Christmas!

Kerrie and Murphy are Christmas tree sellers from a tree farm in South Carolina. Selling trees on a corner in NYC.
They find love and friendships like family in the big city. Such a cozy and heart warming story.
Thank you NetGalley , Mary Kay Andrews and Harper publishing for the chance to read this delightful story in exchange for my unbiased review.

I think this just wasn't the book for me. Although it was exactly what it intended to be, I failed to connect with the characters or the story.

Mary Kay Andrews does it again! This was such a fun and wholesome holiday story.

Synopsis:
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?

This book gave me all of the warm and fuzzy Christmas feelings. I really liked the premise of the book which is kind of opposite to most holiday reads - a small town girl falls in love with the big city. Sometimes the big city isn't all that bad.

I also really enjoyed the little link to Andrews' other holiday novel: The Santa Suit. I got so excited to hear a bit of that story told and roped in to this one,

Overall this book had everything I was looking for in a holiday read. It had Christmas trees and snowy days, but also has many characters to warm your heart. I also always enjoy Andrews' style of writing.

This one is a hit with me and one I hope you will add to your TBR!

Absolutely loved it. The perfect book to get you in the Christmas spirit. A found family novel full of holiday cheer with just a smidge of romance to top it off.
🎄
Read if you love:
* found family
* family business
* big city vibes
* sweet children
* grumpy old people

“Bright Lights Big Christmas is me, offering my readers a hot cocoa hug of a happy holiday story.” ~Mary Kay Andrews

This book was exactly that…”a hot cocoa hug”!

Andrews gave me two of my favorite things during the Holidays….North Carolina and New York City! There is just something so magical about New York City during the Holiday season and so enchanting about a family run Christmas tree farm in North Carolina. Mary Kay Andrews was able to give us both of these in this beautiful Christmas story.

Spoiler-free synopsis…
Imagine growing up in North Carolina where your family owns a Christmas tree farm. In November, you take your trees up to New York City, where you will be able to sell your trees at the family stand on a corner in Greenwich Village, all while sharing a little vintage camper with your brother and his dog, Queenie! In the weeks leading into Christmas, you quickly become close with the charming neighbors who live near the stand.

This book was just sparkling with Christmas magic!

I fell in love with all of the characters, but I really enjoyed the brother-sister story line along with “Spammy”, the tiny vintage camper that they call home in the Greenwich Village while they sell Christmas trees!

This was a Christmas tale about family, fr-amily and second chances. It was a sweet and heartwarming story that will make you want to jump on a plane and head to NYC (or drive up in “Spammy”).

Thank you NetGalley for the gifted copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review! I really enjoyed this one on audio! The narrator, Kathleen McInerney, was wonderful!

4/5 joyful stars🎄🎄🎄🎄 for me.

I was happy to pick up Mary Kay Andrews' new novel "Bright Lights, Big Christmas." As a big fan of Mary Kay Andrews, her latest book has warmed my heart, just like her previous novels. The story takes place in a big and cold New York City, where Kerry reunites with her brother Murphy to save their family business. However, in true MKA fashion, the siblings achieve much more than simply selling off their Christmas trees. The big city also gives them an opportunity to find love, help a friend in need, and establish a new future.

This holiday read is an absolute must-read that will warm your heart and rekindle your hope for the season. The beautifully crafted plot and well-developed characters make this romantic novel an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Thank you, NetGalley, for a free and advanced copy of this novel.

🎄Bright Lights Big Christmas🎄

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Genre: Contemporary Romance

If you are looking for a feel good, cozy Christmas read, this is your book! Sit next to a fire with a hot Cocoa with this book and thank me later.

Kerry Tolliver lives on a Christmas tree farm (que Christmas Tree Farm by Taylor swift), and heads to Greenwich Village in New York to set up a corner stand and sell their Christmas trees to the community with her brother, as her dad is too sick to sell this year. Kerry fully expected to hate the experience, but the more she immersed herself into the local community, and put her own spin on the Christmas tree business by making made to order fresh wreaths, she started to feel at home. Not to mention the hot single dad and his son who took an interest in Kerry early on in the book.

I felt all the christmassy feels reading this short novel. At only 288 pages, this is the perfect book to immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit, and to finish your end of the year reading goal. The relationship formed between Kerry and Patrick was so sweet, but I think I loved Patrick’s son, Austin, even more.
Mary Kay Andrews expertly made a hallmark movie into a short read that made me feel so good and in the Christmas spirit by the end of it.

Mary Kay Andrews never lets you down! This is such a great Christmas read! I enjoyed the tree lot and the vibe of the neighborhood and it’s residents. It’s the perfect small town Christmas in the big city book.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for giving the chance to listen to this audiobook.

I know I can always count on Mary Kay Andrews for a light, heartwarming story, and this book was no different. It got me into the holiday spirit and was a quick listen, what more could I ask for!

