Story Summary
Ali Hazelwood's Problematic Summer Romance is a witty, emotionally charged age-gap romance set against the stunning backdrop of Sicily.
The story follows Maya Harkness, a 23-year-old grad student with a sharp tongue and a tendency to stir trouble wherever she goes. When she's invited to her brother Eli's wedding in Taormina, she expects chaos — and finds it in the form of Conor Harkness, her brother's best friend and a brooding, morally upright biotech investor nearly twice her age.
Their connection is undeniable but fraught with boundaries, guilt, and the ever-present awareness of just how problematic their attraction is. What begins as teasing and tension turns into secret meetings, late-night phone calls, and a forbidden relationship that tests their resolve — and their reputations.
Set among lemon groves, coastal villas, and sun-drenched weddings, Problematic Summer Romance explores love, power, and what happens when desire refuses to fit neatly inside moral lines.
Main Characters
Maya Harkness
Age: 23 | Ethnicity: American | Hair Color: Brown | Eye Color: Hazel
Identity: Graduate student / unapologetic troublemaker
Smart, chaotic, and fearless — Maya hides her vulnerability behind sarcasm and an unfiltered sense of humor.
Conor Harkness
Age: 39 | Ethnicity: British-American | Hair Color: Dark blond | Eye Color: Blue
Identity: Biotech investor / best friend's older brother
Disciplined, brooding, and quietly protective — Conor is a man torn between morality, desire, and what love asks of him.
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Every Spicy Chapter – Breakdown & Highlights
Hazelwood writes spice with her trademark mix of humor and intimacy — every scene between Maya and Conor builds from banter to confession, from tension to tenderness.
Chapter 14 – The First Kiss (Edinburgh Flashback)
Three years before the main story, Maya kisses Conor after a long night of drinks and confessions. It's reckless, unexpected, and ends with both of them pretending it didn't happen.
"He froze, just long enough for me to think I'd ruined it — and then he kissed me back like sin itself."
Chapter 19 – The Hotel Room
At Eli's wedding in Sicily, Maya and Conor can't keep pretending. A heated argument turns into a kiss against the wall of his hotel room. It's fast, messy, and impossible to stop.
"When he kissed me, it wasn't careful. It was the sound of something breaking open — his restraint, my patience, both of us at once."
Chapter 38 – The Villa
Their tension finally explodes. Trapped together during a storm, they give in completely — tender and breathless. It's an unguarded, human scene, full of want and laughter.
"It's not smooth, but he does end up inside me, and I can't breathe… until I feel my insides softening around him."
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Goodreads Reader Reactions
Problematic Summer Romance averages 4.2 stars on Goodreads and is already one of Ali Hazelwood's most discussed romances.
Positive Reactions
- "Funny, filthy, and unexpectedly emotional — Ali's best yet."
- "Finally, an age-gap story that feels honest instead of icky."
- "Maya is chaos incarnate, and Conor is the calm she keeps breaking."
Overall: Fans describe it as "the spiciest, smartest Hazelwood novel yet" — a story that's both uncomfortable and irresistible.
"It's the most human kind of love story — awkward, funny, and too big to fit the rules."
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How spicy is Problematic Summer Romance?
Very. It's Ali Hazelwood's most explicit book so far, with multiple open-door scenes that blend humor and emotional vulnerability.
Q: What is the age gap in Problematic Summer Romance?
Sixteen years — Maya is 23, and Conor is 39.
Q: How does Problematic Summer Romance end?
Conor finally stops fighting his feelings and proposes to Maya, choosing love over appearances. The story ends with her wearing his ring and teasing him about it.
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