Review: Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Lisa McCarthy
Ah, the holiday season—where the scent of pine mingles with the aroma of hot chocolate, and every book cover seems like it’s promising a cozy escape. I picked up Bright Lights, Big Christmas, by Lisa McCarthy, expecting a delightful romp through festive cheer. I mean, who doesn’t want to be swept away by a heartwarming story that twinkles like Christmas lights? Unfortunately, dear friends, what I encountered was less “jingle bells” and more “jingle hell.”
I find it hard to even call this book a story; to put it mildly, I DNF’d it at 60%. It’s not that I came in with high expectations, but I was willing to invest my time into whatever cheerful tale awaited. Instead, what I got was a blighted narrative that has me questioning my very sanity and, dare I say it, my love for holiday reads.
Let’s dive into the murky depths of the plot, if you can call it that. Established problems like saving a family farm, which could have spurred a genuine emotional connection between two estranged siblings, were resolved not through heart and hard work, but rather by sheer luck—an influencer stumbles upon their Christmas tree stand and poof! Suddenly, their financial woes vanish. I found this twist bewildering; it robbed the story of its potential and left me wishing for some depth. It’s like building a gingerbread house and forgetting the frosting altogether.
The characters, Kerry and Patrick, felt flat and uninspiring. Kerry, our supposed protagonist, has a lackluster connection with her surroundings and hardly grows, which left me scratching my head. And then there’s Patrick—whose name alone seemed designed to evoke indifference. Their romantic encounters were awkward to the point of cringe, and through it all, I found myself longing for a plot twist worthy of a holiday movie. Instead, I felt like I was watching a shoddy rehearsal rather than a heartwarming performance.
One moment that I found particularly perplexing involved their “dates,” which were less like charming explorations of budding love and more akin to a horror-comedy sketch gone wrong: exchanging two sentences before one of them exited the scene? Really? That paired with the baffling backdrop of their second date—a trailer named Spammy—with an eight-year-old nearby made my head spin. Did I mention reading this was more akin to encountering a live turkey at a holiday table than a sweet romance?
Honestly, the writing felt rushed, as if McCarthy herself was racing against the clock of the impending holiday. The pacing flitted about erratically, not landing long enough to build meaningful tension or connection.
So, who might enjoy Bright Lights, Big Christmas? Honestly, I can’t say with certainty. If you’re a fan of holiday romances where love is hardly at the forefront and storylines meander aimlessly, you might find solace here. For the rest of us? We may want to sit this one out and savor our cocoa in peace.
As for me, this experience left me contemplating other holiday reads, feeling a mix of disappointment and relief that I could finally close the book on this festive flop. Here’s hoping my next holiday pick will rekindle the spirit of cheer I so eagerly sought.
Have you picked up any of McCarthy’s works before? I’d love to hear your thoughts—preferably about the good ones!
Discover more about Bright Lights, Big Christmas on GoodReads >>