I got exactly what I anticipated in this book which was a love story set in New York City. The meet-cute was quite unrealistic, plus the careers were a bit left-field for the main characters, but it included places in New York that I love and allowed me to reminisce about my time in NYC and going on dates and falling in love with the city.

I am so excited for this to be turned into a film. Perfect summer book with all the best tropes and she has absolutely smashed this!!

I have been so looking forward to this release - and I'm so thrilled it lived up to my very high expectations. I loved every moment of this and I couldn't recommend it enough.

"Summer in the City" is a love letter to New York as well as a fabulous escapist romance. I did struggle with Elle's attitudes (who is proud of their lack of physical activity and bodily weakness?!) But overall it's a really enjoyable romance that ticks a lot of boxes.

✔️enemies to lovers
✔️instant attraction
✔️fake dating
✔️just for the summer
✔️set in new york


I'm not sure how to write this review, but I'll try to express my feelings as best as I can. This is the first book I read by Alex Aster, and it was really good for most of it. I really did have fun reading it. Elle and Parker's story was epic. I love the whole premise, it promised a lot and it delivered most of it.

I was pretty hooked from chapter one and was eager to see how this story would unfold, how they would fall in love, and what would happen after.

In the beginning, I loved Elle and hated Parker. Elle was real, honest, imperfect and was not afraid to be and show who she was. I felt her emotions towards Parker, and my heart hurt along with hers due to all the pain she had to experience in her life. Parker looked like such a conceited prick, but I was so down for this enemies-to-lovers.

Slowly, I started to see and love Parker just like Elle did. My heart warmed up to him a lot, and I could see their happy future because I was sure they'd be able to overcome the barriers they had.

I loved Elle most of the book, but the last couple of chapters changed my opinion by 180 degrees. I feel she was not nice towards Parker. She continued judging him so negatively and putting him in such a low place.

I understand that she had issues, but I really dislike that we didn't see her acknowledging her issues and working through them. I would've loved to see that, and my respect for her would have been maintained. The only moment that there was a mild acknowledgement was when Penelope told her, I absolutely loved Penelope for this.

Maybe my opinion is too serious for a fictional book. It's just a fictional love story after all. But I'm a very character-driven person, I have to love characters to love the story, and here it was not the best. I feel like Elle and her issues could've been done a bit better.

Still, it was a fun book to read, and it really made me want to go to New York City in the summer and go to all those lovely places. I know a lot of people will love this book, as they should. Hopefully, mine is an unpopular opinion. I think I'd read another romance by Aster.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Really cute summer read. I feel like you should really know NYC if you want to read this and truly enjoy it but it was easy to follow. Thank you for the arc.

I really liked this one! It's my first Alex Aster book, and I really want to read the Lightlark series as well.

I saw a lot of people complaining about the FMC self-sabotaging, and yeah, I see that, but I also completely understand her reasoning. So, even though the third-act conflict was annoying, I also thought it was very realistic.

The sex was a little cringe, and so was the dialog at times, but overall I had a really good time reading this, and I can see myself reading more adult romances from Alex Aster in the future!

After loving Alex Aster’s work in the Lightlark trilogy, I knew I had to check out her first contemporary romance and Summer in the City didn’t disappoint at all with its ability to sweep you away from the mundane and into a New York City of Aster’s creation.

A romance that has a billionaire in it always has a little bit of utter make believe about it, and the impossible to it too because that’s what makes them so much fun in my humble opinion. The ‘Billionaire bachelor’ tech specialist Parker Barren is no exception and I loved both how he infuriates and intrigues the screenwriter and introvert, Elle because he’s written wonderfully. The main character of Summer in the City however, is the Big Apple itself and Aster brings the city that never sleeps to life in such a vibrant and well throughout manner that those such as myself who haven’t crossed the Atlantic Ocean can feel as though they’re able to walk around Central Park, grab a coffee at many of the independent stores found throughout the city, or lose yourself for a few hours in a Manhattan hotspot or two. New York City is both the place our story takes place and the movie Elle is attempting to bring to life despite being disheartened by all it can give a person.

Parker, as any good lead in a romance book or movie, has a history with Elle that is tainted, but will that stop them finding something magical for a few weeks of Summer? I think not because that’s our journey. New York, Parker and Elle are all in for a whirlwind as each day unfolds and I couldn't’ book my copy down because it had me giggling and smiling more often than not. It has everything you can ask for in a romance with lines that will have you sigh and attempt to push Elle into seeing what is in front of her in Parker.

“I just want,” he says. slowly, taking a step towards me. His eyes are burning, a forest on fire. “A chance to love you beyond that one summer.”

I love Elle, she’s very relatable I think because she’s afraid of getting burnt by anyone she lets in and as the story unfolds we start to see why - she needs several hugs as well as a good selection of quality baked goods and coffee because she’s a bundle of hurt and self preservation. I think many readers will nod along to the insights we have of her and whilst the story is perfectly larger than life, because damn iit! It’s supposed to be so we can curl up with it again and again as a comfort read? It’s these glimpses of realism and relatability that makes it even better - nothing is ever perfect, whether in a person or situation.

Summer in the City may well be Alex Aster’s first romance I’ve seen, but I hope it won’t be the last because I loved every moment, it’s a perfect book when it’s raining or when you want to take yourself away to where you get a little bit of magic and Happy Ever After.

