The best Christmas audiobooks
The top Christmas audiobooks, ranked on recording honours, production, listener ratings and the book's standing, with the edition to buy.
The best Christmas audiobook is A Christmas Carol: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry. It has 4.7 stars from 23,827 Audible US ratings, the most of any Christmas recording checked. Audible UK does not sell it, so UK listeners should choose Hugh Grant's reading instead. The Twelve Clues of Christmas, an Audie winner read by Katherine Kellgren, and Letters from Father Christmas, read by three actors with music, complete the top 3.
- Best overallA Christmas CarolTim Curry, 3h 31mSee pick
- Best Audie winnerThe Twelve Clues of ChristmasKatherine Kellgren, 9h 25mSee pick
- Best classicLetters from Father ChristmasDerek Jacobi and two others, 2h 7mSee pick
- Best for familiesA Boy Called ChristmasStephen Fry, 4h 25mSee pick
- Best full castThe Christmas PigAmaka Okafor and 19 actors, 5h 37mSee pick
- Best crimeEveryone This Christmas Has a SecretBarton Welch, 5h 2mSee pick
- Best romanceNot Another Christmas Rom ComAndi Arndt, Teddy Hamilton, 6h 7mSee pick
- Best short listenA Child's Christmas in WalesDylan Thomas, 48mSee pick
- Best dramatisationA Christmas Carol (audio drama)Kenneth Cranham, Derek Jacobi and cast, 3h 31mSee pick
- Better readThe Christmas AppealTold in documents in the printed bookSee pick
What the terms mean
- Full cast
- Different actors read different characters, using the full text of the book.
- Multi-narrator
- Two or more narrators, usually one for each main character or each part of the book.
- Sound design
- Music or sound effects added to a reading of the book.
- Dramatisation
- A script adapted from the book and performed like a radio play. Usually shorter than the book, and not the full text.
- Abridged
- A shortened version: the audiobook leaves out parts of the printed text.
- From 1 December
- Minutes a day at normal speed to finish the audiobook by 24 December if you start on 1 December. Calculated.
How we ranked: every pick scored the same way on recording awards, production, listener ratings and the book's standing. Full method
The top 3 Christmas audiobooks of all time
Christmas recordings of every kind, ranked on recording honours, production, listener ratings and the book's standing.
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry has 4.7 stars from 23,827 Audible US ratings, the most of any Christmas audiobook checked. It runs 3 hours 31 minutes.
- Narrator
- Tim Curry
- Production
- One narrator
- Length
- 3h 31mAudible US
- Recording
- Audible Studios, 2009
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.7 from 23,827Audible US, 26 Oct 2026
- From 1 December
- 9 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
Audible's editors praised "the dynamic (and, at times, appropriately chilling) narration" on their December 2025 holiday list. The listing does not say whether the text is complete and mentions no music. It is the longest solo reading checked.
Why it ranks here
The most ratings, an editors' list place and a canon classic: 7 of 12, ahead of the next pick on ratings.
Good to know: Audible UK does not sell Tim Curry's recording (checked 26 October 2026). In the UK, Hugh Grant's 2020 reading runs 2 hours 44 minutes and has 4.8 stars from 8,168 Audible UK ratings; that is the recording the Read vs Listen verdict scored. Patrick Stewart's recording is abridged, according to Simon & Schuster.
Sources Audible listing Audible search Audible editors' holiday list Simon & Schuster (Patrick Stewart)
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The Twelve Clues of Christmas
The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen, read by Katherine Kellgren, won the 2014 Audie Award for female solo narration: the only Audie-winning Christmas recording found on Audible US. It runs 9 hours 25 minutes.
- Narrator
- Katherine Kellgren
- Production
- One narrator
- Length
- 9h 25mAudible US and UK
- Recording
- Audible, Inc., 2012
- Awards
- Audie Award, Solo Narration (Female), 2014
- Listener rating
- 4.5 from 6,115Audible US, 26 Oct 2026; UK 4.5 from 297
- From 1 December
- 24 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
The AudioFile review, now hosted by Kirkus, says Katherine Kellgren "performs an impressive range of accents", including Irish, Cockney and American, and credits her "humorous delivery". Lady Georgiana hosts a Christmas house party where guests keep dying in accidents.
