Loved this book! The story was so cute and sucks the reader in. It’s such a great book for the summer. The characters are relatable and likeable, it’s easy to be sucked into the story because you’re invested in the characters.

As a story about a screenwriter, I think this ironically would be best as a movie. The bones are good. I like the fun romcom aspect. There’s some good scenes & some good lines. But I just didn’t love it.

But I really struggle with Alex Aster’s writing. It’s so full of similes and metaphors, it’s repetitive, there’s so many times when I’m questioning what the heck I even read. I had the same issues with her Lightlark series - but this was actually better than Lightlark. Maybe because she didn’t have to worldbuild? It absolutely did not feel original - this felt so much like Twisted Love, for example.

Overall, not bad. It had some cute moments. But it wasn’t unique enough as a romance for me to love it.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of Summer in the City!

As a lover of all things NYC, I really enjoyed how the city came alive in this book—it felt like a character of its own, adding an extra layer of charm to Elle’s journey. I also loved Elle’s career as a screenwriter, which was an engaging aspect of the story and provided an interesting glimpse into the industry.

That being said, while the premise had a lot of potential, certain aspects didn’t fully land for me. The romance between the FMC and MMC felt more rooted in lust than a deeper emotional connection, which made it difficult to fully invest in their relationship. Additionally, the friendships lacked depth, and the major conflict—while clearly aiming for an impactful, bittersweet moment—felt both over the top and underwhelming. It seemed to be channeling La La Land’s ending but didn’t quite hit the emotional mark.

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read with fun, escapist elements, but I think there’s room for improvement in terms of character development and emotional depth. This was my first book by Alex Aster, and while this one didn’t fully resonate with me, I’d love to check out her fantasy novels in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing the ARC.

So, I wanted to like this book, but it fell short for me in a variety of ways. First, the main characters never felt fully fleshed out for me. Even though I was inside Elle's head, I never got to know her as a character in this story. And her reticence towards Parker never allowed me to fully understand him either. Parker was incredibly stoic and jaded and while he does have brief shining moments, most of the time he's not very interesting. And that may be because he never felt complete to me.

Second, the plot was somehow both quick and dragged on for ages. There were times when Aster dived deep into situations that didn't realize warrant having a microscope on in favor of times where it made sense to spend a bit more time and flesh those moments out. As a result, the pace is very stilted, coming in fits and starts, and not at all cohesive like I wanted it to be.

Third, while I can understand Elle's reasons and hangups, the ultimate issue at hand between her and Parker was flimsy at best and it didn't seem like a good idea, to me, for it to lead where it led. Like the characters, I wish there had been more substance to it so that it would lend weight to the decisions that Elle makes.

Not a terrible book per se. I just wish that it had been stronger.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this book so much! Summer in the City is the perfect romcom with the best mix of enemies to lovers and self-discovery, all set in New York City. The main characters were both so lovable, and I couldn't get enough of their banter and relationship. I also really appreciated how much this book focuses on personal growth, not just romance. It’s a sweet reminder to find yourself while figuring out love and life. It also had a great amount of unpredictability, with twists and unexpected turns! I was hooked from the first chapter. If you're looking for a fun, feel-good summer read, this one’s a must!

This was a super cute and fun summer rom-com! I am super impressed as it is the author's first book in this genre. The writing was so easy to follow along with and I love Alex's sense of humor.

This is billionaire romance story and I enjoyed the development before all the "lovey stuff", it was so well paced. Throughout reading this, I was giggling, swooning and yelling at the characters. There was so much tension and I loved Parker's character. He was a walking green flag and I adored him-- I feel like it was so refreshing to see him being so devoted and sweet. Like--- the scones? GAH. If he wanted to, he would.
I also, really really hope we get a second book about her best friend!

The only part that I wish was different in this book was the predictability and the third act break up act (I hate them) but overall this was such a cute, easy read and I highly recommend.

Thank you Alex Aster and William Morrow for the ARC!

I loved this book!! Elle and Parker were so sweet to see them go from enemies/ strong dislike to a relationship and how they got there. Elle is an anonymous screen writer and Parker is a CEO of a tech company. Elle and Parker make a deal that she would be his fake girlfriend to better his PR image and Parker would help her sight see in New York for her movie. Watching their care and love grow for each other was so kind. I loved this!!

I loved everything about this book! I think Elle is my new favorite FMC. She was so easy to relate to. This book made me feel so many things but it also made me realize that maybe Im not living life to the fullest. I will forever remember this book and how it opened up my eyes. I think it's time I start making memories like Elle did without worrying about what everyone else thinks.

