{"id":3053,"date":"2025-05-28T13:49:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T13:49:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=3053"},"modified":"2025-05-28T13:49:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T13:49:58","slug":"problematic-summer-romance-by-ali-hazelwood","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=3053","title":{"rendered":"Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ali Hazelwood returns with the second installment in her \u201cNot in Love\u201d series, delivering a romance that\u2019s as explosive as the Mount Etna eruption that serves as its dramatic backdrop. Problematic Summer Romance<\/strong> continues the interconnected world established in Not in Love<\/em><\/a> (2024), focusing on Maya Killgore and Conor Harkness\u2014characters who existed on the periphery of the first book but whose slow-burn tension has been simmering since Maya was twenty years old.<\/p>\n

Set against the breathtaking landscape of Taormina, Sicily, this enemies-to-lovers romance<\/a> tackles one of contemporary fiction\u2019s most contentious tropes: the significant age gap relationship. At twenty-three, Maya is a brilliant physics graduate student still finding her footing in life, while thirty-eight-year-old Conor is her brother Eli\u2019s best friend and business partner\u2014a successful biotech investor who\u2019s spent three years convincing himself that his feelings for Maya are inappropriate and must be suppressed.<\/p>\n

The Heart of the Matter: Age, Power, and Problematic Dynamics<\/h2>\n

Hazelwood deserves credit for not shying away from the uncomfortable questions her setup raises. The fifteen-year age gap between Maya and Conor isn\u2019t glossed over with pretty prose or conveniently ignored. Instead, it becomes the central conflict that drives both characters\u2019 internal struggles throughout the novel. Conor\u2019s constant refrain about \u201cpower dynamics\u201d and \u201cproblematic\u201d situations feels genuine rather than performative\u2014he genuinely believes he\u2019s protecting Maya from himself, even as he\u2019s clearly in love with her.<\/p>\n

Maya, however, is no shrinking violet. Hazelwood crafts her as an assertive, intellectually formidable woman who resents being infantilized by Conor\u2019s protective instincts. Her frustration with being treated as too young or naive to make her own romantic decisions rings authentic, and her eventual confrontation with Conor about his paternalistic approach is one of the book\u2019s strongest moments.<\/p>\n

The three-year backstory of their phone friendship, revealed through flashbacks, adds necessary depth to their connection. These aren\u2019t strangers with instant chemistry\u2014they\u2019re two people who\u2019ve built genuine intimacy over time, making Conor\u2019s rejection of their relationship feel more tragic than noble.<\/p>\n

Sicilian Splendor: When Setting Becomes Character<\/h2>\n

Hazelwood\u2019s love for Sicily permeates every page, transforming the island from mere backdrop into a living, breathing character. Her descriptions of Taormina\u2019s ancient Greek theater, the crystalline waters of Isola Bella, and the rustic charm of Villa Fedra create an immersive experience that makes readers long for their own Italian escape.<\/p>\n

The author\u2019s attention to culinary details\u2014from morning granita to evening wine tastings\u2014adds authentic flavor to the romance. Food becomes a language of love and connection<\/a>, particularly in scenes where Conor introduces Maya to local delicacies or when they share intimate meals away from the wedding chaos.<\/p>\n

Mount Etna\u2019s eruption serves as both literal plot device and metaphor for the explosive emotions brewing between the main characters. The volcanic activity that threatens to derail Eli and Rue\u2019s wedding creates the perfect pressure cooker environment for Maya and Conor\u2019s long-suppressed feelings to finally surface.<\/p>\n

Supporting Cast: A Wedding Party Worth Caring About<\/h2>\n

The ensemble cast surrounding Maya and Conor adds richness to the narrative without overwhelming the central romance. Eli and Rue\u2019s relationship, established in the first book, provides a stable counterpoint to Maya and Conor\u2019s turbulent dynamic. Nyota, with her sharp wit and legal expertise, serves as Maya\u2019s confidante and voice of reason, while Avery\u2019s presence as Conor\u2019s ex-girlfriend adds necessary tension without resorting to tired love triangle tropes.<\/p>\n

The wedding party\u2019s various mishaps\u2014from Axel\u2019s food poisoning incident to the near-drowning scare\u2014provide both comic relief and opportunities for character development. These incidents feel organic rather than contrived, each serving to either bring the central couple together or force them to confront their feelings.<\/p>\n

The Chemistry Question: Heat Versus Heart<\/h2>\n

Hazelwood\u2019s strength has always been in creating intellectual chemistry between her protagonists, and she doesn\u2019t disappoint here. Maya and Conor\u2019s banter crackles with wit and underlying tension, their conversations revealing layers of mutual respect and genuine affection beneath the surface attraction.<\/p>\n

