Oof. This one got me. Made me laugh. Made me cry. Made me feel seen in a way that most books about chronic illness have not.

Nadia and Marco are beautifully written. Complex, messy people who find each other at their mutual worst and bring out each other’s best. This is my favorite kind of contemporary romance: one with broad emotional range, well-devised characters, and grounded storytelling.

This could have so easily veered into “wish fulfillment” territory—an idyllic fantasy about a sick girl getting swept off her feet by a famous actor. Or, even worse, it could have been a story about a man-boy being “forever changed” by a manic-pixie-sick-girl (a trope I HATE). Instead, this book finds the middle ground. These are (mostly) realistic characters learning and growing together through (mostly) realistic circumstances.

And, oh! I’ve read a fair few books about protagonists with chronic illness, but this one resonated on a deeper level. There is a grief that comes with losing the life you had, almost like a death of self that you have to grapple with, and Nadia’s journey portrays this so well.

“Sickness has a way of making you aware of every dimension of yourself; I swear, I can feel the difference between tissue and bone. I’ve never felt more 3D than when I hurt.”

And, because this IS romance: the romance is swoon-worthy. Marco may start out messy, but he’s also the best. So relentlessly and ridiculously into Nadia, even when she can’t see what’s likable about herself.

I cannot recommend this one enough.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the advance reader copy of this book, provided in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. And thanks for introducing me to a new author! I’ll definitely be on the lookout for her future work.

I really liked this book. As someone who struggles with autoimmune, I really loved that angle. I felt like we really saw Nadia's struggles and her character arc was clearly defined. I also loved the fictional Jersey shore town of Evergreen that has bits and pieces of the real towns lining the Jersey coast. I would have liked to see Marco's story told from his POV a bit, but that may just be my preference to stories told in dual POV. I liked Marco a lot and I wanted to go deeper to learn what makes him tick. In all, it was a great HEA that tugged at my heart strings.

Wow, what a book! I went into this book somewhat blind, but what I did not expect was a beautifully written, emotional romance that I already want to read all over again.


Nadia Fabiola has spent the last few months keeping her world small. After being diagnosed with Lupus (SLE), losing her job, and falling into a deep depression, she returns home to Evergreen, New Jersey, to pick up the pieces of her life. She starts a new medication regimen, finds steady work with her neighbor, and begins to feel better about her life, slowly but surely. But life throws her a curveball in the form of Marco Antoniou, former actor and cousin to her rheumatologist (who decided to play match maker). Sparks immediately fly between the two and they come up with an arrangement to protect their hearts: they’ll date until the end of May, no strings attached. As each day in May progresses and they learn more about each other, love no longer seems like an impossibility and the future is no longer as black and white as either of them thought it would be.

I really enjoyed Betty’s debut, Summertime Punchline, but I think she completely knocked it out of the park with 32 Days in May! I don’t think I started this book expecting to cry so much or feel so emotionally attached to the characters as I did.

I will admit, this book was very heavy and should be read with caution and care, but I think it captured the intricate complexities of life with an autoimmune disease. I loved that Betty depicted Nadia in such a genuine and vulnerable way, especially as she leaned to navigate her new life. Marco was such a joy to read. His kindness and love for Nadia is something all future romantic partners should aspire to.

I also loved the structure of the book. Each chapter (with a few exceptions) was a different day in May, and in some ways felt like I was reading Nadia’s personal journal. It gave epistolary vibes (which I love) without actually being epistolary.

All in all, this was an incredibly beautiful and moving book about finding love and happiness even in the hardest of times. Thank you, Betty, for writing this book! From page one, I could feel the love you poured into it and I cannot wait to read what you write next.

Also, thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC!

Do yourself a favor and preorder or request this one from your library!

