REVIEW: Summer in the City by Alex Aster

Summer in the City by Alex Aster: Writing the screenplay for a big budget movie set in bustling New York City, would be anyones dream come true and for the most part it really has been a dream come true for Elle. The only problem being with the deadline for her screenplay fast approaching, Elle is hit with the worst case of writers block known to man, now she cant help but feel overwhelmed and need of some major inspiration. Which is why she finds herself heading back to the one place that she swore she would not enter again, NYC, in an apartment that she definitely can not afford with skyline views, floor to ceiling windows and a cute coffee shop to frequent, really what more could she need to spark inspiration? Well it would seem all it really took to kick her creative juices into action was running into her annoying one night stand, Parker Warren, tech billionaire and all around hottie, who just so happens to be her new neighbor.

While they might have gone from insta lust to total hate, the two can’t help but admit that just maybe they might be able to help each other out of a tight situation, all they have to do is fake date for the summer, Parker gets to have a girlfriend to show off during his company’s acquisition and Elle gets to see first hand all the ritzy places she is basing her screenplay around… really a win win for everyone, well that is until pretend begins to feel real… can these two make their lovers to enemies back to lovers really work this time?

I loved this book! Summer In The City was just the cutest lovers to enemies to lovers romcom that you will find, this book was just the kind of read that I was looking for and just a bit more. There was a great balance between the cute trope combinations and a nice touch of feelings, I think it would be safe to say this was the kind of read that just made you feel like you were along with the characters as each thing happened play by play. One of the things that I loved about this book was getting to see New York through Elles eyes, this was such a cute way of exploring the city but also setting the scene for this love story.

Both main characters were just so damn loveable, it was hard to find fault with either Elle or Parker and the more we got to know them the more I found myself loving them and rooting them on. Elle was such a relatable leading lady, I completely understood her reservations and fears of truly letting Parker into her heart. Though I did really enjoy getting to see her work through her fears and anxiety as the book progressed. All in all Elle was a super sweet and easy to love leading lady. Now for our hero, Parker, well lets just say he was so damn swoony, no wonder Elle was finding it hard to resist his charm. This guy was easily the king of romantic gestures and swoon worthy word. His feelings for Elle were as clear as day and I for one love a hero that loves his girl hard. While not all of his act of adoration were well thought out they all came with the more pure of intentions, most importantly he learnt from his mistakes! Truly I just loved seeing him showering his girl with acts of affection.

The chemistry between these two was enemies to lovers perfection! I love the past connection that gave us this background tension, which only built up to peak levels of steamy angst as the story progressed. I mean really these two just had an incredible build up and their connection only got better as the book progressed, also lets just take a moment to appreciate the steamy scenes in this book, Aster hit the perfect balance between steamy and sweet.

Summer In The City was just perfection! This is the kind of book you just want to put the rest of the world on do not disturb and ran away to, I absolutely loved reading this cute, sassy and a bit spicy second chance, billionaire, fake-dating romcom. Definitely a must read!!

Book Info:

Publication: March 25, 2025 | William Morrow |

Twenty-seven-year-old screenwriter Elle has the chance of a lifetime to write a big-budget movie set in New York City. The only problem? She’s had writer’s block for months, and her screenplay is due at the end of the summer.

In a desperate attempt at inspiration, Elle ends up back in the city she swore she would never return to, in an apartment she could never afford (floor-to-ceiling windows, skyline views, and a new coffee shop to haunt included). It’s the perfect place to write her screenplay…until she realizes her new neighbor is tech “Billionaire Bachelor” Parker Warren, her stairwell hookup from two years ago. It’s been a lovers-to-enemies situation ever since.

When seeing him again turns into a full night of hate-fueled writing, Elle realizes her enemy/twisted muse might just be the key to finishing her screenplay… if she can stand being around her polar opposite. She writes anonymously, and he’s on the cover of every business magazine. He frequents fancy red carpeted events, and she doesn’t like leaving her emotional support five block radius.

One summer. One wall apart. He needs to fake a buzzy relationship during his company’s precarious acquisition. She needs to write a movie around a list of NYC locations. Both need a break from their unrelenting schedules, and a chance to rediscover the skyscraper glimmering, pizza crusted, sunlit charms of the city.

Summers always end, and so will this agreement. It’s all pretend. Promise.

Until it isn’t.