Alex Aster did a really great job with this book. I was hooked from the very beginning and I loved every second of it!

Oh how I truly just love an enemies to lovers… even if the feeling of being enemies isn’t mutual between the party. Summer in the City starts off with an iconic summary of how doing pretty much anything outside of her bed is a no go zone. One faithful night (her last night in New York) before moving to L.A. she meets Parker Warren, CEO of a tech company. After a two year jump, we meet the pair again when Elle temporarily moves and ended up being next door neighbors with her #1 enemy. The best part? He shows no recollection of meeting her previously and is drawn to her distaste towards him. It’s honestly hilarious how twisted Elle’s relationship with Parker drives her forward. One night after Elle moves in and discovers Parker, he comes over to ask if she could be his fake date for an event. Clearly taken aback and “disgusted”, she declines and a few hours later there is a dress waiting in the hallway. They strike a deal, he’ll have a fake date for the press during his business acquisition and she’ll have someone to help with her screenplay. Plenty of self growth and regression (because isn’t that the way of life) flows through the story. I genuinely loved every single purchase Parker made, they either made me laugh out loud or brought a smile to my face.

Pub Date March 25 2025

ARC provided by NetGalley, William Morrow and Harper Collins Publishing. Thank you.

review posted to NetGalley & Goodreads

My Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spice Rating: 3/5 🌶️ (open door and fades to black
scenes, detailed but not explicit)

Tropes: a spin on billionaire romance

This book gives the same vibes as Book Lovers by Emily Henry and How To End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang - if you like those books, you'll likely like this one too.

I really enjoyed this book and loved how much the setting played a role in the story telling.

Even though the plot took place over one summer, I appreciated how much we got to see of the characters, the things they did together and the background story we got for both of them. Their relationship and character development was truly well done.

When we got to chapter 30 (aka the conflict), I didn't feel like any of it seemed unrealistic since by that point in the story, we knew the characters and it felt like they really knew each other too. I know that this can be a controversial trope in contemporary romances, but I feel like it was written in a way that really gave the readers a stomach-bottoming-out, “ooooh noooo” reaction and the following chapters addressed the conflict well, with a solid ending.

Truly my only critique of this book is the basketball scene with the over use of the word “weirdly” and again with the word “prickly” later on in the book (this could easily of been edited out of the final version). I also felt like there was a bit of whiplash between Chapters 27 and 28 due to the lack of a good transition.

Overall, I loved these characters and Parker is a solid book boyfriend 🤭 I would definitely recommend to all contemporary romance lovers.

Thank you NetGalley, Alex Aster and the William Morrow Team for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was an enjoyable read that transported me straight to New York, with the city beautifully brought to life through Elle and Parker’s experiences. Elle’s career as a screenwriter added a fresh perspective to the story, setting it apart from typical romances. However, Parker’s reliance on money as a solution often clashed with Elle’s independence which was frustrating.

While the pacing was quick and the spice level perfectly balanced, some aspects, like Parker’s constant flaunting of wealth, detracted from the charm. Even the ending, with him buying the apartment, felt misaligned with Elle’s values. That said, this is a great pick for those new to adult romance, and I’d still recommend it as a light, engaging read.

4 stars, 2-2.5 chili peppers. I really enjoyed this billionaire fake dating rom com book! The banter is great and provided a lot of swoon worthy moments as well as LOL moments. Elle is a strong willed, independent woman who tells it like it is and has an unapologetic sense of self (which i LOVE in a FMC), and Parker is adorable! I did feel as though Elle self sabotages a lot and Chapter 30.... why!! there is definitely a "lack of communication"/miscommunication going on at the end which left me frustrated and prevented a higher rating.
Tropes: Opposites Attract, Billionaire, Fake Dating, Forced Proximity
Fav Quote:s
-"You smiled.... And now I'm going to have to find it within myself to be funnier, because I want you to do it again."
-"If we women don't watch out for each other, no one else will"

I was curious about this book because I have read the Lightlark series and wanted to see what the authors work is like in other genres. I enjoyed the plot of the book, but I disliked characters themselves. The main character read bit like self insert of the author. I would have enjoyed tis more if there was some better character development, tward the end of the book it felt like all the progress the main character had made went out the window. Alex's writing is better served in the YA space a d I will likely continue reading her Lightlark series but not anybof her contemporary romance books.

This book was really fun. I enjoyed that both main characters are successful in their respective industries and it felt more like they were equals. it hit the sweet right.

It started strong and ended with a fizzle.
The writing was excellent and the story had a lot of potential but the constant money is bad and people with money are bad, became eye rolling. After becoming invested in the characters and their relationship I was very disappointed in the unsatisfying happily ever after.

