📖 Book Review 📖 Life is precious…and so fragile. I am still wrapping my head around how circumstances can change in an instant - natural disaster, death, a diagnosis. For Nadia, a lupus diagnosis disrupts every part of her world and an escape to the Jersey Shore seems like the only thing she can control. After all, salt air and sand mixed with nostalgia does seem to be a special kind of elixir. When she is set with a handsome former television star, they agree to a one month, no strings attached relationship.

And if one second, one minute, one day can change the trajectory of your life, imagine what one month of positivity can add. Betty Corrello delivers a fun and flirty read in 32 Days in May but does not hold back on the realities of life and dealing with an illness. Woven throughout the novel is a realistically hopeful tone that resonates beautifully.

32 Days in May by Betty Corrello is a heartwarming, poignant journey through love, self-discovery, and the complexities of living with a chronic illness. Nadia Fabiola, the protagonist, is thrown into an unexpected whirlwind of emotions and experiences when her life is upended by a lupus diagnosis. The novel’s exploration of the impact of chronic illness on both the body and mind is refreshingly honest and deeply relatable, with Corrello capturing Nadia’s vulnerability, struggles, and strength in a way that feels both real and empathetic.

The premise of a month-long fling between Nadia and Marco Antoniou, set against the backdrop of the picturesque Jersey Shore and the romantic streets of Rome, serves as the perfect stage for their evolving relationship. Nadia is determined to keep her life small and manageable after her diagnosis, but Marco’s charm and the undeniable chemistry between them throw her carefully constructed plans into disarray. Their chemistry is electric, and their messy, fun first date sets the stage for a captivating, yet complicated, romance.

What makes 32 Days in May stand out is how Corrello delves into the intricacies of Nadia’s emotional and physical battles. Nadia’s attempt to maintain control over her health while navigating a blossoming romance adds a layer of complexity that elevates the story beyond typical romance. The tension between Nadia’s desire for intimacy and her fear of vulnerability is palpable, and readers will find themselves rooting for her as she learns to trust Marco and confront her illness head-on.

Marco, while initially appearing to be the classic "charming, brooding romantic lead," is well-developed and carries his own baggage, making him a deeply human and relatable character. His quiet support and respect for Nadia’s boundaries create a solid foundation for their relationship, even as Nadia grapples with whether or not she can open up about her lupus.

The setting of the Jersey Shore and the brief, yet romantic, escapades in Rome add an additional layer of warmth and wanderlust to the novel. Corrello’s writing style is both witty and tender, balancing the emotional depth with light moments of humor. The pacing is smooth, and the alternating tension of romance and Nadia’s health struggles keeps the reader hooked.

That said, some readers may find the romantic subplot predictable, but the emotional core of the book—Nadia’s journey toward accepting her illness, embracing love, and learning to trust herself and others—brings depth to the narrative. Corrello doesn’t shy away from showing the raw, messy side of living with a chronic illness, but she also presents the hope and resilience that come with it, making this novel both inspiring and bittersweet.

In conclusion, 32 Days in May is a beautifully written novel about love, vulnerability, and resilience. It’s a must-read for fans of contemporary romance who are looking for a deeper exploration of health, self-acceptance, and the messy beauty of being human. Whether you’re here for the romance or the honest portrayal of chronic illness, this novel will leave you thinking long after the last page.

Whew! What an emotional, heartfelt book that gives you all the feels! I loved the characters, the storyline and overall message. I wasn't sure I was going to like it at first, but you can't help but root for Nadia once you get into the story. This book will pull on your heartstrings (in a good way) and make realize how precious life is. I can't wait to read more by this author!

This book is absolutely wonderful and I loved everything about it and I don't think it is just because I can relate to Nadia's chronic illness. I love when characters in a book are trying to work something out in this case Nadia accepting who she is now versus who she was before and coming to terms with her limitations due to her illness. I love how Nadia and Marco have a wonderful dating adventure together and how pretty quickly you can see it might be more than a fling. There is some angst in this book but it makes their HEA so much sweeter. I want to thank Betty Corrello, Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me the opportunity to read this book early on NetGalley. It truly was my pleasure!

This is a beautiful story that expertly navigates chronic illness and mental health and I felt deeply for Nadia and everything she was going through. I loved the relationship between Nadia and Marco and am grateful to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

There are too many quotes for me to choose, but this one sums it up well for me:

“I’d tried to be memorable by making myself scarce. I’d tried to be unforgettable by being impenetrable. I’d tried and tried and tried. I didn’t even get a chance to give up. My body did that for me.”

Corrello connects the grief web of a recent chronic illness diagnosis to a blooming journey of self-discovery masterfully. This book healed something in me. Catch me in Evergreen, buying peaches and healing by the sea.

Incredible. I loved it. I devoured it in less than 24 hours. Corrello did an extraordinary job delivering a strong love while depicting life with a chronic illness. I absolutely loved all the Sweet November moments throughout the story. First read by this author but certainly won’t be my last.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon for this E-ARC.

