I loved this book! I've always been a fan of Mary Kay Andrews and her Christmas themed books are among my favorites. For a book to be set in New York, she managed to make it read like a small town
setting with the book focusing on what happened on one little corner in one neighborhood. All the Hallmark Christmas vibes without the cringe factor. Characters were likeable and just enough romance. Spammy, their streamline trailer, will forever be in my brain.

A good Christmas story that has Kerry leaving the mountains of North Carolina to help her family with the Christmas tree sales in New York City at the lot that they have. Here brother is gruff at times but does have a friend that Kerry gets him to dress up for, which is something better than his normal working on the tree farm attire, Along the way she meets Patrick a single father and his son, and becomes attached to them though she does not want to. This is a wonderful story with many different characters that come to the lot and just interact with them I found this all very helpful for the story and cannot image the time the author took in keeping all of it like a real lot and the people that would come through. A very good book and worth the read any time of year.

The Tolliver Christmas Tree stand will make you feel like you are in a small town within the big city of New York. This book was such a cozy winter read. I love that it mixed in friendship, love, and the holidays. This was such a feel good book!

I just adore Mary Kay Andrew's books and this one is no exception. Bright Lights, Big Christmas was a fun, sweet, and heartwarming read. I loved the change of scenery from the south and could almost taste the snow in the air as I read. The ending left me wanting to know more! I hope Ms. Andrews will one day return us to this close knit NYC neighborhood so we can catch up with what Kerry, Patrick, Austin, and Heinz are up to!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. All words and opinions are my own.

This was a heartwarming, sweet story that embodied the spirit of the Christmas season.. like a cup of warm hot cocoa on a snowy day.

The Tolliver family owns a tree farm in North Carolina. During the Christmas season, the family takes the trees to New York to be sold. For part of her childhood, Kerry, her brother Murphy, and her parents lived in an old camper they parked in front of the tree stand during the selling season. Kerry hasn't made the trip since her parents divorced many years ago. Her father and Murphy run the farm in North Carolina now and travel to New York to sell the trees during the holiday season. However this year, Kerry's father is recovering from a heart attack and can't make the trip. The endeavor requires two people and Murphy needs his sister's help. Kerry hates the idea of being around her cranky older brother and staying in a nasty old camper for weeks. But since she was recently fired from her job, and the trees need to be sold in order to keep the farm going, Kerry agrees. When the two finally make it to New York, a car is parked in the space they need to park the camper. It's the first of many upsets and Kerry wonders how she'll be able to manage her time in the city. But little does she know that the time spent selling trees in New York this Christmas will change her life forever. Bright Lights, Big Christmas is an easy and enjoyable holiday read by Mary Kay Andrews.
I was given an ARC of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews is perfect for a cozy winter night with a blanket and hot cocoa by the fire. It's a lovely story about romance but also about family and finding your way when you're down. The characters are likeable for the most part. The only exception was the brother and in a longer book I would have liked to see him have some growth. I have been a fan of MKA for many years and will continue to pick up everything she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews in exchange for an honest review.

I looooooved this, right until the end. Too abrupt and cheesy for me.
I ADORED Heinz. He was probably my favorite of the book.
I did not love Kerry's brother and found him to be a jerk. I could have done w/o him or with some redeeming arc for him.
I liked Kerry and Patrick together, but it was a little too insta love.

An adorable Christmas book that wraps you in a warm blanket with a cup of hot cocoa.

This is 100% a feel good story - think Hallmark holiday movie. Girl gets fired from job, moved back home only to be sent to NYC to help brother sell Christmas trees to save the tree farm.

I loved some of the side characters/stories and could see this develop almost more of a story about Heinz and our MFC personal/professional growth. (honestly, that might have been more captivating than the mini romance story).

The first 1/2 or so of the book was slow moving; I wasn't sure what direction we were going or how it was all going to fit together, however it picked up near the last 1/3 of the book and was overall a sweet holiday read.

Bright Lights Big Christmas is a wonderful Christmas story that brings all the right feelings.
The story takes place in NYC and the main character ,Kerry , has lost her job and is working with her brother to sell Christmas trees from their family farm in New York. A lovely story not just about love but relationships among family and friends. A perfect Christmas read !
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

MKA & a holiday read= recipe for success. This book started out a little slow and I wasn’t getting invested with the characters. Something about Murphy & Kerry’s dynamic I didn’t love. Once Heinz was brought in and the mystery with him started up, I was hooked. It had a good “found family” feel for the holiday season. Another great one by MKA, but I am anxious for her next Summer book.

This book is SO sweet! Small town vibes. Christmas tree farm (+family business). Adorable side characters.

I really enjoyed it and loved the little connections to The Santa Suit!

Kerry Tolliver is at a crossroads in her life and heads back to the family Christmas tree farm to reinvent herself. When she is sent with her brother to New York City to set up their annual Christmas tree stand, Kerry is forced into living in an old camper where she must rely on the local neighbors and store owners for her livelihood.

If you are looking for a Hallmark movie wrapped up in a delightful book, Bright Lights, Big Christmas is the perfect Christmas book for you. I loved every second of it. Thank you NetGalley for such a wonderful holiday read.

I absolutely loved the way that the little area of NYC was written in this book. It seemed whimsical and dreamy and all the neighbors were so nice and friendly. And I have to call BS on that, because I don’t know anywhere in NYC that you can park Spammy and plug up somewhere and have all these connections for showers, food, etc. But in the spirit of Christmas I am going with it. It felt magical. I can always count on Mary Kay Andrews to bring a solid read.

Bottom Line: Read it

**I received a copy of Bright Lights, Big Christmas from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

This book just wasn't for me. I didn't love any of the characters. It was set in the city as Christmas approaches and a brother and sister team are selling Christmas trees. There was some romance and a sense of community.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of Bright Lights, Big Christmas.
Mary Kay Andrews has written another cozy Christmas hit! Taking a bit of a different approach from the small town setting, this book is set in New York City.
The Tolliver family owns a Christmas tree farm in Tarburton, NC. (If you have read The Santa Suit, you will recognize the town.) Each year, Murphy Tolliver and his dad travel to New York City to sell their Christmas trees, an undertaking that keeps their farm in the black each year. But, this year, Murphy's sister, Kerry, fills in for their ailing father. From day one in the Big Apple, they encounter various obstacles. Tension between the siblings, parking issues, and a group of thugs selling their own trees threaten the Tolliver's livelihood and they have to figure out how to work together, and outsmart the bad guys, to earn enough to save their farm. The neighborhood characters they meet along the way add color and flavor to this fun holiday story.

If you like Hallmark Christmas movies you will most likely enjoy this book as well. It was cute and just the perfect read around the holidays. The author was able to create this small town atmosphere even though the story took place at a New York street corner.

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Bright Lights, Big Christmas combines two of my favorite ideas in a novella: Christmas and NYC. New York plays a key character in this fun and meaningful story by Mary Kay Andrews. Every fall, Kerry's father and brother pack up their vintage camper to bring their Christmas tree farm to the Village to sell their prized trees. This year, Kerry and her brother Murphy's father is sick and unable to make the trip. Kerry has to step in and drive their trailer, Spammy, to New York where Murphy has set up shop in their yearly lot. Dealing with losing her job as a designer and her long-term relationship Kerry is glad to have the distraction-but wary about spending this time with her estranged brother. Arriving in New York, it is clear Murphy has made connections from all the years spent selling trees with their father. When handsome Patrick and his adorable son meet Kerry sparks fly as much as Kerry tries to fight it. To pass the time selling trees, Kerry takes up sketching again and meets a rather rough critic, an elderly neighbor. When he goes missing, Kerry and Patrick won't give up finding him. This is a season of miracles and the cast of loveable neighbors rounds out this charming story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

This is such a charming, lovely read for the holiday season. Mary Kay Andrews at her best. This is a book that everyone could read and enjoy. It has just the right amount of love, romance, charm, and mystery. Highly recommend.

I'm a huge fan of Mary Kay Andrews and generally love anything she writes, but this wasn't a favorite of mine. It reads like a short story — straight to the point and without a nuanced plot. I get it's a holiday story, but I was still expecting a little more. Obviously, this wasn't for me, but I remain a fan of hers and will continue to read literally anything she publishes.