Review

A Novel Noel: A Love Story That Reads Like a Holiday Card

In the cinematic universe where snowy romances never melt and love is always just a snowball fight away, "A Novel Noel" turns the dial up to twelve on the Hallmark holiday movie formula—with a plot so warm and fuzzy, it could be used as a blanket in an emergency blizzard.

In this delightful treat released in 2024, we meet Holly Winters, a quirky novelist battling writer’s block, and ironically, spends her time baking cookies and avoiding all forms of commitment. But, surprise! The answer to her creative woes—and apparently all her problems—is the charming, flannel-clad, and suspiciously available bookstore owner, Nick Frost. Yes, his name is as delightfully on-the-nose as the plot.

As far as Hallmark movies go, "A Novel Noel" checks more boxes than Santa Claus checking his list twice. Picture this: there's an inexplicably magical cookie recipe, a misunderstanding involving a giant inflatable snowman, and a small town library that holds 'the secret to Christmas' within its book stacks. If you didn’t think it could get any more Hallmark holiday movie than this, think again.

Viewers will undoubtedly enjoy the avalanche of hilarious tropes such as mistletoe mishaps, decorating contests with an unusual amount of tinsel-related tension, and the compulsory town Christmas festival that seems to have been planned with the same meticulous detail as a royal wedding.

“A Novel Noel” isn't just a movie; it's an affectionate parody of every swoon-worthy holiday romance you’ve ever seen. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry (at how predictable it all is), and you may even find yourself reaching for the dusty boxes of decorations in your attic. So, grab a mug of hot cocoa, gather 'round with your most flannel-friendly friends, and watch "A Novel Noel" deliver joy, laughter, and enough holiday spirit to power a thousand Hallmark movies.