This Christmas

by Leeanne Slade, Claudia Jessie (Narrator)

From the #1 bestselling author Leeanne Slade, get into the festive spirit with a comedy about rings, reunions and reconciliations.

This Christmas is a special one for Kitty and not only is it their first since becoming an official couple, but it’s the first in their brand new home. After a whirlwind summer together, they are planning to spend the Christmas period curled up in front of the open fire, exchanging gifts and making new traditions.

But when not one, but two sets of in-laws but two sets of in-laws unexpectedly arrive on Christmas morning, they are forced to host Kitty’s Mum and her aggressively frisky cat, Kitty’s Dad and his Scrooge-like attitude, and Leo’s Mum and her treasured family a diamond ring she wants Leo to give to Kitty. Kitty and Leo thought they had this Christmas all figured out. . . It might be time to think again.

For listeners who fell in love with Kitty and Leo in THE REBOUND, and for those meeting them for the first time, get ready to swoon - and laugh - under the mistletoe.

Featuring an original theme song written by by Shelly McErlaine, with lyrics by Leeanne Slade, performed by Hey Ho.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Contemporary, Fiction, Chick Lit

Audible Audio

First published October 20, 2025

About the author

Leeanne Slade is the internationally bestselling author of romantic novels The Rebound, Told You So, The Glitch, The Return of Ruby Darling, and This Christmas.

Translated into multiple languages, her books have hit number one on Audible across the globe. Her books were also voted as Audible's Best of the Year in both 2023 and 2024. The Glitch is currently in development to be adapted into a feature film with Searchlight Pictures.​

Before becoming a full-time author, she worked in advertising for some of the UK’s most iconic radio brands.

She lives in the south of England with her family, juggling motherhood and a busy household with writing (mostly in the midnight hours!)

For updates, find her on social:
Tiktok: @leeannesladeauthor
Instagram: @leeannesladeauthor

Reviews

[Andrea (andrea.bookster) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claudia Jesse and Tom Bateman could read the phone book and I’d listen. Luckily for me, it’s the far more enjoyable sequel to The Rebound (and not as heartwrenching as that book got) where we get to see Kitty and Leo enjoy their deserved second chance holding their first Christmas with both sets of parents.

It was funny, and sweet and a bit spicy (top notch casting there 🥵). It was also a bit stressful with their parents getting the wrong end of the stick which rubbed up against Kitty and Leo's sore spots (explored in The Rebound). I loved that we got more on where Leo and Kitty have landed on Leo's infertility and his fears of Kitty leaving him, while Kitty comes to the realisation that 'maybe kids later' is actually 'no thanks, not for me'. I’m so glad Leeanne Slade didn’t pull an Abby Jimenez ‘miracle baby despite being infertile' plot twist. As a childfree person I want to see more childfree characters and also infertile characters who can be at peace with it after they've had a chance to grieve. I loved that this book recognised and acknowledged that some lives will be different and not cookie cutter marriage and babies ending and that is just as valid for a happy ending.

Thank you Leeanne for this Christmas treat, if you ever feel like another Kitty and Leo Christmas adventure in the future, I wouldn’t be unhappy to hear Claudia and Tom again ;) Hell, film companies can you please make this a movie with them playing the roles?

[Victoria Tezangi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This played out like the perfect Christmas story and it totally has my heart!

This is a special Christmas for Kitty, the first in her new official relationship and in their first brand new home but the pressure is on. While they both expected to spend a cosy Christmas cuddled up together enjoying an intimate festive day, opening gifts and making new traditions they are left stunned when both sets of in laws unexpectedly show up on Christmas morning they are forced to host the day for everyone.

I adored Kitty and Leo. Their love and respect for each other was so clear to see! Their relationship was full of healthy communication, care for each others feelings and circumstances and passion. They understood one another and while this was far from a perfect Christmas they were each others comfort and safe space when family revelations and harsh realities came to the surface on this festive day. I loved reading about them and their cosy sexy scenes were a delight!

