Problematic Summer Romance Summary, Characters and Themes
Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood is a contemporary romance novel that centers on Maya, a young woman navigating emotional complexities tied to her family and a past romance. Set against the backdrop of a wedding in Sicily, the story delves into Maya’s unresolved feelings for her brother’s best friend, Conor, as she grapples with her past and self-identity.
Through a series of emotional encounters and self-reflection, Maya explores themes of love, independence, and personal growth. With humor, heartache, and some tension-filled moments, the book highlights how relationships can be both challenging and transformative.
Summary
Maya is reluctant to attend her brother Eli’s wedding in Sicily due to the emotional weight she carries from overhearing something that has left her conflicted. Despite her hesitation, Maya makes the decision to go, partly because of her complicated relationship with Conor Harkness, Eli’s best friend, and the unresolved feelings she has toward him.
The two had a tense and ambiguous relationship in the past, with Maya harboring emotions that she still struggles to understand.
The journey to Italy is physically and emotionally taxing for Maya. As she reflects on her life, she recalls how she and Eli grew closer after their parents’ deaths, particularly after Eli began dating Rue, his fiancée.
Maya has always been somewhat distant from her brother, but Rue’s presence in his life has brought them closer, which makes the wedding an even more significant event. Alongside her brother’s happiness, Maya feels a mixture of discomfort and reluctance regarding the people from her past, especially Conor.
Maya travels to Italy with Tiny, Eli’s dog, hoping that the journey will serve as a distraction. As she battles her feelings of resentment, confusion, and attraction towards Conor, she remembers the grief and anger she experienced following her parents’ passing.
These emotions led her to move away to Scotland, where she pursued her academic dreams and earned a master’s degree in physics. In the midst of her achievements, Maya faces another crossroads—she has been offered a prestigious internship in Switzerland, but her unresolved emotions make her question her future.
Upon arriving in Sicily, Maya is immediately confronted with Conor’s presence, and her emotions are in turmoil. Although she attempts to avoid him, Maya is unable to escape the tension between them.
Conor, with his charm and emotional distance, becomes a central figure in Maya’s mind, and their interactions throughout the trip continue to fuel her inner conflict. She also encounters Avery, Conor’s girlfriend, who complicates matters further, forcing Maya to confront her feelings about Conor’s past relationships and her own desires.
Throughout the trip, Maya becomes increasingly introspective. She reflects on her complicated emotions surrounding Conor, particularly their past interactions.
Maya’s relationship with Conor was always loaded with unspoken emotions, and as they finally have a confrontation, Maya realizes how much she is still affected by the unresolved feelings between them. The more Maya wrestles with her feelings, the more she discovers about herself.
As the wedding progresses, Maya becomes more attuned to her own growth. She begins to understand her need for independence, the importance of confronting her emotional baggage, and how to navigate her relationships with family and friends.
Despite the emotional turmoil she faces with Conor, Maya finds some solace in her time spent with other wedding guests, like Avery and Tisha, Rue’s best friend. This gives her some relief as she contemplates what love means to her and how she should handle the tension with Conor.
The beautiful Sicilian landscape, with its coastal breezes and mountain views, contrasts sharply with Maya’s inner chaos. The destination wedding, a momentous occasion, becomes the backdrop for Maya’s exploration of her own identity and feelings toward the people who have shaped her life.
Her internal conflicts—stemming from past emotional wounds, her relationships with her family, and her unresolved feelings for Conor—continue to rise to the surface.
The story climaxes with Maya and Conor finally acknowledging the unresolved tension between them. In an emotionally charged moment, Conor admits his love for Maya, but both of them remain hesitant, unsure if they can truly move forward together.
Maya is at a crossroads, realizing that she must make a choice: to let go of the anger and resentment she has harbored or to walk away from the possibility of a future with Conor. She finds herself torn between the desire to maintain control over her life and the magnetic pull she feels toward him.
Despite the emotional complexity of their relationship, Maya slowly begins to understand that love, though fraught with challenges, is worth fighting for. As the days go on, Maya spends more time with Conor, both confronting their differences and finding ways to connect more deeply.
The emotional distance between them begins to close as they begin to trust one another more.
In the end, Maya’s journey is one of self-discovery. While her relationship with Conor remains complicated, Maya learns more about herself through the interactions and emotional challenges she faces.
