Nadia is in the prime of her life, until she isn’t. Shortly after being diagnosed with lupus, Nadia is suffering both physically and mentally, and moves to the small beach down of Evergreen in pursuit of something slower. When she meets Marco, a fallen-from-grace sitcom actor, she agrees to date for the rest of May; after which they’ll go their separate ways. While, at its heart, this is a love story, it’s also a story about learning to love yourself, even when it feels impossible.

The author does a beautiful job of depicting what it is like to live with an autoimmune condition. You can look healthy—and for periods of time even feel healthy—and life is almost harder for that, because of the ease with which you can disguise your suffering and carry on…until you can’t. Nadia journey into accepting her diagnosis, along with her own limitations, felt so familiar. A must read for everyone, but especially those who feel hopeless or unlovable due to an earth-shaking medical diagnosis.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of 32 Days In May because I absolutely adored Betty Corrello’s debut, Summertime Punchline. This novel definitely has heavier vibes but plenty of humor and heartrending romance as well! The way Corrello has developed the voice of her protagonist Nadia is incredible. I don’t have personal experience with lupus or any other chronic illness, but I felt like I was right there in her mind, figuring out how to navigate through the pain and still somehow find a way to live her life.

This is a gorgeous novel about what it means ot truly live, how to let others in to care about you (not solely in a romantic way, but also in terms of family and friends). I loved the way Nadia and Marco’s relationship developed and was emotionally drawn in throughout every page. I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on this novel in May!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC of this book.

This is this author's second book, and wow what a journey. The fmc battles with lupus and mmc battles with addiction and childhood trauma. So please look up triggers.

I enjoyed following Nadia's journey physically, emotionally, and mentally. We see her go through hard things but then decide to try to live a little. I think she is a character that many people will connect to.

I wish we got a little bit more of Marco's struggles with addiction and childhood trauma. It would have helped make us readers connect with him more.

Overall, it's a great book. I recommend checking it out once it releases.
Happy to have read this advance reader copy.

I really enjoyed Betty Corrello's debut novel and was excited to read this one. One thing I greatly appreciate about Betty's work is her characters. She creates multidimensional, authentic characters that provide the backbone to a great story. This story felt a bit disjointed in parts and the story seemed a bit clunky in others, but overall I enjoyed the experience of reading it.

This is a solid three stars. I wanted to know more about the two leads and did not get a sense of why they fell hard so fast. I did appreciate the representation of lupus, and the author handled this very well. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

32 days in May, on the surface, may seem like a typical contemporary romance. It has an "everyday" quality that describes the most mundane details about someone like only someone who is gently falling in love can.

We are on the Jersey Shore, seeing the world through Nadia's eyes, she attempted suicide due to debilitating depression after a lupus diagnosis. Lupus has given her terrible migraine headaches, overall body pain, and led to her being let go from her job. It was an all consuming job, one of those that we have a hard time separating our identity from. She is introduced to Marco, a celebrity former
TV actor who is the relative of her doctor. Marco is working hard at his sobriety and finding his next steps. They are instantly attracted to each other and decide to date for the month of May, a no-commitment casual relationship that will end when he goes back to LA.

Nadia doesn't tell him about her lupus or her depression, taking her medications in secret and getting to live a minor fantasy, having someone know her without knowing her diagnosis.

Beautiful, sweeping descriptions of the boardwalk and the ocean, sometimes snarky observations interspersed with well timed dialogue, 32 Days in May is an emotional romance. Who hasn't fantasized about being able to hide the shame of ourselves and find intimacy outside of our brokenness? And to have someone say, "I love you, for all you are, and the thing you are ashamed of is not something that defines you."

I have actually daydreamed about writing a book like this one. I have a severe case of misophonia, a loneliness inducing condition that is filled with shame. It is widely misunderstood, and to have someone love me despite my diagnosis is a romantic notion I can't even rationalize. You will love Marco and you will want to wrap up Nadia and be her big sister.

Thanks to @netgalley and @avonbooks for the ARC. Book to be released May 13, 2025.
#booksbooksbooks #booktok #bookstagram #arcreader #bookreview #bookrecommendations #32DaysInMay

Betty, why must you make me get teary eyed while reading in a nail salon.

I loved Summertime Punchline and was THRILLED to get an ARC of 32 Days in May. I have a thousand other ARCs to read that are coming out sooner but I immediately pushed them to the side to dive into this one.

Betty is just so good at writing deep and emotionally complex characters who also make you laugh and have an unbeatable wit. Nadia’s pain and feelings of loneliness are so relatable and spoke so deeply to my soul. And Marco’s general sense of wandering to find himself hit me right in the heart. I want to be friends with both of them and am simultaneously also in love with both of them.

The sense of nostalgia this book gave me for Philly and the Shore and home was also like a physical ache in my chest, just as it was in Summertime Punchline. I’m only going to continue shouting about these books to everyone but particularly my Philly friends, who will feel so at home in Betty’s words 💙

POV: single first person

You can expect: temporary dating, no strings attached, friends to lovers, small town,, chronic illness rep, family, friendship.

Rep: lupus, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, non-binary side character, lesbian side character, Greek American MMC, Italian American FMC, drug and alcohol addiction (past), grand mal seizure.

Spice: 1/5

CW: suicidal thoughts, addiction relapse (brief), hospitalization

‘Travel from the Jersey Shore to Rome and back in this delightfully funny, beautifully honest exploration of love, intimacy, and vulnerability while living with a chronic illness.’

Well….prep yourself and your heartstrings as you dig into this one. It’ll pull them, twist them, knot them up, yank ‘em right off and then put them back where they belong. Gahhleee, I want my own personal 32 days in May!

This was fun and endearing and meaningful and it seemed to go by way too fast. Nadia, the FMC is a complete riot and I absoluetly loved her!

This was my first book by Corrello and I can’t wait to read more. Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this arc in exchange for review.

Pub Date May 13 2025

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.