For a first contemporary romance for Alex I felt this was a really great debut.

I really wanted to give this book four stars but the miscommunication trope was just so overwhelming throughout the book. I also felt like the multiple break ups were a bit much for a rom com.

I look forward to reading more by Alex Aster. Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

“I didn’t fall in love with a version of you, Elle… I fell in love with every you.”

I absolutely adored this one -- such a sweet and fun read! The NYC rom com vibes are on point and I loved how the story came together. I laughed, I cried and most importantly, I enjoyed it from start to finish!

Elle, a screenwriter who values her anonymity above all else, has been tasked with writing a big-budget blockbuster set in NYC. This wouldn’t ordinarily be a problem but she’s had writer's block for months and she once swore that she would never step foot in this god-forsaken city ever again. With few options, she finds herself staying in her sister’s apartment only to learn that her neighbor is the insulting “Billionaire Bachelor” she hooked up with 2 years ago. Seeing him spurs Elle’s anger but also her writing -- maybe spending the summer with her number one enemy will have its advantages after all…

This book was an all around hit for me! I fell in love with the characters, especially Parker, and I really connected with the writing which was beautifully executed. Summer in the City is the perfect book to throw in your beach bag this summer or to have at the ready to read all year round!

Read if you like:

Rom Coms
Billionaire Romances
Fake Dating
Forced Proximity
Spice
Happily Ever After

I want to start off by saying I Love this author. I really enjoy her story telling, how she develops her characters and her writing. I liked the way she planted “problems” and got resolutions. Their story is easy to follow and cute. With that said, the FMC drove me crazy at a few points. While I understand why it was just annoying sometimes. Not enough to make me not enjoy the book though. I’m not attached to the characters like I am with Lightlark but I still recommend this book as a good filler book.

Happy release date!
Alex Aster has delivered a sizzling, witty, and utterly addictive romance that had me glued to the pages from the first regrettable stairwell encounter to the heart-fluttering, inevitable (but oh-so-satisfying) conclusion.

Elle, a talented screenwriter battling a crippling case of writer's block, is a relatable and fiercely independent heroine. Her desperation to meet her deadline, coupled with the unexpected and unwelcome reappearance of her former one-night-stand-turned-new-neighbor, Parker Warren, creates an immediate and delicious tension.

Parker, the 'Billionaire Bachelor' plastered across every magazine, is more than just a handsome face. Aster cleverly peels back the layers of his public persona to reveal a surprisingly grounded and engaging character. The chemistry between Elle and Parker is electric, crackling with witty banter and a simmering undercurrent of undeniable attraction. Their hate-fueled writing sessions are pure comedic gold, a testament to Aster's sharp and engaging writing style.

The plot itself is a masterclass in romantic comedy. The fake relationship trope is expertly executed, feeling fresh and believable thanks to the genuine connection that slowly blossoms between Elle and Parker. Their exploration of New York City, initially for research and appearances, becomes a charming backdrop for their growing feelings, reminding us of the city's magic through their rediscovery.

Aster perfectly balances the humor and the heart. While I found myself laughing out loud at their witty exchanges and awkward situations, I was equally invested in their individual journeys and the development of their relationship. The anonymous writing element adds an intriguing layer, and the eventual reveal is handled with just the right amount of drama and sweetness.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a smart, sexy, and utterly charming romance. Alex Aster has once again proven her talent for crafting compelling characters and storylines that will leave you breathless and begging for more. Prepare to devour this one – it truly lives up to the hype!
Summer in the City comes out today! Do NOT miss it!!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-ARC!

This meet-cute, enemies-to-lovers, he falls first, slow burn romance was a fast read for me, and I could not put it down! I loved Elle and Parker's hot summer romance and did not want it to end.

The characters were lovable, the plot kept the story interesting, and the author does such a great job with the world building that you could picture everywhere in the city that was mentioned and it was like you were right there with the characters. I also loved the homage to some very integrated New York pizza places that are mentioned!

This is one my top romance reads this year so far. There are some spicy scenes, but the book is not overly consumed with them.

I can't wait to pick up my next read by Aster as I have just fallen in love with her stories!

This is a fun romantic, steamy read. Perfect for the summer months but really anytime. I loved the mcs and the deluxe limited edition is amazing. Highly recommend!

