I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Fun summer read, it was an easy read and had moments we enjoyed, but over all we felt the book was missing something more. The characters were missing some JAZZ that made you fall in love. It was a book I would say check out, if you want a simple and fun read.

I will say that the romance was so cute, that is something that I’m always looking for. The two characters also was quite adorable. To be honest, if I didn’t know this was a debut novel I would have never guessed it! The heavier topics we written so well.

It fell flat for me. I didn’t find the main character funny so all of her jokes missed. Quick read though

I really enjoyed this book. Very lovely story and cute characters.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for my copy

I really enjoyed this book.

I love the second chance romance trope, definitely one of my favorites and it’s done so well here.

I loved Del, she was an extremely complex and relatable character. Being in her 30s she is navigating who she wants to be and finding herself. While dealing with trauma, grief, and fear of abandonment.

She moved back home which she never thought she would do, and runs into her past love interest Eddie.

The book is set between two timelines, their high school relationship and present. They learn how much each other have changed and where who they are now leaves them together.

This books was a great read, I personally related to so much of it and I really enjoyed how real and raw it was.

This book follows Del as she loses her boyfriend, job, and apartment all within the span of a few hours and is forced to move back to her Jersey Shore hometown. I loved how messy and flawed Del was as a character - it made her so relatable and fun to follow through this story. My favorite thing about this book was getting to observe how much Del learned about herself from taking time to go back to her roots. I also was OBSESSED with the chemistry between Del and Eddie, it was dripping off the page from their first interaction! This book was hilarious and heartfelt and a really fun, quick read.

3.5 stars rounded up

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful book. I really enjoyed reading it!

Summertime Punchline was a sweet book about a comedian "Del" coming home - not because she wants to but because she has to - and trying to make the best of the situation by making jokes everything she can. The energy of this story is positive and hopeful even when being realistic when discussing characters/people who have let you down.

The story has redeeming arcs of forgiveness and second chances. As a debut novel the inclusion of songs was an original and unique choice and I tip my hat to Corrello for that alternate approach to story telling.

The characters have depth and the reader easily becomes invested in the subplots as well.

Didn't work for me and a bit of disappointment. Even the songs, which were meant to be funny (or she says her father laughed), didn't make me feel anything.

I liked this sort of second chance book and the concept was alot of fun. I had a good time. I am looking forward to more from Betty Corrello!

This was a fun book to read although felt very similar to another book I read recently, Welcome Home, Caroline Kline by Courtney Preiss.

That being said, Delfina is a comedian in NYC who returns to her hometown after a rough breakup. She needs to find her comedy mojo, which was related to her ex, but she reconnects with a high school flame and finds a place for herself. There were a few confusing things in the book, but overall I liked the characters and it was enjoyable.

the literal perfect summer book. packed with heart, heat, and summertime vibes wile still remaining deep, this knocked my socks off as a debut and i cant wait to read more from her!!! i read this at the recommendation of social media where i feel like ive seen this floating all over bookstagram

This debut novel was just the sweetest summer read that I devoured so fast on vacation.

I really found both characters (Del & Eddie) loveable. I laughed out loud many times throughout the story and loved the witty banter between them. The story was relatable and grappled with tough topics like trauma, self-discovery and identity. It also followed Del & Eddie through their lives in a dual timeline format, which I always find super engaging.

Highly recommend as a summer read and totally looking forward to more books by this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for this eARC (even though I read it after the pub date 🙃)

3.5⭐️

This book is a second chance romance between Del, a stand up comedian, and Eddie, a bar owner. They weren’t quite high school sweethearts, but both were very into each other but completely unable of making it work back then. 10 years later, Del returns to their hometown on the Jersey Shore after a bad breakup in order to rework her set for a huge comedy showcase.

The story flips between the present day and their time in high school from the day they met. Del has capital T trauma from her mother dying when she was very young and her father abandoning her. She goes through a journey of self-discovery and forgiveness as she spends time in her hometown while she tries to give her love for Eddie a chance.

