"Summer in the City," a novel by Alex Aster, is a fast-paced romance full of banter. This novel has been trending on BookTok due to the different book editions. There are special editions in stores that each present a different date on the cover featured in the book.
The novel follows Elle, a struggling screenwriter who moves to New York City for inspiration for her next film. When she moves into her new apartment building for the summer, she discovers that wealthy tech billionaire Parker Warren is her new neighbor. She previously hooked up with Parker at a party where she despised him because of a comment he made about her. When she runs into him, she agrees to help him with his company acquisition, and he helps her with her writing. They decide to fake-date to distract the public from Parker’s company deal. As their fake relationship evolves, their feelings become real, creating obstacles in their personal and work lives.
Highs
The banter between Elle and Parker is one of the highlights of this novel. The commentary keeps the audience laughing because of how sarcastic Elle can be with him. Aster’s fast-paced writing also keeps the reader engaged.
Aster offers a meaningful portrayal of Elle's struggles. For instance, she lost her mother to an illness. This adds to Elle’s personality because it explains why her character is an isolated and anonymous screenwriter. Aster perfectly portrays Elle’s emotional depth. She describes the independence Elle wants for herself as a successful screenwriter and shows that Elle does not want to be controlled by a man with money. The novel also shows that life is imperfect even with money and reminds readers that sometimes, people can feel like the world is against them.
Parker is another highlight because he shows Elle his true feelings and cares tremendously for her. He is a billionaire who shows his love through gift-giving, which is not Elle’s love language. He is honest and generous, tries to make her happy, and would buy her the world. He grew up poor with no money and built his way to life, becoming a billionaire. His strong work ethic also brings out his character’s personality because he can be humble.
Moreover, the novel's New York City setting brings out the book's charm. The cute dates included capture a rom-com feeling for readers. Parker and Elle travel all over New York, completing Elle’s list to set the scene for the characters in her film. This allows the readers to have an adventure while reading; each date is like a movie playing in readers' heads. These scenes remind me of romantic comedies in actual movies.
Lows
There are few lows in "Summer in the City." The main low point is that it is predictable at times due to the tropes used. There are not many plot twists that bring out emotion in the novel.
The other low point in the novel is Elle’s relationship with Parker towards the end. Her behavior is characterized by being obsessed with money. She does not want a man to control her finances when she has her own money. She also self-sabotages in the book, which creates challenges in their relationship. Her character could be irritating at times because she is the reason why things happen the way they do.
Verdict
"Summer in the City" is worth the read because it is easy and fast-paced. This novel has fun summer vibes and emotional moments. It takes the reader on a romantic adventure.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Mariam Fakhreddine is a film and theater reviewer for The Eastern Echo. She has worked as a news and features reporter for The Echo for two years.
