Thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Tropes:
ೃ⁀➷ Billionaire romance
ೃ⁀➷ Fake dating
ೃ⁀➷"enemies" (not really, though) to lovers
ೃ⁀➷set in NYC.


This was soo bad, but it was also just like really good?

Okay, to begin with, I was going to give this book a solid 2 stars. It started off in a way that will always be irritating to me. It was a case of the hero and heroine having a misunderstanding that then makes the heroine harbour a grudge for literally no reason. It always feels forced, like they are making enemies to lovers just to say that the book is enemies to lovers.

The main character also gave very Wattpad vibes, like she has a perfect body and never works out. She fits into the typical 'perfect' character often found in Wattpad stories, which is unrealistic and unrelatable. And that pisses me off because I'm jealous 🙄

Another reason that I just didn't like this book was that the main man says he likes her and says he wants to spend time with her, but I'm sitting here and asking WHY? There is literally no reason for these characters to like each other other than the fact that they are both hot. I just feel like they didn't have many substantial conversations, to be honest...

Finally, the swoon-worthy moments come off as cringe-worthy. I'm sorry, but this book is just a bunch of scenes strung together, so the romantic moments just felt forced. They lacked the natural flow and emotional depth that would make them truly swoon-worthy, and I can't even lie—I found them to be a bit funny.

I also just remembered that the third-act breakup was so irritating.

So why the 3-star rating if I've complained for the past 200 words? And I just have to say that this book is compulsively readable. I was actively disliking it, but I kept turning the pages. I couldn't stop, and I stayed up until 1 am, binging the last 50% 🧍🏾‍♀️

I also felt for the main characters and their traumatic backstories. By this, I mean that the characters had experienced significant hardships in their pasts, which were well-developed and added depth to their personalities. It made me care a little bit and was the kick that helped me finish the book.

This book's overall vibes also remind me of "The Romcommers" by Katherine Center, which was one of my favourites of the year.

Anyway, I would actually recommend this book! It is a quick and easy summer read that most people would enjoy.

This had me hooked from the very start! It’s not perfect—Chapter 30 was a total shocker, and the last 3 chapters are why I’m giving it 4 stars—but it’s such a fun summer romcom that had me feeling like I was actually walking the streets of NYC with Elle and Parker.

It’s not super spicy, but the chemistry? On point. They both definitely had me giggling and blushing a few times with their agonising slow-burn relationship filled to the brim with sexual tension. The mix of enemies-to-neighbours-to-lovers, fake dating, and billionaire romance made it such an addictive read.

Elle was quite relatable in some ways, which made everything feel more realistic, like I was right there with her. But I won’t lie—by the end, she started getting on my nerves, which is part of the reason I dropped it to 4 stars.

Still, Alex Aster’s writing kept me hooked the whole way through. If you’re into raw, realistic love stories with just the right balance of tension and charm, this one’s worth picking up!

Wow this was so much fun to read!
I loved the scene setting of New York and how you could feel the touristy nature and fun of it but also the hate of the city for our main FMC.
Our enemies to lovers is kind of repetitive in its reminder why Elle hates Parker and maybe a little over the top but there is of course background and reasoning to why this is a hurdle for her.
I liked that our third act drama wasn’t a quick fix and they lived happily ever after, I really liked to see these two needed time to find their way.

I received this book as an ARC and provide an honest review

In Summer in the City, screenwriter Elle is given the opportunity of a lifetime to write a high-stakes movie set in New York City, but her writer’s block has been unrelenting. Just when she’s running out of ideas, she crosses paths with Parker Warren, her billionaire neighbor and a former one-night stairwell fling. What starts as an unexpected reunion evolves into an unlikely partnership, Elle and Parker agree to a “fake” relationship that sparks more than either bargained for. Together, they explore the glimmering streets of New York, each with something to gain, yet everything to risk if their emotions blur the lines between reality and pretend.

Throughout the book, I was drawn to the chemistry that unfolded against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, a setting that felt alive and beautifully detailed. I appreciated how the author brought the city to life in a way that made me feel like I was right there alongside them, walking through its iconic neighborhoods.

Elle’s role as a screenwriter was refreshing to read about; it gave a unique perspective to her character and offered a break from the usual author or book-related careers we often see in romance. Parker and Elle’s first encounter left me hoping Parker would redeem himself. The conflict that emerged between Parker and Elle felt grounded in their differences: Parker’s tendency to rely on money as a solution clashed with Elle’s sense of independence and self-reliance. During the third-act breakup, I found myself frustrated with Parker’s approach, wanting him to truly listen to Elle instead of resorting to quick fixes. But I appreciated that Elle took time for herself afterward, showing real growth.

Overall, I’d recommend this book to readers dipping into adult romance, as it offers a balanced storyline with sensual moments without being overwhelming.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bloomsbury Publishing and Alex Aster for this ARC!

A super fun summer romance. It made me feel like I was watching a 2000s romcom which I love! The setting was used perfectly throughout. I visited NYC for the first time during the summer last year and this book perfectly describes the atmosphere in the city during this time. It was almost like the city was its own character with the quirky coffee shops and the hustle and bustle of all the different locations.

I loved the couple and especially how smitten the Parker was throughout the story. At times the conflict felt slightly repetitive to me - but I think it was more because I wanted them to realise how perfect their relationship was and how good they were together! I loved this story and think it is the perfect romance for the summer.

I've been on the fence about reading Alex Aster's books, as I've heard such mixed reviews on her fantasy books. With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There was just enough tension with the characters and great banter between them as well, I loved the secondary characters as much as the main, and really enjoyed how engrossed I became with the story.
I'll be the first person knocking on the door if she decides to release in the contemporary romance scene again, and will be looking to add her fantasy novels as a priority on my TBR!

Thank you NetGalley and Alex Aster for the ARC of this book, I hope you can keep me on your list for future ones!

Alex aster is a favourite author of mine but I am so used to her romantsy books I was worried this would fall flat against them. And let me tell you it did not!! For a fun, steamy, exciting summer read this will definitely scratch that itch

I had the absolute pleasure of being chosen to be an arc reader for Alex’s new book, and let me just say, this book took me on one hell of a ride!!
Without a doubt it’s one of the best reads I have devoured this year, and here’s why:

The absolute incredible connection between Elle and Parker? I was hooked. Their romance had me kicking my feet, giggling like a lovesick teenager and full on clutching my heart during the make or break moments.

Alex Aster simply delivered characters you cannot help but root for. I fell in love with Elle she is simply the most loveable character with the biggest heart and her Parker was head over heels.

Parker isn’t just another typical book boyfriend. He’s charming and just so sweet. And Elle? She’s fierce, relatable and obsessed with her backstory.

The story is the perfect slow burn romance that leaves you begging for more with each page turn.

Can we also just talk about the city itself? Alex paints the scene so incredibly well you feel like you could step inside the story.

If you’re into incredible slow burns, characters with undeniable chemistry and the most emotional growth then this is an absolutely must read!

Elle, a 27-year-old screenwriter, faces a major challenge: she's tasked with writing a big-budget film set in New York City. Only, she's been grappling with writer's block for months. For inspiration, she reluctantly returns to the city and ends up living in a luxurious apartment next to Parker Warren, a tech billionaire and her former hookup turned rival. As they engage in a heated rivalry, they concoct a plan to fake a relationship to help both their careers, but soon enough the line between manufactured and reality begins to blur…

To start this review, I want to congratulate Alex Aster on an expertly executed genre jump. A massive fan of the Lightlark series, I was entirely trepidatious heading into this novel out of fear I wouldn’t welcome Aster’s new cast of characters into my life so wholeheartedly and it’s safe to say, I have! Aster is a master of enemies-to-lovers storytelling, and Summer In The City goes to show that this mastery isn’t genre-restricted.

Elle, as a romance novel protagonist, is perfectly crafted through Aster’s writing. There’s a level of realism, internal dialogue, a belief system, and quirky mannerisms that flesh her out far beyond the cliché romance novel leading lady. She feels like she could be many, or any, of my friends, and I think that’s what makes even her unlikeable moments gratifying to the reader. The truth is, we’re all likely to encounter or already encountered a friendship with the same unlikeable moments, but we love them through it and support their growth. Thanks to Aster’s writing, I found myself doing this for Elle, which made for satisfying reading.

Parker, as a love interest, at first had me dangling a giant ‘?’ over his head as I tried to work out in the first few chapters if I would even want a man like him for Elle. Ironically, all the reasons I questioned this for Elle, Elle went on to question for herself later in the novel. He enters the novel with the level of bravado that would make anyone feel instant ick, and even throughout his narrative, there are a few moments where my whole body clenched in cringe. However, the magic of this novel is, you grow to love Parker so much that you may cringe for a nanosecond, but like Elle, you start to love him through it. Also, he sounds HOT. I want to know who Aster would visualise playing him in a movie.

New York has a special place in my heart. I got to do a module for University there, living on the border of UES and Harlem with my best friend, and I forever say it’s my favourite city in the world, tied only with Milan, so safe to say I adored the setting. Knowing Aster lives in New York, I didn’t for one second have that shadow of doubt I’ve had with other romances this year that the setting wouldn’t feel realistic. Aster guides the reader safely through Manhattan and the Boroughs and reminded me why I love the love this city has to offer.

With an incredible supporting cast of questionable family, vibrant girlfriends, sleazy acquaintances, and a plot that’ll whisk you away like a dream, Summer In The City was a wonderful surprise for me. Used to Aster’s gritty, all-encompassing fantasy storytelling, it was marvellous getting to explore the more comedic, lighthearted, wondrous string to her bow. I foresee Summer In The City being one of the must have holiday reads for 2025 and I can tell you now, you have to make sure you read it. With plot twists, and a climax you won’t want spoiling, this one is one to have at checkout in March 2025 and enjoy wherever in the world you go next…

This is Alex Aster's first foray in adult romance and I ate it up! I woke up thinking about this book, wanting to jump back into that world with the characters. That's the magical feeling that you want to capture with a book, and Alex has achieved it here.
It's cute and addictive!
What prevented me from giving a full 5 stars is I found myself getting frustrated at the extent the lead character self sabotages, and I found myself a little confused, especially near the end, about her perception of things. I would have loved for the last 10% to be wrapped up differently - with better communication between the two leads.
That being said, I really enjoyed the book! This is a cute romance and perfect for anyone looking for a nice story to get lost in.

Thank you so much to Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC via NetGalley, and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest review of the book.

Fast paced and fun with an ending fit for a queen. Deliciously written and will quench that thirst just like an ice cold glass of Diet Coke does.

On the eve of moving from New York to Los Angeles screenwriter Elle and tech billionaire Parker have a stairwell encounter that left Elle fuming so much that he became her ‘twisted muse’. Two years later Elle is back for the summer to unblock her creativity so she can fulfil her contract to write a movie set in NY. To her horror, she discovers Parker is her neighbour and he’s as infuriatingly handsome and charming as ever. Parker strikes Elle a deal: he’ll help her with her writer’s block if she’ll accompany him to events for the summer.

I really enjoyed this book so much I stayed up ‘til 2am to finish it. I think for me it was the dynamic between skittish and fiercely independent Elle versus Parker’s open-hearted and generous nature. Their first encounter sets the tone for Elle constantly pushing Parker away and keeping a lot of secrets close to her chest. Elle will frustrate, and I have to say, while I understood why she was angry (Parker for the love of god, please listen to her, that was a bad move even as beautiful as it was), I also wanted to shake her for taking two years to sort herself out. I think I would’ve loved for her to have undergone some therapy or something in that time.

Overall, this was a sweet, fun and charming story that was well-paced with brilliant characters I desperately wanted to get together.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for the ARC.

Elle holds a serious grudge for Parker after their initial meeting, yet he somehow becomes the driving force in her success as a screenwriter. She’s confident and sassy but also very afraid of losing the independence she’s worked so hard to get. Parker is a tech billionaire and throws money at everything just because he can. But he’s not your typical mmc and it’s what makes him such a likeable character. In some ways, where Elle is grumpy, Parker is sunshine and their banter and seeing their relationship fold out was so much fun to read.

I honestly ate this one up!!! It was so much fun and so refreshing to read about characters who are both confident but a little afraid and despite this being a an enemies to lovers, billionaire romance, Elle and Parker are so complex, and it just makes the plot even more enjoyable and fun to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital arc.

I’ve also just preordered a signed edition from Waterstones with the most beautiful sprayed edges, can’t wait for it to arrive!

ARC REVIEW!

I cannot tell you how excited I was to recieve this ARC, I am a fan of Alex though her lighlark series and felt like I was going to explode when I saw she had dipped her toe in the world of contemporary romance.

I wasn't originally blown away by the premise. Being faced with a billionaire bachelor in NYC didn't feel very original. Boy, was I wrong. The characters were complex and the story well paced.

It has been a very long time since a male character has snared me entirely, but at the end of this book I found myself comparing Parker Warren to the likes of the greats. He's up there with Mr Darcy, Heathcliffe, and Christian Grey (dont judge me, I'm a sucker for a grumpy, wealthy man). I literally could not put this book down.

I read it on 2 sittings, only stopping to sleep, and I found myself wondering why I hadn't started sooner.

I found that Elle was more complex than your standard romance FMC. She was really well fleshed out and felt real. I felt like I was watching her and Parker slowly fall in love as I read, and some of the scenes are so beautiful and well written it made my chest ache.

I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book and re-read and annotate. The signed copy has been pre-ordered!

This was brilliant. Suitably sassy and sarcastic with a great leading woman who is a great mix of confidence in her skills and happy in comfy clothes and floppy hair alongside the nervousness about how people see her and if they like her. This allows her to fake date a tech mogul and be able to more or less hold her own. The story is over a summer as Elle and Parker fight their way through dates and visit the touristy parts of New York to lay the groundwork for the script Elle is writing. This isn't too cheesy and hits the right notes of a couple working out what they mean to each other as they carry all their past pains with them.
After perfect timing through the book, the ending dragged a little with an extension that didn't seem to fit with the rest of the book. Well worth a happy afternoon read.

Elle has just one summer to pull off what feels like an impossible feat: overcome her paralyzing writer’s block and complete the screenplay that could be her big break. However, fate has a surprise in store for her—her new neighbor in an upscale Manhattan building is none other than Parker Warren, the tech-industry golden boy with whom she shared a passionate, fleeting encounter in a stairwell two years ago. And let’s just say, their brief history didn’t exactly conclude on a fairy-tale note.
This novel not only exceeded my expectations, but it also delivered so much more than I anticipated.
It transcends the typical romantic comedy formula, unfolding as a heartfelt homage to New York City itself. Every moment is drenched in the essence of the city—from the inviting warmth of corner cafes to the awe-inspiring grandeur of its famed landmarks. The setting feels like a living, breathing character. It made me long to book a flight immediately. You can sense that the author, Alex, has a deep, genuine connection to the city, and that intimacy is woven into the fabric of the story.
The dynamic between Elle and Parker strikes a perfect balance of witty exchanges, simmering tension, and genuine emotional depth. Their chemistry practically leaps off the page, electric and undeniable.
You can't help but cheer for them from start to finish.
Alex masterfully navigated this shift in genre, proving her versatility and skill. She’s demonstrated that she can tackle any style and make it her own.
By the end, you won’t just be captivated by Elle and Parker’s story—you’ll fall head over heels for the vibrant city that sets the stage for their journey.
A huge thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Summer in the City is Alex Aster’s adult romance novel. This novel follows Elle who is a screenwriter in New York City. She has a deadline to write for a big movie but she’s had writers block for months. Parker is a billionaire and her neighbour. Elle uses Parker as her muse after they had an ill advised stairwell hookup. They end up fake dating but real feelings start to occur when they both agreed to pretend.

I’m giving this 3 stars because it was just aggressively fine. Personally I just didn’t connect with the romance and this felt pretty basic to me. I think this would be perfect for previous fans of YA romance because this would be the perfect entry point into adult romance. The sexual scenes didn’t do much for me but I have read tons of romance. I would recommend this for adult romance newbies and fans of Alex Aster’s other books.

After swearing she’ll never return, Elle is back in New York for the summer to write her next screen play. But what she doesn’t bargain for is that her new neighbour just so happens to be a huge reason why she wanted to never return. And even worse? He just so happens to be the key to unlocking her plot.

This book was a fun read, and made it feel like you were exploring New York with the two main characters. There were a few sneaky twists thrown in, and a couple of infuriating moments where I had to shake my kindle in the hopes of making everyone see sense… but overall this will be the perfect summer reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC.

4.25 stars, arc review. This was so good Elle was such a strong fmc who had great character development and Parker is definitely a swoon worthy billionaire boyfriend. He had so much money I was shook at the things he bought but when he bought that cafe for her so she could have her favourite scone. How Elle didn’t fall for that is beyond me because I’d have fallen immediately. If you’re looking for a cute but funny billionaire romance this is for you. The main couple was everything but the side characters added so much I’m obsessed with Penelope she was hilarious and so down to earth. I loved Alex’s writing style as well excited to read her fantasy series next.