Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.

This is a very easy contemporary romance read. It follows a billionaire and a screen writer during a summer in New York city. It's advertised as enemies to lovers but I definitely didn't consider it that. It's more like the boy is immediately smitten with our protagonist and she's a bit unnecessarily hostile towards him after an initial meeting that doesn't go well.

My favorite part of this book was the setting. New York city really felt like its own character and you can tell Alex Aster really loves the city. So I definitely enjoyed that part. I

Other than that I will say the main female character did frustrate me a bit. I felt like she was hostile and held grudges to an disproportionate degree. Which made me feel like all the "obstacles" to the romance were a bit contrived and I didn't really believe them. Elle was honestly just making her own life harder for no reason. I mean she kind of gives a reason for her behavior, but again I feel its a bit disproportionate.

It's a very typical romcom type story so I honestly think a person's enjoyment might hinge on how much they like Elle and how valid they think her reasons are. But Parker is great, I did like him quite a lot. And of course, the setting of New York is fantastic and the best part of the whole book.

I freaking loved this book. Elle is so cute and spunky, Parker is downright hot. Yes please. I'm so glad that Elle finally was able to stand on her own two feet and make her dreams come true. The only thing that bothered me, was that I wish her dad got the butt-kicking he deserved.

Summer in the City is the kind of book that makes you wish you could bottle up the magic of being young, wild, and wonderfully unsure of what’s next. Alex Aster brings the city to life with a vibrant pulse—think rooftop parties, late-night confessions, and that delicious thrill of chasing something (or someone) that feels like it could change everything. I'm a huge Alex fan and will at this point read anything she writes.

The main character? Totally relatable. She’s navigating friendships, dreams, heartbreak, and self-discovery—all with the chaos and charm that only New York in the summer can provide. There’s plenty of humor, a bit of heartache, and just enough romance to make you smile like a goof while reading in public.

It reads like a love letter to your younger self, the one who believed in the magic of possibilities and wasn’t afraid to leap—sometimes without looking. If you’ve ever felt a little lost but a lot hopeful, this one’s for you.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. We get a sweet billionaire MMC and a feisty, independent FMC who is very unimpressed with his money. I think the bones of this story were good. The fake dating, enemies to lovers trope is a favorite of mine. I love a book set in NYC. We get a lot of personal growth from both characters.

I think the one aspect that will upset some readers will be the third act breakup. It felt needlessly dramatic and unnecessary to me. I was all aboard until then and I found myself frustrated with the FMC. But we get our HEA and I think, ultimately, romance readers will enjoy this story.

"Summer in the City" by Alex Aster is a fresh, witty, and super romantic read that totally captures the magic of New York City in the summer! 🏙️
Elle, a 27 year old screenwriter, is stuck in a creative slump. When she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime to write a big-budget film set in NYC, she knows she needs a change of scenery to get her inspiration flowing. Enter her new apartment in the heart of the city, floor to ceiling windows, skyline views, and... her annoying (yet ridiculously handsome) neighbor: Parker Warren, the billionaire tech she had a disastrous fling with two years ago. The tension between them? Explosive.
What starts as a hilarious and somewhat forced fake relationship quickly turns into a deep and fiery connection. Elle’s sarcastic humor and Parker’s charmingly arrogant ways make their dynamic both frustrating and irresistible. With quick-witted banter, sizzling chemistry, and a backdrop of the vibrant, pizza filled streets of NYC, this book is a perfect summer escape.
It’s a fun, fast-paced romance that will have you laughing, swooning, and wishing for your own summer in the city. If you’re into enemies-to-lovers stories with plenty of humor and heart, this one is for you! 🌞💘

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher for the chance to read this book in preview in exchange for my honest opinion.

AHH! So stinkin' cute. I loved this book, very Sex in the City vibes. Precious cover art, and an even more addictive storyline. The will they/won't they kept me hooked to the plot. 10/10 recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Summer In The City is everything I want in a contemporary romance—heartfelt, swoony, and brimming with that perfect rom-com energy.
It is a charming and emotionally rich story about Elle, a 27-year-old screenwriter battling creative burnout, and Parker Warren, a tech billionaire with a complicated past.

When Elle returns to New York to house-sit her sister’s glamorous apartment, she doesn’t expect to be neighbors with her old fling—let alone fake-date him. But what starts as a PR stunt soon spirals into something much more real.

The chemistry between Elle and Parker is magnetic. The plot balances witty banter and slow-burn romance with emotional depth, touching on grief, vulnerability, and the struggle to rediscover one’s purpose.

