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kam_be's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Bullying, and Classism
haniadurrani's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Window shopping was a breezy fun read to get me out of my reading slump. I feel that the pace of the book was too fast however as the main character ends up calling his love interest "sweetheart" on page 42. The author did not give any time for the chemistry to sizzle from a romance standpoint so that was too fast for me. In addition, there's the certain edginess to the female MC portrayed which doesn't reflect her behaviour with the male MC. Homegirl acted tough but was a damsel in distress in half of the book. Not to mention that the character development of the female MC was done very lazily with the central problem being a toxic friend that was dragged out for fucking 50+ pages. . This central problem was solved in one sentence towards the end of book which is very lazy!
However, one redeeming point of the book is the spicy scenes which were well done. If you have a thing for bowties with golden retriever male MCs, you'll enjoy this. From a plot and character development standpoint, this book was average at best. I liked the writing though, and since this is one of the older works of the author, I'd read another recent work by her. But this one was a no for me...
However, one redeeming point of the book is the spicy scenes which were well done. If you have a thing for bowties with golden retriever male MCs, you'll enjoy this. From a plot and character development standpoint, this book was average at best. I liked the writing though, and since this is one of the older works of the author, I'd read another recent work by her. But this one was a no for me...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
smithrachaelynn's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So cute! This was waaay more emotional than I was expecting, but I really loved seeing Stella start over and make her dreams come true. Aiden was the most adorable hero! I loved how sweet and happy he was. This was just so much fun to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Confinement, Toxic friendship, and Panic attacks/disorders
puria's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Toxic friendship and Abandonment
hallemcclain's review against another edition
hopeful
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Gun violence
alana_gf's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Toxic friendship
askirmishofwit's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Listen, I enjoyed the hell out of this, regardless of whether or not you can’t help but hear Ted Lasso when the MMC speaks. I just love me a grumpy/sunshine trope, especially if the grump is the FMC. My one complaint, if I had one, was that I could have done with more of this so that the characters felt more developed and the relationship was less instalove, but it had a lot of heart and touched on some really heavy topics (incarceration and release, familial issues, toxic friendships) which gave it a bit more meat to the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol and Bullying
sharlapeggy's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Confinement
saraavowlerr's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I love aiden and I felt like other aspects were tied in well with the romance
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
bookcheshirecat's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.5
“It's weird. When you're younger, you think you know everything. Then you get older and live in constant awareness of how little you actually know and understand.”
➽ This was my first Tessa Bailey book and I don't think this author is for me! I liked the premise of it: the story follows Stella as she scores an unlikely job as a window decorator for the prestigious Vivant department store. Stella herself is an ex-con so it has been difficult for her to find steady work. Luckily, Aiden - the manager and co-owner of the store - takes a chance on her despite her past! The most interesting aspect of the story was probably Stella's own struggles with the stigma surrounding ex-cons and trying to build a new life for herself in Manhattan!
➽ The writing and romance left a lot to be desired for me. The writing style was a bit cliche and cheesy at times, sadly it made me cringe at certain scenes. There is also a lot of gender-essentialist language that I found offputting. Aiden and Stella getting steamy didn't do it for me and generally, their dynamic didn't appeal to me. I also found it uncomfortable how the story just glosses over Stella's old, toxic friend from her time in prison forcing her way back into her life. She was super pushy and acting entitled to Stella's help, but it was brushed under the rug quickly.
➽ This was my first Tessa Bailey book and I don't think this author is for me! I liked the premise of it: the story follows Stella as she scores an unlikely job as a window decorator for the prestigious Vivant department store. Stella herself is an ex-con so it has been difficult for her to find steady work. Luckily, Aiden - the manager and co-owner of the store - takes a chance on her despite her past! The most interesting aspect of the story was probably Stella's own struggles with the stigma surrounding ex-cons and trying to build a new life for herself in Manhattan!
➽ The writing and romance left a lot to be desired for me. The writing style was a bit cliche and cheesy at times, sadly it made me cringe at certain scenes. There is also a lot of gender-essentialist language that I found offputting. Aiden and Stella getting steamy didn't do it for me and generally, their dynamic didn't appeal to me. I also found it uncomfortable how the story just glosses over Stella's old, toxic friend from her time in prison forcing her way back into her life. She was super pushy and acting entitled to Stella's help, but it was brushed under the rug quickly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Toxic friendship and Confinement