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Not in Love #2
Problematic Summer Romance: A Novel
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Romance (2025)What is wrong meets what feels right in this romance set in Italy by the New York Times bestselling author of Deep End.
Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life.
Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him.
It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life.
But not everything is as it seems—and clichés sometimes become plot twists.
When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one.
Maya Killgore is twenty-three and still in the process of figuring out her life.
Conor Harkness is thirty-eight, and Maya cannot stop thinking about him.
It’s such a cliché, it almost makes her heart implode: older man and younger woman; successful biotech guy and struggling grad student; brother’s best friend and the girl he never even knew existed. As Conor loves to remind her, the power dynamic is too imbalanced. Any relationship between them would be problematic in too many ways to count, and Maya should just get over him. After all, he has made it clear that he wants her gone from his life.
But not everything is as it seems—and clichés sometimes become plot twists.
When Maya’s brother decides to get married in Taormina, she and Conor end up stuck together in a romantic Sicilian villa for over a week. There, on the beautiful Ionian coast, between ancient ruins, delicious foods, and natural caves, Maya realizes that Conor might be hiding something from her. And as the destination wedding begins to erupt out of control, she decides that a summer fling might be just what she needs—even if it’s a problematic one.
Hardcover
First published May 27, 2025
11989 people are currently reading
204851 people want to read
About the author
Ali Hazelwood
25 books178k followersI'm Ali, and I write contemporary romcom novels about women in STEM and academia. I love cats, Nutella, and side ponytails. I'm also currently learning to crochet, so as you can tell I'm a super busy gal with an intense and exciting life!
I only use Goodreads as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
I only use Goodreads as a reader, to review and hype books that I've loved (many of these book are ARCs received from fellow authors).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42,468 reviews
June 7, 2025
2 stars
So, I absolutely HATED this book.
Honestly, I’m not surprised. This is my third Ali Hazelwood book, and I didn’t love Deep End or Bride either. But somehow, I came back. I thought maybe the third time would be different—age-gap, summer romance? Sure, why not? I figured it’d pull me out of my reading slump with some easy, mindless fun. Nope. Wrong again. Still painfully disappointed.
Let’s start with the positives (there are a few). I’ll give it this: it technically helped me out of my slump. Not by much, but it did. The repetitive cringe had me rolling my eyes so hard it distracted me for a bit.
It’s one of those books that tricks you into thinking it’s okay—because you’re too busy sighing and annoyed to stay stuck. But once the distraction wore off, it was all downhill.
First, the so-called “problematic” age gap. Let me be clear: I have no problem with age-gap romances. If a woman wants to date a man 15 years older, more power to her! The issue here is that the book constantly hammers home the age gap as if it's the only significant issue, but it’s never actually explored in a meaningful way. It’s like the age gap is used as a crutch rather than a plot point, and that’s what made it so tiresome to read.
Maya (23) and Conor (38)—we get it. The 15-year gap is there. The book mentions it almost 40 times (not exaggerating), beating you over the head with it every other page. Spoiler alert, Ali: this is exactly how you fumble an age-gap romance—by reminding us about it every 5 seconds. Stop it. It’s EXHAUSTING.
Now, about Conor. Wow. For a grown-ass 38-year-old man, he’s the definition of a manchild. Moody, inconsistent, self-righteous. One minute whining he’s “too old” for Maya, the next staring at her like a teen who just discovered women. His entire arc is “You’re too young,” followed immediately by lusting after her again. Lost count of how many times he contradicted himself. Inconsistent doesn’t even cover it. 🙄
And Maya—where the fuck was this girl’s spine? She spends the whole book chasing Conor like a lost puppy. Her entire personality revolves around him—Conor, Conor, Conor—as if she has nothing else. She throws herself at him, desperate for his attention and approval, and it’s embarrassing to read. The secondhand embarrassment was real—holy fuck, girl, please. He’s a literal manchild. The number of times I wanted to hide from her trainwreck of a personality? It was an assault on my eyeballs and dignity.
Why is the 23-year-old doing all the chasing? Why is she so desperate for a man who’s emotionally unavailable and keeps running? Watching this dynamic is infuriating. She spends the entire book begging a grown man who doesn’t know what he wants. She’s grovelling for crumbs of affection from a man with the emotional bandwidth of a traffic cone. Be so fucking serious.
Overall, this book is a repetitive, frustrating, lacklustre mess. Sure, it helped me out of my slump—but that’s the only positive. The romance? Weak. The characters? Even weaker.
After three tries, I’m officially done with Ali Hazelwood. For real this time.
So, I absolutely HATED this book.
Honestly, I’m not surprised. This is my third Ali Hazelwood book, and I didn’t love Deep End or Bride either. But somehow, I came back. I thought maybe the third time would be different—age-gap, summer romance? Sure, why not? I figured it’d pull me out of my reading slump with some easy, mindless fun. Nope. Wrong again. Still painfully disappointed.
Let’s start with the positives (there are a few). I’ll give it this: it technically helped me out of my slump. Not by much, but it did. The repetitive cringe had me rolling my eyes so hard it distracted me for a bit.
It’s one of those books that tricks you into thinking it’s okay—because you’re too busy sighing and annoyed to stay stuck. But once the distraction wore off, it was all downhill.
First, the so-called “problematic” age gap. Let me be clear: I have no problem with age-gap romances. If a woman wants to date a man 15 years older, more power to her! The issue here is that the book constantly hammers home the age gap as if it's the only significant issue, but it’s never actually explored in a meaningful way. It’s like the age gap is used as a crutch rather than a plot point, and that’s what made it so tiresome to read.
Maya (23) and Conor (38)—we get it. The 15-year gap is there. The book mentions it almost 40 times (not exaggerating), beating you over the head with it every other page. Spoiler alert, Ali: this is exactly how you fumble an age-gap romance—by reminding us about it every 5 seconds. Stop it. It’s EXHAUSTING.
Now, about Conor. Wow. For a grown-ass 38-year-old man, he’s the definition of a manchild. Moody, inconsistent, self-righteous. One minute whining he’s “too old” for Maya, the next staring at her like a teen who just discovered women. His entire arc is “You’re too young,” followed immediately by lusting after her again. Lost count of how many times he contradicted himself. Inconsistent doesn’t even cover it. 🙄
And Maya—where the fuck was this girl’s spine? She spends the whole book chasing Conor like a lost puppy. Her entire personality revolves around him—Conor, Conor, Conor—as if she has nothing else. She throws herself at him, desperate for his attention and approval, and it’s embarrassing to read. The secondhand embarrassment was real—holy fuck, girl, please. He’s a literal manchild. The number of times I wanted to hide from her trainwreck of a personality? It was an assault on my eyeballs and dignity.
Why is the 23-year-old doing all the chasing? Why is she so desperate for a man who’s emotionally unavailable and keeps running? Watching this dynamic is infuriating. She spends the entire book begging a grown man who doesn’t know what he wants. She’s grovelling for crumbs of affection from a man with the emotional bandwidth of a traffic cone. Be so fucking serious.
Overall, this book is a repetitive, frustrating, lacklustre mess. Sure, it helped me out of my slump—but that’s the only positive. The romance? Weak. The characters? Even weaker.
After three tries, I’m officially done with Ali Hazelwood. For real this time.
July 3, 2025
this book gave
fmc: 😏 mmc: 😳
my type of book…cute
ali hazelwood speaks to my brain. they could never make me hate her or her books. ali, get your team gale ass behind me IMMEDIATELY !! i will defend your honor and gladly take 7 bullets in the chest for you IDGAF! i
this book was summer heat but make it repressed tension and questionable decision making. and can we talk about the actual romance?? it’s messy and painful and so stupidly hot. but underneath it all is this thread of “you were my person, and i never stopped wanting you.” and that’s the stuff that breaks me tf. 😭💕
such well rounded characters, no notes. maya had me laughing out loud and i was supportive in ALL her decisions. she really had this mf WRAPPED AROUND HER FINGER!! and she fucking knew it. the way she constantly teases him, toys with him, gets under his skin, makes him so feral on the verge of exploding…my body reached a new plane of awareness….
anytime Conor would simply walk into the room, i blushed so hard i had to put the book in the freezer. he’s tall. he’s emotionally ruined. he’s stoic. he’s irish. he calls her “trouble” and “a fucking menace” i am not okay. his mental and physical well being depends on MAYA’S mental and physical well being… Maya’s “you okay?” to Conor “yeah. i just wanted to listen to you exists.” Conor, I would fight dragons, scale mountains, and walk barefoot across a thousand flaming coals just to be in your orbit. 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽
the fact that he got to Maya, who’s in scotland, after one phone call, and disguised it as “i was in the area” MF TOOK A PLANE FROM IRELAND! TF DO YOU MEAN YOU WERE “IN THE AREA?!?” i love him so much. i hug from him would heal me. BARK BARK BARK 👹
“it’s the way you take over the space around your period. remind me constantly, loudly, indecently, of all the little things that make you you” GAWWWD DAMN i say as they drag me into the white padded room.
