Wholesome, bright, and full of well-rounded characters, Hallmark’s A Novel Noel is gorgeous through and through. Starring Julie Gonzalo and Brendan Penny, in true Miracles of Christmas fashion, the movie is all heart as it explores the importance of slowing down and processing the little things to heal from heartbreaks.
There’s plenty to appreciate about the story here, but more importantly, there’s much to take away from the characters. The capitalist society we live in demands that human beings sell their souls for the jobs they love, and more often than not, we forget the losses that come from over-saturation. Slowing down matters, and it especially matters when people are hurting. To avoid spoilers, I’ll refrain from discussing the revelation that occurs toward the end of the film, but Harper’s character journey results in some of the most relatable storytelling within holiday films this year.
There’s no message quite as universal as the regrets from our past coming to haunt us around the holidays—the burnout, the sorrows, and the unfortunate pain of falling out of love with the careers we worked unquestionably hard for. Hallmark’s A Novel Noel brings all of this to the forefront as Harper (Gonzalo) takes a much-needed holiday and temporarily leaves her publishing gig behind to work at a small bookstore instead. There, she meets Sawyer (Penny), and the two naturally develop an easy friendship despite their stark differences. The chemistry between Gonzalo and Penny is one thing that makes the relationship believable, but the warmth threading the characters together in the writing is another. Midway into the film, we learn that he’s a writer, and fate is a lovely little thing when invisible strings are involved.
Initially, Harper doesn’t tell anyone that she’s a successful editor, which causes an understandable frustration on Sawyer’s part, but the movie wastes no time drawing out the conflict, and instead, it utilizes the development to fortify their teamwork. It gives their friendship even more spark as it allows them to become a unit, resulting in the kind of buildup that actively shows the audience why they’re worth rooting for as a couple.
And interestingly, some time passes before they really get together, revealing how it all happens when both characters are ready for the type of commitment that’ll ensure they last. Hallmark’s A Novel Noel digs deep into character journeys, and through this, it allows viewers to get to know them both on satisfying levels. More often than not, I’m left wanting to see couples have simple conversations where they learn more about each other, yet here, I’m fully satisfied with so much of what we see, making it feel like we get to sit with these characters longer than the hour and half of its runtime.
Simultaneously, because of these conversations, every minute of the movie feels like the cozy type of escape that romance novels often tend to give readers and that’s an easy win in my book. There’s much to appreciate as we explore grief, heartaches, and longing, resulting in a comforting experience as we watch two people find the type of partner who’ll be their biggest champion. The movie also features a wholesome bingo game that’s especially satisfying when we understand how important it is for both characters to let go and have some fun.
Hallmark’s A Novel Noel doesn’t merely shine in the romance department but in the community we uncover in this small town and its locals. A large part of the appeal in small town romances is the found families, and here, the movie is brimming with layered and lovely characters. It’s easy to see why both Harper and Sawyer are able to find a reprieve around the friends who care for them, making all the joyous moments even more exciting.
What we get in this film feels like a warm blanket and your beverage of choice, and it’s entirely because the characters feel familiar to us. The set locations are also lovely, and every storyline is thoughtfully presented to give viewers something wholesome to hang onto.
Watch A Novel Noel on the Hallmark Channel this Christmas.
First Featured Image | Official Poster Credit: ©Hallmark