Characters Problematic Summer Romance Ali Hazelwood

Maya Killgore Character Analysis

Overview

Maya Killgore is the twenty-three-year-old protagonist of Ali Hazelwood’s Problematic Summer Romance. A physics graduate student and former figure skater, Maya carries the weight of losing both parents, a strained sibling bond with her brother Eli, and a deeply hidden crush on his best friend, Conor Harkness. Her journey across the novel is one of self-discovery, emotional vulnerability, and learning to claim what she wants—both in love and in life.

Role in the Plot

Maya drives the story through her internal conflict and her actions. She volunteers to travel separately with Eli’s dog Tiny to delay facing Conor, yet once in Sicily, she actively pursues him. Her confession to friend Nyota in Chapter 5 that Conor is “hers” sets the romance in motion. Maya is both the observer of the wedding chaos and the agent who forces Conor to confront their connection. By the novel’s end, she moves into his house and accepts his proposal, signaling a reconciled future.

Motivations and Defining Traits

Maya’s actions are motivated by a mix of grief, loyalty, and longing. After her parents’ death, she moved to Scotland at seventeen, acted out destructively, then rebuilt her life through therapy, a master’s in physics, and a CERN internship. She is academically driven, as shown when she lies to Eli about an MIT interview to buy time before the wedding. Yet she also craves emotional closeness, often turning to ice skating as a release. Her sharp wit and defensive sarcasm mask a deep fear of rejection—especially from Conor. She admits to feeling almost constantly alone, a vulnerability she rarely shows.

Chronological Arc

Maya’s arc spans several timelines. The prologue establishes her reluctance to attend Eli’s wedding and her reliance on skating to cope. Chapters 1–5 show her arrival in Sicily, where she meets Conor’s girlfriend Avery and later confesses her feelings to Nyota. A flashback in Chapter 6 reveals the beginning of her bond with Conor three years ago, when he tracked her down after a breakup. Throughout the wedding week, Maya oscillates between hope and hurt: she bonds with Avery, clashes with Conor over his age‑gap excuses, and endures his attempts to push her away (e.g., the phone call in which he says he’s dating someone). After a night of passionate sex, she walks out, realizing that Conor’s self‑loathing prevents him from accepting her love. She still agrees to be a witness at Eli and Rue’s early wedding (Chapter 38). Then, after a period of separation, Conor returns, she moves into his house, and he proposes. The arc moves from avoidance to pursuit to heartbreak to cautious commitment.

Relationships

  • Conor Harkness: The central relationship. Maya has hidden a crush for years, frustrated by Conor’s insistence that the age gap makes a relationship impossible. She challenges his excuses, calls him out on his emotional walls, and eventually breaks through after he admits he kept a memento from her for three years. The relationship is a study in power dynamics and vulnerability.

  • Eli Killgore (brother): Their relationship evolves from distant strangers (due to their age gap and Eli’s fraught history with their parents) to a supportive bond. Maya fears disappointing him and lies about the MIT interview; he later tells her he’s proud of her. Eli’s approval matters deeply to her.

  • Nyota: A newer friend who encourages Maya to pursue the “problematic summer fling.” Nyota becomes Maya’s confidante.

  • Avery: Conor’s ex-girlfriend, whom Maya initially resents but grows to like. Their dynamic highlights Maya’s capacity for empathy despite jealousy.

  • Jade: Maya’s best friend, who offers practical support (e.g., bringing snacks when Maya is upset).

Key Decisions and Consequences

  1. Choosing to attend the wedding – Rather than faking an illness, Maya goes because Eli wants her there. This decision forces her to confront Conor, triggering the romance.
  2. Confessing her feelings to Nyota – Maya admits Conor is “hers,” which makes her intention real and sets the summer fling plan.
  3. Sleeping with Conor – Their physical intimacy deepens her attachment but also leads to a painful realisation that Conor still sees her as too young.
  4. Walking away after the breakup – After calling Conor out for always leaving, she returns to Austin alone, refusing to be managed like an asset. This strengthens her self‑worth.
  5. Accepting Conor’s proposal – She immediately says yes, showing she has stopped waiting for him to be ready. The ring, a vintage piece from Montreal, symbolises a future on her own terms.

Themes and Symbols

  • Age gap and power dynamics – Conor’s repeated concern about being “inappropriate” mirrors the novel’s exploration of who gets to decide what’s acceptable in a relationship. Maya consistently argues that her feelings are mature and valid. (See age gap romance and power dynamics in relationships.)
  • Emotional vulnerability – Maya learns to voice her needs instead of hiding behind sarcasm. Conor’s walls eventually crack because she refuses to back down. (Emotional vulnerability and communication)
  • Sibling bonds – The relationship with Eli matures as both confront their parents’ legacy. Eli tells Maya that he respects her as a person and a scientist.
  • Self-discovery – Maya’s arc is about defining herself beyond grief, academic success, and the shadow of her brother. Her move into Conor’s house is a conscious choice to build a life with him. (Self-discovery and identity)
  • Ice skating – Used as an emotional release, symbolising control and freedom. Maya skates when she feels overwhelmed.
  • The cucamelon plant – A gift from Rue that represents quiet connection and the growing bond between them.

Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Maya lie to Eli about the MIT interview?
    She wants to delay her arrival at the wedding to avoid facing Conor. The lie also reflects her fear of disappointing Eli—she later learns the MIT opportunity is not as big a deal as she claimed.

  2. What is the “Mayers deal” Conor and Maya reference?
    Their agreement to keep their relationship secret from Eli and the friend group. Conor originally insisted on it as a “guardrail.” In Chapter 43, they publicly reveal the deal, acknowledging it’s no longer necessary.

  3. How does Maya’s skating connect to her emotional state?
    She uses skating to process grief and anger. In the prologue, she describes it as a way to release tension. Later, when she feels raw after Conor’s rejections, she imagines the familiar comfort of the ice.

  4. What role does Avery play in Maya’s character development?
    Maya initially views Avery as a rival, but Avery’s kindness forces Maya to confront her own jealousy and envy. Bonding over the same travel guidebook humanises Avery, and Maya later reflects that she likes her despite herself.

  5. Does Maya ever regret her decision to confess her feelings to Conor?
    Not fully, though she experiences pain when Conor pushes her away. In the end, she tells him she chose him freely, and she never apologises for loving him. The regret is more about Conor’s inability to accept her love, not about her own feelings.