4.75 ⭐️

this was beautiful!!!!! our fmc has lupus and lives with the struggles and meets marco who is also going through his own struggles. they decide to date for the month of may, and from there, they fall in love.

i love a story with a dating pact it’s so fun, major romance movie vibes. i also love a book with chronic illness reps because it makes a character feel so real and you feel the things they feel. you hurt with them, you grow with them. betty wrote this beautifully.

the only thing (where i knocked off a slight point) was how some chapters were short and some super long. i listened to this on audio and loved the narrator, it was easy to follow and was done perfectly.

Absolutely incredible love story. Nadia and Marco have a chemistry that very few romance authors ever capture. They truly KNOW each other. Betty Corello did a fantastic job encapsulating the experience of someone with an invisible disability like SLE. I will read everything this woman writes forever.

4.25 stars rounded down.

This book took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. First, I was laughing at these characters' antics and intrigued by their backstories. Then, I was awwwing over the way Marco would talk to and about Nadia. Then, I was torn up inside (negatively) over how Nadia was burying deep within herself and not letting herself be vulnerable. And then I was just an absolute mess for most of the rest of the book.

My heart physically TWINGED; both with joy at how these characters loved one another, and with despair at how they were scared to let themselves be loved. This is a story about loving someone because of all they are, not in spite of it. I absolutely loved the story this book told, and the two main characters ARE together in Evergreen right now as far as I'm concerned. These characters felt so real, and I related to both of them in different ways. They deserve the worldddd.

The beginning was tough for me to follow. I think getting used to the writer's storytelling was a bit of a learning curve for me. Overall, I adored this story and these characters!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

After several early positive reviews, I thought I might enjoy. I just don't think it was right for me
. I didn't enjoy he voice of the main character and had trouble connecting with her journey.

I am pretty much ambivalent about 32 days in May. My feelings just won't settle, as I didn't love it, but I didn't completely hate it either.
Nadia: I liked her dry wit. Sometimes her reactions seemed disproportionate to the subject under discussion, which was weird, eg <spoiler>who gets angry bc the other person loves dinner, while they themselves feel that breakfast is the best meal?</spoiler>. She could also be extremely blunt and off-putting, which I liked less.
Marco: I wasn't sure what to think of him at first, but he ended up growing on me. He was charming, and I loved how he showed that he was into Nadia.
The storytelling: I'm not sure that I loved this style of storytelling. I wasn't immersed in the story, I felt like an outsider, if that makes sense? Some situations/people lacked context, which, as someone who likes to have things spelled out to them, I didn't really like either. It felt more like writing in one's diary than the telling of a story.
Usually I would have dnf'ed at this point, but having heard only the best things about this book, I stuck to it. It took me at least half of the book to get used to the storytelling, but then I started liking both Nadia and Marco. Some of the scenes of them together gave me butterflies, and some of the dialogues hit right in the feels.
As someone who knew little to nothing about lupus, this story was a great representation of it.
I would absolutely recommend this book.

Thank you Avon for the free advanced copy of this book.

32 Days in May is a sweet book set on the Jersey Shore. Featuring a fun cast of characters, it had me laughing out loud many times throughout the book.

Recently diagnosed with lupus and learning how to live with her chronic illness, Nadia meets Marco, a cousin of her doctor’s and a Hollywood celebrity. After a wild first date, they decide to date for just the month of May as an ode to one of Nadia’s favorite movies. As the month goes on and they go on a series of fun dates and begin to share more about their personal lives, they realize perhaps there is more to this than they anticipated.

The main character Nadia gave me Mavis Beaumont (Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest) vibes. She is bold, kind, takes care of others, and goes through a journey of self-discovery that is empowering. I loved her dynamic with Marco, and the way she held him accountable.

While I enjoyed the book overall, there were parts of the story that were slow and the writing felt a little choppy. However, it was a beautiful exploration of chronic illness and a sweet summer read.

I’ll admit I was fairly skeptical of this book in the beginning, but wow, Betty Corello really did something special with 32 Days in May.

It took me until around the 15% mark to get used to the writing style, and I was convinced I wasn’t going to like the main characters.

Nadia, dealing with depression after a lupus diagnosis, is running away from her life at her parents beach house. One of her doctors asks her to hang out with his cousin because she “needs to get out more”. Enter Marco: a cigarette smoking, mullet sporting, D-list actor. After one wild night together, Nadia and Marco agree to date for one month, no-strings attached— just a fling to escape their respective realities.

