Window Shopping (December 2023) Buddy Read Nominations - Sophie & Aikaterine, Katie

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the Window Shopping Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on December 1st and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 12/01
1st: chapters 1-4
2nd: chapters 5-8
3rd: chapters 9- 12

Week of 12/04
4th: chapters 13- end


PARTICIPANTS
~ Sophie
~ Aikaterine
~ Katie

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Hello!! Merry Christmas!!

Chapters 1-4

(view spoiler)[ This is my second Tessa Bailey novel and I was happy to see that it was in first person perspective 🙏. So far I’m really intrigued by Stella, mainly her history. We got a little snippet of her past, but obviously there is more to the story that will be revealed over time. Aiden is a very unique MMC, not just that he’s the ‘sunshine’ of this whole grumpy/sunshine trope, but that he isn’t a stereotypical playboy. Most ‘sunshine’ MMC’s are funny and arrogant and cocky whereas Aiden seems genuinely kind and honourable, (I lowkey love the bow ties). Having the panic attack scene is good representation, but I didn’t love how the latter half of the scene played out. Aiden picking Stella up and her wrapping around him like a koala gave me second hand embarrassment. I’d be interested to see Aiden have a ‘break’ in his overly upbeat demeanour, see him loosen up a little because being in perspective we saw that him being super positive all the time required a conscious effort from him. It has been a quick start (a little too quick for my usual tastes), but it’s honestly what I was expecting. I’m not anticipating this book to be a 5 star, favourite book ever type of read, I just hope it’s a quick, sweet Christmassy romance. P.s. I stan Leland! (hide spoiler)]

What are your thoughts so far? What do you like? What do you not like? What do you want to see?

Happy reading!!! :)

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Chapters 5-8

(view spoiler)[ Reading todays chapters, I felt that whilst their romance was moving fast, the actual reading pace itself was slow. I find Stella to be such an intriguing character, and it’s a shame she wasn’t saved for a longer, slower burn romance because she has a lot of potential as a character. I honestly didn’t know window dressing was an actual job, I thought a random employee did it (I’m from a small town, don’t come for me 🫣). I’m loving the little flirty moments between Jordyn and Seamus, I do hope we get a book for them, Christmas themed or otherwise. Aiden’s internal thoughts are extremely different from what he says and how he acts so sometimes it’s like they’re two different people. (hide spoiler)]

[aikaterine]

Hello!!! I managed to start this only today, but the good thing is I’m flying through it! Chapters 1-4 (view spoiler)[ the bad thing is that it’s a lot insta-love and I can’t really get behind it. The plot is interesting and it would be very compelling to read if it didn’t go soooo fast! We started right the first minute they talked and already Stella was able to guess his exact age and job, and they started having impossibly lovey dovey feelings xD I mean, I know it’s a quick holiday romance, but it’s fast, hahaha. And I agree so much about the secondhand embarrassment with her wrapping her legs around him, like what? You only know the man a couple days, take it easy xD (hide spoiler)]

[aikaterine]

Just finished Chapter 8 and (view spoiler)[things are still going so fastttt! They've known each other for less than a week and they have shared extremely personal thoughts and feelings, so it's not even remotely realistic for me. (hide spoiler)]

I also totally agree with you @Sophie that (view spoiler)[Stella is such an intriguing character, and I like that it's her who is the grumpy one as opposed to the norm, so I would have loved this story if the romance was a looot slower. (I also didn't know that this is an actual job, hahaha) (hide spoiler)]

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Just finished chapter 12!

Chapters 9-12

(view spoiler)[ I can imagine how easily Stella is getting confused by Aiden’s actions because I am also confused lmao. What was his reasoning exactly from backing away from Stella so suddenly without an explanation?

Stella receiving that call from Nicole was already a traumatising start to the day for her, then to get falsely accused of theft- I really felt for her. I’m glad Aiden stood up to his family and defended her, I’ll be interested to see how their relationship develops from this point. (hide spoiler)]

[aikaterine]

Also just finished Chapter 12, and I'm also confused (view spoiler)[ as to what happened when he backed away so suddenly! I read the last few paragraphs again and again, but it still felt so abrupt.

I feel like this book is packed to the brim with SO many important and interesting topics, but all of them are just briefly mentioned before quickly heading back to the steamy scenes. And that whole deal with signing those papers seems a bit unrealistic. Who would sign such contract after knowing the other person a couple days? I wouldn't, for sure! xD (hide spoiler)]

[aikaterine]

Just finished this, and while there were a few tidbits I liked, the vast majority of this book I really disliked! Especially Aiden's chapters. So unrealistically cheesy, like a bad romcom movie I would probably stop watching long before the end. And it's such a pity, the story could have so much potential x(

[Sophie , Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Hi! Completely forgot to update. I’ll just copy and paste my review of my final thoughts. :)


2.25 stars ✨ Why did no one tell me that this was insta-love? Everyone online lied to me. The plot was practically non existent which is a shame because there was a lot to work with. The book got slower as it progressed, and I ended up skimming the last 30% .One thing I did like about this book was the two main characters, particularly the FMC, Stella, she was such a complex and intricate character and it was a shame she was wasted on this story.

[aikaterine]

@Sophie, I agree so much with your comments! Such a waste to cram so many important social issues in a story you clearly only wrote for the smut.