The book explores themes of self-acceptance, reconciliation, and the importance of understanding one’s desires and boundaries. The once-turbulent relationship with Conor begins to show signs of growth as they both acknowledge their emotional struggles and the deep connection they share.
The wedding, which initially seemed like a symbol of Maya’s unresolved emotions, becomes a turning point in her life. By the end of the book, Maya is ready to move forward with her life, even if it’s uncertain.
The future with Conor is unclear, but she is prepared to embrace whatever comes next, having learned to confront her past and her fears. The novel closes with a hopeful note, as Maya chooses to let go of her anger and embrace the possibility of love, personal growth, and reconciliation.
Characters
Maya
Maya is the protagonist of Problematic Summer Romance and the character whose emotional journey drives the narrative. At the start of the story, Maya is a complex individual who grapples with unresolved feelings of grief and anger stemming from the loss of her parents.
This loss shaped her rebellious nature and caused a strained relationship with her brother Eli, although over time, the two have become much closer. Maya is a character defined by her internal conflict—torn between her past traumas, her current relationships, and her pursuit of independence.
Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she navigates her feelings towards her family, her unspoken attraction to Conor, and her desire to carve out her own identity. Throughout the story, Maya is forced to confront her emotional scars and insecurities, particularly in her complex relationship with Conor, who brings both passion and frustration into her life.
As she deals with her romantic and familial relationships, Maya learns to set boundaries, find her voice, and ultimately embrace the messiness of love and personal growth. Her evolving relationship with Conor, marked by moments of vulnerability, is central to her development, and she shows remarkable resilience as she comes to terms with the uncertainties of love and self-worth.
Conor
Conor Harkness, Eli’s best friend and Maya’s complicated love interest, is a key figure in Problematic Summer Romance. He is portrayed as an older, successful, and enigmatic man whose past relationship with Maya is fraught with unspoken emotions.
While Conor seems indifferent to Maya at first, it becomes evident that his feelings for her are deeper than he initially lets on. Conor’s emotional distance is a central theme throughout the book.
He struggles with his own internal barriers, particularly his fear of commitment and the consequences of opening up emotionally. He appears to be the type of person who hides his vulnerability behind a wall of control, yet his interactions with Maya reveal his growing affection and the complexity of his feelings.
Despite his initial reluctance to confront his emotions, Conor eventually admits his love for Maya, acknowledging his past mistakes and his desire for a future together. However, his path to emotional openness is not easy, and his reluctance to fully engage with Maya in the way she desires creates a palpable tension in their relationship.
Conor’s journey is one of self-reflection and growth as he learns to confront his emotional unavailability and the fear of repeating past mistakes. His eventual willingness to commit to Maya, despite his fears, marks a significant turning point in his character arc, highlighting his own evolution alongside Maya’s.
Eli
Eli, Maya’s older brother, serves as a grounding presence in Problematic Summer Romance. His relationship with Maya is one of the more stable and positive connections in her life, and his growth into a supportive, caring figure after their parents’ deaths plays a significant role in Maya’s emotional development.
Despite the initial distance between them, Eli becomes more attuned to Maya’s needs and provides her with a sense of emotional security. His relationship with Rue, his fiancée, helps Maya navigate her own feelings of loss and her evolving role within the family dynamic.
Eli’s presence is marked by a sense of reliability and affection, and his relationship with Maya offers her a safe space to explore her emotions and confront her complicated feelings about family, love, and her past. While Eli’s character is not as central to the romantic tension in the story, his role as Maya’s anchor is crucial in her journey of self-discovery.
His unconditional support provides a contrast to the emotional tumult Maya experiences in her interactions with Conor, and it is clear that Eli’s care for his sister will always be a central part of her life.
Rue
Rue, Eli’s fiancée, initially presents herself as an enigmatic figure in Problematic Summer Romance, particularly in Maya’s eyes. Maya struggles with feelings of insecurity and jealousy as Rue enters Eli’s life, feeling that Rue might push her away or disrupt her bond with her brother.
However, over the course of the story, Maya begins to understand Rue’s awkwardness and realizes that Rue is not cold or indifferent, but rather socially awkward and genuine in her affection for Eli. Rue’s relationship with Maya evolves from one of hesitation to quiet understanding, with Rue making a small yet meaningful gesture involving a cucamelon, symbolizing her effort to connect with Maya.
