What do you think?
Rate this book
Friends Like These #2
Christmas With Friends
As the festive season rolls around, everything seems to be going great for Marie. She has a gorgeous fiancé, a beautiful house and is surrounded by her quirky but loveable friends and family.
But things are never simple in Marie’s life. As she reluctantly agrees to host Christmas dinner for her friends and family, Marie suddenly feels the pressure of pleasing everyone. On top of that, her gorgeous fiancé, Brian is starting to lose patience with her reluctance to start organising the wedding.
Will Marie manage to pull off the perfect Christmas? And will she ever admit the real reason she’s avoiding all talk of weddings?
‘Christmas with Friends’ follows on from Hannah Ellis’s debut novel, ‘Friends Like These’, however both books stand-alone and can be read independently.
Please note this is a novella of around 25k words and not a full-length novel.
But things are never simple in Marie’s life. As she reluctantly agrees to host Christmas dinner for her friends and family, Marie suddenly feels the pressure of pleasing everyone. On top of that, her gorgeous fiancé, Brian is starting to lose patience with her reluctance to start organising the wedding.
Will Marie manage to pull off the perfect Christmas? And will she ever admit the real reason she’s avoiding all talk of weddings?
‘Christmas with Friends’ follows on from Hannah Ellis’s debut novel, ‘Friends Like These’, however both books stand-alone and can be read independently.
Please note this is a novella of around 25k words and not a full-length novel.
200 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2017
633 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Ellis
57 books433 followersHannah Ellis spent many years working in childcare before deciding she'd like to write books. When she's not busy writing she likes to read, drink tea and eat chocolate. She also enjoys yoga and jogging.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
December 27, 2017
This was a short and sweet Christmas novella but I had a really hard time getting into it and warming up to the characters, so it was just an okay read for me.
December 8, 2015
Christmas is upon Marie and she be happy and overjoyed with all that she has to be thankful for this holiday season - Brian (her fiance) and her Fat Club friends (you were learn more about that funny tale as you read!) While Marie was hoping for a quiet Christmas in with Brian, her friends had other plans! They were all coming to her place and they have special request for what the holiday MUST HAVE.
So not only does she have that to look forward to planning, but her friends, family and even Brian will not let the wedding progress at her pace, they harass her about it daily!
Can she make this the Christmas to remember?
Can she please everyone and have the wedding they will never forget?
Or will she get cold feet?
Only time will tell!
So not only does she have that to look forward to planning, but her friends, family and even Brian will not let the wedding progress at her pace, they harass her about it daily!
Can she make this the Christmas to remember?
Can she please everyone and have the wedding they will never forget?
Or will she get cold feet?
Only time will tell!
December 20, 2017
I downloaded a free copy offered through one of my daily subscription services not expecting much more than a quick novella about friends at Christmas. I found this rather charming and amusing i only the way dry English humor can be. I liked the cast of characters enough to now know that I will go backwards and read the first book in the series and then jump ahead to the third. It really isn't anything more than a girl, Marie, and her group of friends but I enjoyed their repartee with one another and how Marie seems to get into comically awful situations having the best of intentions. I'm glad I took a chance on it!
February 3, 2019
2.5 Stars. This felt more like a novella than a novel. I still like Marie and her friends but Marie's passive aggressive behavior with Brian got annoying.
December 14, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
June 18, 2016
I received a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Love, Love, Loved this book. Great continuation of Friends like These. This short story picks up right where the first one leaves off and gives us a fun Christmas story.
I was able to read this in just a few hours, but you need to read "Friends like These" first.
Enjoy!
Love, Love, Loved this book. Great continuation of Friends like These. This short story picks up right where the first one leaves off and gives us a fun Christmas story.
I was able to read this in just a few hours, but you need to read "Friends like These" first.
Enjoy!
June 4, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
Too funny. I do, however, feel you would have a better understanding the diversity in this group of friends if you read book 1 first. Great book!
Too funny. I do, however, feel you would have a better understanding the diversity in this group of friends if you read book 1 first. Great book!
June 14, 2016
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
Really enjoyed this short story. It does make we weary of hosting a holiday at my house because of the crazy requests I would get. And I totally LOVE Brian. :) Every girl's ideal mate.
