A realistic depiction of the harsh awakening that is a chronic disease and learning to truly live (and love) with it not just exist. Heartful and filled with interesting vibrant characters. The small town and vivid descriptions throughout brought the story to life. The ending was hopeful while also feeling realistic.

4.5 Stars

32 Days in May by Betty Corello is one of those books that stays with you long after you turn the last page. It’s beautifully written, raw, and packed with all the feels—grief, love, heartbreak, family, courage—it’s all there.

Set mostly in Evergreen on the Jersey Shore (with a quick, dreamy trip to Italy), the story follows Marcus, a K-list actor crashing at his uncle’s house, who proposes a bold idea: he and Nadia, a woman dealing with a serious illness, will date just for the month of May. No strings, no expectations… but of course, feelings get messy.

The diary-style writing feels personal, and Betty Corello is so good at weaving heavy emotions into the story without it ever feeling overdone. Nadia’s strength and vulnerability really hit home, and Marcus—imperfect but lovable—grows in ways that made me root for him. Plus, the cozy, bittersweet Jersey Shore vibes totally set the tone.

I’ll be honest—there were a few spots where the pacing dragged a bit, which is why it’s a 4.5 instead of a full 5. But the emotional depth and heart in this book more than make up for it. I laughed, I cried, and I swooned. If you’re into romance with real substance, this one’s for you!

Th am you to NetGalley, Betty & Avon books for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

We have our two main characters, Nadia and Marco that are both escaping to Evergreen, NJ. Nadia because of her life changing lupus diagnosis and Marco(a former actor) because of his fall from grace. Both of our main characters have vices and virtues and are just perfectly human and flawed.

I love Nadia, my self-deprecating runaway queen. Her diagnosis goes beyond the physical aspects, but how it contributed to her becoming mentally unwell because she seemingly lost everything she had worked for after after she was diagnosed with lupus. I love how badly Nadia wants a slow soft life because honestly SAME.

Marco is truly so so so sweet and caring, even when Nadia is acting like an unsocialized chihuahua, He's kind & thoughtful all while recognizing his flaws and trying to better himself.

The writing in this book is quick, witty, and digestible, I finished it in less than 2 days. We have short chapters, fun banter, a unique plot, quick pace, & cozy side characters. This book felt like being wrapped in a blanket on a chilly day at the beach. I would like to mention that this is mostly closed door romance! Which was a little different for me, but cozy and refreshing.

I *do* think that we could have dived deeper into Marco's childhood and addiction, it's mentioned that he didn't have the easiest childhood and we knew he struggled with addiction but it's not talked about even a fraction of the amount Nadia's past is. I think there's just an added layer of depth that's missing for me to make this a 5 star read. There's also no epilogue 😭

thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Nadia was diagnosed with lupus. She picks up her life and moves to her childhood beach town, Evergreen, where she meets Marco, a former actor. She wants a simple life, but after meeting him, things get complicated, and she has to confront her fears. This was definitely an intense read, and Betty's writing style reminded me a little of Abby Jimenez. This book focuses on how Nadia processes her illness and how Betty writes about how Marco loved Nadia. It is beautiful and gut-wrenching—a genuine, true love story where I was crying but in a good way.

This book was weak. I don’t feel the characters were well developed and despite her struggles, I didn’t find myself rooting for Nadia at all. Because the characters were poorly developed, there was a lack of chemistry that was hard to get through and understand why the characters were in what felt like instalove.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

The premise of this story is Nadia and Marco are both hiding out in their childhood beach town. Nadia is reeling from a recent lupus diagnosis and Marco needs a fresh start from celebrity life and the trappings of addiction. They meet and agree to a no strings fling only for the month of May.

Both characters felt like very real, fleshed out, and flawed, but you couldn't help to root for them both.
Nadia in particular was such a fantastic FMC. She was hilarious and self deprecating with a fresh voice I have found missing in many books.

This was such a sweet, emotional and engaging read. Looking forward to what this author puts out next.

Wow, I absolutely loved 32 Days in May! This had all the vibes of Love and Other Drugs and Sweet November.
This book deals heavily in the challenges of chronic illnesses; but did not just focus of the physical toll. It focused on the mental toll and the difficulty in maintaining relationships (family, friends, romantic, etc.) when you are just daily trying to find the will to live and push forward.
Betty Corello was able to accomplish all of this and still have Nadia be one of the funniest FMC I have read in awhile.
I was not expecting to laugh, giggle and kick my feet as much as I did with this one. It was such a pleasant surprise.
Marco was such a great MMC. He loved Nadia with actions from the very start and reminded her all that life still had to offer.
I highly recommend this one when it comes out in May!
***Thank you Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyage for the opportunity to read this eArc for an honest review.***

I feel bad because I just couldn’t get into this one.

