The Noel Letters

The Noel Collection #4

by Richard Paul Evans

“The king of Christmas fiction” (The New York Times) returns with a heartwarming, and inspirational new story that explores faith, love, and redemption during the festive Christmas season.

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Holiday, Romance, Book Club, Audiobook, Contemporary

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2020

About the author

When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author. His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. He has since written eleven consecutive New York Times bestsellers. He is one the few authors in history to have hit both the fiction and non-fiction bestseller lists. He has won several awards for his books including the 1998 American Mothers Book Award, two first place Storytelling World Awards, and the 2005 Romantic Times Best Women Novel of the Year Award. His books have been translated into more than 22 languages and several have been international best sellers.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was crying all over the screen of my elliptical. When I got up this morning I had about 25% left to read. My overall impression so far was three stars for this new holiday read. It was raining cats and dogs outside so I jumped on the elliptical in our basement for some cardio and opened up my digital ARC. Then I hit the good stuff. I had to suspend my workout session several times to go blow my nose and clean up my face. This one is that good. What a beautiful picture of the love of our Heavenly Father and the reconciliation He offers. Grace. That's where it's at. Noel is singlehandedly sabotaging her life in multiple arenas, one after the other. Then she goes to meet with Grace -- and later is blessed by a meal in Grace's mansion. Hello, Heaven! So much to unpack in this one. Read it with a buddy or a group if you can. The best one in the entire Noel Collection in my opinion.

Bless you, Gallery Books and NetGalley, for providing a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ink_Drinker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Noel Letters is the forth book in the Noel series, but can be read as a standalone. I’ve always thought there should be a gene called “Happily Ever After” and books by Richard Paul Evans would fall into this category. His books remind me of my favorite Hallmark movie in the form of a book.

I wait every year for the holiday season and a new Christmas book released from Richard Paul Evans. He never disappoints!! In this book, he returns with a story of love, family and loss. Noel searches for answers through a trail of letters that will lead her to a Christmas confession of sorts that leads to hope and forgiveness. What made the story even more appealing was it all took place with a bookstore backdrop and characters that were lovers of reading. Doesn’t get much better for a book lover!!

I also loved that Evans started each chapter with quotes from various authors. One of my favorites was “Take a book to bed with you ------ books do not snore”-----Thea Dorn

The Noel Letters will get you into the Christmas spirit along with making you laugh and cry. The Noel Letters has all the feels!

I recommend all the Noel books for your holiday reading. They are books that the whole family would enjoy listening to while sitting around the Christmas tree drinking hot cocoa.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Richard Paul Evans for providing me an Advanced Reader Copy of The Noel Letters in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Richard Paul Evans for years. I remember back when his book, The Christmas Box, was first published. My mom brought home a copy and I picked it up and read it. I was just a young girl but read it and loved it. I was deeply touched by the story. I've continued to read and enjoy his books since that first discovery.

The Noel Letters was another touching and nostalgic book for me. This is a story about heartache, misunderstandings, healing, forgiveness, peace, love, enlightenment, friendship, trust, patience, discovery, and so much more. Noel's childhood in her memories is not a place she likes to visit. She hides that pain and allows it to influence her life choices, not always in the best way. She experiences a lot of loss and has to find a way to heal or walk away from everything.

I was trying so hard not to just tell her what to do through the pages of the book. I wanted to tell her everything she couldn't see to help her heal. But of course, we all know that doesn't work, her story is set on the pages and I can't influence it differently. But I felt a great connection with her character and wanted to save her from all the heartache and pain. Instead, I continued to read and watch her learn and grow in the process of her feeling and managing her pain and hurt.

The setting of this story made me smile. I could picture it all clearly in my mind. I spent a lot of time in the neighborhood where Noel grew up and as she spoke of running or driving there, I was transported back to those quaint streets and shops. I love when I find a connection like that with a book I'm reading.

Noel has several people come into her life throughout the course of the story and her ups and downs. I loved watching her navigate and making decisions about how much to let them into her life and if she was going to move forward or stay stagnant. All the characters were dear to me in one way or another. I loved the added dimension and perspectives they brought to the story.

If you love raw and emotionally gripping and compelling stories, with characters who grow and face their demons and pasts, I highly recommend this book. It's the fourth book in a series. I haven't read the previous three books but this one, and I'm assuming the other three, can be read as a stand alone novel. I hope you enjoy the journey you go on when you read this book.

Content: Clean. Some talk about alcoholism but nothing in detail.

