I've made it about 40% of the way through and just can't keep on with the audiobook. The Italian-Jersey accent is distracting and not great - I found that it was taking away my enjoyment and focus of the book. I will pick up the physical copy to read the rest.

4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫


Nadia is living with Lupus, recently diagnosed and still grappling with the daily pain, fatigue, and emotional weight that comes with it. The book opens with a raw, deeply personal look at her reality-no sugarcoating, just the honest struggle of managing a chronic illness. The author, who has an auto immune disease herself, writes with unfiltered authenticity, and it shows.

Nadia lives in New Jersey, where a routine doctor’s visit takes an unexpected turn-her physician wants to set her up with his cousin, Marco. To their surprise, there’s an instant spark. They agree to one month of no-strings-attached dating: no pressure, no expectations. Nadia chooses not to tell Marco about her illness. For once, she wants to feel carefree, spontaneous, and untethered by her diagnosis.

But Lupus doesn’t stay quiet. When the flares come, there’s no covering them up and Nadia is faced with the one thing she’s been trying to protect herself from…being seen at her most vulnerable. What happens when something meant to be light and easy starts to carry real weight? And what if the one person who makes her feel safe also sees the parts she’s fought hardest to keep hidden?

Though much of the story is rooted in New Jersey-Nadia’s home, her heart, the place where real life unfolds with all its grit, salt air, and steady rhythm-a brief stay in Italy glows with its own kind of magic. The Jersey Shore is a constant, familiar pulse, but Italy offers something she rarely feels…quiet, beauty, and a break from the weight she carries every day.

Love doesn’t wait for perfect timing or perfect health-it shows up messy, uninvited, and exactly when you need it most. And when it stays, despite everything, that’s when it becomes real.

🎧☀️The audiobook narrated by Joy Nash is absolutely stellar!!

This was the perfect book for sad girl summer 🧡 I loved everything about this book. I thought the chronically ill, lupus, and mental health representation was done so well and beautifully written. These characters had me instantly invested in their story. Nadia is living with lupus when she meets Marco, an actor who is in Evergreen for a month. They go on a great date and agree to see each other for only a month. Their love story was truly one to root for 🥹 I loved Nadia’s internal dialogue, but wish we got to hear from Marco’s POV as well. I loved the New Jersey and Rome setting. This is such an easy read because once you start you can’t put it down!! While this book is definitely an emotional read, there are also really sweet, funny light moments as well 🧡 I bounced between the physical and audio and I really enjoyed the accents, it really helped to bring the story to life! The writing is beautiful but I also loved the audio production.

32 Days in May is such a beautiful, heartfelt book that tugged on my heartstrings so strongly. Betty Corrello is an incredible writer, weaving in humor to deep conversations with fantastic representation. I loved this book so much. (And oh my god, MARCO. The man that you are!!!!)

32 Days in May audiobook did not disappoint, I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook as I follow along in the book. The narrator did a really good job at fulfilling all the voices of the characters in the book. I recommend reading and listening to 32 Days in May.

This was my first time reading (well, listening to) a book by Betty Corrello, and I’m already looking forward to diving into more of her work. 32 Days in May is the kind of story that pulls you in with a fun, flirty premise and keeps you hooked with its emotional layers.

The audiobook was a real treat. The narrator did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life—every emotion, every bit of tension, and all the humor came through so clearly. It felt like I was right there with them, and the narration made it easy to stay immersed in the story from start to finish.

I loved the setup: two people agreeing to date for just one month, no strings attached. It’s the kind of arrangement that’s destined to unravel, and watching that slow emotional unraveling was both satisfying and fun. That said, I did find the romantic arc a bit rushed in places. The chemistry was there, and I totally understood the attraction (Greek actor? Yes please), but I would’ve loved more depth in how the connection evolved, less telling, more showing.

Still, this was a super enjoyable listen — lighthearted, swoony, and with enough heart to keep it grounded. Highly recommend the audiobook version if you enjoy great narration alongside your romance.

32 Days in May is a beautifully written novel that follows Nadia, a woman grappling with the weight of depression and the relentless toll of lupus. Seeking solace, she returns to her quiet beachside hometown—only to cross paths with Marco, a famous actor retreating from the spotlight to confront his own battle with addiction. When Marco suggests a relationship with a built-in end date, Nadia agrees, embracing the idea of a fleeting summer romance.