Wow I had such a great time reading this! This book had be giggling, screaming, kicking my feet. I truly fell in love with the characters and Parker is my new favorite book boyfriend. The tension and the banter between Parker and Elle was chefs kiss.

This one was very cute! It was like a love letter to NYC and Rom Coms! I enjoyed the almost parallel storytelling (storytelling inception??) within this story as the Elle thought through the screenplay she was working on. It’s interesting to get to see into the mind of a writer! While we are seeing into the Elle’s mind as she is writing her screenplay, it feels kind of like we are getting a glimpse into Alex Aster’s mind as far as what she considers when writing a romance which was kind of fun! It was also fun to read about their adventures around the city and interesting to learn more about what NYC has to offer outside of typical touristy spots.

I found Elle to be super relatable in many ways! I found myself identifying with her a lot. I liked that Elle was successful and wealthy in her own right and didn’t need or want Parker’s money (stepping away from the poor girl, rich guy dynamic that is so common in billionaire romance). I can also appreciate that this book didn’t follow the common romance pattern of the guy solving all her problems with love. She definitely had some things to work through about her mom and her personal realtionship with wealth and I am glad she did so. It was also nice to see her step out of her comfort zone and develop a better work-life balance as the book went on. I thought both she and Parker had good character growth by the end!

Parker was a bit ridiculous and over the top (in an endearing way) in demonstrating his affection by spoiling her. He was super sweet in his earnest desire to just make her happy. He was so gone for her! 😍 I liked that he wasn’t your typical grumpy and controlling billionaire. He was actually such a golden retriever and did whatever he could to try to make Elle happy, even if some of his choices were a bit misguided. 😅 His character was definitely the highlight of the story for me! I really enjoyed their banter as well!

Beyond the romance, the book also explored how money can changes people, how men’s and women’s success can be treated differently, and how people have different values and priorities with regard to money, relationships, family, and their careers.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book! I know the author has a very successful YA fantasy series, but I thought this was a good debut effort for her first adult romance novel and I will be interested in reading future books of hers! 🫶

Thank you to Alex Aster, NetGalley, and William Morrow Books for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is my first book from Alex Aster and I’m hooked! I love enemies to lovers and this was done so well. I really liked that both main characters had flaws and their own issues, as it makes the story more relatable. I enjoyed the NY setting as well

4.5 stars, rounded up | thank you to william morrow, netgalley, and alex aster for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

this is my first book from this author and I loved it. the pacing in this book is great, along with the tension between elle and parker made it so hard to put this book down. I was really imagining being there in nyc and all the places they went to, felt like a movie was playing in my head. this book made me cry and get a little mad during certain scenes. but it also made me giggle, blush and kick my feet.

the characters were written beautifully. the fmc definitely had flaws, but that’s what made this book so much more relatable. the mmc had his own problems as well. he was trying so hard to make her happy, in the only way he knew how by buying things for her. I am glad though that he learned that money can’t fix everything or make someone happy.

** I was provided an e-arc via Netgalley & HarperCollins Publishing. Thank you thank you!!! 💗

This was my first book ever by Alex Aster, and let me just say, OBSESSED… Lightlark series has been a staple on my shelf for so long literally because the covers are gorgeous, and now I’m mad at myself that I haven’t read it yet. If Alex writes it, I must read it… 🫶🏼

Parker & Elle are beautiful together, but also as individuals. At first, I struggled a bit with their chemistry and honestly thought that it all felt a bit forced and quick. I wasn’t understanding the connections and felt like something was missing almost? However, I quickly changed my tune 🎵 (especially when he FLEW HER TO GO SEE HER SISTER AT THE LAST MINUTE???) & I’m so glad that I did.

Both Elle and Parker had their own internal struggles and neither of them realized how detrimental their ways of thinking were to their own success. The fact that they were able to grow with each other and find mutual respect is huge.

4.25/5 ⭐️
1.75/5 🌶️

Y’all are in for a real treat with this one😉
🍕☕️🥐

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

ALEXXXXXXXXXXXX! Come outside. I just want to talk….seriously. I promise blueberry scones and a latte. It’s not often a book makes me wish I could go to the spaces and places that I’m not the biggest fan of, but Alex did just that. I grew up going to New York and the splendor has worn off, but this made me want to go visit. To go get lost in the city and fall in love with it again. It did the same with Paris. I have been to Paris once and forget it exists. This made me want to see what Parker and Elle saw in it. I wanted to love those cities the way they did.

