Problematic Summer romance by AlI Hazelwood — Review
Problematic Summer Romance - Review Snapshot:
What mood is this right for: If you’ve ever fallen in love with your older brother’s best friend.
Length: 416 Pages
Genre: Romance
Source: Self Purchased – The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn, NYC
Where to Buy: Libro.FM | Amazon.com | Bookshop.Org
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Vibes Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
CAWPILE rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
1 Sentence Summary: Age gap romance but make it actually adorable
Synopsis:
Maya Killgore has one job: survive her brother’s destination wedding in Taormina, Italy. Easy, right? That is, until she realizes her ex-boyfriend Conor Harkness—aka her brother’s best friend and business partner—is in attendance. And unfortunately, he’s still infuriatingly hot, emotionally complex, and determined to remind her he’s “way too old” for her. What unfolds is a slow-burn second-chance romance that I read and finished in an evening.
My Thoughts:
Most age-gap romances make me cringe. I had way more fun with this than expected—this is hands-down my favorite Ali Hazelwood book so far.
The relationship between Maya and Conor felt equal parts adorable and grounded. Despite the title, there’s nothing problematic about the way this story unfolds. I appreciated how Hazelwood didn’t gloss over the power dynamic; instead, she leaned into it, unpacked it, and gave us something that felt mature, emotionally honest, and still wildly fun to read. It’s sweet. It’s tender. It’s spicy. It’s adorable. And it’s precisely what I want from a summer romance.
The pacing is perfect. I loved the flashbacks to Conor helping Maya navigate a college breakup—and all of it builds toward some truly satisfying moments. Ali Hazelwood continues to be the queen of romance, and I will always and forever read her books.
The CAWPILE of Problematic Summer Romance
Characters - 9
I loved every character in this book. I didn’t realize when I started this they were characters from other Ali Hazelwood books. Having that background may make this more enjoyable for some, it did not make it any less enjoyable for me. I didn’t feel lost trying to understand who the side characters were. There was enough development but it didn’t take anything away from the story of the MMC and FMC.
My only minor complaint is the MMC. I wanted to shake him and tell him to Get. It. Together. but, that did not feel entirely unrealistic……
Atmosphere/Setting - 8
It doesn’t get better than Italy. The setting was clear, it made sense, and it worked with the plot. I am now dreaming of an Italian vacation, maybe not quite as much as I did after reading The Pairing by Casey McQuiston, but pretty close.
Writing Style - 8
This is everything you would expect from Ali Hazelwood. Short, punchy sentences with a lot of humor sprinkled in. She has done such an excellent job establishing her brand and writing to that brand in her romance novels. Even when reading Bride, which was her first romantasy you could still tell it was her at the keyboard. The thing I love about her books is that they are fast. It is so easy to crush one in an afternoon, and a lot of that has to do with her consistent style.
Plot - 8
Overall, the plot flowed well. I love a slow-burn romance, and this one was perfectly paced (because Ali Hazelwood is the Queen). I loved the flashbacks; they added another layer to the story without being distracting. There were a few small parts that lagged. Particularly, the lost dog beat. It was just a touch too long for me.
Intrigue - 9
I think the flashbacks were helpful in the overall intrigue of the story. I was desperate to know exactly what was going on with the main characters. I like that we were sort of dropped into the middle of their relationship and had to solve the puzzle of what went wrong alongside the main character.
Logic/Relationships - 9
I loved the relationships. Every dynamic was fun. Eli and Maya are siblings. Conor and Eli are best friends and business partners. Maya and Rue are sister-in-laws. The whole cast made this book fun. I love a big group, found family, and this delivered.
Enjoyment - 10
I don’t think you can say “Italian Summer Destination Wedding Romance” without having some amount of fun. Let alone 300 pages of it. This was an absolute blast to read.
Overall score = 61/7=8.74 = 4 Stars
Final Thoughts
I loved this book. If you are a fan of Abby Jimenez, Emily Henry, or Hazelwood herself, you will also love this book. A classic, fast-paced romance perfect for summer.
Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood FAQ:
Why do you have two different star ratings?
The vibes rating is always my immediate ‘this was probably X star,” the CAWPILE is after I have reflected, thought about it more in-depth. Sometimes the vibes are lower than the CAWPILE, sometimes it’s the other way around.
Do you need to have read 'Not in Love' to understand 'Problematic Summer Romance'?
No! For some, that might make it a little more enjoyable, but there is no large plot crossover.
Is Problematic Summer Romance an Open Door or a Closed Door Romance?
Open!
Is Problematic Summer Romance Spicy
3/5 — There are spicy scenes, but it’s a slow burn, so the percentage of content that is spicy is pretty low. Ali Hazelwood sure does know how to do a spice scene, though!
5 Book Club Questions for Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood:
Did you find Maya and Conor to be a believable couple?
What did you think of the Age gap?
Did it enhance or take away from your enjoyment of the book?
If Maya and Conor were real people, would that change your answer?
How did the flashbacks work within the plot?
Did they help you understand the characters better?
Did they help or hinder the pacing?
How well do you think the conflict Conor had over their age difference was resolved?
What do you think happens to Maya and Conor after the end of the book?