I received a copy from the publisher, Gallery Books, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Frosty61 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good, predictable with a subtle Christmas theme which ramped up near the end. Spoiler ahead: My problem with it is the frustration that comes from the MC having years-long issues with her father, due to her false assumption of an event in the past. Easily solved if either of them had simply talked to the other about it or even talked it out with other people who knew the truth. But then, I guess we wouldn't have a book full of inspiring messages from the grave.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look forward to reading my favorite Christmas author every year. There are many beautiful quotes throughout this story.

Unfortunately, (first time!) I am somewhat disappointed with The Noel Letters because of .... Noel, the protagonist. RPE's characters are always well developed even though this time I find the main for the most part unlikable. Perhaps it took too long for the story to unfold and made Noel's character off putting. My stars are mostly for her father. 💔

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe it is just me. Maybe it was because I didn't have the time to read big chunks of the story at one time. Or maybe it was because I wasn't in the right frame of mind as I was reading this, but I never really connected to the characters and felt as if the story was choppy a lot of the time. I will have to try and read this another time to see if I can answer these questions...
3.5 stars at this moment

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born on Christmas, Noel Post, formerly Noel Book, is a recently divorced daughter of a book store owner, she is also a book editor at one of the publishers of note. Shortly before the holidays, she leaves NYC, flying to Salt Lake City to visit her father, whom she hasn’t seen in over two decades, nor has she wanted to see him. His recent diagnosis with cancer has brought her home, her plan to stay with him until his passing, but he passes shortly before her flight lands.

Within days, her life changes drastically, her roommate calls her to let her know that she will need to find a new place to live, she is let go from her job, and then she finds out that her father has left his bookstore to her, as well as being the sole recipient of his life insurance policy. While she wrestles to decide what to do, she begins to spend time working in her father’s bookstore, and hearing many stories about her father from many people about how loved he was by so many people. The thing is, Noel had shut him out of her life many years before, angry after her mother’s death in a car accident when she was just a young child.

There’s a memorial service, legal paperwork which needs to be handled, as well as the decision she has to make regarding the bookstore. Being in her old hometown, being in the house she grew up in, as well as running into old friends in town have Noel revisiting old memories, some unpleasant while others seem to give her reasons to consider staying. Those who loved her father seem to bring out the worst in her, since she’s never forgiven him for her mother’s death.

Letters begin to arrive from a seemingly anonymous writer signed by ’Tabula Rasa’, although she believes she knows who they are from. A childhood sweetheart whom she has recently reconnected with seems to have reappeared at the same time the letters began to arrive, and she is sure she knows just who is sending them.

Interspersed throughout this are quotes from various authors through the ages, some are part of the story, and some are shared as an epigraph, many on the topic of writing, which I enjoyed reading along with the story.

This is the fourth book in the Noel Collection series by Richard Paul Evans, which I’ve enjoyed reading. As the holiday season will soon be upon us, I was happy to sink into these pages and just have a little taste of the sweetness it brings, along with hope for better things in the coming year.


Published: 27 Oct 2020

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Gallery Books

[Kev Willoughby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book to read in this series, and now I realize that I need to go back and read the others, because this was great!

I'm not surprised though, because I've enjoyed all of the other books that I have read so far by Richard Paul Evans. My favorites are The Broken Road trilogy, Lost December, and A Perfect Day.

In The Noel Letters, there is a beautiful story of forgiveness set among the backdrop of the Christmas season. Noel Book leaves her life in New York City to come home to her dying father in Utah. When she originally left Utah, several years earlier, it wasn't on good terms. Unfortunately, she doesn't make it back in time, therefore many things are left unsaid and many questions from her childhood left unanswered. In the days after the funeral, she spends her time getting to know her father and discovering the answers she never knew to look for through the legacy he has left behind.

Part of the joy of reading this story was in the mystery of who was writing the anonymous letters to Noel. Although the ending was predictable, it was also appropriate, and it would have been a disappointment if there had somehow been a surprise or alternate ending. Sometimes predictable (or better yet, dependable) is what I need as a reader, and this book is perfect in that regard.

I would recommend this book at any time of the year, but especially at Christmas.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always look forward to Richard Paul Evans Christmas releases.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Paul Evans is definitely one of my favorite Christmas authors. This final book in the Noel Collection was wonderful. It's been 20 years since Noel has been back home. She hates her father for many things in the past; but now that he has passed, she feels obligated to go home and settle his estate. Her hatred has been fueled by childhood memories and being sent away to boarding school after her mother died. But are her childhood memories the truth or what she thinks she remembers?