Rue’s role in the story is a reminder of how personal growth and understanding can emerge from the most unexpected places, and her relationship with Maya helps Maya come to terms with her own insecurities and expectations about family and relationships. Rue’s character is a subtle but important influence on Maya’s journey, as she models the importance of vulnerability and genuine connection.
Tiny
Tiny, Eli’s affectionate dog, plays an unexpected but important role in Maya’s journey in Problematic Summer Romance. Tiny’s presence provides Maya with comfort and companionship, especially as she navigates the emotional turmoil surrounding the wedding.
Tiny’s loyalty and warmth serve as a calming influence on Maya, offering her a reprieve from the tension between her and Conor, as well as the complex dynamics within her family. While Tiny’s character is primarily that of a supportive animal companion, his presence underscores themes of unconditional love and emotional support, which Maya needs as she faces her internal conflicts.
Tiny’s role highlights the power of non-human companionship in helping people cope with emotional distress, and his connection with Maya serves as a reminder that sometimes love and understanding can come from the most unexpected places.
Avery
Avery, Conor’s girlfriend, adds an additional layer of complexity to the emotional landscape of Problematic Summer Romance. Maya’s initial feelings toward Avery are influenced by her unresolved emotions for Conor, and Avery’s presence in the story introduces a source of tension and jealousy for Maya.
However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that Avery is not an antagonist but rather an individual navigating her own emotional complexities. Maya’s interactions with Avery reflect her own insecurities and fears, especially in terms of how Conor’s past relationships affect her.
While Avery’s role is more peripheral compared to the central characters, her presence acts as a catalyst for Maya to confront her own feelings about Conor, love, and the possibility of competing for someone’s affection. Avery’s character is a reminder of the multifaceted nature of relationships, where the connections between individuals are shaped by past experiences, unspoken emotions, and the challenges of balancing independence with intimacy.
Nyota
Nyota is another important character in Problematic Summer Romance, serving as a companion and a source of emotional support for Maya throughout the journey. Nyota’s presence is particularly felt during the trip to Italy, where she accompanies Maya to the wedding and provides a grounding influence in the face of Maya’s internal turmoil.
Nyota’s role as a friend highlights the importance of supportive relationships in helping individuals navigate complex emotional terrain. Her interactions with Maya provide moments of humor, comfort, and insight, offering Maya the space to process her feelings about Conor, Eli, and the broader dynamics at play.
While Nyota’s character does not have the same emotional depth as some of the other primary characters, her role as Maya’s confidante and friend helps anchor the narrative and adds to the story’s themes of friendship, loyalty, and personal growth.
Themes
Personal Growth and Self-Discovery
Throughout Problematic Summer Romance, Maya embarks on an emotional journey that allows her to confront her past, face unresolved feelings, and ultimately gain a deeper understanding of herself. This process of self-discovery is driven by her complicated relationships, especially with Conor, her brother Eli, and the people around her.
Initially, Maya is overwhelmed by her emotions, influenced by her grief over the death of her parents and the sense of abandonment she experienced during that time. As she moves through life and the story progresses, she begins to learn how to navigate her insecurities, desires, and complicated family dynamics.
Maya’s growth is not just about understanding her relationships with others, but also about establishing boundaries, asserting her autonomy, and reclaiming her voice. Her decision to attend Eli’s wedding, despite her emotional turmoil, represents a significant step in her development.
She starts to recognize the importance of moving beyond her past, even though it continues to affect her. By confronting Conor, acknowledging her unresolved feelings, and choosing to move forward with her life and career, Maya evolves into someone more self-aware, capable of accepting imperfections in herself and others.
This personal growth is especially highlighted during her moments of reflection, whether in the peaceful Italian countryside or during tense confrontations with Conor. The culmination of this theme is seen in Maya’s ability to accept love, not as a perfect ideal, but as something worth fighting for despite its messiness and challenges.
Love and Emotional Complexity
The relationship between Maya and Conor serves as a central pillar for exploring the theme of love and its many complexities. Their bond is filled with longing, unresolved tension, and deep emotional struggles, which reflect the messy and unpredictable nature of love.
Maya is drawn to Conor despite his emotional unavailability, and much of her journey is about navigating her feelings for him while grappling with the hurt caused by their past. Conor’s presence in her life challenges Maya’s emotional boundaries, making her question her desires, her autonomy, and what she truly wants in a relationship.
The love they share is not simple—it’s complicated by both of their fears, unresolved emotions, and insecurities.
