I cannot get over how much I adored this novella! The reverse grumpy vs. sunshine trope, an FMC everyone will root for and the dirty talking MMC . And who knew bow ties could be so sexy!

This is going to be a yearly holiday read for me! It is the perfect holiday novella bringing that dash of spirit and the spice we all need! From the second chance Stella receives after her release from prison for armed robbery to a man who is holiday cheer personified, I loved how Aiden from the moment he met Stella recognised her potential and supported her every step of the way. I can see the Ted Lasso inspiration for Aiden and it makes me love his character all the more. I would take a hot Ted Lasso for Christmas!

There was so much internal and external conflict for Stella, and her journey was an inspiration. She was an FMC that felt unique and very Tessa Bailey. I love how she knew from the outset that she was the person who was her own rescuer. And I loved how Aiden knew this as well and only wished to offer whatever assistance he could and stand beside her as she rescued herself. I was nearly brought to tears when Stella was falsely accused and adored that never for one moment did Aiden entertain the thought that Stella did anything wrong. How he literally ran to find them and how the other store employees believed in Stella too. Again the perfect holiday vibes of hope and joy.

This is a short feel good holiday romance with a little spice. I loved watching Stella rebuild her life and how she gets her HEA.

Thank-you Netgalley, and Avon & harper for this opportunity

Let me just say that I am a huge Tessa. Bailey fan, this book was great, a short holiday book two hundred and fifty pages about. The character growth, the spice, the artsy background, and it gave me that mannequin because of the dressing up the front store windows. I loved it.

Short, sweet and spicy is the perfect holiday copy. I read this in one sitting (it’s only 250ish pages) and it was a holiday delight! As someone who used to do windows at Gap, I loved Stella’s character and creativity. She was passionate and fiesty. While insta-love isn’t my thing, this was more insta-lust which I could get down with.

A cute holiday story. I really liked Stella and Aiden and how opposite they were- yet they fell in love. I loved the growth of both characters and I loved the book was set around Christmas!

Very cute!

Ahhh Cute holiday read!! Tessa Bailey never fails
Grumpy/Sunshine and window decorating. If you're looking for a book you can breeze through without having to think too much this is the book for you. Tessa never fails to get me excited for some spicyyyyy scenes

"Window Shopping" by Tessa Bailey was a great story about how second chances are a good thing. This was a quick read that was hard to put down.
Stella is restarting her life and wants nothing more to design the window displays at a shop. Aiden is the head of a business and the sales are starting to slip. When he runs into Stella and is blown away by her vision for the window he knows that he has to have her. As they spend more time together they start to fall for each other. Will their past keep them apart? Or will they find a way to be together.
Highly recommend this story for the holiday season.

I loved Aiden! Aiden is boyfriend goals for sure! I loved that this story featured a career I had never even considered before and a situation that many had never considered which is the reinstatement to normal life after incarceration. I think it may have oversimplified the process a bit, but it was a fun novel that I really enjoyed. Aiden was perfect!

Window Shopping is my first book by Tessa Bailey and I really enjoyed it. It was a cute, steamy, fast paced, second chance at life, opposites-attract Christmas romance book. I thought Aiden's bow tie's were cute and the stories about his aunt were funny.
Thank you Avon, NetGalley, and Tessa Bailey for my advanced copy!

This was the perfect quick little smutty Christmas romance to kick off the season. Tessa Bailey is a go-to for both laugh-out-loud and swoony moments, and Window Shopping had both in spades. I loved that Aiden was a different kind of cinnamon roll MMC, and his Aunt Edna stories cracked me up right from the start. I wish there had been more of Aunt Edna to be honest. I loved that she came for the Christmas Eve party, but she would be the perfect side character addition to be present the whole way through. I also wanted a little bit more of Jordyn and Seamus, but they were a great B-couple addition who I’m happy got their happy ending, too. I loved Stella’s character arc, and the way she and Aiden both resolve their personal conflicts and come together in the end is very satisfying. This was a nice quick read with all the right Christmas vibes.

This was a great Christmas romance! The romance was cute and it was a quick cute read. I would highly recommend this book.

3.5/5

This book is a good time, which is exactly what I would expect from a Tessa Bailey book, and I especially expect that vibe from a holiday romance. It is equal parts festive and steamy, so what more could you ask for?

Aiden is kind, quirky, and positively optimistic while Stella is the complete opposite (at least that’s what she’d like to lead you to believe). I loved their dynamic and their ability to make each other better. The candid conversations about navigating life after her prison stint also added another layer to the character dynamic in the book.

If you are looking for a fun, easy holiday read I suggest Window Shopping!

“A loved one’s vote of confidence goes a long way. It can lead to discovering more of your own.”

It’s not my favorite Tessa Bailey, I rounded up to a 3. I wanted to like it, but just didn’t work for me. Not enough humor, and more of a stretch in believability. Manager hires an ex-con to design critical window displays. His family is horrible. Insta love at first sight. I liked the floor manager and the custodian. But the main characters weren’t strong enough I guess. Lots of spice, though!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! This book is quick read which I enjoyed but at the same time I felt like the character build up was rushed due to that and made the whole “relationship” seem unrealistic. I did enjoy the characters - the “overly” nice guy and the “dark mysterious” girl. It was a different Christmas book than others which I also enjoyed. Overall, it was good but feel that she could have taken more time to develop the players relationship to make it seem more plausible.

This book was not my cup of tea. I was hoping the Christmas vibes would help bolster my interest level in it (while reading in the Thanksgiving/Christmas limbo), but the Christmas vibes were just tent poles to prop up the insta-lust both characters experience. I would've loved to see more tension or character development, but I felt like this was just messy compared to some of TB's other books.

"Window Shopping" by Tessa Bailey is a delightful holiday romance that perfectly captures the magic of the season. Stella and Aiden's chemistry is undeniable, and their journey from strangers to lovers is both heartwarming and engaging. Bailey's witty writing and the festive setting of Manhattan during Christmas make this book a perfect read for the holidays. The story is filled with humor, charm, and a touch of holiday magic, making it a must-read for fans of feel-good romances.

I love how the fmc is the black sheep in this story and it's the mmc who is the "nerdy" good guy. It was refreshing and unique. This was the perfect holiday time story

A fun holiday romance. It wasn’t my favorite of Tessa Bailey’s books but I still enjoyed it. I thought it was different that Stella was a window dresser.

Grumpy-sunshine romance about getting second chances. Stella was released from prison and needs a job. She starts designing Christmas window displays after meeting the owner, Aiden (who is bursting with golden retriever energy). As expected, Stella has a lot to overcoming with codependency with her friend and gaining confidence while trying to leave her past behind her. But Aiden also needs to overcome his “happy at all costs”. So it’s nice to see them grow together.

Awesome Christmas season romance.

If you’re searching for a sweet and spicy holiday read this is a solid choice!

The premise of this story felt very unique to me, I’d never read a story with an MC who was recently released from prison. Stella did seem to get pretty lucky with the way her cards landed after release but she had to deal some imposter syndrome type feelings…which felt genuine. I really liked Aiden’s nice in the streets, not so nice in the sheets personality. He had such sweet southern boy vibes and I loved that. Their relationship did feel very insta-love, but I can respect the fact that the story wasn’t very long so it almost had to be that way.

I definitely enjoyed it and would recommend to those who like their romances steamy!