In Summer in the City, Alex Aster—best known for her #1 New York Times bestselling YA fantasy novel Lightlark—makes her adult debut with a sparkling contemporary romance that captures both the magic and grit of New York City during its most enchanting season. This enemies-to-lovers romance offers readers a perfect summer escape filled with witty banter, sizzling chemistry, and a thoughtful exploration of independence, success, and what it truly means to find your perfect match.
The Plot: A Summer Agreement with an Expiration Date
Elle Leon is a successful but anonymous screenwriter suffering from debilitating writer’s block. With a deadline looming for a screenplay set in New York City, she reluctantly returns to the city she swore she’d never visit again to house-sit her sister’s luxurious apartment. Her plans for a quiet summer of writing are immediately derailed when she discovers her neighbor is none other than Parker Warren—the tech “Billionaire Bachelor” she had a brief but memorable encounter with in a nightclub stairwell two years ago.
When their paths cross again, Elle’s creative juices finally start flowing—fueled by her lingering anger toward Parker, who once mistook her for a gold digger. Seeing an opportunity, they strike a mutually beneficial arrangement: Parker needs a fake girlfriend to improve his image during his company’s acquisition, and Elle needs inspiration for her screenplay while visiting specific NYC locations.
What begins as a strictly business arrangement soon evolves into something neither expected as they explore New York together—from Central Park to the High Line, from pizza taste-testing adventures to spontaneous baseball games. But with summer’s end approaching and their agreement set to expire, both must decide if what they’ve found is worth fighting for, or if it’s simply another summer fling destined to fade with the season.
Characters: Depth Beyond the Tropes
Elle: More Than a Rom-Com Heroine
Elle Leon immediately stands out as more complex than your typical romance protagonist. Guarded and prickly, she has deliberately constructed her life to maintain her independence and anonymity. Her choice to write screenplays under a pseudonym stems from deep-seated issues with her absent father and a promise to her late mother to never rely on anyone else.
Aster skillfully develops Elle’s character arc, revealing layers of grief, ambition, and fear of being diminished by someone else’s success. Her journey from isolation to connection feels earned through meaningful growth rather than sudden transformation. As Elle allows herself to experience joy again—in her runs with Parker, dinners with new friends, exploration of the city she once despised—readers witness a woman reclaiming parts of herself she’d forgotten existed.
Parker: Breaking the Billionaire Mold
While Parker initially appears to fit the “arrogant billionaire” stereotype, Aster gradually reveals depths that subvert expectations. His vulnerability regarding his height phobia, his devotion to his mother, and his ethical principles regarding his company’s data policies all create a character who feels refreshingly human despite his extraordinary wealth.
Parker’s genuine interest in Elle’s work and his efforts to understand her perspective—even when he missteps—demonstrate emotional intelligence often lacking in the “billionaire romance” subgenre. His grand gestures are balanced with smaller, more meaningful acts of care, like teaching himself to make lattes exactly how Elle likes them.
Writing Style: Fresh Voice with Room to Grow
Aster brings a distinctive voice to adult romance, blending sharp humor with moments of emotional resonance. The first-person narration from Elle’s perspective creates an intimate reading experience, inviting readers into her thoughts and insecurities. The dialogues crackles with tension and wit, particularly in the earlier enemies-to-lovers phase.
Where the writing occasionally falters is in pacing. The middle section of the novel feels rushed in places, with emotional beats that could benefit from more development. Additionally, some scenes rely heavily on familiar romance tropes without fully subverting or reimagining them.
Strengths: What Makes This Summer Sizzle
Vivid New York Setting
Aster’s love letter to New York City in summer is perhaps the novel’s greatest strength. From secretive Gramercy Park to the bustling streets of SoHo, from hole-in-the-wall pizza joints to grand terrace dinners overlooking Central Park, the city becomes a character in itself:
“Summer in New York City is a hellscape. It’s hotter than my hometown in Southern California, and that heat is reflected off two-hundred-feet-tall glorified mirrors that shoot the sun right into your face.”
The location-hopping serves the plot well, creating natural opportunities for relationship development while showcasing both iconic and lesser-known corners of the city.
Chemistry That Leaps Off the Page
The attraction between Elle and Parker is palpable from their first re-encounter, creating a delicious tension that builds throughout the novel. Their physical chemistry is well-established, but more impressive is how Aster develops their intellectual and emotional connection. Their shared understanding, communicated through glances and small gestures, feels authentic rather than contrived.
Thoughtful Exploration of Themes
Beyond the romance, Summer in the City tackles meaningful themes with nuance:
- Independence vs. interdependence: Elle’s journey from fierce self-reliance to allowing herself vulnerability
- The meaning of success: Both protagonists grapple with balancing ambition and personal fulfillment
- Family legacy: How we carry our parents’ lessons—both healthy and unhealthy—into adulthood
- Money and power dynamics: The complex ways wealth intersects with relationships and self-worth
Areas for Improvement: The Four-Star Perspective
Secondary Character Development
While Elle and Parker are fully realized, some secondary characters feel underdeveloped. Elle’s friends Taryn, Emily, and Gwen have distinct personalities but limited arcs. Elle’s sister Cali shows promise as a complex character, but her storyline feels somewhat unresolved despite an emotional reconciliation scene.
Contrived Conflict
The central conflict leading to the couple’s separation relies heavily on miscommunication and assumptions that sometimes strain credibility. While Elle’s reaction to Parker buying her dream house is understandable given her history, the resolution of this conflict could have been handled with more nuance rather than the extended separation.
Timeline Compression
The eighteen-month separation feels abrupt after the immersive summer experience, and the reconciliation moves quickly after such a significant time apart. More exploration of how both characters grew during this period would have strengthened the emotional payoff of their reunion.
For Fans Of…
If you enjoyed Summer in the City, you might also like:
- Book Lovers by Emily Henry—for another romance featuring a publishing industry professional and a city setting
- The Idea of You by Robinne Lee—for age-gap romance with a fame dynamic
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne—for enemies-to-lovers workplace chemistry
- Beach Read by Emily Henry—for a romance between writers dealing with creative blocks
Final Verdict: A Sun-Soaked Romance Worth Savoring
Summer in the City marks an impressive adult debut for Alex Aster, showcasing her ability to create compelling characters with emotional depth while maintaining the page-turning quality her YA readers have come to expect. While not without flaws, this romance offers a perfect balance of heat, heart, and humor against the backdrop of a sun-drenched New York summer.
The novel will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Enemies-to-lovers dynamics with genuine emotional progression
- Strong, career-focused heroines on journeys of self-discovery
- Rich city settings that enhance the romantic storyline
- Steamy scenes balanced with emotional vulnerability
- Explorations of family dynamics and personal growth
Like a perfect summer day in the city—complete with both sweltering subway platforms and magical rooftop views—Aster’s romance embraces both the messy reality and the glittering possibility of love in New York. As Elle would say, it’s a story worth experiencing outside the comfort of your emotional support five-block radius.
About the Author
Alex Aster is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the TikTok sensation Lightlark and its sequel Nightbane, as well as the Emblem Island series for children, inspired by her Colombian heritage. Summer in the City marks her first adult romance novel, showcasing her versatility across genres and age categories.
With her keen understanding of character dynamics and talent for creating immersive settings, Aster demonstrates that her storytelling abilities extend well beyond the fantasy realm, promising an exciting future in adult fiction. Whether you’re already a fan of her YA work or discovering her for the first time, Summer in the City offers a perfect introduction to Aster’s engaging contemporary voice.
