3.5 stars

Overall this was good and tackled some deep emotions. The FMCs struggles with lupus were interesting and emotional. I do think the single POV was a bit of a barrier to learning more about the MMC, at times I felt we didn’t learn much about him beyond the surface level knowledge we gained in the article the FMC read early on. I do think he maybe had some more to offer than we got here but I still really liked him and knew how well he would take care of her given the chance. The FMC though is…definitely from Jersey. At times her attitude was a bit jarring and unlikable and you could tell she was hiding behind it a lot. Even hen she finally was vulnerable, it came out mean and borderline desperate.

This was my second Betty Corrello book and I’ve done both in audio which if I do read more from her, I think I would prefer to just read it. The narrator puts on a Jersey accent which I definitely understand fits the character and the book well but it is not the most pleasant to listen to for hours on end. I don’t think the narrator always has that accent though so I don’t want to fault her for it, I think she did a good job. Just personally, that accent is not for me in long form content.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC!

This is a book that will put you through the emotional wringer, but it will also make you laugh and smile along the way.

Adding my audiobook thoughts here before the deep dive into the story. Joy Nash did a fantastic job with her narration. I really appreciated that she had a Jersey accent the entire time, not just in spoken dialogue. It really felt like *Nadia* was sharing her story the entire time. Her emotional expression, timing, and delivery were all incredibly well done. I loved revisiting this book in this format.

Nadia is a character we meet at a point in her life where she’s a few months beyond a complete upheaval and still trying to come to terms with what life looks like moving forward. It feels like you’re right alongside her in her struggles, in the ups, and in the yearning to feel some semblance of normal again. Marco comes into her life and throws it all for a loop, but in a way (for better or worse as she chooses to approach it) that gives her a piece of that part of her back.

The connection between Nadia and Marco is palpable. They’re like these two adrift spirits finding a tether in each other. They both have their inner demons and struggles that they’re not quick to share, instead being quick to use humor and/or self-deprecation to downplay serious moments. In spite of that, though they attempt to keep things surface level, they’re both so wonderfully open to using the time they’re spending together to jump into outings and situations and experiences that bring fun and light into their lives in a way that actually strengthens their connection. The experiences they share start like little windows into who they are and eventually feel like wide open doors to the deepest parts of themselves.

There’s so much of Nadia’s emotional experience in these pages that feels so eye-opening as to what a person living with chronic illness may be going through. The loss of “normal”, the fear of people only seeing them as their illness, the feelings of loneliness at their lowest. The conversations and actions and care of the people around Nadia and how she receives it feel raw and genuine and hopeful for her. There’s a sense of knowing she can find her way with the safety of understanding and acceptance of the highs and lows that are her new “normal”. Her illness will always be a part of her life, but it won’t be her entire life — for her or the people around her. It’s beautifully and painfully real.

Thank you to Avon for the eARC via NetGalley and the print galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Harper Audio for the ALC.

Audiobook/Book Review ☀️
Thank you so much @avonbooks + Harper audio for the #gifted ARC and ALC!

32 Days in May
by Betty Corrello
Narrated by Joy Nash

About the book 👇🏽

Nadia Fabiola wants to lose herself in Evergreen—the Jersey Shore town where she grew up vacationing with her family—and never look back at her glamorous, gainfully employed former self. After a shocking lupus diagnosis turned her life upside down, she’s desperate for a sense of control over her body, her life, and her mental health. Nadia plans on keeping her life small and boring, while continuing to ignore her sister’s relentless questioning.

Nadia’s sister isn’t the only person worried about her. When her rheumatologist not-so-subtly sets her up with his infamous former-actor cousin, Marco Antoniou, Nadia is skeptical. But Marco is gorgeous—despite carrying his own baggage from a very public burnout. After a messy (but fun) first date, they decide that a May-long fling could be just what the doctor ordered: no commitment, no strings, just one month of escape.

☀️ My thoughts:

Ahh where do I begin… I really really loved this book. This was a hybrid read/listen and I really enjoyed them both. I ended up mostly listening to the audiobook because the narrator was just so good and had me hanging onto every word. I loved the banter, I loved Nadia & Marco… them together and apart. I really feel like the author did a phenomenal job with all of it. The physical and mental health aspects of this book were insightful, real, and at times even relatable. This is going to bring comfort to so many. I was laughing, I was crying, and I was swooning. The world needed this book. I can’t wait to get my hands on a finished copy when it hits shelves 5/13/25!!

Happy reading 📖 ☀️

"Disease is isolating, prepare to be alone, or get really good at lying."

32 Days in May by Betty Corrello is an absolutely beautiful story about overcoming sickness and pain to see that you are sill alive, and still worthy of finding your happy.

Nadia, recently diagnosed with Lupus, has left everything of her old life behind and escaped into Evergreen. A small Jersey Shore town she loved to vacation to as a child. Her new life in Evergreen is spent trying to find a sense of control of her life, her health, and an unexpected love interest. Marco, a former actor whom is also trying to run from a public fallout and bouts of addiction, and find his own peace in Evergreen. Marco and Nadia agreed to being set up by his cousin, and Nadias rheumatologist. He promised not to tell Marco she is sick. Knowing they were both struggling, he thought they could both use a friend but it was so much more than that. After only one date they agreed to have a month long fling with no strings attached. Simply to enjoy one another and escape from everything.

Escaping from everything proved to be dangerous when Nadia ignored her health, to feel normal, just a little too much. This brought on consequences that she could not control. She will have to tell Marco about her diagnosis after trying so very hard to keep it from him. Will he understand? Or will he run? Pick up this beautifully written, love through chronic illness story. I haven't read many of these, but this one specifically about Lupus has a special place in my heart.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC read in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first time that I have "read" anything by Betty Corrello and unfortunately this wasn't great for me. I didn't love the characters or the story. Thank you NetGalley for the early audiobook edition in exchange for a review.

