I’ll admit I was fairly skeptical of this book in the beginning, but wow, Betty Corello really did something special with 32 Days in May.

It took me until around the 15% mark to get used to the writing style, and I was convinced I wasn’t going to like the main characters.

Nadia, dealing with depression after a lupus diagnosis, is running away from her life at her parents beach house. One of her doctors asks her to hang out with his cousin because she “needs to get out more”. Enter Marco: a cigarette smoking, mullet sporting, D-list actor. After one wild night together, Nadia and Marco agree to date for one month, no-strings attached— just a fling to escape their respective realities.

The banter and tension in this was excellent. I loved how sassy Nadia was, and how much Marco ate it up. I loved how tender their relationship became. It felt like these two characters understood each other so deeply. Truly, I was so surprised by how much Marco grew on me.

Overall, this book sexy, emotional, and a great summer romance. (And thankfully, the mullet and cigarettes were short lived.)

This book handles a lot of sensitive topics, so I recommend not skipping the authors note in the beginning.

Thanks so much to Avon for the arc!

I fear this book has ruined all other books for me. Hands down the most beautiful book I've read in 2025 so far! I can't believe how many times I cried, just at the tenderness and beauty of it all! It was truly so moving and I grew to love these characters so deeply!

Thank you Harper Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

About the book:

Nadia has been coping with her recent diagnosis with Lupus. She is set up with Marco, a former TV star who has many of his own personal struggles that he has been managing. They decide to "Sweet November" each other, wherein they will date for a month with no strings attached.
To see these two imperfect people enjoying life and learning that they CAN be happy, and deserve to be loved was an absolute joy.


My thoughts:

Joy Nash absolutely KILLED the narration! Oh my goodness. The Jersey accents brought every single character to LIFE. They felt so real and FUNNY! I want to kiss Joy on the lips for what she did with this audio! I mean, the way she described the majestic arc of Emmett's vomit was stunning lolol

Now, Betty. Betty Betty Betty. You beautiful human who has given us so much with 32 Days in May!! Looking back at my notes, none of them make sense because I was just beside my self through so much of this book lol. I laughed out loud so many times and I loved Nadia's mind. Then I cried actual tears so many times--because of Nadia's struggles and her strength, and Marco's love for her not despite of everything but because of it.
I'm grateful to know more about what it's like to live with Lupus, because of this book. Thank you Betty for sharing this part of your life with the world. Thank you for giving us Nadia!

I can't wait to hold this one in my hands on May 13, 2025!!!

I had high hopes for this novel, I had trouble connecting to the characters. It took a bit to get into the storyline.

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 no commitment, no strings, just one month of escape.

Their undeniable chemistry starts to feel a lot like something more and while Marco pulls Nadia deeper into his life, she is dead set on keeping her diagnosis from him. But there are only so many days in May, and only so much pretending she can do. As the stress of their whirlwind romance takes its toll on Nadia’s health, she’s forced to decide if a chance at love is worth the risk of trusting someone new

This book was SO good! I absolutely love Betty Corrello’s writing style and now I need to go back and read her debut book, Summertime Punchline.

Nadia, the FMC, has lupus and her condition is worsening. She is losing her hair. She lost her career. She doesn’t have the energy that she did before lupus and she is depressed.

Then, her rheumatologist sets her up with his cousin, a B List actor named Marco Antonio. They have an instant connection and he asks her to date him for the month that he is in town on the Jersey Shore. Nadia decides to make the most of her time with him and she avoids telling him about her diagnosis. This one is an emotional rollercoaster (in the best way), you guys!

I really loved these characters and the book is written in a way that lets the romance shine, but still gives a full picture of what Nadia, the FMC, is going through with her health journey.

Things I Loved :
🌊Jersey Shore/Rome settings
🌊FMC with health struggle
🌊Famous MMC
🌊Addiction representation
🌊Italian American/Greek America culture
🌊Whirlwind romance
🌊Time-limited relationship

"Do you cry when you eat ice cream because you know it won’t last forever."

I had the honor of receiving an ARC of this as an audiobook, which was great. The narrator brough the characters to life.

Probably one of the funniest romance novels I've ever read. Nadia, the main character, has recently been diagnosed with lupus which has completely blown up her life. She escapes her normal life and begins living seaside at her parents' beach house.