A light, pacy read about Parker, CEO of a tech company and Elle, secret screenwriter. When the two meet at an event their connection is undeniable but just quickly turns to hate when Parker starts talking money. They go there separate ways and then as fate would have it, end up living next to each other one summer.

This was just plain old fun, it executed all the tropes perfectly, I was emotionally invested throughout. It was funny, warm, smutty, and just freaking fun. LOVE.

I was so intrigued to read Alex Asters first romance novel and wasn't disappointed. The plot unfolds like all the best romcom movies, with plenty of comedic moments, will they / won't they tensions and enough drama to keep you flipping through. I really enjoyed that there was more to the story than just the developing romance and looking forward to reading more of the authors work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)
Glitzy, dramatic, and addictive. Alex Aster offers an insider look at ambition, friendship, and romance under the dazzling lights of the city. It’s a heady summer escape with enough emotional depth to keep you invested. Perfect for beach bags and binge-reading weekends.

✨ARC Review✨

Firstly I loved the writing of this book and how New York became a wonderful character in of itself. I thought the romance was well-written but ultimately I don’t think billionaire romances are for me, especially in 2025. I also thought that the character Elle had too much “I’m not like other girls” energy which is something I really dislike in books

Ultimately I thought this book was fun but not for me

It's rare in a book where the MMC fucks up, that I feel like there's an appropriate amount of groveling and a proper apology. Aster really hit that mark. The MMC never intended to hurt the 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)

Fake Relationship. Enemies to lovers (well...on her side). Forced Proxemity.

I have not binged a Romance this hard since I discovered Elsie Silver.

The quick wit of Elle and the easy, albeit tense at first, banter with Parker was what brought such humour and authenticity to their story.

And I LOVED that this happy ending to me wasn't like what you read in the fairytales, it was still romantic and beautiful but with realistic reactions and honest conversations.

Parker was absolutely just a golden retriever just wanting to do right but not really sure what that was, Elle with her own baggage from her past struggling to believe a man can love her and still support her without controlling her.

I can't wait to see more from Alex, I definitely need to give her fantasy a go!

🍕 Summer in the City by Alex Aster 🍕 REVIEW

5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟– The Perfect Feel-Good Summer Romance!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Summer in the City through @netgalley just before its release, and I absolutely devoured it! @alexaster delivers a vibrant, fast-paced, and utterly addictive romance that had me grinning from start to finish. 🏀

At its heart, this book is an enemies-attract fake dating masterpiece, bursting with summer magic, swoon-worthy moments, and witty banter. But what truly set it apart for me was the neurodivergent-coded protagonist—her quirks felt so authentic and relatable, from needing multiple drinks at once to hesitating before writing in a new notebook, and needing subtitles to watch TV! The representation was beautifully woven in, adding depth to an already lovable character. ☕️

And then there were the Taylor Swift references! From direct nods to Karma to the clever connections with no body, no crime and the use of color symbolism in describing love, Swifties will adore the subtle (and not-so-subtle) Easter eggs throughout the story.

This book is everything I want in a summer romance—lighthearted yet meaningful, easy to read, and impossible to put down. If you’re looking for the perfect poolside or beach read, Summer in the City is it! 💕

Thank you to @bloomsburypublishing and @alexaster for trusting me with an ARC in return for an honest review 🍎🍕

I am so excited to go to @waterstones_edi on the 15th April to meet Alex Aster and talk about this wonderful book ☺️

I loved this book, it had tropes that I adore and the characters were great. Overall it was a fun and sweet read.

I was really excited to read this book. I hadn’t read a billionaire romance in a long time and also a city setting feels refreshing these days as the market it saturated with small town romances.
I found it took a while for me to get into the story and I was slightly confused by the setup of our FMC in Manhattan. I enjoyed the setting snd the vibes between the two characters were good but there was something missing for me to say I loved it.
An enjoyable read.

Really enjoyed this! Loved the banter and the main characters exploring New York. It’s fun and steamy The perfect summer read!

A fun and easy to read book. Reminded me of my teenage years when i watched all the teen movies and romance in the city. I wouldn’t say enemies to lovers but more like of haters to lovers. A really good-to-be-true billionaire who for some reason has so much undestarding but you can not love him. Elle is sometimes so frustrating to keep up but you can’t help but being attached to her for being a real human with real feelings and insecurities. A simple easy to follow story with a predictable (for me plot). At some times i was like is someone really this rich??? Would someone this rich really to all that? As a book for me is ok i enjoyed it but as a girl who has never been in New York and probably won’t (cause of the distance) i would prefer to see this story on screen. I would of liked more descriptions of the buildings the places, i didn’t know any of these and always had to google them to see how they looked. I am sure as a film it will be great.
The only thing that made me scream was the reason she walked away from him. Ok i get it she wanted to feel independent but he was like perfect and she overreacted for me. But a story had to be told. Rich boy meets poorish girl and fall in love together in the largest city in the world. There had to be a break up 😍
Enjoyable book but was so weird to read something of Alex Aster that was not fantasy. I also prefer her writing in first person.

Will recommend to someone who likes a cute sweet romance book blooming in the city of New York!!