Bella

by Lisa Samson

"If you want God to laugh, tell him your plans."

For Jose the cook and Nina the beautiful waitress life has not turned out the way either had planned. Living with the weight of guilt and lost dreams, each struggles to survive and to make sense of what life now holds. But the events of one ordinary day in New York City turn into an unforgettable experience that changes both of their lives forever.

Based on the #1 top-rated movie of 2007 and one of the most honored films of the year--winning the highly coveted People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival, Best Picture and Best Actor at the 2008 MovieGuide Awards-- Bella is a story about redemption, family and finding love unexpectedly.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Media Tie In, Inspirational, Contemporary

203 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

About the author

The Christy-award winning author of nineteen books including the Women of Faith Novel of the Year Quaker Summer, Lisa Samson has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as "a talented novelist who isn't afraid to take risks." She lives in Kentucky with her husband and three kids.

Also, published under the name L.L. Samson

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life just didn't turn out the way Jose and Nina had planned. Jose struggles with the guilt of his past despite the support of a big and loving family. Nina cannot get away from the memories of her childhood, and it is aiding her in making bad decisions. With no one but herself to take care of, she lives one day at a time, dreams of becoming a dancer a distant memory. Jose fights the the memories of the past, and Nina helplessly watches her dreams slowly slip away into the past.

But just one day can change a person's life, and when Jose steps forward to protect the naive Nina, they are both pleasantly surprised by the outcome. But can Jose's friendship be enough to help Nina make the right choice - especially when a lot more than dashed dreams are at stake? Will Jose finally find his place in the world, or is the past going to haunt his future forever?

This was a delightful book to read, despite it's short length. While I have not yet had the privilege of seeing the film version of this story, Samson gives a brief but pleasant overview of events in this novelization of the film. An enjoyable read with a wonderful cast of characters that mirrors the memories of my own family.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.
Bella is a short and bittersweet book about life and second chances. Everyone dreams of one life and yet sometimes the universe (God) has another plan. That's what this book is really about. I don't want to give it all away so.. That's it.
It's a very short read. If one has a day to spend reading it could probably be accomplished in no time. It started well and then there was a little time getting toward the middle that I felt a little detached but once I reached the middle it did climax and gain my attachment. From the back of the book I understand that this is a book based on the screenplay for this movie. I have yet to see the movie but have seen the trailers online and it did help to mentally manifest the characters. 
I'll give it a 3 although I wish I could give it a 2.99. It was good. It was nice. I liked the writing but I'm sure I'll forget it. No hard feelings but I just think I may. Yup, I recommend it. Quick. Not draining. Something to read in between books or to get from one book to another and a movie to boots. 
As I always say... Next!!!

[Colleenduggan]

Thought the movie was beautiful.

[Brenna Bonner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best novelization of a book I have read to far. Read it in 2 days- very good.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the film but the novelization doesn't do it justice...still, made me cry.

[Silver Swan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just like its title . . . bella ("beautiful").

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book because it has a message I agree with, but I was disappointed by the ending. The ending was good and turned out the way I wanted it to, but I feel that the plot was rather anti-climactic. Most of the book was spent covering one day following the two main characters around as they worked through their respective dilemmas. I could not understand what point there was to how they spent most of their day. Since the story is roughly half about the female lead's unexpected pregnancy and what her response to it would be, I expected more in the way of the pro-life/pro-choice debate, but there was not much of anything along those lines. I was hoping to read such a debate to see what the arguments of both sides would be, and since I knew the woman would give her baby up for adoption, I wanted to see how the pro-life argument won out. The story did not cover that part. I do have to say, though, that I am glad the story turned out all right for the two leads, and while the story line lacked the big punch I was looking for, I did enjoy reading some of the descriptions. Take, for example, seeing the drain in a sink wreathed in dust. I felt this and other descriptions were very much spot on to help me get a better sense of the story.

[Ashley McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this beautifully written story full of broken, realistic characters on a journey to piece themselves together.

[Missy LeBlanc Ivey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was dry, dry, dry. Trust me, the movie was much better. I fell in love with the very last song at the end of the movie, "Meet Me By The Water", by Rachael Yamahata.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bella was a movie before it was a book. It is our Book Club selection this month. It is the story of a young woman who has come to New York to break into show biz as a dancer. In the blink of an eye, years have passed and she is making a living as a waitress in an upscale restaurant. As the book begins she is realizing that she is pregnant, desperate and alone.