For Maya, this emotional tug-of-war is difficult because it forces her to confront her own vulnerabilities and feelings of inadequacy. The more she tries to resist her attraction to Conor, the more she finds herself drawn to him.
The dynamic between them is further complicated by their shared history and the power imbalances that exist within their relationship, such as Conor’s dominant and protective behavior, which at times borders on controlling. Despite this, Maya finds herself unable to deny the emotional connection they share, and her journey is defined by her constant negotiation between her independence and her desire for intimacy.
The eventual confession of love between the two signifies a major turning point in their relationship, as both Maya and Conor come to terms with their past mistakes and the emotional baggage that has weighed them down. In the end, the relationship becomes a reflection of both their willingness to grow, heal, and embrace the uncertainties of love.
Family Dynamics and Sibling Relationships
Maya’s relationship with her brother Eli is one of the key emotional threads running through Problematic Summer Romance. From the very beginning, Maya is shown to have a deep, sometimes strained connection with Eli, which stems from their shared grief after the loss of their parents.
Over time, their bond has evolved into something more supportive, with Eli stepping in as a father figure and emotional anchor for Maya. Despite their differences, particularly in how they process their emotions, their relationship remains a source of strength for Maya.
As she navigates her feelings of resentment and inadequacy, particularly in relation to Conor, her interactions with Eli help her reflect on the importance of family and support systems.
Eli’s upcoming wedding to Rue becomes a catalyst for Maya’s emotional turmoil, as she contemplates the changes in their family dynamic. The new relationship between Eli and Rue, while filled with joy, also stirs up feelings of loneliness and isolation in Maya, as she realizes how much she has depended on Eli for emotional support.
Yet, through this wedding and the resulting reflection, Maya begins to recognize that her relationship with Eli is more mature and grounded than it was in the past. This shift in their dynamic is further illustrated by Maya’s growing sense of independence, where she can now understand and accept the changes in her relationship with her brother without feeling threatened by them.
Ultimately, the theme of family dynamics is explored in a way that shows how relationships evolve, how family can both anchor and challenge individuals, and how personal growth often requires one to let go of past expectations and embrace new roles within the family.
Forgiveness and Letting Go
The theme of forgiveness is explored both internally within Maya and externally in her relationships, particularly with Conor. Maya’s emotional journey is characterized by her struggle to forgive herself for her past actions, her anger toward Conor, and the unresolved pain that lingers from her parents’ death.
As she faces the complexities of love, independence, and growth, Maya learns that forgiveness is not about forgetting the hurt, but about accepting that some things cannot be changed and allowing oneself to heal.
Conor’s emotional distance and his hesitation to be vulnerable create a barrier between them for much of the story. However, when he finally admits his feelings for Maya, it’s clear that forgiveness plays a crucial role in their evolving relationship.
Both characters must forgive themselves for the mistakes of their past and learn to let go of the emotional baggage that has held them back. For Maya, letting go of her resentment toward Conor allows her to see him for who he is, and it frees her to move forward with him, despite the complicated history they share.
Similarly, Conor’s willingness to confront his emotional issues and his past mistakes signals his own journey toward forgiveness, both of himself and of others. Their shared moments of vulnerability become a powerful testament to the healing power of forgiveness and the importance of releasing past hurts in order to move forward.
Identity and Personal Choices
Maya’s journey is also defined by her quest to understand her own identity, particularly in relation to her family, her career, and her emotional life. Throughout Problematic Summer Romance, Maya wrestles with the question of who she is outside of her familial roles and romantic entanglements.
Her past, shaped by grief and her rebellious nature, has colored much of her identity, but as she grows, she begins to see herself in a new light. Her decision to pursue a master’s degree in physics and consider a prestigious internship in Switzerland reflects her desire for personal achievement and independence, but it also comes with the challenge of leaving behind the emotional ties that have shaped her.
Her internal struggle over her identity is mirrored in her relationships with others, especially Conor. She grapples with the idea of romantic love as a part of her self-identity, and this creates an internal tension as she tries to figure out who she is outside of her feelings for him.
This theme speaks to the broader question of how we define ourselves in the context of relationships and career, and how those identities evolve over time. Maya’s journey toward self-discovery is not about rejecting relationships or past experiences but about understanding how they contribute to her sense of self and how she can embrace the complexities of her identity without losing herself in the process.