I CANT believe I got an E-ARC of this book! First of all, I love that the book is pink and the cover is so cute. I of course had to preorder a copy of this book.

A fast paced romcom with the perfect amount of spice. The tension between Elle and Parker was wild! I was rooting for them the entire time, even if the relationship was fake. I love how sweet Parker is to her. All he wants is for her to be happy. Elle annoyed me sometimes with how she treated Parker. I think she was trying really hard not to like him. But I also loved how hard working she was and she deserved everything she worked for. I found myself smiling a lot throughout the story!


I couldn’t put this book down. It was that good! I could see myself reading this book again, probably in the summer. I’m looking forward to having a physical copy on my bookshelf.


If you love:
💕 fast paced romcoms
💕spice
💕 lovers to enemies back to lovers
💕 fake relationship
Then this book is for you!

I feel so lucky to have gotten an E-ARC copy of this book! I really enjoy Alex’s writing in her other books so I was really excited to read this book.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Alex and William Morrow for the E-ARC!!


Publication Date: March 25 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#NetGalley #SummerintheCityDeluxeLimitedEdition

Summer in the city by @alexaster was such a fun read!

Perfect enemies to lovers book to get you out of a reading slump!

Literally all the good tropes
-enemies to lovers
-forced proximity
-fake dating

I also loved that the book was set in NYC! I haven't visited in years but after reading its got me wanting to pack my bags and jump on a plane!

If you love a good rom-com this may be one of your new favorites

Synopsis:
In this swoony, fast-paced rom-com set in New York City, screenwriter Elle and tech CEO Parker go from lovers to enemies and back again. Elle returns to NYC to overcome writer's block and discovers her new neighbor is Parker, her former hookup. As they reconnect, their hate-fueled encounters spark creativity and rekindle their romance. With one summer and one wall apart, they navigate a fake relationship, red carpet events, and the city's magic.
Will their pretend relationship turn into something real?

Release day: March 25th

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for this eARC!

This book wasn't for me but I REALLY wanted to like it! I think it's a good debut into a different genre (contemporary) for a fantasy writer and writing about what you know is super important. The characters didn't hit for me and I didn't find myself invested in the love story as I had hoped.

In her adult debut, Alex Aster introduces Elle, a successful yet anonymous screenwriter who’s been assigned to write a movie set in New York City. There's just one problem: Elle harbors a deep disdain for the city, haunted by painful memories. To make matters worse, she’s facing a severe case of writer’s block. She moves into a luxurious apartment in the city for the summer, hoping to find some peace and focus. But when she discovers that her new neighbor is none other than tech CEO Parker Warren, things become complicated. A chance encounter leads them to make an agreement to work together over the summer, ensuring they both get what they want. But will Elle be able to finish her screenplay, or will Parker next door become a distracting temptation?

This book is a fun, easy read with a bit of spice. Having previously enjoyed Alex's other works, I was excited to dive into her first adult romance, and it did not disappoint. From the moment I started reading, I was hooked on the story and characters, and before I knew it, the book was almost over. While the romance is central to the plot, the story also delivers a meaningful message about staying true to oneself, learning forgiveness, and holding firm to your values when it matters most.

The book does feature some steamy scenes, so it might not be for everyone. However, if you’re a fan of romance with a dash of spice, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and second chances, this one’s a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher William Morrow/HarperCollins for providing the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun summer rom com!! i love books set in the city it just brings such a good vibe to it. Billionaire romances are definitely a favorite of mine and I laughed so much throughout this book. Alex has done so good in this genre and I cant wait to see more romance books from her!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the William Morrow publishing team for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Summer in the City by Alex Aster was an absolute delight! This book had everything I love in a romcom—fake dating, witty banter, and laugh-out-loud moments that had me fully immersed from start to finish. Elle, a screenwriter, and Parker, a tech genius, had such fun and engaging interactions that made their chemistry shine. Alex Aster’s writing is full of vivid descriptions that brought every scene to life, and I found myself completely invested in Elle’s journey as she worked on her screenplay.

The romance was heartfelt and perfectly paced, and I loved how it balanced humor with moments of real emotion. This story had me smiling, gasping, and kicking my feet with all its swoon-worthy moments. Parker quickly became a favorite, and I adored watching Elle embrace happiness in the most heartwarming way. The humor, the romance, and the overall charm of this book made it stand out—it’s my favorite romance read of the year so far! I feel like I cannot say enough good things about this book. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone who loves a feel-good, romcom-style love story.

