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.