**Book Review: *Summer in the City* by Alex Aster**

**Summary:**
Alex Aster's adult debut, *Summer in the City*, invites readers into a vibrant New York City romance between Elle, a 27-year-old screenwriter battling writer's block, and Parker Warren, a charismatic tech CEO. Elle's return to the city for inspiration leads her to an upscale apartment, only to discover her neighbor is Parker—the man she had a memorable encounter with two years prior. Their initial friction evolves into a fake dating arrangement, allowing both to pursue their personal goals. As they navigate this charade, genuine feelings emerge, challenging their perceptions of love and ambition.

**Tropes:**
- Fake Dating
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Billionaire Romance
- He Falls First
- Multiple Open Door Scenes

**My Review:**
*Summer in the City* is a delightful romp through the bustling streets of New York, capturing the essence of contemporary romance with flair. Elle's journey from a frustrated writer to a woman embracing her vulnerabilities is both relatable and inspiring. Her initial quirks and overthinking may test your patience, but witnessing her growth and resilience is truly rewarding.

Parker is the epitome of the modern romantic hero—successful yet grounded, with a heart that sees beyond façades. His unwavering support and genuine affection for Elle highlight the beauty of unconditional love. Their chemistry is palpable, making their interactions both heartwarming and sizzling.

The supporting characters add depth and color to the narrative, enriching the story with their unique personalities and perspectives. They serve as mirrors and catalysts, aiding Elle in her journey of self-discovery.

While the climax introduces tension that may feel abrupt, it serves as a pivotal moment for Elle to confront her fears and insecurities. This conflict, though challenging, propels her toward genuine self-reflection and growth.

Aster's portrayal of New York City is both vivid and enchanting, making the city itself a character that influences and shapes the protagonists' experiences. The narrative is infused with humor, passion, and heartfelt moments, making it a compelling read.

In conclusion, *Summer in the City* is a testament to personal growth, the complexities of modern relationships, and the magic that unfolds when two souls connect amidst the chaos of city life. It's a must-read for those seeking a fun, heartfelt, and inspiring summer romance. I definitely give it a 3.8 stars!

It was so fun to go through the adventures that the main characters go through and recognizing the places I've been to myself. The relationship was so cute and I loved that despite how rich the MMC is, he was willing to do anything for the FMC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review ♡

I loved the New York setting so much. All the locations and pizza places I want to visit. The setting was truly the best!

Elle is an anonymous screen writer who goes to New York and is house sitting across the hall from Parker. She met Parker two years before and absolutely hated him then still hates him now. They make a deal to help each other for the summer. He needs a date to events and she needs someone to go around location for her script she is writing.

Her character is very wishy-washy and I was getting whip lash around the 80% mark. She was frustrating me with how she was treating Parker. I still want Dad closure…I think the story being barely over 300 pages meant a lot was left out or cut.

Parker is a billionaire bachelor. He is golden retriever vibes and swoon worth by the end. I definitely liked him the most out of the couple. He did way too much pleasing imo for how she was treating him.

The book was an average romance - a nice quick summer read.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this ARC! I’m not usually one for romance books, but this was a fun, easy read! Parker & Elle is very relatable characters versus some other romances I have read. Their banter was perfect. I loved getting to travel throughout NYC..& a bit of Europe with them. It isn’t a super spicy romance, but there is definitely some spice in there! Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and will continue reading Aster’s books. She didn’t let me down🗽

If you do not have Summer in the City by Alex Aster pre-ordered, what are you doing?! Parker is a TOP TIER book boyfriend. We are talking TOP TEN AT LEAST. I have laughed NON-STOP, squealed, kicked my feet, yelled, and threw down my kindle. I might just love this more than Lightlark (which I did not think was possible). If you like contemporary romances, this a must read!

My favorite part about this book is how SEEN I felt because Elle is one of the most RELATABLE characters I have ever met. Thank you Alex for writing her (and Parker because he’s perfectly imperfect)!

Tropes:
Opposites Attract, Fake Dating, Slowburn

Thank you NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review

The way I did not want this to end. I will have a finished copy read, and proudly displayed on my shelf. It was amazing. I absolutely loved Elle, and the relationships she builds alongs the way, the way she comes out of her shells. Gains a new relationship with New York, I wish I could read it over again.

I really enjoyed this book! The nyc setting was perfect and I loved it as the backdrop for the romance. My only complaint was that the conflict with the money issues were a little forced, but otherwise I enjoyed.