The side characters here in this book had great backstory but didn't overshadow our main characters, they added to the plot and helped developed their relationship. There was plenty of humour and fun moments with a beautiful ending and message but there are some hard themes touched on including childhood trauma, divorce, infertility and frustrating cats. This may night be the sunshine and daises cute Christmas read but it was perfect in my opinion and played out in my head like a movie.

[Kirsty Mallalieu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute couple trying to enjoy their first Christmas together get repeatedly cock-blocked by obnoxious relatives, employers and a cat

[Nikki Edmonds · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for a novella. And the narration was really good.

[Sabelle C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny but emotional holiday read
The story is broken down by time of day
I do feel like I should have read the previous book first

[Cocosbooks Constance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Petit instant de douceur dans ce livre 🥰

[Bethreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosy Christmas audible read which was fun and easy to follow

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://my-bo0ks.over-blog.com/2025/1...

3.75/5

Noël avec toi est, comme son nom l'indique, une romance de noël. Un livre audio que j'ai découvert un peu par hasard mais qui m'a bien plu ! A noter que l'histoire des personnages débute dans un autre roman [Le temps d'un été] mais si, comme moi, vous ne l'avez pas lu, pas d'inquiétude, ce n'est pas grave dans la mesure où celui-ci peut être lu sans revenir sur leur rencontre. J'étais plus intéressée par le présent, à noël que leur chemin difficile avec leurs ex.

Kitty et Leo s'apprête à passer leur tout premier noël depuis qu'ils sont enfin en couple. Ils ne rêvent que de calme, de tranquillité à deux. Mais c'était sans compter l'arrivée imprévue de leurs parents venu fêter noël avec eux. Entre un chat obsédé, des souvenirs difficiles qui remontent, une bague et les rêves de chacun autant dire que ce noël ne sera pas de tout repos.

On est ici sur un livre audio assez couvert (4h en vitesse normale). Une écoute que j'ai beaucoup apprécié, notamment pour les voix des deux acteurs que j'ai trouvé vraiment super. On se concentre donc ici sur le jour de noël. Traditions, cadeaux, discussions familiales, retrouvailles, espoirs et petits tracas habituels à cette période. Un petit combo qui nous plonge totalement dans l'ambiance qui y règne. J'ai beaucoup aimé les thématiques abordées, parfois un peu plus dures, mais sans rendre le roman déprimant. Car noël, c'est aussi le moment de donner une seconde chance aux autres.

Côté romance, j'ai été séduite par le couple. C'est plutôt rare pour moi, de suivre un couple déjà formé. J'ai beaucoup aimé l'amour très fort que l'on ressent entre Kitty et Leo. Ce nouveau départ pour eux leur tient à coeur et je les ai trouvé adorable. Ils communiquent, ils affrontent ensemble les épreuves et surtout il se font confiance. J'ai donc bien sur beaucoup aimé les voir plus amoureux que jamais.

Que vous dire de plus si ce n'est que j'ai passé un très bon moment. Le roman est assez court, mais suffisamment long pour s'y plonger vraiment. Le temps de quelques heures, j'étais avec eux, dans ce noël un peu particulier. Un très bon moment de lecture, si vous aimez les romances de noël sur la famille.

[Emma Dargue · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a beautiful christmassy follow up to the rebound. leo and kitty are my fave protagonists in this years reading and i really love the basis of their relationship. some of the situations that occurred within this made me laugh out loud. really fab and wouldnt hate another look at this amazing couple.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitty and Leo are ready for their first cozy Christmas together in their new home—just the two of them, a warm fire, gifts, and fresh traditions. But their peaceful plans crumble when both sides of the family show up unannounced on Christmas morning: Kitty’s mum with her chaotic cat, her grumpy dad, and Leo’s mum determined to hand down a family diamond ring. Suddenly hosting a full house, Kitty and Leo must survive clashing parents, unexpected pressure, and holiday mayhem… all while trying to keep their perfect Christmas from falling apart.

This was such a fun, chaotic Christmas novella! I loved how the story spirals from one bit of drama straight into another—miscommunication, surprise arrivals, clashing personalities, and absolute festive mayhem all packed into a single day. Somehow it never feels overwhelming, just wildly entertaining.

