The Return of Ruby Darling

by Leeanne Slade, Eleanor Tomlinson (Narrator)

From Leeanne Slade, the #1 bestselling author of The Rebound, Told You So and The Glitch, comes a brand new Audible Original about love, family, and finding yourself – no matter how far from home you have to go. Narrated by Eleanor Tomlinson, star of Poldark and One Day.

Ruby Darling's life is falling apart. Her engagement is over, her career as a travel influencer is in shambles, and she's convinced the universe is out to get her. Desperate to turn things around, Ruby embarks on a life-changing journey to New Zealand to find her long-lost father, dragging along her estranged best friend, Nate.

As they navigate the stunning landscapes, Ruby and Nate's friendship rekindles into something more. But with family secrets, cosmic curses, and their own emotional baggage to contend with, can Ruby find the path to true happiness? Or will she lose everything – including the one person who's always believed in her?

Heartwarming, hilarious, and filled with wanderlust, "The Return of Ruby Darling" is the perfect escape for anyone who's ever felt lost and found themselves in the most unexpected places.

Sometimes all you need is the open road, and a bit of help from the Universe, to re-evaluate what – and with whom – you’re truly destined to be.

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Adult

Audible Audio

Published August 7, 2025

About the author

Leeanne Slade is the internationally bestselling author of romantic novels The Rebound, Told You So, and The Glitch.

Her books were 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

[aeryn rose]

𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 𝓐𝓾𝓭𝓲𝓸𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴 🎧🏞️

I need something fun and light as a break from the heavier stuff so here I am kicking back into audiobooks ✨💘

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been excited about this one ever since Leeanne announced her new Audible book deal! I’ve read her other books, so I was really looking forward to this—and it did not disappoint. 🥹😍

Leeanne truly has a way with words. She doesn’t just describe scenes—she makes you feel them. One of my favorite moments was Nate’s confession. The way he talked about why he never made a move on Ruby during their friendship, and how much it hurt when they lost touch… wow. It wasn’t just what he said, but how he said it. I really loved the backstory and the vulnerability on that scene. Leeanne managed to write a powerful “I love you” on the conversation without actually using those three words, and somehow that made it even more meaningful. I loved every second of it. I ended up playing that scene multiple times (maybe 5 times) 🫣😁

Plus Ruby’s story about being a content creator was spot on too, the performative side and pressure to filter everything to appear perfect for views and validation, couldn't be more relevant this time of digital age. There is something Nate says about social media is like serving your life on a fancy plate really stuck with me. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately so hearing it on this book allowed the message to speak to me loud and clear.

Emotional, honest, and so worth the listen. Highly recommend. ♥️

[Lauren Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, traveling, healing, coming home, soul searching & finding the meaning to life. Sweet story! Friends to lovers trope. Worth the read!

[Chauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this on audible plus and gave it a try, and I'm so glad I did. The way this book pulled on my heartstrings! It's such a sweet story, and the narrator did such a good job. Already started another one of this author's backlist. 🤗

[Jess Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute and a little spicier at the end than I expected but not overly so. Was a refreshing read.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook follows Ruby and Nate, best friends since their teens. At 18, Ruby — a self-proclaimed travel geek — decides to leave home and see the world. She becomes a successful travel blogger and influencer, sharing her adventures online with her equally high-profile fiancé. Over the years, she and Nate lose touch completely.

Six years later, Ruby’s life takes a turn. After a string of bad luck, she comes home one day to find her fiancé engaged in an intimate online conversation with another woman. He insists it’s “not physical” cheating, but for Ruby, it’s enough. She ends the engagement and, after avoiding her hometown for years, returns to her mum’s house.

Back home, she reconnects with old friends and unexpectedly runs into Nate. Their reunion is awkward — Nate is clearly hurt by her sudden departure years ago and the lack of contact since. She soon learns his dad is gravely ill with ALS, which deeply saddens her. Feeling lost and desperate for something to anchor her, Ruby decides to search for her own father. Her mum reveals he’s living in New Zealand.

Ruby invites Nate to come with her. At first he refuses, but later changes his mind, explaining that his dad always wanted him to see the world and that life is too short to wait. What follows is a journey across New Zealand filled with quirky adventures, emotional moments, and the rekindling of their friendship.

Both are fresh from heartbreak — Nate recently split with his girlfriend before he could propose, and Ruby is healing from her broken engagement. Along the way, they meet new people, including a moment where Nate kisses another woman on a boat. There’s always been an unspoken connection between Ruby and Nate, but they’ve never crossed the line — no kisses, no romance — until a drunken hook-up shifts the dynamic. Even then, they avoid admitting their feelings.