THOUGHTS:
This was a great read and will definitely make for a good "summer romance" for anyone looking for a beach read! The characters were lovable and relatable, and this book had me falling in love with NYC. I do wish the ending was less rushed, but this is something I think often with books. I'd prefer a fleshed-out resolution instead of a quick "the end".

SYNOPSIS:
Twenty-seven-year-old screenwriter Elle has the chance of a lifetime to write a big-budget movie set in New York City. The only problem? She’s had writer’s block for months, and her screenplay is due at the end of the summer. In a desperate attempt at inspiration, Elle ends up back in the city she swore she would never return to, in an apartment she could never afford (floor-to-ceiling windows, skyline views, and a new coffee shop to haunt included). It’s the perfect place to write her screenplay…until she realizes her new neighbor is tech “Billionaire Bachelor” Parker Warren, her stairwell hookup from two years ago. It’s been a lovers-to-enemies situation ever since. When seeing him again turns into a full night of hate-fueled writing, Elle realizes her enemy/twisted muse might just be the key to finishing her screenplay... if she can stand being around her polar opposite. She writes anonymously, and he’s on the cover of every business magazine. He frequents fancy red carpeted events, and she doesn’t like leaving her emotional support five block radius. One summer. One wall apart. He needs to fake a buzzy relationship during his company’s precarious acquisition. She needs to write a movie around a list of NYC locations. Both need a break from their unrelenting schedules, and a chance to rediscover the skyscraper glimmering, pizza crusted, sunlit charms of the city. Summers always end, and so will this agreement. It’s all pretend. Promise. Until it isn’t.

Thank you to William Morrow publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

5 ⭐️
2.5 🌶

Wow, did I LOVE this book!!!! Alex Aster, you are a queen!

Our story starts where we meet Elle and Parker, who meet each other in a night club- not the best first meeting and assumptions made by both parties end up leaving Elle fuming. Two years later, Elle moves to NYC for the summer in order to find inspiration for the next big script she is writing and lo and behold, guess who her neighbor for the summer is- Parker!!!!!! Enemies to lovers, here we gooooooo!!!!

Elle is fiercely independent and running from some major scars in her past that really shape her into a prickly (but still lovable) FMC. Parker is a billionaire bachelor who is just a cinnamon roll. The things he does just to make Elle happy are (positively) insane, even when he misses the mark with her. Parker is the definition of a MMC who is yearning and so down bad for his girl. The two of them formed such a genuine connection and I really was rooting for them the entire story. In the end, I cried the last three chapters, but especially the last chapter. So much growth from both sides that allows them to end up happy- it was so wonderful to read.

Thanks NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC! Everyone- put this on your TBR!!!!

This was such a fun read, and would definitely make a good "beach read" for the summer. As we learned more about Elle she became entirely relatable in her writing journey and in her relationship with Parker, especially as the two begin to intertwine.
Never having been to New York this book had me falling in love with the city, even more so I fell in love with falling in love in the city. It almost felt like a third main character as the book progresses.
I do feel like the ending was a bit rushed and could have used a few more chapters to be resolved in a more thought out manner but other than that felt the book was very cohesive.

I really want to rate this higher because I truly enjoyed it, but there were so many moments of super flowery language or intense hyperbole that jarred me out of the story. It happened so many times that I can’t overlook it. Maybe it’s just the writer’s style and that’s fine.

I really liked the main characters (even though, like girl, figure your ish out), and of course the New York setting is so dreamy.

As someone who has lived just outside NYC for most of my life, this book was such a fun read! The city itself felt like a character, setting the perfect backdrop for this light and breezy summer story.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between Elle and Parker. Their chemistry was great, and Parker? Top-tier book boyfriend material. I loved seeing their relationship grow alongside their personal development. That said, Elle could be frustrating at times, but in the end, their journey felt fulfilling.

One of my favorite parts was Elle’s screenwriting process—it gave me such a wave of nostalgia since I studied screenwriting in college. I do wish we got to see more of the movie she was writing, though. The idea is introduced, but then it kind of fades into the background.

Overall, this was such a fun read, and I’d definitely recommend it! It’s exciting to see Alex Aster branch into adult contemporary romance, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

Elle is a screenwriter who’s struggling with writers block. Parker is a tech billionaire CEO whose company is in the process of being acquired. But they have met before, and she can’t let that first meeting go. After a few chance run ins and making her reminding him how much she can’t stand him, Parker proposes a fake relationship for the summer that benefits them both. He gets the press to focus on something other than his company’s acquisition, and she gets someone to take to the filming spots in the City to help her writers block. But this was just for the summer, and when summer comes to an end, neither are ready for it to end. Will Elle be able to get past her past insecurities and turn this into something that could last longer than the summer?