Why it ranks here
An Audie win and specific AudioFile praise: 7 of 12, second on ratings.
Good to know: Book 6 of the Royal Spyness series. The listing describes a witty, cosy mystery.
Sources Audie Awards 2014 Audible listing AudioFile review (Kirkus)
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Letters from Father Christmas
Letters from Father Christmas, J.R.R. Tolkien's letters to his children, gives each letter writer a reader: Derek Jacobi as Father Christmas, John Moffatt as the Polar Bear and Christian Rodska as the elf Ilbereth. It runs 2 hours 7 minutes.
- Narrator
- Derek Jacobi, John Moffatt, Christian Rodska
- Production
- Multi-narrator, with sound design (music)
- Length
- 2h 7mAudible US and UK
- Recording
- HarperCollins, 2005
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.6 from 2,074Audible US, 26 Oct 2026; UK 4.6 from 214
- From 1 December
- 6 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
The Audible listing says the recording uses specially composed music but does not name the composer. Audible's editors called it "warm and wonderfully narrated" in December 2025. The letters cover 1920 to 1943.
Why it ranks here
Three readers in set roles, music and an editors' list place: 6 of 12, level with A Boy Called Christmas and ahead on ratings.
Good to know: The printed book has Tolkien's handwriting, drawings and a goblin alphabet, which the audiobook cannot show.
Sources Audible listing Audible search Audible editors' holiday list
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The top 3 classic Christmas audiobooks
Older Christmas stories, an hour or longer.
The Snow Queen
The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, read by Katherine Kellgren for Blackstone Audio, follows Gerda's search for her friend Kai. It has 4.2 stars from 228 Audible US ratings. It runs 1 hour 20 minutes.
- Narrator
- Katherine Kellgren
- Production
- One narrator
- Length
- 1h 20mAudible US and UK
- Recording
- Blackstone Audio, 2014
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.2 from 228Audible US, 26 Oct 2026
- Good for
- One sitting
The recording
The fairy tale is told in seven parts. The listing names no translator and mentions no music, and no critic review of this recording was found.
Why it ranks here
A canon classic with no award or review for the recording: 4 of 12, ahead of The Box of Delights on ratings.
Good to know: Choose a printed edition if the translation matters to you, since the audio edition names no translator.
Sources Audible listing Audible search
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The Box of Delights
The Box of Delights by John Masefield, a children's classic set around Christmas, is read by Caius Nicholas in the only unabridged recording found on Audible US. It runs 9 hours 56 minutes.
- Narrator
- Caius Nicholas
- Production
- One narrator
- Length
- 9h 56mAudible US and UK
- Recording
- Farshore (HarperCollins), 2025
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- not confirmed (US)UK 3.5 from 21, Audible UK, 25 Oct 2026
- From 1 December
- 25 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
Kay Harker guards a magic box that can travel in time, and Abner Brown wants it. When his family are "scrobbled" just before Christmas, Kay acts alone. The listing quotes The Times calling it one of "the greatest children's books ever written".
Why it ranks here
It ranks on the book's standing alone, because the US listing has no ratings yet and no award or review was found: 4 of 12.
Good to know: The edition has Quentin Blake's artwork. The BBC and Big Finish versions are dramatisations.
Sources Audible listing Audible search
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The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum, author of The Wizard of Oz, is read by the actor Tony Hale for Audible Studios. It has 4.4 stars from 573 Audible US ratings. It runs 3 hours 12 minutes.
- Narrator
- Tony Hale
- Production
- One narrator
- Length
- 3h 12mAudible US and UK
- Recording
- Audible Studios, 2020
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.4 from 573Audible US, 26 Oct 2026; UK 4.5 from 42
- From 1 December
- 8 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
Tony Hale reads the novel on his own, and Audible US lists it as unabridged. Baum tells how Santa Claus grew up in the magic forest of Burzee. The listing mentions no music, and no critic review of the recording was found.
Why it ranks here
A long-standing classic with the most ratings of the unabridged Baum recordings: 3 of 12.
Good to know: Audible US sells at least seven other unabridged readings. Check for Tony Hale's name.
Sources Audible listing Audible search
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The top 3 Christmas audiobooks for families
Longer listens for children and parents together, with the publisher's age range where one is given.
