Summer in the city A novel

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.)

Elle is spending the summer in New York City, a place she despises. Hired to write a movie script set in the city, she decides to immerse herself fully in the experience but finds herself grappling with writer's block at the worst possible moment. Things only get worse when she runs into her neighbor Parker, a tech billionaire she has hated since they shared a passionate encounter that quickly went bad. Parker thinks he can buy anything he wants--and he wants her--but fiercely independent Elle can't be bought. When she realizes that her intense dislike of him is fueling her writing, she agrees to be his pretend girlfriend so he can divert attention away from his very public and precarious business merger. What starts off as a reluctant and temporary agreement becomes a magical summer, leading to an ardent connection. As summer draws to a close, Ell and Parker begin to question whether they have to say goodbye. VERDICT Aster's ("Lightlark" series) excellent adult debut, full of angst, steamy scenes, laugh-out-loud banter, absorbing storylines, and relatable characters, will be devoured by fans of Emily Henry.--Migdalia Jimenez