Books & Audiobooks
Twenty-five-year-old Elle meets Parker in a stairwell one night, but after a huge misunderstanding involving some harsh words, the pair never see each other again…until two years later.
Now twenty-seven, Elle is struggling to finish her screenplay and has a deadline till the end of summer. Her agency sends her to the city that never sleeps and the city that she hates. Trapped in a gorgeous apartment overlooking the skyline, Elle has to battle her months-long writer’s block when she meets Billionaire Bachelor Parker again. As her neighbour.
Suddenly the words come gushing out of Elle as she discovers her enemy is suddenly her muse. She has to invent reasons to see him, when Parker asks her for a favour: to be his fake girlfriend till the end of summer. Now Parker and Elle are spending all their time together as fake boyfriend and girlfriend as Elle scours all the famous New York locations the agency has made a list of. Is the relationship really fake or is Elle falling in love with Parker and the city?
Alex Aster’s Summer in the City is one of the funniest, lightest, and frothiest books I have read this year! Obviously with summer in the title, it’s a perfect summer read, with a fun trope (fake dating), sizzling chemistry between the two main characters, and a fun backdrop of New York City. Both Elle and Parker are well-rounded individuals with their own hang-ups, who don’t take themselves too seriously. Elle has some work to do on herself, as she’s a bit of a recluse at the beginning of the story, but she warms up by the end. Slowly but surely, she opens up to the people around her and proves to herself that she is indeed not an island, and it’s okay to need and want other people.
Parker is a typical billionaire bachelor but with a heart. It’s a very Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy situation as both realize how badly they’ve misjudged each other after that fateful night in the stairwell. But despite all of Elle’s hang-ups, Parker is relentless in his pursuit to get to know her and be with her. The fake dating doesn’t last long as real feelings begin to emerge, especially as Elle and Parker discover the city and how well they work together. While the third act wasn’t my favourite, it was easy to forgive with a happily ever after that was tied up with a bow.
As sweet as an ice cream cone on a warm summer day, as frothy as a cappuccino from your favourite NYC cafe, and as fun as your favourite rom-com set in the city, Summer in the City is sure to steal your heart and make your insides melt.