Summer in the City by Alex Aster — unabridged romantic comedy audiobook

For a commute or a quiet stretch of housework, Summer in the City offers an unabridged romance in audio form, with Diane Guerrero listed as the performer. The story is presented as an enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy, so it may appeal if you want relationship drama alongside a city-set story rather than a non-fiction listen or a short standalone segment.

The listed listening time is 10 hours and 47 minutes, making this a longer listen to fit around your day or enjoy over several sessions. It was published by Bloomsbury Publishing on 25 March 2025.

Pros

The unabridged format preserves the full story, while the running time helps set expectations before you start. Alex Aster is the author, and Diane Guerrero is associated with the audio edition. Its romantic-comedy positioning and enemies-to-lovers premise give a clear steer on the kind of story to expect.

The audio format suits listeners who would rather follow a novel while doing something else than set aside time to read print. A paperback or e-book may be the more practical choice if you prefer to read at your own pace or return quickly to a particular passage, this edition centres on listening instead.

Highlights

The main draw is the romance, framed around an enemies-to-lovers setup. Buyer feedback is positive about the relationship and the story, with some describing the connection between the characters as engaging and the ending as satisfying. Others say they enjoyed the characters and plot, while opinions on the main character are mixed: some like them, and some find them frustrating. Readability also divides opinion, so the style may not work equally well for every listener.

The New York setting is another part of its appeal in buyer comments, which describe the story as taking them through the city. That gives the romantic plot a sense of place, though the supplied details do not specify further setting or plot particulars. It suits you if you are after a contemporary-feeling romance with a defined trope and are comfortable spending several sessions with one story.

How to use it

Treat the 10-hour-47-minute duration as a planning guide: it is a full-length listen rather than a brief audio story. It can fit into a commute, chores or a relaxed listening session, depending on your routine. The listing identifies the recording as unabridged, so it is intended to present the complete text rather than a shortened version.

Choose the audio edition if listening works better for your day than carrying or opening a book. If you want to skim, read at your own speed or revisit specific lines, print or e-book formats may suit that preference better. The product details do not specify playback features or device compatibility, so those are not grounds for choosing this edition.

Is it worth it?

Summer in the City is worth considering for listeners who want Alex Aster’s enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy in a complete audio edition, and who value a substantial story over a quick listen. Buyer impressions suggest the romance and plot are the strongest draws, but the mixed response to the lead character is a useful note if character likeability matters to you. Better avoided if you know that a frustrating protagonist would make it hard to stay with a story.

The clearest buying decision is format: choose this edition if you want to listen to the full novel, and a reading edition if you would rather control your pace on the page. The stated runtime, unabridged format and named performer provide the practical details available for weighing that choice.