3.5 stars
🌶️🌶️

**Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)**

*Summer in the City* by Alex Aster is an absolute gem of a book that had me hooked from the first page! The story effortlessly combines romance, adventure, and a touch of magic, making it a perfect summer read. Aster's writing is vibrant and immersive, drawing you into the bustling world of New York City with such vivid detail that you can practically feel the heat of the pavement beneath your feet.

The characters are wonderfully complex and relatable, especially the protagonist, who undergoes a personal journey of self-discovery and growth. Aster also does a brilliant job of exploring themes like friendship, ambition, and the excitement and challenges that come with stepping into the unknown.

The pacing is spot on, with just the right mix of heartwarming moments, suspense, and romance that kept me eagerly turning pages. I loved how the author blended contemporary issues with elements of fantasy, creating a world where anything feels possible.

Overall, *Summer in the City* is a delightful, fast-paced read that perfectly captures the magic and chaos of a New York summer. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a fun, emotional, and memorable story!

The book about the summer romance between a tech billionaire and a screenwriter who are enemies turned lovers was a lot of fun. Elle and Parker, the main characters, had excellent chemistry and clever banter. An enjoyable read for anyone in need of a romantic, happy escape. New York City serves as the ideal backdrop for this swoon-worthy, fast-paced romantic comedy, and the leads' chemistry is sizzling and the humor is spot on!

I read this while in NYC and I absolutely adored it. I loved the build up of the characters and the slow unshedding of their outer layers to get to know their true selves. The story is an enemies to lovers story, with fake dating thrown in, but the journey is charming. I was rooting for them both. Summer in the City is a perfect choice for your next vacation, or if you are just dreaming of one. Rom Com readers will not be disappointed. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Kicking my feet & screaming for Summer in the City. Quippy & steamy collide for the romcom we need going in to 2025.

I liked this, but I think Alex's writing is better served in the YA space. A lot of the lines in this book took me out because they were trying to hard to be funny or trendy or catchy, I'm not sure exactly what it was. I also wasn't a huge fan of our FMC, I had a hard time connecting with her. But I did love our MMC, and still thought the love story was cute so three stars for that.

Disclaimer: I work for the publisher of this book and thus cannot provide a review without bias. That said, I absolutely gobbled this up in only a few days. It was SO FUN and delightful to read, I enjoyed every moment.

After reading all of Alex Aster's Lightlark books, I was not sure what to expect from a romance since she does fantasy so well. I was pleasantly surprised to really enjoy this book.
Pros: There was a good amount of spice and humor in this which I always appreciate. Parker and Elle made a great couple and Parker was the perfect MMC.
Cons: At the beginning I could appreciate that Elle wants to do everything herself. However, around 50% I was starting to get a little annoyed. Obviously, having a billionaire spoil you rotten is not a super relatable scenario. But, I really could not relate to Elle getting mad at Parker every time he wanted to give her extravagant gifts. I understand that hyper-independence is a trauma response and Alex did a great job explaining why Elle feels the way she does. I also understood her initial reaction when she first meets Parker and he gives a pretty bad impression but after we get to know the character it's pretty obvious he is not trying to buy or control her and just wants to make her feel special. So I did get pretty annoyed with Elle in second half of book.
That being said I still was intrigued throughout the book and finished this quickly and I really enjoyed the ending.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC!

Either I am in my hater era or this was poorly written - and I LOVE a cringey self-insert romcom, but this was too cringy for me. I hated the writing and the characters and unfortunately it was a big miss for me.

i think alex aster’s writing was made for romcoms. if you’re like me and have struggled with aster’s fantasy— both her YA and her MG were simply not my style— i think you’ll be pleasantly surprised when reading this! this is a fun romcom & truly made for the summer— if you’ve ever spent any time in NYC you know the city is a beast unto itself, and i think this book did a great job of showing that (positively). i love NYC & so does this book and it shows. i adore fake dating & i think this book did the trope so well! definitely, aster is one to watch out for in the romcom space.

Look, a billionaire romance is no fun if you don’t get to enjoy the billionaire being, well, a billionaire.

I enjoyed the plot of the book, but less so the characters themselves. The root of the conflict really took away from the joy of reading about people falling in love. I felt on edge during their interactions, waiting for the criticism, rather than kicking my feet and giggling over the cute moments.

Ultimately, I just couldn’t get on board. I wouldn’t discourage the read, but it wouldn’t be one I strongly suggest either.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC

4.5 stars

Most of this story was delightful. I lived the characters and the fun tourist-esque trip through NYC.

I won't go into my reasons, because they are spoiler territory, but there is one point where I just wanted to shake the FMC. The HEA brings me back into charity with her, so I will forgive her this once.

Recommended.

Thank you Alex and harper Collins for the e-arc
I absolutely devoured this book
This is Alex’s first adult novel and it’s already this good!!!
The tropes and everything detail about this book are pure perfection
Anyone who decide not to pick this one up is totally missing out

Read this if you like
💕 fake dating
💕billionaire trope
💕secret identity
💕love at first sight
💕 summer fling