Window Shopping, by Tessa Bailey
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I decided to put in another festive romance reading “sprint” and, regrettably, I settled on Tessa Bailey’s “Window Shopping”. It endeavours to offer a festive romance wrapped in themes of redemption and self-discovery but, for me, falls short of expectations. While I anticipated a heartwarming holiday tale filled with charm, I instead found a collection of hurried resolutions, clichéd characterisations, and strained dynamics.
Stella’s characterisation was one of the main frustrations. She veers wildly between crippling insecurity and unconvincing strength, making her emotional journey feel inconsistent and unrelatable. Her conflict with her parents, which could have provided a rich emotional arc, is resolved almost instantly and without any meaningful dialogue or exploration.
This lack of depth extended to Aiden as well. While he’s positioned as the quintessential romantic hero, his internal monologues hint at self-satisfaction that does not endear him. His protectiveness and confidence border on the caveman trope, which made certain interactions feel clumsy rather than endearing.
The chemistry between Stella and Aiden is another mixed bag. Aiden’s cavalier intensity might work in other contexts, but here it veered into cringe territory, especially with lines like:
»up and down the rigid stalk of his arousal«
Such phrasing, rather than adding to the tension, made the scenes unintentionally comedic.
Worse still, the subplots and secondary characters were thinly developed. Stella’s friend Nicole, for instance, transitions from toxic to reformed in the blink of an eye after a short, unconvincing conversation. This superficiality pervades much of the narrative, undermining its emotional beats.
Yet another letdown was the lack of authentic Christmas spirit. While the premise suggested a cosy holiday backdrop, the festive vibes felt more like an afterthought. Instead of immersing readers in seasonal charm, the story felt rushed and mechanical, missing the emotional resonance that holiday romances often deliver.
While I appreciated Stella’s stance on “no favouritism,” there was little else for me to connect with.
Two stars out of five.
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
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