I have so many mixed feelings about this book. The book started out with the most irritatingly stereotypical New York things possible, like the Central Park fountain and the Highline… like seriously? But I really appreciated the pizza tour, visit to the Cloisters, and the full walk of Manhattan, including a stop at one of my favorites, The Smith! I ADORE Parker. He has such a good heart. Elle drove me insane. As well as the never-ending third act breakups. While I think I can understand how Elle’s past shaped her and her decisions, I did not appreciate how she treated Parker. But ultimately, I was rooting for Elle and Parker and the book had the NYC magic I needed. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get this ARC, so excited I finished it before Valentine’s Day because it just felt right!

I could not put it down. I loved Elle being this anonymous recluse and Parker this billionaire tech guy. They were complete opposite but man was Parker relentless in the sweetest most out of touch ways. It was quite laughable. But in the end he truly pulled her out of her shell and they just worked.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Fake Dating
Spice Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Synopsis: Screenwriter Elle is grappling with a major case of writer’s block and a looming deadline for a big-budget movie set in New York City. Desperate for inspiration, she reluctantly returns to the city she despises, only to discover that her new neighbor is Parker Warren—a tech billionaire and her former stairwell hookup from two years ago. Their initial animosity evolves into a mutually beneficial arrangement: Elle uses Parker as her muse, while Parker enlists Elle to pose as his girlfriend during a crucial company acquisition. As they navigate their fake relationship, the lines between pretense and genuine feelings begin to blur.

Thoughts: This is take on the enemies-to-lovers and fake dating tropes, set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City is what dreams are made of. The chemistry between Elle and Parker is palpable, and their witty banter adds a delightful spark to the story. I was all in on this story until the third act break up - this felt a bit “meh” for me. Also, she had such animosity towards her dad, but then the storyline never circled back even after what he did.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for a free ARC for my honest opinion.

If @alexaster has no fans, then I’m dead.

Summer in the City was everything—I picked it up and could not put it down for a second. The chemistry? 🔥 The banter? On point. The NYC vibes? Perfection. Elle was such a relatable main character that it honestly felt like I was in the book, living her chaotic, coffee-fueled, writer-blocked life. And Parker? The perfect mix of infuriating and irresistible.

Enemies-to-lovers with forced proximity and a fake relationship? Say less. The tension, the longing, the this-is-just-an-agreement-no-feelings-involved denial—every second of it was gold. Plus, the way New York City itself felt like a character in the story made it even better. 🗽🍎

If you love fast-paced rom-coms with sharp wit, steamy moments, and a whole lot of heart, Summer in the City is an absolute must-read.

Huge thank you to @netgalley, @alexaster, and @williammorrow for the ARC!!

The first book I picked up by Alex Aster since I have not heard the best things about her precious work- and this being an adult novel, I was excited. I ate this book up so fast but it felt a little ridiculous and cringy. The ending sealed the deal with only a three-star rating. I also did not like the FMC at all which is one of the most important parts of reading a novel.

First of all thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Alex Aster for the free E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a 3.5-4 ⭐️ and a mild-moderately 🌶️🌶️🌶️ book. The flow of the story is fast! I devoured it in less than 24 hours fast. I did find the character insta love flat. Elle, hates this man for an assumption years ago and we later find out that it is deeper than that, but to instantly love bomb each other after 3 months is a bit much. Also the plot gears more to sex in the end after a slow burn. This is a forced proximity, fake dating contemporary romance. Not bad, sort of cliche and cheesy. Definitely a book to try if you enjoy contemporary romance with a bit of spice.

Summer in the City by Alex Aster was an enjoyable read, especially in the beginning and middle. The first third of the book had me hooked, and I was genuinely having a good time with the story. NYC felt like the perfect backdrop for a summer romance for our Anonymous Screen Writer, Elle, and our Billionaire Tech CEO, Parker.

For me, the middle of the book was the highlight. Everything was going smoothly, Elle was coming out of her shell, and the dates that Elle and Parker went on were super cute. Parker really pays attention to detail, which certainly worked in his favor a couple of times. Their story was building toward something, but with half the book left, I knew something had to happen.

That something was the ending, which didn't quite live up to the promise of the earlier parts of the book. Without giving too much away, I felt like the conclusion didn’t resonate with the same energy and charm that made the rest of the story enjoyable. There was also an unresolved plot hole that seemed like it was a big deal for Elle as a character but never got a solid conclusion.

