Summer in the City

Bestselling YA author Aster’s adult debut (after the Lightlark Saga series) demonstrates that she’s as talented at handling contemporary settings as building fantasy worlds. Screenwriter Elle Leon reluctantly returns to New York City seeking inspiration for her next hit screenplay. Despite all the city has to offer, however, she’s more than content to stay inside her sister’s luxury apartment, only venturing out for coffee. She’s wracked with writer’s block—until she realizes that her neighbor is hunky tech CEO Parker Warren, a man the tabloids dub the “Billionaire Bachelor” and whom Elle almost hooked up with two years prior before he insulted her by assuming she was a gold digger. Parker represents everything Elle despises, and her ire toward him finally gets her writing. So when he asks her to play his fake girlfriend in front of the press, she agrees, hoping for even more inspiration. Elle’s disdain for Parker lasts a bit too long given how much time they inevitably spend together, but Aster builds their backstories and chemistry well, making this enemies-to-lovers arc believable. Meanwhile, their pretend dates take them on a whirlwind tour of famous New York sites, which will please armchair travelers. Aster should win a whole new group of fans with this. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Mar.)