This story made me both laugh and cry. Watching Nadia and Marco slowly fall for each other—and draw out the best in one another—was incredibly moving. As someone who lost a friend to complications from lupus, it meant so much to see this illness portrayed with honesty and care. It’s a poignant reminder of how challenging chronic illness can be, not just for the person diagnosed but for everyone who loves them.

Betty Corrello’s 32 Days in May is the kind of novel that feels like a long, late-night heart-to-heart with a friend—one who makes you laugh through your tears, who tells you the truth you need to hear, and who holds your hand the whole way through.

This story begins with Nadia Fabiola quietly unraveling. After a sudden and life-altering lupus diagnosis, she walks away from her fast-paced, put-together life and escapes to Evergreen, the sleepy Jersey Shore town where she spent her childhood summers. She’s not there for healing exactly—at least not in the Hallmark movie sense. She wants quiet, smallness, invisibility. She wants to rest without having to explain herself. She wants to stop pretending everything’s okay.

Nadia is a brilliant, funny, complicated woman—sharp-witted, occasionally prickly, and deeply relatable. She’s stuck in the no-man’s-land between who she used to be and who she’s becoming, and she’s not quite ready to let anyone witness the in-between version.

Then comes Marco Antoniou, her rheumatologist’s cousin and an ex-teen celebrity whose own life has gone sideways. He’s charming, a little bit lost, and trying to piece together a sober, sustainable future after years in the spotlight. When Nadia agrees to one messy, chaotic first date with him, neither expects it to mean anything. But somehow, they find comfort in each other’s broken pieces. They strike a deal: a one-month-only romance, just for May, no expectations, no confessions, no big feelings. (Spoiler: big feelings arrive anyway.)

What follows is a story that is equal parts swoony romance, emotional excavation, and intimate character study. Corrello handles the complexity of chronic illness and depression with such grace and nuance. She doesn’t romanticize Nadia’s experience, but she doesn’t drown the reader in despair either. Instead, she gives us a protagonist who is allowed to be funny, stubborn, vulnerable, and strong in ways that aren’t always Instagrammable. Nadia is messy and human, and that’s what makes her unforgettable.

And Marco—oh, Marco. He starts out a little rough around the edges (and yes, with a mullet and nicotine habit), but he is magnetic and kind in a way that feels rare in contemporary romance. His chemistry with Nadia is immediate and electric, but more than that, there’s a tenderness between them that slowly builds. He sees her—not just the version she performs, but the one she tries to hide. And despite their mutual agreement to keep things casual, there’s nothing casual about the way they begin to lean on each other, day by day, moment by moment.

The Jersey Shore setting is cozy and nostalgic, full of salt air, boardwalks, quirky neighbors, and summertime magic. There’s even a sweet detour to Rome that adds a bit of sparkle to the narrative. But what shines brightest here is the emotional journey—the quiet courage it takes to trust someone new, the grief of losing who you were, and the hope that love might still be possible in the aftermath.

There’s spice, there’s humor, there are moments that will absolutely gut you (in the best way), and there’s a softness to the writing that makes the whole thing feel like a warm blanket on a hard day. The chapter format—one day for each of the thirty-one days in May, plus a little extra—creates this lovely sense of intimacy and immediacy. Every day we spend with Nadia and Marco feels earned and present.

32 Days in May isn’t just a love story; it’s a story about resilience, about learning to live with the hard things and still choosing joy anyway. It’s about love that doesn’t fix you, but lets you be broken while holding space for your healing. It’s about the ways we survive, and the ways we let people in.

This book gave me the full range—laughs, tears, swoons, and a quiet kind of catharsis I didn’t realize I needed. I closed the final page and genuinely missed these characters. I wanted just one more day with them. Maybe a few.

If you love slow-burn romance with emotional depth, chronic illness rep that’s handled with care, flawed but lovable characters, and writing that feels like both a hug and a pep talk, 32 Days in May needs to be on your TBR. It’s tender and funny and real in all the best ways.

Betty Corrello, you have a fan for life.
And thank you Harper Audio.

32 days in may

32 Days in May blew me away. I came in with low expectations, partly because I'd seen the hype on social media and was worried it may be overhyped. But I’m SO glad I gave this a chance, because I absolutely loved it.

