Elle and Parker were a great couple to read about. The fake dating turned friendship angle was really well done, and I was swooning when they were in Paris!!

Thank you so much, William Marrow, for gifting me an ARC of Alex Aster's debut romance novel, *Summer in the City*! This book absolutely hooked me from the start, and I devoured it!

*Summer in the City* follows Elle, a screenwriter battling severe writer's block who reluctantly returns to New York City for inspiration. Her return is complicated by the discovery that her neighbor is none other than Parker Warren, the 'Billionaire Playboy' she despises. Their history is a delicious mix of failed stairwell hookup and simmering animosity, which Elle has cleverly channeled into her writing. Parker, now her 'twisted muse,' needs a fake girlfriend for PR purposes, and Elle needs inspiration. A classic fake-dating setup ensues, and the sparks fly! Aster's writing is engaging and descriptive, painting a vivid picture of New York City. As a native, the setting felt nostalgic and familiar. The pacing was excellent for the majority of the book, keeping me invested in Elle and Parker's complicated relationship.

Both Elle and Parker are well-developed characters with depth and layers. You genuinely understand their motivations and the reasons behind their actions. The tension between them is palpable, and their witty banter is the highlight. However, the final few chapters felt rushed. A plot twist towards the end derailed the momentum, leading to a hurried resolution. Despite these minor drawbacks, I thoroughly enjoyed *Summer in the City*. It's a charming and entertaining romance with plenty of tension, humor, and heart. If you love fake-dating tropes, billionaire romances, and stories set in the vibrant backdrop of NYC, this book is for you. While it started as a potential 4.5-star read, the ending brought it down slightly for me. Still, a solid and enjoyable read overall! I'd recommend it for those who love a cute romance book.

This was a fun and enjoyable summer rom com with a true enemies to lovers trope. The relationship had natural pacing; it wasn't instant or dragged on, The female main character was a little too whiny and immature for my liking. Besides that, the author's writing style drew me in.

Thank you William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review,

I’m not even sure where to begin with my rating and review of this book. The first 25% of this book made me want to die, but once we got into the fake dating I was vibing with it and the book had redeemed itself for me. There were Kelsey’s that felt very trope-ish and cliche but I loved the dialogue and the tension and because of that I was willing to overlook the fact that they continued to have the same fight throughout the book over money. But then chapter 30… Chapter 30 ruined everything. I was so mad because I knew it was coming from a mile away and it just felt so unnecessary and brought what would have been a 4 star read down to a 3 star read.

Thank you NetGalley and Publishers for this ARC.

I was not sure what to expect since this is her first non-fantasy book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Although it's not spectacular, I do feel like it's a cute quick romance read, therefore I am rating it 3.5/5. Now the screenwriter/tech concept was cute and different. We start with Elle and Parker having a funny/flirty encounter on a stairwell but thinks go south, and she ends up despising him for the next couple years, because of his assumptions he had of her at first. Elle ends up coming back to New York a couple years later to house sits, and guess who's her neighbor? Yup Parker.

Pros: I really liked Parkers character Mr Billonaire tech isn't what the media portrays him to really be. He's got a soft heart. I want to say this is a (he fell first) type of thing. I loved that he listens to her attentively and pretty much does anything/buys anything that he notices makes her smile. You can tell his love language is gift giving haha.

Cons: Elles character becomes slightly annoying. I get she has an issue with money and being independent but sometimes I felt like she was harsh with Parker, idk that's just me. When the world found out who she was, after keeping herself secret she forgave it pretty easily, but couldn't give the same grace to Parker which was annoying.

Other than that I enjoyed the story, it was cute, it had some rom com moments in there as well and i'd recommend others to give it a read.

holy cow - this is an AMAZING time! if you told me this was alex aster’s first contemporary romance i wouldn’t believe you because of how well written this is. it is a true enemies (they HATE each other) to lovers book. there is fake dating, over the top shows of love, some mental health representation with the FMC, and a sweet ending. the ONE fault i have is the ending felt the tiniest bit rushed but other than that the timing was amazing.

also if you are reading this alex,
PLEASE give us more!!!!