There were many things to like about this wonderful Christmas story. First, the quotes from authors at the beginning of each chapter were perfect wisdom gems. The letters from the unknown writer to Noel were filled with such insight into Noel's needs and her hurts. Finally, so many wonderful characters who not only helped Noel through her dad's passing but assisted her in finding the truth about her past so that she grew and found peace.

Thanks again Richard Paul Evans for a wonderful Christmas red.

[Jurgita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Negalėjau padėt į šoną, kol nebaigiau. Matyt bus užėjusi kokia tai užjautrėjimo stadija, nes ši knyga labai tiko - kažkur nuo pusės knygos beveik nesustodama žliumbiau.

[Emilija || knygu_grauzike · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 || #7
5⭐️

Jaudinanti, jautri ir labai graži istorija apie sugrįžimą, kuris privers apgalvoti praeitį, atskleisti visas jos paslaptis ir išmokti pradėti gyventi iš naujo 💙

Vienos didžiausių Niujorko leidyklų vyriausioji redaktorė Noelė po daugybės metų sugrįžta namo. Čia ji turi tikslą paskutinį kartą susitikti su mirštančiu tėvu. Visgi, "trumpa viešnagė" užsitęsia. Noelė paveldi knygyną, pamažu ima atskleisti ją skaudinusias paslaptis ir tikrąją tiesą apie savo šeimą, lyg iš naujo vėl susipažįsta su žmonėmis, kuriuos kadaise paliko... Taip pat moteris ima gauti laiškus, pasirašytus Tabula Rasa slapyvardžiu, kurie ima keisti jos požiūrį į gyvenimą. Kas gi juos siunčia?

Tai - viena iš tų knygų, kurią aukščiausiai vertinu ne už literatūrinius lobius, o už suteiktus jausmus. Čia tiek gėrio, grožio, šilumos ir jaukumo, jog negaliu neduoti jai mažiau 5-ių žvaigždučių. O tuos laiškus, siunčiamus pagrindinei veikėjai, norėjosi persirašyti ir cituoti - visi iki vieno pilni be galo gražių minčių.

Visgi, dabar, kai po knygos skaitymo jau praėjo šiek tiek laiko, pati istorija atmintyje ne tokia ryški. O pasikapsčius giliau, galiu atrasti joje ir trūkumų. Taip, siužetas ganėtinai nuspėjamas, yra ir banalių scenų, tačiau, matyt, knygą perskaičiau pačiu tinkamiausiu metu, nes tų minusų ieškoti visai nesinori. Kad ir kokia netobula bebūtų, mano širdį tikrai pasiekė.

Labai rekomenduoju tiems, kurie ieško lengvo, greit skaitomo romano, kuris pripildytų širdį šiluma, jaukumu bei meile. Skaitykit ir mėgaukitės, tik per daug nesitikėkit! ✨️

"Meilė - ne žongliravimas sveikinimo atvirukais. Meilė - tai atšiaurus akmenuotas krantas, narsiai atlaikantis bangų mūšą. Meilė - tai karys apkasuose, aukojantis savo gyvybę dėl draugų. Meilė - tai motina, einanti gulti alkana, kad vaikai turėtų ką valgyti pusryčiams. Meilė - tai savanaudiškumo priešingybė."

"Namai - tai uostas, kurio ieškome blaškomi neramios jūros."

"Neverta siekti tobulumo, nes tobulumas nei egzistuoja, nei kada egzistavo."

"Galime iš praeities mokytis, bet neleiskime praeičiai mūsų užvaldyti. Neįmanoma laikyti žirgo pavadžio jojant atbulai."

"Atsisakyti meilės, nes yra galimybė ją prarasti, tas pats, kas nuodyti save, baiminantis, kad būsime nužudyti."

"Gyvenimas kasdien jaučiant dėkingumą - tai gyvenimas visa jėga."

"Jei manai, kad meilės turi nusipelnyti (kaip mano daugelis), ar gali reikalauti jos iš kitų, tai reiškia, jog nesupranti šio jausmo prigimties. Užsitarnauta meilė nustoja būti meile. Tai jau atlygis. Mylėk."

"Dauguma kliūčių tėra tramplinas kelyje į sėkmę, o nesėkmė - viso labo laikinas momentas gyvenimo žaidimo lentoje, laukiant kito kauliuko išmetimo."

