The Bookish Ashley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

Ali Hazelwood delivers another irresistible, emotionally layered romance in Problematic Summer Romance, this time bringing readers to the sun-soaked landscapes of Italy with a swoon-worthy story that’s as heartfelt as it is complicated.

Maya Killgore, a 23-year-old grad student, is caught in a summer limbo—academically uncertain, emotionally tangled, and hopelessly infatuated with her older brother’s best friend, the guarded and maddeningly magnetic Conor Harkness. At 38, Conor is a brilliant, emotionally walled-off biotech mogul who insists their connection is inappropriate. Too big of an age gap. Too messy. Too many “what ifs.” And yet…neither of them can quite walk away.

What makes this book shine isn’t just the forbidden longing or the forced proximity (though both are top-tier); it’s Hazelwood’s gift for turning messy, imperfect attraction into something achingly real. Maya is witty, messy, and earnest, with a voice that feels instantly relatable. Her vulnerability feels like a slow burn all on its own. Conor, for his part, is more than just the brooding older man—his moral hesitation is frustrating but deeply human, making the slow unraveling of his emotional armor that much more satisfying.

Set against the lush backdrop of Italy, the book pulses with chemistry, angst, and that delicious kind of tension Hazelwood fans have come to crave. Every stolen glance and “this is a bad idea” moment only deepens the emotional stakes.

So why 4 stars instead of 5? At times, the power dynamic—central to the conflict—feels more narrated than truly grappled with. Some readers may crave a deeper exploration of the ethical implications rather than repeated reminders that it’s “problematic.” The resolution, while heartfelt, wraps up a bit too neatly for a situation so emotionally complex.

Still, Problematic Summer Romance is a tender, sexy, and compulsively readable summer read. If you love stories where what feels right flies in the face of what’s acceptable, and if you like your romance with emotional messiness and Mediterranean heat, this one’s for you.

Perfect for fans of:

✨ Age-gap romance

✨ Forbidden love / brother’s best friend trope

✨ Smart heroines and emotionally unavailable men

✨ Hazelwood’s signature blend of science and swoon

Don’t be surprised if this book leaves you questioning all your own “problematic” crushes.