The Christmas Script

by Sara Violet Scully

"...a tale of warmth and honest love.” — Kirkus Reviews

After being in St. Nicholas, Idaho for about an hour, Holly is pretty sure she gets the gist: small town, log cabin, snow, lake, Christmas, blah, blah, blah. It’s not that she’s a cynic; it’s simply that the holidays have always been difficult.

Despite the challenges of her past, Holly is very content with her successful career as the head writer for a hit soap opera set in a small western town. But after receiving criticism from the studio about her script for the holiday special, she finds herself in a festive town situated right outside of Yellowstone National Park for the sole purpose of celebrating her most dreaded season. The studio hopes the town will give her the inspiration she needs to make her script rewrite a sensation - otherwise she may lose her job to her obsessive ex-boyfriend and fellow writer, Cole.

Although she is eager to get to work and return home to Los Angeles, her annoying neighbor, Kristopher, poses a serious distraction - and not just from his incessant noise. Extending an olive branch, Kristopher offers to show her what makes Christmas in St. Nicholas so magical so she can experience the holiday like she never has before.

With the deadline for the script deadline rapidly approaching, will Kristopher impede her progress or will he help her salvage her career?

Those with an insatiable appetite for Hallmark Christmas movies will appreciate this fast-paced romance novella by award-winning indie romance author, Sara Wetmore.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Fiction, Adult

86 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2022

About the author

Sara Violet Scully, formerly Sara Wetmore, is the award-winning romance author of The Christmas Script and Searching for Your Song. She earned her MFA in creative writing from Lindenwood University, and is also an accomplished writer of creative nonfiction and poetry. But, when she's not writing, you can catch her reading smutty books and anti-capitalist manifestos, or playing shitty covers of T-Swift on her guitar.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was definitely reminds me of a hallmark movie, it was a very short novella and there were quite a few missing parts for me including the ending fell flat. I felt lost and had to go back and reread the ending as it just was a bit unbelievable that Kris found Holly at a tree lighting in busy downtown L.A.. with just 5 seconds until the tree lit up.
There was also a typo in the very first line which is hard to get past..
Kris's ex-gf was not needed in the book and didnt find that she was "wanting him back" as per Holly's reaction. The interactions with Cole were a bit off as well and could have been written with more detail.

[Azyamarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was such a fun and cute Christmassy novella. I got Hallmark vibes from this story. I loved the small plot line between Kristopher and Holly, and how he helps to show her what Christmas is all about. This is the perfect quick read during the holiday season and the scenes go into accurate and visually stunning detail making me feel transported to that area. I thought it was really cute and it put me more into the Christmas mood and spirit along with all the Christmas movies that I have been watching.

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I hate Christmas. Growing up as a foster child, never staying in one home for longer than a few months, Christmas was hard for me.”

The Christmas Script by Sara Wetmore was a very cute, short, holiday novella. Our FMC, Holly Frost, is sent to St. Nicholas (a tiny town outside of Yellowstone National Park) by her company in LA to get some holiday perspective + cheer. Holly then runs into MMC, Kristopher Bell, who slowly morphs Holly’s view about the holiday season and all its cheer. Cute family moments, stolen property, giggles, and an HEA. My major gripe was that the FMC was always ‘fine’ even when she wasn’t. That trope gets old quick!

“St. Nicholas has a hold on anyone it greets, welcoming them into its community with warmth and kindness.”

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight out of a Hallmark Movie

This was such a fun read and a perfect way to kick off the holiday season. It reads just like a Hallmark Movie and captures the magic of Christmas.

[Shia · Rating 3 out of 5]

short and sweet

Cute and Hallmark-sy. I don’t really like the insta-love trope but I did enjoy the base concept. If this is ever rewritten into a full length novel, I would definitely like to revisit Holly and Kris’ sweet small town romance.

[Annie Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pallet cleanser kind of mood 🎄

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading through this refreshing take on what it means to understand Christmas from the perspective of someone who's never really enjoyed it--all while traveling to a new place under the threat of losing one's job to a malicious ex. Sara Wetmore has done a great job of capturing the way we lower our walls to people, how meanings change to us throughout our lives, and, of course, the magic that Christmas can bring. A succint, light-hearted, yet introspective take on romance that I can't recommend enough to anyone looking for some holiday magic in their novellas.

[heerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a cute read, but honestly pretty lackluster too. there was no commitment to a certain angle — the protagonists have an icy first meeting but there's no real animosity in the one right after, so it's no exactly an enemies to lovers situation. there kind of is some ex - drama, but isn't?

for such a short book, I think too much was packed into it, which ultimately led to the christmas spirit being completely lost. the final get together was also not exciting at all — even an epilogue would've done the job tbh ://

overall, I'd say this is one you can skip. I enjoy the author's writing style, but I'd probably pick a full length book if available over a short one such as this.

[lili · Rating 2 out of 5]

The whole thing lacked character and felt way too “insta-love” ish. It would have been great for this to be an actual novel and expanded on some of the scenes. I found it be quick unrealistic how the two characters fell in love in just a week. Kristopher being so in love that he managed to track her down in busy LA only a few seconds before the tree lighting. Adding in an ex girlfriend was just unnecessary and Holly’s feud with Cole seemed more like a child’s argument than anything else.

I do like the small town holiday romance vibe it had going. I just wish the book had been a little longer.

[ashleyy_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is just what I needed to be put into the holiday spirit! If you love Hallmark movies this book is for you. I loved the plot line between Kristopher and Holly, an example being how he helped to show her what Christmas is all about. This is the perfect quick read during the holiday season and the scenes go into accurate and visually stunning detail making me feel transported to St. Nicholas, Idaho!

[Our Weekend Is Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable

I love a good Christmas romance story and this concept of girl sent to Christmas town to find her x-mas spirit or lose her job was great. I just felt like the characters did not have this passionate connection...I know it was written that they did but I didn't see it. I think I'm more partial to a slow burn and this did not have that so it made it less believable for me.

[Alicia Matheny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads, the publishing team, and Sara Wetmore for allowing me to read the ARC. Holy moly - this was a cute one and definitely wish it was longer. I connected with the characters instantly and it was the perfect 1st Christmas book of the season. It hit all the meet cute points and gives you the full holiday love and cheer.

[Elizabeth Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun little Christmassy read. Even reading this in July, the setting of St Nicholas had me craving those nights building up to Christmas. Holly and Kristopher were a cute match and I loved how he opened her up to Christmas and love. I think some aspects could have been teased out to give more depth to the story.

[Patricia Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!!!! Highly recommended this short read love story about Christmas. Thank you Goodreads giveaway for this book of highly entertaining characters and storyline. Would love to read more about these characters in another book

[Hannah Nowak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite short Christmas book (everything moved WAY too fast, it was very unbelievable). Cute idea and classic Hallmark Christmas story, but it would have been better as a full-length book for more character development and building of the romance.

[rachelsbusyreading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. This one was just way too cheesy for me. Straight up insta-love and I know it was a novella but there wasn’t enough time to build any sort of investment into the characters themselves or their relationship.

[Ashley Smyth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was probably the worst Christmas book I have ever read.

[Staffona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more. I want to know what happeneds with her and Kristopher does she give up her job to go back to Idaho. Does he take Cole's spot like I need you know. Please tell the author is writing more.

[Brooke Gilb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t love it. Way too short, this specific storyline would’ve been amazing as a full book and not just a novella. It was too rushed

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a cute book with great christmas vibes!

[Rhyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short novella style book about Christmas. I thought it was cute, a little cheesey but because it's short it wasn't super cringe.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The books was short and sweet. It gives that Hallmarky Christmas/Holiday movie vibe. I enjoyed it.

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

ohhhh u know it’s about to be a good christmas halmark-y book when the mc’s name is Holly

[Alexis Blouch · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ classic hallmark story

[K'la Brasseur · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very boring and then rushed not a reccomendation very very short story that makes no sense at all to me

[Piper Brintnall · Rating 1 out of 5]

Blech. Avoid this book. It’s funny that the main character writes a script with no chemistry, passion, or energy and here is a book exactly like that.

[Sidney Callison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute, quick read that feels very Hallmark comfort movie we all love 🎄I do wish there was a little more build up & detail in Kris & Hollys relationship. I know its a Novella, but it did feel.. rushed. Cute story line I felt like would have gone better with a little more time/development.

[Sara Scully · Rating 5 out of 5]

I worked really hard on this, and for an indie author that has handled every part of this independently, I am proud of the work you hold in your hands.