5 stars. I am blown away by how much I enjoyed Corrello's 32 Days in May. Corrello's portrayal of a character with chronic illness (lupus) rang so true to me. As a cancer survivor, I had a lot of the same thoughts and feelings that Nadia had, but I don't think I've ever read a book where those thoughts and feelings were articulated so damn perfectly. After Nadia's lupus diagnosis, literally everything in her life changes. She finds herself living in her parents duplex on the Jersey shore, working part time for her neighbor. She has no serious job prospects and no serious relationship prospects. So when her doctor tells her that he has a cousin in town that's her age, and they should totally hang out, she doesn't necessarily jump at the offer, but also doesn't turn it down. It turns out Nadia's not the only one whose life is in flux. Marco's life may be just as complicated as hers... or even more so. They actually end up hitting it off, so Nadia and Marco make the only sensible decision possible- to Sweet November one another. Yes, Sweet November, as in the Charlize Theron and Keanu Reeves movie where the pair decide to date for one month. And just like Charlize, Nadia has zero intention of letting Marcus know about her significant health concerns. I love both Marco and Nadia as characters. As I stated above, I really connected with Nadia as a character, and honestly, understood exactly where she was coming from with all of her (sometimes terrible) decisions. I also just genuinely loved her personality. She was so damn snarky, and snark and sarcasm is probably the fastest way to my heart. Nadia is one of those characters that I truly wish was real, that way I could be friends with her in real life. Was this book perfect? No. There were things that felt a little outlandish or placed in the story because they were dramatic or funny. But you know what? The book was perfect for me. I laughed. I cried. I laughed some more. And there was even a little bit of swoon. All in all, I HIGHLY recommend 32 Days in May, especially if your a fan of romance with disability rep. Truly, I could not put this one down.

Thank you so much to Corrello, Avon, and Netgalley for the complimentary copy!

Let me introduce you to the Sweet November of the modern era...kind of.

32 Days in May by Betty Corrello Book Cover
Nadia is struggling with her recent diagnosis of lupus. She's grieving the life she thought she'd have, feeling betrayed by a body that couldn't keep up with the lifestyle of a ruthless writer in the entertainment industry. She retreats back to home, Evergreen New Jersey, to lick her wounds, get stabilized, and heal. When her doctor suggests she show his relative around who's new in town, who also happens to be one of the biggest heartthrobs in TV, she reluctantly agrees. It's not that he's hot, it's not that he's famous, it's not that he's rich...it's that he's a stranger. He doesn't know about this new life defining condition, and she wants to keep it that way. When they hit it off and agree to keep seeing each other, but only for the month of May like one of Nadia's favorite movies (Sweet November), it is more important to her than ever to keep her secret safely guarded. Maybe for the space of one month, she can feel normal again.

Okay. If you have not read a Betty Corrello book yet, this is your official sign to go get one. Her debut, Summertime Punchline, was excellent, and this one might be even better. Her writing is authentic and honest, her characters are smart and genuine, and I. am. a. fan.

The themes in this book are heavy and realistically messy. It's not easy to be a person, and it's even more difficult when our bodies don't work in the way we think they should. Adjusting to life with a chronic illness can't be easy, and the representation of it in this book is beautiful. The author has the same condition, and I'm glad to have learned more about it in this book.

Nadia and Marco are magic. My favorite moments, of course, are the most non-romantic moments of romance. You might think that makes no sense but hear me out. Intimacy is intrinsically romantic, so to me the moments that aren't meant to be ooh-y and ahh-y but peel back layers of the walls we keep around ourselves to the general public, are often the most romantic of all. Vulnerability is sexy as hell. Nadia's walls are well built and often reinforced, but because Marco is also deeply damaged and often tells her the raw truth, he makes her want to reconsider being so guarded.

32 Days in May is incredible. Don't miss the chance to read this powerfully moving book.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved Summertime Punchline and was excited to read this sophomore effort from Corrello. A sort-of updated take on Sweet November, this book tackles chronic autoimmune diseases, mental health struggles, suicide, and addiction. As a therapist I feel like Corrello wrote this authentically. I mean, obviously the fame part of it heightens the situation, but the heart is so real. I cried with Nadia, not for her. I rooted for Marco. I appreciated how these characters challeneged each other and talked through their difficulties. And the chemistry and banter were great!

Corrello has such a sense of place. The lesser known jersey shore comes alive. I felt like I was on the boardwalk and at the farmers market. Loved Nadia's neighbors. Loced her sister and their push and pull. This novel is a great follow up with more depth than SP, both books are so readable! 4.25 stars. Thanks to Net Galley and Avon for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed 90% of this book. There was a lot of depth to the FMC - her struggles were emotional, and felt very realistic. I really connected with her. The MMC was very lovable, and you can’t help but immediately root for them to get together. The setting was also really fun - small beach town vibes, with some chapters in Italy (which was beautifully written), and NYC.