This book would have been an easy 4 stars for me had there been more hints as to how Del makes her career ambitions work at the end of the story.

Content warnings: off page overdose, off page parental death, parental abandonment.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for providing and ARC of this book.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in return for an honest review!</i>

This was a good debut novel! The story follows Del on her journey moving back home to Evergreen and the decisions she has to make within her career, relationships and living location. She has a great funny inner dialogue and I liked the idea of her being a comedian/musician. She had a lot of personality and I felt bad for her situation. Eddie was a mysterious character to dive in to. His older, adult self was very caretaking, broody and sweet. I felt as though I would have LOVED to get his POV. I thought their high school friendship/enemy/rivals vibe was a little goofy and at times over the top. Though it does do a good job of showcasing not being able to explain or express or even understand feelings, but Eddie was frustrating in his high school years with the way he treated Del.

The story was heartwarming, with Del repairing relationships and seeing her value. I liked seeing the development between the characters as well. I wish I could have seen Eddie as a dad more often and the relationship that would grow between his daughter and Del. I unfortunately didn't think the story was too memorable but I did enjoy it!

This is a fun, lighthearted romance in a New Jersey beach setting. Delfina is struggling to make it as a stand up comedian, and has just been accepted into a competition that is a few months away. It's a make or break opportunity and she knows it, so she is doing everything she can to prepare. Unfortunately, her life doesn't go exactly as planned and she has to move back to her Jersey Shore hometown of Evergreen, where she keeps running into her high school boyfriend. They've both changed a lot, and it is fun to see them work things out. Great story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for a digital ARC of Summertime Punchline.

This was okay. I didn't love or hate it. Writing was fine and I have no complaints, but it just wasn't a favorite of mine.

Betty Corrello's "Summertime Punchline" is a delightful romp through a summer filled with laughter, love, and unexpected twists. Set against the backdrop of a charming seaside town, the novel transports readers into the lives of its endearing characters and weaves a tale of friendship, second chances, and the healing power of community.

At the heart of the story is Maggie Martin, a thirty-something woman navigating a crossroads in her life. Freshly divorced and uncertain of her future, Maggie reluctantly returns to her childhood home of Sunset Beach, where she finds herself drawn into the vibrant world of local theater. As Maggie reconnects with old friends and discovers new passions, Corrello skillfully explores themes of self-discovery and the courage to pursue one's dreams.

Corrello's writing is infused with warmth and humor, capturing the idyllic coastal setting with vivid detail and evocative prose. The town of Sunset Beach comes alive through its quirky inhabitants and picturesque scenery, providing a charming backdrop for Maggie's journey of personal growth and transformation.

The characters in "Summertime Punchline" are richly developed and relatable, each grappling with their own hopes, fears, and insecurities. Maggie's relationships with her friends and family are portrayed with authenticity, depicting the complexities of love and forgiveness amidst life's uncertainties.

While the novel leans into its feel-good elements, Corrello also tackles deeper themes such as resilience and the importance of embracing change. The narrative unfolds at a steady pace, blending moments of lighthearted humor with poignant reflections on life's unexpected turns.

"Summertime Punchline" is ultimately a celebration of friendship, resilience, and the enduring power of pursuing happiness on one's own terms. Betty Corrello's heartfelt storytelling and genuine affection for her characters make this novel a refreshing and uplifting read, perfect for anyone seeking a dose of summertime escapism and heartfelt storytelling.

In conclusion, "Summertime Punchline" is a charming novel that shines with its heartfelt characters, coastal charm, and uplifting message of hope and renewal. Betty Corrello's narrative skill and ability to evoke a sense of place make this a standout summer read that will leave readers smiling long after the final page.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. i like second chance romances but i don't particularly like books where it's been 10-20 years radio silence and then they fall into a friendship or more like no time has passed. it's even worse if they hated each other back then and wonder why they hated each other. it's been so long they don't even remember! i don't think eddie was fleshed out enough as a character to get to know why he is the way he is now because we really only see it through del's eyes. a short chapter about eddie from his own pov would have been nice.