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.

3.75 ⭐️ 2🌶️

A fun and light summer 00s romcom that will have you kicking and giggling. If you go into this hoping for a cute and cringey and ridiculous billionaire romance, you’ll have the best of times and that’s exactly what I did!

The writing (& therefore the audio) felt a bit choppy for me and I had some frustrations with the 3rd act of the book, but overall had a really fun time and I’m excited to see what’s in store for Alex Aster next!

This was the best rom com I’ve read in a long time! I absolutely loved Elle and Parker. I could not put this down… the chemistry was A+!

Summer in the City was a super cute and trope-y story with a bit of a slow start. I wasn't convinced initially, but after learning more and more about our MMC Parker Warren. MFC Elle is initially pretty self-involved, but after spending some real time with Parker, he starts to peel back her layers and she's giving him a real chance.

I got SUPER nervous for a big when things were all good and there was still 10+% left in the book, but then I was glad because honestly the marriage proposal was SUPER sudden and WAY too soon!! Parker is honestly just so unbelievably thoughtful and well-intentioned, and I fell in love with him myself throughout this story. The HEA absolutely paid off in the end.

Summer in the City is OUT NOW! Thank you to the author Alex Aster, publisher William Morrow, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

(social review post will be up on @bostonkatreads via instagram within a day)

A delightful romantic comedy that is like a love letter to the City. I had some problems with how the female main character functioned at times and the choices she made (I literally said, "Why??" out loud a few times) but overall it is a fun, lighthearted read.

Ah, I am struggling with how to review this book.

Pros:
great pacing, witty banter, and fun premise (Elle, independent woman meets Parker, aloof but lovable tech billionaire years after a bad first impression, while trying to fight writers block in NYC)

Cons:
I have read too many books lately with really challenging FMC. I am all for multi-dimensional, imperfect characters, but when taken too far, it takes away from the book. Especially in juxtaposition with an all-star, easy to like MCM.

I found Elle really hard to like; she puts Parker through the wringer time and time again when he is trying to show his love. There is way too much miscommunication and issues Elle needs to work through and the timing of all of it felt off?

Maybe if this was the first book I read recently with this type of FMC, I would feel differently, but after several in a row, I am less and less into it!

3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Alex Aster should write more Romance. Summer in the City was an absolute good time to read. Following quirky, stubborn Elle be pulled through NYC by enigmatic Parker, slowly falling for him before she even realizes. Elle struggles to accept love from Parker because of unhealed grief and trauma. As she lets her walls down, she can’t help but let Parker into her heart. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and am grateful for the opportunity to do so with an arc from HarperCollins and NetGalley.

I was supposed to read this as an ARC, but life happened, and I didn't get to it before it was published🫣 However I did get the audiobook, and I finished it in less than 24 hours!

This was my first Alex Aster book, and I loved it! Elle annoyed me at first, but I think it's because she's so relatable with having her walls up so high and not wanting to let anyone in. She eventually come out of her shell, and the walls came down, and I ended up loving her!
Parker is officially one of my favorite book boyfriends. I really didn't want to like him at first, but it was almost impossible not to like him. He was so caring and thoughtful and sweet. He was almost too perfect, it seemed. He was so devoted to Elle. The man literally bought a chain of coffee shops so she could have her favorite scone🥺

The third act break up made me so mad and honestly that what took this from a 5 star read to a 4.5 read because in the end they did fox things and they have a HEA so it worked out.

4.5 stars

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

This was such an enjoyable story! It had so many of my favorite tropes—forced proximity, enemies to lovers, fake dating, billionaire romance, and more. With all these elements combined, it was impossible not to have fun reading it. That said, the story was a little cliché and predictable, but honestly, that didn’t take away from the enjoyment.

Now, let’s talk about the characters. The MMC was perfect boyfriend material—funny, attentive, caring, and unbelievably patient. I mean, the man literally donated all his money for her and waited so long for her to accept him. I don’t know if anyone could be that patient.

On the other hand, the FMC got on my nerves. Yes, I understand her issues with money, but he was trying—constantly—and she still kept pushing him away. By the last few chapters, her endless rejections became exhausting, and it felt like the story was dragging just to add unnecessary conflict. They could have had their happily ever after right there, but no, we had to go through more pain first.

Honestly, if I had a billionaire boyfriend who would buy an entire coffee shop chain just because they stopped making my favorite scones, I’d be saying yes to the wedding immediately. (Yeah, I know I’m married, but let’s not tell my husband about my fictional boyfriends, okay?)

Overall, this was a super fun and addictive read—you’ll devour it just like I did.

Thank you, William Morrow, for the early copy!