The banter and tension in this was excellent. I loved how sassy Nadia was, and how much Marco ate it up. I loved how tender their relationship became. It felt like these two characters understood each other so deeply. Truly, I was so surprised by how much Marco grew on me.

Overall, this book sexy, emotional, and a great summer romance. (And thankfully, the mullet and cigarettes were short lived.)

This book handles a lot of sensitive topics, so I recommend not skipping the authors note in the beginning.

I fear this book has ruined all other books for me. Hands down the most beautiful book I've read in 2025 so far! I can't believe how many times I cried, just at the tenderness and beauty of it all! It was truly so moving and I grew to love these characters so deeply!

Thank you Avon for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

About the book:

Nadia has been coping with her recent diagnosis with Lupus. She is set up with Marco, a former TV star who has many of his own personal struggles that he has been managing. They decide to "Sweet November" each other, wherein they will date for a month with no strings attached.
To see these two imperfect people enjoying life and learning that they CAN be happy, and deserve to be loved was an absolute joy.


My thoughts:

Betty Betty Betty. You beautiful human who has given us so much with 32 Days in May!! Looking back at my notes, none of them make sense because I was just beside my self through so much of this book lol. I laughed out loud so many times and I loved Nadia's mind. Then I cried actual tears so many times--because of Nadia's struggles and her strength, and Marco's love for her not despite of everything but because of it.
I'm grateful to know more about what it's like to live with Lupus, because of this book. Thank you Betty for sharing this part of your life with the world. Thank you for giving us Nadia!

I can't wait to hold this one in my hands on May 13, 2025!!!

Thanks to Avon Books for the ARC of this book! This was a beautifully written picture of what it is like for someone to live with an autoimmune disease like Lupus, while also doing their very best to still be themselves. The love story between two broken people was captivating and I loved it so much! The book follows Nadia who has recently moved into her parents beach house on the heels of her whole life collapsing due to a recent devastating diagnosis. She has started to find some normalcy in life, even though her life is nothing like it used to be, when she meets Marco, He is a former television heartthrob, who just happens to be in town for the month of May. They agree to a no strings attached relationship for only that month and embark on a journey that neither one of them expected. They travel to Rome for Marco's job, while Nadia desperately tries to act like she is healthy and normal. The stress of their romance eventually comes to a breaking point. and I was rooting for their love the whole time. This one was a bit of a slow burn for me, but it was absolutely worth it and it was very enlightening from a health standpoint, too, since I don't know that much about Lupus, 5 stars for sure and I cannot wait to read Betty Corrello's next book!

32 Days in May
Betty Corrello

“You’re safe, I tell myself. You can cry now. You’re safe”

Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of this irresistible story. It is one that I will for sure be running out to purchase for myself on May 13th. All opinions are my own.

Be prepared to hear me gush because this story is just so beautiful. It is brilliantly written and so so good. I loved it from start to finish. If you haven’t read Betty Corrello’s books yet then you are totally missing out. Both this one and her debut, Summertime Punchline, are absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

After being diagnosed with lupus and losing her job, Nadia Fabiola returns to the Jersey Shore, where she grew up vacationing with her family, desperate to regain her sense of self. While trying to get her life back in order she is set up on a date with Marco, an infamous former actor who has been on a bit of a bender recently. After a chaotic first date Nadia and Marco decide a May-long fling might be just what they both need to escape from their current realities.

32 Days in May is a remarkable story with heavy themes of chronic illness, addiction and lots of emotional baggage but it is also a book filled with so much love, hope and laughter. Within these pages is an amazing love story about two people who are not looking for anything more than a little fun but soon discover that it’s not so easy to let go of the one person you are meant to spend the rest of your life with. Marco and Nadia just fit. He is her person and she is his. Life is messy and hard and sometimes things don’t go the way you planned but as Nadia learns, there is courage in asking for help when you need it and in being there for the people you love.

While there is no doubt that 32 Days in May is an emotional read, there are so many lighthearted and funny moments throughout. I hope that you add it to your TBR and that it brings you the same comfort and joy that it brought me.

Read if you like:
Dating pact
Amazing chemistry
Character growth
Chronic Illness rep
Emotional stories
Found family

Nadia newly diagnosed with lupus and relearning her life is set up with her childhood tv crush?? In the Jersey Shore? Cool sign me up!


It’s quite an adventure with Nadia & Marco from Jersey to Rome & back. Nadia is a very stubborn person. Everytime I hoped she’d let Marco in, she shuts her walls down again refusing to tell him she has lupus. But also it was very honest because I don’t think Marco could’ve handled it anytime in the beginning. They end up in the beautiful place of stopping pushing the other away. It was supposed to be just May but ended being more like it should.