Watching Kitty and Leo try to keep their holiday “perfect” while everything goes hilariously wrong was exactly the kind of cozy chaos I adore in a Christmas read. It’s messy, heartwarming, and endlessly amusing. A perfect festive treat!

[Biggest Little Book Talker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story that didn't need to be written, it is a fine story and all but if you haven't read the rebound i don't think it will have as much of an impact. In fact if I hadn't read the rebound this would have been a 1 star. It seems like the author got a lot of comments about how she decided to end the book and a lot of people made her want to do another one were she wraps everything up with a shiny bow. I loved the Rebound so I am sad this wasn't better, but good dialogue and was descriptive for what is was.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
So this is about a man named Leo and his girlfriend, Kitty and their Christmas being interrupted by their families and the chaos of it all, it was cute, simple and their romance between each other and even maybe their parents was very cute.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super short stop in to see where Liam and kitty are now. I did enjoy it even if their relationship has become slightly corny, there was enough chaos around them to take the edge off

[Hayley]

really enjoyed this! perfect easy listen

[Beryl Weller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good listen and a bit lighthearted and a generally nice story.

[Star Forbis · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Sometimes the thing you think is an Imitation, turns out to be the realest thing of all!"

"We're all capable of more forgiveness than we think we are."

Change can be good. New opportunities."

[Nootka Lenoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy Christmas novella!!
And what a blessing it was
Romance added with a vit of family drama to keep us on our toes!
Absolutely adored.

[Beth Holmes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little festive follow up to The Rebound!

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would've liked this one more if there hadn't been so much going on in it. It was hard to care about the couple when it was like an explosion of crazy going on around them. There were some good moments, but it was just such a chaotic story.

[Terra Clotfelter G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t read the first book in this series (or is it just a duet?), so maybe that’s why this fell flat for me? It was pretty anticlimactic, but three stars for a Christmas vibe.

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

FYI the perfect audiobook to listen to whilst doing your Christmas food shopping 🛍️

[Feli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carino si, ma entro un mese lo avrò totalmente dimenticato

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh I just love Leo & Kitty!!!!! Their love makes me all starry-eyed! Haha! Fun quick read that is an extension of The Rebound by Leeanne Slade (which I also recommend!). Can't go wrong with a good love story!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE best Christmas novella ever!! Absolutely loved revisiting Kitty and Leo

[Sendy Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and somewhat typical Christmas story with an unexpected main character trait that gave valuable perspective on something not typically discussed. Do recommend to get you in the Christmas spirit! 🎄

[Jordy Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duet narration, Christmas fluff.

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It was a continuation that really could have been left alone. Did we really need this ending? I didn’t. But it was entertaining through most parts - till I was yelling in my head to the MFC to just stop

[Cherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Delightful, Heartwarming, and Spicy Holiday Sequel

[Introduction: Pacing and Genre]

This Christmas was a perfect, breezy holiday read! I finished this perfect length sequel feeling completely satisfied. It successfully brought back the characters I loved while delivering a charming and enjoyable story.

[Praise: Characters and Relationships]

The novel shines brightest in its character dynamics. It features a great blend of characters all under one roof on Christmas Day, creating that wonderful, chaotic family feeling. I was especially glad to see where Leo and Kitty's relationship ended up, and honestly, Leo seems to be the perfect boyfriend—a true gentleman!

[Praise: Tone and Humour]

While the story was certainly spicier than previous books, the romance was handled really well. There were moments that felt a little corny/mushy here and there, but thankfully, there were plenty of other plot points going on to balance out the sweetness. The book is full of genuine funny moments that will have you laughing out loud; my absolute favourite was the hilarious scene involving the cat getting at the turkey!

[Conclusion: Final Thoughts]

This is a heartwarming and charming holiday book that truly delivers on the festive spirit. I loved the development of the main couple and the lively family interactions. It had a lovely ending that wrapped everything up beautifully. Highly recommend this sequel for anyone looking for a fun, feel-good Christmas story.