Nadia was recently diagnosed with lupus, and she heads to the Jersey Shore after losing her job in advertising. She's heavily grieving her past life where she had the freedom to be reckless and confident and only had to deal with manageable consequences. There she meets Marco, a former celebrity and a blind date, who also seems to be struggling with what his life has turned out to be. They hit it off and strike an unusual deal: enter into a no-strings-attached relationship for the month of May only, then go their separate ways. What could go wrong?

This book is a snapshot of Nadia's life in the month of May, told from her POV, with a few flashbacks here and there. Nadia is in the midst of an existential crisis after her life was shaken up for her after her diagnosis. The bulk of the book is Nadia coming to terms with living with lupus while simultaneously searching for peace and a way to accept her current life (and mortality). She and Marco are two injured souls, both a bit chaotic and chasing something. Maybe it's acceptance, or just a different hand than they've been dealt. But how do you approach a relationship with a set expiration date, especially when maybe they don't want to the relationship to end? The book kept me a bit off-balance, which kept things interesting. Somber at times, which was in line with the subject matter, but also laced with wry humor and hope. (I disagree with its description as a rom-com, as the tension and seriousness in the story far outweighed the amount of humor.) I felt a lot of tension as Nadia and Marco navigated their unusual situationship, especially as it evolved and as their uneven expectations became more evident. Nadia's decisions about how vulnerable to be with Marco also lent an edge to the story. Nadia learning to live in the moment and accept being emotionally intimate with others gave the story some depth, even as I was frustrated with her difficulty communicating her needs. Marco was interesting but he felt shallowly developed, and I would have liked more of the story from his perspective. His character was presented like he was more of an accessory on Nadia's journey rather than a main character. But what did come through of his personality was enjoyable, and clearly Nadia felt the same way. This is an open-door romance, which isn't an issue for me, but I do have an issue with the lack of discussion about safe sex and sexual health/avoiding disease. Especially for someone who has been forced to focus on her health like Nadia has (although I guess you could argue that her inconsistency when it came to her personal health was part of her avoidance of thinking about her own mortality). Not fully addressing birth control and safe sexual practices is jarring in a contemporary romance, at least for me. Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and the evolution of Nadia's acceptance and embracing of her life. This review was written based on a complimentary copy of the book, and all opinions are my own. Publishes May 13, 2025.

After a life-altering lupus diagnosis, Nadia Fabiola retreats to her childhood beach town, craving simplicity and solitude. But her plans are upended when she meets Marco Antoniou, a charming, slightly washed-up former actor, and agrees to a one-month fling inspired by Sweet November.
The story strikes a lovely balance between humor and vulnerability. I laughed out loud more than once - Nadia’s humor is hilarious and makes her hard not to like!
This book gives vibes similar to the movie Love and Other Drugs with Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway, which I also loved!

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyage and Netgally for the eARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you, AvonBooks, for an advanced digital copy of this book!

32 Days in May is an emotionally rich romance that balances heartache, healing, and hope. Nadia suffers from lupus and finds herself falling for Marco, a struggling C-list actor. Their chemistry is instantaneous and potent, making their brief but passionate affair incredibly believable and heartbreaking.

Nadia's character development stands center stage: her journey through the pain of grief and illness is uncensored and relatable. It is nice to have an anchor to Nadia's world through her loving neighbors. Marco was okay, but not as developed as I would have liked—for instance, more time spent on his addiction and childhood trauma would have landed with a heavier punch.

Yet, for all the lack of depth in some places, and the absence of an epilogue, the pacing, smart quips, and easy comforts all came together for this bright novel. The writing is breezy and pulls you in; I read it in two days. Though a closed-door romance in most respects, the book delivers emotionally intimate conversations, and lots of simmering tension.

This book fits squarely in the heartwarming romances with stories of chronic illness and characters struggling to drop their defenses. If it were a day at the beach, this book would be a warm blanket: comforting, a little surprising, and entirely human.

ARC/ALC REVIEW

32 Days in May by AUTHOR

Thank you Avon for the free eARC of this book and amazing Harper Audio for the free audiobook! Tag Author (HASTAGS)

SYNOPSIS: After a lupus diagnosis upends her life, Nadia retreats to Evergreen, determined to keep things quiet and under control. But her plans are disrupted when her doctor sets her up with Marco, a charming ex-actor also recovering from burnout. What begins as a casual May fling deepens into something real, forcing Nadia to confront her fears, her illness, and whether love is worth the risk of vulnerability.

