I love Alex Aster’s fantasy books, so I knew I wanted to read this one. I absolutely loved it and even ended up pre-ordering a physical copy. Parker and Elle were relatable, realistic, genuine, and lovable. It was such a sweet book. The ending was unique and their growth along the way was so good to see. Highly recommend!

Ohhhhh my goodness.... DNF at 87%. I just couldn't do it anymore.

Let me set the stage with very minimal spoilers: First off, this is advertised as an enemies to lovers trope, which is absolutely diabolical. The MMC, Parker, and FMC, Elle, have a heated 20 minute exchange one night and they both think about each other over the next two years (bc of this dumb 20 minute, drunken exchange in a bar). Fast forward 2 years, they meet again. Parker, who is a billionaire, is pining after Elle, who hates rich people, but they begin fake dating for the summer to help the Elle explore New York City to finish writing a screenplay for her upcoming project. How abruptly I just stated this is exactly how abrupt it is in the book.

Second, for someone who is supposed to hate rich people, Elle suuuuure did let Parker spend an astronomical amount of money on her over, and over, and over again with minimal internal struggle. By the time I dnf'd, this man had given up almost E V E R Y T H I N G for this woman after knowing her for a summer.

Insta-love is my biggest bookish ick and I'm not a huge fan of fake dating, so this just wasn't meant for me. Enemies to lovers was non-existent. The romance was cute in some parts, but I just couldn't surpass how effortlessly Parker gives up his entire life for Elle by the end.

DNFs are rated as one star for me. I really tried to like this, but I just couldn't.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I am obsessed with this. It’s such a cozy summer love story. It’s really hard for me to write a review without spoilers 😭

There are two types of romance novels: the kind that are believable with regular people and events that feel like they could be truly happening somewhere at this very moment, and the kind that are a total fantasy where the characters are too good to be true, the events and settings are a dream, and while you know this would never happen in real life you suspend disbelief and just let yourself pretend for a moment that it’s real. This book was definitely in the second category. Really, I think a billionaire romance immediately puts a book into the “fantasy” category due to how rare billionaires actually are (and let’s face it, they usually look and act like Elon Musk, and that sounds more like a horror story than a romance).
If you want a book where you can escape into and lose yourself in the unrealistic ridiculousness of it, this one is a great option. The setting of NYC in the summer is fun and nostalgic, and all the tropes and hijinks a romance reader could want is included in this book.
♥️enemies to lovers
♥️billionaire who spoils the FMC
♥️forced proximity
♥️fake dating
The writing is fast-paced and funny, and it was easy to devour this book in one day for me. Was it believable? No. But was it fun? Absolutely. My only criticism is that there is not one, but two “third act breakups”, and it felt like the last third of the book dragged a bit because of this. It was unnecessary in my opinion, and made me start to dislike the FMC. But honestly, how can you make anyone likable or relatable who turns down a hot, kind, perfect billionaire? 😉
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a cute and fun romance read. I loved Aster's fantasy reads so had to check out her take on romance. Enjoyable read with moments of laughter, lovely writing and adorable characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the chance to advance read!

When I found out Alex Aster was coming out with a romance book, I had to read it. She does fantasy so well, but also romance. This was so easy and fun to read. The plot was different while still having the parts I love in fake dating. Parker never intended to fall in love and he was so used to just buying things for those he cared about. Thats not what Elle wanted, she wanted the moments. It took a while for him to get it, but also for Elle to figure out why she had these issues with money. It wasn’t the traditional happy ending. It took Elle time, but I loved that.

This book is everything I love in a rom-com—sharp writing, sizzling chemistry, and a setting that feels like a love letter to New York City. Elle and Parker's dynamic crackles with tension, from their snarky banter to the undeniable sparks that fly when they’re forced into close proximity. The forced proximity/enemies-to-lovers trope is executed flawlessly, making every interaction between them a delightful mix of humor, tension, and genuine emotional depth.

Elle’s struggle with writer’s block and Parker’s high-stakes business deal add layers of personal growth to their story, making their romance feel both organic and deeply satisfying. The descriptions of NYC are vibrant and immersive—I could practically taste the late-night pizza and feel the electric hum of the city.

