13-05-2025
Alex Aster's Rom-Com Novel ‘Summer in the City' Sets Film Adaptation at New Line Cinema (EXCLUSIVE)
New hit rom-com novel 'Summer in the City' is set to be adapted into a feature film from viral author Alex Aster and New Line Cinema.
Released March 25 from HarperCollins Publishers, 'Summer in the City' is described as a 'swoony, fast-paced rom-com set in New York City follows a screenwriter and a sexy tech CEO as they go from lovers to enemies and back to lovers again.' The book debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times bestseller list at launch and remained in the rankings for five weeks.
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Nikki Ramey and Celia Khong will oversee 'Summer in the City' for Warner Bros. Discovery's New Line Cinema. Aster will executive produce the film adaptation of 'Summer in the City,' which marks her second book-to-film adaptation in the works amid her YA fantasy series 'Lightlark' being developed into a feature at Universal and Temple Hill.
No writer, director or cast is currently attached to the project.
Per HarperCollins' synopsis for Aster's 'Summer in the City' novel, 'Elle has the chance of a lifetime to write a big-budget movie set in NYC. The only problem? She has writer's block, and her screenplay is due at the end of the summer. Seeking inspiration, Elle returns to the city and learns her new neighbor is 'Billionaire Bachelor' Parker Warren, her hookup from two years ago. It's been a lovers-to-enemies situation ever since. The sight of Parker sparks a night of hate-fueled writing, bringing Elle to realize her twisted muse might just be the key to finishing her screenplay… if she can stand being around him. He needs to fake a buzzy relationship during his company's precarious acquisition. She needs to write a movie around a list of NYC locations. Both need to shake things up and rediscover the skyscraper glimmering, sunlit charms of the city. Summers always end, and so will this agreement. It's all pretend—until it isn't.'
'Summer in the City' marks Aster's first venture into adult romance novel, following her wildly popular young-adult fantasy series 'Lightlark.'
Aster's books, which also include middle-grade fiction series 'Emblem Island,' have sold millions of copies in the US and have been on the New York Times Bestsellers list for more than 120 weeks combined. She is known for her larger social media audience, particularly among TikTok's 'BookTok' community, with more than 2 million followers across platforms and 300 million views on her videos.
She is repped by CAA, Jodi Reamer at Writers House, and The Lede Company.
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