She has a chronic illness and feels like her life is over… he’s a celebrity who has been struggling and trying to stay sober. They agree to a short term dating situationship… only seeing each other until the end of May.

It took me a minute to get into this one, but once I did WEW... I got swept away with Nadia & Marco.

The banter was delightful. The chemistry leapt off the page. I want to be at the Jersey shore or in NYC or Rome immediately. The descriptions of the settings were all so evocative.

There were some very heavy topics discussed, but they were handled with great care by the author. (Message me, or see authors note, for info on triggers).

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review an advance copy.

4.5 stars to this beautiful rom com! Set mostly in the fictional New Jersey beach town, Evergreen, as well as a brief trip to NYC and Rome, this is a story full of witty banter with a bit of spice. You’ll laugh and cry and actually miss these characters when you’ve finished the book.

The author has written a realistic representation of chronic illness in the character of Nadia. And who wouldn’t want a Marco in their life??? You will be rooting for these characters throughout this swoon worthy story.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

All the feels!!! 32 Days in May stars Nadia, who struggles with lupus, and Marco, a washed-up TV star. Both have their demons but through the book they help each other overcome them.
I love how not only is this book a romance between Nadia and Marco, it also sometimes felt like a romance between Nadia and herself. Sometimes, Nadia makes choices that you as a reader might cringe at, but the author does a really good job at making you see the world from Nadia's perspective as someone who got recently diagnosed with a life-changing autoimmune disease.
I also appreciate the trigger warnings in the beginning of the book that made sure I knew exactly what was in the book and made sure I could handle that. All around, 32 Days in May is a very well-written book that will make you laugh and possibly cry while giving you a glimpse into life with an illness that needs more light thrown onto it.

*Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyager for this free ARC!

romantic, witty, and quietly devastating. betty corello's take on love with an expiration date is one of my favorites ever. the writing is simple yet gorgeous. the characters are dimensional, relatable, and if they were real i would shrink them down to pocket size and carry them around with me at all times. despite taking its cue from sweet november, everything about 32 days in may feels fresh, original, and emotional. i'm truly obsessed. 4.5⭐️

Betty Corrello is a beautiful writer and I loved her fresh voice. Nadia’s struggle with lupus felt very real and relatable. The book was strongest when I leaned into her journey.

Nadia and Marco’s romance felt like something that was pleasant to read on the page but didn’t really grab me emotionally. Perhaps I’m just not made for believing in insta-love but I had a hard time being invested in their relationship. I enjoyed their dynamic but I never felt like I truly believed in their love.

That being said, the end chapters were poignant and romantic. Overall it’s a good read!

Thank you to Avon for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

While trying to come to terms with her Lupus diagnosis, Nadia returns to a place of comfort and safety. When her doctor asks her to show his cousin around, Nadia and "k-list" celebrity Marco embark on a Sweet November arrangement. They would date for the month of May and not one day more, but when feelings run deeper, Nadia must decide if she will continue to hide her illness or open her heart and life to Marco.

I was giddy to return to Evergreen. This charming, fiction Jersey shore town was the setting of Corrello's debut which I adored, and now was also the setting of this touching tale. Nadia was struggling with her new normal - the pills, the pain, the loss of control over her own body. When Marco entered the scene and made the no-strings relationship offer, she saw it as a way to escape her life for just one month. For one month, Nadia could be a different version of herself, the non-sick version of herself.

My heart ached for this woman who was at the top of her game when her body betrayed her. Even though she had built a "small life" for herself in Evergreen with Soph and Ali for support and her produce stand job, I was happy she found Marco. He was very sweet to Nadia and cherished her in a way everyone would want to be cherished. I hated thinking that something THIS good had to end, and I wanted Nadia to trust what she had with Marco, to trust HIM enough to tell him the truth.

This story hit all the right notes for me. It was tender, romantic, and of course, packed with Corrello's signature humor. There was a lot of smiling and laughing on my part, but there was also empathy and concern for Nadia. My heart was definitely focused on Nadia and her journey, but Marco was dealing with some demons of his own as well. He was also rebuilding his life after years of being in the spotlight and battling addiction, Marco was also in Evergreen to regroup. Both of these characters burrowed their way into my heart, and I was deeply invested in the outcome of this Sweet November experiment.

Overall, my trip back to Evergreen was a stunning success. I found myself swept up in this month-of-May romance which culminated in a precious way (I'm looking at you, Marco) and was happy to cheer for Marco and Nadia as they figured things out and fell in love.