However, it falls apart for me with the ending. I did not feel everything was wrapped up - while the love interests came together, nothing was said/addressed about all of the other problems going on for the FMC. While I’m fine with an ambiguous ending, this one felt more like the only thing that mattered was a relationship, and everything else fell to the wayside. Despite this, I loved the rest of the book so much that it was still a 4 star read for me!

Hilarious and heartfelt, Betty Corrello has managed to work her way with these characters inside my heart, and permanently make residence with the oftentimes laugh out loud interesting word play, and mental health aspects that felt like someone’s was reading a diary straight from my own thoughts of existential crisis on one page to horny thoughts in the other.

Bitingly thoughtful and master of rep with chronic health, this book will stay with me for awhile.

32 Days in May was the perfect, emotional book where two chaotic people attempt to put aside their personal struggles for a month. Nadia and Marco make a deal to date for a month before going their separate ways, but of course, they fall for each other and learn each other’s deepest secrets. Nadia is hiding her lupus diagnosis, while Marco is starting a new sober journey.

Nadia and Marco’s chemistry jumped off the page from their first unofficial date! They are both so multifaceted and well-matched for each other. My favorite moments were when they let their guard down, like the whale-watching scene.

Nadia’s story is beautifully and realistically told as the book flashes back from her diagnosis to learning how to live with a chronic health condition. I loved the support she received from her friends and sister, even though it was challenging for Nadia to let them in and see her pain.

Betty continues to amaze me with her writing! I absolutely loved her debut novel, and this book continues her streak of heartfelt, honest stories with laugh-out-loud banter. I need Betty to write me a book boyfriend because her MMCs are top-tier!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book took me a little bit to get into. In the beginning we are briefly jumping through a few key moments in time in the months after our protagonist, Nadia, learns that she has lupus and it significantly impacts her life. It's obvious that she's struggling a lot mentally, which can be difficult to read about, though it's also an important part of her journey. Once I got more acclimated to the story, I was hooked, and I ended up enjoying it a lot.

Things definitely got more interesting when Nadia met Marco, a minor celebrity who has had his own struggles. Both characters felt so authentic and I really liked them, so it wasn't hard to adore the relationship that develops between them. While there's not necessarily anything about the story that surprised me, it was an emotional journey with a powerful message.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the advance release copy of 32 Days in May! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

I'm a sucker for a story of flawed people, and 32 Days in May gives you exactly that. Nadia and Marco are NOT perfect people, but this story makes it clear that they are perfect for each other. I really appreciated a romance about a character with a chronic illness - that's a rare and unexpected twist, that we could use more of. I found Nadia's reactions to her new diagnosis to be believable, and the circumstances the characters found themselves in both entertaining and heartwarming. And, who wouldn't want a little wish-fulfillment of a rich, handsome actor sweeping you off your feet! Definitely will be recommending this one all summer long.

Honestly, this just started out too dark for me and so that really set the tone for my mentality going forward and I was set on not vibing with it. It was good writing though, just not for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Betty has a way of writing that is relatable, but also feels very specific to her culture and home of Philly/New Jersey. It is a fun way to be introduced to the area and culture. Though, there were some times where I struggled with the intensity of some characters' reactions or replies to one another. It felt random and dramatic, or even confusing and choppy. Some of the transitions in time or location did not seem obvious enough and there were times I had to calibrate myself within the story to figure out where we were and what was going on.

I appreciated Betty's plot of this book surrounding a chronic illness and the consequences of a chronic illness with such realistic and relatable mental struggles that go along with that.

I loved the relationship between the two characters and the unique condition in which their relationship starts. The relationship development was beautiful and how the characters helped each other grow while relating to one another. The family dynamics were touched on ever so slightly, but I felt some more explanation or experience from before would give a more in depth look at the characters and who they are with their struggles.

Overall, the book was entertaining and I wanted to keep reading to see how these characters would grow and develop, along with the how the relationship component would turn out!

If I could rate half stars, I would rate this book 3.5/5.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC! This book was such an escape for me. The FMC was super relatable , and their romance was very swoony. Sweet November is a criminally underrated romcom and I LOVED seeing it as the underlying theme. It was frustrating seeing the FMC hide her illness from the MMC, it did make sense to me. Overall this was a sweet and relatable read.