Really enjoyed this short story. It does make we weary of hosting a holiday at my house because of the crazy requests I would get. And I totally LOVE Brian. :) Every girl's ideal mate.
June 25, 2016
This story was short and sweet. Worth reading after "Friends Like These" and I do plan to continue the series. There were a couple of editorial issues so I dropped my rating by a star. My other complaint would be Marie's obsession with being "normal"...but I suppose that's a very human feeling!
June 19, 2016
ARC. Book #2 of 3. Laugh out loud fun! Christmas with all the characters from Book#1.
November 16, 2016
When the weather gets cold and the leaves fall from the trees, my mind turns to Christmas. There is no better way to get in the Yule Tide spirit than to pour a celebratory glass of eggnog (amply seasoned with spirits), curl up in my favorite chair by a roaring fireplace, and read a Christmas book.
I must admit that the title of this book is a little misleading. Far from being a traditional tale of Yule Tide joy, this story has taken up a strategic position well outside the box. Being an American and a long resident of mainland Europe, I can’t help but wonder if British views on Christmas differ from other countries.
A group of friends (five in number, if my count is correct) form a clique ambiguously named the Fat Club. Marie, Linda, Anne, Sophie, and Jake come together every Thursday to socialize, as Jake, the only male member was the only one that ever had a weight problem. The four women, as many women do, just have a personal perception of overweight. Christmas happens to fall this year on a Thursday and, not wanting to break any traditions, decide to have a communal Christmas celebration.
I may be old fashioned, but to me, the twenty-fifth of December is more than just a day last month of the year. It is a time of year when friends and families come together to celebrate the birth of Christ and joyfully reflect on the blessings he has bestowed. I tend toward pleonasm when I read a book I particularly like or dislike. This book is somewhere in the middle.
I must admit that the title of this book is a little misleading. Far from being a traditional tale of Yule Tide joy, this story has taken up a strategic position well outside the box. Being an American and a long resident of mainland Europe, I can’t help but wonder if British views on Christmas differ from other countries.
A group of friends (five in number, if my count is correct) form a clique ambiguously named the Fat Club. Marie, Linda, Anne, Sophie, and Jake come together every Thursday to socialize, as Jake, the only male member was the only one that ever had a weight problem. The four women, as many women do, just have a personal perception of overweight. Christmas happens to fall this year on a Thursday and, not wanting to break any traditions, decide to have a communal Christmas celebration.
I may be old fashioned, but to me, the twenty-fifth of December is more than just a day last month of the year. It is a time of year when friends and families come together to celebrate the birth of Christ and joyfully reflect on the blessings he has bestowed. I tend toward pleonasm when I read a book I particularly like or dislike. This book is somewhere in the middle.
April 24, 2025
I read the first book in this series a few years ago and whilst the second one is set at Christmas, I didn’t want to put off until the winter to read it, hence why I am reading it in spring.
It was great to be back with the members of the fat club again. This isn’t any diet group though, it’s a group of friends who meet up once a week to chat, support and have fun. Each member has their own quirks and they are all different in personality which makes it a winning combination. The story centres around Marie and her partner Brian. Marie is feeling the pressure from everyone to set a date for their wedding but for some unknown reason, she seems to be dragging her heels.
There are plenty of laugh out loud moments of which the Christmas dinner was hilarious. I don’t think I will ever be able to look at a chocolate cheesecake with out smiling after reading this book. It’s the friendships that are the winning ingredients though and a reminder of what Christmas is really about.
Christmas With Friends was a fun filled novella that I read in one evening. It is packed full of humour and heart-warming moments and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face whilst feeling all cosy inside. Readers will adore the wonderful characters and you can’t but help feeling a bit festive and have you looking forward to one of the biggest days of the year. Wonderfully uplifting!
It was great to be back with the members of the fat club again. This isn’t any diet group though, it’s a group of friends who meet up once a week to chat, support and have fun. Each member has their own quirks and they are all different in personality which makes it a winning combination. The story centres around Marie and her partner Brian. Marie is feeling the pressure from everyone to set a date for their wedding but for some unknown reason, she seems to be dragging her heels.
