Okay so here’s the deal I have a list of books that fall under the category “more than a romance” and Summer in the City is exactly that. This book made me literally laugh out loud, I kicked my feet and screamed like a teenager reading their first romance book ever, I slammed my metaphorical book (e-reader) shut with shock more than once, and I cried, also more than once.
This story truly made the New York City come to life, I felt like I was right there the whole time and I’ve never even been to NYC. Elle and Parker’s chemistry flewwww off the pages. Like literally from chapter one. I just know this one is going to be adapted into one of the most iconic romcom films ever someday and I can’t wait!! 😍 this book truly read like I was watching it as a movie. I finished it in two sittings it was so damn good.
Another facet of this story that I loved was the strong female friendships and the important conversations of what it means to let someone truly in. And allowing them to SEE you, KNOW you, LOVE you. And to also do those things with yourself. Finding out who you really are right here and now. And loving yourself and accepting that same unconditional love from the people around you, even when you don’t think you deserve it, but then you discover that you do. You do deserve to love and be loved.
All that to say Summer in the City is simply a must read. 🌇🍎✨💓

Tropes:
✨ Billionaire romance
💘 He falls first
🌆 Opposites attract
👩🏻‍❤️‍👨🏻 Fake dating
🫂 Strong female friendships

Thank you so much Alex Aster, Willam Morrow and Company pub, and Net Galley for this ARC 🫶🏼

I’m a fan of Alex Aster’s young adult Lightlark series and was so excited when she announced her debut adult novel, Summer in the City!

Summer in the City has great tropes, including two of my favorites…fake dating and enemies to lovers. It’s a cute, fast-paced romance with twists that will keep you engaged. I thought this was a really fun story and it had me wanting to pull an all-nighter to keep reading. The plot will leave you thinking about creating your own perfect movie moment…just like Elle and Parker!

Thank you to @netgalley for an advanced digital copy of this book!

Okay this was cuuuute. I really loved it. Alex’s skill for banter was great. However later in the book things got a little choppy? I felt like the conversations weren’t as organic, or maybe the plot just fizzled a bit? I can’t put my finger on it other than to say the writing was so strong until 6/10 of the way through. But towards the end it really got brought back around until… it didn’t?! It’s a charming book and it definitely gave me the feels. But was a bit more abrupt at the end than I expected. I think I’m leaning more towards 3.8 although I thought for the first 50% it’d be a five star. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

When I tell y'all: I WANTED to hate this book, and, two pages in I fully thought I was going to... but Alex Aster absolutely decimated my walls and made me fall in love & I've not recovered since 😭

What began as an excessively cheesy romcom with a highly implausible, wildly unrealistic plot and an FMC who (appeared) to be the epitome of every pick me in existence... turned into a book on love, self acceptance, and finding the "right person at the wrong time" (one of my all time favorite tropes). Despite my earlier concerns and resolve to evaluate the book irrespective of its perceived hype, I can safely say that by the end, I didn't even care.

YES I'm sure there will be plenty of criticisms of this book and YES they are valid, but this book became my happy/safe place in the most unsuspecting way... a book that was so adorable, so funny, and so comforting, I couldn't help but root for Elle and Parker (the absolute most perfect book boyfriend ever). I loved the evolution of both their relationship and their personal growth; and this one made me tear up several times.

Reading Summer in the City honestly just felt like being snuggled in the warmest hug and it was such a joy to curl up with... I am truly so sad it's over :( New peak comfort read unlocked. I'm officially an Alex Aster fan ❤️

This was a great debut into the romcom genre for Alex Aster! I really enjoyed watching the story play out, there were a couple of moments that I wanted to scream and throw the book, or shake some sense into these two, but anytime a book can cause me to experience real emotions I say it’s a job well done. I understood Elle’s fear and hesitancy, while also falling in love with Parker trying hard to learn and be better. It was a really fun story to read.

Such a fun read, had a great time. Author wrote really good banter sense. I love me a billionaire trope, the possibility are endless.

The perfect summer romance to read by the pool!!
Add this to your beach bag and summer TBR!

I loved the New York City summer setting. Parker and Elle have so much chemistry. It’s witty, fun and such an adventure as they visit all the landmarks in New York City!