"Nesijaudink, jei gyvenimas nėra toks, kokį įsivaizdavai. Niekada ir nebūna. Gyvenimas - tai kopėčios. Gali pasirinkti kryptį jomis kopti, tik ne skersinius."

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading Richard Paul Evans' (RPE) annual holiday novel has been a tradition for many years. I used to read them with my mother, so now that she has passed away -- it has become a way to stay connected to her. But, it is with great regret that for the second year in a row -- I really just did not enjoy this read, and at some points within the book I was beyond irritated. I know what I'm getting when I pick up a RPE title. (I struggled through his Walk series because a dear friend was such a super fan.) So I've been served up my fair share of RPE's banal Chicken Soup for the Soul style wisdom -- but this book raised it to a level I struggled to get through with the mechanic of letters from an unknown author using the pseudonym Tabula Rasa.

As if that wasn't enough, there was just so much inconsistency. For instance, the protagonist is described as a wordsmith with a penchant for big words -- but nothing about her dialogue demonstrated that, and on the one or two occasions a 4-5 syllable word did emerge -- someone else had to remark about what a good word it was. Please! There are way too many stereotypes used in this book and some of them border on offensive. And finally, the fact that the protagonist is a book editor who has a father that owns a successful independent bookstore also gives RPE too many opportunities for a lot of name dropping, product placement plugs, and even just a distasteful level of self-congratulation about either being well read, or able to google "popular author quotes on the art of writing." The irony is that what this book cried out for -- was a good editor.

It actually hurts me to say it, but this is a hard pass for me.

[Karen R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story by Richard Paul Evans, the master of Christmas fiction. Heart-touching, uplifting and so appreciated during these days of negative news.

Noel Letters chapters start off with an ideal inspirational quote. The quotes made me smile, made me introspective and often put into words my feelings surrounding my life-long book-loving life.

Within two months, Noel Book was divorced, lost her apartment, her job as a book editor and her estranged father dies as she flies to Salt Lake City to reconcile with him after 11 years.

Turns out to be a perfect chance to reinvent herself after her father bequeathes his home, thriving English style bookstore, special collection of books and a one-million dollar life insurance policy.

Some of my very favorite bits of the book are the handwritten anonymous letters Noel receives. Inspirational, impeccably written and signed by the anonymous Tabula Rasa which means ‘clean slate’.

A perfect Christmas gift and great story for the holidays. Thanks to Gallery Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Vaida Book lover❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pamiršk praeitį, Noele. Gyvenimo šachmatų partijoje praeitis - tai stiprus rikis, bet silpnas karalius. Galime iš praeities mokytis, bet neleiskime praeičiai mūsų užvaldyti. Neįmanoma laikyti žirgo pavadžio jojant atbulai."
Pirmiausia susižavėjau knygos viršeliu.. Pradžia knygos nebuvo labai įtraukianti.. bet paskui knygos negalėjau padėti į šalį, kol nebaigiau.
Tai nėra knygos ,,Noelės dienoraštis" tęsinys. Sutampa tik pagrindinių veikėjų vardai.
Kalbant apie pačią knygą, ji man kur kas labiau patiko nei pirmoji. Jautri, skausminga istorija.
Daugeliui nepaslaptis, kad romanai nėra mano dažnas pasirinkimas, bet šis romanas man tikrai labai patiko, nuoširdi rekomendacija. 📚💯❤️

[Dovile Milkerienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lengva knyga,bet tuo pačiu ir jautri,šilta knyga.

[Ugnė Lukošienė · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kažkaip nesužavėjo per daug... pats galas, koks 50 paskutinių psl geriausia knygos dalis, visa kita - lėta eiga, kurioje nejaučiau jokio didelio jausmo.
Noelės dienoraštis paliko didesnį ir gilesnį įspūdį.

[Vannetta Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, which is what I've come to expect from Richard Paul Evans. I love that the plot of the story tackles the idea that sometimes what we understand/believe when we are a child, needs to be revisited from the perspective of being an adult. This was a wonderful story of forgiveness, and the holiday setting made it an especially lovely read.

Highly recommend.

[Daiva Streikuviene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puiku, nuoširdu ir jautru📚❣️🤩

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Booksellers rejoice, here is one for us! :) In that regard, lots of name dropping and good stories about customers.