It's a true testament to Betty Corrello's skill as a romance writer that the experience of reading her sophomore novel felt exactly like falling in love — lighthearted and fun at first, like an easy diversion from reality, and then suddenly, entirely all-consuming. I was so caught up in Nadia and Marco's story, and I adored every second!

TW: Suicide, substance abuse, chronic illness

Betty Corrello’s 32 Days in May introduces us to Nadia, a woman navigating the emotional and physical toll of a recent Lupus diagnosis. Forced to leave behind her career in Philadelphia, she retreats to her family’s beach house, taking on an hourly job and resigning herself to a life that feels much smaller than she once imagined. Then she meets Marco—a charismatic, vaguely famous stranger who brings excitement and spontaneity into her carefully contained world. Marco doesn’t know Nadia is sick, and as their relationship unfolds, the novel takes us on a journey through romance, vulnerability, and self-discovery.

From the moment I started this book, I was eager to see if it would live up to the pre-publication buzz, and it absolutely did. Nadia’s voice is sharp, witty, and deeply relatable, making her a protagonist you can’t help but root for. The supporting characters also add warmth and dimension to the story, making the world feel rich and authentic. My only critique is that I found myself wanting more—more depth in certain areas, more exploration of key moments. Without veering into spoiler territory, I’ll just say that some aspects left me craving a deeper dive.

Overall, 32 Days in May is a heartfelt and engaging read that balances humor, romance, and the realities of chronic illness with skill and compassion. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for an insightful take on love, resilience, and what it means to redefine one’s future.

My most sincere thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Tenderly written and evocative, 32 Days in May exceeds more than just being a contemporary romance novel. 32 Days in May follows Nadia Fabiola as she struggles with her lupus and mental health, and Marco Antoniou, a former actor who’s recovering from drug addiction. After their first date, Nadia and Marco share mutual attraction and chemistry, but neither is seeking a relationship, so they decide a month-long fling is what they both need to escape their problems. However, spending time together for a month is long enough to develop real feelings, and Nadia begins to wonder if there’s more to life after all.

Nadia and Marco are both two broken and deeply flawed yet relatable characters. Nadia’s hesitation and reluctance to trust and love again was understandable, while Marco’s sense of shame and self-worth was heartbreaking. Betty Corrello wrote a stunning novel about identity, failure, family, and love. This was such an emotional read; however, the ending was abrupt and left me wanting more. Hopefully, an epilogue will be mentioned soon after. Corello’s debut novel was a delight to read, and so was this one, and I’ll be looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a delightful and timely summer time romance.
This was a perfect easy read that has me ready for more sunshine and summertime vibes.

I really enjoyed this book. I appreciated that the author delved into the realities of a chronic illness and touched on addiction as well.

32 Days in May by Betty Corrello
Wow. I LOVED this book.
After losing her career and getting diagnosed with Lupus, Nadia wants to live a quiet life in Evergreen. That gets turned up side down when her rheumatologist sets her up with his cousin. Marco and Nadia instantly have chemistry and decide to date for a month and at the end they will go their separate ways.
This book has it all for me. Chronic illness rep, swoony MMC, FMC trying to find her way, banter (amazing!) & supportive friends that feel like family. This book also had the perfect amount of spice and sweetness for me.
There are some intimate scenes but not fully explicit.
It's emotional, it's fun, it's inspiring.
I've talked about this before but if you're new around here I have Fibromyalgia. I connected so much with this main character because she is young and has a chronic illness. l've had similar thoughts to Nadia, that no one would ever stay and love me in my flares. I've had similar conversations with my therapists and friends as Nadia did with hers about her lupus. I understand wanting people to see you for you and not you in your flare up. When I read romance I can't always put myself in the book because I can't live the way characters live, but I could fully see myself in Nadia.
Betty writes a beautiful story about finding the courage to be vulnerable. I hope you choose to read it! Preorder now, coming out May 13th!
Trigger Warnings: discussion of addiction and suicide
Thank you @netgalley &@avonbooks for this free ARC, all my opinions are my own.

