A Novel Noel (2024)
Not a mystery. Barely a Christmas movie.
Julie Gonzalo is Harper, a successful book editor who takes a leave of absence to spend the holiday season running a small town bookstore, owned by Walker (Brendan Penny), a wannabe novelist turned bookstore/wine bar owner. Spending time together while participating in yuletide activities like the local “Reindeer Games,” caroling in bars, and other things that only happen in small towns in Hallmark movies, ultimately sets these two on a course for romance. Le sigh.
I don’t know why this was released under the sub-banner for Hallmark’s Movies & Mysteries… I’m guessing because there’s a bit of a reveal about who she’s writing letters to about her time spent with Walker?
Not the best entry into the Countdown for 2024. But not as bad as another Hallmark movie set around a bookstore, 2022’s A Fabled Holiday. I honestly had flashbacks when I saw the bookstore.
You’ll like this if…
You try and find something, anything positive in these movies. In this case for me, it was the idea of Christmas Bingo, with entries for an assortment of holiday season activities - I might have to add this to the annual repertoire for my family this year.
