Such a fun, light hearted read!!! Perfect for the summer. My only issue is that it wasn't dual pov. And I wish there wasn't a third act breakup towards the end. Full review is up on all platforms!

Summer in the City is Alex Aster's adult romantic comedy debut following a screenwritter and her very good looking billionaire neighbour/ex-lover/enemy/potential lover?? Books and movies set in New York will always have my heart, and for this reason I was so very excited to read this book. As someone who has lived in New York, I was just delighted to see some of my favourite places pop up. I believe Aster's writing mature in this novel, and that leads to the great character work she has done, taking time to make Elle a well-rounded person. I actually think that the conflict she has with Parker, her own background and history that leads up to her initial distaste are very realistic. For the character that she is, the issues that she might have with love, or with Parker, actually make sense and I'm glad we get to see why in the novel as well. Summer in the city is a fast-paced novel for readers who are looking for something light, quick, and fun to read!

This book was so beautifully written and the connection to the characters was so immediate, I couldn't put it down. It's so different than the other books Aster has written and while I love those as well, this was is definitely #1.
The slow burn was perfect without that awkward, boring phase you have with other romances and the spice wasn't too overpowering.
I can't wait for the physical copy to be released because I'm going out on release day to get my own copy!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m ready for all of it. He has no idea how ready I am. He takes a step back. “But not tonight.” “Why not?” I say, breathless. “Because it’s only July, Elle,” he says. “And you promised me all summer.”

- - - - - - -

I loved this book so much. New York City is my favorite place so give me a romance set there and I’m all in. And this one was amazing. This book had all the best tropes — fake dating, enemies (and neighbors) to lovers , and a billionaire love interest. It was raw and vulnerable and it made me wish I could search the streets of NYC to find my own Parker because the banter and grand gestures? Chef’s kiss.

This story had me kicking my feet, smiling like an idiot and completely glued to the pages. I devoured it in a day. It felt like watching my favorite romcom unfold. And the way Alex brought the city to life was perfect. I could see every street, every iconic location and it made the reading experience even more immersive.

I can’t wait for this book to release so I can have a physical copy of it on my shelf. Thank you for the ARC 🤍

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this story being that I fell in love with Alex for her fantasy books. But this right here just hooked me in. It made me feel all the feels about love, crushes, and just finding your person. It was the perfect amount of spice and i found myself laughing out loud at times. I just didn’t want their story to end. Thank you Alex for such a great read and I hope to see more.

Summer in the City by Alex Aster begins with so much promise, offering a vibrant, fast-paced narrative full of charm and potential. From the start, the story draws you in with its setting—an idyllic summer in a bustling city—and the allure of a young protagonist caught between personal growth and romantic tension. The writing is engaging, and the atmosphere feels alive, promising an enjoyable, feel-good read. At first glance, I was certain this would be a 5-star experience.

However, as the story progressed, it became clear that something was missing. While the plot continued to unfold with intriguing events and high stakes, the character development stagnated. By about 90% into the book, I found myself frustrated, realizing that the growth I had expected from the characters wasn’t coming. The protagonist, in particular, felt underdeveloped, leaving me struggling to connect with her on a deeper level.

By the time the ending arrived, it felt rushed and unsatisfying, as though the author had lost track of the emotional journey that should have been central to the plot. The final resolution, while it provided closure, didn’t feel earned because the characters hadn’t undergone the necessary growth or transformation to make it impactful.

Ultimately, Summer in the City starts with all the right ingredients for a 5-star read but falters when it comes to delivering on the emotional and character-driven promises that were set up early on. It's a good book, but the lack of character development by the end left me feeling disappointed, knocking it down to a solid 3.75 stars.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
# Pages: 304
Publication Date: 03.25.25

"Elle, for you, l'll move the company here, to New York. For you.
I'll hire another CEO. For you. I'll give all my money away. I don't care. None of it matters. Not the way you do."

🎬 Contemporary Romance
🎬 Romcom
🎬 Fake Dating
🎬 He Fell Hard
🎬 1st Person POV
🎬 Billionaire CEO
🎬 Enemies To Lovers
🎬 Forced Proximity
🎬 Second Chance

Summer In The City by Alex Aster is her debut romance novel and I am all for it!! I read this book straight through and swallowed it up. The world building, character development, plot, tension, buildup, and romance are just some of the things you can expect from this novel.

Elle, our FMC, is secretly a play write. Which does go into detail. She very much so is wanting to path her way by herself and without the help of others. Parker, our MMC, is an attractive CEO and definitely doesn’t disappoint. They agree to fake date and thus the romance starts to begin. Even if Elle hates him for many years.

Overall, highly recommend this book! I really cannot wait to read more romance books from Alex. I love her fantasy reads too.

Thank you netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this awesome ARC.

Elle craves comfort—the kind that comes from routine, not change. But when she meets Parker at a club full of young millionaires, including him, her world is thrown off balance. His comment, implying he can have anything he wants—including her—for the right price, sparks a deep hatred. However, when Elle is assigned to write a screenplay about iconic NYC locations, she moves into an apartment under renovation—and to her surprise, it's next door to Parker.

When Parker asks Elle to pretend to be his girlfriend to distract the press from his company’s upcoming acquisition, she agrees reluctantly. As they spend the summer exploring the city together, Elle's hatred for Parker seems to fuel her creativity, easing her writer's block. But while Parker may be able to buy anything, can he win Elle’s affection?

First, thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Press for the digital ARC. Alex Aster has described this book as a love letter to New York City, and it’s clear that’s exactly what it is. As a New Yorker, I loved how the city came alive in the story, and I couldn’t help but smile every time a favorite spot was mentioned.

Fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes, and the dynamic between Elle and Parker was executed perfectly. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the gradual development of their relationship felt natural. While romance novels can sometimes feel unrealistic (seriously, where’s my single millionaire neighbor?), this one had solid character growth that kept me engaged. There’s also some open-door spice, so be warned if that’s not your thing.

Overall, a solid 4.5-star read that I’m rounding up to 5 because, well, I’m a sucker for NYC. I can’t wait for my special edition copy when *Summer in the City* officially releases on March 25th.

Such a fun and quick rom-com, filled with epic banter, some really well done swoony moments and overall perfect story to get lost into.

This was a super cute, quick rom com!. I loved the chemistry between Parker and Elle. I do love me a hot billionaire 😜. I read this in one day! It was hard to put down. It was almost a 5 star read for me but the end of the story kind of annoyed me a bit? I know the third act break up is a common thing but this one…. Just irritated me more than anything. It’s a romance so… yeah…. But overall I very much enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend!!
Review is up on Goodreads!!

3.5⭐️
First, thank you NetGalley for this arc, I love the Lightlark series so I was excited to read this contemporary romance by Alex. It had a cute story and I normally love these books, but this one didn’t do it for me. It felt too forced and a little over the top at times. I liked the story of Elle and Parker overall but there was something missing.

Thank you so much William Morrow and NetGalley for this book. I lovvveeeedd this story. It was such a fun feel good story. The city vibes were immaculate and made you feel as if you were in New York.

Summer in the City was fun, especially the first half! I loved Elle in all her prickli-ness and her being an "island". I loved that she went out of her comfort zone and found people who became friends, that she knew who she was and how she was herself.
I really liked Parker too, and how he saw her from the very beginning and loved everything about her, even the parts she didn't love about herself. I loved them together, I had butterflies!
That being said, just like Elle, I have issues with people who are uber-rich: it's the principle of the thing - no one has any business having so much money that they can just throw around, when people struggle SO MUCH to make ends meet, or to have insurance. That was my only hang-up with Parker.
An absolutely fun read!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I received the ARC and it took me over a week to read, I had a hard time getting into the book. I thought about DNF'ing it but wanted to see it through because most books do get better. I wasn't a fan of the two characters. Elle's view of money and her not being able to see the love Parker had for her while Parker's gifts were outrageous and over the top. The relationship between Elle's family could have been in a couple of chapters and not mentioned again to get the idea of why Elle was the way she was with her views in life. I gave it 2.5/3.00 stars.

3 to 3.5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ read.

I have read Lightlark and Nightbane, and I had to admit I was curious about a contemporary romance. New York City comes alive in this rom com summer romance with fake dating between a billionaire and an undercover screen writer. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, considering I was not a fan of the writing style in Lightlark series. I do think the writing style has improved. However, I find that the FMC is just as whiny and annoying. At times the MMC is so over the top that it is hard to find realism in the fictional book! I still enjoyed this book, it is an easy read but it is simply just average. However, I am thankful to NetGalley and Alex aster for this e copy in exchange for my honest review! Thank you!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

I absolutely loved this book and the love story between Elle and Parker. I loved how stubborn Elle was and how badly she wanted to things her way. But more than that I absolutely loved how much Parker loved Elle. All the things he did and was willing to do to make her happy just made my heart melt. I now am more determined than ever to visit New York and use this book as a map for all the places I must visit.

ARC REVIEW:

PARKER!! SWOON. That man was giving us hopelessly in love and just trying his best. Which we love to see. I was sucked in from chapter 1! Stair scene?!? HOT. Elle was okay, she had moments where I was like gurlllll, cut it out!!! But she made up for it. Honestly had such a good time reading and the twists were great. Is there a possible Penelope book in the future?!

I’m shocked at how much I LOVE this book.
Definitely reached Top 10 favorite in the Romance Category

It encompasses everything you could ever want in a book:
•Golden Retriever billionaire,
•Fake Dating,
•Forced proximity,
•(almost) enemies to lovers,
just EVERYTHING YOU COULD EVER WANT.

Alex Aster knocked this book out of the parks! I’m excited to see what’s up her sleeves in the future. I’d love to see her continue to expand her romance wings and fly on.

Summer in the City is a sizzling, fast-paced rom-com packed with billionaire bachelors, fake dating, and enough forced proximity to make your heart race. Elle and Parker’s slow-burn tension is undeniable, and their banter crackles as they navigate an arrangement that’s supposed to be strictly business—but, of course, turns into something much more.

New York City shines as a vibrant, essential character, setting the stage for glamorous events, pizza-fueled adventures, and unexpected stairwell encounters. While some moments feel a bit silly or exaggerated, the chemistry and playful energy make up for it. With open-door spice that delivers and plenty of fun, this is a must-read for romance lovers.

Thank you to William Morrow for the ARC—this one hits shelves on March 25, so add it to your TBR!

One sentence synopsis: Screenwriter Elle’s last shot at inspiration comes from her infuriating billionaire neighbor—until their fake arrangement feels all too real.

Okay, I really loved this. It reminded me of the 90s romcoms I love or the chicklit I used to read in my early to mid 20s. The setting (New York City) almost feels alive and like one of the characters in the story. The chemistry between Parker and Elle was present as enemies, lovers and friends. It had me kicking my feet and giggling the whole time.

This story is a love letter to ambition, reinvention, and the unexpected ways a city—and a person—can surprise you.

So many feels for this one! 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Read this if you:
🍕 have ever eaten so much pizza you made yourself sick
🍕 frequent a certain coffee shop for their baked goods
🍕 love a forced proximity enemies to friends to lovers story