REVIEW: As a South Jersey girl who grew up with all things Philadelphia and the Shore, this book was like coming home. It felt so very familiar to me, which made me fall into its pages.

Nadia is so raw and vulnerable throughout most of the book, even when she tries hard not to be, and I found myself completely rooting for her. Once Marco enters the scene, I started rooting for the both of them. These two make an unlikely pair, and the journey they take together is lovely, while also being difficult, angsty, and emotional.

Joy Nash is an AMAZING job with the narration! She absolutely nailed it with the Philly, Jersey, and New York accents. Honestly, this was one of the very best accent performances I’ve heard in a while. 10/10

This book has it all, and it’s a perfect read for the summer!

Publisher: Avon, Harper Collins
Pub date: 5/13/25

Nadia was recently diagnosed with lupus and is in the midst of a mental breakdown when her doctor sets her up with his cousin, a well-known actor who is hiding out in her Jersey Shore town. After a drunken first date, Nadia and Marco decide to have a no-strings-attached fling just for the month of May. Nadia doesn't think either of them can handle more than that as she navigates her complex feelings about her illness, which she keeps from Marco.

I was hesitant to read two books in a row about autoimmune diseases, but they were both wonderful and very different from one another and I loved Betty Corello's debut, Summertime Punchline, so I couldn't wait to read this.

This book gave me all the feels, a true rollercoaster of happy, sad and hopeful moments with some great comedic relief mixed in to lighten up some heavier themes. Haters of miscommunication might not enjoy this one, but that didn't stop me.

ARC Review: 32 Days in May by @bettycorrello

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

At first, I wasn’t totally sure where this story was going—but once it clicked, I was all in and couldn’t put it down!

32 Days in May follows Nadia, who’s trying to restart her life at the Jersey Shore after being diagnosed with lupus. She’s honestly one of my favorite characters I’ve read in a while—quirky, sarcastic, hilarious, and so real. I loved being in her head. Then she meets Marco, a former actor dealing with his own stuff, and they decide to have a no-strings fling for 32 days.

The romance was sweet and slow in the best way, and I really appreciated how the book handled chronic illness with honesty but also hope. Nadia’s humor is what kept the book feeling light, even during the more emotional moments.

It’s not a super fast-paced book, especially at the start, but once I connected with the characters, I was hooked. If you like emotional romances with depth, banter, and beach-town vibes, definitely give this one a try!

The audio for this book was perfect to pair with the digital book for an immersive reading experience. After a shocking diagnosis of lupus, Nadia has to learn how to navigate life with her new diagnosis. Not only is she having to grapple with this diagnosis and the changes it will require, she's also having to avoid her sister's concerns and questioning. Ultimately her plan of a low key life is blown up to hell when. she's set up with Marco. I think Marco is able to show Nadia that life is truly worth living. Their chemistry is electric and undeniable. This book was warm and nostalgic in the best way. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.

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Ahh I looovveeedddd this one, it was such a beautiful love story with a fun premise and an ideal summer setting. The idea that Nadia and Marco agree to date for a month and one month only was intriguing and of course you know that won’t work, but the fun was seeing these two oblivious cuties fall in love anyway. As much as this was sweet and adorable it has a ton of depth and deals with some dark and series issues as well. Marco has a trouble history with substance abuse and Nadia is battling a chronic illness and I have to say, the author handled this stuff with grace and care. The portrayal of Nadia’s lupus felt very authentic and raw and added so much emotion to this story. If you want a beachy, summertime romance with heart and depth try this it was SO good!

Another wonderful romance from Betty Corrello! I absolutely adored Summertime Punchline, so this was a highly anticipated read for me, and it did not let me down! Corrello balances romance with plot and character development so well; I appreciate that both Nadia and Marco had separate things going on outside of their relationship, and I loved watching their relationship grow, as well as their character growth, both together and separate from each other. The writing in this book was also very well done and easy to read, and I flew through this book in two sittings. While this book dealt with some heavy topics, Corrello wrote them very well and with care. I absolutely recommend this book, and I cannot wait to see what this author writes next! :)

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio, Avon and Harper Voyager and Betty Corrello for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED Summertime Punchline and was so excited to return to Evergreen. Betty did NOT disappoint.

