Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey is a sizzling, feel-good, opposites-attract holiday romance.
This sweet and spicy romance is already in stores and would be the perfect
From the beginning of reading the synopsis, I just knew that Tessa would be writing something that I will instantly fall in love with. And I did! She never disappoints!
I loved Stella and Aiden’s chemistry.
Tessa has delivered once again with her amazing main characters.

I really liked this. I loved cute like Christmas themed romances to get me in the holiday spirit. I appreciated that this was not your typical Christmas hallmark romance. This is an insta-love however, which usually puts me off, but Tessa Bailey seems to do it in a way I am obsessed with.

It wasn’t until after I started this that I learned it was a release. That being said, I ADORED this book!! It quickly took me in and I had no idea how giddy I would be. Aiden and his bow ties quickly stole my heart. I’m a big fan of holiday books and even moreso such a fun a unique storyline. A window dresser? Yes please. I felt my own imagination running wild with ideas.

Stella’s backstory was not your average girl next door story and I loved that for her. I felt the conflict created within the developing story was slightly predictable but Aiden’s part made it worth happening.

If you’re looking for a cutest holiday read this one is it.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for the eARC.

I’m a huge fan of Tessa Bailey’s but this was not my favorite of hers. I found the characters hard to connect with. Thanks for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you #Netgalley for the copy!

A fun holiday read by Tessa Bailey. A bit of an extreme concept but overall a good read. When Stella is newly released from prison she is trying to find a job and in a magical rom com fashion she bumps into a store executive on the street who gives her a shot of a job. The job is designing the store front windows in New York City.

I loved this story. Stella and Aiden were so sweet despite her understandably prickly nature he rounded her edges without removing the edges completely. He let her be herself and it didn't bother him.

I'm a sucker for Christmas stories and this was a wonderful holiday grumpy and sweet story. I will definitely be rereading this. If you're looking for a Christmas story read this one.

I love a good holiday story and here's a good one. We have insta-love, a total golden retriever MMC and FMC just out of jail trying to find herself. A chance meeting on the streets of NYC during the holiday season kick starts the story and Stella and Aiden are a fun, horny ride. It's a fast paced read, but spicy. I'm not gonna lie, I think I want Aunt Edna's story.

I am not sure if this is a reissue, but I received a free copy from Netgalley as a wish fulfilled. A Christmas story just in time for the holidays. Stella has just been released from prison after four years and is living in her uncle's apartment in Manhattan. She has a dream of becoming a window dresser and as she stare at a window of Vivant department store, a man asks her what she thinks of the window. Now, I don't know if there are still any family owned department stores left in NYC or if this is a complete fantasy, but Aiden Cook is immediately smitten and invites her to apply for the job of window dresser.
We learn about both of their pasts, and how they turned out like they did, his actually sadder than hers.
How Stella copes with how her life has turned out, and how Aiden learns to stand up for himself as he and Stella negotiate a tricky path creates a wonderful holiday story. I was actually crying at the epilogue.

The beginning was cute… you already knew what was coming. What I’m not understanding is where the connection came from?

Holiday romcom
He falls first and harder
Opposites attract
Boss/employee
Post Covid

We immediately meet Stella (25) and Aiden (32) outside on the 5th Ave sidewalk of Vivant. Aiden takes pause at Stella’s critical eye of their window displays and curiosity gets the best of him…

I definitely get Ted Lasso vibes from Aiden. He is relentlessly positive, kind, and thoughtful.
But also can’t help but feel like he does take advantage of Stella. Just shortly off of a four year prison sentence, Aiden is the first man that Stella appears to interact with besides her father. I couldn’t buy into his SUPER over the top nice guy persona at work and this filthy man the minute everyone was out of view.

The side characters of Jordyn and Seamus are a bit exaggerated. I guess if this was a tv holiday rom com, it makes for better on screen chemistry than on paper. Their characters melted better into the story about 70% in.

Tessa gives us a story about second chances and an opportunity to pursue your passion at peak NYC holiday shopping with some family and friends drama mixed in with spice. The third act breakup… it’s unnecessary. I’m not a fan of instant love and dropping I love yous within a week of knowing you but that’s the Christmas magic I guess!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for this eARC.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am all about the opposites attract trope. This was a fun holiday book with nice pacing and a good cast of characters.

📖 Book Review 📖 There is something magical about New York City at Christmas time…for Stella it offers hope for a second chance. Her keen eye for design lands her the rare opportunity to decorate a window display at a store and in the process falls for the man who gave her a chance, Aidan. Window Shopping delivers all of the heartwarming, steamy, rom com comforts of a Tessa Bailey novel with an absolutely beautiful twist of the possibility of opportunities for fresh starts.

Ever fallen for a guy with holiday spirit who’s a little too charming to resist? Get ready for a steamy Grump + Sunshine holiday romance that’ll warm you from the inside out. 🎄✨

Read if you like: grumpy-sunshine trope, holiday romances, feel-good steam, character growth arcs, and Nice Guy in the streets, Dirty Sexpot in the sheets energy! 😉

📚 Just two weeks before Christmas, Stella stands in front of Vivant’s department store windows, unimpressed by the holiday décor. When Aiden, the store’s irresistible owner, overhears her critique, he offers her a job she can’t refuse. With a rocky past and something to prove, Stella pours her heart into the job and tries to resist her growing attraction to her sunshiney boss. But as sparks fly, will this be just a holiday fling, or could Aiden be her shot at a fresh start?

