Book

Window Shopping

📖 Overview

Stella works at a department store window display job in Manhattan, finding peace in creating her artistic visions after dark. Her routine changes when she notices a man watching her work through the window each night, leading to an unexpected connection. A former pro hockey player turned security guard, Aiden has his reasons for taking the night shift at the department store. His growing fascination with the window dresser becomes more than just professional interest as their paths begin to cross. Their different worlds collide as both Stella and Aiden deal with past experiences that have shaped their approach to relationships and trust. Through their shared nights at the department store, they must decide if they're willing to risk vulnerability for a chance at connection. The novel explores themes of artistic expression, healing from the past, and finding intimacy in unexpected places. Their story challenges assumptions about connection in the modern age while examining how two people can build trust despite their protective walls.

👀 Reviews

Readers describe Window Shopping as a light, holiday romance with strong chemistry between the leads. Many note the book can be read in one sitting. Liked: - Banter and flirting between main characters - Christmas setting in New York City - Steam level matches expectations for the genre - Character development of the female lead - Quick, engaging pacing Disliked: - Some found the relationship progression rushed - Several readers wanted more depth to the male lead's backstory - A few noted the premise felt unrealistic - Some wanted more holiday elements Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (76,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (15,000+ ratings) BookBub: 4.2/5 (2,800+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Perfect for fans of grumpy/sunshine tropes who want a steamy holiday romance." Multiple reviews note this book works best for readers who enjoy instalove plots and don't require complex storylines.

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🤔 Interesting facts

🌟 The book was initially released as a Tiktok-exclusive story before being published traditionally, showing the growing influence of "BookTok" on publishing 📚 Author Tessa Bailey wrote this story during the 2020 pandemic lockdown, drawing inspiration from the quiet, empty streets of New York City 🎄 Window Shopping is a holiday romance that features a unique twist on the "grumpy/sunshine" trope, with the female lead being the grumpy character 💫 The story includes detailed descriptions of holiday window displays, drawing from the real-life tradition of elaborate Christmas windows at stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman 🏪 The main character's background in visual merchandising reflects Tessa Bailey's own early career aspirations - she once wanted to be a window dresser for department stores