While I don’t personally have Lupus, I’ve experienced what it’s like to hide health concerns just to be treated equally, and I handled it exactly like Nadia. That deep desire to appear “normal” so no one treats you differently? It was captured perfectly. Her agreement with Marco felt like the perfect emotional storm. She is a great female lead and has so much depth. I suggest the audio book solely because the narrator really brings Nadia to life and I adore it.

And Marco??? I just love him so much. I really appreciated how open and honest he is about his flaws, and how he treats Nadia with such care despite them. He’s completely himself in every situation, which made him feel so real. There’s has been this a rise in “green flag” boyfriends in books lately (which I do love we are normalizing healthy relationships so like amazing), but what I appreciated most about Marco is that he isn’t perfect. He doesn’t respond to everything like a storybook prince, and that made him feel even more human. Except his hair in the beginning IYKYK.

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 thought this was very well written and the concept and emotions and feelings of loss with dealing with a chronic health condition was accurate and well done, from some level of my own first hand experience.

While the story was of course, sad on many levels, it was also real. The relationship between Marco and Nadia gave it some lightness even though it had a sad undertone for obvious reasons. And the fact that both MCs each dealt with their own struggles with brokenness of a different kind made it more endearing and identifiable. Even with their flaws, I loved both of them, as well as their friends and family.

The audio was great. The narrator made each character, the accents and the Italian family mannerisms, come alive. Enjoyed it a lot.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Audio for this ALC. Nadia has been diagnosed with Lupus and is really struggling to come to terms with it. During this time she is set up with Marco a former actor. Both are lost in their own way trying to find a path forward. They decide to date but only for the month of May. Will they fall in love? With they break up like they planned? I really liked the premise of this book. It sucked me in right away and I thought the narrator was perfect for the main character. The story was sweet and I enjoyed the relationship between Marco and Nadia. The story was heartbreaking, funny, sweet and heartwarming. I would definitely recommend this one! I am looking forward to reading other books by this author.

4.5 stars from me!

This was such a solid read! I was so emotional while listening to this, especially toward the end. The writing and narration were both great. Nadia was a relatable, strong, real, and raw main character.

I adored Marco and Nadia as a couple. They had sooo much chemistry, but I loved that their relationship was so much more than a romance. Nadia and Marco were built on being vulnerable and learning from each other. I loved the depth of their entire relationship.

I really appreciated the chronic illness rep in this book. I don’t have a chronic illness, but I felt like I learned a lot about life with an illness like lupus and how it affects every piece of your life. I can relate to life post diagnosis being complicated and mentally straining. The post diagnosis mental health representation was also very moving and well done.

I absolutely loved the narration for this audiobook. Joy Nash did an amazing job bringing this (incredibly written) story to life and the accent just made the story feel so much more real. Highly recommend this as an audiobook!

This was an endearing, deeply moving, romantic read and I would definitely recommend it this May (or this summer, or any time really). It gave such a summer vibe, and I think anyone who loves romance with a little *more* to the story will enjoy this one.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advanced copy of the audiobook!

Sobbing. Sobbing. Sobbing. I felt so seen.
Nadia is me, I am Nadia. wth

Nadia was recently diagnosed with Lupus and she is struggling to see the future in a good light. She decided she just wants a simple life doing a simple job in a town where she is comfortable, otherwise known as Evergreen. Nadia is very depressed and goes through ups and downs with forgetting to take the medication that is vital to keeping her as healthy as possible. (Hellooooo me)

Her rheumatologist not so subtlety sets her up with his cousin, an infamous former actor, Marco. From the moment Nadia and Marco met, he made her feel alive. After a whirlwind first night together, Marco proposes an idea to Nadia. As long as he is in Evergreen, they date each other a la Sweet November (hello young Keanu Reeves 🥵) Little does he know, Nadia is actually sick. Of course Marco has his own baggage he’s bringing to the table from his very public, very messy burnout.

Marco is a brashly loving and caring person that would do anything to make Nadia smile. There is definitely an element of miscommunication to this story, but in a very real way. Sickness like an autoimmune disorder can be very hard to come to terms with. Are you outwardly sick? Not always. So sometimes people don’t understand that you truly are sick. The representation in this book was phenomenal. It felt like Nadia’s thoughts were plucked straight from my brain.

That being said, if you or a loved one has ever went through a period of wanting to or thinking about ending your life, I would highly suggest taking caution when reading the “January” chapters. While I was okay reading the scenes, it could be triggering for some. There was no descriptive on page incidents, but ideation and the therapy session that ensued when she realized she needed help badly.