A Boy Called Christmas
A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig, read by Stephen Fry, won a 2018 Odyssey Honor from the American Library Association. Penguin Random House lists it for ages 8 to 12. It runs 4 hours 25 minutes.
- Narrator
- Stephen Fry
- Production
- One narrator
- Length
- 4h 25m US, 4h 32m UKAudible US and UK
- Recording
- Listening Library, 2016
- Awards
- Odyssey Honor, American Library Association, 2018
- Listener rating
- 4.7 from 579Audible US, 26 Oct 2026; UK 4.7 from 2,743
- Ages
- 8 to 12 (Penguin Random House)
- From 1 December
- 12 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
Kirkus's audiobook review says Stephen Fry's "dynamic narration brings out the humor as well as the heartache" of Nikolas and praises his "hearty range of voices". It was also a 2018 ALSC Notable Children's Recording.
Why it ranks here
An Odyssey Honor and specific Kirkus praise: 6 of 12, the top family score.
Good to know: A second Stephen Fry listing runs 4 hours 32 minutes; whether it is the same recording is not confirmed.
Sources Odyssey Award (ALA) Kirkus audiobook review Penguin Random House Audible listing
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The Christmas Pig
The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling is a full cast production: Amaka Okafor narrates, 19 named actors play the other roles, and Anne Dudley wrote the original score. It runs 5 hours 37 minutes.
- Narrator
- Amaka Okafor and 19 named actors
- Production
- Full cast, with sound design (original score, Dolby Atmos)
- Length
- 5h 37mAudible US and UK
- Recording
- Audible Studios, 2021
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.7 from 4,178Audible US, 26 Oct 2026; UK 4.7 from 1,478
- Ages
- not stated by the publisher
- From 1 December
- 15 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
The listing names every role: Rocco Padden plays Jack and Gerran Howell the Christmas Pig. The Chamber Orchestra of London plays the score, and the recording is sold in Dolby Atmos.
Why it ranks here
A named cast, a score and a #1 New York Times bestseller, according to Scholastic: 5 of 12.
Good to know: The hardback has Jim Field's illustrations. Neither Audible nor Scholastic gives an age range.
Sources Audible listing Audible search Scholastic Hachette Children's
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The Christmasaurus: The Musical Edition
The Christmasaurus: The Musical Edition by Tom Fletcher is read by Paul Shelley, with 14 original songs written and performed by Tom Fletcher and a full orchestra, according to Penguin. It runs 6 hours 25 minutes.
- Narrator
- Paul Shelley, with songs by Tom Fletcher
- Production
- One narrator, with sound design (14 songs)
- Length
- 6h 25mAudible US
- Recording
- Puffin (Penguin), 2018
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 5.0 from 8Audible US, 26 Oct 2026
- Ages
- not stated by the publisher
- From 1 December
- 17 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
Penguin names Giovanna Fletcher, Carrie Hope-Fletcher and Max Reader among the singers. No critic review of the recording was found.
Why it ranks here
It ranks on its documented songs and a British Book Award shortlisting, not on listeners: the US listing has only 8 ratings. 5 of 12.
Good to know: Check the title says The Musical Edition. Plain editions without the songs run about 5 hours 39 minutes.
Sources Penguin Audible listing Audible search
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The top 3 Christmas crime audiobooks
Cosy Christmas mysteries.
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret
Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson, read by Barton Welch, opens each chapter with jingle bells and an opening door, according to Library Journal. It runs 5 hours 2 minutes.
- Narrator
- Barton Welch
- Production
- One narrator, with sound design (chapter sounds)
- Length
- 5h 2mAudible US and UK
- Recording
- HarperAudio, 2024
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.4 from 294Audible US, 26 Oct 2026; UK 4.3 from 44
- From 1 December
- 13 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
Library Journal's audio review praised Barton Welch's "well-rounded character portraits and a range of excellent Australian accents", and said each chapter stands for a door on an Advent calendar. It was on Audible's December 2025 holiday list.
Why it ranks here
Specific praise, documented sound effects and an editors' list place: 5 of 12.
Good to know: Book 3 of the Ernest Cunningham Mysteries. Penguin Audio sells the UK edition, also read by Barton Welch.