i have emotional whiplash.
fmc: 😏 mmc: 😳
my type of book…cute
ali hazelwood speaks to my brain. they could never make me hate her or her books. ali, get your team gale ass behind me IMMEDIATELY !! i will defend your honor and gladly take 7 bullets in the chest for you IDGAF! i
this book was summer heat but make it repressed tension and questionable decision making. and can we talk about the actual romance?? it’s messy and painful and so stupidly hot. but underneath it all is this thread of “you were my person, and i never stopped wanting you.” and that’s the stuff that breaks me tf. 😭💕
such well rounded characters, no notes. maya had me laughing out loud and i was supportive in ALL her decisions. she really had this mf WRAPPED AROUND HER FINGER!! and she fucking knew it. the way she constantly teases him, toys with him, gets under his skin, makes him so feral on the verge of exploding…my body reached a new plane of awareness….
anytime Conor would simply walk into the room, i blushed so hard i had to put the book in the freezer. he’s tall. he’s emotionally ruined. he’s stoic. he’s irish. he calls her “trouble” and “a fucking menace” i am not okay. his mental and physical well being depends on MAYA’S mental and physical well being… Maya’s “you okay?” to Conor “yeah. i just wanted to listen to you exists.” Conor, I would fight dragons, scale mountains, and walk barefoot across a thousand flaming coals just to be in your orbit. 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽
the fact that he got to Maya, who’s in scotland, after one phone call, and disguised it as “i was in the area” MF TOOK A PLANE FROM IRELAND! TF DO YOU MEAN YOU WERE “IN THE AREA?!?” i love him so much. i hug from him would heal me. BARK BARK BARK 👹
“it’s the way you take over the space around your period. remind me constantly, loudly, indecently, of all the little things that make you you” GAWWWD DAMN i say as they drag me into the white padded room.
i have emotional whiplash.
May 31, 2025
this book is the perfect example of how NOT to write an age gap romance😖
I can’t believe how bad this book turned out to be. It had some adorable scenes but the whole age gap conversations got tiring pretty quickly, I also can’t feel the chemistry between Maya and Conor. This looked more like a sequel for Rue and Eli (might be my fault since I didn’t read not in love) but this has to be one of the worst age gap I’ve read in a while. I had to power through the last 25% because I couldn’t tolerate any more of this nonsense.
Anyways, frtc
ᝰ.ᐟ pre-read: ᯓᡣ𐭩୭˚.
I’m genuinely so excited for this book and idk why cause the only book I’ve only read by Ali was the love hypothesis years ago😭😭 but this one sounds so fun and good🤸🏻♀️
also let’s ignore the fact that I can’t stick with only one book now✋🏻 I swear I’ll finish this one before starting another one
_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
the cover is so cute!!!
___________
Ali doesn’t sleep 😭😭😭
I can’t believe how bad this book turned out to be. It had some adorable scenes but the whole age gap conversations got tiring pretty quickly, I also can’t feel the chemistry between Maya and Conor. This looked more like a sequel for Rue and Eli (might be my fault since I didn’t read not in love) but this has to be one of the worst age gap I’ve read in a while. I had to power through the last 25% because I couldn’t tolerate any more of this nonsense.
Anyways, frtc
ᝰ.ᐟ pre-read: ᯓᡣ𐭩୭˚.
I’m genuinely so excited for this book and idk why cause the only book I’ve only read by Ali was the love hypothesis years ago😭😭 but this one sounds so fun and good🤸🏻♀️
also let’s ignore the fact that I can’t stick with only one book now✋🏻 I swear I’ll finish this one before starting another one
_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
the cover is so cute!!!
___________
Ali doesn’t sleep 😭😭😭
July 23, 2025
3.75 ⭐️! (Rounding up)
Actually read this during the worst slump ever & it was the first book I was invested in, in a LONG time. Ali hazelwood’s writing style is incredibly perfect for a slump (can 100% confirm)
I liked Maya a lot, I feel like we really got to know her and why she acts the way she does etc. I appreciated the past chapters because it helped me understand her & Conor’s relationship/her feelings for him wayyyyy more. I will say I think it would’ve helped getting Conor’s pov and his perspective on things being the age gap they have and his reservations
LOVED THE SETTING!!!! I went to Italy twice in my life and spent time in a few places they traveled to and it was AMAZING and SO ATMOSPHERIC and beautiful - a perfect summer setting + a binge-able read
Actually read this during the worst slump ever & it was the first book I was invested in, in a LONG time. Ali hazelwood’s writing style is incredibly perfect for a slump (can 100% confirm)
I liked Maya a lot, I feel like we really got to know her and why she acts the way she does etc. I appreciated the past chapters because it helped me understand her & Conor’s relationship/her feelings for him wayyyyy more. I will say I think it would’ve helped getting Conor’s pov and his perspective on things being the age gap they have and his reservations
LOVED THE SETTING!!!! I went to Italy twice in my life and spent time in a few places they traveled to and it was AMAZING and SO ATMOSPHERIC and beautiful - a perfect summer setting + a binge-able read
September 24, 2025
if fucking old men is wrong i don't want to be right!
(i've never fucked an old man, but i'm sure ready to read about it)
actual thoughts: this was truly phenomenal. it's hard to dislike ali's books when it feels like she's writing them just for me. pining, yearning, longing? yup. a man who masturbates to thoughts of not your naked body but you being his wife? YUP. subtle character development, fun side characters, perfect setting? always.
pisses me off how good at this she is. but i will. never. stop. picking up. her books.
(i've never fucked an old man, but i'm sure ready to read about it)
actual thoughts: this was truly phenomenal. it's hard to dislike ali's books when it feels like she's writing them just for me. pining, yearning, longing? yup. a man who masturbates to thoughts of not your naked body but you being his wife? YUP. subtle character development, fun side characters, perfect setting? always.
pisses me off how good at this she is. but i will. never. stop. picking up. her books.
July 4, 2025
Bland oatmeal is what I got served
__
Ready to eat whatever miss Hazelwood serves 🙏🏻
__
Ready to eat whatever miss Hazelwood serves 🙏🏻
August 17, 2025
A girl with unresolved daddy issues and a guy with the emotional availability of a wall. Yeah. A match. Made. In. Heaven. Clearly 💀🫸🏻
May 31, 2025
I will never hear “go to your room” the same way ever again
June 25, 2025
3.5 stars! This was a fun summer read but more so a classic rom com which is the only reason I wouldn’t rate it higher. (Like not crazy memorable). I really liked the two main characters (although Connor did frustrate me sometimes 😅). I also liked the angle the age gap romance took! I like that Connor was super mindful of the age gap and how that would impact their relationship.
Also great summer vibes w the setting being a wedding in Italy!! Overall a fun light read and loved the chemistry between the main characters
Also great summer vibes w the setting being a wedding in Italy!! Overall a fun light read and loved the chemistry between the main characters
July 17, 2025
Problematic Indeed! RTC!
---
Mamma mia! A very problematic summer in Italy... and oh, it’s gonna be DELICIOUS!!🌸🍷
-
➷WHAT TO EXPECT:
📍Welcome to Taormina, where the pasta’s hot and the bad decisions are hotter.
💌 Tension so thick you’ll want to scream into a cannoli
🏛️ Ancient ruins, wedding chaos, secrets, & serious pining
🍷 Enemies-to-I-wish-you’d-kiss-me-right-now
🎭 A wedding meltdown that’s somehow both tragic and iconic
🤫 The forbidden kind of love that feels too good to hide
☑️ NOT fall for the 38-year-old biotech zaddy with morals and a jawline of sin? (yeah, about that…)
🍋 Citrus, Secrets, and the Brother’s Best Friend
👀 Age gap? Check.
😳 Her brother’s best friend? Double check.
☀️ Taormina’s hot... but so is the man Maya should absolutely not be thinking about. 💥 Power imbalance? Conor won’t shut up about it.
And yet… here she is. Sharing a villa with him. In SICILY. With one bed vibes lurking like a slow burn under the Mediterranean sun. 🇮🇹 🌅✨
🎯THE VIBE?
You’re in Sicily, sweating through your feelings and your SPF.