While I like the idea of the plot, it just fell flat for me. I could connect with the characters and I didn’t believe the chemistry between the FMC and MMC. I felt like the story kept dragging and didn’t really have a strong end goal.

I really wanted to like this book. I did like how Lupus was represented. I know many people in my family who are Lupus survivors, and this concept was well represented.

This is my first book by this author.

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an emotional gut punch that leaves you smiling.

Nadia and Marco are escaping to the Jersey Shore for their own reasons. Nadia is trying to come to terms with a lifechanging medical diagnosis and Marco needs a break from the Hollywood limelight. They happen to meet by chance and click immediately. Because they are so drawn to each other and have incredible chemistry they decide to have a spring fling (hence the title).

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this story and I think that's the correct approach. This book is emotional (we're dealing with heavy topics here) but also full of love, hope and finding yourself. Marco and Nadia had fantastic chemistry and I really liked their dynamic. They were hot ya'll!! I was not expecting how steamy this was. It was a pleasant surprise.

I think the heavier topics were handled with care and seemed well researched.

I would definitely recommend this book!

4.75 stars!!!

actually blown away by betty corrello's sophomore novel!! this one had me on my knees - sobbing, laughing, hyperventilating, sweating, swooning, blushing!!!! marco is one of the smoothest men i've ever met wow. nadia is one of the strongest women i've ever met. everything about this book was fantastic! hilarious moments. so much character growth!! a whale-watching scene that was truly tooo sweet! meeting YOUR person. learning to love life again!

the beautiful thing about this book is that it's not just the struggles of a chronic illness and the mental health toll it takes (which betty tackled in such a fantastic way - so real and raw); there's so much laughter and love and life. these absolutely impactful moments that nadia and marco both experience that give hope for a future. and the way they love each other and support each other and get each other, amazing!!!

having a hard time putting into words how much this story meant to me, someone who deals with chronic pain in the form of migraines. the fear, the anxiety, the struggle of everyday life -- betty put that experience so perfectly into words that i just ... WOW. and nadia's journey through it all 😭 yeah the tears flowed. it is SO HARD to take care of yourself and not feel like a burden to other people. it is so scary and frustrating to go through so many tests and so many different types of medicine to just hope and pray one will stick. it is exhausting to cater your every single move to prevent pain. and nadia definitely has a more intense chronic illness than me. the mental health toll it takes. if you've experienced any form of chronic illness, read this because you will feel so seen. if you've don't have that particular blessing, read this to better understand what those with chronic illnesses go through.

the ending took me out (in a good way) i love marco & now the month of may an insane amount!!!!

thank you Avon & Netgalley for the eARC! this is my honest review.

This was such a refreshing and comforting read- one of my favorites of 2024. As someone who also lives with an autoimmune disease, this story provided me with faith that happy endings are possible for people who live with disabilities or illness. I read the description and was immediately invested. I finished this in one day; I was so consumed with the story that I could not put the book down until I finished it. Betty's bio description reminds me so much of the MMC and FMC from this story- "opposites attract, but love is chosen." The author's writing style really shines at creating a universe that plays out like a film in my head. This story would be incredible adapted into a screenplay. The banter and chemistry between the two main characters Nadia and Marco was delectable and so sweet without coming off as saccharine. The humor was just my speed as well. The story was enough to be believable without tottering on cheesy, and that is really important for me when reading a romance. There is definitely a time and place for cheesy, however the subject matter of this book leans towards a more mature RomCom. This story reminds me a bit of A Walk to Remember (although completely unique in it's own regard) with a happily ever after. I can't wait to buy a physical copy to have in my home library. So excited to have discovered this author, and for whomever approved my request- thank you! This was my first ARC. This book will always be memorable and so special to me.

This was my first Betty Corello read, but it definitely will not be my last! I was so captured by the voice and story of this book and loved every moment. The absolute shining star of this book was Nadia's voice, both spoken and written, and the prose was insanely engaging. I felt so attached to Nadia and found myself hurting for her, laughing with her, and rooting for her from beginning to end. I also adored Marco and his gentleness and kindness. The two of them had such a natural chemistry, and it was a joy to read.

I also cannot not mention how much I loved and appreciated the chronic illness rep. We need more stories like this please and thanks!! Nadia was such a beautifully strong character, but not just because she "didn't let her illness hold her back" but because she was brave in her vulnerability. She had a boldness about her that was so compelling, as was her honesty about her fears in the face of a terrifying diagnosis. She felt grounded and realistic, as did the romance and overall storyline; and, as a chronic illness/autoimmune girlie myself (not to make it about me, but...), I saw so much of my own thoughts and fears in Nadia, even though we have two totally different illnesses and lives. She was courageous and clever, and her vulnerability with Marco and even herself really spoke to me. I just wish I could hug her and go whale watching together in real life...

