Alex Aster’s storytelling shines in her newest novel Summer in the City, delivering a sweet and heartfelt take on the classic enemies-to-lovers plot. The novel follows twenty-seven-year-old screenwriter Elle, who is given the chance to write a film set in New York City—a place she once loved but now can hardly stand. Struggling with writer’s block, she feels trapped in a city that no longer inspires her until she discovers that her neighbor in her temporary apartment building is none other than “Billionaire Bachelor” Parker Warren. The two had hooked up years earlier and hated each other ever since. Upon seeing him again, she realizes Parker might be the unexpected muse she needs to finish her screenplay, sparking her own real-life enemies-to-lovers story.
As the plot unfolds, Elle and Parker find that they can help with the other’s problems: she needs creative inspiration and space to grow, and he needs a distraction from the relentless press coverage threatening his company. These needs inspire them to craft a mutually beneficial fake relationship for the media, a decision that propels them into shared dinners, rooftop events, and a final private moment in Paris that blurs the line between performance and authenticity.
While the premise may sound familiar, Elle’s multidimensionality and realistic struggles breathe new life into its popular tropes. She deals not only with romance and her writing, but with her connections to family. Her strained relationship with her younger sister and the discoveries she makes while sorting through her late mother’s belongings add conflict and display Elle’s vulnerability. The emotional weight of her complicated relationship with her father, especially his habit of abandoning people, highlights her fear of failure and of becoming like him. Elle’s romance with Parker Warren heightens her growth as she struggles. He challenges her not by rescuing her as Elle fears, but by encouraging her to live a life shaped by her own choices. His influence opens emotional and professional doors for Elle, pushing her to see opportunities she once felt were inaccessible. The story is driven not by a trope, but by who Elle and Parker are as individuals and who they become together.
The novel also stands out for how seamlessly the interior lives of its characters blend with the pulse of contemporary New York City, where the story is set. Aster does not just use New York City as a backdrop, but as an authentic and dynamic setting that acts as another catalyst in Elle’s character development. Through her detailed name-dropping of authentic locations—like leisurely strolls through the New York Botanical Garden, runs taken up and down Manhattan, and meals at Rubirosa—Aster captures the sensory, fast-paced reality of NYC. These concrete details make readers feel as if they’re navigating each crowded block and late night walk right beside Elle.
One of the novel’s most compelling strengths is its focus on hardworking individuals with complicated pasts. Elle’s world is not one of inherited privilege or glittery ease; she endures the pressure of her personal history to prove herself in a city that can feel both exhilarating and unforgiving. Parker also comes from a background marked by responsibility and expectation, and despite his confidence, he carries his own history of setbacks and sacrifices. Summer in the City celebrates resilience, ambition, and the messy realities that shape everyday people. Aster weaves in a meaningful message about working for yourself and pursuing your own dreams through Elle’s journey toward trusting her talent, taking ownership of her ambitions, and stepping into opportunities she once felt unworthy of. This emphasis on self-driven growth rather than external validation gives the novel its heart and an emotional foundation that lingers long after the final page. Overall, Summer in the City is vibrant, warm, and human: a contemporary romance that resonates not just because of its love story, but because of the authenticity of the lives at the center.
You can find where to purchase a copy of Summer in the City here.
Summer in the City
Alex Aster
William Morrow
March 25, 2025
304 Pages
Itzel Sosa is a graduating senior earning her BA in English with a writing concentration and minor in Law as well as a certificate in creative writing and publishing. When she isn’t at school or studying, she enjoys cozying up with a book and exploring Philadelphia. After graduation she plans on attending law school.