I absolutely loved this. I have been looking for a steamy rom-com and Alex delivered. I fell in love with Parker and Elle from the very beginning. I related to Elle and her desire to want to achieve things for herself and being independent. I’m also a homebody. But watching her journey throughout this book was everything. I fell in love with this. It was perfect. I loved their push and pull. I loved how they tried to figure each other out. I even understood that third act breakup. But it made the ending that much sweeter.

This book may have been her love letter to New York, but it will become one of my favorite love letters to the romance genre. It was wholesome, fun, steamy, and I couldn’t get enough. I can’t tell you enough to read this one. You’ll want too!

Absolutely loved this book! This is my first book by Alex and she did not disappoint! I love the enemies to lovers trope and watching these characters develop their relationship while visiting places in New York was a great time!

Elle and Parker spend the summer in New York City!

Screenwriter Elle Leon had sworn to never go back to New York City but she’s signed a contract to write a movie where most of the movie is set in New York City and staying at her sister’s under renovation apartment might shake loose her writer’s block because her next script is due at the end of summer.

Elle never expected to find out that her next door neighbor was tech billionaire Parker Warren who she had an encounter with the last time she was in New York City because she had used her anger at Parker to fuel her writing. But she has no social media presence and Parker is on the cover of every magazine and he wants to fake date because he needs good press while he sells his company.

I loved the enemies–to-lovers relationship between Elle and Parker and how they rediscover New York City together checking out all of the places she needs to write about.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was adorable! I really enjoyed Alex Aster’s Lightlark series, and I jumped at the chance to read her first adult novel.

The story focuses on Elle, a screenwriter, and Parker, a tech mogul. After a disappointing chance meeting several years ago, their paths have crossed again after Elle discovers that Parker is her new neighbor. She has agreed to watch her sister’s apartment for the summer while it is being renovated, while also giving her a place to work on her latest screenplay.

Parker needs a date for an upcoming charity event, and after that night he and Elle reach an agreement to be each other’s date for the summer—but no longer.

The book follows the summer in their lives in New York City as well as the dates they go on. This book was unique as it did reverse the grumpy x sunshine trope a bit. Parker is a fantastic character and any fan of contemporary romance novels will love him.

The character of this book that really shines is New York City itself. It is clear that Aster loves the city very much and took great efforts to have the city presented as a character all its’ own.

Overall, a great romance that I really enjoyed and a great first adult novel from Alex.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a review.

Alex Aster is a new-to-me author, but after Summer in the City, I know this won’t be my last read from her!

This is the billionaire romance I’ve been waiting for!! Sorry to all my billionaire romance lovers, but most of the time, they just don’t work for me—it often feels like the hero is buying the heroine’s love, which makes the whole thing feel cheap. But Parker? He’s different. Yes, he’s rich, but Elle literally couldn’t care less—and I adored that about her. In fact, she’s the type to get genuinely annoyed when he tries to impress her with his wealth, given her complicated relationship with money.

Elle was such a standout character for me. She’s flawed, messy, and stubborn in a way that makes her feel so real. Some readers might find her frustrating, but I absolutely loved her. She stands her ground and sticks by her beliefs all the way through, which made me admire her even more. Plus, I was so jealous of her screenwriting job—I find that whole world fascinating, and it made for such a fun backdrop to the story.

And then there’s Parker. Their lovers-to-enemies-to-fake-dating dynamic was everything. I loved that he had his own issues to work through and that his summer with Elle gave him the space to do it. Their NYC adventures were so fun and vivid, making the city feel like its own character. Walking from one end of Manhattan to the other? Iconic. I’ve wanted to do that ever since I saw Abbi and Ilana do it in Broad City.

Add in some fake dating, forced proximity, and a few second chances, and you’ve got the perfect spring/summer read.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC!
I really enjoyed the premise and relationship of this story, but could not vibe with the characters themselves as individuals. They just weren’t my type of people, but I think they were fantastic together.
It was super fast paced, and easy to read, and I really enjoyed the writing style.
The last like third of the book was the worst though, I enjoyed Parker more toward the end for his actions, but Elle made me mad.
Overall, the book was good, I just wish I could vibe with the main characters more.

Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow, and Alex Aster for the ARC of Summer in the City!

I was invested from beginning to end and I laughed out loud throughout! Parker Warren is one of my new favorite book boyfriends. Protect him at all costs. He is too good for this world.

I also loved all of the iconic NYC locations and references. I just took a trip there and it was so fun to read about all the places I’ve been and have them set in a romcom!

This book would be perfect for you if you love 2000s romcoms, billionaire romances, fake dating, or all of the above❤️😊