My final rating for this book was a 3.5⭐️

Overall plot of this was incredibly fun and enjoyable. This is the perfect summer romance that had me dreaming of a trip to New York City!

Now the part I didn’t love about the book was the main character. I felt like she was really hard for me to relate to and honestly a little hard for me to like. She was very black and white and set in her ways. Instead of asking people things and making educated judgments about people she jumped to her own conclusions and then was to stubborn to admit when she was wrong. I did really like the MMC though, I thought his character was sweet, caring, and just overall a great mmc.

The final thing I didn’t love about this story was the ending. I felt that it was just a little too wishy washy for my liking and it dragged on a little too long.

All in all I still really enjoyed this book and will recommend it as the perfect summer romance!

I want to thank NetGalley, Harper Collin’s, and Alex Aster for sending me the advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, it was cuuuuuuuute, 4 stars! I went into this book with low expectations for some reason but was very pleasantly surprised. Any story with a strong FMC and a strong group of female friendships will always win brownie points with me. Parker was such a sweet MMC, what a great man. I loved Elle's quirks, her resilience, her not setting aside her wants and needs for someone else, and her background story was great. In most millionaire/billionaire romance books, the FMC gets wooed by money or the things that money can buy, and this isn't the case (woot!). I've never been to NYC and never had a desire to visit (outside of the food scene), but this book made me want to visit and just spend a day roaming around.

Great, easy, and fun summer read!

Format: ebook

Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Morrow for the arc!!

Very cute love story! Such a fun read! A bit over the top with gestures and feelings but it was a really entertaining read.
I loved how they met and that theme returned again and again over the course of the book.
Now I want to visit NYC again!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am always entertained by Alex Aster's books and was thrilled to receive an early copy. I was excited to hear she was writing a Contemporary book set in New York setting. Elle and Parker's summer romance was great. I enjoy books where the city is a character, New York and all the different attractions just added more to the book. I really like Elle's character development in the book. I can't wait to read more contemporary from Alex Aster.

A creative adventure through New York City! Aster is wildly descriptive, plays with storytelling in a delightfully creative way, and kept the surprises coming throughout the entire journey. As our main character writes a script set across the city, the highs and lows of her movie’s arc are reflected in our own main character’s story. As the romance progresses, she explores her relationship with money, power, her families past, and what she needs from future relationships due to that. Her sister and friends drop in and out as we go sharing words of wisdom and keeping her grounded, making clear that perception can be everything. Sometimes you need to choose to make things easier on yourself. Letting go just a little can provide the freedom you most need.

Thank you William Morrow for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Funny, witty, and utterly romantic.

This was such a sweet book! I loved the premise and the way I felt like I was walking the streets of NYC. Parker and Elle’s relationship was sweet, sexy, and so much fun.

However, I’m a little conflicted over my rating. The first 60% or so gave major 5 star vibes but then it kind of went off the rails. I’m not a fan of third-act break ups, quick proposals, or months (especially over a year!) spent broken up. So while I would’ve tweaked the overall ending, I still had a great time!

I wouldn’t really call this book enemies to lovers. That’s more one sided. It’s more of a fake dating to best friends/lovers book. Which I definitely enjoyed. I liked watching the trust and friendship build. Parker is the sweetest. He is pretty patient while she works through her issues. I really liked the very end I wish we got a little more than that. Overall, it’s a cute story. Definitely worth the read.

This is an arc read from NetGalley. 3.75 stars. I must say, I didn’t hate it. It was a cute modern love story. The only thing that bothered me was the main female lead, and how instead of talking to her love interest and discussing her thoughts and issues, she just expected him to know her well enough to not do certain things and just kept running. Those type of tropes tend to bug the shit out of me. And, I mean, I guess that’s good, it did make me feel things and initiate some thought provocation.

I was definitely struggling to read after all of the fantasy books I’ve been reading lately. I needed a good romance. I absolutely LOVED this book. Alex did such a good job. I loved that so many parts were predictable because that’s exactly how romcom books and movies are. Some parts surprised me too, which had me like 😱.

🌶️🌶️🌶️ Most of it was not very spicy, but it certainly got a little descriptive later.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Loved the romance in this one. The way they spend time together is mostly pretty realistic.

I don’t typically read books with ultra wealthy business men because I feel like it’s unrealistic. However, it didn’t bother me one bit for the MMC to be rich. I loved that it played an important role in the plot. Elle is a strong and independent woman. Even her best friend is such an amazingly supportive and funny character. Parker… sir, you turned out to be so much more than I expected. I’m so lucky that NetGalley allowed me to get this ARC.