Sources Library Journal audio review Audible listing Audible editors' holiday list
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The Mistletoe Murder
The Mistletoe Murder by P.D. James is four crime stories read by Jenny Agutter and Daniel Weyman, and Library Journal said they "keep the listener engaged from start to finish". It runs 2 hours 55 minutes.
- Narrator
- Jenny Agutter, Daniel Weyman
- Production
- Multi-narrator (two narrators)
- Length
- 2h 55m US, 3h 3m UKAudible US and UK
- Recording
- Random House Audio, 2016
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.3 from 277Audible US, 26 Oct 2026
- From 1 December
- 8 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
The listing does not say who reads which story; the Read vs Listen verdict found they split the book by story, not by character. Two stories feature a young Adam Dalgliesh.
Why it ranks here
Named praise for both narrators and a major crime writer: 4 of 12.
Good to know: A second listing runs 3 hours 3 minutes, the length of the UK Faber Audio edition.
Sources Library Journal audio review Audible listing Audible search
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Hercule Poirot's Christmas
Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie, read by Hugh Fraser, has 4.6 stars from 2,865 Audible US ratings, the most of any Christmas crime recording outside the top 3. It runs 6 hours 8 minutes.
- Narrator
- Hugh Fraser
- Production
- One narrator
- Length
- 6h 8m US, 6h 9m UKAudible US and UK
- Recording
- William Morrow (HarperCollins), 2012
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.6 from 2,865Audible US, 26 Oct 2026; UK 4.6 from 799
- From 1 December
- 16 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
Audible US lists it as unabridged. On Christmas Eve, Simeon Lee is found dead at a family reunion, and Poirot finds every relative has a reason to hate him. No critic review of this recording was found.
Why it ranks here
A well-known Christie with no award or review: 3 of 12, ahead of Midwinter Murder on ratings.
Good to know: An 80 minute BBC dramatisation with Peter Sallis is also sold. Check for Hugh Fraser's name.
Sources Audible listing Audible search
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The top 3 Christmas romance audiobooks
Picked from the full list of the best Christmas romance audiobooks.
Not Another Christmas Rom Com
Not Another Christmas Rom Com by A.J. Pine is an Audible Original, made for audio first and read by Andi Arndt and Teddy Hamilton. It has 4.4 stars from 5,721 Audible US ratings. It runs 6 hours 7 minutes.
- Narrator
- Andi Arndt, Teddy Hamilton
- Production
- Multi-narrator (two narrators)
- Length
- 6h 7mAudible US and UK
- Recording
- Audible Originals, 2024
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.4 from 5,721Audible US, 25 Oct 2026; UK 4.2 from 632
- From 1 December
- 16 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
Audible's editors called the pair "a fan-favorite romance narrator duo" in December 2025. The listing does not say who reads which character. Molly confides in a stranger on her flight home, then finds him in her family's Christmas rental.
Why it ranks here
Named praise from Audible's editors: 4 of 12, winning a three-way tie on ratings.
Good to know: A Kindle edition is not confirmed. The Audible Originals summary calls it a "spicy romance".
Sources Audible listing Audible editors' holiday rom-com list
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In a Holidaze
In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren, read by Patti Murin, is a Christmas time-loop romance, and Simon & Schuster says it is soon to be a Netflix film. It runs 7 hours 40 minutes.
- Narrator
- Patti Murin
- Production
- One narrator
- Length
- 7h 40mAudible US and UK
- Recording
- Simon & Schuster Audio, 2020
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.2 from 3,674Audible US, 25 Oct 2026; UK 3.8 from 56
- From 1 December
- 20 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
The story stays with one character, Maelyn Jones. Each time the family Christmas at a Utah cabin goes wrong, she wakes on the plane and it starts again. Audible's editors listed the book in December 2025.
Why it ranks here
An instant New York Times bestseller, according to Simon & Schuster, and an editors' list place: 4 of 12.
Good to know: A second listing has the same narrator and length; whether it is the same recording is not confirmed.
Sources Audible listing Simon & Schuster Audible editors' holiday rom-com list
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The Twelve Dates of Christmas
In the US edition of The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss, Elizabeth Knowelden reads the book and a PDF of recipes is included. It runs 10 hours 24 minutes.
