Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood (May 27, 2025) Thank you, @berkleyromance and @alihazelwood, for the absolute THRILL of getting a #gifted copy of this book! #berkleypartner #berkley
Maya Killgore has been in love with Conor Harkness for three years – a total romance-novel-worthy cliché. He’s her brother’s best friend, fifteen years older, and absurdly rich, while she’s a grad student living on modest means. Their relationship should be off-limits… and Conor has always been clear: it’s never going to happen. But when Maya’s brother hosts his destination wedding on the Italian coast, Maya and Conor find themselves in close quarters for the first time in almost a year. And that’s when Maya begins to realize that Conor might be faking his indifference.
Not in Love was a brilliant, provocative read, so I was thrilled when Ali Hazelwood took us back to these characters. Ali has such a gift for transforming tropes I’m usually hesitant about (age gap, power imbalance) into something compelling and deeply thoughtful. This story was a masterclass in slow-burn tension, alternating between present-day wedding festivities and intimate flashbacks spanning three years of Maya and Conor’s complicated friendship. It’s both witty and tender, and I adored how self-aware both characters are about the “problematic” nature of their connection (the word pops up so many times, and I loved it). I adored how the eventual conclusion sidestepped the typical and gave us something so deeply genuine to all of the characters in the book.
Beyond the crackling chemistry and delicious tension, Hazelwood’s writing is as warm and smart as ever—filled with humor, heart, and a swoon-worthy coastal Italian backdrop that elevated everything. Revisiting Eli and Rue was such a treat, and I couldn’t help but hope we haven’t seen the last of these messy, lovable characters. Oh, and there’s a fun little surprise for those of us who loved Deep End too!
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 