The Noel Diary follows the journey of Jacob Turner, a best-selling author, and Rachel, and how their lives change when they find a diary in Jacob’s childhood house that reveals their past and helps bring them together.
Directed by Charles Shyer, The Noel Diary is based on a novel of the same name by Richard Paul Evans. Written by Charles Shyer, Rebecca Connor, and David Golden, the romantic drama stars Justin Hartley, Barrett Doss, Essence Atkins, Bonnie Bedelia, and James Remar.
The Noel Diary Story Summary
Jacob Turner (Justin Hartley), a best-selling author, enjoys the perks of his fame when he receives a call from his mother’s lawyer who informs him that his mother had passed away and he is to receive his childhood home according to the will.
Jacob decides to go to his childhood home to clean out the mess but has a tough time doing so as his mother was a hoarder. Ellie(Bonnie Bedelia), his neighbor in her 50s who was also close to his mother, converses with him and remembers him as a talented kid and says that she knew he will be a writer. They briefly talk about his mother after which Jacob visits his brother Benjamin James Turner’s grave whom he had lost when he was just a child.
While on one of the cleaning sprees, a woman named Rachel Campbell (Barrett Doss), visits the Turner residence and tells him that she’s searching for her birth mother who worked for the Turners. She found out the address from her adoption center and Jacob says he doesn’t know her mother but comes up with an idea about asking Ellie as she has been living in the same place for years. But Ellie is out on a date and it could take her a long time to get back home.
While they wait for Ellie to come back home, Rachel and Jacob decide to grab lunch together and she shares about her adopted parents and her life. Jacob hides his identity as a famous writer from Rachel and tells her that he is just a struggling writer.
As they spend more time, Rachel tells Jacob that she is engaged to Alan, her boyfriend and that she is also just starting out her career waiting for a job acceptance. Jacob and Rachel bond through their conversations and she confides in him about her struggle to fill a void in her life because of her being adopted kid and not knowing her birth mother. Rachel suggests that Jacob help her search for something in his house that belonged to his mother and it would mean a lot to her.
When Ellie gets back home the next day, Rachel and Jacob find out that Rachel’s mother was a live-in babysitter for the Turner family. But Ellie doesn’t remember her name and says that Jacob’s father Scott (James Remar), who now lives in Vermont, might know something. But Jacob is dead set against talking to his father as they hadn’t spoken in 35 years and has anger in him towards his father as he had abandoned him.
Rachel wants to go to meet Jacob’s father in Vermont, Cornwall bridge, as she wants to know more about her mother. Finally, Jacob decides to join her as he wants to help her out. While they are on the trip, Rachel coyly admits that she looked Jacob up online and found out that he is a pretty famous author. When Rachel reaches out for Jacob’s wallet to help him pay money at the gas station, she finds her mother Noel Ellis’ (Essence Atkins) diary in his bag. Jacob had kept the diary in his bag while cleaning his mother’s personal belongings box.
Rachel strongly believes that the diary belongs to her mother and is proven right when she starts reading it. Noel was 17 when she was pregnant and her parents didn’t support her. After being ostracized by society, her parents, and her lover for her pregnancy, Noel Ellis found a home with the Turner family when she was hired as a live-in babysitter. The diary clearly said that she shared a loving bond with the family especially their children, Jacob and Benjamin.
On the way to Vermont, when the storm hits, Rachel and Jacob halt at a motel for the night. It’s the holiday season and they watch a movie together. At the theatre, a bunch of people mistakes them for a couple. Rachel buys one of Jacob’s books, “Green Eyes Of Paris,” at a local bookstore and reads it at night, ending up being impressed by Jacob.
Rachel continues reading the diary and finds out Noel had to give her away because she was only 17 at the time. Noel had originally named Rachel Angelica. Rachel breaks down when reading the diary. As Rachel and Jacob continue their journey to Vermont but Rachel’s relationship status stands as a hurdle.
The Noel Diary Ending Explained
Jacob and Rachel reach Vermont and meet Scott Turner. The father and son duo bond and clear the misunderstandings of the past. Scott explains to Jacob the reason he left the family was that he and his wife couldn’t comfort each other when the tragedy of losing Benjamin struck them.
Jacob’s brother Benjamin died while trying to hang his favorite decoration piece on a tall tree outside their house during Christmas. As he was very excited to do so, Scott didn’t stop him which he regrets to this day. That’s why he left Jacob with his mother because he didn’t want her to be alone, but she never came out of the grief of losing her first child. Scott also reveals that he wrote Jacob letters to stay in touch with him, but his mom never gave them to him.
Does Rachel Meet Noel?
After clearing out misunderstandings with his son, Scott gives Rachel Noel’s letter that she had sent him years ago, informing him about her wedding with Charles Hayden in Ridgefield. After having finally reunited with his father, Jack sets out on the journey with Rachel so that she can meet Noel in Ridgefield.
When Rachel reads Noel’s diary further, she gets the answers she was seeking as the final pages in the diary reveal that Noel had hoped that someday her daughter would find the diary and would finally get to know how much she loved her dearly.
On their way to meet Noel, Rachel and Jacob spend the night at a motel, and their love for each other becomes evident in their eyes. Conversations between them flow smoothly, and they both celebrate Rachel’s birthday.
After a romantic night together with Jacob, Rachel’s fear of uncertainty takes over her and she leaves Jacob and goes to her adoptive parents’ house. She leaves a letter for Jacob in which Rachel confides that she had always sought security, stability, and certainty as uncertainty scares her.
Through Rachel’s confession, it’s clear that her decision to marry her fiance Alan is based a lot on her need for security. Now that she had read Noel’s diary, she doesn’t need to find her mother or meet her because she already got the answers. Hence, she tells Jacob that she’s leaving him.
Nevertheless, Jacob carries on the journey solo and meets Noel and thanks her for the support she gave his family in their tough times. He also reveals that Noel’s daughter came in search of her and found her diary. Upon this revelation, tears roll down Noel’s eyes when she hears about her daughter. Noel gives Jacob a message for Rachel, expressing her welcoming stance on meeting her daughter.
Meanwhile, Rachel celebrates Christmas with her adoptive parents. When she is asked about her marriage date with Alan, Rachel gives uncertain answers. Jacob calls Rachel from outside her house and confesses that he has feelings for her and urges her to come outside and meet him. But Rachel says she can’t leave Alan as she craves security. Even though Rachel loves Jacob, she goes against her feelings and denies having any emotions for Jacob.
After having his heart broken, Jacob goes back to his childhood home, and after having finally cleared out the mess in the house, he readies himself to leave for the city. Ellie comes to bid farewell to him and gifts him a painting of the house.
After Jacob packs his bags and is about to start his car, to his pleasant surprise, he sees Rachel standing across the street smiling and signaling about her broken engagement. Thanks to the Noel Diary, Rachel and Jacob have not only found each other but have also gotten themselves rid of their past ghosts.
The Noel Diary is now streaming on Netflix.
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