Problematic Summer Romance By Ali Hazelwood Book Review
Ever gotten hooked on a romance that everyone calls “problematic”? Ali Hazelwood’s Problematic Summer Romance dives right into that with a huge 15-year age gap you can’t miss. So, is this a steamy slow-burn full of feels, or just a frustrating mess? Let’s find out.
This book is a contemporary romance set against the gorgeous backdrop of a Sicilian villa during a week-long wedding. Maya Killgore is 23, a headstrong PhD candidate, and she’s caught in a tricky situation with Conor Harkness, her brother’s 38-year-old best friend. They have a secret past, and a ton of tension. The story is told from Maya’s point of view, with flashbacks that gradually reveal their history. It’s quirky, full of emotional push and pull, with that classic enemies-to-lovers vibe mixed with forced proximity and simmering desire.
What really makes this book stand out is Hazelwood’s trademark mix of witty banter, slow-burning tension, and a richly detailed Italian summer setting that makes you practically taste the gelato and hear the ocean waves. The characters are layered and flawed: Maya is bold, chaotic, and sometimes frustratingly lovesick, while Conor is brooding, self-critical, and struggling with his own hang-ups about their age difference and power dynamics. Their chemistry simmers quietly, building up to a passionate payoff that many readers found worth the wait.
Now, opinions on this one vary widely. Some readers found Maya’s immaturity and constant focus on their age gap exhausting. They didn’t connect with her “puppy-dog obsession” or Conor’s moody man-child moments, and felt the book constantly hammered the age gap issue without really digging into it. Others praised Hazelwood’s careful handling of those “problematic” dynamics, saying the characters feel real and relatable, and that the nuanced look at agency, consent, and emotional availability adds depth to what might otherwise be a typical romance trope.
A lot of fans loved the rich Italian setting, the supporting characters, and the slow, tantalizing build-up, especially if you’re into romances that are as much about internal conflict and personal growth as they are about heated attraction. But if you prefer your romance straightforward and your characters always likable, or if you’re tired of age-gap stories that keep pointing out how “problematic” they are, this one might test your patience.
From my point of view, this book shines when it leans into its messy, emotional complexity, and when it lets the simmering tension do the work instead of over-explaining every insecurity. It’s not the easiest read, and the characters’ flaws can get on your nerves, but there’s something undeniably compelling about watching these two imperfect people work through their feelings amid a beautiful, chaotic wedding in Italy. If you like slow-burn romances with quirky, intellectual leads and don’t mind a story that wrestles with real-world issues as much as love, you’ll probably enjoy this.
So, if you want a summer read with plenty of heat, emotional depth, charming side characters, and a lush Mediterranean setting, Problematic Summer Romance could be a great escape. But if the idea of constant age-gap debates and a moody hero makes you groan, maybe approach with caution.
Either way, I’m curious, have you read this one? What did you think of the so-called “problematic” romance? Let me know!