Left at Number 17: A Warm, Sharp and Very British Christmas Comedy Novella About Neighbours, Chaos and Second Chances

A warm, funny British Christmas novella with a moment that stops you, holds you, and stays with you long after the last page — now just £1.77 / $2.99 on Kindle for 24 hours. A perfect evening (or two) of festive escape. “Warm, witty and unexpectedly moving — the perfect festive read.” From the bestselling author of Do They Know It’s Christmas Yet? comes a warm, sharply funny festive story about neighbours, second chances, and one very expensive padded envelope. If anyone on Laurel Drive dared to feel festive on the first Monday in December, a small red card through the letterbox reminded them there were new Christmas rules. Dennis at Number 17 — facing his first Christmas as a widower — has turned his driveway into a nightly “Parcel Hub”: queue tickets, passwords, mugs of tea, and a sense of order. For him, running Christmas like a system isn’t just neighbourly; it’s a way to keep people together when life has taken something away. It almost works… until Christmas Eve, when Michael jumps the queue with a panicked lie about a proposal and discovers the parcel he desperately needs is missing. A chancer courier has pocketed his tiny padded envelope. What follows is a night of frosty detours, market-stall mishaps, a faltering Mini with antlers, and one woman who made a bad choice — roughly the size of Dennis’s own, once upon a time. Readers describe Left at Number 17 as beautifully funny, deeply warm, and quietly devastating in the best way — a Christmas story that makes you laugh, then gets you right in the heart. Perfect for fans of: Richard Curtis — warm, witty British Christmas storytelling with real emotional punch. Nick Hornby — sharp humour, flawed characters you root for, and everyday chaos turned meaningful. Beth O’Leary — modern, uplifting fiction full of heart, found family, and quiet redemption. Jenny Colgan — cosy, comforting British escapism that feels like a hug and a biscuit tin. Matt Haig — stories that blend festive wonder with humanity, hope, and that one moment that stays with you. Sophie Kinsella — light, clever, character-driven comedy with heart (and the occasional spiralling disaster). About the author James Crookes is a bestselling comedy author and long-running UK radio presenter/producer. He is known for writing sharp, heartfelt festive fiction and for making people laugh at breakfast. He lives in Sheffield, England, with his family, fifteen pairs of reading glasses, and a sincere belief that wine solves at least 40% of modern problems. View Less