Scan barcode
A review by bookcheshirecat
Window Shopping by Tessa Bailey
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