Her rheum asks if he can introduce her to his cousin and that's where the romance begins.

The banter throughout this book is God Tier Level. Just some of the funniest things said:

“This is where they buried Liz Claborne’s final horcrux.” Describing Rome is having a very horrible graffiti problem to try to talk herself out of traveling to Rome.

If you have a chronic illness, this book is spot on for what life is like. The shame, the frustration, the denile, the mind f*ck, all of it. Nadia is one of the most relatable book characters for me, because of my life with autoimmune diseases.

I highly recommend this book. It was an easy, enjoyable, and hilarious read.

#netgalley #ARC

“Do you cry while you eat ice cream because you know it won’t last forever?”

32 Days in May by Betty Corrello felt like a real life love story. You start broken, then you start to feel that warmth that you forgot about, that you did not know existed anymore. And then it turns exciting like the best kind of roller coaster that never ends without all the bad stomach drops. But then that inside voice starts to talk and down the road you start to listen maybe second-guessing yourself or the person that you’re with in more ways than one. You try to be happy but you also try to talk yourself out of it. And I think the most important part of this book was it tells you that it’s OK to let yourself be happy. That no matter what’s happening with you mentally or physically, you deserve to be happy, we all do.

really well written! nadia is diagnosed with lupus and trying to live a semi normal life. she agrees to date a guy for only the month of May. this book was excellent on audio too!!!

Joy Nash absolutely nailed the narration—warm, grounded, and expressive without being overdone.

After a lupus diagnosis and losing her job, Nadia escapes to her family’s beach house on the Jersey Shore to self isolate and embrace depression. Her doctor asks her to show his cousin around town and she ends up hooking up with him. Cousin Marco turns out to be a minor celebrity with his own commitment phobia and serious baggage. After talking about favorite movies (Nadia's is Sweet November) Marco proposes they spend the month of fake-dating (a la Sweet November). Naturally.

It was very "insta-love" which I'm not a huge fan of but Corrello made it work. Nadia and Marco are good people but a bit broken. Corrello presents their relationship not as a line of red flags blowing in the breeze but as two people recognizing the pain in each other seeing a kindred spirit.

Its beautifully messy story about letting people in, finding your footing again, and choosing love without losing yourself. Corrello did a great job with the relationship between Nadia and her sister. Family can both be awful while loving you better than anyone and always there to welcome you home.

Thank you NetGalley for this early release listen! Incredibly raw, emotional, and beautiful. I loved their story and the writing had a unique flourish to it. There was so much vulnerability in her character and lots of laugh out loud moments. I definitely teared up at the end! Overall a wonderful read and even better audio!

This book was a beautiful piece of work!

Betty Corrello does an incredible job painting a picture of Evergreen, the disabling existence when your body is fighting against you, and the many adventures of Nadia and Marco. This book was incredibly good at talking about topics that I think many people are too unsure or unaware of but should be talked about greatly. Plus the commentary on how capitalism and how it teaches us incorrect ideals about our perfect life?

Witnessing Nadia and Marco learn that they are so much more than the worst experiences they've had is something beautiful to behold and I love them SO much.

Joy Nash perfectly executed this performance! Each distinct character and voice was perfect and I am so grateful for the chance to have listened to it.

Thank you to HarperAdult audio and NetGalley <3

A New Jersey love story. I really enjoyed this book. It’s something I would buy, and I will likely purchase the author’s previous book. The narration in this book is delightful. Just perfect Jersey accents.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader audio book.

32 Days in May hit me in a way few romances do. Yes, it’s a fling-turned-feelings love story with banter so good it made me laugh out loud (Murano glass museum scene, IYKYK). But it’s also a vulnerable, honest, and deeply emotional exploration of what it means to live with chronic illness—and to let someone love you through it.

As someone who lives with chronic illness (though not lupus), I saw so much of myself in Nadia. The exhaustion, the anger, the way you grieve a version of your life that suddenly feels out of reach (*cough cough* using humor as a trauma response). The push-pull of wanting connection but fearing what your body might do to that closeness. Nadia’s story was raw and real—but never pitying. She’s messy, sharp, funny, defensive, and deeply human. And I loved her for all of it. Marco surprised me. This wasn’t just another broody love interest. He has his own mess, and watching two people with cracks and bruises choose each other anyway? It gave me the feels. There’s so much heart in their story, and so many moments where I found myself whispering, “Yes. That’s what it's all about.”