- Narrator
- Elizabeth Knowelden (US edition)
- Production
- One narrator
- Length
- 10h 24m US, 11h 31m UKAudible US and UK
- Recording
- Penguin Audio, 2020
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.4 from 1,629Audible US, 25 Oct 2026; UK 4.3 from 122
- From 1 December
- 26 minutes a day (calculated)
The recording
Audible's editors wrote in December 2025 that Elizabeth Knowelden "captures the hilarity" of the story. Kate Turner goes on twelve dates set up by an agency in the English village of Blexford.
Why it ranks here
Named praise and an editors' list place: 4 of 12, ahead of Christmas Shopaholic by 34 ratings.
Good to know: Audible UK sells a different recording, read by Laura Kirman, with no recipe PDF mentioned.
Sources Audible listing Penguin Random House Audible editors' holiday rom-com list
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The top 3 short Christmas audiobooks for one sitting
Under 1 hour at normal speed.
A Child's Christmas in Wales
Dylan Thomas's own 1952 reading of A Child's Christmas in Wales, sold by Harper with five of his poems, was added to the US National Recording Registry in 2008. It runs 48 minutes.
- Narrator
- Dylan Thomas
- Production
- One narrator (the author)
- Length
- 48mAudible US and UK
- Recording
- Harper (Caedmon), first recorded 1952
- Awards
- US National Recording Registry, 2008
- Listener rating
- 4.4 from 262Audible US, 26 Oct 2026; UK 4.3 from 41
- Good for
- One sitting
The recording
The Library of Congress says the 1952 LP had sold 400,000 copies by 1960 and helped spread his performance style. Audible US labels it abridged, and whether the story text is cut is not confirmed.
Why it ranks here
A Recording Registry place, documented influence and a canon classic: 7 of 12.
Good to know: Iwan Rheon's 2024 reading is listed as unabridged and runs 19 minutes, without the poems.
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The Night Before Christmas
The Night Before Christmas, the poem by Clement Moore, is read by Jeff Bridges, and Audible's editors praised his "distinctive voice, style, and humor" in December 2025. It runs 4 minutes.
- Narrator
- Jeff Bridges
- Production
- One narrator
- Length
- 4mAudible US
- Recording
- Applesauce Press, 2022
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.8 from 37Audible US, 26 Oct 2026
- Good for
- Bedtime
The recording
The recording comes from Applesauce Press's edition illustrated by Charles Santore. The listing mentions no music. It is the shortest recording on this page.
Why it ranks here
Named editors' praise and a canon Christmas poem: 6 of 12, from only 37 ratings.
Good to know: The printed edition has Charles Santore's illustrations, which the audiobook cannot show.
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss, read by Walter Matthau for Listening Library, has 4.7 stars from 1,984 Audible US ratings, the most of the short picks. It runs 12 minutes.
- Narrator
- Walter Matthau
- Production
- One narrator
- Length
- 12mAudible US
- Recording
- Listening Library, recording year not confirmed
- Awards
- None found
- Listener rating
- 4.7 from 1,984Audible US, 26 Oct 2026
- Good for
- Bedtime
The recording
Audible US lists it as unabridged but gives no recording year and says nothing about music. No critic review of the recording was found.
Why it ranks here
A canon children's classic with no award or review: 4 of 12, winning a four-way tie on ratings.
Good to know: Dr. Seuss's drawings are part of the story, so young children may want the printed book open.
Sources Audible listing Audible search
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Christmas dramatisations worth hearing
Scripts performed like radio plays, so they are not ranked against readings of the full text.
A Christmas Carol (Audible audio drama, 2016)
Kenneth Cranham plays Scrooge, Derek Jacobi plays Dickens, Miriam Margolyes the Ghost of Christmas Present and Jenna Coleman Belle. It runs 3 hours 31 minutes, with 4.8 stars from 1,036 Audible US ratings. It is an adaptation, not the full text.
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Christmas Eve, 1914
An original Audible Studios drama about the 1914 Christmas truce, with a cast of ten including Damon Herriman and Cameron Daddo. The listing says it was a 2016 Audie finalist and won an AudioFile Earphones Award. 1 hour 13 minutes, 4.4 stars from 18,939 ratings.
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Miracle on 34th Street (Dramatized)
A full cast dramatisation of Valentine Davies's story, 1 hour 35 minutes, 4.3 stars from 37 ratings. Read vs Listen scores this dramatised recording as an exception to its usual rule, which is why it has a verdict when the other dramatisations do not. Listen Full verdict
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Christmas books that are better read than heard
Read vs Listen rates these Read, for the reasons below.