I was literally on route to giving this a smooth 3 stars, maybe even 3.5 but then Chapter 30 just made me laugh aloud and I had to remove at least one star off rip…

I hate when fmcs test my love for “insufferable main characters” because i genuinely just felt like if i was friends with Parker, I would not think Elle was good enough for him and I hate that I was ever forced to think that about a protagonist 😔

Idk I got her whole relationship to money, it just also made her kinda evil and I am certain she only says thank you to Parker once this entire book after being like “huh I don’t think I’ve said thank you this whole time lol” like girl yeah we know…


Parker on the other hand, gave such nothing when he wasn’t giving pathetic (and not in a good way…) like I genuinely felt awful for him for most of the book after their initial meeting and yet he felt so distant from the plot and was given not much room to have like any personality (or backstory really) when juxtaposed with Elle and all her clunky nonsensical chaos


disclaimer: this was my first Alex Aster read and I know it’s her first contemporary romance book (As opposed to Romantasy) and I fear it does show in ways I didn’t expect, though it was very easy to read and that made it more painless.

thank you so much to netgalley & william morrow for this ARC to review!

I knew I would like Summer In The City, I just wasn't prepared for how much I was going to fall in love with it!!
Summer In The City is the story of Elle and Parker, two people who live in the city and have a chance encounter the night before Elle moves out west to follow her dreams. Cut to a few years later ... They haven't seen one another since that night,but Elle has used her extreme dislike for Parker as fuel for her screenwriting career. With a looming deadline for a screenplay set in the city, Elle heads back to the place she never thought she'd go again to visit locations the studio has chosen for the movie. She just wasn't expecting to be staying in the apartment right next to Parker.
Much to her chagrin, he suggests they help one another out over the summer: he'll take her around to all the locations for the script if she'll agree to be his fake girlfriend to distract the press while the details of his company's acquisition are finalized.
I was expecting a fantastically funny rom com with a ton of banter and some swoony moments with the amazing background of New York City driving the story. What I wasn't expecting was the depth, struggle, and extreme happiness that these two found with each other within the city. I laughed out loud, giggled, kicked my feet, cried, and fell in love with not only Parker and Elle, but also The City itself. I don't know how Alex Aster did it, but I could see myself walking through the city in the summer and experiencing all the things that she put down on the page, completely immersed in each moment. I already miss Parker and Elle and the city so much, I want to go back and read it again. For sure this will be one of my top reads this year (most likely for a long time to come).

This book follows a screenwriter who kisses a man on the stairways and hopes to never see him again but she ends up being his next door neighbor. I haven’t read Aster’s big fantasy series but was glad to have the chance to read her adult romance. I have to say for the most part I really enjoyed the book. The pacing was fast and the writing truly captured my edition. However, certain scenes became repeitive and there were just moments overdone. I loved the NYC setting and being able to explore the city through the FMC’s mind. This book is told from Elle’s pov.

Elle is the big screenwriter but never shows herself to the public. In some ways I could relate to her character but throughout the book she became an unlikeable character. Some of the decisions she made just made me what to shake her. She did develop which I liked. Our main side character is Parker who is a billionaire. I loved him as he just was heads over heels for Elle. There are many other side characters and I loved all the girls who supported Elle. Now I would not say that this book is a lovers to enemies to lovers book. The enemies was more one sided but it is a fake dating, forced proximity and friends to lovers. There are some steamy scenes but just about two.

The ending was where it caught me off guard and not in the best way. I just couldn’t believe what happened and I was done. I truly enjoyed the book but I think the way it led to the ending was uncalled for. Overall, this was still a great book and I can see it being a summer read. Also the edges are just absolutely gorgeous for the book.

*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*

4.25⭐️!

HEHEHEHE!!! AHHHH!!!

I have never giggled the way I giggled when PARKER FREAKING WARREN was on page! UM. I am OBSESSED! This book was so, so, sooo good! I LOVED it!

As this was Alex Aster's first non-fantasy book, I had no idea what to expect, but WOW, am I glad she wrote this book! I loved Elle and Parker (but especially Parker) very, very much.