It is also the story of Jose. He is the cook in the restaurant where Nina works. His life was forever changed several years prior when he ran over a child due to his distracted driving. He spent time in prison, but is unable to forgive himself for taking the life of a child. He's a loner at work, but is excellent at his job. The restaurant is owned by his brother, so his idiosyncrasies are overlooked because he is so dependable.

Jose's brother Manny is a stickler for rules and decides to fire Nina when she shows up late to work. He not only fires her but humiliates her in front of her fellow employees. No one stands up for her and so she leaves, carrying the contents of her locker and not knowing what to do. Jose follows her, catches up with her, and offers to listen and provide some companionship.

Throughout the day they share their stories with one another and grow to appreciate the strengths and difficulties that each of them has come through.


This is a touching story of the very real issue of unexpected pregnancy and the difficult choices the mother must make. It is a story of redemption through sacrifice and unselfish love. It won't take long to read...see what you think.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my. It shows how one accident can impact so many lives. A guy just starting to realize his dreams ends up with nothing. He ends up broken and unable to forgive himself for the accident. He blames himself everyday. He is lost in his own world a world that even his family can not help him escape. A girl that finds out she is pregnant and has no one to help her. She is lost and finds the unlikely friendship of a man with his own problems. They spend the day together and learn that they both need help. It was a great story about family, friendship and forgiveness. I didn't love the choice she made but I love that their was a new start for them all.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving book involving redemption, an unordinary friendship and self discovery.I enjoyed the two main characters and their desire to heal by reaching out to eachother. It does not end in the typical way, but is satisfying all the same.I especially enjoyed "Jose's" character. Although his life took a sad and unexpected turn, he perservered and saw an opportunity to redeem himself by helping another.

[Marjanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book turned out a lot better than I expected. I have not seen the movie, and when I picked it up it didn't realize that it was a novelization of a movie (generally I try to avoid those). But the story was very touching and ended in a way I was not expecting. I think most readers would enjoy this book. It's a good story, no language and no sex.

[Edie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy, short read. A quick jaunt through New York telling the journey of a young girl facing the biggest challenge of her life. Joining her is a young, troubled man with his own past haunting him. Together they discover the answers to their problems and direction for their respective futures.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a novelization of a screenplay.it is a story about redemption,family, and finding love unexpectedly.it is a story of life not turning out the way you expected it would. one of the quotes from the story "if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." i am planning own watching the movie, soon.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for a quick read, took about an hour. Ending was semi-predictable; not sure I'd buy this book new, but if I ever find a used copy I might. I am interested in seeing the movie, as the book is a novelization of the movie.

[Wendy Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute story, but very poorly written book. Quick read, but probably too quick - it seemed like it was written on a pretty low reading level and didn't flow well at all. I hear the movie is great, so maybe this will be the one time when the movie is actually better than the book.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the first time I've read a book that was a movie before it was a book. I think that really limited the author. The story idea was good but could have probably been so much more if it had been a book first.

[Lorna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is hard to rate because it's the novelization of the movie and I think the story is probably more suited to a movie than a novelization. I look forward to watching the movie to compare. However, it is an interesting, tender story about caring relationships among other things.

[Rocio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am in love with this story. The film is spectacular to say the least. This was my first time reading a novelization and it's similar to the movie but gives a little more background and insight of the characters'.

[Delanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one of my favorite movies and when I saw the novelization in stores, I knew I had to get it! I like this book because I felt like I understood the characters and connected with them more than I did in the movie. It was very well written and I enjoyed it!

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much like the movie.

[Claire Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

novelization of the movie "Bella". Not bad, but not stunning. Maybe the movie was more enthralling.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short book and I didn't think it was going to be very good but it was and I really loved it. I had never heard of the movie but now I want to see it.

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an ok, quick read. Its was actually written after the movie was so the events in the book stick to the movie like glue.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading the Spanish translation and hoping that the reviewer who said it seemed to be written on a pretty low reading level was right. :-)

[Chane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great, taught me that difficulty can turn into wonderful chances.

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐

[Nina Zachary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book cause of the tile, but I'm actually liking it.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story though seemed incomplete.