Chapter summaries Problematic Summer Romance Ali Hazelwood

Problematic Summer Romance: Chapter 35 Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Notice

This page contains detailed plot points and character revelations from Chapter 35 of Problematic Summer Romance. If you have not yet read the chapter, proceed with caution.

Summary

Ten months before the main timeline, Maya and Conor have not spoken for two weeks after their talk about Alfie, love, and Conor’s past with Minami. Maya attends the christening of Sul and Minami’s daughter Kaede, where Conor is present but distant. After the ceremony, Conor travels for work. A few nights later, he calls Maya. She updates him about a fluid astrophysics CERN project and mentions liking the lead researcher, Jack Smith. Then Conor drops a bomb: he is going to start dating a woman he has known for a while. He suggests decreasing communication between them, arguing that their intense friendship limits Maya’s opportunities and is hard to explain to others. Maya confronts him, confesses she loves him, and demands to know if he loves her. Conor deflects, saying her feelings will run their course and that ending things is the kindest choice. In anger, Maya tells him to “fuck off” and hangs up. They do not speak for the next ten months.

Key Events

  • Maya attends Kaede’s christening; Conor is present but they barely interact.
  • Maya watches Conor interact with Kaede, thinking he would be a great dad.
  • Conor calls Maya several nights later to discuss her grad school update.
  • Conor tells Maya he is going to start dating a woman and suggests reducing their communication.
  • Maya asks if he loves the new woman; Conor admits he does not love her.
  • Maya confesses her love for Conor; Conor denies it and calls her feelings irrelevant.
  • Conor argues their relationship is problematic because of the age gap and that he must free her from it.
  • Maya angrily tells him to “fuck off” and ends the call.
  • The two do not speak for ten months afterward.

Character Development

  • Maya: Shows deep emotional vulnerability by confessing her love. Her usual humor and deflection break down, revealing raw need for acknowledgment. Her anger at being dismissed reflects her growth in self-advocacy.
  • Conor: His internal conflict sharpens: he admits caring for Maya (“No one is”) but refuses to act on it. His decision to cut contact demonstrates a self-destructive form of protection, rooted in guilt and fear of exploiting the age gap.
  • Supporting characters (Eli, Rue, Minami, Sul): Present in the flashback, they reinforce the social world that Conor claims makes their friendship hard to explain.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

  • Age gap as a source of conflict: The fourteen-year difference drives Conor’s decision. He repeatedly frames it as an exploitative dynamic that limits Maya’s experiences.
  • Self-sacrifice vs. selfishness: Conor’s attempt to “free” Maya is framed as kind, but Maya sees it as cowardly. The phone call becomes a battle between protective distance and emotional honesty.
  • Confession as a turning point: Maya’s spoken “I love you” is a motif that forces Conor to either accept or deflect. He deflects, symbolizing his commitment to control.
  • The christening setting: The church and baptism symbolize innocence and new beginnings, contrasting with the inevitable rupture between Maya and Conor.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 35 is the emotional climax of the backstory. It reveals the exact moment the central conflict of the novel—Maya and Conor’s broken relationship—began. The chapter establishes the foundation for their ten-month silence, the pain each carries, and the obstacles they must overcome when they meet again. It also solidifies Conor’s character as a man who thinks he is saving Maya from himself, and Maya as someone who refuses to accept his reasons.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Conor believe decreasing contact with Maya is the right choice?

    • Conor thinks their friendship is “problematic” because of the age gap and fears it limits Maya’s opportunities to date people her own age. He believes that by pulling away, he is being kind and fair to her, even though it hurts both of them.

  2. How does Maya’s confession affect the dynamics between them?

    • Maya’s confession forces the unspoken feelings into the open. Conor cannot deny loving her—he says “No one is” prettier/smarter/funnier—but he still refuses to act. This creates a stalemate: Maya offers to wait; Conor chooses to end communication.

  3. What does Conor’s line “the best fucking thing that’s ever happened to me and still be fair to you” reveal about his internal conflict?

    • It shows that Conor values his connection with Maya above almost everything, yet he sees himself as a potential harm to her. He prioritizes her future freedom over his own happiness, revealing a deep sense of guilt and responsibility.

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