The view? Stunning.
The tension? Radioactive.
The man? Problematic with a capital ✨YES✨
She’s all sunshine and "YOLO."
He’s all rules and "No, Maya, this is inappropriate."
And yet—he’s still shirtless on the balcony. Still staring. Still 100% doomed.
And baby, the only thing more explosive than the Sicilian sun?
Whatever the hell Conor’s hiding.
This isn’t a summer romance.
It’s a walking HR violation in linen shirts.
And you’re gonna eat it up like tiramisu at midnight. 🍰💀
"Buckle up, buttercup – this summer in Italy is anything but simple, but it sure is a wild ride!"🌺
Get ready for 300+ pages of "we shouldn’t"… followed by “we did.”
Ciao, sanity. Ciao, morals. Ciao, Conor. 😏🇮🇹
----------------------------------------
Well Well Well!! I Just Blinked, and Ali Hazelwood Dropped Another Book💀
Another Book, Another Tall Broody Man.At this point, I feel like Ali is personally challenging my TBR. I take one deep breath, and boom—another book announcement. Not in Love? Babe, neither is my schedule with all these pending reads, but here we are.👀
Age Gap? Check. Chemistry? Off the charts.Will They? Won’t They?Obviously Another Ali Hazelwood book making me ignore my responsibilities? Absolutely.
---
Mamma mia! A very problematic summer in Italy... and oh, it’s gonna be DELICIOUS!!🌸🍷
-
➷WHAT TO EXPECT:
📍Welcome to Taormina, where the pasta’s hot and the bad decisions are hotter.
💌 Tension so thick you’ll want to scream into a cannoli
🏛️ Ancient ruins, wedding chaos, secrets, & serious pining
🍷 Enemies-to-I-wish-you’d-kiss-me-right-now
🎭 A wedding meltdown that’s somehow both tragic and iconic
🤫 The forbidden kind of love that feels too good to hide
☑️ NOT fall for the 38-year-old biotech zaddy with morals and a jawline of sin? (yeah, about that…)
🍋 Citrus, Secrets, and the Brother’s Best Friend
👀 Age gap? Check.
😳 Her brother’s best friend? Double check.
☀️ Taormina’s hot... but so is the man Maya should absolutely not be thinking about. 💥 Power imbalance? Conor won’t shut up about it.
And yet… here she is. Sharing a villa with him. In SICILY. With one bed vibes lurking like a slow burn under the Mediterranean sun. 🇮🇹 🌅✨
🎯THE VIBE?
You’re in Sicily, sweating through your feelings and your SPF.
The view? Stunning.
The tension? Radioactive.
The man? Problematic with a capital ✨YES✨
She’s all sunshine and "YOLO."
He’s all rules and "No, Maya, this is inappropriate."
And yet—he’s still shirtless on the balcony. Still staring. Still 100% doomed.
And baby, the only thing more explosive than the Sicilian sun?
Whatever the hell Conor’s hiding.
This isn’t a summer romance.
It’s a walking HR violation in linen shirts.
And you’re gonna eat it up like tiramisu at midnight. 🍰💀
"Buckle up, buttercup – this summer in Italy is anything but simple, but it sure is a wild ride!"🌺
Get ready for 300+ pages of "we shouldn’t"… followed by “we did.”
Ciao, sanity. Ciao, morals. Ciao, Conor. 😏🇮🇹
----------------------------------------
Well Well Well!! I Just Blinked, and Ali Hazelwood Dropped Another Book💀
Another Book, Another Tall Broody Man.At this point, I feel like Ali is personally challenging my TBR. I take one deep breath, and boom—another book announcement. Not in Love? Babe, neither is my schedule with all these pending reads, but here we are.👀
Age Gap? Check. Chemistry? Off the charts.Will They? Won’t They?Obviously Another Ali Hazelwood book making me ignore my responsibilities? Absolutely.
May 28, 2025
just stood up & applauded.
in my humble opinion, ali hazelwood’s best yet.
in my humble opinion, ali hazelwood’s best yet.
July 15, 2025
ੈ♡˳ rating: two of five stars
ੈ♡˳ summary: maya killgore is a 23-year-old phd candidate attending her brother’s wedding in sicily. she’s brilliant, headstrong, and still recovering from a one-night stand she had a year ago—with none other than her brother’s best friend, 38-year-old conor harkness. now, stuck together at a week-long wedding in italy, maya and conor have to navigate their complicated history, undeniable chemistry, and a 15-year age gap that everyone (including themselves) can’t stop calling “problematic.”
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
i really wanted to like problematic summer romance, but it just didn’t work for me. i went in expecting something sexier and more emotionally layered, like deep end or other hazelwood books, but what i got felt flat in comparison.
the book spends so much time fixating on the “problematic” aspect of maya and conor’s age difference. i get it—it’s in the title—but it was mentioned so many times it became exhausting. maya is a grown woman, old enough to drink and defend her dissertation, but the narrative constantly infantilized her through both conor’s internal monologue and maya’s puppy-dog obsession with him. i found myself frustrated with her character; she was so lovesick and immature that it was hard to root for her, even when i wanted to.
and conor? for someone who is supposed to be intelligent and emotionally guarded, he spent most of the book repeating the same inner conflict until it no longer felt like valid concern—just an excuse to delay the inevitable.
by the time they finally got together, i was so over the entire setup that it didn’t feel satisfying. and for a book that was marketed as steamy, there’s only one explicit scene—and it comes so late in the story that the chemistry never really has time to build.
i’ll always support ali hazelwood, but this book just didn’t do it for me. i think it had a lot of potential, but the pacing, character development, and repetitive conflict made it fall short.
ੈ♡˳ tropes:
ꕥ age gap romance
ꕥ brother’s best friend
ꕥ second chance / one night stand reunion
ꕥ destination wedding
ꕥ forced proximity
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes:
➼ “you okay?” i ask, cautious.
“yeah.” a deep inhale. “yeah. i just wanted to listen to you exist.”
➼ “do you want me to leave?”
“it would be best if—”
“not the question i—”
“no, maya. i never want you to be anywhere but with me.”
➼ “i kept moving the goalpost. i kept drawing new lines. and… you asked what changed between last night and this morning: you made me realize that some lines should be left where they’ve been drawn. and if we move past them… then so be it.”
ੈ♡˳ summary: maya killgore is a 23-year-old phd candidate attending her brother’s wedding in sicily. she’s brilliant, headstrong, and still recovering from a one-night stand she had a year ago—with none other than her brother’s best friend, 38-year-old conor harkness. now, stuck together at a week-long wedding in italy, maya and conor have to navigate their complicated history, undeniable chemistry, and a 15-year age gap that everyone (including themselves) can’t stop calling “problematic.”
ੈ♡˳ thoughts:
i really wanted to like problematic summer romance, but it just didn’t work for me. i went in expecting something sexier and more emotionally layered, like deep end or other hazelwood books, but what i got felt flat in comparison.
the book spends so much time fixating on the “problematic” aspect of maya and conor’s age difference. i get it—it’s in the title—but it was mentioned so many times it became exhausting. maya is a grown woman, old enough to drink and defend her dissertation, but the narrative constantly infantilized her through both conor’s internal monologue and maya’s puppy-dog obsession with him. i found myself frustrated with her character; she was so lovesick and immature that it was hard to root for her, even when i wanted to.
and conor? for someone who is supposed to be intelligent and emotionally guarded, he spent most of the book repeating the same inner conflict until it no longer felt like valid concern—just an excuse to delay the inevitable.
by the time they finally got together, i was so over the entire setup that it didn’t feel satisfying. and for a book that was marketed as steamy, there’s only one explicit scene—and it comes so late in the story that the chemistry never really has time to build.
i’ll always support ali hazelwood, but this book just didn’t do it for me. i think it had a lot of potential, but the pacing, character development, and repetitive conflict made it fall short.
ੈ♡˳ tropes:
ꕥ age gap romance
ꕥ brother’s best friend
ꕥ second chance / one night stand reunion
ꕥ destination wedding
ꕥ forced proximity
ੈ♡˳ fave quotes:
➼ “you okay?” i ask, cautious.
“yeah.” a deep inhale. “yeah. i just wanted to listen to you exist.”
➼ “do you want me to leave?”
“it would be best if—”
“not the question i—”
“no, maya. i never want you to be anywhere but with me.”
➼ “i kept moving the goalpost. i kept drawing new lines. and… you asked what changed between last night and this morning: you made me realize that some lines should be left where they’ve been drawn. and if we move past them… then so be it.”
