Summer in the City
By Alex Aster
- Release Date: 2025-03-25
- Genre: Romantic Comedies
Description
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
“This was a fun, stay-up-late-to-finish read! Elle and Parker have chemistry from the jump, but a combination of forced proximity and her hatred of him is fuel for witty banter, a long, slow burn and plenty of steam! I loved how Elle’s true enemies-to-lovers journey is with New York City itself. Aster pays tribute to so many special NYC landmarks and experiences making the setting every bit a living character as the people in it.” — Abby Jimenez, #1 New York Times bestselling author
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Alex Aster comes her adult debut novel Summer in the City—a swoony, fast-paced second chance billionaire romance and rom-com set in New York City in which a screenwriter and a sexy tech CEO go from lovers to enemies and back to lovers again…
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 defined by forced proximity 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 enter a fake dating agreement 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.
Enemies to Lovers: She needs inspiration. He is inspiration. Too bad Elle can’t stand her tech billionaire muse, Parker Warren—and the feeling is mutual.Witty Banter: Their chemistry started with a disastrous stairwell hookup. Now, their hate-fueled arguments might be the only thing that can break her writer’s block... and his resolve.Slow Burn Romance: They’re just neighbors, and it’s just a business arrangement. But with one thin wall between them all summer, their fake relationship is starting to feel dangerously real.Spicy Rom-Com: A New York City summer full of sizzling chemistry, laugh-out-loud moments, and plenty of steam as these two opposites discover they can’t keep their hands off each other.
Reviews
Fun summer romance
5By Pookie1321Fun cute romance with enemies to lovers trope where Elle and Parker go through ups and downs of a fake relationship, relearning the love for NYC and being open to finding love with someone who you may have been wrong about from the start. Good characters and friendships, hint of spice and a love you wish for.Love it
5By Jacklym R.Love this novel rom-com ❤️ very well written and beautifully executedI had to break up with my phone
4By lovebugarugThe only reason I give it 4 stars is bcs elle was pissinh me off . I read the book in a span of 5 days , but I loved it nonetheless. It is a slow burn . I wouldn’t say it’s enemies to lovers but I feel this would be a modern romance book. Elle (fmc) comes from a different family then Parker (mmc). They are so dynamic different they come from 2 different worlds . She believes she can never be with someone like him and it turns out he is exactly who she needed.Cute beach read
2By adsnoorVery obvious and cliche, but sweet nonetheless. Cannot wait to see the movie though, the book was an ok read, all the typical characters, scenes and story line. The interactions didn’t inspire any emotions beyond just reading for the plotMy first Romance Novel
5By Phoenix BlissI never once gave romance novels a chance,seeing that it's mostly for women and not men. When I saw that Alex Aster was doing something different from the LightLark series, I decided to give this a chance. I felt like I was seeing a rom com movie playing and I do like those at times. Alex writes good characters and tells good stories. The only thing is who to cast in the movie. Thanks Alex for doing this, and should write another book like this, I'll gladly pay to buy my copy and get lost in it. I guess men can read romance novels too.Summer in the city
5By KTD4057This book was such a fun read. I felt like I was reading the perfect Hallmark love story. The characters felt so real and I loved the enemies/fake love trope. I want a sequel to their love story!!!A Joy to Read
5By Fbsc50I enjoyed reading this book. The two main characters each had their faults and their excellent character traits. It was fun reading about their summer together throughout NYC. And the ending was as it should be.Summer in the city
1By yviybyiuTrite not amusing unlikely and unlikable characters.Hallmark movie vibes
2By LizaFultzCute characters, but a bit too much Hallmark movie vibes for me. Could have used a little less perfect and a little more real.