✅ Nadia, 30, recently diagnosed with lupus & Marco, former actor and minor celebrity taking a break from the recent train wreck of his life
✅ Nadia and Marco decide to“Sweet November” date each other just for the month of May, after which they will go their separate ways
🌶️: yes

This is a beautiful story of a woman falling in love while coming to terms with a new version of her

Betty packed in a punch of emotions with 32 Days in May! Immediately I loved Nadia and would go to war for her. Soph and Allie were the absolute perfect neighbor-friends. Marco came at just the right time to give Nadia a push (how she handled that push however....). I was drawn to Nadia's banter and wit in all of her relationships - her personality was such a strong development which made the struggles even harder. She was funny and charming no matter who she was with, and her sister fights with Liv felt a little too real to me!While Nadia and Marco had heavy insta-love vibes, they worked around it beautifully so as to not give me my usual "insta-love ick". They're both protecting themselves while also trying to be as present as possible and it was a fine line to watch them balance. I hope you'll pick this one up as soon as it's out, it's one of those stories that is going to stay with me for a long time!
Thank you Avon and NetGalley for an arc of this amazing book!

32 days in may (arc)

the netgalley grind continues! i actually stumbled into reading this one—i had a few books downloaded for a flight, but for some reason, they weren’t showing up, and this was the only unread book on my kindle. it worked out, though, because not only did i get to boost my netgalley ratio, but i also ended up enjoying the read.

overall, i liked this book. the biggest standout for me was its representation of chronic illness. as someone who grew up dealing with illness (i’ve struggled with lyme disease but am incredibly grateful to be in remission), i really appreciated how authentically the author captured the experience. the portrayal never felt exaggerated or dramatized for effect—it was real, nuanced, and impressively well done.

the romance was honestly pretty adorable. i can’t quite put my finger on what made these characters and their connection so compelling, but there were definitely plenty of swoon-worthy moments. they just worked for me (especially marco).

unfortunately, the writing felt a little incomplete. i get that arcs aren’t the final product, but there were moments where the prose felt choppy, and i noticed more typos than i would have liked. even putting that aside (because i know a lot of this will be fixed in the final print), the writing style didn’t always flow in a way that made it easy to sink into the story.

i also love messy, flawed characters, but the fmc’s resistance to vulnerability frustrated me. if her hesitance had been explained earlier in the book, i think i would have been more patient with her, but since that explanation didn’t come until the end, i spent a lot of time just feeling annoyed. also, i kept waiting for a deeper explanation of why the mmc was so adamant about only dating for a month before calling it quits. it felt like such a major part of the story, but the reasoning behind it was never fully fleshed out, which left it feeling a bit incomplete.

i wouldn’t be super quick to recommend this one, but i do think it’s worth a read—especially if you connect with the fmc’s experience of chronic illness and its emotional toll.

thank you, avon and netgalley, for the arc!

3.25 stars

This book!! This is such a wonderfully vulnerable, real, relatable, and emotional romance. I could not put it down.

This book has lingered with me long after I finished reading it. Nadia has escaped to her "safe" place--her family summer place in Evergreen NJ. She's been diagnosed with lupus and the diagnosis, work, and all the other stresses of her life have left her in rough place. Her childhood vacation home feels like a refuge. Her rheumatologist supports her plan and sets her up to hang out with his cousin Marco, a low level celebrity who's in a rough patch himself and also in Evergreen as an escape. Nadia and Marco have an immediate connection and sparks fly but neither of them are ready for anything serious or committed. They agree to be together for the month of May. Just May. No strings attached. Fun and low key and no long-term commitment.

They find joy in each others company but Nadia is juggling her diagnosis and its ramifications and she's not upfront with Marco about it--she'd rather not think about it for this time they have together. She tries to keep what they have together fun and breezy and tends to keep him at a distance emotionally rather than allow herself to confide in him. Their days in May bring them some wonderful shared moments and intense connections/attraction but the undercurrents of what's going on with Nadia can't be held at bay that long, not even for the whole month of May.

I loved how real and relatable Nadia and Marco were. Real conversations, real world issues, believable situations and interactions. They felt like old friends by the end of the book. The banter and humor is top notch--Corrello is a master of both and it shines in this book, laugh out loud and absurd in the best way possible. But Corrello also captures the pure emotions and vulnerability of these characters in a manner that truly takes your breath away. I ached for both of them.

The serious issues are handled so deftly. I am so impressed with the detail brought to both Marco's issues and Nadia's lupus. The handling of it was impressive--caring, erudite, precise, and accurate. Complex medical situations made sense and were explained in a way that never felt like the author "telling" us, never interfered with the narrative but felt natural and fitting, organically flowing in the conversations and internal monologues, relevant and so deeply important to Nadia's story.