May 30, 2025
omg girl STAND UPPPPPPPPP omfg
June 23, 2025
“age gap romance”…
who is the younger person in this relationship???
who is the younger person in this relationship???
July 11, 2025
Me gustó mucho :)
May 26, 2025
Ali Hazelwood can do no wrong for me. I honestly never know what to expect when I open one of her books, but I always know I can depend on her to write the most pathetic, yearning man with a tension filled dynamic with our heroine lead. Hark was NO different here, and Maya was a true breath of fresh air. I loved her character so much. She did not let him off the hook for anything, at any time, during their relationship. She was strong and independent and she SPOKE HER MIND!!! I was addicted to her energy.
Now listen. The age gap was gapping. She was 20 and he was 35? Then 23 and 38? And some stuff… some stuff, you know? I am 25 and it icks me out thinking about being with a 20 year old boy. So I do not blame Hark at ALL for his hesitation, his resistance, and his stubbornness. Because whewww he was STUBBORN!!!!! And I loved it!!!!! Maya busted his balls on every single occasion and he was truly a “love quietly from the sidelines” type. The flashback chapters to Scotland had me foaming at the mouth… someone sedate me! I couldn’t breathe. His little kink profession… My lord! Give it to me now!!!
The forced proximity due to the destination wedding was everything. There were problems… EVERYWHERE!!! Reminiscent of The Ex Vows, this wedding seemed cursed, and with a small selection of people constantly running into each other, it was hard for Maya and Conor to truly avoid each other. Especially with that invisible tug that is always drawing him to her. I mean, the towel?!?!?! When she goes for a swim!? Excuse me!!! All the quiet little gestures over the three years that she didn’t even know about… I need me a sugar DADDY! This was a slower burn than I’d anticipated, but the tension was palpable and simmering throughout the entire book, just waiting to erupt like Mount Etna. But when the water finally boils over… Holy mother of God… There is only one other book that truly, truly made me feel their desire for each other so viscerally, which was Twisted Games. The need, the confessions. This killed it. I felt their desire like a third limb being chopped off. It was SO HOT!!! I just love when it feels like they are going to die without each other. Hark was so so so down bad for Maya. I wanted to be handled by him so badly, he was just so perfect. He had himself on the tightest leash—the TIGHTEST!!!—and to watch him fall apart was truly a religious experience.
The rest of the characters were perfect. I’m going to need Axel’s book asap. Also, Rue and Eli are just the most beautiful couple I’ve ever read. We see so much of them in this book (I mean, it’s their wedding after all) and Eli’s love for Rue is truly so precious. I love Rue with all of my heart; she is one of my favorite FMC’s ever. I loved how Maya was able to understand Rue’s personality and I loved how healthily they all accommodated to her limits. Also her ever-growing love for Tiny and dogs in general (IYKYK) was just beautiful when considering how apprehensive she was towards Tiny in Not In Love. She considered that dog as though he was her child and just seeing her growth over the course of these two books has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Eli, too, is now my favorite big brother. (That I also want to f*ck? I’m sorry?) His and Maya’s relationship shone in this book. I could read about all of these character’s and their lives over and over. Ali, if you want to make yet another sequel, I will literally read their mundane days. I love them so, so much.
One thing that always amazes me is Ali’s ability to write some fabulous, natural dialogue, while also creating the most intricate web of relationships. We saw some familiar faces in this book, but we also saw them at deeper levels. And another thing you can always depend on Ali to do is INCLUDE THE CAMEOS!!!! The fact that Conor and Maya’s technical “Relationship” began three years prior was fascinating to watch over the course of time. I loved how Ali developed their connection. It felt honest and real, and while Conor is still being a raging, boring, stubborn hottie, his obvious adoration and desire for Maya is evident in every interaction they have. “Since Edinburgh” excuse me… did you hear that? It’s the sound of my panties dropping to the floor. The drama… the toxicity… The other characters… I was here for all of it. They did NOT have a very healthy dynamic and you know what? I don’t care. I DONT CARE!!!!
Also, VIVA ITALIA!!!! I could feel Ali’s love for Sicily through this book. The setting was just absolutely romantic and idyllic, perfect for two people whose orbits can’t escape each other. It is the perfect summer book.
This was the most perfect, delightful surprise of the year with such a short announcement date, and I had the BEST time with it. I will probably update this after release day so I can include my favorite quotes.
I am so grateful to Berkley for sending me a free early copy—thank you. 💖
-
will need a moment to collect thoughts
-
i need this to be FILTHY idc
Now listen. The age gap was gapping. She was 20 and he was 35? Then 23 and 38? And some stuff… some stuff, you know? I am 25 and it icks me out thinking about being with a 20 year old boy. So I do not blame Hark at ALL for his hesitation, his resistance, and his stubbornness. Because whewww he was STUBBORN!!!!! And I loved it!!!!! Maya busted his balls on every single occasion and he was truly a “love quietly from the sidelines” type. The flashback chapters to Scotland had me foaming at the mouth… someone sedate me! I couldn’t breathe. His little kink profession… My lord! Give it to me now!!!
The forced proximity due to the destination wedding was everything. There were problems… EVERYWHERE!!! Reminiscent of The Ex Vows, this wedding seemed cursed, and with a small selection of people constantly running into each other, it was hard for Maya and Conor to truly avoid each other. Especially with that invisible tug that is always drawing him to her. I mean, the towel?!?!?! When she goes for a swim!? Excuse me!!! All the quiet little gestures over the three years that she didn’t even know about… I need me a sugar DADDY! This was a slower burn than I’d anticipated, but the tension was palpable and simmering throughout the entire book, just waiting to erupt like Mount Etna. But when the water finally boils over… Holy mother of God… There is only one other book that truly, truly made me feel their desire for each other so viscerally, which was Twisted Games. The need, the confessions. This killed it. I felt their desire like a third limb being chopped off. It was SO HOT!!! I just love when it feels like they are going to die without each other. Hark was so so so down bad for Maya. I wanted to be handled by him so badly, he was just so perfect. He had himself on the tightest leash—the TIGHTEST!!!—and to watch him fall apart was truly a religious experience.
The rest of the characters were perfect. I’m going to need Axel’s book asap. Also, Rue and Eli are just the most beautiful couple I’ve ever read. We see so much of them in this book (I mean, it’s their wedding after all) and Eli’s love for Rue is truly so precious. I love Rue with all of my heart; she is one of my favorite FMC’s ever. I loved how Maya was able to understand Rue’s personality and I loved how healthily they all accommodated to her limits. Also her ever-growing love for Tiny and dogs in general (IYKYK) was just beautiful when considering how apprehensive she was towards Tiny in Not In Love. She considered that dog as though he was her child and just seeing her growth over the course of these two books has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Eli, too, is now my favorite big brother. (That I also want to f*ck? I’m sorry?) His and Maya’s relationship shone in this book. I could read about all of these character’s and their lives over and over. Ali, if you want to make yet another sequel, I will literally read their mundane days. I love them so, so much.
One thing that always amazes me is Ali’s ability to write some fabulous, natural dialogue, while also creating the most intricate web of relationships. We saw some familiar faces in this book, but we also saw them at deeper levels. And another thing you can always depend on Ali to do is INCLUDE THE CAMEOS!!!! The fact that Conor and Maya’s technical “Relationship” began three years prior was fascinating to watch over the course of time. I loved how Ali developed their connection. It felt honest and real, and while Conor is still being a raging, boring, stubborn hottie, his obvious adoration and desire for Maya is evident in every interaction they have. “Since Edinburgh” excuse me… did you hear that? It’s the sound of my panties dropping to the floor. The drama… the toxicity… The other characters… I was here for all of it. They did NOT have a very healthy dynamic and you know what? I don’t care. I DONT CARE!!!!
Also, VIVA ITALIA!!!! I could feel Ali’s love for Sicily through this book. The setting was just absolutely romantic and idyllic, perfect for two people whose orbits can’t escape each other. It is the perfect summer book.
This was the most perfect, delightful surprise of the year with such a short announcement date, and I had the BEST time with it. I will probably update this after release day so I can include my favorite quotes.
I am so grateful to Berkley for sending me a free early copy—thank you. 💖
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will need a moment to collect thoughts
-
i need this to be FILTHY idc
June 5, 2025
3.95 ⭐️
July 31, 2025
── 3 stars ୨ৎ
꒰ no spoiler review ⊹₊ ⋆
┆ ⤿ 🌴 ⌗ thoughts
⟡ surprisingly, i actually had a very fun time with this one! to be completely honest, i did not have the highest hopes after looking at my mutuals ratings. it seems like a lot of people didn't like it, so imagine my surprise when i was giggling and kicking my feet over these characters. 🤭 is ali hazelwood's writing cringe sometimes? yes. is her characters very quirky and annoying sometimes? also yes. but i can't deny when i have a fun time with a book, and i of course rate solely on vibes. 😽
⟡ problematic summer romance follows maya, a grad student, whose had a major crush on her brother'solder best friend, conor. something causes them to stop talking, and when maya's brother invites her to his wedding in italy, she realizes that she's going to be stuck with conor for a whole week.