This love story was so emotionally nuanced- while simultaneously Nadia and Marco outwardly kept things surface level. Nadia's experience with the painful agony of such a condition- the desire to not be seen as or defined by the disease. Marco's past: his fame, his fall from fame, his addiction and beyond. This story brought struggling with identity and deserving love to life.

Betty's dialogue just crushes me with how authentic it all feels. While reading her books I feel like I'm getting cursed out by a loved one in the best possible way.

Joy Nash absolutely brought this book to the next level. Her narration, with the rich accents and passion, just absolutely did Betty's banter and prose justice.

⭐⭐⭐ = 3.5 / 5 Stars!

This book is about Nadia who is sick with Lupus. Her life has been upturned by the auto-immune disease and she is working to figure out her new normal in Evergreen, New Jersey. Through her doctor, she meets his cousin, Marco. Marco is a former heartthrob and actor from a famous TV show. They decide to date for the month of May and then go their separate ways. But do they?

Initially, I had a hard time connecting to this story. I loved Nadia from the beginning with her snark and Italian roots that really shown through. The audio narrator was great too! However, I didn’t see the connection between Marco at first and I really didn’t like him in the beginning. I think after reading the premise, I was expecting more from his character as the famous one. He almost felt too normal for that trope. He grew on me as the story progressed though. I had a hard time seeing Nadia suffer with Lupus. The author did a great job of capturing how hard life can be and I think it felt so real that it pained me to read (and listen) at times. This was my first book by Betty Corrello and I will absolutely read more!

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and HarperCollins Audio for the eARC and audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

As someone who was very sick last year (and thankfully better now!) I related to Nadia's emotional grappling with her lupus diagnosis. It is so well-done. Her and Marco's love story is very riveting despite the fact that it moves very quickly. I only wish we got the flashback chapters earlier in the novel, and that I had seen sweet november!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 32 Days in May follows Nadia, recently diagnosed with Lupus, and Marco, a semi-famous former teen star. Both of whom have been spending their time in Evergreen, a coastal town in New Jersey, where they spent time in their childhoods. After getting set up on a date, they decide to have a month-long fling based on Nadia’s favorite movie, since they enjoy spending time together but neither feels they have the capacity to commit beyond a month.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. While the story easily could have devolved into a book focused on their physical relationship they didn’t move too fast in that aspect, which I found refreshing. I loved seeing the dates they went on and the cities they visited. I found Nadia lovable even though she was deeply struggling with her diagnoses and mental health. I felt seen as someone who also has an autoimmune disease (although it doesn't impact my life in the same way as the character). While she didn’t always make the best choices, I understood her logic and was not frustrated as her actions felt consistent with her character and the fact that she was overwhelmed. I also found Marco charming and loved his character, although I wish he had a bit more development and backstory. For example, we learn that he has a close best friend but then never see or hear more about him again. The writing style took a little while to get into, but I appreciated how the chapters evolved throughout the book to reflect Nadia’s mental health, and I love how each section started with the day of the month. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotional and romantic story set in the spring!

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️

This book has:
*a situationship turned love
*chronic illness
*Hot Guy in Glasses
*Roman Holiday
*a mullet
*a D-list celebrity

This book would be an excellent beach read. My main issue with the book and why it wasn't a 5 star read for me is that it felt rushed. I would've liked it to be 50 pages longer! We didn't ever really know the MMC that well. His character could be summed up as "likes the main character of the book."

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review

I was reading this at the same time as Great Big Beautiful Life and I felt a little confused at times since both main characters are writers with older sisters. So...don't recommend doing that.

This was a pretty quick read, but overall not a very satisfying one. I felt like Marco was too perfect? He claimed to be flawed, but none of those flaws really manifested. I felt like this relationship could have been so much messier, raw, and real, but it never ended up delving below surface level.

I also felt so impatient with Nadia. I really liked the Lupus/chronic illness representation and I don't doubt that Nadia acted in a way that a lot of people would act in her situation. However, even in real life, I have low patience for people who don't take their health/illnesses seriously! I felt so exasperated by the decisions that Nadia was making--the way she just wanted to ignore her Lupus at times.

