YMMV / Secret Santa (2007)

• Ensemble Dark Horse:
  • Celia and Froggy are considered to be two of the best written characters in the series, even though they aren't center stage in the first book and get Demoted to Extra afterward. Them winning the school's cutest couple award during their cameo in Spring Fling is pretty well-received.
  • Girl Posse member Shawna is only a tertiary character in the first book, never appears afterward, and has some Clingy Jealous Girl moments. Nonetheless, she's better-liked than several more prominent characters for her Hidden Depths and Character Development.
• First Installment Wins: Most fans agree that the Christmas atmosphere and the way the Secret Santa exchange is used to fuel a Love Dodecahedron give the first book a fun atmosphere that none of the sequels quite capture (although they still have their fans, especially Be Mine and Spring Fling).
• Vanilla Protagonist: Noelle is the main protagonist of the first book, but several people consider her to be the least interesting or relatable character in the story due to her immature actions earlier in the book's Love Dodecahedron. Her subplot has some fans but is generally seen to be less colorful, engaging, and original than the other three main romantic subplots.