⟡ my fav thing about this book was definitaly the setting. i feel like the setting of a book will either make or break it, and in this case, it made it. it takes place in a beautiful sicilian villa in italy, and getting to read about the buzzing cicadas, the glittering beaches, and all the pretty historical places was so fun. especially to be reading during the summer! i can only imagine how perfect it would be to actually read this on the beach.
┆ ⤿ 🥥 ⌗ characters
⌗ ┆ maya kilgore
꒰ brooklyn baby by lana del rey ⊹₊ ⋆
i honestly liked her character a lot! she definitely had me giggling at some of the stuff she way saying, and at some points i was wondering whether i wanted conor or her more. 🤭 but a lot of the times i just wanted to shake her, because it seemed like she really had no personality sometimes except for being in love with conor. i could tell she was an interesting girl, so it bothered me when she wasn't giving herself a chance to shine without being overshadowed as a "lovesick puppy". for the most part, she was cute though.
⌗ ┆ conor harkness
꒰ older by isabel larosa ⊹₊ ⋆
i have such mixed opinions on him ughhh. i obviously adore an older man, and the stuff he was doing/saying sometimes had me deceased. but also, he was serving "manchild" by sabrina a little... like maya kept saying, he kept saying he was "too old for her" and since she was so young, she doesn't know what she wants and stuff. but she's a grown woman who can decide what she wants for herself?? idk, it just got a little repetitive sometimes.
you can really tell he loves maya though, and some of the quotes this man was saying almost had me in tears. the scene where he calls her drunk, and she asks him why he called. he said : "i just wanted to listen to you exist" and proceeded to listen to her do her household chores in silence. that is absolutely everything. also this scene :
⌗ ┆ maya + conor
꒰ false god by taylor swift ⊹₊ ⋆
in all, i liked their dynamic. i'm not always the biggest fan of age gap romances, but recently i really have been loving them. and in this case, i think the age gap romance aspect was done okay! i definitely didn't need to be reminded every three seconds that they had a fifteen year age gap because when they're both adults, i don't think anyonebut conor actually cared lmfao.
their scenes from the past genuinely were so sweet, so seeing how they were in the present made me heart ache. they may not be perfect, or even 100% perfect together, but they fell in love with the imperfect versions of each other, so i really do think they are meant to be.
┆ ⤿ 🌺 ⌗ final thoughts
⟡ i would definitely reccomend this to anyone who wants a quick summer romance to binge on the beach. i really want to read another ali hazelwood book in the future (except for the sex scenes.. i could go without those).
started ➤ june 16, 2025
finished ➤ june 20, 2025
..................................
—— pre-read 🥂ᝰ.ᐟ
finally starting this new ali hazelwood book that i’ve been seeing all over my feed. i haven’t been seeing the best reviews from my mutuals but i won’t let that deter me 🙂↕️ hoping i love it!
꒰ no spoiler review ⊹₊ ⋆
⊹ ࣪ ˖ “since the first day i met you, you have been the best thing in my life. and you weren’t even in it.”
┆ ⤿ 🌴 ⌗ thoughts
⟡ surprisingly, i actually had a very fun time with this one! to be completely honest, i did not have the highest hopes after looking at my mutuals ratings. it seems like a lot of people didn't like it, so imagine my surprise when i was giggling and kicking my feet over these characters. 🤭 is ali hazelwood's writing cringe sometimes? yes. is her characters very quirky and annoying sometimes? also yes. but i can't deny when i have a fun time with a book, and i of course rate solely on vibes. 😽
⟡ problematic summer romance follows maya, a grad student, whose had a major crush on her brother's
⟡ my fav thing about this book was definitaly the setting. i feel like the setting of a book will either make or break it, and in this case, it made it. it takes place in a beautiful sicilian villa in italy, and getting to read about the buzzing cicadas, the glittering beaches, and all the pretty historical places was so fun. especially to be reading during the summer! i can only imagine how perfect it would be to actually read this on the beach.
┆ ⤿ 🥥 ⌗ characters
⌗ ┆ maya kilgore
꒰ brooklyn baby by lana del rey ⊹₊ ⋆
i honestly liked her character a lot! she definitely had me giggling at some of the stuff she way saying, and at some points i was wondering whether i wanted conor or her more. 🤭 but a lot of the times i just wanted to shake her, because it seemed like she really had no personality sometimes except for being in love with conor. i could tell she was an interesting girl, so it bothered me when she wasn't giving herself a chance to shine without being overshadowed as a "lovesick puppy". for the most part, she was cute though.
⌗ ┆ conor harkness
꒰ older by isabel larosa ⊹₊ ⋆
i have such mixed opinions on him ughhh. i obviously adore an older man, and the stuff he was doing/saying sometimes had me deceased. but also, he was serving "manchild" by sabrina a little... like maya kept saying, he kept saying he was "too old for her" and since she was so young, she doesn't know what she wants and stuff. but she's a grown woman who can decide what she wants for herself?? idk, it just got a little repetitive sometimes.
you can really tell he loves maya though, and some of the quotes this man was saying almost had me in tears. the scene where he calls her drunk, and she asks him why he called. he said : "i just wanted to listen to you exist" and proceeded to listen to her do her household chores in silence. that is absolutely everything. also this scene :
"i love you," i interuppt him. calm even.
i think i hear him die. "maya."
"i love you."
"no."
"i love you and you are my best friend."
⤷ FUCKKKK i'm not even going to pretend i didn't cry at this scene. 😭😭
⌗ ┆ maya + conor
꒰ false god by taylor swift ⊹₊ ⋆
in all, i liked their dynamic. i'm not always the biggest fan of age gap romances, but recently i really have been loving them. and in this case, i think the age gap romance aspect was done okay! i definitely didn't need to be reminded every three seconds that they had a fifteen year age gap because when they're both adults, i don't think anyone
their scenes from the past genuinely were so sweet, so seeing how they were in the present made me heart ache. they may not be perfect, or even 100% perfect together, but they fell in love with the imperfect versions of each other, so i really do think they are meant to be.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ “i have never wanted anything as desperately, as ungovernably, as persistently as I want you. not a single goddamn thing. not my dead mother back. not revenge. not the well-being of the people i love. not professional success, not even my own happiness. absolutely nothing has consumed me as mercilessly as you have.”
┆ ⤿ 🌺 ⌗ final thoughts
⟡ i would definitely reccomend this to anyone who wants a quick summer romance to binge on the beach. i really want to read another ali hazelwood book in the future (except for the sex scenes.. i could go without those).
started ➤ june 16, 2025
finished ➤ june 20, 2025
..................................
—— pre-read 🥂ᝰ.ᐟ
finally starting this new ali hazelwood book that i’ve been seeing all over my feed. i haven’t been seeing the best reviews from my mutuals but i won’t let that deter me 🙂↕️ hoping i love it!
June 24, 2025
Mother did it again 💋
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Mother is feeding us so who am I to refuse a delicacy 🤭
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Mother is feeding us so who am I to refuse a delicacy 🤭
June 14, 2025
4.75… but like … if could be a 5
i fear this is ali hazelwoods best work
i fear this is ali hazelwoods best work
June 8, 2025
3.25 ☆
okayyy so slayyy!! this was decent and not as bad as i thought it’d be lol (i have a hate relationship with her books 😘)
i'll start off with what i liked
- the Sicily descriptions? beyond stunning! i’ve never been to italy, but the way Ali writes it with such details made the summer atmosphere feel so alive! the summer vibes were immaculate, and honestly, that alone made my reading experience so much better. Ali truly deserves her ass ate for that one 👆
- the of cast of side characters was phenomenal! so much fun interactions that they single-handedly made the book fun to keep reading
- that one smut scene 🥵
- connor could fucking get it to say the least. i wish we had his pov because being inside maya’s quirky head was insufferable loved how he was respectful, considerate, and honestly just charming. i was listening to the audiobook while grocery shopping, and there’s a scene where he calls maya just to say, “i just wanted to listen to you exist.” WHY DID MY KNEES COLLAPSE ON THE FLOOR?! DO YOU WANT TO GET WIFED UP CONOR?!! 👺.
what i didn't like
● please shut up about the age gap 😔🙏 ali was definitely set on making sure we didn’t forget about the age gap—like, truly determined. which, sure, i get it, it plays a big role in their relationship. but the way it kept getting brought up over and over made it feel like the book was more about their ages than their actual relationship. like instead of just letting their interactions speak for themselves, it became a constant reminder to the point it got so annoying.