”It’s a shame, that summers always end.”
“Maybe this one can be endless,” Parker says.
“Nothing in life is endless.”
“Love is, Elle,” he says.
I laugh. “And what do you know about love?”
“Now?” he says. “Everything.”

Summer in the City is a fun, popcorn read that was super easy to get absorbed in. Our heroin, Elle, is an anonymous screenwriter working on a tight deadline for her next project and our main squeeze, Parker, is a tech billionaire. Forced proximity vibes as both are staying on the same floor of a high-rise condo for the summer and share a thin wall. Parker needs a fake girlfriend for the summer while he tries to close a large business deal and Elle needs help exploring the NY City to finish her screenplay on time, so the two partner up with the promise of their arrangement ending come the end of summer.

The story was very entertaining following along as the two explore the city as well as their complicated feelings for one another.

Thank you to Netgalley & William Morrow for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 Stars

Forced proximity
Billionaire
Strongly dislike to love vibes
Rom Com
Fake dating

Summer in the City is a must read summer fake dating romance! NYC feels like a character in the book, and it has that nostalgic classic rom com vibe. Parker & Elle have immediate chemistry. The flirty banter and the slow burn are perfection. There were times it was so ridiculous that I was laughing out loud. A true rom com that also had emotional depth to it. I admired Elle’s ambition so much but also got frustrated with how she treated Parker sometimes. Parker is a billionaire and is so down bad for her. I absolutely loved him. I couldn’t put this book down! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this book! The fake dating between Parker and Elle was ~chefs kiss~ I loved that he took her on all of the dates she needed for her movie. NYC will always have my heart so it was so fun to read a romcom set there. Parker was amazing, and Elle was so funny! I loved their relationship and I think their timeline and growth made a lot of sense.

Well done to Alex on a knockout romance debut!

The perfect Summer rom-com book in my opinion!

In this book, we follow Elle, who is a 27-year old screen writer, currently working on writing the biggest screen play of her career, except, she has two problems. The screen play is set in New York so she has to spend the Summer in the city she hates, and she has writers block. Unfortunately for Elle, she is also stuck living next to the billionaire bachelor she despises , Parker Warren. After having a steamy and short encounter with him two years before, Elle has become obsessed with hating him. However, his presence seems to be the only thing that helps her get over her writers block. Eventually, Parker and Elle decide to have a fake relationship that will help Elle finish her screen play and help Parker have a good image with the press to ensure the acquisition of his company goes through. What could possibly go wrong?

This book has all the tropes you need: billionaire romance, forced proximity, fake dating, and enemies to lovers. It was truly such a fun Summer read!

Thank you to William Morrow for the advanced readers copy!

Thank you to Alex Aster and William Morrow for this ARC!

After reading (well, two of) Alex Aster’s Lightlark series, I was so intrigued to see her take on contemporary romance. A fantasy author diving into romcoms? Sign me up! And for the first 70% of this book, I was all in. But then… well, things took a turn.

💡 What did I love the most?
The first half of this book was gold. The forced proximity trope? Chef’s kiss. The banter? Absolutely perfect—sharp, flirty, and full of chemistry. And don’t even get me started on the fake dating element. So often, this trope can feel ridiculous or forced, but Aster made it feel authentic. Did it get a little over the top at times? Sure. Did I love every second of it? Absolutely.

📌 Read if you like:
💰 Billionaire romance
💏 Fake dating
🏡 Forced proximity
🗽 NYC settings

🔥 Spice level: Open-door

💔 How was the romance?
For the first half? Adorable. Sexy. So much fun. The tension and slow build had me fully invested. But then… things unraveled. At around the 70% mark, the plot took a turn that completely lost me. The characters’ actions felt random, like they were making choices just to force conflict. And for the first time ever, I actually supported a third-act breakup. (Who even am I?)

I kept asking myself: Why didn’t the book just end there? The story felt so solid up until that point, and then it felt like it was trying too hard to add unnecessary drama.

⚡ Do I recommend this book?
Yes… and no. If you love a fun, spicy romcom with great banter and an engaging first half, you’ll enjoy this one. But be prepared for a messy third act. If you can overlook some questionable character decisions and a frustrating ending, give it a shot. If third-act drama makes you want to throw your Kindle, maybe skip this one.