The story was fast-paced and engaging, and it was a joyous adventure the whole way through. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC and the opportunity to experience such a delightful story.

Nadia and Marco are both hiding out in Evergreen, NJ. Nadia is reeling from a medical diagnosis and the book deals with how she’s processing everything. Marco seems to need a reset from his celebrity image. I loved how Marco loved Nadia, even if he didn’t know all of her secrets.

This one made me bawl… in a good way? Very emotional. So well written.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for 32 Days in May to come out May 13, 2025.

Holy crap I LOVED this!! I did not read Summertime Punchline but now I’m going to go back to it. The author hooked me in from the beginning… I don’t know what I was expecting but this was so much more. The romance was incredible, The heart and pain and all of the things the characters embodied kept me reading late into the night. A must read!

A very cute swoonworthy romance that deals with heavy topics masterfully! I couldn't wait to read more from Betty Corrello after readying Summerline Punchline and this was a fantastic follow-up. There was certainly no sophmore slump for Corrello, I can't wait to read more from this author.

Nadia and Marco in 32 DAYS IN MAY will always have a place in my heart. I adore and care about these two so much. They both are hiding from life in Evergreen, New Jersey and dealing with their insecurities of not being good enough, and battling their own struggles such as addiction, depression and an autoimmune disease. Nadia agrees to the plan of the ridiculously handsome and charming, famous actor no less, Marco's of dating for a one whole month, based on the plot of her favorite movie, "Sweet November." Knowing there's an end date, Nadia can go one month pretending to be a version of herself that's not sick and someone who she Marco believes would want to be with. And since it's only a month, Marco doesn't feel scared to pursue something at full force. It's a win-win for both! But after catching feelings only after knowing each other for a couple weeks, it will feel wrong to go right back to not being in each other lives. If they don't stick to the plan, what future do they hold? What's it going to take for Nadia to trust and to reveal to Marco who she really is?

I found Nadia so relatable and saw myself in her from the very start. Being standoffish and keeping people away while keeping her cards close, Nadia is the complete opposite of Marco. But gosh when they're are together, it feels like all is right in the world. Their intense (and hot!) connection and emotional depth is believable and beautiful and my god their witty banter is a medicine in of itself. I love how Marco falls first and literally laughs at everything Nadia says. I also really loved how their conflict (their vulnerabilities) is also what makes them fall in love with each other even more. It feels like a privilege to have read their story and makes so happy to have witnessed their love. I look forward to reading whatever the author grants us with next!!

Side note: and truth be told, had Nadia not had a chronic illness, she never would have met her rheumatologist, who is Marco's cousin, the man who encouraged Marco and her to meet. There are blessings if you look for them!!!

Many thanks to Avon Harper and Voyager and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I am not a fan of Romance novels, but this one stole my heart. It is the story of Nadia who has returned to her New Jersey hometown to escape the catastrophic collapse of her life after the discovery that she has Lupus. For readers who don’t understand how serious autoimmune diseases are should quickly look up this one. Nadia fell into a deep depression and believed she had a very uncertain future.

Her doctor plays Cupid and introduces her to his relative, a semi-famous star of a television hit. Thereby hangs a lovely story of Nadia and Marco, destined to last longer than just the 31 days of May! I absolutely loved all the characters and their interactions. Sure, there was a level of predictability, but that goes with the genre.

Read this and smile, maybe cry. It’s a winner. I recommend that all my readers put this on their BEACH READS lists.

Thank you Netgalley for the charming ROMANCE and its delightful heroine.

Y’all. There’s no sophomore slump here. Nadia and Marco have SIZZLING chemistry from the get. I was immediately drawn into their dynamic, and I wanted MORE. I dropped everything to read this, and didn’t put it down til I finished. The yearning. The fear. The joy. The love. The banter. The tension. These two are HOT.

Not only do our leads have incredible chemistry, but they are dealing with some heavy sh!t. From lupus to feeling like a failure to sibling fights to finding your place in the world. I love a grand gesture y’all and I love quiet love. These two have both.

I can’t wait to hold my physical copy in my hands. I’ll leave you with a couple of my unhinged reactions.

“Thank GOD Marco has chest hair. I’d die if Nadia didn’t get to run her hands through it.”

“I am a sucker for dimples.”

“Ok but what if I cry!!”

32 Days in May is a heartfelt exploration of love and vulnerability that had me completely hooked. Nadia's journey through her lupus diagnosis and her quest for a ‘no-strings fling’ with Marco feels so real and raw. The tension between wanting to protect herself and the undeniable connection she feels is beautifully crafted, making every moment feel significant. This story brilliantly balances humor and emotional depth, reminding us that taking risks in love, even when life is complicated, can lead to the most unexpected joys.