Fantastic. 5,000 stars. I look forward to reading more of Betty’s books!

32 Days in May is one of the most emotional and heartbreaking books I’ve read in a long time. Betty Corrello delivers a deeply moving story that had me in tears more than once and left a lasting impression on my heart.

Nadia’s journey with lupus is described with such honesty and sensitivity that I felt like I was right there with her—feeling her pain, her strength, her frustration, and her hope. The way her internal battles were portrayed gave me a much deeper understanding of what it means to live with a chronic illness. It wasn’t just about the physical toll, but the emotional weight that comes with it, and Corrello didn’t shy away from showing every raw moment.

One of the most beautiful parts of the story was Nadia and Marco’s connection. Their relationship felt so genuine and heartfelt, full of tenderness and vulnerability. Watching their bond deepen, despite the many challenges, made my heart ache in the best way. It was such a powerful reminder of how love can exist even in the hardest of times.

I also have to mention the audiobook—wow. The narrator did an incredible job, especially with the New Jersey accents for each of the characters. It made the whole experience feel more like watching a movie than just listening to a book. The narration really brought the characters to life and made Evergreen feel even more vivid and real.

Speaking of Evergreen, I fell completely in love with the town and its people. The setting had so much warmth and personality. It truly felt like a community I never wanted to leave.

This novel was more than just a love story or a chronicle of illness—it was a raw, deep, and incredibly human experience. I’ll be thinking about Nadia, Marco, and Evergreen for a long time.

This was a really interesting story. I really liked Nadia as a character - she felt really complex and real, especially for a character who was somewhat recently was diagnosed with lupus. I think her and Marco's relationship was really true to who they both were as characters. The interactions they had were so truly them, which made it feel much more like it actually was something I was seeing happen. The fake but also real dating was really interesting to read, since it had a very different dynamic than fake-dating usually does. The pacing of this all felt kinda weird to me, but that also may be because of the way I listened to it rather than the book itself.

Speaking of the audio book, the narration for this book was SO good. Joy Nash does an amazing job, especially with adding the New Jersey "accent" that a lot of the characters in this book would have. If you're interested in this story, I would definitely recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to HarperAdult Audio and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Audio and Betty Corrello for the advanced audio of this book. This was my first experience with a book by Betty Corrello and I did enjoy it.

The audiobook was narrated by Joy Nash and she did a spectacular solo job and has added herself to my esteemed list of great narrators. The narration was verryy expressive and brought the story alive. The story explored serious themes such as the chronic illness of Lupus (cheers to all my Lupus Warriors! 💜),depression and addiction.

Corrello created emotionally rich characters and thoughtfully portrayed Nadia’s experience with Lupus whilst seamlessly blending education about lupus into the narrative. Marco's personal redemption arc complements Nadia's, and their evolving bond showcased vulnerability, resilience, and emotional healing. The story's diary-like style might not suit everyone but it is to be largely praised for its emotional resonance and heartwarming message.

Overall, 32 Days in May is a touching and relatable novel that combines romance with meaningful exploration of self-acceptance and human connection—ideal for a heartfelt summer read.

sad girl summer lovers riseeeeee!!!

nadia is sick. and she really doesn’t want to be. when her doctor sets her up with his cousin, she’s not expecting marco to sweep her off her feet. and he’s just as broken as she is.

this was such an emotional and angsty read. the two of them really are two broken people fighting against finding love when it seems pointless. it was supposed to only be for may, after all.

the setting, writing, and journey these two went on was so poignant and i truly could not put this book down. i loved watching them slowly unravel for each other. the third act breakup felt super realistic for them as a couple and i loved how it ended.

what to expect
⟢ only for the month of may
⟢ chronic illness rep
⟢ depression and addiction rep
⟢ jersey shore and italy setting

thank you so much HarperCollins and HarperCollins Audio for the gifted copies!

Betty Corello is a force to be reckoned with. One of the freshest, funniest, most romantic voices out there. Betty isn't just at the top of her game, she's at the top of THE game.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "32 Days in May" and all opinions expressed are my own. I listened to the audiobook. Picked this one because I grew up in NJ. I actually did not like the main character, Nadia. Maybe it was her voice. Overall I thought the book was okay but really not for me.