One thing Tessa Bailey always delivers on, spice. I loved the golden retriever MMC and the second chance for the MFC, but I just have such a hard time with insta-love. I loved how Aiden was like superman but also let Stella figure things out in her own.

Fun read but didn't have the hook that usually grabs me with Tessa books.

I loved Aiden from the first meeting! His optimism is what draws you to him. Stella is guarded and wants to prove she’s capable to herself before relying on others. She’s facing an internal battle between what she thinks she needs for her fresh start and her attraction to the handsome optimist.

Stella allows the pessimistic voice of her past to make her second guess the good she’s doing in her new life. She’s also determined to prove her worth to herself and those around her. She doesn’t want a hero. Aiden learns some important lessons of his own from getting to know Stella and seeing things through her eyes. They’re good for each other and those around them. When they finally set healthy boundaries, they find the strength within themselves to truly be the best versions of themselves.

They each come into their own while also embracing what they can be to each other. They fight it for so long it’s explosive when they finally give in!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely adored Window Shopping! This cozy holiday romance hit all the right notes for me—festive vibes, a perfect blend of grumpy/sunshine energy, and two endearing leads whose chemistry lit up every page.

Stella and Aiden are complex characters with unique challenges and undeniable charm. Stella’s journey of redemption and self-discovery as an ex-con trying to rebuild her life felt raw and real, while Aiden’s wholesome, bowtie-wearing optimism provided the perfect counterbalance. Their opposites-attract dynamic was magnetic, and I loved how their differences strengthened their connection.

Tessa Bailey’s writing shines here, delivering humor, heartfelt moments, and spice in a way that feels natural and engaging. The holiday setting added an extra layer of magic, with vivid descriptions of the bustling department store and its enchanting window displays.

This book isn’t just a romance; it’s a story about second chances, self-worth, and finding joy in the unlikeliest places. It’s the perfect read for curling up with a warm drink during the holidays. Highly recommend for fans of festive, steamy romances with depth and heart!

Rating: 2.5 ⭐️
Spice: 4🌶️/5

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

“Window Shopping” was my first book by author, Tessa Bailey. This book is known to have the following troupes: Grumpy Sunshine and Insta-Love. The male main character, Aiden, is supposed to be portrayed as an optimistic, Do-Gooder, with a bad-boy bedside manner. The female main character, Stella, is an ex-con, newly released from prison, and looking for a fresh start. Stella struggles with guilt about choices she has made in the past, and because she was released early while her best-friend remained in prison.

This was a story of Insta-Lust for me with two main characters that lacked any depth or real chemistry. The main characters have only known each other for a few short weeks by the end of the book but their relationship progressed too quickly and to the point that it was just unbelievable. The spice scenes were very cringing. The relationship dynamics between the two main characters were a bit creepy for me. Aiden is the boss of Stella and comes across as an obsessed and creepy guy with comments like, “my cock is thickening faster than whisked gravy over high heat.” He over analyzes how he reacts and what he says during his interactions with Stella and worries that he is going to chase her away. He comes across as very insecure and a bit like a stalker at times.

With that said, the author’s writing style is great and flows nicely; however, when the main characters are creepy and lack chemistry, it detracts from the novel, making the story less enjoyable.

As much as I enjoy Tessa Bailey, and I’m still relatively new to her library of books, I have found some duds in there. Yet even her duds have redeeming qualities. Usually, those redeeming qualities are her characters. The author can write fantastic characters, that’s for sure! And that’s the case here. I adore both Stella and Aiden, they are amazing separately and together.

Although I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, I found it was originally published in 2021, so it must have been rereleased this year. There is talk of coming out of the pandemic and “getting back to normal” after the lockdown, things that made more sense when I realized it was 2021 in the story. Not anything that majorly screwed with the story, just had me scratching my head a few times when a year of Aiden’s youth was mentioned and I knew his approximate age. Trust me, three years makes a difference in what he was saying.

Anyway, I love the concept of this story and the chemistry of the characters, but I felt it was all over the place. As fun as Aiden’s Aunt Edna stories were, I kept waiting to find out why he was sent away. It was briefly mentioned, but then I wondered where his mom was. The characterization of Aiden from the time he was sent away to the current was great, but there was a gaping hole in his story. As for Stella, once she opened up and told her truth it was easy to see how she ended up in such a terrible situation. Do I think her parents were right in how they reacted to the situation? No. Yet I don’t necessarily think they are terrible people. They are people who don’t know how to cope and did what they thought they needed to do.

The thing I did love about this story is how often Aiden wanted to step in and save Stella but didn’t. That sounds bad but it’s not. He realized she needed to learn to trust herself and she needed to know he trusted her. Again, this author writes beautiful, many-faceted characters. I cannot fault her stories for her characters. I liked how this story ended, but it didn’t flow well for me no matter how much I adored Stella and Aiden.

Window Shopping was my second time reading a Tessa Bailey book and I just don't get the hype. Generic characters, immediate inappropriate work relationship, right to the smut with no build up. No thanks.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: Holiday Romance
Spice: 🔥🔥.5

Synopsis: Stella stumbles upon a NYC department store's holiday window display and critiques it, catching the attention of Aiden, the cheerful store manager. He surprises her by offering a job, and as they work together to create magic, sparks fly. But Stella's past might derail their budding romance.

Thoughts: This book had a fun, festive vibe with a grumpy (girl)/sunshine (boy) dynamic. Aiden was charming and wholesome, but Stella's emotional baggage felt a little rushed and underexplored. The spice was okay and some of the descriptions weren't great. The story lacked the depth I was hoping for. It’s a quick holiday read with cozy vibes but not super memorable.

