Tessa is one of my go to authors, so I was excited to see Window Shopping was being rereleased. This book is one of my holiday romance go to. I loved the relationship between Stella and Aiden. I loved their banter and the spice was just perfect. The reverse grumpy/sunshine was refreshing and pleasant to read.

4.5!!

Aww I liked this one! After reading the first couple pages, I definitely went into the mindset of this just being a silly, hallmark, smutty book and it did not disappoint.

I haven’t read a reverse grumpy sunshine is so so long and I absolutely enjoyed this. Aiden is the sweetest, little optimistic, golden retriever, quirky bow tie wearing man. I loved him throughout the book. I really liked the tension and connection between him and Stella.

Also the side characters were my favorites! Leland, Aunt Edna, and Jordyn were hilarious throughout the book.

Overall a great holiday read! I just wouldn’t set your expectations super high in this being “the best Christmas book ever” or with Tessa’s other books. (It’s giving a little novella vibes bc it’s only 200 ish pages)

It’s sweet, spicy, and a quick holiday read!

This was such a cute, spicy, holiday romance!! Tessa Bailey is an autobuy author for me and she does not disappoint! I absolutely loved Aiden and how accepting and warm he was with Stella’s past and he’s just the cutest cinnamon roll but with a filthy mouth! If you like:

🎄 Spice
🎄 Workplace Romance
🎄 Grumpy x Sunshine

You’ll love this quick, cute, and spicy holiday romance!

Publishing 10/1/24

Thank you so much to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Another amazing novel from Tessa Bailey.

Stylish, funny, sweet. Loved this holiday romcom. And surprisingly steamy! Phew!

Highly recommend this holiday read!

This book is just in time for the holidays. Tessa is the main character and she has been released from prison. She is window shopping and comes upon a window that she is critiquing when a cute bow-tie clad man starts asking her what she thinks. She has nothing to lose, so she give her opinion. And thus starts her chance at a new life outside of prision walls, and creating window displays for bow-tied Aiden - who is the manager/owning partner of his family business. This is a heartfelt, girl from the wrong side of the tracks romance with the cutest lead character. Bailey has quite the knack for having us fall in love with her leading men. And just in time for some Christmas gifts!

O.M.G.

Looking for a steamy holiday romance with an adorable cover you can take in public? This one has got you covered! Described by Tessa as “if Ted Lasso were kinky,” this steamy story is an opposites attract romance between an ex-convict aspiring window dresser and an always pleasant, bow-tie wearing store manager. The story is on the shorter side for a full-length novel, and easy to breeze through, and feels like classic Tessa Bailey. With plenty of dirty talk and holiday charm, this book will definitely be a Christmas re-read for me. Could not recommend enough!

Thanks to the author and Avon for my eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Every single book I read by her is amazing. This one is no exception, start to finish I was captivated in the story and needed to know how it went and ended. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a holiday read that also has self love, self discovery and self healing after a traumatic event.

Tessa Bailey is always an auto-read for me! Window Shopping was such a fun holiday story. I loved the unlikely romance, holiday spice and story which takes place in a large department store during the holiday shopping season. I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this title. Tessa Bailey is a refreshing and fun author and Window Shopping is a great example. Stella and Aiden happen to meet and then meet again when he interviews her for the job as a window dresser. Set at Christmastime it's the perfect time for two people to fall in love!

Window Shopping
by Tessa BAILEY
pUB Date: October 1, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I must have missed this one first time around so I thought I'd give it a go.
Whenever Tessa Bailey comes up, I feel like I always have to make a mention of the steam factor in her books. They are HOT, perhaps shockingly so if you've never read her, so reader beware. She definitely doesn't hold back when it comes to those scenes, which are a bit incongruous with her cute and innocent book covers.

This isn't some serious love story for the ages or anything. It's pure unadulterated fun, with heaping doses of feelgood and raunchy. Add in the themes of finding oneself and getting a second chance, along with loads of Christmas cheer, and this is just about the perfect holiday read.

This was a humorous romp filled with Christmas cheer, but also contained an underlying base that touched on more solid themes such as family, second chances, and forgiveness. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Stella regain her balance and find her joy not only in the season, but in her own abilities as well.

Newly released from prison, Stella finds herself standing outside an exclusive store's display window, analyzing how wrong it is for their Christmas customers. She has some education in marketing/merchandising but having spent the last few years in prison, hasn't had time to use and discover her skills. Without initially introducing himself, Aiden, the owner of the store (charming, handsome and a bit goofy) notices her and asks about the window. He is intrigued and suggests she apply for to be a window dresser at the store. Through their budding, loving and sizzling relationship, they learn to stand up for themselves.. especially with the controlling people in their lives.

Readers who want spice in their romances will get the whole spice rack with this book. They also will find a saucy Christmas read - with personal growth, bowties and a relationship that will last. Who wouldn't want to have a Christmas morning bathrobe or to fall asleep curled up by a Christmas tree, listening to stories of Aunt Edna?

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyage, Tessa Bailey and NetGalley for this ARC.

This is so odd but I started reading this book and it was immediately familiar...because I read it in 2021 when it was originally published, lol!! So I will just say, I enjoyed this book, it was your average contemporary romance and it was fun to read.

Tessa Bailey is one of my favorite writers. I know this was one of her first books written and I am happy to say that she has come a long way from this book. Unfortunately I did not like this book.

This is a cute but sexy little romp of a romance story. I enjoyed the holiday theme and found this to be a quick read and just what I was in the mood for after some very long, complex reads.

Cute and a great quick read that did not overtax my brain. It was a pick up and couldn't put it down kind of read. The characters are adorable and I loved the descriptiveness that Bailey uses for everything. It makes it so much more fun than a regular romance.

I love Tessa Bailey, so I will always always always read everything she writes. That being said, this wasn't my favorite of her books. I was trying to figure out why, since there were so many parts I did like: Aiden's bow ties, Stella's strength, the whole department store holiday window decor aspect, and the Bailey-esque sexual tension.

You should definitely read this if you want a spicy, feel-good holiday romance with a HEA. Maybe I just didn't vibe with the characters. *shrug*

If you're looking for a hallmark Christmas storyline with a generous mix of spice, this book is for you! The talented, slightly grumpy Stella is starting to rebuild her life after spending several years in prison for poor choices she made in her youth when she has a chance run-in with Aiden. Aiden gives off golden retriever energy from their first meeting outside the department store Aiden manages. Without knowing anything about her past, Aiden encourages Stella to apply for the window designer role since theirs clearly needs some help. Thus begins a slightly complicated boss-employee hurdle that these two must overcome when it's clear there are feelings on both sides.

This was a quick and excellent read! I love fast burn romances and this was so incredibly spicy!! Another win.

This was a very predictable read. From the first chapter you knew how the book was going to turn out. That is the comforting thing about Tessa's one-off books. This is a great Sunday afternoon read that won't keep you up and gives you a feel good feeling when the book is done.

However that being said there was no spice to this one