The second I finished this book I wanted to start it all over again!

Elle is a screenwriter- who hates NYC as well as Parker a billionaire who owns a tech company. When’s she’s back in New York house siting for the summer and writing her next movie that is set in NYC, of course Parker Warren is her neighbor.

This book has enemies to lovers, fake dating, and perfect 2000s romcom vibes. Being a New York girlie I absolutely loved that NYC played a major role in this book as they went all around the city. It was the perfect setting. This book had be giggling and kicking my feet with the banter between Elle and Parker. This whole book played in my head like a movie and can’t wait for it to come out so everyone can experience this joy.

I absolutely loved this book and so thankful I was given the opportunity to read it before it was released. Thank you NetGalley for sending me this ARC.

"God, feelings are so embarrassing," I say. "That's why I just write them down. Make someone else say them."

Summer in the City, author Alex Aster's first contemporary romance, follows 27 year old screenwriter Elle as she makes spends the summer in NYC overseeing renovations of her sister's fancy apartment and writing a spec script for her studio. While her appearance gives off "struggling artist vibes", we learn Elle's secret is that she is an extremely successful Hollywood screenwriter using a pen name and cloaked in anonymity. The studio had a huge project fall through, but they already have film permits for top locations all over Manhattan. Elle has a mad case of writers block, but she's got to shake it off and write romcom--stat!

Upon arrival at her sister's apartment, she learns that her neighbor is "Billionaire Bachelor" Parker Warren. She may have had a stairwell hookup with him a few years ago before moving back to LA. Parker opened his fat mouth, and Elle hated him. She's annoyed by his presence, and, of course, he doesn't remember her. Parker wants Elle to fake date him for the summer as his company embarks on an enormous acquisition. And, he offers to take Elle to all the places where her movie is to be set. Elle is desperate to break the block, and she's hoping her hatred of Parker is enough to get things flowing.

As we begin to untangle some of the tough situations Elle has had to deal with, her need for anonymity, though necessary, has made her an island--closed off from relationships and new friends. As her fake relationship with Parker blossoms into something more, she also begins to make friends with his circle. It all feels like too much. Can she have it all for more than just a summer?

I adored this book. It was heartfelt and dealt with some serious issues, but I felt it was still funny and made me smile. Elle's growth was fun to watch! I think this heartfelt lovely book set in NYC will make all romance lovers swoon.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy. Summer in the City is out March 25, 2025.

Elle is a screenwriter who is suffering from writer's block when she ends up back in NYC for the summer to housesit. It's the perfect place to escape and try to find inspiration, which unfortunately ends up coming from her new neighbor, tech billionaire Parker Warren. Two years ago, just prior to Elle's move to Los Angeles, she and Parker met in a club where they ended up making out the in the stairwell before Parker insulted her and she ran away. She's never quite gotten over that insult and he's never quite gotten over her. Given that she's writing prolifically since running into Parker, she agrees to fake date him for the summer to help his public image as his company is being acquired while he helps her discover a love of NYC that she needs to work into her screenplay.

The first 75-80% of this book was absolute perfection. I love a story where he falls first and he falls harder, and the fake dating/forced proximity added to the romantic tension. We find out some of the reasoning behind why Elle hates Parker so much (not going to ruin that surprise) and that just added another level to the story that I thought was superb. But I was left a little underwhelmed at the ending. There was a lot of Elle getting in her own way that I think could have been condensed prior to the HEA.

Overall: 4.5/5 rounded up (but could have gone either way)
Spice: 2/3

I LOVED the beginning of this book- the banter, the tension, the setting. I finished the first half in hours. I do not normally pick up billionaire romances but reading Aster’s prior books made me want to take the leap. I loved Parker’s constant love but found Elle to be unreasonable to the point of unimaginable with no redemption, even after we learn more about her mom. I did not see a point in having two breakups. While I’m not a fan of the third act breakup trope, I felt having two was diminishing to the plot and made me lose all enjoyment out of the second half of the book. I was left not wanting Parker to end up with Elle because he deserved better.

Thank you to Netgalley, William Morrow, and Alex Aster for an advanced reading copy of "Summer in the City."

**REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

As this is her first contemporary romance, I am approaching this review with a sense of grace.

Tropes I noticed in this read:
- Miscommunication
- Fake dating
- Billionaire
- Found family
- He falls first
- Enemies to lovers?

While the plot had potential, the execution of the story fell short.

The transition from the characters not knowing each other to making out in a hallway felt abrupt, especially when Elle (the female main character) assumes Parker (the male main character) of calling her a gold digger and screams at him—all within five minutes.

