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

I dearly loved this open door holiday romance by Tessa Bailey. It features a grumpy heroine and sunshine hero, opposites attract, and takes place in New York City during the magical holiday season. Aiden Cook, known for his jolly, unshakable happy attitude and infamous bow ties, is the General Manager of the family owned, well-known department store, Vivant, on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Stella is from Philadelphia, and after she got into some trouble and paid for her poor choices, she is trying to get back on her feet, and staying at her uncle's apartment in NYC. Stella's dream was to work in fashion merchandising, and she really has a knack for it, but her record and the fact that she spent the last 4 years behind bars will make it mostly impossible for her to be hired by anyone. While outside of Vivant one day, Stella runs into a very festive, happy man who encourages her to apply for the open window display dressing job. Figuring she has nothing to lose, Stella applies for the job, never dreaming of actually getting an interview. Luckily for her, the hiring manager, one Aiden Cook, is a firm believer in giving everyone a fair chance, and he can see the potential in beautiful, quiet Stella. What starts as a chance at her dream job ends up being so much more than Stella could have ever dreamed of, and a truly magical holiday. I love, love, loved this book so much! This is a standalone romance and the romance is not suitable for the Hallmark channel. And I'm here for it.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing for the chance to read Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey as an ARC.**

This was a cute holiday-themed romance! There were some great moments between Aiden and Stella and it sure made for a very Merry Christmas. I think this would be a cute one to read during the holiday season when you are looking for a spicy and festive Happily Ever After!

Formulaic, shallow, and lacking in chemistry. With romance, I am always willing to suspend my disbelief a bit, but there were a few glaring aspects I couldn't overlook here. First and foremost, our main character is an ex-convict, and she is constantly saying things about how she might not be able to find work. I can understand how it would feel that way even if in the place where this book is taking place, there are laws preventing such discrimination. What I can't overlook , however, is that the person making the hiring decisions, who is also the love interest, has a lot of inner monologuing about how he shouldn't hire someone with a criminal record or hire them just because he's attracted to them. Every character can pass go and head straight to HR.