Every winter the Toliver Family head to NYC from their tree farm in Tarburton, North Carolina to sell their beloved Fraser Fir trees in time for Christmas. The annual sojourn is usually made by Murphy and his father Jock in his rusting 1982 Ford F-150 with a vintage fifteen-foot travel trailer hooked up behind it. The 1962 Shasta trailer was fondly referred to as Spammy and has made the 700 mile trip the day after Thanksgiving for the past 40 years where it would be parked in the West Village of NYC.

This year Jock had a heart attack and would not be able to making the trip with his son Murphy, 39 years-old so it was strongly suggested by their mother Roberta "Birdie" Toliver that 34 year-old Kerry Clare Toliver accompany her brother. Kerry had been vague when she moved home a few months prior from Charlotte where she worked in human resources until a merge rendered her position "redundant". Since her boyfriend, Blake, "ghosted" her there was nothing keeping her there so she returned home to live with Birdie. She barely knew her brother since her parents divorced when she was 7 years-old and Murphy stayed to live with their father on the farm.

It's a humorous story about a new experience for Kerry who enjoyed the trip more than she imagined. From cleaning out the nest of mice in the camper's sleeping loft to the Google map plan of a 10-hour drive and then finding parking in the Big Apple! After Kerry recovers from the culture shock, she falls into a routine with Murphy selling trees and getting to know the locals that have helped the Toliver's over the years. Clare befriends Austin, the 10 year-old son of Patrick, a divorced father sharing custody with his ex-wife. There is a colorful cast of characters which provide drama and humor a long the way.

A fun holiday read. ( )

Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Genre: Romance
Trope: Holiday

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑰𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆:
🎄 Cozy Christmas Reads
🥰 Heartwarming
🫶 Found Family
🗽NYC
💙Southern Charm
🐾 Book doggos
🌹Wholesome Romance

𝑶𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
This is perfect if you’re looking for cozy light holiday read with a wholesome romance element. I really enjoyed 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘵 by this same author this time last year. When I saw she had another holiday book to come out this year, I knew I had to get my hands on it!

Though set in NYC, this book still has a southern charm to it as Murphy and Kerry are visiting from North Carolina to their Christmas trees. The characters are all heartwarming, even the rough and tough Murphy! I even love the grumpy old man!

My only criticism is that while I really enjoyed the romance between Kerry and Patrick - the development of their romance felt rather abrupt to me. Regardless, I thought they were adorable together!

If you’re looking for a wholesome, feel good, Christmas read I recommend you check out 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴, 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 or 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘵! ( )

Book: Bright Lights, Big Christmas
Author: Mary Kay Andrews
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Stars5/5

Kerry and Murthy’s parents own a Christmas Tree Farm
in North Carolina and each year the family heads to
New York City to sell the trees.

Kerry is newly “self-employed” and ends up helping
her brother Murphy sell the trees after her father is not
able to make the trip north. Kelly and Murphy have
been estranged but slowly they start to become family
again. As Kelly and Murphy set up shop this the small
quaint neighborhood in New York, Kelly starts see the
people who live in the neighborhood as people. These
residents have been loyal customers for years and
Kerry starts to meets new friends. One of those she
meets is Patrick, a single dad yo his son Austin.
Sparks unite between Patrick and Kelly and as Kelly
becomes more enamored with Patrick she must decide
before Christmas arrives what she really wants. Does
she stay or go?

There are many sweet sub characters in the book such
as an elderly neighbor named Heinz who has some
secrets of his own. The sub- chararacters that Mary
Kay Andrews has uses in this book are very likable and
charming.

As usual, Mary Kay Andrews had a hit on her hands.
This book is very uplifting and a delight to read. This
is such a sweet book for the holidays and I will enjoy
adding it to my holiday bookshelf.

Thank you @netgalley for ARC, to @stmartinspress for
once again publishing a wonderful Mary Kay Andrews
novel and lastly to @marykayandrews for once again
writing a fantastic book.


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#ChristmasRomance, #ChristmasBooks,
#RomanceNovels, #HolidayRomance, #HolidayReads,
#ChristmasLove, #RomanticBooks #bookstagram
#bookish #instabooks #ilovebooks #readinglist
#bookblog #readmore #reads #currentread
#booknerdigan #readingaddict #avidreader #newread
#readallthebooks #booksta #booksandbooks
#readaholic #booksparks #booksarelife #bibliophile
#bookwormlife #reader #beautifulbooks
#bookphotograph #bibliophile, #RomanticChristmas,
#ChristmasStories, #RomanceBooks ( )

I generally enjoyed this light, easy, mostly happy book. But...sometimes when I'm finished with a book and read through some of the reviews I wonder if they read the same book as me. Let's take Patrick. Where is his personality? I know he has a kid, an ex-wife and a Mercedes. That is not a personality. I would give away too many plot points if I said more...but Patrick and the void where his personality should be bothered me. ( )

Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy. It was fun to read a Christmas book in July. Cute but sorta predictable story about family and love with a happy ending. ( )