Parker will have readers swooning with his charming and thoughtful personality while Elle’s journey, both creatively and emotionally, feels authentic and deeply relatable.

What really makes this book shine is the setting. New York City is more than a backdrop—it’s a character of its own, full of nostalgic charm and magic. If you’re a fan of books that read like a movie, with dreamy montages and heart-tugging moments, this one is for you. I finished this book with a huge smile on my face.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Elle moves to NYC for the summer to work on her latest screen play and house sit for her sister, she runs face to face into her new neighbor Parker. The one that could have been until he turned into, who she assumed (at the time) was a Billionaire playboy.

Each hateful interaction with Parker fueled her writing, and they end up in a mutually agreeable arrangement- he needs a fake girlfriend to help his business through an acquisition and she needs inspiration for her NY based movie script. The two slowly build an absolutely adorable friendship (Parker is truly one heck of a cinnamon roll) but when feelings enter the chat, the looming deadline on their summer arrangement, are they ready to lean into their attraction for real?

I loved Elle and Parker's friendship, I loved his intentionality, I loved their adventures and overall I really enjoyed this story. While I would have loved a dual POV (there were definitely some spots where I really wanted to know what he was thinking), the epilogue felt appropriate for their characters and the utterly sweet moments throughout made me positively melt.

A perfect read to get into the summer mindset!




Thank you Netgalley, William Morrow, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my review!

Perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry, this book has it all: a whirlwind summer romance, NYC nostalgia, and heartfelt character development! Would definitely recommend this to any rom com lover!

Thank you William Morrow & NetGalley for the ARC!

Summer in the City instantly caught my attention and interest, and I was so excited whenever I had the chance to sit down and read this one. I love a classic trope in a romance, and this one was no different. I definitely enjoyed the ride of this story.

However, I definitely had some issues with the characters. In reading other reviews, I noticed there was a lot of anger towards the FMC, while I found her to be completely rational. I did take issue with Parker, the male lead, as he seemed to love bomb her the entire time even when she asked him not to. It seemed to be exactly what she was trying to avoid. I did like the ending, but I found some of his behaviors problematic.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. Thank you again for the ARC!

Summer in the City was the first book I’ve read by Alex Aster. By the end of reading this story, I immediately cued up Alex’s previous books to be on my TBR.

This was such a spectacular love story about successful screenwriter Elle and a previous encounter with the billionaire bachelor, Parker, years prior, finds her next door to him when she housesits for her sister in an expensive NYC apartment.

There was so much to love about this book, but what tops them all were the character developments and how each layer was removed as the story went on. The depth and backstories that at first were unknown, began to be revealed and the true beauty of each of the characters shone through; flaws and all.

Elle’s and Parker’s chemistry was superb and as they journeyed throughout the city, it made me want to go back to visit the Big Apple.

If you want to be swept away by a love story and the magic that New York City delivers, Summer in the City perfectly delivers on this.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

What a fun summer read! It’s about the magic of NYC in the summer and the chance for new possibilities, overcoming obstacles, going outside your comfort zone and learning sometimes love and money is not enough you have to create your own happiness.

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Elle met Parker at a party in NYC and they shared a passionate moment in the stairwell. But it all came crashing down when they both misjudged each other. For Elle is turned into insta hate and it inspired her to write a screenplay that would launch her career.

Two years later Elle finds herself headed back to NYC for the summer and she just moved into the apartment across from non other than Parker. She is back in the city as it is the location of the current screen play she’s working on, but she’s not feeling creative and has writers block.

Parker is a techno CEO and has come to NYC for the summer to escape his life. He’s in the process of of selling his company and for the first time has time to date. So when Elle moved in across from him he comes up with the idea of the “Rom-Com Agreement” They will fake date for the summer. He will take Elle to the locations for her script to help inspire her writing and in return Elle will be his date for events and help distract the media when needed.

The only issue is the chemistry between these two is off the charts. Elle hates everything Parker stands for and the more he tries to win her over the further he pushes her away. Come spend the summer in NYC: I promise pizza, tourist activities, charity events and diamonds!

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝐬:

“I just want,” he says, slowly, taking a step toward me. His eyes are burning, a forest on fire. “A chance to love you beyond that one summer.”

“Someone close to me once told me that, at the end of the day, the only important thing in life is who you love—and who loves you.”