👨‍👧 Stella, our fierce but flawed heroine, has just been released from prison, and her journey of growth is deeply heartfelt. She’s the “grump” of the story, but her vulnerability and determination make her instantly lovable. Aiden, the “sunshine” to Stella’s storm, brings warmth and charm to every scene, with an edge that keeps things sizzling.

💞 The chemistry between Stella and Aiden is electric. While Aiden may be sweet and charming in public, behind closed doors, he’s anything but—bringing heat to this holiday romance in true Tessa Bailey fashion. Their romance is built on more than just physical attraction, diving into real struggles and growth that make their connection feel genuine.

👧 Side characters add layers, especially in Stella’s complicated friendships. There’s some heavy emotional ground covered here, and while not every relationship wraps up neatly, it keeps the story grounded in reality.

✍️ Tessa Bailey’s storytelling sparkles, blending humor, spice, and poignant moments that give this feel-good romance unexpected depth. While there are a few minor continuity blips, the characters and emotional beats shine bright, making this a cozy yet steamy holiday read.

🌟 Window Shopping is a holiday romance that packs heat and heart, with characters who feel real and imperfect in the best way. Curl up, grab a blanket, and let Aiden and Stella’s romance keep you warm this season!

📲 QOTD: What’s your favorite holiday activity in your city?

#BookReview #WindowShopping #TessaBailey #HolidayReads #GrumpAndSunshine #SteamyRomance #HolidayRomance #GrumpyHeroine #FeelGoodReads #MustRead

Window Shopping is a sweet and spicy holiday read that takes place over Christmas. Aiden is a Clark Kent with a hero complex and Stella is a young felon who’s looking for a fresh start. They are complete opposites, he’s endearing and funny, old fashioned style like Don Draper with Christmas bow ties, she’s stand offish with an emo style. He’s her savior, but she wants to do something for herself. I love how he believes in her and is so protective. And she needs to know she’s worthy of love and Aiden is perfect for her. He falls first and you can’t help but want them together.

🎄Dual POV
♥️Reverse Grumpy/sunshine
🎄Boss/employee
♥️Workplace romance
🎄Dirty talk
♥️Forced proximity
🎄Age gap
♥️Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Window Shopping is a hot and spicy romcom. I loved the window display plot line. The romance was hot and very spicy. I recommend this one for 18+. A Christmas romance is just what the doctor ordered on a cold wintery night - cozy up with this one and escape reality for a while.

Tessa Bailey you just wrote the most precious story! It was absolutely darling! I fell in absoulte ylove with the main characters and their sweet christmas love story. hands down one of the best Christmas books Iv'e ever read. Highly recommend this.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Den Einstieg in den kürzeren Liebesroman empfand ich als einnehmend und auch unterhaltsam. Ich war gespannt darauf, mehr über die Heldin und vor allem ihre Vorgeschichte zu erfahren.

Ich konnte das Knistern zwischen den beiden Hauptcharakteren von Anfang an gut spüren konnte. Auch gefiel mir die Energie in ihren Gesprächen.

Die schnell aufkommenden Gefühle zwischen Heldin und Held konnte ich leider nicht ganz so intensiv spüren. Gegen Ende des Romans hatte ich teils das Gefühl, dass die beiden sich nicht wirklich gut kannten.

Ein Grund war dafür, dass im Verlauf des Buches die heißen Szenen mir persönlich teils zu viel Raum einnahmen, ich hätte stattdessen mehr ruhige Szenen zwischen den Hauptcharakteren bevorzugt (plus ein paar heiße Szenen).

Am Ende des Liebesromans wirkte eine Entwicklung in Bezug auf eine Freundin der Heldin auf mich eher unrelaistisch. Bedenkt man die im Buch erwähnte Vorgeschichte, war es in meinen Augen doch sehr unwahrscheinlich, dass ein kurzes Gespräch alles klären würde.

Darauf aufbauend wirkten die Nebencharaktere auf mich eher flach, aus ihnen hätte man mehr rausholen können.

Blicke ich auf mein Leseerlebnis zurück, so hatte ich mit dem Buch eine nette Zeit, als kurzweilige Unterhaltung hat es für mich funktioniert. Ein bisschen mehr hatte ich mir von der Geschichte aber schon erhofft.

🖤🖤🖤 1/4

Für wen?

Wer Geschichten um Neuanfänge mag und Helden, die mit viel positiver Energie durchs Leben gehen, für den könnte das romance Buch etwas sein.

This was a fun and light read. I expected the friend to make more drama and she didn't. I feel like that angle could have been fleshed out a little more. It is always tricky to balance out boss and employee drama, and I think Tessa did a decent job of managing that power imbalance.

OMG this book was sooo good (definitely a 4.5 star read). It was everything I didn’t know I needed right now. It made me feel good, laugh, cry a bit, and believe in love again! Stella and Aiden are two people who wouldn’t seem to fit together, but do. They so do, they’re the perfect match and exactly what the other needs when they meet. I’m not even going to lie during the balcony scene I was not expecting him to say what he said. I know he hinted at not just being the nice sweet guy he is, but having layers. I admit I didn’t believe it and then that man goes and says shit like that. I was blushing. Perfect holiday read, pretty much an any time read honestly, but it did put me in the mood for some hot chocolate. Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyagers for introducing me to Tessa Bailey. I am a bit obsessed now!

Opposites attract
Cinnamon roll
Holiday short novel
Spicy🔥
No third act breakup
Dual POV/first person

This is a Christmas book that comes with a little more 🫶🏼. She's an ex con who ends up being... A window designer/decorator. He is AMAZING, honestly only green flags. Not even a yellow flag in sight. These opposites work together?! I sure thing so. The absolute cutest ending imo too.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC.