When Elle first meets Parker she doesn't know who he is and he offends her. She channels that anger and it helps her with her screenwriting. Two years later they meet again - will they have a second chance?

There were parts of this book that I absolutely loved - the writing style, the banter, the female friendships, parts of the romantic elements. But then then there were parts that just didn't quite click with me - the pacing at the beginning and then towards felt a bit rushed. But overall a nice romance to read as we head towards summer

Plot ✅ Characters ✅ Romance ✅ Tension ✅ ✅

I absolutely loved the way this book opened—its descriptions of New York brought the setting to life, making me feel like I was watching a movie. It delivered all the romcom vibes in the best way possible. For a debut romance and the first book I've read from Alex Aster, this was such an enjoyable read and I really enjoyed the writing style! The tropes were well executed, and I was completely swept away by Elle and Parker’s story, especially how their friendship naturally developed into something more.

Loved Parker as the MMC - From the beginning, you could see how much he cared for Elle—always wanting to spend time with her, putting her happiness first, and doing whatever he could to support her. The side characters also played a meaningful role, adding to both the plot and character development rather than just being there for the sake of it.

I think there was a good amount of smut, not too much, most of it enhanced the story rather than adding it just because, like some books do.

(Spoilers ahead! 🚨)
The proposal did feel a bit out of the blue and rushed, so I understood why the plot unfolded the way it did. However, Elle’s feelings about Parker’s wealth—especially her comparisons between him and her father—were sometimes hard to grasp. Parker and her dad were clearly very different, and while I understood her hesitation, it wasn’t always convincing. That said, this didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Favorite moments:
💙 When Parker bought the café just so Elle could have her blueberry scones again—swoon!
🏡 When Elle bought the townhouse and saw that Parker had decorated it for them—it was the cutest, and my heart broke when Elle realised.

Tropes:
💰 Billionaire ✅
💍 Fake-dating ✅

Overall, this was such a fun and heartwarming read, and I can't wait to see what Alex Aster does next!

This is like a 4.5 star for me. I liked the characters, the story was cute, I find no faults but something didn’t click? and so it’s not quite five stars but it is 4.5 so. I enjoyed this more than her other books.

3.5 stars

I picked up this book because I wanted something fun and breezy to read over a lazy weekend, and I wasn’t disappointed. Alex Aster is a new-to-me author; her writing style is a good fit for my tastes and the book was effective in creating a sense of time and place. It’s written from a single POV so this is very much Elle’s story of growth and change, although the last 20% of the book was a bit frustrating in that regard; Elle seemed to have moved past most of the deep-seated issues rooted in her upbringing but then there was a big conflict that just seemed… overblown? Like Elle just threw away all of her personal growth and reacted in a blind panic. Which, okay, in the moment perhaps that made sense, but then she continued her path of avoidance for a considerable amount of time and *never bothered going to therapy* - despite living in LA, where surely it is all but mandatory. By this point in the book Parker struck me as less of a well adjusted dream boyfriend (albeit one prone to showy but not consistently meaningful grand gestures) and more of a masochist. Of course everything is resolved by the end, but that third-act conflict felt jarring to me rather than organic.

Still, the slow development of the central relationship and Elle’s gradual realisation that she could and should expand her horizons were satisfying to read and I looked forward to picking up this book every time I had the chance. I’m certainly on board to read more by this author in future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you for letting me read and review this book on Netgalley.

Tropes:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Fake Dating
- Billionaire bad boy

I found this book really fun although I struggled to get into it and struggled to continue reading. I can't point out specifically what it was about it but I found it a lot more difficult to get through than I thought I would.

This book was phenomenal, one of the best I've read in a while, a perfect rom-com. I'm struggling to even think of words to express how much I enjoyed reading this.

Summer in the City is a masterclass in romantic comedy. Aster knew exactly what she was doing with every single line written, creating a story that will make you laugh, swoon, and feel all the emotions in between. It’s a must-read for fans of the genre, and it’s sure to leave you with a smile on your face long after the final page. (really really hoping this becomes a film...) The characters are well-developed, made for each other, and the pacing of their relationship is perfectly balanced. I truly felt I went along for the ride with Parker and Elle and want to plan a visit to NYC to see all the places they went and chase the magic.

What to expect?

💘 He Yearns
🫠 He Falls First
⚔️ Enemies to Lovers
💼 Billionaire
🏢 Forced Proximity
🗽 NYC Setting

'I've never wanted anything like I've wanted you.'

The story follows Elle, a 27-year-old screenwriter who is struggling with writer's block as she faces a tight deadline to complete a big-budget movie script. In a bid to find inspiration, she moves into a luxurious apartment in the city, only to discover that her neighbour is Parker Warren, a tech billionaire and her nemesis.

As their paths cross, their love-hate dynamic takes an unexpected turn. Elle realizes that Parker might just be the muse she needs to finish her screenplay, while Parker has his own reasons for keeping her close. The story unfolds over one summer, blending humour, romance, and the vibrant charm of New York City, making for a wonderful reading experience.

Thankyou to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done a fantastic job of creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society. The characters focus on themes of growing, self-discovery and confronting personal and social problems. The language is clear, concise, and evocative, with descriptions that bring the setting and characters to life. Dialogue is natural and authentic, and the pacing is well-balanced, with enough tension and release to keep the reader engaged.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed, and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if it were in a bookshop.

Rating - 3⭐️
Spice - 1🌶️

Alex aster has dipped her toe into the rom-com genre and I had a fun time!

We have Elle, an anonymous movie writer who is under tight deadlines to produce a script, she decides to spend the summer in New York to try and inspire her. It all goes south when she finds out her next door neighbour is hot shot billionaire Parker. She has met him once before, and let’s say he did not make a good impression. They decide to make a deal, but how will the summer turn out?

Can I just say Alex Aster is FUNNY! This book had me laughing out loud multiple times, our FMC was so whitty and lovable. I haven’t read a billionaire romance in a while and found myself quite disconnected to Parker, however I did feel their chemistry. I loved our MCs back stories and how Elle made herself a community. My major drawbacks was the ending, it was too forced and unrealistic to me and made me do a massive eye roll. I would give my left leg for the ending to be better as it would have gotten a higher rating but I can’t be mad because I had a great time!

This book was so cute and funny, I absolutely devoured it. It was really easy to read and kept me gripped. I laughed, grinned from ear to ear and shed a couple of tears. Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes.

Elle plans to spend the summer in NYC writing her screenplay. She has no plans beyond hunkering down with her laptop and coffee in solitude- until she realises her neighbour is none other than famous tech Billionaire Parker Warren, who Elle happens to hold an almighty grudge against after a regretful stolen kiss 2 years ago. Parker needs a date for summer to distract from his company’s acquisition and Elle realises that Parker’s company visiting the NYC locations for her screen play , along with the loathing for him that seems to unlock her writing , makes for a good mutual exchange. So begins a summer of fake dating.

I like that Elle had her own successful career and that she really grappled with how she could have her career without her success and hard worked being eclipsed by the man she’s ’dating’. The female friendships were really sweet and well rounded. Parts of her life and story unfold really nicely so we learn more about her along the way.

I did think it was a little embarrassing that the FMC was so obsessed with a billionaire after two years, but then I thought it was probably a normal relationship to making and then being insulted by a hot famous billionaire.

The few chapters before the ending did kind of ruin it a bit for me, the fact that they were still obsessed with each other after 2 years and hadn’t had any contact was too much for more HEA loving heart.

Overall, I did really enjoy this book and would definitely recommend it to people.

It's rare in a book where the MMC fucks up, that I feel lold there's an appropriate amount of groveling and a proper apology. Aster really hit that mark. The MMC never intended to hurt thr FMC, but he did anyway, and he felt bad, he learnt (even if it took some time), he waited, and he let her process it on her own. I could not be more thankful for that.

That being said, the story was too basic, and while I read the whole thing and enjoyed it, it didn't make me feel anything. The writing had a few issues. I choose to see some of the pacing issues others referred too, as Aster faking us out. There were a lot of repitions. Whether that be individual words, descriptions, or straight up sentences copy pasted. I think with the network Aster has, the editing should be a lot tighter than the book currently is. Even in ARC form.

This isn't the next greatest contemporary romance, but if you want something to read in the park or on the beach this summer, that will be fun but you won't think about after. This is it.

(Also, this is just a general pet peeve of mine, but adoration and focus on the cities itself, and it's descriptions just frustrated me. Coming from someone who's lived in both NYC and Paris)

Miscommunication at every turn! Two very intelligent people keep messing up. It’s giving the ultimate ‘dating the Bank of America’ without a care in the world vibes. But Elle didn’t once offer to pay for anything?! Like not even a hot dog.
If you like the idea of being swept off your feet, he buys you coffee, then the coffee shop, then the chain?! This is the book for you.
Amazing to read Alex’s pen in the romance arena.

Adorable nyc dating story. I enjoyed reading this book and couldn’t put it down. Found it a slow burn but it was worth it in the end. Learning how to handle grief as well as everyday life. Kept guessing until the end which I enjoyed.

3.75 ⭐️
3 🌶️

Summer in the city by Alex Aster is a hot new romance that will absolutely not keep out the heat of summer. This story follows Elle, an anonymous successful screenwriter, and Parker, a tech CEO, as they navigate the summer in New York whilst dating - well, fake dating.

This book!! It was very well written and the growth from the characters felt very real. The tension between Elle and Parker had me on the edge of my seat at times, and the banter between them was genuinely funny. With multiple of Elle’s relationships being explored and developed, it was super easy to get invested in her and her story.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone after a fun summer romance read! Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This review was left honestly and voluntarily.

"Summer in the City" by Alex Aster is a rom-com set in New York City.

I received an ARC from Bloomsbury Publishing Plc via Netgalley.
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

Publication date is 25 March 2025.

Elle is a 27 year old screen writer that needs to write the screenplay for a big-budget movie set in New York until the end of summer. The issue is that she had writer's block and decides to move to New York to find inspiration.
Parker is a tech billionaire, that Elle met in a club 2 years ago, but because of something he said, she felt disrespected and never anted to hear from him. Now, he is her neighbour and they end up fake dating.

It was hard to rate this book because there were parts that I liked and other that annoyed me.
On one side, I liked the pace of the story, the writing, the short chapters that kept me involved on the story and part of the story between Elle and Parker. There are some swoony moments, some emotional parts and also some funny moments. Parker is very sweet and would have done anything to make Elle happy.
But on the other side, I could not understand some of Elle's actions, after a while Parkers gestures seemed desperate and the last part was rushed.
Maybe it would have been better to also have Parker's POV.

Overall this was a quick sweet and a bit spicy rom-com with some emotional moments.

A fun, easy-breezy summer rom com - characterisation of Parker and Elle was good but I think the stand out element for me was the sense of setting. A perfect beach read!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is perfection, a rom com where nothing is what you expect it to be. I laughed, cried, and nodded along in agreement throughout. Elle is a screenwriter, Parker is a tech billionaire, they agree to a Summer of fake dating, which obviously does not work out as expected. I really enjoyed the quirkiness of Elle and found Parker unexpectedly lovable. This is an ideal holiday read.

It may be par for the course with billionaire romances, but unfortunately this book felt extremely out-of-touch and I could not enjoy it. It didn’t help that the main character was highly unlikable and the romance felt contrived.

Would I recommend?... Only if you're after 'The Hating Game' reincarnated, but with a LOT more money

Read for:
- 'not like other girls' main character
- insta-infatuation, forced proximity, billionaire romance
- short chapters!

This was soooo good! Definitely a perfect book to read in the summer. Parker is my ultimate dream man with his endless acts of service. And the descriptions of NYC were everything. The book was fast paced and kept me interested the whole time. The only thing stopping it from being a 5 star was the FMC Elle was quite annoying at times and nitpicking at things even tho Parker was literally perfect????? And the time jump I feel was unnecessary at the end. The last chapter gave me butterflies Parker is everything

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc. Due to be published march 25th.

Summer in the City by Alex Aster is a fantastic debut romance that perfectly captures the magic of New York City, blending witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and a heartfelt story.

Elle, a struggling screenwriter with writer’s block, and Parker, a billionaire tech mogul, have undeniable enemies-to-lovers tension from the start. Their dynamic was so fun to read, and the forced proximity aspect (one wall apart!) made their interactions even better. The writing was engaging, and the characters were lovable—Parker especially stole my heart! If only a guy like him were real. Elle was great too, though her obsession with money got a bit frustrating at times—but it made sense once her backstory was revealed.

Overall, this was a super enjoyable, well-written romance with humor, steam, and an immersive NYC setting (I hope, someday, I will be able to visit those places as well!). Alex did an amazing job, and I’d love to read more romance from her in the future!