The physical chemistry, when it finally ignites, feels earned rather than rushed. Their intimate scenes are tastefully written, focusing more on emotional connection than explicit detail. However, some readers might find the extended sexual tension frustrating, particularly given the three-year buildup revealed in flashbacks.<\/p>\n

The author handles the power dynamics in their physical relationship thoughtfully, with Maya consistently asserting her agency and desires. Conor\u2019s attempts to maintain control, even in intimate moments, feel true to his character while highlighting the psychological barriers he\u2019s constructed.<\/p>\n

Structural Strengths and Narrative Challenges<\/h2>\n

The dual timeline structure, alternating between present-day Sicily and flashbacks to Maya and Conor\u2019s evolving relationship, generally works well. These glimpses into their past phone conversations and missed connections add emotional weight to their current situation. However, the pacing occasionally suffers as the narrative jumps between timelines, sometimes disrupting the flow of present-day tension.<\/p>\n

Hazelwood\u2019s dialogue remains one of her strongest assets. Maya\u2019s voice is particularly well-developed\u2014she\u2019s intelligent without being pretentious, vulnerable without being weak. Her internal monologue effectively conveys her frustration with being perpetually underestimated due to her age.<\/p>\n

The resolution, while satisfying, feels somewhat rushed after such an extended buildup. Conor\u2019s sudden change of heart, triggered by witnessing Eli and Rue\u2019s sunrise wedding, doesn\u2019t feel entirely earned given his previous rigid stance on their relationship.<\/p>\n

Addressing the Elephant in the Room: The Age Gap Debate<\/h2>\n

Contemporary romance readers are increasingly divided on age gap relationships, and Hazelwood\u2019s handling of this sensitive topic will likely determine readers\u2019 enjoyment of the book. Those who appreciate nuanced exploration of power dynamics<\/a> and consent will find much to admire in her approach. The author doesn\u2019t present the age gap as inherently problematic or unproblematic\u2014instead, she explores how it affects both characters differently.<\/p>\n

Critics might argue that despite the thoughtful treatment, the relationship still reinforces uncomfortable power dynamics. Maya\u2019s relative inexperience compared to Conor\u2019s established career and financial stability creates an imbalance that some readers will find troubling regardless of how it\u2019s addressed in the text.<\/p>\n

Connection to the Series: Building a Cohesive World<\/h2>\n

Readers of Not in Love<\/em> will appreciate seeing familiar characters in supporting roles, particularly the glimpses of Rue and Eli\u2019s married life. The biotech company Harkness serves as a connecting thread throughout the series, though each book can be read independently.<\/p>\n

Hazelwood seems to be building toward a found family dynamic among her interconnected characters, similar to successful romance series like Christina Lauren\u2019s work or the interconnected novels of Julia Quinn. The Sicilian setting in \u201cProblematic Summer Romance\u201d provides a perfect opportunity for character development and relationship progression across multiple couples.<\/p>\n

Final Verdict: A Romance That Earns Its Complications<\/h2>\n

Problematic Summer Romance<\/strong> succeeds more often than it fails, despite tackling one of romance\u2019s most divisive tropes. Hazelwood\u2019s thoughtful approach to age gap dynamics, combined with her gift for creating intellectual chemistry and her obvious love for Sicily, results in a romance that feels both escapist and grounded in real emotional stakes.<\/p>\n

The book\u2019s greatest strength lies in its refusal to take the easy path. Rather than dismissing legitimate concerns about power dynamics or rushing to justify the relationship, Hazelwood allows her characters to grapple with these issues authentically. Maya\u2019s assertion of her own agency and Conor\u2019s genuine struggle with his feelings create a more complex and satisfying narrative than many similar romances attempt.<\/p>\n

While the pacing occasionally stumbles and the resolution feels somewhat abrupt, the emotional payoff justifies the journey. Readers who enjoyed Hazelwood\u2019s previous works\u2014particularly The Love Hypothesis<\/em> and Love, Theoretically<\/em>\u2014will find familiar strengths here, along with evidence of continued growth as a storyteller.<\/p>\n

For those seeking a romance that combines gorgeous Mediterranean settings with substantive emotional conflict, Problematic Summer Romance<\/strong> delivers on both fronts. It\u2019s a book that acknowledges its own complications while still providing the satisfying happily-ever-after that romance readers crave.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ali Hazelwood returns with the second installment in her \u201cNot in Love\u201d series, delivering a romance that\u2019s as explosive as the Mount Etna eruption that serves as its dramatic backdrop. Problematic Summer Romance continues the interconnected world established in Not in Love (2024), focusing on Maya Killgore and Conor Harkness\u2014characters who existed on the periphery […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3053","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3053"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3053"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3053\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}