Things come to a head when Ruby’s ex-fiancé turns up, hoping to reconcile. She firmly ends things for good. Ruby also finally finds her father, only to discover he’s been living a double life, complete with a secret family — and one of her childhood friends turns out to be her half-sister. Realising he was never the “missing piece” in her life, she comes to understand she’s been searching for a sense of self all along.

Ruby and Nate share a tender moment before he reveals his plan to keep travelling for six more months, honouring a promise to his dad. She returns home, moves into his flat, finds a job, and begins thriving. They stay in constant contact, but Ruby battles a quiet jealousy when she learns Nate is still spending time with the woman from the boat. This also makes her reflect on her own past actions — how she left him years ago without keeping in touch, and how painful that must have been for him.

Eventually, she sends Nate a heartfelt message, telling him she loves and respects him and can’t wait for him to come home. He surprises her by returning early, admitting that while travelling was incredible, it wasn’t the same without her — she’s what he truly needs.

It’s a sweet, low-angst friends-to-lovers romance with minimal spice (only two scenes). Even the boat incident isn’t overly dramatic; at that point, Ruby hadn’t fully recognised her feelings for Nate. The story is told entirely from Ruby’s perspective, making her emotional journey the heart of the book.

I finished it in a single day — it’s such an easy, enjoyable listen. There are a few loose ends I wish had been tied up, but overall, it’s a lovely, feel-good story. A solid 4 stars from me, and I’d definitely recommend it.

[Clothilde · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5/5

Leeanne I'm so sorry girl I wanted to like this as I did your other books but nothing made sense and I actually ended the book feeling maaaaaaaad, the last 1h30 was torture

The Oliver family was so dislikeable tbh it really made me cringe 
Ruby as a conceited influencer who's struggling to travel 'as a povvo' again, I'm sorry but I cannot feel sorry for these people
The mom who's so bad at communicating, keeping things to herself when she should be sharing, and sharing when she should not (telling the ex where Ruby is even though she was told not to, hello???)
The dad, wow what a piece of shit indeed

Nate was cute I guess and I do like the childhood friends to lovers trope but man even him made no sense, saying he's got no money then buying a fricking telescope?? Getting a new phone even though he knew he was going to stay there longer? Just get yours then??? 

Honestly the affirmations were the worst thing, spiritual bypass at its finest, I am into astrology but Ruby using Saturn Return for her pity party and never taking accountability for her bad decisions pissed me off so much, girl go to therapy ya need it bad escaping to the other side of the world ain't going to fix this

The insta love (her moving into his flat pleaaaase), the hypocrisy, the cringe sex scene... I think I need a break from straight romance novels because I was so disappointed I'm going to be stewing about it for a while 😅
Everyone rating this 5* is making me confused

[Speedy Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never wanted to put this book down. It was heartwarming and a wonderful read. A real romance.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leeanne Slade can do basically no wrong, so this was obviously another winner!! And the yearning, oh the yearningggggg

[Mindy Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

more like 3.5? it was cute, i finished it, i liked it, but for some reason it left me feeling a little meh and nitpicky. maybe im trying to put my finger on what didnt sell it to me all the way?

im not into the astrology stuff and this is kind of all in on it, so thats one. i didnt really feel much interest in ruby as a real character with a cohesive personality. the impressively obscure facts were not actually very obscure or interesting, for it to be mentioned so many times. but these are minor really.

[Toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was predictable, but I knew that going in. The story could have been tighter; it felt longer than it needed to be. I did enjoy Eleanor Tomlinson’s narration, and the characters had interesting back stories. The spice was fine. But overall, I just couldn’t connect with the book.

Maybe it’s because I guessed the ending early (and hoped I was wrong), but being right left me wishing it would just “hurry up already.” It didn’t keep me guessing. Friends-to-lovers is a trope I don’t mind, but in this case, it didn’t land for me the way I’d hoped.

[Morgan (Mo) Heldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better than I expected. It's a finding yourself novel with a side of romance that doesn't overwhelm the plot, but enhances it. It was a quick read (listen) and kept my interest the entire time. I also appreciated that whenever they needed to drum up drama, they did it without dragging out any usual tropes that make the story longer than necessary.

[Ursula Liechti · Rating 3 out of 5]

The young couple became well known influencers and travelled the world making money and living the good life. Then Ruby sees that her painter cheated on her and in anger she rushed home to her mother in Lymington. She meets up with her old friends and especially Nate So when Ruby decided to go and find her father who left her and her mother over twenty years ago Nate decided to go with her and they started searching in New Zealand. Predictable they fell for each other

[Ash ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was super cute!! I liked our main characters a lot and there was a pretty solid plot considering it's a romance book. Only thing is I'll probably never think about it again, but I really enjoyed the found family 🥹 looking forward to diving into more Audible originals by this author!

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You need someone who will never clip your wings because they know how desperately you need them.”