I did really love the story. Some of the storytelling was a rollercoaster and it took me a while to read.
3.5⭐️/5



Thank you so much NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the chance to read this ARC and give my honest opinion.

I finished this book in one afternoon and I loved it so much. It was the perfect book to read in May.

Nadia is going through a hard time and her sister is worried about her. Her rheumatologist gave her bad news and Nadia is struggling with the news.

Nadia meets Marco and goes on one date with him. He’s also struggling but in different ways.

They agree to go out for the whole month of May and then go their own separate ways.

Gah this book was just so darn cute and I loved how many things they were able to accomplish in one month.

Thanks netgalley and publisher for a chance to read this book for free in return for my honest opinion. This book publishes on 5/13/25. Please read tw’s first.
1 like

Highly recommend! This story follows a woman who is battling lupus and trying to rebuild her life, when she meets a former celebrity. They decide to spend the month of May together. The portrayal of how autoimmune disease can take over you life is heartbreaking. The characters were charming, funny, and likable. I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times, which is impressive for a book that covers such heavy topics.

really well written! nadia is diagnosed with lupus and trying to live a semi normal life. she agrees to date a guy for only the month of May. this book was excellent on audio too!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC of 32 Days in May.

Nadia Fabiola has holed up in Evergreen, NJ since her life imploded. After a slow creep of symptoms over the course of years, she was finally diagnosed with lupus just the winter before. She lost her job, left Philadelphia and moved into her family's vacation home on the Jersey shore where she spends her time with her neighbors, Allie and Soph, and works with Soph at their produce business. When her rheumatologist, who is also a family friend, asks Nadia to show his cousin around Evergeen, she reluctantly agrees. It turns out the cousin is Marco Antoniou, a washed up tv actor who had a massive flame out due to addiction and has been quietly living his life since. He and Nadia have an immediate connection and they agree to date for just the month of May since Marco has to leave Evergreen for work and Nadi doesn't want to tell him about her lupus diagnosis. So these two agree; this is temporary, just for the month of May.

Betty Corrello's debut, Summertime Punchline, was one of my top books of 2024 so I had astronomically high expectations for her second outing. 32 Days in May is a very different kind of book with a very different kind of heroine– because Betty writes in single POV, the heroine's vibe really changes the tone of the book. But fans of Summertime Punchline, do not worry. Betty's sense of humor is still on display in this book and it's quite funny, despite the heavier subject matter.

Nadia is a challenging person to have as the narrator because you completely understand why she's living the way she is and lies to Marco but also know that she's making everything harder for herself. My mom has rheumatoid arthritis, which was diagnosed when I was a kid, so I remember how truly horrible those first few years were. It takes a lot of work to figure out how to treat an autoimmune disease because every body is different. Nadia is still in early days, trying out combinations of meds to see what works, what doesn't and what actually makes her sicker. It's a hard place to be and I liked that Betty didn't shy away from the ugly truth that autoimmune diseases are truly terrible to live with, even when you're managing pretty well.

I liked Marco as the hero. He both challenges Nadia because of his celebrity status but is a safe option because of the end date on their relationship. While she doesn't do a great job of taking care of herself when she's with Marco, she is more herself with him than anyone else because the specter of her illness isn't hanging over their relationship. They build something that is based on who they are as people, not what is happening to them.

Nadia spends a lot of this book trying to justify the turn her life has taken to others, struggling to defend her choice to live this smaller existence to her family and friends. It reminded me of one of my favorite quotes from You've Got Mail where Kathleen says, "Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around?" Nadia is trying to figure out if she's living this life because it's safe or living it because it makes her feel good. Those are two different things and we watch her get to an answer by the end.

The one problem I had with this book was the tense of the narration. It was in first person, present tense. Now, I can get behind present tense when I need to but Nadia didn't feel like a present tense narrator. She didn't feel like someone who is so in the moment that we need to be live, in her head at all times. The choice to write this book in present tense also felt weird to me because Betty's first book is in past tense. I don't know why the tense is different in this book, but I think it would have been better in past tense.

Overall, a lovely follow up from Betty Corrello. 4 stars.

