I ate this book up. I love fake dating and enemies to lovers (especially when only one of them hates the other). It was adorable and as much a love letter to NYC as to the characters. There were twists and turns that I wasn’t completely expecting. I adored our MMC, Parker, so much. I was rooting for the couple the whole time. Just a prefect read for the summer!

This super sweet rom-com was giving me all the feels as a New Yorker. Parker has landed himself at the top of my book boyfriend’s list. The way he’s ends up treating Elle after their first meeting had me swooning all book. Elle herself being a homebody that would rather be in sweats had their story coming to life as she deals with a rocky past. If you’re looking for a fun summer read with the NY feels, look no further.

I was really excited to see that fantasy author, Alex Aster, was releasing a romance! I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, and I'm so grateful to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

This book follows Elle who, after an awful run-in with Parker two years prior, encounters the billionaire yet again. This time, they are neighbors. The spice was a plenty, the banter was swoony, and this book was a fast-paced story. Was it predictable? A bit...but that's what we love about the second-chance romance/rivals-to-lovers tropes, no? We know we are getting our HEA!

I thought this was cute and recommend it to anyone who loves a romance set up with NYC vibes!

It is hard to believe this was written by the same author that created Lightlark! I mean this In the best of ways! It was such a departure from her other novels. This was a perfect book and the description was totally on point. I laughed, I kicked my feet, I smiled, and blushed. Worth the read!

This story was so good. Loved the two main characters and the supporting characters. It was well paced and very cute.

I have to be honest this isn't my typical thing, but because the author had a background in Fantasy, i was intrigued! The premise is honestly very cute, and the nod to all the major NYC landmarks made it interesting, esp with the map! (such a fantasy thing to include a map). A lighthearted romcom style beach read is what I expected and exactly what i got.

Thanks to William Morrow for the advance copy of this book!

Elle said she'd never go back to NYC, but in an attempt to dive into some real-life inspiration for a screenplay, she ends up there for the summer... next to "Billionaire Bachelor" Parker Warren, a previous fling.

I think this was my first billionaire romance?! Is that possible? It was a fun trope, but it also seemed like Elle wasn't so into that aspect of Parker's personality. I did like how that drove parts of the plot, but the twist with it at the end had me screaming at Elle like WHAT ARE YOU DOING WOMAN. Anyway, I finished this in a day because it was so bingeable. Lastly, while this is touted as enemies-to-lovers, I'm not sure that's a trope I'd use here because they were never really enemies.

I see what you were trying to do here, but sadly I wasn’t vibing in the second half. I was so interested in the beginning, but as the plot advanced, I felt like I was just going down a check box of typical romance book things. Kinda bummed! The finished copy is gorgeous though.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it was a great jump into the romance genre for Alex. I also liked the aspect of a more city setting for a book that gave me total summer vibes, compared to normal summaries that I feel like usually take place in a more tropical climate

This book would get five stars if it weren't for the main female character. She's insufferable and has zero redeeming qualities. She must be the hottest woman on planet earth because otherwise it makes no sense why anyone would volunteer to spend time with her.

Fun premise, but very cliche and trope heavy, and it felt like none of the characters motivations were fully fleshed out. I was enjoying it up until the 70% mark when it rlly fell off for me.

Thank you net galley for the arc!

Ugh, I was wanting sooo much more from this book. The writing was easy to read, and being set in NYC was great (not to mention the amazing cover!) BUT, I couldn't stand the FMC. All it felt like she was doing was complaining and creating problems that weren't there. Not to mention she kind of seemed like a gold digger...but then when the MMC does something really special for her and spends a lot of money...she gets mad because she wanted to buy it herself. She's like half feminist/half wanting to be taken care of...and the feminist part of her wins. Chapter 30 just made me done with her...and I couldn't care less how it ended. The MMC deserved better.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

Summer in the City is a swoony New York romance between a screenwriter and a billionaire tech genius. When Elle returns to New York for inspiration to write another blockbuster movie, she finds out her neighbor is Parker, her stairwell hookup from years earlier. So lovers to enemies to lovers galore.

I really loved this fast-paced romance that had excellent dialogue and fun tropes. I will definitely be reading whatever Aster writes next.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I did not like this book. I dont know if it was the writing style, if it was the characters but It felt very whiney and i did not like the characters..

I LOVED this book! Summer in The City was the perfect beach read for this upcoming summer.

Elle is an anonymous screen writer and Parker is a tech billionaire. They happen to meet at a party, while Elle has absolutely no idea who Parker is, and sparks fly! But Parker quickly messes it up.

They happen to meet a couple years later and Parker has decided he will do everything in his power to win over Elle. Starting with fake dating…but just for the summer.

Parker is literal boyfriend perfection! Of course his dates were probably a little over the top and not realistic for us mere mortals, but a girl can dream!!

Elle had a lot of depth and trauma to her character, but I feel like there were times she was too stubborn and got in her own way when it came to her feelings for Parker.

Anyway, it was summer perfection! And I fear that I too, have fallen in love with Parker.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for my review.

"Summer in the City" by Alex Aster is an absolute gem of a novel! From the very first page, I was swept away by the vibrant energy and captivating characters. Aster weaves together a perfect blend of romance, self-discovery, and the thrills of city life, all set against the backdrop of a sun-soaked summer.

The protagonist's journey is relatable and heartwarming, filled with twists and turns that keep you hooked until the very end. Aster’s writing style is refreshingly engaging, with lush descriptions that bring the city to life and make you feel like you're right there, experiencing everything alongside the characters.

The romance is sweet and real, with chemistry that jumps off the page, while the moments of personal growth make for a truly fulfilling story. It’s the perfect book to get lost in during a lazy afternoon, and it’s impossible not to root for the characters as they navigate love, dreams, and the ups and downs of life in the city.

A must-read for anyone looking for a fun, uplifting escape with a perfect mix of heart and humor. Five stars all the way!

This was so cute and so swoony. I loved Parker so much. He was such a dream out billionaire. I also loved Elle and her independence and her back story, so much depth. Alex Aster writes beautiful love stories. I would recommend this!

This was such a cute rom-com. Hearing that this is a departure from the authors normal genre I was intrigued and pleasantly surprised. The characters were well fleshed out and while billionaire tropes are usually a little too ridiculous for me this one wasn’t bad. I like how the author made NYC come alive like its own character. The FMC was a little irrational at times but overall I enjoyed this!

Rom-Com with some spice and banter?! Lovers to enemies to lovers?! YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU!! Elle is a successful screenwriter who has a bad case of writer’s block. Parker is a tech mogul in the middle of a deal to sell his company. A chance encounter in a club 2 years ago makes for a great lovers to enemies trope. Now they’re neighbors in NYC. They come up with an agreement just for the summer - fake date to take some attention off of Parker’s deal while helping Elle write a movie based on different NYC locations. Just for the summer - Right? We need more Elle and Parker… Please!!

Elle and Parker’s first meeting is love at first site and then hate. Fast forward a few years and they meet again. Elle is experiencing a writers block and Parker is just needing a break from his hectic life. They make a platonic deal to help each other….it’s still hate and then love to the end.
I loved this book. I was thoroughly enthralled with this story so it was over too soon.