The set-up of this book felt so unique. I truly felt like I was experiencing New York right there with Elle and Parker, as they went on their adventures! I loved the milestone/location-based plot, it makes me even more excited to get a physical copy—that has a map—in my hands!

The only reason this book wasn't a five stars for me, was that I got a little lost from the story towards the ending. I felt like there were too many conflicts, and then the resolution felt paced faster than the rest of the novel.

Otherwise, this book has convinced me that I simply do not have enough billionaire romance books in my life, something I will certainly be remedying ASAP!

I hope Alex continues to write more contemporary romance!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4/5⭐️ 2/5🌶️ 0.5/5😢

I really enjoyed this adult romcom debut from Alex Aster! It was so fun and felt like a love letter to NYC.

tropes & themes:
→ tech billionaire x LA screenwriter
→ NYC setting
→ second chance(ish)
→ fake dating
→ found family
→ “can’t buy my love”

fave quote:
”It’s a shame, that summers always end.”
“Maybe this one can be endless,” Parker says.
“Nothing in life is endless.”
“Love is, Elle,” he says.
I laugh. “And what do you know about love?”
“Now?” he says. “Everything.”

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book, the characters were cute and well developed, there was good chemistry, and it wasn't cringey.

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 It’s the perfect place to write her screenplay, until she realizes her new neighbor is tech Parker Warren, her stairwell hookup from two years ago. 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 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.


Thoughts
Normally when there’s no trigger/trauma warnings I think a book will be too hallmark-y. Even though Elle has her own issues to overcome, this one isn’t super deep, but it’s fun! Maybe it’s that I just came back from an NY trip but I loved following their dates around the city. Elle has great sarcasm and banter and Parker was trying so hard to let go of control and be a sweet cinnamon roll character.

4.5
I devoured this book….I couldn’t get enough. I was going back & forth but I loved the experience of this read! It was a wonderful take on some great tropes: enemies to lovers, billionaire romance, rom-com & forced proximity.
The characters in this were so unique & their backgrounds are so well-written & humbling as well. It is the perfect palate cleanser book if need be & a fun escape! The scenery & background were so distinct as it felt like I was there!! The tension in this read leading up to the slow burn was 10/10! I loved it. I will add, the FMC at times was difficult & kept bringing up old conflict and I just wanted to take her to the side and talk to her, but near the end everything played out well! It was such an overall great read!

4.50 ⭐️

I've officially found my next comfort romance read! Summer in the City by Alex Aster was such a fun and special romance read! As a huge lover of rom-com movies and books, this book was everything!

In Summer in the City, we follow Elle, an anonymous screenwriter who has an amazing career opportunity to write a big-budget movie script set in New York City, a city she actually hates! To fight back against her writer’s block and find some inspiration, she finds herself back in the city.

Once upon a time, Elle had a hot encounter with the gorgeous tech billionaire, Parker, in the city and it was delicious moment until he ruined it by making some poor assumptions about her. After the encounter, Elle truly despised the man and when I say despised, I mean she despised him to the point where she essentially started obsessing over him.

When Elle returns to the city, she finds out that her neighbor is none other than the gorgeous Parker, and ooo the temptation! One thing leads to another, and they both agree to fake-date each other, but only for the summer—and the story blooms from there! Oh, and a certain gorgeous man may or may not become her muse to help with her writer’s block!

The romance and tension in this book were perfect! I adored Parker, and I can’t wait for everyone to read how charming he is, along with how much he cares for Elle, even if she doesn’t want to admit it to herself! I was blushing and giggling nonstop while reading the book! I finished this book in one day and will definitely be re-reading it soon!

I loved seeing Elle’s journey from initially hating New York City to eventually falling in love with it! I related to parts of her, including her fear of doing the opposite of the lessons her mother taught her growing up. With time, she is able to identify and challenge those fears to not allow her past define her future!

I can’t wait for everyone to read it when it’s published this month! Thank you so much to William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

Welcome to New York!