This was absolutely a 5 star read for me! I finished this a couple of weeks ago and haven't stopped thinking about it. The chronic illness rep was top notch and I really loved watching Nadia and Marco's love story unfold. I loved how Marco just got Nadia—he didn’t push, just waited and supported her in such a sweet way. This was my first book by Betty and I can't wait to see what she writes in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley, Betty Corrello, and Avon for the complimentary eARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

32 Days in May hit me in a way few romances do. Yes, it’s a fling-turned-feelings love story with banter so good it made me laugh out loud (Murano glass museum scene, IYKYK). But it’s also a vulnerable, honest, and deeply emotional exploration of what it means to live with chronic illness—and to let someone love you through it.

As someone who lives with chronic illness (though not lupus), I saw so much of myself in Nadia. The exhaustion, the anger, the way you grieve a version of your life that suddenly feels out of reach (*cough cough* using humor as a trauma response). The push-pull of wanting connection but fearing what your body might do to that closeness. Nadia’s story was raw and real—but never pitying. She’s messy, sharp, funny, defensive, and deeply human. And I loved her for all of it. Marco surprised me. This wasn’t just another broody love interest. He has his own mess, and watching two people with cracks and bruises choose each other anyway? It gave me the feels. There’s so much heart in their story, and so many moments where I found myself whispering, “Yes. That’s what it's all about.”

Betty Corrello doesn’t romanticize illness—she writes it with clarity and care, layered in among laughter, desire, vulnerability, and hope. This isn’t just a love story—it’s a story about choosing to keep showing up for yourself and letting others show up for you too.

Miss Corrello you have done it again! I went from laughing until my stomach hurt to sobbing my eyes out. And I’d ride this emotional roller coaster of a book again.

As a chronically ill gal who has had a long journey with mental health, I was nodding along while this book twisted a knife in my chest. It just perfectly depicted how being a sick person can feel and how hard it is for other people to understand our (unique, different but shared) reality. Simple scene that encompasses this: “I’m sick…You’ll feel better” 💔

There were the perfect amount of flashbacks timed just right. I wouldn’t want to be clued in a second sooner. Let me live that fantasy with Nadia.

Allie and Soph are the people who are doing support right. Liz is a perfect example of someone who just wants a sick person to conform to their timeline and idea of good. Nadia and you, fellow reader, are so much more than your job and your pain.

If you’re reading this after finishing the book, take a deep breath and remember, you are no one (in the best way possible).

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review (and laughs and sobs).

Going in to this book, I really was not expecting it to toy with my emotions the way it did. After learning she has lupus and losing her job, Nadia escapes to her family's beach house on the Jersey Shore. She is ready to isolate herself, but her downstairs neighbors won't let her and she quickly befriends them, and her doctor recommends that she spends time with his cousin who will be at the shore for a month. When Nadia meets the cousin, she has no idea that Marco is a C-list celebrity and he proposes that they spend their month together in a relationship.

Nadia hides her lupus diagnosis from Marco and in doing so, it lets her live her life freely, something she wasn't doing before. She gets to connect with herself again, really be a friend to her neighbors who wouldn't give up on her, Soph and Allie, and fall in love with Marco each day that they spend together. Marco has his own struggles as he doesn't want to return to acting as he is an addict in recovery and going back to that life is his biggest trigger. Their story felt authentic and I really enjoyed the journey of them falling in love with each other. While they needed each other, they were also strong enough to stand on their own independently. I shed a number of tears while reading this one and I can't wait to go back to read Betty's debut book now.

Nadia Fabiola is hiding in the shore town of Evergreen, New Jersey. Hiding from her recent lupus diagnosis, licking her wounds after being fired from a job she loved, and avoiding the people that care about her most. She is dealing with pain, depression, and an uncertain future. The last thing she needs is a romantic entanglement, but that’s exactly what she gets.

Enter former teenage heartthrob, Marco Antoniou, the cousin of Nadia’s rheumatologist. Marco is also hiding in Evergreen after a public burnout. Their first date is not what either expected, but there is no denying the chemistry between them. When Marco propose a month-long, no strings attached fling, it fits perfectly into Nadia’s plan to escape from reality which includes hiding her diagnosis.

I was immediately drawn into this story. As a native New Yorker, I appreciate a good old fashioned Jersey attitude and Nadia’s character serves up plenty of that. She’s snarky and sarcastic, curt and caustic, and real, raw, and relatable. I loved her. Joy Nash brings Nadia to life and voices her vulnerability, fears, and hope with sincerity. The more I listened, the more I fell in love with Nadia, Marco, and Nadia AND Marco.

Betty Corrello has delivered an unconventional romance that hit all the right notes for me. Poignant and hilarious is an unusual combination, but it works here and works well.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.