I couldn’t put this book down. It was so well written, well-paced and I adored Nadia and Marco. Both struggling with their internal demons and wanting to be free of everyone’s expectations of them. Their romance was such a beautiful slow-burn. The chemistry and connection was just so tender and sweet. They challenged each other while also quietly showing their vulnerable sides despite everything being 'no strings'. I love that Marco admitted her just decided to choose someone, and despite saying he was a ‘vampire’ to women, treated Nadia with so much care and affection, as well as opening himself up to Nadia.

I really felt for Nadia, dealing with the reality of her lupus diagnosis and how it uprooted her life, including her mental health. The internal ableism someone has after discovering their body can’t do what it used to do. While it was frustrating she withheld her diagnosis from Marco, I completely understood it was so she could feel like her old self. Supporting characters such as her sister Liv, neighbours Allie and Soph were also felt like real people. Their worries for Nadia felt totally realistic – suffocating yet caring and well-meaning. I just wish we had more about Marco’s backstory and that the ending incorporated more detail about Nadia’s health as well as her and Marco’s careers given they lived in separate cities. Perhaps an epilogue set a year later would’ve been the cherry on the top.

Wonderfully heartfelt, tender and emotional.

The triggers in this book were not my thing. I am sure many people will like this book but I was just happy it was over.

Nadia has fled her reality in Philadelphia and landed on the Jersey Shore. Her recent devastating diagnosis upended her personal and private lives, as well as her career trajectory.

So why not embark on a no strings attached, summer fling with the gorgeous former actor, Marco, who is taking a sabbatical on the same stretch of beach?

See, what Nadia wants is to feel in control of something - anything - again, and this seems to be the ticket. If she keeps her shocking medical condition from Marco, she can be seen as the woman she once was, wishes she could be again.

But the deal was for the month of May and it’s nearing an end. What will these two do now that they’ve inevitably underestimated the feelings they’d develop?

Let me start by saying that the writing was incredibly engaging and funny. Corrello is an author I’d definitely try again.i loved Nadia and Marco and was disappointed when their story ended.

However.

I want to be less…judgy (?) and yet here we are. Listen, romance is my escape and if I’m not immediately smitten with the MMC, it’s a hard sell. Personality wise, Marco is the dream. And despite a haircut to rid him of a mullet, and a nicotine patch to rid him of cigarettes, I could never not imagine that first description Nadia uses, in which she says he smells like an ashtray.

The ending was also problematic for me. Very quickly tied up, references made to some serious issues that aren’t given the attention I think they needed, and a happily ever after that didn’t feel earned. The first half was funny, flirty, detailed for the first few days of the month; the last two weeks went by in a flash without the detail we’d gotten used to.

I’m in the minority here, so give it a whirl if you’re interested. It was a solidly written book with too much I couldn’t overlook.

A beautiful, humorous story about the unbreakable bond of sisterhood, friendship, and love in all its forms.

Was a bit off-putting at first, but when I got around to it, I couldn’t put it down! I adored the Italian touches, the witty humor, just EVERYTHING.

The humor is exactly what I needed.
I love Marco and Nadia together so much; they match each other so well! AND HE’S GOOD WITH KIDS. SWOON. What more could you ask for?

As for the audiobook, the voice of the narrator is perfection for this story! The accent, the way everything was delivered with energy and passion, was CHEFS KISS.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!

I was just so pleasantly surprised by this! Sometimes I worry about books that portray individuals with chronic health. Occasionally, the books because a “boo-who” about the main character. I felt that Betty did a great job of mixing the reality of lupus, with love and laughter. It’s definite recommend for me!

This book was a beautifully written, emotional rollercoaster.

I have such a soft spot for stories where two broken souls slowly piece themselves back together through love, and Nadia & Marco’s journey was exactly that. Their connection was messy, honest, and painfully real. I was hooked from the first page and really enjoyed their story.

This was a nice summer romance, with a deeper emotional plot. I liked that it had chronic illness representation, and it had a good balance of comedy and a heartfelt story.

It’s safe to say that @bettycorrello has one of the most beautiful new voices in romance. Her debut was gorgeous and this one? Breathtaking. It really is a skill for someone to make characters so deeply flawed in ways that make them real, but so sympathetic and approachable that you can’t help root for them. And to do that while also making us laugh and cry at the same time is a feat.

I can’t recommend this book enough. Betty doesn’t shy away from the harder topics in this one and the payoff is brilliant. Nadia is my depressed queen who is going THROUGH it in the worst ways. Her body is betraying her and it’s making the rest of it unbearable. When she meets Marco, his casual no-strings attitude is just what she needs to maybe feel alive again. But Marco’s also lying to himself. And so we get to where Betty really shone in the writing.

This book is so vulnerable. It’s raw and emotionally charged and both Nadia and Marco have their layers that keep getting peeled back. Nadia is struggling with chronic illness that is destroying her mental health. And Marco is trying to keep everyone at a distance for his own reasons, not feeling like he’s worthy or capable of true love and compassion.