I found this particular Evans book somewhat disturbing, I feel as if all the "blame and guilt" is going to a person partially the victim. If her father had told the truth anytime, this could have been averted, or perhaps changed. Instead everyone she meets in a town where he has lived out his life blamelessly to those around him thinks she has serious problems. Now, she does, but it's not just that she believes her father was not a good man, it's that he LET her believe that. So, I understand the story, but in many ways, I don't like it

[Lisa Burgos · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Noel Letters shows us the enormous power of love and how it alters a person in many ways.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

While this started out fine, I thought everyone was way too harsh to Noel at the end over information that they knew she didn’t have because her father deliberately withheld it from her.

I also didn’t like that the book basically revolved around her blameless father and the women who worshiped him. Even though he supposedly rejected their advances, I found it creepy that an old man would continue close one on one friendships with both a young woman literally his daughter’s age and also an elderly grieving widow, knowing they were both in love with him. It felt to me like the author romanticized the idea of two vulnerable women putting their lives on hold and mindlessly following a mans every wish even after death.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming and poignant story that made me smile and moved to tears.
It's about grief, changes, forgiveness and life.
I loved the characters, was fascinated by the mystery and couldn't put it down.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Ariana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened:
I give up on the audio version of this book. The narrator is so dull. It is awful. I was falling asleep while I wrapped Christmas presents.

Read:
Ended up giving it 1 more star. Just a little better and got through it faster reading it myself.

[Morta Č. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Turbūt esate matę gruodžio mėnesį per TV8 nuolat rodomus vienodus kalėdinės tematikos filmus, kuriuose jauna gražuolė moteris būna prieš šventes aplinkybių priversta grįžti į savo gimtąjį miestą pati to nenorėdama, tačiau paaiškėja, kad grįžimas prilygsta kalėdiniam stebuklui, nes staiga visos jos gyvenimo problemos išsisprendžia. Pagal šią knygą galėtų būti kuriami visi tokio tipo filmai.

Veikėjams pritrūko ryškumo. Lyg ir norėta užkabinti svarbias temas, bet jos gvildenamos paviršutiniškai. Dialogai „plokšti“, nerealistiški, siužetas nuspėjamas…
Visgi džiaugiuosi, kad ši knyga pateko į mano rankas. Turėjau progą geriau pažinti savo literatūrinį skonį ir įsitikinti, kad labiau mėgstu „sunkesnes“, mažiau patogias knygas.

Kas tikrai patiko, tai kiekvieno skyriaus pradžioje pateiktos žinomų žmonių citatos, susijusios su kūryba. Na, ir kadangi labai mėgstu Kalėdas, tai patiko kalėdinis kontekstas.

„Laiškai Noelei“ skaitosi lengvai ir greitai, todėl manau būtų labai tinkama skaitymo blokui pralaužti ar (Kalėdų) atostogoms.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the overall message of this book (to be careful to ensure that what you believe is actually truth, and not just your perception of the truth) was presented very well. I liked Noel, even when I did not agree with her attitude or her choices. I also liked the people that tried to help her see the truth (especially about her father) in a more clear light.
As always, RPE tells a story that sweeps me along, and makes me want to keep turning pages long past bedtime.

[Barb Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the 4th in The Noel series. I enjoy Richard Paul Evans Christmas books. Most times they are comfortable easy reads during a busy time of the year. This read is the last book i'll read for 2022 and a little bit more with all the quotes and skewed family dynamics. Very good read . 4 stars

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. The last and probably the best book in the series.

[ashley palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Richard Paul Evans based on previous titles but this rekindled the love that i had for those previous titles. This is a wonderful book about life changes, grief, and how to deal with those things even though grief looks different for everyone.
Our main character Noel is a publishing editor in New York and has not seen her father for 16 long years and she was okay with that until she got the call that he was dying. Unfortunately when Noel arrived her father had already passed, Noel seemed emotionless here but once she reached her dads house she had some very vivid memories resurface especially the one where her mother passed away. Noel inherits everything her father owned including his home, car, and his beloved bookstore. Noel is terminated over the phone from her publishing job in New York and decides that she will stay in Salt Lake and reacquaint herself with the bookstore her father owned for 30 years. Noel then begins to receive anonymous letters on beautiful stationary that contain thoughts and lessons for her to use in her life.

I did not realize this was book number 4 but i will be going to find the other 3 books it was a great standalone read. Richard Paul Evans does a fabulous job of having fully developed characters and an emotional story line that pulls at your heart strings,. This is a wonderful feel good story perfect for anytime of the year!

[Rhonda Ruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amazing book by Richard Paul Evans! I look forward to his new book every year. An author who never disappoints!