Ruby (Oliver) Darling finds herself back at home after finding out her fiancé has been cheating on her. And using her for their Instagram stories. So, back at home she reconnects with her best friend, Nate. Together, they set out to find Ruby’s father and document their journey. This was just the sweetest journey/adventure story that I have read here of late.

[Liliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Ana Neagu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring story, super unlikable characters! Ruby is so annoying and all that Sarurn returns bull**** was beyond annoying! I am actually glad she got a bad year because she deserves a good dose of reality!

[Nancy Lovallo · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Some of the story hit too close to home. I know how it feels to be left behind by so-called friends.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love Leeane Slades writing, another lovely story

[Kirsty]

abandoned at the 50% mark. I just grew bored.

[Daniella Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh the book started out great and then …
The romance aspect was so poorly done. So many misses moments and confusing interactions. At certain points I wondered if there was meant to be a romance plot line

The woman’s self development was a rocky evolution as well.

Finally FINALLY when they share their feelings, they part. And the end of this book is 100 times longer than it needs to be.

[Beth Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and cheesy but I enjoyed it. Nate deserved better though.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Audio) this was cute 🥰

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Ashley Starbuck Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books I've read in 2025. the character growth that Ruby experiences is excellently written. Funny, quirky, and awkward; Ruby won my heart a little bit at a time. I loved her perspective of her job and how transparent the writing was. I'm already starting The Glitch by Leeanne Slade! I'm going to binge everything she has out.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't leave reviews, and I rarely ever give 5 stars, but I loved this book so much. I went to sleep way too late last night because I didn't want to stop. There was just a tad too much anxiety for me, personally, but I know people love that. My body just hates it. Other than that, it was wonderful. This is one that will be kept in my rotation of relistens.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really simple story and covers a few tough topics.
My first book by this author and I absolutely loved this book. What a fantastic story and a lovely journey for Ruby and Nate to take together. This is a great journey for Ruby to rediscover herself and her family.

[Kerea De La Cerda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many absolutely heart pulling moments and they always keep you guessing. Hoped it would end as it did but felt so uncertain at times that have to say Leanne Slade had me yelling at my phone and getting upset when I had to pause

[Becca Cloke · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

After her engagement collapses and her career as a travel influencer begins to unravel, Ruby heads to New Zealand in search of her long-lost father, dragging along her estranged best friend, Nate. Their rekindled friendship is tested as long-buried family secrets come to light, and with Saturn’s cosmic push, Ruby may finally discover where she belongs and who she’s meant to belong with.

This is a classically warm and witty contemporary romance that kept me engaged and curious about what might happen next. Ruby’s journey of self-discovery was endearing, and I particularly enjoyed the use of daily affirmations as a storytelling device to help anchor the timeline. The humor sprinkled throughout was effective in softening heavier themes, though not every joke landed for me.

Ruby herself could be a little difficult to warm to at times, but Nate was a real saving grace. The New Zealand setting had so much potential to add atmosphere, I would have loved to see it more vividly described, but the focus stayed firmly on the drama, which makes sense given the story’s arc.

A personal note: I discovered that I don’t enjoy listening to explicit scenes in audiobook format. While that’s entirely down to preference (and yes, I’ll admit I’m a bit of a prude!), I think I’d rather read those moments privately in future.

The ending, however, left me slightly underwhelmed. I’m someone who loves trying to guess how a story will resolve, but by the final chapter I couldn’t shake the feeling that there should have been more.

All in all, this was a pleasant, light listen that brightened my commute. It had its charms, but for me it landed in the “just okay” category

[Jennifer G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruby Darling. Ruby and Ryan - social media travel influencers. Traveling the world, always on the move, and having new experiences - it's the life she grew up dreaming about, right? Suddenly, however, it's all falling apart. Her career is in shambles, she's been internet canceled, her engagement is off, and her perfect love has proven himself to be an imposter; she's in debt, and it's all Saturn's fault. She has no choice but to follow its demands, to right herself and get her life on the track it is meant to be on. So, she heads to New Zealand to find her father, convinced he is what is missing from her life. She's accompanied by her one-time best friend, Ryan. It's awkward, uncomfortable, challenging, and ultimately, life-changing. They rebuild their friendship and possibly discover more, but first they have to face family secrets, overcome cosmic curses, and recognize their own weaknesses. Only then will they stand a chance at overcoming Saturn and having the life they want.

Ruby is one of those characters who can't get out of their own way. She wasn't terrible, but it took a loooong time for her to start to find herself. Nate was much better but a little weaker than I prefer my leading men. I wish I felt more of their connection. There were some hysterical moments and a few nice emotional ones, but it all could have been so much better if the main characters' personalities were tweaked just a bit to make them more likable. 3.5