After reading Betty Cordell’s book Summertime Punchline in 1 day I just knew that I had to dive into her newest release ASAP. And what a good decision that was. I was immediately drawn into the character of Nadia who is currently battling a Lupus diagnosis. She is a likable character even though quite flawed. Her relationship with Marco at first seemed ridiculous but then turned fun and sweet. I love Betty’s writing, and as I looked her up and found that she is a comedian and I was not at all surprised. If a romcom does not have funny lines with sarcastic characters who are realistic then I don’t want them.

I am a big Betty Corrello fan. Her latest, 32 Days in May comes out soon. I listened to the audiobook and I loved it.

This is my first book by this author. Nadia Fabiola seeks refuge in her childhood beach town after a lupus diagnosis upends her life, determined to keep things simple. However, a fling with charming former actor Marco Antoniou complicates her plans, challenging her to confront her fears and the possibility of love. Making a pact to just date for a small amount of time with no thoughts of what might come after., Nadia keeps her health ailment a secret all the way up to when she can't. Marco feeling lied to takes it the wrong way and it leads to a way to find their way back to each other. Showing the impact of the illness and how it can flare up as well as a high level of understanding the book is a bit predictable but sweet. I enjoyed the sister relationship and how Marco and Nadia banter. 3.5 rounded down. Thanks to the publisher, author and netgalley for the opportunity.

I ADORED this book. I read the ARC a few months back and basically haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. It’s a gorgeous exploration of two deeply flawed, extremely messy, completely lovable humans clawing back their agency and happiness.

And—no surprise at all—the audio was perfection. Joy Nash was PERFECTLY cast for this. She absolutely nailed the Jersey accent and Nadia's entire vibe™. And she did excellent voices for Marco and all of the other characters. A true talent!

I loved Nadia’s no-holds-barred honesty about mental health, chronic illness, shame, and relationships in all their complicated forms. She is so funny, wickedly sharp, and deeply relatable—never shying away from the hard truths of living with lupus, even when it’s painful to read. Marco is equally fascinating—charismatic and vulnerable in his own way. I would do unhinged things to get a glimpse inside his head. Together, they were absolutely electric.

Betty Corrello's line-level writing is simply unmatched. It’s gorgeous. Every word, every sentence feels deliberate and achingly perfect. She does a brilliant job of weaving beautiful, hard-hitting truths into every single word. She is one to watch!!!

Overall the audio experience took a brilliant book and fully brought it to life thanks to the impeccable narration. I loved every second of it.

there were some aspects i liked but unfortunately this just wasn’t the book for me. i found myself annoyed with almost everything that came out of the FMC mouth. i couldn’t connect with her and just found her to be too cheesy. i thought the audio was well done though and executed the story really well. i loved the setting and the premise behind this novel but found the writing style a bit difficult to get into.

It's not easy being able to capture the thought process of someone living with a chronic illness. Betty Corrello was able to do it so beautifully. As someone who is living with a chronic illness, although not lupus, the emotions that Betty was able to put into her writing really capture the feelings of having a chronic illness. Nadia struggling to learn her new life after diagnosis to Marco struggling to learn his new life after retiring, 32 Days in May was such a perfect and funny read.

This book follows a girl who has Lupus, but wants to have a chance at a normal life with someone who doesn't know and so she agrees to date a man for the month of May and then they would go their separate ways.

Whew this book was an emotional journey that left me feeling broken and then put back together by the end. There were many points where I had to stop reading because I had to have a cry. Originally I didn't go into it expecting it to be a five star read because generally romances I feel as though seem fluffy just aren't my cup of tea but then add in the heavy topics, the helping of trauma each character had and you could consider me a goner. This is one of those books that I think will just stick with me going forward.

This romance was weak. The characters felt really shallow even though the FMC is going through some really real struggles. The characters felt flat and the romance wasn’t convincing and the story dragged.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio for the audio ARC!

🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧

4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I loved this audio! The narrator was great! She did a great job with this beautifully heartbreaking story.

This story is beautiful and heartbreak in all the best ways. This book is about Nadia who had lupus and all the good and bad things that come along with this. But it’s also proof life can go on despite her life altering disease. Highly recommend

A very cute swoonworthy romance that deals with heavy topics masterfully! I couldn't wait to read more from Betty Corrello after readying Summerline Punchline and this was a fantastic follow-up. There was certainly no sophmore slump for Corrello, I can't wait to read more from this author.

The narration in this audio was also great and brought the story to life! I read the ARC last year and was thrilled to get a chance to revisit this listening to the audiobook

There was a lot about this I really liked! The setting down the shore, the banter, disability representation, and surprisingly the insta-love (usually I'm not a fan but it really worked here!) but this was one of those books where I was just like, "pleaseeee just talk to each other!!!" for most of it. I loved the character of Marco, but I wish we had more depth to his backstory, especially after all the talk about him being so troubled and his comments about being jealous of Nadia's childhood. I really liked Nadia and I felt like her perspective as she fell in love and tried to cope with her condition was so genuine and raw. Also loved the NJ Italian family representation of course! Overall, I really enjoyed this one and definitely recommend it!

A no-strings attached summer fling gets very real when a woman with Lupus falls for the recovering alcoholic movie star slash photographer she meets while he's visiting for the summer. This was emotional, had fantastic disability and mental health rep (she has depression because of her diagnosis and considers suicide) and also has a lot of fun travel moments and sweet swoony gestures. A standout, ownvoices debut that is sure to be a hit this summer. 10/10 recommend! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!