*Summer in the City* by Alex Aster is a fun, nostalgic read that captures the essence of 2000s romcoms with its playful charm and vibrant New York City setting. The romance between the leads is engaging, though the male main character (MMC) feels a bit underdeveloped, leaving a slight gap in the story’s emotional depth. Despite this, the book’s energy and wit make it an enjoyable escape. Overall, I’d rate it 4 out of 5 stars for its lighthearted, entertaining nature.

wait. i didn’t want this to end. i absolutely loved it. it was at points heartbreaking and hair pulling, wanting conflict to easily dissipate but also appreciating that it didn’t. because sometimes it just takes time. i loved that she hated nyc but then also loved it—i think that’s maybe what it’s like to love nyc, sometimes believing anyplace in the world is better and sometimes believing there’s no better place in the world.

wow. i’m not over it. and i wish i could read it again for the first time. but also i really loved that this book encouraged me to spend less time reading and more time doing—choosing to live some really remarkable moments rather than just watching someone else. and it made me think it might be nice to be a billionaire (which might the opposite of what i was supposed to feel)

so so so grateful to have received this arc!! all thoughts and feelings and reflections are my own.

LOVED this book! I've already been recommending this book to everyone I know! I love the lovers to enemies to lovers trope, so clever and fun! There is spice towards the end of the book but can be easily skipped if needed. Such a fun easy summer read! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

This is such a great rom-com with a love letter to New York as a whole. From the descriptions of the places that Elle and Parker visit to the witty banter this book just screams NYC. Just overall a great book from the emotional turmoil that the author creates for the reader throughout Elle and Parker's relationship, to little and sometimes big gestures that Parker makes. Elle was a hard character for me to relate to. She seemed a bit too whiny for my taste and her personality was difficult for me to understand. Parker makes the whole book. He's a billionaire but not snobby and always willing to go above and beyond to make memories for Elle. All his gestures were swoon worthy in my opinion.

Book Tropes:
-Billionaire Romance
-Fake Dating
-Miscommunication
-Enemies to Lover
-Single POV
-Forced Proximity
-Spicy

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for the gifted eARC. All opinions are all my own.

Thank you to William Morrow for providing me with an eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!
A fresh take on a summer-whirl-wind-romance with a billionaire who made a bad first impression. When their paths cross again, they agree to fake date to help each others careers. As they paint the NYC in new colors, they also tear down the walls around their hearts.

There were so many cute moments in this book! Parker is the type of billionaire any woman would fall for so it did make it a little difficult to understand Elle’s push back on loving such a great man. GIRL! He’s been groveling since you met again. Also, just like they said they don’t like time jumps in romcoms, I too did not like it in this book.

This felt like a quintessential 00’s NYC Romcom in the best way.

There’s a dislike to lovers trope with a delicious slow burn, green flag billionaire MMC (only in fiction) and skeptical/prickly FMC at the center of the story. Fake dating turns into deep love and understanding.

Third act breakup strikes in this one and while frustrating it did seem realistic at least from the FMC point of view.

Devoured this book in a day.

Ah, Summer in the City, the book that made me feel like I was sipping a piña colada on a sun-drenched rooftop, only to realize it was just a glass of lukewarm lemonade. With all the glittery buzz surrounding it, I was ready for a five-star extravaganza, but alas, it turned out to be more of a three-star picnic!

From charming meet-cutes to the classic "will they, won't they" dance, Aster crafts a narrative that feels like a cozy blanket on a breezy day. The characters are adorable, the banter is light, and the setting is vibrant-perfect for those who want a whimsical escape. But here's the hitch: as delightful as it was, I found myself yearning for a little more spice, a dash of unpredictability, or even a plot twist that would knock my flip-flops off!

All in all, Summer in the City is a charming read that will warm your heart and might just inspire you to grab a sundae and stroll through your own city streets. It's perfect for a lazy afternoon or a beach day-just don't expect it to turn your world upside down. So, if you're in the mood for a predictable yet pleasant romantic adventure, dive in.

Thank you NetGalley and @williammorrowbooks for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Summer in the City was such a fun, fast-paced read that perfectly captured the magic (and drama) of a whirlwind summer romance. The NYC setting was vibrant, and the tension kept me hooked. I loved the blend of glamour, ambition, and messy emotions—it felt like stepping into a summer rom-com with just the right amount of depth.