Summer in the City was cute and breezy, but it didn’t totally blow me away.

Elle and Parker have solid banter and some fun tension, and I did enjoy the NYC vibes—especially the whole writer-struggling-in-a-fancy-apartment setup. It had that escapist, movie-montage feel. But honestly, the story felt pretty familiar, and I never fully clicked with either main character the way I wanted to.

Still, it was entertaining and quick to get through. I just wish it had dug a little deeper or surprised me more. Good for a light weekend read, but not one that’ll stick with me.

This book was so full of city vibes and heart warming lifestyle that I could not put it down! Super sweet but modern takes on love! I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would!

Summer in the City is a lighthearted romance that delivers on its promise of a fun, escapist read. While it may not offer groundbreaking storytelling, it provides an enjoyable experience for fans of contemporary romance. The book's charm lies in its setting and the chemistry between its leads, making it a suitable choice for readers looking for a breezy, feel-good romance.

BOOK REVIEW

Summer in the City by Alex Aster

Thank you William Morrow for the free (and gorgeous) finished copy and eARC of this book! It’s such a lovely edition.

SYNOPSIS: “Twenty-seven-year-old screenwriter Elle has the chance of a lifetime to write a big-budget movie set in New York City. The only problem? She’s had writer’s block for months, and her screenplay is due at the end of the summer.

In a desperate attempt at inspiration, Elle ends up back in the city she swore she would never return to, in an apartment she could never afford (floor-to-ceiling windows, skyline views, and a new coffee shop to haunt included). It’s the perfect place to write her screenplay…until she realizes her new neighbor is tech “Billionaire Bachelor” Parker Warren, her stairwell hookup from two years ago. It’s been a lovers-to-enemies situation ever since.

When seeing him again turns into a full night of hate-fueled writing, Elle realizes her enemy/twisted muse might just be the key to finishing her screenplay... if she can stand being around her polar opposite. She writes anonymously, and he’s on the cover of every business magazine. He frequents fancy red carpeted events, and she doesn’t like leaving her emotional support five block radius.

One summer. One wall apart. He needs to fake a buzzy relationship during his company’s precarious acquisition. She needs to write a movie around a list of NYC locations. Both need a break from their unrelenting schedules, and a chance to rediscover the skyscraper glimmering, pizza crusted, sunlit charms of the city.

Summers always end, and so will this agreement. It’s all pretend. Promise.

Until it isn’t.”

REVIEW: First, I want to commend Aster’s adult debut! Overall, it was a fun read and was very cute. If you’re looking for a somewhat fast, NYC romcom read for the summer, this is it.

This novel is a LOVE LETTER to NYC in the very best way. It made me look forward to walking the streets of New York this summer (and potentially visiting the locals mentions in the book)!

My main qualm with the book have more to do with me than the actual writing. I am not a fan of the billionaire romance trope, which, again, is a me thing. I wanted to love Parker because he was just so perfect, but the character’s tendency to throw money at every problem was a bit of an ick. That being said, I commend Aster’s character arc for Parker with shows him giving much of his fortune away to charity in the end.

After reading Summer in the City, I’m super intrigued by Aster’s voice, and look forward to picking up more of her books!

Publisher: William Morrow
Pub date: 3/25/25 – OUT NOW!!

It's giving...just the right amount of chaos. Elle is our snarky, slightly frazzled screenwriter FMC who’s so relatable I half expected her to meet her on my morning commute. She’s got writer’s block, a deadline looming like a thundercloud, and the brilliant idea to move into a swanky NYC apartment she absolutely cannot afford (like, same girl). Honestly who could blame her.

Enter our MMC, Parker Warren: billionaire (oh heck yes), tech genius, magazine cover model...and Elle’s one-time stairwell hookup turned sworn enemy (ENEMIES TO LOVERS ALERT).

Their banter? Electric. Their chemistry? Unbelievable. Their ability to *not* fall in love while fake-dating, coexisting across a paper-thin wall, and secretly inspiring each other? Absolutely nonexistent.

What I loved most was dynamic Elle and Parker's dynamic. She’s chaos in leggings and coffee-stained tees, he’s perfectly pressed and emotionally constipated (literally one of my fave combos). Watching them push each other’s buttons while slowly unraveling each other’s layers (and then some) is what I love to see in my romcoms.

Also: NYC is practically its own character (we all know I love when this happens). The list of iconic locations, late-night pizza runs, and subway mishaps will makes me want to pack a bag (believe it or not I've still never been to NYC).

It’s sharp, swoony, and laugh-out-loud funny. A perfect enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, “oops-we-caught-feelings” romance that’s impossible to put down. And yes — it’s all pretend… until it’s not. 😏

3.75 ⭐️ rounded to 4

Elle had a lot of baggage she needed to work through. She tended to be overdramatic and I groaned at her several times throughout the book.

but I also understood her hesitancy to love and open to people.

Parker really tried to do things to make her happy. He went out of his way and I thought the things he did were the sweetest.

I wish Elle could've been a little less dramatic/whiney.

otherwise, I enjoyed the book enough.

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Summer in the City is a fun, flirty summer rom-com that brings NYC to life in the best way—like it’s a character of its own. Elle and Parker’s banter had me giggling, blushing, and occasionally yelling at my headphones. If a billionaire romance isn’t a little over-the-top, what’s the point? This one leans into the charm, giving major early 2000s rom-com vibes. It’s light, swoony, and easy to fall into—definitely a new comfort listen.

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advance Listener Copy!

I loved this book! I’m a big fan of romances that take place in NYC!

It was a fast-paced romance between Elle and Parker. Elle is an anonymous screenwriter and Parker is a tech CEO/billionaire. It was a delightful mix of witty banter, sizzling chemistry, enemies to lovers and the fake dating trope. NYC was a character in of itself with Elle and Parker going to iconic places and exploring the city. I loved every minute of it! It was such a refreshing read with a touch of spice and whole lot of heart.

This enemies-to-lovers romance has you on the edge of your seat purely due to the fire between Ellie and Parker! Ellie is a 27-year-old screenwriter who has been suffering from writer's block for months - she has a huge opportunity to write for a movie in NYC, so naturally, she takes the job and will worry about the writer's block later! Ellie moves into her New York City apartment and discovers that her new neighbor is a one-night stand she had two years ago. While Ellie and Parker cannot stand each other, she uses this newfound fire under her to break the writer's block. Ellie and Parker enter a fake dating scenario in which Ellie learns NYC from the view of a Billionaire and Parker gets to show off her fake girlfriend to his new bosses. I love a fake dating romance, and this did not disappoint! Thank you for the e-arc!

Summer in the City was such a fun and easy read, perfect for the summer, and perfect for the people looking for a digestable romcom! Now, the issue I have with this book mainly relies on the FMC, Elle. Elle was a little too much for my tastes and at times I felt like she was insufferable. Parker on the other hand was a gem! A man truly written by a woman I kept reading just for glimpses of him. That being said, I thought the third act breakup was kind of abrupt? It seems like I have a lot of negatives to say but I still really enjoyed it. I thought it was good for a debut into the contemporary genre and I look forward to see what Alex Aster does next.

4 stars

This was such a fun, fast-paced read! I picked it up looking for something light and summery, and it totally delivered. The NYC setting was super vibrant and made me want to hop on a plane immediately. I liked the mix of romance, self-discovery, and drama—it felt like a bingeable rom-com in book form.

Some of the character choices had me raising an eyebrow, but honestly, I was too entertained to care much. If you're in the mood for a feel-good story with heart and a little sparkle, this one's a great pick. Perfect for poolside reading or escaping into a glamorous summer for a few hours.

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!