Overall, Summer in the City is a light, fun read that’s great if you’re looking for a quick, feel-good, billionaire, summer romance. This is technically an enemies-to-lovers trope, but it was really only one-sided and he definitely falls first. There is spice, with one scene kind of being thrown in there just for the sake of it. While it may not have completely lived up to its potential for me, it still offers a good time for readers looking for a breezy escape.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Alex Aster for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Some parts of this story are really fun. The NYC setting is vivid and delightful. I love the way Alex Aster writes all the little touches and glances. The connection between the couple felt so real, and particularly in the last few chapters. The chemistry was so there. The side characters were great. I liked how the main characters spent time apart to figure their stuff out.

But today I learned that I have too much eat the rich mentality to enjoy a billionaire romance. I’ve never tried one before and probably won’t again. I ultimately just don’t think they should exist, they’re bad for the planet and humanity in really concrete ways, and so I have trouble giving into the fantasy.

Ultimately, even though Parker seemed like a sweetie (albeit a fairly one-dimensional one), his actions for most of the book, and especially their first meeting, were just not it for me. Solving all problems with money, lovebombing-adjacent behavior, controlling everything, etc. I had a full-body cringe when he offered to buy the newspaper whose reporting was harmful to Elle. Rich tech dudes using their money to get absolutely whatever they want is not the vibe in 2025. It seemed like he sort of started to turn things around at the very end, but I wish we had seen more of that evolution, in a more convincing way.

I received the ARC yesterday afternoon and soon as I got off work I started reading it and it’s save to say I did not move from my bed until 11:00pm when I finished the book ! It was so beautifully written, genuinely such a fluffy and cute romance but still had a lot of substance. It felt like a grumpy/sunshine situation but reversed and I could not help but smile and giggle while I was reading it! There were definitely some sad moments throughout the book that had me questioning if I wanted to throw it against the wall but the stubborn latin community and mindset was beautifully represented and as a Cuban it really did help me connect even more with the character. Elle is not your typical annoying FMC in romance where they’re a delicate little flower that needs to be protected, she’s a strong woman who’s been through a lot and had to show up for herself every step of the way because she always felt like that was the only path so seeing her fall in love and realize it’s ok to lean on others and that she doesn’t have to do it all alone regardless if she’s more than capable to do so was just perfect. I hope everyone else gets to enjoy this book as much as I did.

Such a cute romance with some twists that felt fresh. At first I didn't feel the emotional depth of the characters I expected but it's because Elle starts out emotionally stunted and throughout the story you find out why and it does get there. It's a trust the process type story. It made it that much more rewarded. I thought it was well written and fast paced. There's some spice and a hate-mance blossoming. If you love a hate to love story, this is for you.

Ahhh this was such a fun read!!!! Alex knocked it out of the park with her first adult rom com. I laughed, I cried & I raged every time Elle pushed Parker away again. I’m dying for a spin off with Penelope and her adventures.

My friend @addie.yoder rated 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 (pub 03.25) highly, so that was enough of a push for me to read it. She’s really been coming in clutch with great book recs lately. Thanks friend! And to @williammorrowbooks for the early copy. It was excellent.

𝗪𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝗪:
Author’s romance debut.
Got me out of a reading slog.
NYC setting.
Billionaire romance.
Neighbors.
Compulsively readable.
Late 90s and early 2000s rom-com movie vibes
🍆🍆+ steam level

There are some books that paint the stories they contain so vividly that they suck you in as if you're watching your favorite movie. For me, Summer in the City was one of those books. Elle and Parker were two people looking for inspiration, and I truly love that they slowly found it in each other. Elle is a screenwriter who's facing an intense block, but that changes after she runs into a man she thought she'd never see again. A man who, two years prior, sparked anger and lust filled passion in her within mere minutes of meeting. A man who she'd left in a stairwell and in the depths of her mind, until he became her neighbor in the city she vowed to never step foot in again. Contracted to write a screenplay about the beauty of said city, Elle goes searching for inspiration, and finds it in the man who may be more than what her initial assumptions told her.

Summer in the City was an amazing contemporary romance debut! I had fun watching Elle and Parker's adventures throughout the summer, and even more fun watching them fall for each other as they let their guards down. This book felt equal parts nostalgic and fresh in its storytelling, and I'm interested in seeing how that further develops in Alex's future romances.

Adored this book! I loved Elle. I loved Parker. It was a love story between them but also to NYC. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author as it was a first for me.