There are plenty of laugh out loud moments of which the Christmas dinner was hilarious. I don’t think I will ever be able to look at a chocolate cheesecake with out smiling after reading this book. It’s the friendships that are the winning ingredients though and a reminder of what Christmas is really about.
Christmas With Friends was a fun filled novella that I read in one evening. It is packed full of humour and heart-warming moments and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face whilst feeling all cosy inside. Readers will adore the wonderful characters and you can’t but help feeling a bit festive and have you looking forward to one of the biggest days of the year. Wonderfully uplifting!
December 11, 2020
Book: Christmas with Friends by Hannah Ellis
Book 146 for the year
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Time to Read: 1 Day
How Did I Get It? Digital Version via Kindle
Mini Review: As the holidays approach, Marie’s life is going great. She has a wonderful fiancé and a fun (but eclectic) group of friend. But pressure of hosting the perfect Christmas dinner and planning her wedding might be too much. Can Marie make it work or will it all come crashing down?
Christmas with Friends is the second book in the Friends like These series. I loved the first book and was hoping for the same with book two. Book two just wasn’t as good. I’m not sure if it was because it was a novella or if it just wasn’t as good. I missed the friendships and felt Marie kind of went back to her old self. I still enjoyed reading about the holidays but it fell a little flat.
Book 146 for the year
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Time to Read: 1 Day
How Did I Get It? Digital Version via Kindle
Mini Review: As the holidays approach, Marie’s life is going great. She has a wonderful fiancé and a fun (but eclectic) group of friend. But pressure of hosting the perfect Christmas dinner and planning her wedding might be too much. Can Marie make it work or will it all come crashing down?
Christmas with Friends is the second book in the Friends like These series. I loved the first book and was hoping for the same with book two. Book two just wasn’t as good. I’m not sure if it was because it was a novella or if it just wasn’t as good. I missed the friendships and felt Marie kind of went back to her old self. I still enjoyed reading about the holidays but it fell a little flat.
February 11, 2021
The second novella in the series “Friends Like These” features the friends getting together on Christmas Day as that’s the day of week the Fat club meet. The first novel in the series, we get to meet the characters. The friends are a group of people who met accidentally in a fat club meeting, some of them thinking they were attending a speed dating night.
This continues in the same humourous way. The main character Marie is troubled too by everyone’s interference with her impending wedding and all want to help,her plan and she’s not entirely sure if she wants the wedding. Is it just nerves, or is she having second thoughts on marrying Brian? There are two more in the series and I look forward to reading more antics for the crazy friends.
A sweet little novel to read when it’s cold outside.
This continues in the same humourous way. The main character Marie is troubled too by everyone’s interference with her impending wedding and all want to help,her plan and she’s not entirely sure if she wants the wedding. Is it just nerves, or is she having second thoughts on marrying Brian? There are two more in the series and I look forward to reading more antics for the crazy friends.
A sweet little novel to read when it’s cold outside.
April 27, 2024
Christmas with Friends (Friends Like These Book 2)
The continuation of the First Book was even better 2nd time around. what a fun time is to be had by all. Love comes in all ways. We love family our extended family our pets and then friends and neighbours. The world would be a happier place if this book was true. I loved reading it and thoroughly recommend you do too. Thank you Hannah Ellis for your talent for writing such lovely books ❤️
The continuation of the First Book was even better 2nd time around. what a fun time is to be had by all. Love comes in all ways. We love family our extended family our pets and then friends and neighbours. The world would be a happier place if this book was true. I loved reading it and thoroughly recommend you do too. Thank you Hannah Ellis for your talent for writing such lovely books ❤️
March 2, 2019
Another quirky story
This is another quirky story much like the first but has more about Brian and how they are as a couple. The fat club is also coupled up. This story takes you threw Christmas and everyone coming together. Still has craziness and odd characters which keeps it interesting. Ok read.
This is another quirky story much like the first but has more about Brian and how they are as a couple. The fat club is also coupled up. This story takes you threw Christmas and everyone coming together. Still has craziness and odd characters which keeps it interesting. Ok read.