● maya was doing the most for no reason. i know she has anger issues from past trauma, and she actively goes to therapy. but at some point, basic self-regulation as an adult should be happening. emotional growth?? maturity?? a single ounce of composure?? where is it?? this is a woman of 23 years of age, goes to therapy, admitted to MIT, and has an IQ of like 200—yet somehow, she acts like a literal child.🤡. first, crying in chapter ONE because conor says no to something she asked, then she gets kicked out of a soccer game for playing unfairly and instead of walking away like a normal adult, SHE THROWS A FUCKING TANTRUM! and the random beef with conor’s exes?? mind you, these women were not that relevant to the plot at all, but she has this internal battles with them for absolutely no reason.
Overall
overall, i don’t regret reading this—despite maya’s behaviors, the romance still had its moments, and the summer aesthetic this book gave was everything!
okayyy so slayyy!! this was decent and not as bad as i thought it’d be lol (i have a hate relationship with her books 😘)
i'll start off with what i liked
- the Sicily descriptions? beyond stunning! i’ve never been to italy, but the way Ali writes it with such details made the summer atmosphere feel so alive! the summer vibes were immaculate, and honestly, that alone made my reading experience so much better. Ali truly deserves her ass ate for that one 👆
- the of cast of side characters was phenomenal! so much fun interactions that they single-handedly made the book fun to keep reading
- that one smut scene 🥵
- connor could fucking get it to say the least. i wish we had his pov because being inside maya’s quirky head was insufferable loved how he was respectful, considerate, and honestly just charming. i was listening to the audiobook while grocery shopping, and there’s a scene where he calls maya just to say, “i just wanted to listen to you exist.” WHY DID MY KNEES COLLAPSE ON THE FLOOR?! DO YOU WANT TO GET WIFED UP CONOR?!! 👺.
what i didn't like
● please shut up about the age gap 😔🙏 ali was definitely set on making sure we didn’t forget about the age gap—like, truly determined. which, sure, i get it, it plays a big role in their relationship. but the way it kept getting brought up over and over made it feel like the book was more about their ages than their actual relationship. like instead of just letting their interactions speak for themselves, it became a constant reminder to the point it got so annoying.
● maya was doing the most for no reason. i know she has anger issues from past trauma, and she actively goes to therapy. but at some point, basic self-regulation as an adult should be happening. emotional growth?? maturity?? a single ounce of composure?? where is it?? this is a woman of 23 years of age, goes to therapy, admitted to MIT, and has an IQ of like 200—yet somehow, she acts like a literal child.🤡. first, crying in chapter ONE because conor says no to something she asked, then she gets kicked out of a soccer game for playing unfairly and instead of walking away like a normal adult, SHE THROWS A FUCKING TANTRUM! and the random beef with conor’s exes?? mind you, these women were not that relevant to the plot at all, but she has this internal battles with them for absolutely no reason.
Overall
overall, i don’t regret reading this—despite maya’s behaviors, the romance still had its moments, and the summer aesthetic this book gave was everything!
May 28, 2025
Ali doesn't miss, not ever. I would absolutely devour whatever she writes and this one, this one delivered on every single front. I ate it up!!!
Maya and Conor, the tension, the angst ahhhh perfection! I loved them so much, this is how you do age gap romances! Their progression, the yearning, the way he was trying so hard to stay away from her and how he opened up to her, only her. I read it in one sitting, unable to move. And the setting couldn't have been more perfect.
I don't know what drugs Ali puts in her books, but I hope I'm forever this addicted to them!
Maya and Conor, the tension, the angst ahhhh perfection! I loved them so much, this is how you do age gap romances! Their progression, the yearning, the way he was trying so hard to stay away from her and how he opened up to her, only her. I read it in one sitting, unable to move. And the setting couldn't have been more perfect.
I don't know what drugs Ali puts in her books, but I hope I'm forever this addicted to them!
August 10, 2025
Was this book lowkey *actually* a bit problematic? Yeah… But I ate it up from 10pm to 2:58am in a single sitting🤣
May 30, 2025
🌞 3.75 Stars – Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood 🌊✈️
Okay, so Ali Hazelwood really said “let’s make age gaps hot again”—and honestly? She almost had me. This book had me in a chokehold for a second… until it didn’t. But let’s get into it.
First of all: Italian villa? Sicily?? Destination wedding chaos??? SOLD. Like, the setting was actually stunning. It felt like summer vacation in book form—gelato, ocean views, ancient ruins, and every romantic cliché imaginable. Yes please.
And don’t get me wrong, I liked this book way more than I expected. I went in blind, with zero expectations after Deep End flopped for me, but this one? This one was a vibe. It gave ✨bingeable summer escape✨ and I devoured it in less than a day. Maya and Conor? Messy, dramatic, intense. But also sweet in a weird, broken kinda way.
The chemistry was THERE. I mean, it’s Ali Hazelwood. She knows how to build tension. Every interaction between them crackled with energy. I ate that up. The little moments?? The subtle glances, the teasing, the banter??? I was blushing—like okay sir, go off 👀
Buttttt here’s the thing...
The age gap conversation was SO repetitive. Like. We get it. He’s 38. She’s 23. We know. You’ve said it 50 times. Stop trying to convince us it’s wrong while also writing the smuttiest tension ever. You can’t have both!! At one point it felt less like a romance and more like a think piece on age dynamics 💀
Also, Conor was kind of... bland? He was giving emotionally constipated sugar daddy with a hot face and one personality trait—being guilty about Maya's age. Meanwhile Maya?? QUEEN. She carried. She was chaotic, bold, emotional, and called him out every damn time. I loved her little rage fits and how she never let him off easy. She gave main character energy, full stop.
And yes, the side characters slapped. Eli was SUCH a good brother (justice for functional sibling dynamics 🥹), and the cameos from Not in Love made my heart do a little dance. It felt like revisiting old friends.
BUT. The ending? Rushed. Some of the dialogue? Cringe. And I’m sorry, but if I hear the word “problematic” one more time, I might combust.
Still, I had fun. And I liked that Ali tried something a little different. It wasn’t perfect, but it was sexy & dramatic—in the best way.
If you want an age gap romance with tension, smut, and emotional pining in a gorgeous setting? Go for it. Just maybe don’t take it too seriously.
Was it problematic? Yeah. Did I enjoy it anyway? Absolutely.
━━━━━━━━━━━⊱♡⊰━━━━━━━━━━
Ali Hazelwood said “age gap but make it gelato,” and I said RTC, because I need a moment to recover from the whiplash of blushing one second and cringing the next. 🍦💋📚
Okay, so Ali Hazelwood really said “let’s make age gaps hot again”—and honestly? She almost had me. This book had me in a chokehold for a second… until it didn’t. But let’s get into it.
First of all: Italian villa? Sicily?? Destination wedding chaos??? SOLD. Like, the setting was actually stunning. It felt like summer vacation in book form—gelato, ocean views, ancient ruins, and every romantic cliché imaginable. Yes please.
And don’t get me wrong, I liked this book way more than I expected. I went in blind, with zero expectations after Deep End flopped for me, but this one? This one was a vibe. It gave ✨bingeable summer escape✨ and I devoured it in less than a day. Maya and Conor? Messy, dramatic, intense. But also sweet in a weird, broken kinda way.
The chemistry was THERE. I mean, it’s Ali Hazelwood. She knows how to build tension. Every interaction between them crackled with energy. I ate that up. The little moments?? The subtle glances, the teasing, the banter??? I was blushing—like okay sir, go off 👀
Buttttt here’s the thing...
The age gap conversation was SO repetitive. Like. We get it. He’s 38. She’s 23. We know. You’ve said it 50 times. Stop trying to convince us it’s wrong while also writing the smuttiest tension ever. You can’t have both!! At one point it felt less like a romance and more like a think piece on age dynamics 💀
Also, Conor was kind of... bland? He was giving emotionally constipated sugar daddy with a hot face and one personality trait—being guilty about Maya's age. Meanwhile Maya?? QUEEN. She carried. She was chaotic, bold, emotional, and called him out every damn time. I loved her little rage fits and how she never let him off easy. She gave main character energy, full stop.