Overall, I thought this book had some real positives, but as a whole it was just okay.

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“I’ll brush your hair. I’ll help you out of bed”

AHH

“You will not leave me standing alone in a place where I first realized I love you.”

AHHHH

Definitely pick up this book (because.. come on… trophy) but would suggest pairing with the audio.
This audio does the book such justice. It gives the lightheartedness and fun banter to a book with heavy undertones. My ex-Philly girl heart soars to have a summer read that is so close to home!

The perfect summer read, but cannot recommend the audio enough. Immerse yourself in an unapologetic (& a little abrasive) couple. I would expect nothing less from these two main characters though.

It’s a bit insta-love but the author does an amazing job at ‘stopping time’ for the reader. I felt a lot more love & emotion for this couple than I normally would in such a quick connection.

Ps. If you read Summertime Punchline, it’s fun to see how the author has grown in 32 Days in May!!

he starts off with a mullet and a nicotine addiction but pls just give this man time to cook and I promise you he comes out of the oven as the most fine male specimen you ever did read about. my salivary glands were activating nonstop.

✰ 5 stars, incredible chronic illness (SLE) rep and if you're bothered by the female protagonist's emotions and decisions, I do fear you're exposing yourself for being an unempathetic person. I said what I said.

thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ebook & physical arc in exchange for an honest review

platform: netgalley ebook arc

I get that it's important for representation for chronic illness. but as someone who has chronic illness. reading is and should be an escape from the pain. an escape from feeling like shit. reading about someone else's pain and depression is not an escape. it's depressing. this book was not for me.

32 Days in May is a powerful, emotionally resonant novel that offers both a tender love story and an unflinching look at what it means to live with a chronic illness. Betty Corrello crafts a narrative that is at once raw, intimate, and beautifully hopeful, diving deep into the emotional toll of Lupus without sugarcoating the experience, or the love story that grows alongside it.

Nadia’s life has been shaped and often constrained by her illness. When her doctor, who also happens to be Marco’s uncle, sets the two up, it seems like an awkward favor. But the premise of dating for just 30 days, with an expiration date built in, gives both Nadia and Marco the freedom to show only curated versions of themselves. This temporary arrangement, though, quickly becomes something more. What starts as instant attraction develops into something deeper, two kindred spirits seeing through each other’s masks, even while they struggle to remove their own.

Corrello deftly shows how chronic illness doesn't just affect the body, it alters relationships, identity, and how one engages with the world. Through Nadia, we see a woman who has learned to protect herself fiercely, even at the cost of connection. Yet Marco’s presence reawakens parts of her that illness had silenced, helping her remember who she was before. The slow reveal of her past and the quiet strength she shows in the present makes her an unforgettable character.

The relationship between Nadia and Marco is filled with vulnerability, missteps, longing, and, ultimately, truth. As their secrets come to light, readers are asked to consider what it means to love someone fully, not just the easy parts. Can two people who’ve been hiding behind temporary versions of themselves find something lasting once the truth is laid bare?

The writing is poignant and at times heartbreaking. Corrello’s prose balances the heavy subject matter with moments of levity, connection, and beauty. She does not flinch from the reality of Lupus, nor from the messy, non-linear path of healing—emotional and physical.

32 Days in May is more than a romance. It’s an exploration of identity, resilience, and the complicated grace of letting yourself be seen. It’s a love story, yes, but one that recognizes love doesn’t cure everything. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is let someone love the unvarnished version of you. And sometimes, that love makes the broken pieces feel whole again.

A must-read for fans of emotional, character-driven stories with honest representation of chronic illness and the redemptive power of love.

I enjoyed the narration by Joy Nash and thought she did a great job portraying the real emotions of the characters for this story.

Thank you to Harper Audio for the ALC, and Avon for the e-ARC and physical ARC.

This story was so beautiful and takes place in such a beautiful setting in Cape May, New Jersey. The plot is unique and was such an adventure seeing these two characters fall in love over the month of May. Nadia facing some life changes and a lupus diagnosis, decides to go to her family’s beach house on the Jersey Shore for the summer. She meets Marco who is a cousin of her doctor and a Hollywood celebrity. He has his own struggles he is trying to overcome this summer too. After a wild night together these two decide to date for the month of may, no strings attached, just escape life and have fun.