July 10, 2019
I enjoyed 'friends like these' and was glad to see there were more books! I had a hard time getting into this one, i was annoyed with brian being so stressed out and Marie being all ... whatever she was being...i only got 64% through because i cancelled my Kindle unlimited, but it was nice to have an out, i was over it.
September 13, 2018
Christmas with friends
This is short and sweet and I'm still loving the writing style but this isn't quite as funny as the first, but still enjoyable. I loved the characters. Too the next book.
This is short and sweet and I'm still loving the writing style but this isn't quite as funny as the first, but still enjoyable. I loved the characters. Too the next book.
January 21, 2019
Delightful series so far, very light. I love that the author can draw you into the lives of everyone. I read the first not realizing it was a series, and I am pleasantly enjoying the rest of the series now.
February 8, 2019
Still great reading
I don’t understand binge watching TV but I sure do understand binge reading! I love getting into a series that I enjoy and I can finish one and immediately start the next one. I already bought #3. I’m sure it will fly by this weekend.
I don’t understand binge watching TV but I sure do understand binge reading! I love getting into a series that I enjoy and I can finish one and immediately start the next one. I already bought #3. I’m sure it will fly by this weekend.
March 28, 2019
Sequel on the crazy fat club
Continuation of a quirky story. Can be read alone. Good poolside or beach read. The main character is likable and the friends are entertaining. Got the 1st book for free but I bought the 2nd book because I wanted to see what happens next .
Continuation of a quirky story. Can be read alone. Good poolside or beach read. The main character is likable and the friends are entertaining. Got the 1st book for free but I bought the 2nd book because I wanted to see what happens next .
September 23, 2019
Christmas friends
Not as good as the first book. Perhaps trying to hard to be Bridget Jones or Shopaholic. But it's a fun read. Needed some better plotting. But I still love all the fat club friends and this keeps my interest enough for the next one.
Not as good as the first book. Perhaps trying to hard to be Bridget Jones or Shopaholic. But it's a fun read. Needed some better plotting. But I still love all the fat club friends and this keeps my interest enough for the next one.
December 21, 2019
Lovely book for the holidays
Loving these characters in this second short read. This was fun and fast but with some very special moments. Something about these characters is very appealing and i will keep reading the series.
Loving these characters in this second short read. This was fun and fast but with some very special moments. Something about these characters is very appealing and i will keep reading the series.
December 6, 2020
EBK-M, Kindle, @ 2015, read 12/5/20. Fiction, Contemporary, Christmas. Series: Friends Like These, #2. An English engaged girl struggling with wedding plans, and hosting a Christmas day celebration with good friends from her "Fat Club". 3☆'s = Good, amusing dialog and situations.
May 5, 2022
Nice to find out what the characters were up to
I enjoyed the first one so it was nice to see what the characters were up to. I love how they seem to be such good friends and the Christmas seemed lovely
I enjoyed the first one so it was nice to see what the characters were up to. I love how they seem to be such good friends and the Christmas seemed lovely
December 22, 2022
The characters in this series are made to be very nice people, but their quirks are starting to wear thin for me. There's no plot in this novel, just the holiday goings-on in their lives. Some of the humor scenes seem forced. Not a bad book, but disappointing after enjoying the first one.
January 30, 2023
Pretty heartwarming book especially having Christmas in its title it has to be one. Nice to see the characters developing through each chapter. Really looking forward to seeing some marriage and kids in this group.
July 18, 2023
Not as good as the first one
This book was ok but more of an in between story I’m hoping that will just connect to the next book. It probably could have been written in half the amount of pages.
This book was ok but more of an in between story I’m hoping that will just connect to the next book. It probably could have been written in half the amount of pages.
January 2, 2024
CUTE
This is such a fun clean story, I will see if I purchase the rest because they are so tempting! Love Marie & Brian ! And need to know about the wedding - elope or big fancy!?!?!?!
This is such a fun clean story, I will see if I purchase the rest because they are so tempting! Love Marie & Brian ! And need to know about the wedding - elope or big fancy!?!?!?!
September 26, 2018
Great fun
Loved it! I thought the previous book was in it. I’m so glad I happened across this one and the next. So funny and sweet.
Loved it! I thought the previous book was in it. I’m so glad I happened across this one and the next. So funny and sweet.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews