This is unlike anything I've read in a contemporary romance novel -- and that is the biggest compliment I could give a book.

I am so sick of small towns that are cutsey, but that are so unrealistic. This was a small town that was in the middle of a renaissance but was STRUGGLING and Corrello does not shy away from the issues of small town, working-class America. Racial tensions, addiction loss and recovery, the desire to get back versus the desire to LEAVE, intragenerational families and friendships, the tensions of redevelopment.

Del was one of the most relatable female main characters I've read in a long time -- she's messy and passionate and hilarious and just trying to do her damnest. Her friendships are strong and beautiful, but imperfect, and she puts her foot in her mouth all the time. In a word -- she's REAL and her friends and family and EDDIE love her anyway.

Eddie is also relatable, but also flawed. This is not a book where the man is perfect and loves the woman for her flaws -- this is a book where both characters have and continue to make mistakes and work to better themselves, both independently and as a couple. I closed this book and believed that they would last, that they would be able to co-parent, they would be collaborators, and would make a life for themselves.

This book works as a standalone, but I would read a million more books in this town.

Have you ever been reading a book and you realize that your heart is swelling? And you’re smiling the whole time? That was me throughout Summertime Punchline.

So much of this story resonates with me on a personal level and for that I am so thankful. In her acknowledgements, Betty wrote that she wanted to target a very specific audience with the character that is the FMC - it worked.

This book is full of love, hope, humor, second chances, and real-world problems. On top of that the writing is great and Betty doesn’t adopt the “usual formula” of pacing and tropes we see so often.

I am so thankful to have read this book and am dying for a physical copy come
pub day!

Thank you NetGalley & Betty Corrello for the eARC of Summertime Punchline. This was a quick, sweet read with the perfect Jersey Shore setting. I like when books have two timelines, I liked knowing how these two met. I really wish we could have heard Eddie's perspective or more of his backstory. I will recommend this to anyone who is looking for the quintessential beach read.

Summertime Punchline is sure to be a strong contender for everyone's summer beach vacation read, but don't be fooled, this book is more than it appears, and it tackles more than just a second chance romance.
Delfina Silva-Miller, aka Del, is an aspiring comedian, recently awarded a spot in a highly coveted comedy festival, quits her job but in quick succession finds herself broken up with her boyfriend and homeless, forced to return home from NYC to Evergreen, NJ for the summer. All of her material for the festival is ruined thanks to her relationship ending and she's left trying to figure out new material, while also tackling past trauma and finding a second change at love with her high school frenemy, Eddie Rodriguez.
Betty Corrello is a skilled author, despite the fact that this is her debut. She deftly wove the story with details to really place me on a boardwalk in NJ, and managed to tell a story full of laughs, and chemistry between the Del and Eddie. My only complaint would be that I wanted to know more from Eddie's perspective, especially about his behavior towards Del when they were in high school. This is a minor complaint, and overall I very much enjoyed this book.
Thank you to Book Club Girl, Avon and Harper Voyage, and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

I thought this was a fun book! The characters were easy to connect with. The chemistry between Del and Eddie didn’t seem forced, I could actually feel why they like each other which can be hard to come by in stories these days. There was the just right of comedic undertone and jokes landed where I felt like they were always appropriate. It was a fun and easy read, great for those summer beach trips!

I was a little hesitant about starting this and losing interest, but after the first chapter I was hooked. The writing is good and the first few chapters are emotional for the heroine, Del. She spots the hero, Eddie, at a Wawa and the entire scene was so well-written and relatable. I couldn’t put it down.

The story jumps between present day and high school. I love the high school flashbacks and all the 2000 references like Dashboard Confessional (ha!). The time hopping kept the story interesting.

Definitely worth the read and Betty Corrello is my favorite debut author of 2024!

This is a super sweet book about second-chance line with a little bit of quirk thrown in. I enjoyed the flashbacks to high school and always appreciate avoiding the third act breakup. Highly recommend for a quick beach read!

When I was in high school, there was this kid who was good at everything he attempted. My favorite teacher, Dr. Wackes, called him a "Renaissance man." It stuck with me, that title--as did my bitter envy over the ease with which said kid excelled to the tippy-top of the teacher's pet list, landing above my own name and bowing deeply as he did.

The first thought that entered my brain after putting down Summertime Punchline was this: Betty Corrello is a Renaissance woman.

Where's my evidence? Well, it can be easily accessed between the pages of this book, her debut. The characters she introduces us to are charming and rich--they feel tangible, real, like they're truly living an entire life somewhere on the Jersey Shore. This, in a time when a lot of the people I meet in the folds of fictional narratives feel boring, bland, one-dimensional? A true blessing, then, to experience such a strong pull toward Delfina Silva-Miller, who I have adopted as my very own sister-girl. Not only are the characters well-crafted--and I don't mean just Del; my favorite character of the entire book might well be Nan, and Eddie's sisters, though they only appear in a few sprinkles, are delightful to be around--but the story is, too. Equal parts charming and poignant, Del's story of return--the return to Evergreen, her Saturn's return, the return to herself, the return to her past--had me cackling, and then blushing, and then tearing up, and then, somehow, laughing again. Looking back on my highlights, the majority of them are one-liners and jokes, comments tossed over Nan's shoulder that had me wheezing, jabs lobbed by Del that had me shaking my head in loving disbelief.

We watch as Delfina Silva-Miller arrives in Evergreen, New Jersey, sure she won't be staying any longer than the summer. Desperate, at first, to not be staying. We begin to understand why, as we are offered ample flashbacks to Del's high school career, her fraught on-again, off-again friendship with a certain Edgardo Rodriguez, who plays a very large part in both her past, and her present. We watch as she tries something new, as she opens up her heart, as she sheds the hurt of the 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 for the healing of the 𝘯𝘰𝘸.

Summertime Punchline was a theatrical experience, a full-body experience. I felt the sand on my skin, tasted the boardwalk pizza, heard the low tones of a certain song playing from the Billiards speakers. 𝘞𝘩𝘰'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳? 𝘞𝘩𝘰'𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯? If you're on the hunt for a low-stakes, high-reward story, soaked in sunshine and warm summer nights, to read while on the shore (or dreaming of the shore), look no further. You've just found the punchline.

So, a closer look at the evidence: Betty Corrello is an adept and inspired author, a deft and capable humorist, and a wonder with words--of all kinds. She is a lyricist, a poet, a comedian. An all-around artist. A triple threat, A Renaissance woman whose journey I cannot wait to follow.

"𝘚𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘮, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨—𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐'𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘯."

Overall a very sweet story! Loved the tender romance between Del and Eddie.
Del was a very loveable character and funny! Loved the storyline of her being a comedian.
Absolutely loved the side characters and would gladly read a book with each of their stories as well.
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book, was a great summertime read.

Summertime Punchline is a good book with likable characters which is a must for me in the light fiction/rom-com genre. The story doesn't lean into the the stand up comedy as much as I thought it might, but the writing itself is witty and there is the right balance of flashback to Del and Eddie's teen years to understand their history.

It'll make for an enjoyable summer beach read.

You can never go home again until your life blows up and you have to. Down on her luck comedienne Del lands back in Evergreen, New Jersey after 10 years. She's preparing for a comedy festival that could make our break her life. Oh yeah, and THE guy from high school is there.

This book was a great read. So creative. The characters feelings come across as so raw. They're well written and relatable. They feel like someone you might know. The love the alternating timelines telling Del and Eddie's stories throughout the book. There's two stories going at once and they both had me on the edge of my seat wondering how they were going to end.

Betty's paints a beautiful picture of Evergreen and the people in it. I've never had the desire to visit Jersey (especially after watching so many seasons of Jersey Shore) but this book makes me think that it might be worth the trip. I'll be on the look out for Betty's next book!

4.5 stars!!

wow this book sucks you in. it is so easy to read and enjoy. i loved !! betty corrello has a very unique & comedic writing style which is so entertaining. i laughed A LOT. i smiled A LOT. this book is funny, hopeful, sweet and feels a little bit like coming home. the perfect summer read!

i seriously love everything about eddie. he is so cute and kind and sweet and caring and so good to delfina!! & delfina? she has so much personality i love it. she goes through so much growth and my heart was just bursting with pride. i LOVED the flashbacks of eddie & delfina in high school!!!! i honestly could say so much more but find myself at a loss for words. please read!

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

🎤😂❤️🏖️

Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello is an absolute blast! You've got Delfina Silva-Miller, this aspiring comedian who's all set to perform at a big comedy festival until life throws her a major curveball. Suddenly, she's back in her hometown, facing her past and maybe even finding a little unexpected romance along the way. Betty Corrello's writing totally nails the vibe of the boardwalks and beaches, and the characters feel so real you'll swear you've met them before. Summertime Punchline is the perfect beach read for soaking up those summer vibes!

Thanks, NetGalley!

This was strange and quirky at times. It had a very coming of age feel but eneded up being pretty predictable. The angst between the two mc carries for many years and their outside drama is a lot at times.
About 3.5 stars for me. It had some good moments.

This book is so stinkin cute! For a debut novel, Betty Corrello totally knocked it out of the park. Her main characters are strong and bold, with obvious character growth and even the supporting characters are easy to love. Del's journey is fun and wholesome and I loved getting to see her relationship with Eddie in both the current and past setting - it gave the story so much depth.

Del & Sam's relationship is also a key staple of the book that I love. Their unlikely bond from teenage years to adulthood feels so realistic. I'm not sure if this is a second-chance romance or enemies to lovers, or both!? Either way, I'm down for it. The romance was a bit of a slow build, but I knew I liked Eddie the second we were introduced, and their build did not disappoint.

Highly recommend this book to anyone who may be interested!

Wow. “Summertime Punchline” is one of those romances that packs a punch. The slow burn romance feels so real and angsty. The character development is relatable with edge. The atmosphere and vibes are perfect for summer reading. Despite being about a comedian, the story is not too funny or frivolous. It pulls your heart into it.

For those who love:
⛱️ Frenemies-to-Lovers
⛱️ Second Chance Romance
⛱️ Slow Burn
⛱️ Comedian + Musician
⛱️ Dual Timeline
⛱️ Single Dad
⛱️ No Third-Act Breakup
⛱️ Curvy FMC

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was cute. I liked that the MC was a comedian, that’s not a profession you often see for female characters. A few trigger warnings to be had here-death of parent, overdose, neglectful parent.

Del is a standup comic who has had a string of bad luck. She moves back to her hometown of Evergreen NJ to regroup, and finds out that her high school nemesis, Eddie, now owns the town bar.

✅ dual timeline
✅ second chance romance
✅ protagonists in their late 20s

My god the chemistry between them 🥵
🌶️: slow burn

What a refreshingly funny and sweet debut! I have to admit, I was a little hesitant about going into a book with a stand-up comedian protagonist, because sometimes the "comedy" can overshadow character development and plot. And comedy is so subjective that if you aren't into the style of the stand-up, it can mar your experience of the book. Fortunately, the performance elements of stand-up comedy were used efficiently and moved the story forward.

Anyways, this is a second-chance, enemies-to-lovers story. Delfina, our MC, recently quit her job to focus on a a big comedy festival that could be her big break. She comes home early one day to find her roommate and boyfriend getting busy. She flees the apartment, borrows a friend's car and makes her way to the place she vowed years ago to never go back: her hometown in Jersey to live with her grandma.

For Delfina, the most heartbreaking piece of the break-up is she can't mine for comedic material in her relationship. In her eyes, she is the joke. She also runs into her high school nemesis, Eddie. They've got bad blood, but gradually strike up a friendship, and you know these two kids were hot for each other back in the day (and probably in the present as well).

Second chance romances are not my favorites, especially when the high school romance is depicted as perfect and swoony, and the characters seems super mature. Fortunately, Delfina and Eddie's high school versions of themselves are realistically depicted as messy, sensitive, and emotionally immature.

I really look forward to seeing what Ms. Corrello comes up with next.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC for my honest review

Love a good second chance romance! This one did not disappoint. Will be a wonderful summer beach type read. The characters were so relatable and real. I loved the build up and tension of the relationship and all that it took to get to the end.
Cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy of this book soon!