Copyright © 2025 by Ali Hazelwood

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Book design by Daniel Brount, adapted for ebook by Molly Jeszke

Edited by Sarah Blumenstock

Interior art: Lemon and flowers © Kotkoa/Shutterstock.com; Sicilian triskelion © darko m/Shutterstock.com

Cover illustrations by lilithsaur

Cover design by Vikki Chu

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Hazelwood, Ali, author.

Title: Problematic summer romance / Ali Hazelwood.

Description: First edition. | New York: Berkley Romance, 2025.

Identifiers: LCCN 2025004174 (print) | LCCN 2025004175 (ebook) | ISBN 9798217187430 (paperback) | ISBN 9798217187447 (ebook)

Subjects: LCGFT: Romance fiction. | Novels.

Classification: LCC PS3608.A98845 P76 2025 (print) | LCC PS3608.A98845 (ebook) | DDC 813/.6—dc23/eng/20250212

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2025004174

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2025004175

Ebook ISBN 9798217187447

The authorized representative in the EU for product safety and compliance is Penguin Random House Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin D02 YH68, Ireland, https://eu-contact.penguin.ie.

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Contents

Dedication

Prologue

7 Days Before the Wedding

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

6 Days Before the Wedding

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

5 Days Before the Wedding

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

4 Days Before the Wedding

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

3 Days Before the Wedding

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

2 Days Before the Wedding

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

The Day of the Wedding

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

After the Wedding

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Author’s Note

Acknowledgments

About the Author

_151466342_

Once again, for Jen, the only one who asked for this.

Happy birthday. I made them extra messy, just for you.

Prologue

It shames me to admit it, but for a brief period I seriously consider not showing up to my brother’s wedding.

“Does Eli know?” my friend Jade asks.

“That I’d rather hug the floor of a lavatory than be present while he exchanges vows with the love of his life?”

“No. That you overheard him.”

I shake my head, eyes glued to my skates. I like to pretend that the ice is the thing I would have been better off not knowing, and that I’m stabbing it over and over with my blades. A little violence never failed to brighten my mood.