Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas

I do love a Christmas thing - Hallmark movie, yes! Christmas in July, yes! Contemporary Romance set at Christmas time, you bet! And I go in with expectations for sure. To be clear, I don’t mind the cliches; they are part of what I love. The really cool thing about Mary Kay Andrews’ Bright Lights, Big Christmas is that she exceeds all of the Christmas genre expectations.

Kerry Tolliver has been hiding out at her family’s farm in North Carolina since she lost her job and has zero desire to travel with her brother gruff Murphy to sell Christmas trees in New York City. She has to live in a broken down travel trailer using the bathrooms of nearby businesses and apartments. But her dad is recovering from a health event, and she just can’t say no to her mom.

Cue the lovely corner tree lot, the handsome nearby apartment dweller, the helpful community of neighbors, an adorable little boy, and a mysterious artist. Let the magic begin. I love how the relationships develop between Kerry and the others. Seeing her creativity inspired through wreath making and illustrating is a delight. And while it is a lovely romance, the romance is not necessarily front and center. Kerry finding herself, learning to love her December neighbors, and trusting her instincts are. An intriguing mystery surrounding Heinz - who shows up to help Kerry rediscover her art - develops. (I confess, a small part of me wanted him to be Santa.) Along the way, Christmas is a delightful part of the setting.

So. If you love all things Christmas, this book is for you (maybe I’ll spend a December in NYC sometime?). If you are worried that this book will be formulaic and not transcend Christmas, do not. This book is for you. If you are facing change, if you want a burst of courage to pursue your dreams, if you love to watch friendships develop and love a neighborhood as a character, this book is for you. I am not as familiar with Andrews’ work as I intend to become.

I’m thinking that the creative piece is what works the most for me in this novel. I find myself just a tad envious that Kerry recognizes the importance of reaching for dreams at such a young age. Do things come together nicely for her to support that, yes, but certainly in part because she steps outside of her comfort zones again and again, and looks beyond herself to care for Heinz. I am certain I can’t be reminded enough that if you put good into the world, good likely will come back. I’ve also been thinking so much lately about what to keep and what to discard (Those thoughts coming in spades.) People have tried to shame me for my love of all things Christmas (mostly the movies, but also the books); I think I’ll keep that love alive. Thanks Bright Lights, Big Christmas and Mary Kay Andrews.

Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.