Bright Lights, Big Christmas

Another homerun from MKA! This warm and cozy novel would be right at home on the Hallmark Channel!

After being downsized, Kerry is living with her mom in rural NC when she is tapped to travel with her brother (who she hardly knows) to NYC to help with the family's Christmas tree lot. Between developing a friendship with a young boy and mysterious old man, and of course, a wonderful love interest, Kerry quickly realizes the magic of NYC at Christmas - and begins to regain her self-confidence!

As one had come to expect from MKA books, I loved the characters, relationship-building, and plot development. And of course, the laughs. I loved this book and can't wait to read it again at Christmas!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

While I wish I read it closer to the holidays it was the perfect escape. Heartwarming and a touch of a slowburn. MKA never disappoints!

I think this might be my favorite one yet! I love the characters and MKA really makes you feel the history and love in them all! I would love to see another book, I just couldn’t get enough! I haven’t stayed up this late to finish a book in a long time!!

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.

Mary Kay Andrews is a long time favorite author, and this book didn't disappoint. It's a sweet, romantic, holiday piece of women's fiction. Kerry is at odds in life, and a month in the city living in a camper teaches her some big lessons about her life and future. A cheery, lighthearted, quick read.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas is a warm and cozy read. Kerry and her brother Murphy travel to New York City after her father takes ill to sell Christmas trees. They are coming from their tree farm in North Carolina. You will love the characters from the neighborhood and how they take care of each other. This book has a little bit of everything from drama, romance and some Christmas magic. I enjoyed this book very much. Mary Kay Andrews delivers another winner. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the E-ARC. This is my own opinion.

📚Book Review 📚
Bright Lights, Big Christmas
by Mary Kay Andrews
Pub Date 9/26/23

Kerry Tolliver, a recent out of work artist and graphic designer, is needed to help out with her family’s Christmas tree farm since her father is recovering from a heart attack. Each year they travel to Greenwich Village to sell their trees on a corner. Their travel trailer nicknamed Spammy is where they sleep. Kerry’s brother is the gruff sort and they haven’t spent much time together since they were children. Memories of when her family was together and she was young come back to her.

The neighbors are like family. Kerry comes to love the neighborhood and especially single Dad, Patrick, and his son Austin. Elderly neighbor, Heinz, is also an artist and needs help that he denies at first.

I loved this cute story about family, friends, neighbors, and taking chances. A great read. I look forward to reading more Mary Kay Andrews.

Thank you @netgalley @marykayandrews and @stmartinspress for an electronic book ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Mary Kay Andrews delivers another great holiday novel with Bright Lights Big Christmas.

The story is about Kerry Tolliver who returns to her small town after her big city job is eliminated by a company buy out and merger. She is needed to help with the family Christmas tree farm after her father suffers a heart attack. She is to spend three weeks with her brother Murphy, whom she hasn’t really been around since her parents divorced when she was seven and who lived with her father while she stayed with their mother.

Being forced to live in a small RV, nicknamed Spammy, Kerry and Murphy are forced to work on their relationship all while trying to sell their Christmas trees to save the farm. Literally.

Their relationships with the residents of the New York City neighborhood help them with basic needs, have friendships with Murphy and Kerry and show the spirit of friendship and community.

While Kerry is there, she develops a special bond with Patrick and his son, Patrick. She helps the neighbor Heinz.

This is a sweet book that would be a perfect holiday read.

I was given this ARC by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Kerry Tolliver, newly unemployed, agrees to help her family's farm, and sell their Christmas trees at their usual stand in New York City. For the next few weeks, she will live in a tiny vintage camper with her gruff older brother (and his dog Queenie).

When a secretive elderly neighbor goes missing with the holidays fast approaching, Kerry discovers that the friends she's made in this tiny corner of the city have become family . . . and maybe more . . .

Mary Kay Andrews is the new reigning queen of Christmas, and this story will help her cement that status. Heartwarming and quirky, Bright Lights, Big Christmas explores all the ways that families are forged. Highly recommended. #Bright Lights, Big Christmas #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthors

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader copy of this book.

In Bright Lights, Big Christmas, Kerry takes the place of her ailing father, selling Christmas trees in New York City with her grumpy brother.

I loved every moment of reading this book. Kerry is a comfortable character, plucky and upbeat, the type of person you'd love to have as your best friend. She immerses herself in a difficult situation with a good attitude and an open mind, and I loved discovering Greenwich Village and it's people through her eyes. The secondary characters were well-developed and vivid, and I fell in love with them as much as Kerry.

Christmas books can be hit or miss for me--either too much 'festivities' to the point the book lacks plot and feels kitschy, or too little, so it doesn't carry the Christmas golden glow you're hoping for. I thought Big Lights, Big Christmas hit just the right balance, putting me in a festive mood in the middle of a June heat wave. Andrews nailed the outer joy of Christmas, but also the inner, more important spirit of Christmas, and quite poignantly, too.

This was a nice, fast-paced easy read. Now to go read all of Mary Kay Andrews' Christmas book backlist!

Reading this book is like walking in a winter wonderland! The Tollivers have had a Christmas tree lot set up in New York for years. Kerry has to help her brother this year. Not much is better than New York but New York at Christmas? I couldn’t get enough! This book will make you want to cozy up by the fire and read all night! Loved it! And to tie in Santa Bob from The Santa Suit? Perfection!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martian’s Press for this ARC. You are definitely going to want to preorder this one!