If you love fast-paced, swoon-worthy romances with complex characters, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and just the right amount of angst, this book is a must-read. It’s clever, heartfelt, and completely addictive. Promise

It's very sugary sweet and the characters are lovely, especially the love interest. I didnt give this book a proper chance the first time but it is quite cute. Even if enemies to lovers is iffy, it embodies the core of enemies to lovers which is lovely. And men written by women are always better.

Firstly, thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher. I am so happy that I got to read this arc! I had so much fun with this book!

Plot: Elle’s dream job—writing a big-budget NYC movie—comes with one problem: she’s completely stuck. Desperate for inspiration, she moves into a stunning apartment, only to find her neighbor is Parker Warren—tech billionaire, tabloid star, and her former hookup-turned-enemy. But their fiery dynamic sparks her creativity, and when he needs a fake girlfriend for business, they strike a deal.

This story is captivating, with so many witty convos which I loved!! Parker’s gestures toward Elle are so romantic they left me breathless. He is a green flag, the green flag is him! This novel also delves into family dynamics, featuring a resilient mother and the impact of an absent father, adding depth to the narrative.

I would definitely recommend everyone to give this book a chance, it might surprise you!

P.S. Keep in mind that it is an adult romcom so there are a few spicy scenes. However, give this a chance if you can! it will not disappoint.

This book wasn’t bad for the most part but after a certain point, I got really bored and I just wanted it to end. It might have been a little longer than necessary at least in my opinion. The romance was good but it was almost too good to be true like wym “add another 0” 💀. Also how is it possible that someone who does 9 steps a day have a Pilates body ????? I can’t even remember what happens at the end since I stopped paying attention. I think Alex Aster is just not for me.

I don’t know if I would recommend this to anyone.

Thank you to Alex Aster, HarperCollins Publishing, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

4.5 stars, rounded up!

Whether it be a book or movie, I need my romcoms to HIT. This book had basically everything that I want. A classic NYC storyline with a funny meet cute, a bit of rivalry (albeit one-sided in this), a billionaire, high highs and the lowest of lows. Elle and Parker literally made me laugh, cry, and almost throw my kindle across the room. Also the spicy scenes were SO well written and truly did it for me. (lol)

Tropes: billionaire romance, miscommunication, forced proximity, fake dating

I was really interested in this romance debut from Alex Aster because I have enjoyed her fantasy books. I honestly feel like Aster is a stronger romance author at this point. I’m not sure if it’s just more practice writing or better development of stories but this book gave me everything I needed! Also love that this book releases on my birthday!!!!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and William Morrow for this ARC! I will literally read anything that Alex Aster writes.

While this book was fun and ticks the box of a “fun summer rom-com,” there are a few elements present that I wasn’t a fan of. The narration felt almost too conversational, and the stream-of-consciousness was a little too choppy. There were various points, all the way from the start of the book, that I almost put the book down because Elle’s voice wasn’t doing it for me. When comparing this to Lightlark (which I adored), the writing seems somehow less polished. But I persevered because this was an easy and overall fun read, which leads to the second thing I wasn’t particularly fond of, which is that there were tropes only for the sake of tropes. The billionaire trope didn’t feel fresh and interesting and instead followed the tried-and-true formula, and I didn’t get the feet-kicking, blushing, giggling feelings I crave with a rom-com - mostly because Elle was so hot and cold with Parker that I was mostly just frustrated with her. The “enemies-to-lovers” trope was leaned on way too hard, and all of the many “reasons” Elle “hated” Parker fell very flat for me.
Then the ending felt very rushed and ultimately gave me such intense whiplash, I almost scheduled a chiropractor appointment.

I really liked this book. Elle and Parker’s relationship was fun to read about and I love how much of New York was woven into the plot.

Absolutely adored this book and cannot wait to gab all about it to my friends. The plot was perfect. The escape I needed in this hellscape reality.

Enemies to lovers ✔️
Forced proximity ✔️
Billionaire romance ✔️
Fake dating ✔️

I was consumed by this book! Sweet, spicy, and full of adventure.