Summer in the City by Alex Aster is a fun rom-com set in one of my favorite cities, NYC. Elle, the FMC, is a screenwriter with writer’s block who is apartment sitting for the summer, her next door neighbor, Parker, is the MMC, who is a billionaire tech founder. These two start off on the wrong foot. There is a little bit of an enemies to lovers vibe. One thing leads to another and they end up fake dating for the summer. They also end up exploring the city together, and I loved being able to experience the city through the characters’ eyes.

Elle and Parker have fantastic chemistry, the bickering, flirting, and banter were on point. I absolutely adored Parker, such a swoon worthy MMC. I also appreciated Elle’s independence and drive.

Overall, it is such a fun read, and the pacing was just right. If you love a romance that has tropes of enemies to lovers, fake dating, and second chances, then this is the book for you. Perfect for the summertime.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the arc. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars!

This was such a fun read. I loved the author's writing style. She immediately sucked me into the story with her great visuals. I felt like I was right there with them exploring New York and getting to eat all the delicious foods. I would love some New York style pizza right about now.

This story follows Elle and Parker as they spend a summer "fake dating". I LOVED Parker's character. He is such a golden retriever. Elle is a more complicated character. She is flawed, and is working through some trauma from her past that make it hard for her to love, especially someone like Parker who feels he can just buy her things to make her happy. She wants to be independent and take care of things on her own, but then you have Parker who buys out a whole coffee/cafe chain for her just so she can get her favorite treat since they stopped carrying it.

The pacing is great, the relationship is great. I loved that it didn't just end happily right away and that they had to work through some things to get to where they are at the end. The story made me tear up a few times and I always love it when a story can pull on your heart strings.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and now I want to read her other books. I will say I may not think about painted walls the same way again lol. 🎨🖌️

✨Billionaire Romance
✨Fake Dating
✨Independent FMC
✨Second Chances
✨Forced Proximity

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:
♡Apparently I talk to myself a lot louder than I thought. "Oh you must have heard the TV." We both do a slow turn to the television, which is still in its box. "That I stream on my laptop." Both of our eyes drop to my computer, which is sitting closed on the counter.♡

♡Movies have a formula. A three-act structure. A resultion. Life isn't like that. Life doesn't fit into pretty boxes.♡

♡Life isn't a movie. There's never just one start or ending. There's always the chance to begin again. The promise of a new tomorrow is the best part of living.♡

♡A love letter to our summer.♡

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

Alex Aster absolutely nailed this genre shift, and I couldn’t be happier that she did! I loved this love story—it wasn’t just about romance, but about the flawed, messy, and deeply real aspects of love. It captured how relationships should make us better without changing who we are, and how we have to be whole on our own before we can truly be with someone else. The emotional depth, the growth, and the push-and-pull of becoming your own person while being in love were so beautifully done. This book had me feeling everything—I was hooked from start to finish!

Thank you so much for the ARC! I absolutely lovvvvved this book. Like LOVE! I had seen a few other reviews that held high praise so I was definitely interested, but it was even better than my expectations. I have never read anything by this author but it's an auto-buy author for me now. My house lately has been: hey babe, what's for dinner; hey babe, do you want to watch this show; hey babe, the dog needs to be taken for a walk; hey babe, I have no clean underwear........because I could NOT put this book down! And hey, the husband can fend for himself, right? The banter between the two main couples was fantastic. It kept me wanting for more! I love the slow burn, but when it does happen (spoiler alert) it's exactly how I would have written it. I loved the New York feel of the book as well. Having been there a few times, I can imagine the whole experience. It was just such an easy book to read. I love the way the author writes. It's not cheesy or boring but just grips you and makes you want to keep reading. The only bad thing I can say is that it had to end. I really didn't want it to! This may go down as my favorite book this year, but it's only March so time will tell. An EASY five star read for me.

Having read Alex Aster's romantasy series, Lightlark, I had incredibly high hopes for this rom-com. Alex KNOWS how to write enemies to lovers, leave the reader begging for more, while also giving the characters realistic internal dialogues and actions throughout the story. I am in love with these characters and truly cannot wait to see what else Alex writes. Definitely an auto-buy author!