After being diagnosed with lupus, and losing her job, Nadia returns to her childhood beach town of Evergreen as
she deals with depression, overall body pain and a regimen of medications. She is introduced to her rheumatologist's
cousin, former television star Marco Antoniou. Marco tells her is incapable of having a real relationship
while Nadia is not available for a relationship due to lupus. They decide on a month long fling and part ways with no
regrets. Fortunately it doesn't work out as planned. Heart warming love story.
#32DaysinMay #AvonandHarperVoyager #NetGalley

I LOVED this book! Set on the Jersey Shore, this story follows Nadia, a woman in her early 30s who was recently diagnosed with Lupus. The story begins with Nadia hacking off her long curly locks, and the reader wonders what would cause a woman to have such a breakdown? We soon learn that Nadia was a successful advertising executive in Philadelphia when she becomes sick and loses her job. When she finds out that she has lupus and decides to leave the city and return to her family's beach apartment in Evergreen, NJ. She befriends her neighbors and begins working for their farm stand, believing that she can obtain small and manageable portions of her life due to her illness. One day while on the boardwalk, Nadia meets Marco, a handsome actor past his prime, and they hang out, get drunk, and hatch a plan to date, but only for the month of May. Marco admits that he is a user and is incapable of a real relationship, and Nadia is not emotionally available or willing to let Marco know about her illness and the toll it has taken on her life, The parameters of this dating arrangement is perfect for them both...until they start to fall in love with each other. Nadia believes that when Marco learns about her lupus, the relationship will be ruined and he will only see her as a sick person, and not the woman he loves.

The love story is sweet, sexy and just beautiful. I couldn't get enough of the intense bond that continued to grow between Nadia and Marco. Just a lovely story that I would highly recommend to readers.

This book emotionally destroyed me in the best way. I've never read a better depiction of autoimmune diseases, the mental health struggles that come with battling a chronic illness, and falling in love. I wish I had better words to describe how wonderful this book is, but just know that this isn't a light and breezy beach read. It will tear your heart out and you will want Marco and Nadia to keep it forever.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another fabulous book from Betty Corello! 32 Days in May is a fabulous romance with the perfect amount of vulnerability. You’re going to love the chemistry between Nadia and Marco!

(4.5 stars) Many thanks to @netgalley @avonbooks and the author of a #gifted advanced reading copy. It was fun to buddy read this one with @_bookishmama @books_w_bex and @bibliolater.alligator

Nadia is in a dark place, and her family knows it. Since her lupus diagnosis, her life has changed dramatically—medications, uncertainty, and the weight of depression have replaced the fast-paced, glamorous world of advertising she once thrived in. Seeking a quieter, more manageable existence, she retreats to Evergreen, New Jersey, the island where she and her family vacationed every summer.

She never expects romance to be part of the equation. But when her rheumatologist asks if he can give her number to his cousin, she’s stunned to find herself on a date with none other than Marco Antoniou - former teen heartthrob and someone equally in need of an escape. With Marco set to leave at the end of May, they agree on a no-strings-attached relationship, a fleeting connection with a built-in expiration date. But as they spend more time together, what starts as a lighthearted distraction becomes something much deeper. Marco lets Nadia in, but she keeps her own struggles - her diagnosis and the emotional toll it’s taken - hidden from him.

Oh, wow. This book is packed with heavy emotions and powerful themes (DM me if you want to learn more before reading). What Corrello does so beautifully is craft two incredibly complex, fully realized characters while still giving us moments of genuine humor. By the end of the book, I felt like I truly knew Nadia and Marco.

I also came away with a greater understanding of lupus, something I hadn’t known much about before, and I appreciate how seamlessly that knowledge was woven into the story. I loved how Nadia and Marco found strength in each other - how they saw each other’s worth even when they couldn’t see it in themselves. The way they made themselves vulnerable, piece by piece, was so beautifully done.
Even now, days after finishing, these characters are still lingering in my mind. I've read several books since, but I keep coming back to Nadia and Marco. My only complaint? I needed to know more about what happens next for them. And honestly, what a great problem to have - to love characters so much that you just want more. So this is my plea for a bonus epilogue.

An emotional read in the best way possible. My heart is full after following Nadia and Marco’s journey—both their individual growth and their relationship as they navigate life's joyful and challenging moments together.