I'm in the 4-4.5 range on this one. As someone who lived in NYC for a while, the city felt like its own character, and I loved that! While Elle did grate on me at times, her chemistry with Parker was fantastic and the build-up was so smooth. Some of the spice was a bit repetitive and a little impractical for my tastes (the paint....everywhere....), but I can't deny their fire. Alex Aster's narrative voice is strong and I hope she stays in the romcom game!

Act Three with Elle started to get rough, and Chapter 30 almost lost me completely. I appreciate the break from the "love fixes everything" trope and letting her resolve things her way, but it was definitely an abrupt shift way too close to the end. Parker and Elle are in the wrong in a way that takes me out of their happy ending. Ch 30 onward felt like an unsteady and sudden acceleration that didn't click with the rest of the book's pacing. I wish there was more development of their messy parts as a couple. I feel like Parker adjusted (or tried to adjust) so much for Elle and we didn't see her doing much of the same.

Regardless, I had an incredible time with this book and definitely will recommend Alex Aster's books to others. Very cue and charming book. Thank you for the ARC!

I throughly enjoyed reading Summer in the City. Personally I wasn’t a fan of their “meet cute” but the relationship between Parker and Elle blossomed once they started to get to know each other. I related to Elle a good bit throughout the book in the way that she was raised to be fiercely independent. If she wanted something, it was on her to do it not someone she was dating or friends with. By the end she works on herself to be able to settle into a role that lets her be independent while having support from loved ones.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Ms. Aster for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Positives:
-the writing style was AMAZING. I flew through this book at top speed. I really liked the way the author did the dialogue; it was very realistic and I could actually imagine the characters speaking that way. There was really good flow and the situations the characters found themselves in seemed genuine enough.
-Tiny miracle, Ms. Aster actually managed to make NYC, a place I have less than zero interest in EVER going to again, seem ... sort of fun. This is a pretty big accomplishment, even more so when I've read enough NYC-set books lately to be completely tired of it as a setting.
-I loooooooooooooooooooooooooved Parker. Honestly he made the book for me. What a thoughtful guy who just wants to be loved and seen for himself and not his wallet.

Not-so-positives:
-At first, I liked Elle, and I supported her dislike of Parker as a jerk who propositioned her and tried to buy his way into her pants. But her attitude towards his money and money in general was super toxic and extremely tiresome. I wanted to shake her. GIRL! Just like you're more than your dad and *his* money, Parker is more too! He never tried to do anything but please her, and she couldn't appreciate anything without turning around and trashing it. I mean: so you don't want all the rings in the store? JUST SAY SO, don't throw a temper tantrum, break up with him, and leave. Pick the one you want and move on. Her streak of uber-independence was exhausting. Frankly, she OUGHT to have ended up alone just like she wanted to be, and focused on her personal growth.

-The third act breakup was excruciating. I thought we actually already had the breakup and lo and behold here's another one. Elle's behavior thereafter was so off-putting that frankly I couldn't get behind her anymore whatsoever.

Overall: I really liked the writing, and almost everything about this book, except for the FMC. Elle dragged it down a full star in the rating for me. But otherwise I enjoyed this enough that I would definitely seek out Ms. Aster's Larklight series and any other books she's got. ⭐⭐⭐1/2

This was a very light, relatively fluffy romance that very much felt like a love letter to NYC. The highlight of the story for me was the way it used to city to let the love story between Elle and Parker unfold. The two of them had really enjoyable banter and there were some exceedingly lovely moments and lines that made me pause and appreciate them. This book felt very cinematic in a way which also highlights the way one of the characters is a screenwriter so it tracks that the book felt like an old school romantic comedy that Hollywood makes so rarely now.

My mileage on a billionaire character especially in this current climate is pretty low, but Parker is very tolerable and I appreciate the way that he needed to grow beyond just using his money to handle problems in his life. Him being a billionaire is something the novel uses more as a device and although some moments were a little purposefully grating, it’s never not going to be romantic if a character buys out a restaurant so they can be alone with the other character.

Some of this book does strain credibility. There are lines in the book like how a diamond is “the biggest found ever” or a character is the “biggest ceo ever” where I was just like WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? And the character of Elle herself is very “not like other girls” coded which is not really something I like. Elle doesn’t dress up or wear makeup like other girls, has a Pilates ready body while never exercising and is randomly good at basketball. She also has never tried beer? Despite going to you know, Columbia?