The Christmas Appeal
The story is told entirely in documents, which the printed book lays out as written. Four narrators read the 3 hour 36 minute audiobook, but the listing does not say who reads which character. It has 3.6 stars from 31 Audible US ratings. Read Full verdict
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The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
The story moves out of order through a tale within the tale, and nothing confirmed points to the audiobook. The scored recording is Dreamscape Media's 2021 full cast edition, 2 hours 40 minutes, with no cast named. Read Full verdict
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Nothing Lasts Forever
Roderick Thorp's novel, the book behind Die Hard, is set on Christmas Eve. Read vs Listen found no audiobook on Audible UK or US on 23 October 2026, so the printed book is the only way to have it. Read Full verdict
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Honourable mentions
Strong Christmas recordings that just missed a top 3.
| Book | Narrator | Length | Why it is here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hogfather Terry Pratchett | Sian Clifford, Bill Nighy, Peter Serafinowicz | 10h 18m | 4.8 from 1,109 ratings; Bill Nighy reads the footnotes |
| Christmas Shopaholic Sophie Kinsella | Nathalie Buscombe | 12h 3m | 4.4 from 1,595 ratings; Kirkus praised the narration |
| Holidays on Ice David Sedaris | David Sedaris, Ann Magnuson, Amy Sedaris | 4h 19m | 4.2 from 3,872 ratings; three readers |
| Small Things Like These Claire Keegan | Aidan Kelly | 1h 57m | 4.5 from 4,016 ratings |
| How My Neighbor Stole Christmas Meghan Quinn | Vanessa Edwin and four others | 13h 26m | 4.3 from 6,190 ratings; five narrators |
| Skipping Christmas John Grisham | Dennis Boutsikaris | 3h 42m | 4.3 from 2,634 ratings |
| Midwinter Murder Agatha Christie | Fenella Woolgar | 9h 54m | 4.6 from 931 ratings; the UK edition runs 7h 55m |
| The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Barbara Robinson | C. J. Critt | 1h 52m | 4.7 from 1,858 ratings; a second recording is read by Elaine Stritch |
| The Wood at Midwinter Susanna Clarke | Susanna Clarke | 34m | Kirkus praised its music and sound effects; 4.1 from 86 ratings |
| The Gift of the Magi O. Henry | Jane Alexander | 13m | 4.2 from 50 ratings |
| The Polar Express Chris Van Allsburg | Liam Neeson | 17m | 4.6 from 16 ratings |
Ratings and lengths: Audible US, 26 October 2026 (Christmas Shopaholic and How My Neighbor Stole Christmas: 25 October 2026).
How long each Christmas audiobook is
| Book | Narrator | UK length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Christmas Carol | Tim Curry | 3h 31m | not confirmed |
| The Twelve Clues of Christmas | Katherine Kellgren | 9h 25m | 9h 25m |
| Letters from Father Christmas | Derek Jacobi | 2h 7m | 2h 7m |
| The Snow Queen | Katherine Kellgren | 1h 20m | 1h 20m |
| The Box of Delights | Caius Nicholas | 9h 56m | 9h 56m |
| The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus | Tony Hale | 3h 12m | 3h 12m |
| A Boy Called Christmas | Stephen Fry | 4h 25m | 4h 32m |
| The Christmas Pig | Amaka Okafor | 5h 37m | 5h 37m |
| The Christmasaurus: The Musical Edition | Paul Shelley | 6h 25m | not confirmed |
| Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret | Barton Welch | 5h 2m | 5h 2m |
| The Mistletoe Murder | Jenny Agutter | 2h 55m | 3h 3m |
| Hercule Poirot's Christmas | Hugh Fraser | 6h 8m | 6h 9m |
| Not Another Christmas Rom Com | Andi Arndt | 6h 7m | 6h 7m |
| In a Holidaze | Patti Murin | 7h 40m | 7h 40m |
| The Twelve Dates of Christmas | Elizabeth Knowelden | 10h 24m | 11h 31m |
| A Child's Christmas in Wales | Dylan Thomas | 48m | 48m |
| The Night Before Christmas | Jeff Bridges | 4m | not confirmed |
| How the Grinch Stole Christmas! | Walter Matthau | 12m | not confirmed |
Audible US lengths, checked 25 and 26 October 2026. Faster speeds and minutes a day are calculated. UK lengths from Audible UK, 25 October 2026.