“I didn’t fall in love with a version of you, Elle,” he says. “I fell in love with every you.”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Enemies to Neighbors to Lovers
* Billionaire Tech CEO MMC
* Successful Screen Writer FMC (Secret Identity)
* She’s on a Deadline - Writers Block
* He’s Her Twisted Muse but She Can’t Stand Him
* Fake Dating “Rom-Com Agreement”
* Night Club Meet Cute - 2 Years Prior
* Grand Gestures - But She Hates Money
* Summer in NYC - Forced Proximity
* Single POV - Slow Burn w/ Mild Spice

🍎🗽🚕🍎🗽🚕🍎🗽🚕🍎🗽🚕🍎

This is the type of story that readers are supposed to find cute as the characters overcome conflict and find their way together. To make it even better, it's the male MC who is so sure in this book and the female MC who is uncertain and fearful of relationships. Some people will dive into this and love it, but I was not one of those people. I found the female MC, Elle, to be prideful to the detriment of her own happiness, and I have a hard time believing she wouldn't have someone in her life, Penelope or Cali perhaps, who wouldn't have talked her through the roadblocks in her mind.

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if You’ve Got Mail had a baby with The Hating Game and raised it in a Tribeca loft with stunning skyline views, this book is your answer.

Twenty-seven-year-old Elle is charmingly chaotic, heartbreakingly relatable, and exactly the kind of hot mess you want to root for. A screenwriter stuck in a creative rut, she returns to NYC—the city she loves to hate—for one last shot at saving her career. But the Big Apple has other plans. Like reuniting her with Parker Warren, the tech billionaire who is both her worst enemy and the best one-night stand she can’t forget.

What follows is a crackling slow burn that’s equal parts sharp banter, forced proximity, and emotional gut-punch. Elle and Parker’s chemistry leaps off the page, but what makes this story truly special is the way it captures the nuance of ambition, burnout, and the complicated dance of rediscovering yourself in the city that never sleeps.

The NYC setting isn’t just a backdrop-it’s a character in its own right, full of bagel-fueled brainstorms, awkward elevator run-ins, and late-night skyline confessions. You’ll finish the book wanting to wander cobblestone streets with a slice of dollar pizza in hand, just in case your worst enemy turns out to be your next great love.

Funny, heartfelt, and addictively readable, this is the kind of summer romance that lingers like the last light over the Hudson. Highly recommend for fans of witty dialogue, emotional depth, and stories that know the best things in life might just be a wall away

Millionaire romance.
Forced proximity.
Fake dating.
Some spice…


And a man that just makes you smile and melts your heart. His dedication and passion not about money but about HER. Not like he is just obsessed with her but about how she opens his eyes and makes him a better person. She makes him happy and able to be able to just enjoy life instead of it being just filled with business or people only wanting him for his money. She makes him see a whole new world and the journey they take is so amazing as a reader. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Then the whole house thing. And the photos. He is a keeper! Love him. Definitely add to your TBR

This book was a great 1st time for Author Alex Aster in Adult Romance.
It was cute, funny, full of great moments and totally captured New York City on the pages!

Thank you Net galley, Alex Aster, and William Morrow Publishing for an EARC of Summer in the City.

This was a sweet book about two characters finding their way in life and they happen upon each other at a night club and then again two years later in New York City in this slow burn read. throughout the story, both of these characters help each other see life in a different light while also learning to better see themselves.

Ms. Alex Aster has entered her Rom Com era and I am here for it!

I rate this story a 3.75 ⭐️ 1 🌶️

If your like: billionaire romance, enemies to lovers (more one sided), fake dating, forced proximity and summer romance rom com then you may like this story.

What I loved:
This book was cute summer romance that takes place in NYC. I loved how this story incorporated NYC and it makes me want to visit soon.

-I definitely loved Parker- he was the perfect MMC. Elle on the hand grew on me- of course she has her faults.

My only thing I did not love was the infamous 3rd act breakup which is most romance books- just did not like how long it took for the two to come back together.

Would I recommend it- It was cute story and I loved the depiction of the NYC-- so if you are looking for a cute story give it a try.

Loved this book! It is a fresh take on the romcom category and early 2000s rom com movies. It is adorable while being realistic. I think the ending was very rushed even though it didn't need to be and kind of gave me whiplash. I think the ending did tie up neatly even though it seemed rushed compared to the pacing of the rest of the book. I look forward to reading more adult fiction produced by Alex Aster.

I loved this book. No notes. It's perfect, It's the perfect rom com story. I hope Alex Aster writes another because it's so good.