Elle and Parker met one night, and after sharing a passionate moment, it left Elle hating Parker.
The only good thing that came out of it was realizing her hate for him sparked her writing.

Fast forward by 2 years. Elle still hates Parker, but while having the chance to write a screenplay set in NYC, she forces herself to return to the city full of bad memories. Hopefully, being there will get her out of her writing slump.

Parker and Elle quickly run into each other, realizing they are temporarily neighbors and have much to gain by fake dating. Parker gets the good publicity he needs, and Elle gets escorted around NYC, checking out the sites for the upcoming movie scenes she must write.

I wanted to scream at Elle but how she handled their relationship several times, I understand why she did it, but Parker was truly golden and perfect for her, despite being a Billionaire and having money that scared her away, many times.

Their sweetness, their banter, and chemistry were next level. I love how easy they fell into a relationship without even realizing it. If only Elle could have stayed out of her head, but then we wouldn't have had a story like this.

I absolutely loved it, 10/5 🌟

Thank you so much to William Morrow for the opportunity of being an ARC reader for this book via Netgalley.

This was such a fun one! I love this author's fantasy work, and was so excited to dive into a romance. I loved that Elle was so independent and wanted to do things on her own despite Parker wanting to give her the literal world. After a fake dating plan, they agree to do things just for the summer. But by the time it's over, they both question that decision.

Watching them come together and form routines, as he slowly showed her that he was there for her and money didn't matter was really, really sweet. I loved how hard he fell, but I also loved that she cared about herself enough to do things her own way.

Elle is looking for inspiration for her screenplay. Parker is looking to distract the media from his company’s acquisition. Elle and Parker happen to be living across the hall from each other in New York City. Enter a fake relationship, just for the summer.

I liked the plot. For a billionaire romance, there wasn’t the typical power play that makes things uncomfortable. They both are in the upper crust, so despite them going to high-end parties, they are somewhat on the same footing. There were some really swoony scenes.

I just wished the author stayed in the scenes longer. I felt that a lot of scenes went by too fast, and I didn’t get to really linger in the moment.

Overall, this was an easy and quick read, and I think readers will really enjoy these characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.

I almost fell off my chair when I saw that I got approved for this arc. I am a big fan of Alex Aster. I have read all three of her ‘light lark’ series and was excited to read a different genre.

I am not a person who has spent a lot of time in New York City. I throughly enjoyed all the visits to set locations that Elle went to and wrote about. I also really enjoyed the tidbits of her note taking for her writing, it made me wonder if that is a part of Alex Aster’s writing process.

I found Elle to be really relatable. It can be hard when there is trauma in your life to let those grievances go, especially to let people in. I know that was somewhat prominent in the story, but it was a favorite part of mine- watching her evolve as a character, let people in, fall in love, and just learn to live outside of her apartment.

Obviously, I enjoyed Parker. I enjoyed his sheer devotion to Elle and his want to just make Elle happy and learning how money wasn’t the key to all happiness.

5✨
Can’t wait for the next read!

Summer in the City is like a 2000s romcom and NYC had a love child—and it’s as adorable as it sounds!
This book is going to be such a perfect swoony summer read. Although I've never been to NYC, the book captures what I imagine give a NYC summer atmosphere feels like It was like the city was alive with its own personality, and I loved every second of it!

Elle, a screenwriter in desperate need of a creativity boost, heads to NYC for the summer—and ends up next door to Parker Warren, the billionaire who almost became her “meet-cute” two years ago… until he insulted her. Classic, right? But with a little help from fate (and some seriously awkward proximity), they strike a deal: fake-date to save his PR and maybe—just maybe—help Elle with her screenplay. If they can survive their past drama, it might just work… but that’s a big if.

If you love cheesy romance books, this one’s for you. Summer in the City serves up all the best romcom vibes—witty banter, cute city adventures, and a romance that’s seriously easy to root for. For fans of charming city romances and billionaire romances with a healthy dose of humor and drama, this one’s a solid pick to get you into that summer vibe.

Thank you William Morrow for the ARC!

Lovely, romantic story about two people who needed to learn to trust and open up to another human. Laugh out loud funny and adorable, it was a great read.