New to me author- this caught my eye cause I was born in May so I'm all about May - it's my birthday month, but i loved this book! First of all i love a book that has a diagnosis of Lupus and talks about so people can learn about it, Nadia is diagnosed and suffers from lupus now jobless after work being her identity she takes a vacation to the Jersey shore- (get the Pauly D and snooker Jersey out of your mind) the author talks about and describes the shore so beautiful while there she meets (gets set up) Marco an actor in need of a break for his own reasons they embark on a May romance no strings attached she doesn't tell him about her diagnosis cause they only have a month. Their love story is a good one and any attention to chronic illness suffering is great to see in a novel (for awareness) PREORDER THIS BOOK!!

thanks netgalley for the arc for an honest review

32 days in May blew me away!!! From the synopsis, you think this is a typical contemporary romance book where two people decide to date for a month. However, this is so much more than that. The insight into Nadia's struggles with her lupus and how her diagnosis affected her life is so eye opening. It's beautiful to read about her finding parts of herself again. My favorite part of this book is how genuinely Marco and Nadia fall in love and the respect they have for each other. This is such an intriguing and heartfelt story that I couldn't put down. If you don't read this, you are missing out!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was born and raised on the Jersey Shore and knew I had to read this book. It was the perfect setting (throw in some days in Rome for extra perfection) for Nadia who is struggling with her new Lupus diagnosis. She moves to her parent's summer home, living below two of her new best friends when she meets Marco, a famous actor who is escaping reality for himself in Evergreen. It was a really cute book, mixed with humor and some sadness. I highly recommend!

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC. Nadia and Marco’s chemistry was great. Nadia has a life changing disease yet Marco is the one who pulls her out of her depression. When faced with how you want life to be vs what life actually is, makes someone sit back and really rethink their choices. Overall a great story.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

32 Days in May was a great sophomore novel from Betty Corrello! We’re back in Evergreen, NJ, the little Jersey Shore town (which, as a Jersey Shore native, I have loved as a setting because it’s so rare to see!) and I was instantly invested in the relationship between Nadia, who suffers from Lupus, and Marco, her doctor’s famous cousin who is going through struggles of his own. I’m not extremely familiar with the movie SWEET NOVEMBER with Charlize Theron and Keanu Reeves, but when the two decided to sort of recreate this pact to only date for the month, as a romance reader, you know how things are going to work out. However, Betty Corrello writes characters and their banter SO well that the idea still felt fresh and had me dying to see what would happen next.

Marco was such a dream of a main male lead—handsome, funny, and thoughtful—while also having his own demons and goals and I loved how much amusement he got out of Nadia’s prickliness. And Nadia, I could definitely empathize with her struggles to thrive and live the life she desperately wants when it seems as if her body was actively working against her.

I can’t wait to see what Betty Corrello writes next!

Loved this book and the issues it tackled. I loved the format of the chapters each covering one day in the month. I felt the relationships were realistic and relatable between Nadia and her neighbors, sister, and Marco. I loved the photography element, and that Marco was reclaiming his own identity. My only criticism was that Nadia's inconsistency with taking her medications and how she would feel was a little bit hard to follow and stressed me out. That probably says more about my own anxiety than it does about the story, but for the frequent mentions of all the pills she was supposed to take it was nervewracking to not know how that would affect her, or if it did.

A fun premise. I thought the ending was lovely but I did have trouble sensing the chemistry between the characters which diminished my enjoyment of the story.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

This book has made me feel so many things!! I love that this book has that intensity between the characters when it comes to meeting someone that you instantly feel is sparking emotions in you that you know are something special. Both characters have some things that make their lives complicated and I love how they find comfort in eachother in the beginning that they are both able to be themselves unapologetically but they realize afterward that they both have some things they need to change in order to be happy and have a better life. I loved watching the characters figure things out between themselves and focus on the feelings that they began to strongly feel. I also love that this book calls to attention 2 topics that should be discussed more. All in all I think this book will be in my mind for a while and am so thankful to have received an ARC of this!

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

We loved 32 days in May! We loved the settings and how fun it was to travel to Rome in this book. The vulnerability and wittiness were perfect and we can’t wait to see what’s next for Betty.

I liked this book! It was a fun lighthearted romance, with travel themes, and also brining attention to chronic illness. I love reading anything about the Jersey Shore, or anything in NJ so this was a fun book. I liked how the chaos is in the family and in the new partner. I loved how fun it was, and even though there was they typical cheesy romance aspects, it was enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This book makes me want to keep on reading more. It's about a woman living with lupus who’s struggling with so many things. She finds love with a guy and decides to date him for only one month. This book has so many things like dealing with chronic illness, mental health, relationships, and other things. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book and do a review.

32 Days in May was a good book. It wasnt great, due to the writing being scattered, but the story was fantastic. I have spent my professional career in patient advocacy focused on lupus and the main character's journey was accurate, heartbreaking, devastating and brave!

Get ready for the most darling book! I could not put this down. It was such a beautiful story. I fell in love with the characters. Highly recommend!