Summer in the City by Alex Aster — paperback romance, 304 pages

Summer in the City is Alex Aster’s debut romance, following screenwriter Elle and tech billionaire Parker through a fake-dating arrangement in New York. Its enemies-to-lovers setup, slow-burn romance and summer deadline make it a fit for readers seeking contemporary billionaire romance with a city setting.

At a glance

Alex Aster’s debut romance follows screenwriter Elle as she returns to New York to work on a screenplay.
Elle’s neighbour Parker is a tech billionaire she previously hooked up with, and their arrangement begins as fake dating.
The listing describes the book as an enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity, slow-burn romance.

Price

£13.51Save 20%

Reference price: ~~£16.99~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

View offer Ahead of Black FridayExplore the selection

Often bought together

One Golden Summer: The sequel to the hit TV series EVERY YEAR AFTER - a breathtaking summer romance set in Barry's Bay

£10.25

Pros and cons

Pros

The fake-dating arrangement ties Parker’s company acquisition to Elle’s research for her screenplay, giving the romance a clear shared premise.
The New York setting and classic-date-spot research bring the city into Elle’s writing and the couple’s time together.

Technical specifications

8 specifications

Book details
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date	25 Mar. 2025
Language	English
Print length	304 pages
ISBN-10	1526686929
ISBN-13	978-1526686923

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	408 g
Dimensions	14.2 x 4 x 22.4 cm

What to know before buying

The listing identifies this as Alex Aster’s debut romance. Its bestseller descriptions refer to chart rankings for the week ending 29/03/25, not a current ranking. The supplied product details do not explicitly identify the format, so confirm the selected edition if format matters.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Readers looking for contemporary billionaire romance with fake dating and enemies-to-lovers themes.
Readers who enjoy a slow-burn relationship and a New York City setting.

Less suited to

Readers seeking a plot without romance or billionaire-romance tropes.

Summer in the City by Alex Aster — paperback romance, 304 pages · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.2 / 5 · 10,975 ratings

5 stars48%48%
4 stars31%31%
3 stars18%18%
2 stars3%3%
1 star0%0%

Customer feedback describes this as an engaging summer read, with readers appreciating the romance and slow-burn pacing. Reactions to Elle, the characters and plot development are mixed, so readers’ enjoyment may depend on how well they respond to the protagonist and story choices. That feedback aligns with the listing’s romance-led premise, but does not establish that every reader will find the plot satisfying.

Positive themes

Customers describe the book as an enjoyable summer read and praise its romance and slow-burn pacing.
The story is reported as engaging, with comments noting its New York setting and enough depth to hold attention.

Mixed feedback

Reactions to Elle vary, with some finding her initially likeable and others finding her difficult.
Opinions on the plot’s development are divided.

Frequently asked questions

What is Summer in the City about?

Screenwriter Elle returns to New York to write a screenplay and reconnects with Parker, a tech billionaire she previously hooked up with. They agree to a fake relationship while he navigates a company acquisition and she researches date spots.

What romance tropes does the listing mention?

The listing names billionaire romance, forced proximity, neighbours, fake dating, enemies-to-lovers and slow burn.

How long is the book?

The listed print length is 304 pages.

Who published Summer in the City?

The supplied product details name Bloomsbury Publishing.