Review:
This book was so fun, I devoured this book in 2 days. This felt like an early 2000s rom-com in the best way. I loved the way their relationship developed throughout the book. It does have a third act breakup with only 2 chapters after, which aren’t my favorite and the end felt a little rushed, but it doesn’t diminish the rest of the book for me. It still gave me all the warm and fuzzy feelings that I want a romance book to give. I think Parker is a great MMC and isn’t the usually grumpy billionaire CEO type. I think this was a great book and I couldn’t recommend it enough!

Summer in the City by Alex Aster is more than a charming romance; it’s a thoughtful look at the writing process, creativity, and the struggles of being a writer. The story follows Elle, a screenwriter dealing with writer’s block while working on a big-budget movie in New York City. As she battles a tight deadline, her struggles feel authentic, and Aster skillfully shows how pressure can sometimes stifle creativity rather than ignite it.

Aster taps into the frustration and self-doubt many writers face, especially when deadlines and expectations weigh heavy. Elle’s journey is about rediscovering the joy of writing despite these obstacles. Her relationship with Parker, a tense yet magnetic dynamic, becomes a key source of inspiration for Elle’s creativity. Their friction mirrors the push-pull of the creative process, showing that sometimes creativity arises from conflict, not calm.

Elle’s experience also highlights the insecurity many writers face, torn between passion and doubt about their worth. Her story isn’t just about finishing her screenplay, but reclaiming her confidence as a writer. It’s a reminder that doubt is part of the process, even for the most successful.

In the end, Summer in the City is a love letter to the messy, unpredictable journey of writing. It captures how unexpected sources of inspiration can spark creativity, making it a refreshing read for anyone who’s ever struggled with self-doubt in the creative process.

This won’t be perfect to everyone, but this was perfect for me. I saw so much of myself in Elle and so much of my husband in Parker. This book feels like my life in an alternate reality. There were some parts that felt a bit rushed, but the settings were perfect and the dialogue was out of a movie. It is a perfect summer read.

this was my first book i’ve read by alex aster and i think it was such a good introduction to her. this story was fun, it was sweet, it was funny. i had a good time all around.

i enjoyed how this story played out. it was almost like a one sided enemies to lovers, which i really enjoyed (love a man who’s been in love the entire time). and i will foreverrrrrr love a fake dating trope.

as for the characters, i really liked parker. even though, according to elle, he was so called “buying” her love, i found him to super sweet. he would literally do anything for her. overall, i liked elle. as an introvert, i found her to be relatable at times, but there were some instances where she just irritated me. i just wanted to smack some sense into her.

Summer in the City was a cute romcom! It was a "can't put it down, stay up till 2 in the morning reading" book! I loved most aspects of it. It was lighthearted and cute while also covering some hefty topics. It felt like a love story to the big apple itself.

That being said, I felt like the FMC lacked character growth through the majority of the story. I felt like she was stubbornly stuck in her mindset with minimal wiggle room or a willingness to look from any other perspectives. To say the ending was rushed is an understatement. The third to last chapter made me so mad and the resolution was way too swift and too many details were left out I felt like. I feel like we needed another 60-100 pages to give the book the conclusion it deserves.

I love lightlark by this author and thought this was a cute little story! Very different than the YA lightlark series and I enjoyed the more adult themes.

Unfortunately, this book did not meet the mark for me. I am generally a big fan of Alex Aster and her writing style and was excited for her Adult Romance debut. The biggest problem for me is that both of the MC's are just not likeable. The FMC tries too hard to be different. I hate when authors try and make their main characters seem unnaturally quirky. "I like to stay at home in my sweatpants and eat cupcakes, I'm not like other girls" And this was a turn off for me. For me, the MMC's view of women is so toxic and offputting. After their initial meeting, I could already tell I wasn't going to like him. This unfortunately was a miss for me and was hopeful for more from Alex Aster.

"I didn't fall in love with a version of you, Elle," he says. "I fell in love with every you." AHHHHH
Like most people I was skeptical how someone who writes fantasy love triangles was going to do writing a strictly romance plot line. I was however pleasantly surprised with this one, and it was a good time. Considering I finished it within only a few hours (a long car ride), it definitely helped the time go by. I am excited to get my hands on the physical copy soon enough, and I hope this is her first of many romance books!