⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Fun, Heartfelt Second-Chance Romance with a Few Stumbles

“Summertime Punchline” is a witty, heartfelt read that blends comedy, romance, and nostalgia with the vibrant backdrop of the Jersey Shore. Betty Corrello delivers a strong premise: a comedian returning home to face the ghosts of her past—including her old flame, Eddie Rodriguez—while navigating the pressures of an upcoming comedy festival.

Delfina is a sharp, relatable protagonist, and her ability to turn life’s struggles into humor makes for some genuinely funny moments. The dialogue crackles with energy, and the chemistry between Del and Eddie is engaging, if a bit predictable. Corrello does a great job capturing the messy emotions of revisiting one’s hometown and confronting unresolved feelings.

However, while the book shines in its humor and setting, the pacing can feel uneven at times. Some emotional beats—especially regarding Del’s family and personal growth—don’t land as deeply as they could, and a few secondary characters feel underdeveloped. The romance is sweet, but the push-and-pull between Del and Eddie sometimes feels repetitive rather than tension-filled.

Overall, Summertime Punchline is an enjoyable read, perfect for fans of second-chance romance and snappy banter. While it doesn’t always hit the comedic and emotional high notes perfectly, it’s a fun summer read with plenty of charm.

Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello is a witty and heartfelt coming-of-age novel that perfectly balances humor and vulnerability. The story follows Delfina “Del” Silva-Miller, a young woman trying to escape the weight of her past in the small town of Evergreen, New Jersey. With her career as a comedian finally gaining momentum, Del is shocked when she loses everything—a job, a boyfriend, and an apartment—forcing her to return to the very town she left behind ten years ago.

Back in Evergreen, Del is determined to focus on her comedy career, but her return brings her face-to-face with Eddie Rodriguez, the boy she left behind and the source of much of her past humiliation. However, Eddie is no longer the same person she remembers, and their interactions stir up old feelings while also revealing new sides to their relationship. As the comedy festival approaches, Del grapples with her complicated feelings for Eddie, her family, and the life she thought she wanted.

Corrello’s writing is rich with humor and relatable emotions, capturing Del’s journey of self-discovery and her struggle to redefine her identity. The backdrop of the Jersey Shore adds a vibrant, nostalgic element to the story, making the setting feel almost like a character in its own right. The novel explores themes of family, love, and the complex nature of pursuing one’s dreams with a refreshing and authentic voice.

With its engaging blend of comedy, romance, and personal growth, Summertime Punchline is a delightful and poignant read that will resonate with anyone who has ever had to face the past to embrace the future.

This was a good debut book. I really liked Del's character but I wanted to know more about Eddie. It would've helped with more perspective from both of them but I did like how their relationship developed and I really wish I read this in the Summer because it felt like such a good Summer read. The romance was so sweet but I'm also glad we were able to see Del work on herself more. Eddie was such a cute and sweet character too and I liked push and pull between him and Del.

This book gave me all the cute, binge-worthy summer romance vibes, and I need everyone to read it ASAP! Also, the cover is perfect!

What I loved is that the characters aren’t “perfect” in the usual way. Del is plus-size, like me, and she has weight on her. It was so refreshing to see a romance lead who isn’t skinny and blonde. Eddie isn’t perfect either, which made them feel more real. Del doesn’t have her life figured out, and I totally related to that (except I have a great dad, so there’s that).

As for the romance, it was just okay. I cared more about Del’s personal journey than her relationship with Eddie. It’s a second-chance romance, so I expected more depth or flashbacks, but it didn’t really work for me. They hadn’t spoken in ten years but acted like nothing changed? I don’t know anyone from ten years ago like that. It was hard for me to believe.

The writing was easy to read and fast-paced, and even though I wasn’t crazy about the romance, I still enjoyed it. The characters were great on their own, but their connection just didn’t feel romantic to me. Still, a fun read!

SUMMERTIME PUNCHLINE follows comedian Del, who returns to her Jersey shore hometown after losing her job, apartment, and boyfriend. The second chance love story is fantastic but so is Del’s growth and humor. I’m forever amazed by people who write comedian characters because every piece of dialogue has to be so smart and funny and @bettycorrello knocked it out of the park. (Thanks for my copy @avonbooks !)

This book follows Del as she goes through it all--losing her job, boyfriend and home in a matter of minutes. She has to return home to the Jersey Shore to pick up the pieces.

I loved that Del is not perfect, she is so relatable as she transforms and rediscovers herself allowing her to grow. I also loved Del and Eddie together! THis was such a quick read.

Thanks so much for the copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was a very cute summer read! I honestly thought it was hilarious and I absolutely loved Del's character. I found her to be very relatable which allowed me to connect more with the story. I will say that some things felt rushed and I wanted more from the romance. Overall, this was a quick summer read and was pretty enjoyable, I personally just would have liked more romance!

Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello follows Del as she experiences a whirlwind of life-changing events: losing her boyfriend, job, and apartment all within a matter of hours. Left with no choice, she returns to her hometown along the Jersey Shore, where she begins the process of picking up the pieces. One of the standout aspects of this book is Del herself—she’s wonderfully messy and flawed, making her incredibly relatable and a joy to follow on her journey.
What I absolutely loved about this story was the way Del’s return to her roots becomes a transformative experience. Watching her reconnect with herself and her past allowed for some truly meaningful moments of self-discovery, and it was so satisfying to see her grow throughout the book.
Another highlight for me was the sizzling chemistry between Del and Eddie. From their very first encounter, the connection between them was palpable, and I found myself eagerly turning the pages to see where their dynamic would go next.
This book is the perfect blend of humor, heart, and romance, making it a fun and quick read that I couldn’t put down. If you're looking for a lighthearted yet emotionally engaging story, this one should definitely be on your radar.
I would like to thank Avon/Harper Voyager and Betty Corrello for letting me read and review this book.

This book centers around Delfina Silva-Miller’s rapid fall from grace and begrudging journey back to her childhood hometown that she swore she'd never return to. However, a lot has changed and the people who had failed her in the past are now more available for connection. Yay! I really enjoyed the Jersey Shore setting, with a plot filled with second changes, messy self-discovery, and heartfelt relationship building. There's boardwalks, beaches, comedy, and lots of witty banter with a second-chance romance in the mix!

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello!

This was a cute summer romance, but nothing I would say is a must-read. The writing was fine, but I thought the general storyline was not very memorable. The relationship felt a little rushed, and I found myself wanting more of the characters' backstories. I probably could have done without the romance part completely and just gotten more about Del and her family situation, honestly. Predictable and anticlimactic, but if you want a sweet, mindless read, it's worth a try!

I loved this summertime read! The chemistry between these characters was great. I also loved seeing the growth of our main character as well!

I thought this was going to be a funny romantic comedy, but it didn't deliver at all. It wasn't entertaining at all. I thought the characters were boring and there was no tension between the main characters. No pinning. No obstacles. A rushed ending and they just lacked depth. I think this book should have been marked as a young adult read as most of the story takes place when the main character is 17. She's hurt and in her feelings and I just didn't connect.

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