How we ranked these
The list started from the Audie Award winners and finalists on audiopub.org, the American Library Association's Odyssey Awards, Audible US's editors' holiday lists from December 2025, Kirkus and Library Journal audiobook reviews, publisher pages and the most-rated Christmas recordings on Audible US. Each recording was then scored the same way.
| Recording honours | Audie win scores highest, then Audie finalist, then an AudioFile Earphones Award or a best-of-year pick |
|---|---|
| Production | A documented strength, such as sound design, a named cast or specific praise from a named reviewer |
| Listeners | Audible US rating and number of ratings, as of the date shown |
| The book | A canon classic, or a major prize such as the Caldecott Medal, scores 3. A prize shortlisting or a named bestseller list scores 2. A popular book with neither scores 1. |
Each measure scores 0 to 3, so every recording is out of 12. Ties go to the recording with more ratings. Dramatisations are listed separately because they adapt the text. No publisher paid for a place. Where Read vs Listen has a full read or listen verdict for a book, it is shown on its entry. For what each service costs, see Audible vs Kindle.
Recording honours are thin for Christmas audiobooks. Only two Audie wins were found: Jim Dale's A Christmas Carol (classics, 2005), not found on Audible US, and Katherine Kellgren's The Twelve Clues of Christmas (2014). So an Odyssey Honor, a Grammy nomination or a place on the US National Recording Registry counts as 2 points, like an Audie finalist, and a place on Audible's editors' holiday list counts as 1.
Each book appears once. Recordings under 1 hour go to the short section. Dramatisations are listed separately and never scored. For a read or listen verdict on each Christmas book, see Christmas books: read or listen?
Checked against the Audie Awards (audiopub.org), the American Library Association, the Library of Congress, Audible US, Kirkus, Library Journal and publisher pages (Penguin, Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster) on 26 October 2026.
Questions people ask
What are the best Christmas audiobooks?
A Christmas Carol read by Tim Curry, The Twelve Clues of Christmas read by Katherine Kellgren, and Letters from Father Christmas read by Derek Jacobi, John Moffatt and Christian Rodska. Tim Curry's recording has 4.7 stars from 23,827 Audible US ratings, the most of any Christmas audiobook checked (October 2026).
What is the best version of A Christmas Carol on audio?
On this ranking, Tim Curry's Audible recording: 3 hours 31 minutes, 4.7 stars from 23,827 ratings. Hugh Grant's 2020 reading has 4.9 stars from 7,402 ratings and runs 2 hours 44 minutes. Patrick Stewart's recording is abridged, and Jim Dale's 2005 Audie winner was not found on Audible US.
What are good Christmas audiobooks for adults?
For mysteries, The Twelve Clues of Christmas (9 hours 25 minutes) and Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret (5 hours 2 minutes). For romance, Not Another Christmas Rom Com (6 hours 7 minutes). For something funny, Holidays on Ice, read by David Sedaris with Ann Magnuson and Amy Sedaris.
What are the best Christmas audiobooks for kids?
A Boy Called Christmas, read by Stephen Fry (4 hours 25 minutes, ages 8 to 12 according to Penguin Random House), and The Christmas Pig, a full cast production with an original score (5 hours 37 minutes). For bedtime, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! runs 12 minutes.
Is there time to finish a Christmas audiobook by Christmas Eve?
Yes. Starting on 1 December, Tim Curry's A Christmas Carol needs 9 minutes a day and The Christmas Pig 15 minutes a day to finish by 24 December at normal speed (calculated).
Are Christmas books better as audiobooks?
Most Christmas books on Read vs Listen come out as Listen, often because one narrator tells one story. The Christmas Appeal and The Nutcracker and the Mouse King come out as Read, and Nothing Lasts Forever has no audiobook.
More guides
The best Christmas romance audiobooks
Ranked, with narrators, lengths and heat levels.
Christmas books: read or listen?
Classics, romance, cosy crime and film favourites.
The best full cast audiobooks
Including The Christmas Pig and Hogfather.
Audible vs Kindle
Which one for which book, and what each costs.
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