First Impression | Synopsis | Book Review | Book Details
Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 - 4.5 stars (see my rating system)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: Romance
Alex Aster’s debut into contemporary romance does not disappoint! Read this entire book in a single sitting- thank you for finally getting me out of a months long reading slump!
Elle, a 27-year-old screenwriter struggling with writer’s block, heads back to New York City for the summer to house-sit her sister’s luxe apartment undergoing renovations while her sister travels with her husband. The apartment is perfect for jumpstarting her creativity—until she realizes her neighbor is Parker Warren, a billionaire tech CEO and her former hookup-turned-rival.
As their lives collide, they strike a deal: Parker helps Elle rediscover the city’s charm for her screenplay, while she plays along as his fake girlfriend to serve as positive PR during his company’s big acquisition. But as their pretend partnership heats up, their feelings become harder to ignore. One summer. One city. And one chance to turn an unexpected reunion into something real.
The Lightlark series had been on my TBR forever, partially because I’m always #100 on the waitlist at the library. So, when I got approved for this ARC, I was thrilled! Huge thanks to William Morrow for the opportunity.
The story is set in NYC, and as someone who lived there for years, I loved how the city came to life through the settings and little relatable moments woven into the story. Honestly, this plot is what I hoped my move to NYC would feel like as a young professional. Spoiler: my experience was more “spot the rat on the subway” than whirlwind romance, but hey, a girl can dream, right?
Also, no instalove here! The slow burn and the simmering tension before the characters finally get together were so satisfying. Nothing ruins a romance faster than bad pacing, and this one delivered.
The focus on money throughout the book got a little repetitive. I get why it was part of Elle’s backstory, but her reactions to Parker’s gestures felt over the top at times. And don’t even get me started on the third-act breakup in Chapter 30.
Overall, this book pulled me out of a terrible reading slump, and I devoured it in one day. If you’re looking for a swoony romance with NYC vibes, give this one a try!
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