The book itself could use another edit but by the end I did enjoy the characters together and found that Aster’s voice really lent itself to contemporary romance.

Thank you very much to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

ARC, thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy!

This was such a cute read! I’m a sucker for fake dating, and this one didn’t disappoint. I’ve always said that Alex is made to write a pining man, and this book just confirmed it for me. She somehow made this book insta love/lust while also making it a slow burn, but I’m here for it. Congrats on your adult debut, I can’t wait for the next Alex Aster romcom!

This book is so cute! A fun, fast-paced, summer romcom. There are time jumps, fun enemies to lovers moments, and a beautiful setting in New York City. This will be a great summer read.

I adored this book. It’s a love letter to New York, movies, and falling in love, and I devoured it. Elle is a prickly, unapproachable, independent screenwriter who has to return to New York City to write her newest screenplay. Her neighbor just so happens to be Parker, the gorgeous, arrogant tech CEO that she kissed two years ago. She hates him, and he would do ANYTHING for her. Parker gave me butterflies. He pays attention to everything Elle says and does and notices the smallest details. He’s charming, attentive, sweet, and so in love with Elle that he can barely function. Their chemistry was off the charts. There was so much longing, angst, and pining that I could hardly stand it. If you want a swoony billionaire romcom that will make you fall in love with NYC, you need to read this immediately!
🍕
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🍕
Read if you like:
▫️billionaire tech CEO and screenwriter
▫️almost hookup to enemies to lovers
▫️fake dating
▫️neighbors
▫️angsty slow burn
🍕
Thank you to William Morrow, Harper Collins, Alex Aster, and NetGalley for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

It was fun! Definitely had those breezy rom-com vibes, and I flew through it in a day. The setting was cute, the love interest was charming, and there were some genuinely sweet moments that had me grinning.

That said, it wasn’t a full 5 stars for me. Here’s why:

It leaned very heavily on the classic rom-com formula. Predictable? Yeah.

There was one twist toward the end that I knew was coming—and I was really hoping she wouldn’t go there. But she did.

The FMC had her moments, but sometimes her internal monologue made me want to shake her. Like girl… get it together.

This was a fun, light, summery, romcom book.

I felt it was a bit slow to start though but once you get pass the grumpiness of the FMC it really took off.

I really began to enjoy the dynamic between the FMC and MMC about 35% into the book and the tension…..okaaaaaaay 🩵

Overall I really enjoyed the book once I got into it. I would recommend as a good enjoyable palette cleanser in between reads!!

I absolutely adorned this book! It was so good and I loved how the covers were all different and the maps! I love that this is a new genre for her to work and she nailed it!!!

*full review will be updated tomorrow. Written review will be posted on good reads and Amazon. Book will also be reviewed on TikTok later in the week.

Rating:4.25 stars
Spice 🌶️: 3/5

🔥Slow Burn
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
✨Witty and Fun

Summer in the City was such a fun read. Did I cry? Yes 🥹 this was an absolute tear jerker in some parts. The character development in this book was unreal. I felt everything they did. Which speaks a lot to the writing. Towards the end I will say the FMC did start to annoy me, but she redeemed herself by the end.

This one was SO GOOD. Wow Alex Aster really did that after being mostly in the fantasy genre. This book really is that girl!!!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and William Marrow Publishing for this ARC, I kept hearing amazing things about this book and was stoked when I got accepted!

Parker YERNS. That could be the whole review! This one felt cinematic, like I was in a movie watching this play out on screen. It is the best rom com vibes and had me giggling at multiple parts. I also love the internal struggle that Elle goes through, it felt so realistic to me, and I enjoyed watching her grow.

This book is definitely high on my romance recommendation list!

I love Alex Aster! And I was honered to read her adult debut novel Summer in the City. Which did not disappoint!
A swoony, fast-paced rom-com that was just beyond perfect.
The story was fun and lighthearted and I had a good time reading it.
This was a wonderfully written romantic comedy.
I absolutely loved these characters and really enjoyed getting to know them.
A sweet, funny and heartwarming read!

This was cute! It was definitely a very typical romcom with a very predictable plot. But I still enjoyed it and found myself laughing and blushing through the whole thing!