And yes, the side characters slapped. Eli was SUCH a good brother (justice for functional sibling dynamics 🥹), and the cameos from Not in Love made my heart do a little dance. It felt like revisiting old friends.
BUT. The ending? Rushed. Some of the dialogue? Cringe. And I’m sorry, but if I hear the word “problematic” one more time, I might combust.
Still, I had fun. And I liked that Ali tried something a little different. It wasn’t perfect, but it was sexy & dramatic—in the best way.
If you want an age gap romance with tension, smut, and emotional pining in a gorgeous setting? Go for it. Just maybe don’t take it too seriously.
Was it problematic? Yeah. Did I enjoy it anyway? Absolutely.
━━━━━━━━━━━⊱♡⊰━━━━━━━━━━
Ali Hazelwood said “age gap but make it gelato,” and I said RTC, because I need a moment to recover from the whiplash of blushing one second and cringing the next. 🍦💋📚
July 1, 2025
A young woman (not weird-young, just young-young) has a crush on an older guy (not weird-older, just normal-older) who happens to be her brother’s business partner and BFF. We met Maya and Conor in Not In Love but you know I don’t remember anything so as far as I’m concerned this is a standalone with a cast of brand new characters (except the dog, I remember liking the dog). Conor spends 350 pages insisting he simply can’t have sex with Maya despite *checks notes* several instances of having sex with Maya, and Maya just wishes he’d stop being so dramatic about literally everything. Set against the backdrop of Sicily, where everything is perfect (including volcanic eruptions), this book is filled to the brim with tropes: brother’s best friend, destination wedding, and just-one-grotto. Is the 15-year age gap significant enough to serve as the backbone of the conflict? Not really, but Conor’s emotional constipation does a lot of heavy lifting so it actually works. No Adam and Olive this time around but fear not! The splish-splash kids from Deep End and Jack and Elsie from Love, Theoretically (sort of) appear. Someday the whole gang will be back together.
June 8, 2025
high school drama club production, except everyone's pushing almost 35-40 and still hasn't learned how to act their age.
June 1, 2025
The devil works hard, but Ali Hazelwood works harder!
July 4, 2025
✩ 2.45 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Age Gap (23 & 38)
➼ Mutual Pining
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Brother’s Best Friend
➼ Opposites Attract
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Eli & Rue’s Wedding
➼ Set in Sicily
➼ Duet Narration
➼ First Person POV
Sorry to the fans, but apart from a few of her novellas, this is my least favorite Ali Hazelwood to date. I don’t give a crap about their age gap in a general sense, but it IS problematic that he knew her as a child. Even if I didn’t think that, the amount of conversation surrounding their age difference was excruciating. So boring to read about.
I feel like I’m playing both sides a little in saying this, but I was also very annoyed by the implication that 38 is “old.” It’s definitely older than 23 but I was pretty frustrated with him and the author acting like he basically had one foot in the grave. This is not true or realistic and I doubt any rich and fit 38 year feels this way.
Ali is very good at writing memorable lines and Gilmore Girls style banter, but that was about the only thing I truly enjoyed about this book. The MMC may have finally caved to dating her in the end, but I don’t see him ever truly getting past their age differences. After spending years dictating what was right for her and their situation, I’m supposed to believe he will just magically stop? Sorry, I can’t suspend reality that much even for a fictional couple. 😆 The only thing I see on the horizon for these two is a very fiery and passionate break up.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Here’s to starting another book the besties hate. 🥂😆
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Is Ali a robot?! 🤖
Literally HOW is she cranking these out so fast?! 🤯
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ Age Gap (23 & 38)
➼ Mutual Pining
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Brother’s Best Friend
➼ Opposites Attract
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Eli & Rue’s Wedding
➼ Set in Sicily
➼ Duet Narration
➼ First Person POV
Sorry to the fans, but apart from a few of her novellas, this is my least favorite Ali Hazelwood to date. I don’t give a crap about their age gap in a general sense, but it IS problematic that he knew her as a child. Even if I didn’t think that, the amount of conversation surrounding their age difference was excruciating. So boring to read about.
I feel like I’m playing both sides a little in saying this, but I was also very annoyed by the implication that 38 is “old.” It’s definitely older than 23 but I was pretty frustrated with him and the author acting like he basically had one foot in the grave. This is not true or realistic and I doubt any rich and fit 38 year feels this way.
Ali is very good at writing memorable lines and Gilmore Girls style banter, but that was about the only thing I truly enjoyed about this book. The MMC may have finally caved to dating her in the end, but I don’t see him ever truly getting past their age differences. After spending years dictating what was right for her and their situation, I’m supposed to believe he will just magically stop? Sorry, I can’t suspend reality that much even for a fictional couple. 😆 The only thing I see on the horizon for these two is a very fiery and passionate break up.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Here’s to starting another book the besties hate. 🥂😆
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Is Ali a robot?! 🤖
Literally HOW is she cranking these out so fast?! 🤯
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
July 10, 2025
age gap & he wants her but refuses to let himself have her = my guilty pleasure. this was supposed to be my favorite ali hazelwood book by miles. it was shaping up to be exactly that, from a picturesque setting to the lovable characters to the discussion about women’s agency and freedom of choice. but about halfway through, it falls apart—maya loses her sense of self worth, and conor only becomes more distant. she gives all of herself to him, again and again and again, and she gets nothing in return. so instead of leaving handprints on my soul, problematic summer romance joins the ranks of not in love and the love hypothesis as entirely unimpressive and, occasionally, nearly intolerable.
i hate it to say it because i was so psyched for this release, but it didn’t feel like a love story at all. it felt much more like 400 pages of desperation, akin to forcing a key into a too-small lock, knowing it won’t work but hoping the outcome will magically change despite an abundance of evidence to the contrary. begging someone to love you is bad enough. but begging someone to let you love them is egregious. it is so exhausting trying to direct your affection where it isn’t welcome. at 60% i felt completely sapped of energy. maya’s almost childish hopefulness was endearing at first. shes so accomplished in other aspects of her life that it only makes sense to give her a sort of naïveté when it comes to love. i just wish her assuredness in herself and her wants didn’t completely blind her. because as uncommunicative and evasive as conor was, he at least set boundaries. that maya had no problem violating, of course. they’re both awful. i hate them. and i love them, too, maybe. for no other reason than that they feel pathetically human.
i hate it to say it because i was so psyched for this release, but it didn’t feel like a love story at all. it felt much more like 400 pages of desperation, akin to forcing a key into a too-small lock, knowing it won’t work but hoping the outcome will magically change despite an abundance of evidence to the contrary. begging someone to love you is bad enough. but begging someone to let you love them is egregious. it is so exhausting trying to direct your affection where it isn’t welcome. at 60% i felt completely sapped of energy. maya’s almost childish hopefulness was endearing at first. shes so accomplished in other aspects of her life that it only makes sense to give her a sort of naïveté when it comes to love. i just wish her assuredness in herself and her wants didn’t completely blind her. because as uncommunicative and evasive as conor was, he at least set boundaries. that maya had no problem violating, of course. they’re both awful. i hate them. and i love them, too, maybe. for no other reason than that they feel pathetically human.
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June 19, 2025
More like my problematic inability to NOT read each and every Ali Hazelwood book. I know I said I was done but…
Well, I was lyin’
Despite my toxic relationship with these books I have to say that Problematic Summer Romance was a surprising delight where the balance of charm and cringe tipped in charming favor amidst the idyllic scenery of Sicily. It’s less spicy than Hazelwood tends to be, but the sentimentality is rather sweet and I quite enjoyed Maya as a narrator. While technically a sequel to Not in Love—an apt title to my experience with it—Problematic sends us into the chaotic chemistry of Maya and Conor, the younger sister and best friend respectively of the former novel’s hedonistic heartthrob and repeatedly bashes us over the head with the knowledge that Maya is 23 and Conor is 38. Which wouldn’t seem like much of a problem if the character’s could step outside of the socially-couched and co-opted and flattened of nuance psychology on relationships that both acknowledges Maya as a full-ass adult while simultaneously stripping her of any emotional or social agency under preconceived stereotypes of being “too young” (as Conor often says between sessions of lusting after her) that Maya finds to be quite infantilizing and stifling. Because it’s co-opted in order to weaponized it against women’s agency. So like, hell yea Maya, you do you, girl but also maybe like…reign it in just a little bit because homegirl is just launching herself at Conor like a puppy ready to eagerly pounce on you when you get home from work and hopefully not piss on the carpet. Which, to be fair, Conor seems like he might be into. If, that is, he could be less of a brooding manchild and just accept joy in his life but then we couldn’t all bat our eyes and whisper “I can fix him” between champagne toasts at Rue and Eli’s destination wedding. So with Problematic Summer Romance Hazelwood says let the messy season of love begin and captures a rather charming little tale.