This is an emotional book. From laugh out loud moments, to introspection, to moments that made me cry. The characters have defined arcs and their growth is realistic and rooted in the experiences of the story. Every scene, every call back, every moment has a resonance. There are highs that made me grin with happiness for Nadia and lows that felt like a gut punch. These are complex characters, three dimensional in every way, faceted and nuances and oh so very real . It's a complex book, achingly vulnerable and I loved every minute of it. Corrello writes from the heart and it is evident in every page.

Secondary characters are also richly characterized and layered and add to the story but at its heart 32 Days in May is truly Nadia's story and oh how she shines.

All the stars. What a triumph of a book. Highest praise to Corrello for giving us an absolutely electric and sizzling romance and layering such a complex, emotional, and unflinching portrayal of chronic illness in with it.

my thanks to net galley and the publisher for this digital ARC.

4.5 stars!!!

I couldn’t put this one down. The banter and pacing?! I fell in love with Betty’s writing.

Nadia is flawed in the most relatable way. She made me laugh with her and ache for her as she navigated her diagnosis. Marco was the perfect counterpart, and I kicked my feet at his wittiness.

32 Days in May is a beautiful and emotional contemporary romance. Jessica Joyce/Hannah Bonam-Young fans, this one is right up your alley!

This was the best romance novel I have read in a long time. These characters and their sharp humor and beautiful vulnerability will be with me for a long time to come!

I don't know what Betty put into this book (her entire heart, it seems) but let me just say: absolutely amazing.

Nadia was handled with such love and care, it oozed off the pages. You can tell Corello is writing from experience and pain and healing and I am so honored to have read this story. My heart hurt for Nadia in her most vulnerable moments but goodness did I scream with joy when she let herself find her happiness in whatever moments she allowed herself.

Outside of the emotional punch she threw at us with this book, I think Betty is one of the funniest people on the planet. She had me gasping to catch my breath from laughing so hard. The banter. The quick wit. I love these two so much.

I love how instantly Marco and Nadia understood each other. I kept waiting for the truths to drop and each time they opened up a little bit more I knew they'd be okay in the end. The endless support, the enthusiasm for each other, the softness they gifted the other in the quiet moments and whispers. Two hurt people coming together, learning to exist in a quieter life, different than what they envisioned for themselves. Learning to just be okay with the life they're living for the sake of living it. The beauty in that. Everything and all of it, I love this book.

This book is a triumph.

Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyager, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 / 5 Stars

This book fully had its finger in between every fold of my brain. I will be thinking about this book for a LONG time. “In 32 Days in May,” Nadia is living in Evergreen, NJ after being recently diagnosed with lupus. She wants to feel like anything other than sick and keeping a small life where she works at a farm stand, lives in her old childhood vacation home, and has a few close friends is getting her towards those feelings. Her rheumatologist sets her up with his cousin, Marco, a “K-list celebrity” who used to act on a show that reminded me of that weird ranch show that Ashton Kutcher was on. Marco hasn’t been acting recently due to a very public crash and burn and he’s currently in recovery. Their first date is electric but neither is ready for a commitment so they agree to a very timed relationship. One month. Just May. No more. But their no-strings connection becomes deeply entangled with many, many strings though Nadia tries to keep Marco at an arm’s length and doesn’t want to tell him about her diagnosis. She likes that he doesn’t know her for her illness and she likes how happy she is with him. But can that sustain a relationship no matter how long?

I was obsessed with the precision and meticulousness of Betty Corrello’s writing. Every word choice for a metaphor or simile or joke was perfectly picked and perfectly evocative. I was going to say that her jokes reminded me of a comedian who has finely tailored their art and then I turned to the “About The Author” section and she is a comedian, so I felt very validated. I honestly felt like I was highlighting half of the book because the jokes were so funny I had to return to them or her description of a feeling was so exact that I had felt it but hadn’t had the words until she wrote them. It’s truly such a beautiful gift to read this writing.

While reading, I was so transported that I felt everything that Nadia felt. Instead of analyzing as I was reading or figuring out how I felt about the characters, I just felt Nadia. I felt giddily happy and deeply terrified of that happiness. I didn’t trust Marco’s motives, then was obsessed with Marco and his motives. I felt instead of thinking and then felt like I should be thinking and then stuffed that down and then continued that loop. I was on that damn rollercoaster with Nadia and she was a brilliant riding companion. I love her so deeply. Even though I am not 100% convinced that she and Marco are right for each other or would work out, that is honestly the beauty of this story too. This was a nuanced, complex story with nuanced and complex characters and that is so much more fun to read than something that is super black and white.

Highly recommend this book. Betty Corrello is an auto-read author for me now.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.