I loved both of them individually and together. They had fantastic chemistry and the best banter, and also so many moments of sad joy that crept in (Nadia and her whale!!) I found myself so immersed in the story that I didn’t want to step away - I needed to see these two figure it out!

And on top of it all, Betty managed some incredible rep for both lupus and mental health. The toll that an illness like that can take on you is no joke, and the fact that Nadia was as strong as she ended up being felt so honest to who she is as a character. Plus we get to travel to Italy and have a Roman Holiday with Nadia and Marco and if that wasn’t the best, I don’t know what is.

SHORT SYNOPSIS:
Nadia has recently been diagnosed with Lupus. Her whole life has changed and she’s figuring out what that looks like and escapes to Evergreen - a Jersey Shore town. But then she meets a former actor and the two to agree to date just for the month of May.

MY THOUGHTS:
This is my first Betty Corrello novel, but certainly not my last. Honestly, I knew nothing of this story before starting it. The cover was pretty and I figured it’d be a good summer read. And it was. But it was so much more.

I adored Nadia and Marco. Their banter and one-liners had my laughing out loud. Nadia’s chronic illness journey was heartbreaking and beautiful as she rediscovered who she is now. It was truly a beautiful story the world needed and highly recommend it for your summer reading.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
Chronic illness Rep
Celebrity (former) romance
Funny one-liners
Dating pact
Healing journey
Opposites attract
Jersey Shore setting

This was a quirky, sweet, witty, fun read. The characters were likable and relatable, and author gave good insight into how someone with Lupus may really feel - physically, mentally and emotionally. The storyline was interesting and premise felt like a fresh take on the fake date trope as it both was and wasn’t. I did find it jumped around in ways I didn’t always catch right away. That made it 4 stars instead of 5 for me. But otherwise I really enjoyed this book and have already requested this author’s first book at my library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I was so excited to read this because I love books with chronic illness representation but unfortunately this book was not for me. I couldn’t get into it at all. The characters were all immediately unlinkable and one dimensional and the author was telling the entire time and not showing. The cover is stunning though.

what incredible raw, emotional and atmospheric writing. Every line in this book was written with intention. I loved this. Nadia and Marco have my heart.

(4.75⭐️) For fans of Hannah Bonam young, Betty Cordell is brining hot, sad girl summer! I truly related to this so much as someone with a very very similar disease and meds as the main character Nadia (I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, so my body attacks my joints instead of my organs like Lupus). The chronic illness representation is something that means more to me than I can even express. I heavily related to Nadia and thought her experience as a newly chronically ill person was extremely relatable and well done. I loved seeing her get to live her silly fun summer fling with a hot minor celebrity dreams (where’s mine!) I loved getting to see her accept herself and her illness and let herself be loved by this sweet man. Their chemistry and banter was everything, I was giggling and kicking my feet!! Overall, I highly recommend, and I will be reading Corrello’s other books from now on!!

I will say, check the content warnings and take care of yourself!

32 Days in May was an emotional read. Betty Corrello did a phenomenal job creating realistic and well-rounded characters. As somebody with a disability, I empathized with Nadia. I related to her character and the isolation she felt. Nadia's mental and physical health struggles felt authentic. I found her narrative funny. I liked that Nadia wasn't a perfect character. It was hard watching Nadia slowly stop taking care of herself during her time with Marco. Her character journey was heartbreaking and empowering. Marco was a romantic MMC. He really said the most romantic things. I liked his humor and banter with Nadia. I did feel like we could have gotten more of Marco's backstory. He didn't feel as layered as Nadia. Despite not knowing as much about Marco, I still adored his and Nadia's relationship. Liv, Soph, and Allie were decent side characters. I enjoyed the found family trope with Soph and Allie. I did think it was weird that the author mentioned Nadia and Liv having a brother and we never heard anything about him. A big part of this book was the movie Sweet November. It was clear with the storytelling that the author assumed that most readers know the plot of the movie. As someone who has never seen the movie, I did find that part of the story confusing. Although I found the writing style funny, it was a little choppy at points. It seemed to get better half-way through the story. I liked the Jersey Shore setting and the mood of the book. I will be adding Betty Corrello to my authors to follow list. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

32 Days in May by Betty Corrello is a beautiful, emotionally rich story that blends romance and vulnerability in a way that feels both fresh and deeply authentic. Nadia’s desire to retreat from the world after her lupus diagnosis is so relatable, and watching her slowly open up, especially to the charming and complicated Marco, was incredibly rewarding. Their connection is magnetic, and the month they share is full of heart, humor, and surprising depth. I loved how the story didn’t shy away from the realities of chronic illness while still delivering all the swoon-worthy moments I look for in a romance. A poignant, uplifting read I won’t soon forget.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishing house for this book.

My fellow chronic illness girlies- this one’s for you.

This book will simultaneously make you feel seen, make you laugh, make you swoon, and probably force you to reckon with the mental and physical ways you cope with your illness.

This book is fundamentally about two people trying to create a future that reflects a life they can sustain and that has meaning after reckoning with a past that has hurt them and driven them to burnout. It’s about how they’ve coped with their circumstances. How love can save you.

It’s also about realizing that you’re worthy of love even when your health or your past make you feel unworthy.

I loved these characters and their relationship. The times I found the FMC challenging were times when I related most- because I saw her grapple with the same things I do in ways that frustrate me too! The tension between wanting to be believed about your illness while being in denial yourself. The self-sabotage of pushing your limits just to feel normal sometimes, knowing you’ll probably pay for it later. SO REAL.

This book was genuine, beautiful and hilarious, even while tackling serious issues. I loved it. Lovers of Hannah Bonam Young and Jessica Joyce will love this.

WOW did this one get me good.

The effortless contrast of Nadia pushing her limits to the inevitable, unpredictable crashes. The open, earnest joy of her experiences with Marco followed by the uncertainty of the body or mind she’ll wake up with in the morning.

I think what’s so important about this book is that there is no “fix”. Nadia has to learn the limitations and realities of her body, and who she is willing to share them with. The end-date of her relationship with Marco allows her to believe she can avoid doing so - but Marco, who is struggling in his own ways (both some that he’s transparent about and, like Nadia, some that he isn’t), is such a continuous counterbalance to her that the end result is written in stone from the start.

And sweet Marco is a sharp contrast immediately. Able-bodied and bright-eyed, seemingly limitless and continuously energetic. He and Nadia feed off each other in a way that is immediately detrimental to them both only because neither of them is open about what is going on below the surface. But he opens up fairly quickly about what his limits are - and while their relationship progresses, it opens both of them up emotionally and mentally with a flourish.

Living with chronic illness is scary and often unpredictable. The highs and lows have a pattern, but also deviate from it with no regard to the person whose body they’re inhabiting. Learning how to coexist with your own body is a slow uphill battle that you sometimes simply do not have the energy for. Nadia wants so desperately (and relatable) to be someone who is Healthy, because the alternative only seems to be someone who is Not Okay. But Marco sees her mind and her light through the heavy burden only she knows she’s carrying, just like she sees his behind the veneer he places so carefully over the visible parts of his life.

And when they’re together, they can be all of the good and messy and scary and joyous parts of themselves uninhibited, for all 32 days of May.

I have tried this book multiple times, and every time I set it down, I don't feel the urge to pick it back up. I'm deciding to DNF and move on. I think the idea of this story is wonderful, and I will recommend it to others. I know it's getting a lot of deserved love, and I am so sad it just isn't working for me right now. Maybe I'll try again in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Two great main characters with an iffy ending.

I was a little hesitant at the start of the book. The FMC was popping off right away but there were a lot of short sections so it felt a little choppy. But the sections started getting longer and then I was actually enjoying the breaks we'd get because the chapters could be quite lengthy.

But Nadia was a piece of work, but in mostly a good way. The things she said were absolutely ridiculous and her personality was just so big. And Marco. What a teddy bear. Every time he was described I just wanted to hug him. And also, when can I be whisked off to Rome for a romantic getaway?

I wish we would have gotten a little more out of Marco's backstory. We were so saturated in Nadia's story, it would have been nice to get a break from it and get his story.

And the ending. I just don't how to feel about it. It was rushed. It was infuriating. And it was a little dumb. No good explanations, NO GROVELING.

But up until then I was enjoying myself and would recommend for those who like an illness representation.

The perfect beach read, in cover and in content. 😍

Nadia is introduced to Marco - a famous actor- through his cousin, who is also her doctor (that feels weird now that I’m typing it but just let it happen), and after one drunken date/hookup, she doesn’t expect to see him again but the next day he comes to her with a proposition, date for the month of May while he’s in town housesitting.

Nadia agrees, having been at the lowest in her life, depressed, diagnosed with lupus and getting more and more sick, lost her job, but with Marco, she hides all that away and pretends to be happy and carefree. That’s right, she doesn’t tell him she’s sick, so you know his that’s gonna go later on in that third act.

They spend the month falling in love, Nadia pushing her body through more than it’s capable of, not taking her meds, pushing her friends and family away to chase the feeling of who she was before with Marco and I was STRESSED that she wasn’t taking care of herself.

The romance was very sweet. I think the author built both the characters up as incapable of being a relationship and falling in love, but then that happens fairly easily. Best the end when everything implodes, I wanted Marco to be there earlier with her than he was. And everything just sort of falls into place.

This is fast paced, the main focus their relationship and Nadia’s illness. We have other characters but everything else is very much in the background. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job with the New Jersey dialogue.

Overall, this is exactly what you want in a summer romance beach read. Things get messy, there’s a hint at tough things to come, but you get a nice happy for now ending.

Thank you @netgalley and @avonbooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.