‘i just wanted to listen to you exist.’
Hazelwood fans will find plenty to enjoy here and Hazelwood haters will find plenty to rip on because we all know damn well nobody loves to read Hazelwood books quite like Hazelwood haters. I might be in the latter but I also get quite the joy from constantly bashing my brain against her books and enjoying them more than I would like to let on. You caught me. After really disliking Not in Love and finding Deep End to be a bloated bust, Problematic Summer Romance swept over my forlorn hopeless romantic heart like a sweet summer breeze.
I can’t help but love Maya (who Conor likes to teasingly describe as a ‘fucking menace’) and I really enjoyed how Hazelwood depicted her struggles to be recognized as an adult with agency in a novel hellbent of repeatedly infantilizing her and often doing so with the “we are just looking out for you” sort care that is so caught up in wanting to be well-intentioned that it is ignorant to its own condescension. Which like, okay I found it sort of annoying how there was this sense of “tropism” with the novel as if writing should be about checking boxes instead of just being a story, but it does posit how the typical conversations around power imbalance and consent—which are important and necessary in a world of predatory men—,may have congealed into this stodgy shortcut where men can use it as a front for being seen as feminists while weaponizing it to silence or repress young women. Maya wants a voice, Maya wants agency over her sexuality, Maya wants Conor but at every turn she finds her youth is used against her to dismiss her agency and desires.
Get his ass.
Conor is rich, Conor is charming, Conor is kind of a little whiny and the repetition of his woes starts to make you realize they are more of an excuse to hide behind than anything else. Conor also has a smile ‘like I live in a world in which hammer sharks and clownfish frolic together in the ocean, and no blood is ever spilled.’ Which I think implies a good thing??? But Maya is also strong and connected with a bright financial future so she doesn’t need Conor and his money, she simply wants Conor. And boy do we know it because she won’t shut the fuck up about it while everyone is just trying to get her to shut up. The spice comes fairly late in the novel and their chemistry is up for debate, but I found this to feel rather fresh and while the relationship discourse might not be perfect I liked seeing Hazelwood attempt to show how it often is used against women. Also this book feels fairly fresh for Hazelwood too who has been experimenting around quite a bit over the past two years and its nice to see (unpopular opinion but I thought her YA was a cool attempt at something different).
‘It’s the way you take over the space around you. You remind me constantly, loudly, indecently, of all the little things that make you you. It’s impossible to escape, and it makes me very angry.’
Hazelwood has some decent chops in this book and her ‘unbridled love’ for Sicily, as she writes in the author’s note, certainly shines through. She has a knack for cute little characterizations with side characters, summing people up in charming little quips like ‘Axel is the kind of guy to give a universal thumbs-up to whoever’s about to get laid, be it person, anime character, or wild animal.’ There’s some fun twists and turns here, such as the wrong dress being delivered, and it was nice to revisit familiar characters without having to make it a direct “sequel” per say by giving us new characters to view the old one’s through. Speaking of old, did you know Conor is 38 and Maya is 23?! Hazelwood will not let you forget, don’t worry. And speaking of no worries, just dive in and enjoy Problematic Summer Relationship, I know I did.
3.5/5
‘Because one day, Conor Harkness decided that he wanted someone to know him. And he chose me.’
Well, I was lyin’
Despite my toxic relationship with these books I have to say that Problematic Summer Romance was a surprising delight where the balance of charm and cringe tipped in charming favor amidst the idyllic scenery of Sicily. It’s less spicy than Hazelwood tends to be, but the sentimentality is rather sweet and I quite enjoyed Maya as a narrator. While technically a sequel to Not in Love—an apt title to my experience with it—Problematic sends us into the chaotic chemistry of Maya and Conor, the younger sister and best friend respectively of the former novel’s hedonistic heartthrob and repeatedly bashes us over the head with the knowledge that Maya is 23 and Conor is 38. Which wouldn’t seem like much of a problem if the character’s could step outside of the socially-couched and co-opted and flattened of nuance psychology on relationships that both acknowledges Maya as a full-ass adult while simultaneously stripping her of any emotional or social agency under preconceived stereotypes of being “too young” (as Conor often says between sessions of lusting after her) that Maya finds to be quite infantilizing and stifling. Because it’s co-opted in order to weaponized it against women’s agency. So like, hell yea Maya, you do you, girl but also maybe like…reign it in just a little bit because homegirl is just launching herself at Conor like a puppy ready to eagerly pounce on you when you get home from work and hopefully not piss on the carpet. Which, to be fair, Conor seems like he might be into. If, that is, he could be less of a brooding manchild and just accept joy in his life but then we couldn’t all bat our eyes and whisper “I can fix him” between champagne toasts at Rue and Eli’s destination wedding. So with Problematic Summer Romance Hazelwood says let the messy season of love begin and captures a rather charming little tale.
‘i just wanted to listen to you exist.’
Hazelwood fans will find plenty to enjoy here and Hazelwood haters will find plenty to rip on because we all know damn well nobody loves to read Hazelwood books quite like Hazelwood haters. I might be in the latter but I also get quite the joy from constantly bashing my brain against her books and enjoying them more than I would like to let on. You caught me. After really disliking Not in Love and finding Deep End to be a bloated bust, Problematic Summer Romance swept over my forlorn hopeless romantic heart like a sweet summer breeze.
I can’t help but love Maya (who Conor likes to teasingly describe as a ‘fucking menace’) and I really enjoyed how Hazelwood depicted her struggles to be recognized as an adult with agency in a novel hellbent of repeatedly infantilizing her and often doing so with the “we are just looking out for you” sort care that is so caught up in wanting to be well-intentioned that it is ignorant to its own condescension. Which like, okay I found it sort of annoying how there was this sense of “tropism” with the novel as if writing should be about checking boxes instead of just being a story, but it does posit how the typical conversations around power imbalance and consent—which are important and necessary in a world of predatory men—,may have congealed into this stodgy shortcut where men can use it as a front for being seen as feminists while weaponizing it to silence or repress young women. Maya wants a voice, Maya wants agency over her sexuality, Maya wants Conor but at every turn she finds her youth is used against her to dismiss her agency and desires.
‘If you are not interested in being with me, for any reason at all, then I'm going to drop this, no questions asked. No is a full sentence. But you're not saying that. You are automatically assuming that being younger and poorer and recently dumped makes me unable to initiate consensual sex, and this is infantilizing. If I can move abroad on my own, if I can vote, then I can also decide who I want to fuck…I understand that you're worried about taking advantage, and I appreciate it. But I'd like for you to stop patronizing me and treat me like an adult.’
Get his ass.
Conor is rich, Conor is charming, Conor is kind of a little whiny and the repetition of his woes starts to make you realize they are more of an excuse to hide behind than anything else. Conor also has a smile ‘like I live in a world in which hammer sharks and clownfish frolic together in the ocean, and no blood is ever spilled.’ Which I think implies a good thing??? But Maya is also strong and connected with a bright financial future so she doesn’t need Conor and his money, she simply wants Conor. And boy do we know it because she won’t shut the fuck up about it while everyone is just trying to get her to shut up. The spice comes fairly late in the novel and their chemistry is up for debate, but I found this to feel rather fresh and while the relationship discourse might not be perfect I liked seeing Hazelwood attempt to show how it often is used against women. Also this book feels fairly fresh for Hazelwood too who has been experimenting around quite a bit over the past two years and its nice to see (unpopular opinion but I thought her YA was a cool attempt at something different).
‘It’s the way you take over the space around you. You remind me constantly, loudly, indecently, of all the little things that make you you. It’s impossible to escape, and it makes me very angry.’
Hazelwood has some decent chops in this book and her ‘unbridled love’ for Sicily, as she writes in the author’s note, certainly shines through. She has a knack for cute little characterizations with side characters, summing people up in charming little quips like ‘Axel is the kind of guy to give a universal thumbs-up to whoever’s about to get laid, be it person, anime character, or wild animal.’ There’s some fun twists and turns here, such as the wrong dress being delivered, and it was nice to revisit familiar characters without having to make it a direct “sequel” per say by giving us new characters to view the old one’s through. Speaking of old, did you know Conor is 38 and Maya is 23?! Hazelwood will not let you forget, don’t worry. And speaking of no worries, just dive in and enjoy Problematic Summer Relationship, I know I did.
3.5/5
‘Because one day, Conor Harkness decided that he wanted someone to know him. And he chose me.’
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