This was a cute feel good Christmas romance. There wasn't much of a romance plot/obstacle outside of her needing to go back home. I wish there was a bit more of a challenge in their relationship. I really enjoyed the storyline of the old man and I think is something that many people see and experience with their grandparents. This book ties together love around the holidays despite hardships they may have experienced (divorced parents/non-accepting families/etc).

I loved the narrator of this audiobook. Normally I feel indifferent to narrators, but she sold the story and fit the character with a sweet southern voice.

The Tolliver Christmas Tree Farm has been setting up in Greenwich Village for decades. But it’s been a decade or so since Kerry Tolliver has had to head up to New York City to sell trees for the Christmas season. After the loss of her job and her father’s heart attack, Kerry is enlisted to help her brother Murphy not only sell trees but also come up with new ideas to breathe life back into the family business. Along the way she befriends those in the neighborhood and might just find her next adventure.

I loved the cast of characters I met within these pages! While Kerry was a warm and relatable lead, I did feel she and Murphy came off as much younger than they actually were. They’re said to be in their mid-30’s but they felt more in their early to mid-20s. It may have been just the audio narration making them seem that way, but that was really my only compliant with the story.

This was the perfect audiobook to listen to while we put up our Christmas tree this year. In traditional Mary Kay Andrews fashion, Bright Lights, Big Christmas was such a heartwarming story to read. It has a great balance of romance, light humor, and of course Christmas spirit. Once again, I’m left dreaming, I grew up on a Christmas Tree farm and of course loved the small ode to The Santa Suit.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is out now. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and MacMillan Audio for my advanced copies in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas has all the necessary ingredients for a feel-good holiday read.

The story takes us to an idyllic NYC neighborhood with small-town vibes. The people there watch out for each other and offer help when needed.

The one drawback was that Kerry’s brother Murphy behaved like a total asshat, but only, apparently, to her. I didn’t understand the hostility, and his gruffness along with her sickly-sweet tolerance grated on me.

I absolutely loved Klein’s character. His side story made up for Murphy’s idiotic behavior.

I listened to the audiobook, and Kathleen McInerney’s narration kept me thoroughly engaged.

*Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free download.*

🎧Song Pairing: Bright Lights, Bigger City - CeeLo Green

💭What I thought would happen:

MKA writes cutie cute stories that are right to the point. Knew it would be the perfect holiday book to start with

📖What actually happens:

Kerry hasn’t helped her family sell their premium Christmas trees in NYC for a long while. Her father’s heart attack kickstarted her life.

She meets the most beautiful vibrant characters. People who have a supported their family business for years. She meets Patrick, a single dad with a precocious son and now fears she won’t be able to leave them.

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

AWEEEEEEE!!! My little shrivelled heart just grew a size or 2 (yes I am Dr Suess😂)

I crushed this in a day. A perfect listen all day and enjoy book. I loved that it referenced The Santa Suit💚

This book has everything:
🩵Single daddy
🎄CHRISTMAS TREES
🩷Found Family
🗽NYC Setting
🤍Instant Love (done well - a bit impulsive but it’s Christmas)

This was the perfect Christmas book! I loved how it had mention of Santa Suit. It gave me warm and cozy hallmark movie vibes! This is definitely a book I’d read again around Christmas time. I loved the narrator and the way she brought the story to life!

This is the perfect Christmas read! Wonderful characters, touching story and a Happy Ending! What could be better at the Holidays? Loved it!!

This was such a delightful quick read! This was my first one i read for the holiday season and it did not disappoint!

How on earth could I pass up reading Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews with a title that is a play on a favourite Def Leppard lyric? I simply couldn't!

This book is absolutely adorable, and I loved it for exactly what it is! I've always wanted to travel to New York City at Christmas time, and this story instantly transported me there. It made my grinchy heart grow and really put me in the Christmas spirit - even without any snow outside!

The audiobook narrator (Kathleen McInerney) really brought Kerry to life and off the page. Her voice added additional warmth to the story and added to my enjoyment as a whole! I highly recommend getting your hands on the audiobook version this holiday season!

There's so much coziness within this book:
-atmosphere that oozed a piney scent
-Spammy, the trailer, had me longing for camping season
-community and found family that gave me all the feels
-small town underdogs that travel to the big city
-no third act breakup

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is cute, charming, and cheery!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

This was a cute book. I loved the setting in NY, during Christmas time, and the coziness of it all. It was very wholesome and sweet! The love story was cute as well.

I love Mary Kay Andrews and she didn’t disappoint with this heart-warming tale of love and trees at Christmas time. I loved all the characters! This is a quick, light-hearted story that will be sure to get you in the Christmas Spirit. The narrator was perfection and I would definitely recommend listening to this one.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.