Elle occasionally comes across as immature, particularly with her attitude of, “If you want to get to know me, figure it out by yourself,” which was frustrating. Additionally, Elle is described as having a "Pilates body" while being able to eat whatever she wants and only walking nine steps a week, which is highly unrealistic.

Two years later, Elle can't stop thinking about that five-minute encounter, even though she claims to hate him but then It's a coincidence that his apartment is right next to where she's staying.

They agree to a fake dating arrangement for the summer. However, Elle constantly complains about money and wealthy people, yet she doesn’t mind when Parker spends lavishly on her; it only bothers her when he makes large gestures.

Elle also gets angry at Parker when her identity is leaked (which is not his fault), leading her to break up with him. Later, she seems to enjoy being recognized by fans.
She also becomes upset when Parker buys her dream house for her but refuses to be with him because she wants to purchase it on her own, leading to yet another breakup.

The spicy scenes sometimes felt forced. While some were detailed, others seemed like afterthoughts or fillers. Hearing the phrase "I clenched around him" repeatedly became excessive.

This book read incredibly clunky and awkward. The story felt forced and the lack of finesse made it difficult to enjoy the characters.

What an absolutely stunning rom com debut by Alex Astor! This book surprised me in the best way. From the very first chapter this cook has me completely hooked and unable to put it down. Finishing it in one sitting, Elle and Parker were unable to put down for a second.

A second chance encounter when they become neighbors for the summer leads to a proposition, one summer to be his fake girlfriend and help her write her screen play. The tension between these two poured off the page from the very beginning. I adored the flash back we get of their meeting and immediately get sucked into their banter between them. I love how opposite Parker and Elle seem to be but at their core they have two halves of a whole.

Elle was such a strong FMC j couldn’t help but want to be her best friend and also shake her at times. But I love that she stuck to what was important for her. Parker was such a fun character. I love a billionaire trope, but I also like that money didn’t seem to matter to him when it came to Elle. But also layered in the traditionally billionaire trope we love to read about.

I am so in awe of this story and definitely will be waiting in my toes for Alex’s next book!

I devoured it in a day! Elle the FMC is sometimes an annoying main character who does everything perfect - like she doesn’t exercise or eats healthy but has a “Pilates body” or she doesn’t party or do her makeup but miraculously can always do the perfect cat eye. The romance was cute

I met Alex Aster at YallFest last year and what a gem she is! I am so blessed to have been able to read this novel early, thank you so much!!! I absolutely devour everything she writes. I CANNOT wait to get my hands on the physical deluxe editions in March. Anyway, this book had me feeling so giddy. This couple is EVERYTHING to me. Alex did not disappoint. The setting alone had me hooked. Such a great read!!!

Book Review: Summer in the City by Alex Aster
Rating: 4/5
Summer in the City by Alex Aster is a captivating contemporary romance that takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster through the landscape of New York City. Set against the iconic skyline and vibrant streets of the city, the book explores love, money, pride, and dream-chasing. This romance novel is a must-read for this year if you need a cozy cute story to curl up and binge.
Plot: The story follows Elle, a talented screenplay writer, who struggles with her relationship with money. She is house sitting for her sister for the summer and just happens to live next door to Parker, a billionaire who left a less than perfect impression on Elle a few years back.
Parker, who has built walls around his heart struggling to trust anyone ever since he became successful and wealthy. Their relationship blossoms while they visit New York City destinations, both Elle and Parker confront their fears and insecurities about love and the future.
What Works:
The Setting: New York City is almost a character in itself. Aster perfectly captures the allure and contradictions of the city. While Elle starts with a dislike of the city given her past childhood trauma, she soon falls in love with the setting as she “repaints her memories” with Parker.
Themes of Personal Growth: At its core, Summer in the City is about dream-chasing and continued growth in the process.
What Could Be Improved:
While Summer In The City is a fantastic read overall, some readers may find Elle’s rejection of Parker tiring. Parker moved the moon and the stars for Elle regardless of her constant rejection. I understand she needed time to resolve her own issues and grow as a person, but that choice should not come at the expense of Parker.
Final Thoughts:
Summer In The City is an enchanting contemporary romance that combines emotional depth with the dazzling setting of New York City. Some of my favorite locations from the city were presented, yet Alex Aster drove me to start yearning of visiting New York City again.
If you're looking for a feel-good, immersive romance that will leave you with a smile on your face, Summer In The City will be an excellent next read

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this and loved it! Super fun summer rom com with fun characters. Strong female main character who is successful and determined meets billionaire male main character. I loved the backstory, the banter, and the supporting characters. This was a quick, addicting read that held my attention from the start!