Christmas vibes, grumpy sunshine (she’s grumpy and he’s the sunshine), millionaire guy, insta lust.

I really enjoyed this book. Stella Schmidt is newly out of prison and trying to find her footing. She inadvertently meets Aiden Cook who gives her an opportunity of a lifetime designing the windows of the department store his family owns (partly because she shows talent and promise and partly because he just wants to see her again).

Stella has a grimly realistic outlook of the world while Aiden finds the silver lining and the good in everyone. Their connection is instant and it’s clear opposites will attract.

While most holiday rom coms are quite predictable and this certainly fits the bill, the complexity of the characters back stories add an additional layer of substance that is truly enjoyable.

this was a quick, fun, Christmas read. the characters are good and I love reading a Christmas story.

I’m not one for holiday romances but when I seen that it was written by Tessa Bailey I knew I had to read it.

This was the cutest Christmas romance EVERR! Tessa has done the grumpy X sunshine trope right. I love how Stella and Aiden were complete opposites but complemented each other so well.

Can we talk about bow ties for a second?? Never been a fan of them before but now I think I’m attracted to men who wear bow ties.

Although this book took place in current times it still came across as old fashioned. The characters were fine and the hero had some depth to him. He seemed a bit too good to be true at first but became more real. The boss/employee dynamic is always a hard trope to navigate . The added layer of the heroine being a felon made it even ickier. Overall it was a pleasant but unmemorable read.

This was so cute! I loved the characters and how festive and fun it was! I would totally recommend this to everyone, not just Tessa Bailey fans.

It is safe to say I'm deep in the Tessa Bailey rabbit whole. Like who does she know how to write the perfect characters. Like can they be real cause your girl is single over here..... Now back to why were all here the review. This book is a must read. Do your self a favor get your favorite warm drink and devour this book. 11/10 worth the read!

Window Shopping was funny and so much fun to read, but the ending was a bit meh for me unfortunately

I was excited to read this book because I love Tessa Bailey but unfortunately this one wasn’t for me. Was it a quick, cute, fun read….yes. However deeper elements of Stella, our FMC, as she just got out of prison after four years and she’s dealing with depression while finding her footing in the big world snd trying to navigate the toxic relationship with her “best friend Nicole” who got her in trouble to begin with. These elements weren’t handled well or with care and wrapped up like it’s not hard to come out of prison and live your life. This bothered me on a lot of levels and it took joy away from the rest of the books. When the deep conversations started they just wrapped up too quick and neat.

But if you want a holiday read with stellar windows this is your book.

This was absolutely adorable. I loved Stella and Aiden’s story. Literally. Her 2nd chance on life and his chance to be happy and feel happiness. The perfect holiday romance. Sport and sweet for the holidays.

This book is just what I need this time of year. It let me forget about all the planning that needs to be done for the holidays.

This was an opposites attract romance. I love it when the MMC is just so gone over his love interest that he forgets what he's doing. Aiden was a really cute, rich guy who was gone for Stella, but still honorable enough to protect her. Protective guys get me every time.

Stella was also very likeable. She is recently released from prison and trying to find her way. She just didn't have any idea that her way would be blocked by a bowtie wearing department store owner that likes to carry her around and even come to her rescue.

Window Shopping is full of hope and wonder. Loved it!

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the copy.

This book features an odd combination of characters that somehow come together to make a classic Tessa Bailey story! Aiden is the manager of a high end store in NYC and after a chance run in with a beautiful stranger, he offers her a shot as the window decorator for their store.

Stella has recently been released from prison and is struggling to understand why this charming and nerdy manager wants to give her a shot. This duo is a true opposites attract as prickly Stella falls for the geeky and charming Aiden.

Though it is a rather odd mix of things, this made for a fun holiday read! 🎁

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this novel. It’s packed with spice, and as someone who loves a story with some heat, this book delivered! The intensity of the characters’ interactions made the story both exciting and deeply engaging.

What stood out to me was how the narrative felt both simple and intricate at the same time. It captured the layers of emotions and the struggles of navigating relationships beautifully. The balance between straightforward storytelling and the complexity of human connections was masterful.

The way the book explored the challenges of working together and being together was so authentic and relatable. It’s a reminder of how rewarding, yet demanding, relationships can be. Overall, this was an engaging and enjoyable read that kept me hooked from start to finish!

Tropes:
*Christmas romance
*Workplace romance
*Forced proximity
*Black Cat/Golden Retriever (Grumpy Girl/Sunshine Guy)

Something I really liked about this story was that it was able to provide a Christmas setting and feel without feeling like a Hallmark-cheesy romance story. The only Christmas magic was a great chance-meeting between Aiden, the Vivant store owner, and Stella, an ex-con with a strong opinion on the store’s current window display and no knowledge of who owns it. There was a great storyline between the main characters. I loved the balance they provided each other. With Stella, grudgingly at first, coming to look forward to and enjoy Aiden’s optimism and sunshine. While Aiden learned from Stella to set some boundaries with others in his life. I will admit at first, I wondered how Tessa was going to make our bowtie loving, always sunny hero spicy but she absolutely delivered, just as she always does. And the juxtaposition of his bowties with his intensity was very appreciated. Aiden was fantastic. He wanted to help her but knew she wanted to earn her place in the world and believed in her to do it when given the chance. I was rooting for Stella the entire time, hoping she would finally see herself as worthy and capable of the good things she was getting in her life. I always enjoy Tessa’s writing and this was no exception. A fun start to my holiday season!
Thank you Netgalley and Avon Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!