Betty Corrello doesn’t romanticize illness—she writes it with clarity and care, layered in among laughter, desire, vulnerability, and hope. This isn’t just a love story—it’s a story about choosing to keep showing up for yourself and letting others show up for you too.

This book is a raw and deeply personal account that hits with emotional weight, yet carries an undercurrent of resilience and humor. Betty Corrello's narration adds an intimate, almost confessional tone to the audiobook that makes it feel like you're hearing from a close friend. Her storytelling is sharp, darkly funny at times, and unflinchingly honest.

What really stands out is how she balances vulnerability with strength—turning a painful chapter into something profoundly relatable and often surprisingly hopeful. The pacing dips slightly in a few places, which is why I’m holding back one star, but overall it’s a moving and memorable listen.

Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates memoirs that tell it like it is, without sugarcoating—but with heart

Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of “32 Days in May.”

This was my first Betty Corrello book and I found her voice unique in the romance genre. Her writing was wonderful, but her characters were brash and flawed, yet hilarious. Listening to the audiobook and the “Jersey” accents really drove this home. The FMC Nadia is facing debilitating lupus and the depression a chronic illness can bring. The illness has caused a complete change in her lifestyle and she’s grappling with becoming a different person. She meets the MMC Marco on a whim. Marco is a recovering bad boy and minor celebrity who admits to Nadia he uses people. Not exactly the expected meet-cute. However, the characters end up being just what the other one needs.

In an unexpected turn, we see Nadia become more irresponsible and self-destructive, meanwhile Marco seems to truly find himself. I found these to be unique character arcs, especially Nadia’s. While I do not suffer from a chronic illness, I felt like Corrello did a good job describing both the mental and physical aspects of Lupus.

I am going to go back and read Corrello’s other novel now that I’ve discovered her fresh voice.

4 ⭐️
Nadia learns she has lupus and everything in her life changes. Now she’s on meds, facing a lot of unknowns, and dealing with depression. The exciting, busy life she had in advertising feels like a thing of the past.

Wanting some peace and quiet, she heads to Evergreen, New Jersey, the island where her family used to spend summers.

Falling for someone wasn’t part of Nadia’s plan. So when her doctor asks if he can pass her number to his cousin, she’s surprised to end up on a date with Marco Antoniou—a former teen star who’s also looking for a break from everything.

Marco’s only around until the end of May, so they agree to keep things casual. ‘32 days in May’. But the more time they spend together, the more real it starts to feel. Marco opens up to her, but Nadia keeps her own pain and her diagnosis to herself.

I loved the chemistry between Nadia and Marco. This book invokes so many emotions. I enjoyed the story and learned more about lupus.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher HarperAudio Adult for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Publish date: 5/12/25

First time reading a book by Betty Corrello and I thought this was really well written. It did take me awhile to become invested in the story and romance of the main characters, but it does build up and by the end I was totally hooked. Only giving this 3 stars just because of the pacing. I did also enjoy the dialogue and how realistic dealing with a devastating diagnosis can be. I received an ALC of this book and thought the audio was really great. I will definitely recommend this book for the start of the summer romance reading season. Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the ALC!

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Audio and Betty Corrello for the advanced audio of this book! This was my first Betty Corrello audiobook and I didn’t know what to expect, but this book is now one of my top audiobooks of this year.
Joy Nash is the only narrator for this audiobook and she did a fantastic job! This book is told through the FMC, Nadia’s POV. I felt like I was there on the Jersey Shore with her, by the way Joy Nash narrated this book. I never wanted to pause this, I just wanted to keep listening. This book has some hard hitting topics, but felt fun and flirty all at the same time. This audiobook was easy to follow along with and the story itself flowed nicely the entire time. Nadia does have some inner monologue thoughts throughout this book, and Joy did a great job with narrating these as a listener. I never got confused or lost in those moments.
This book is about Nadia and how she is changing her life after getting a life changing diagnosis. Everyone seems to be worried about her during this time including her rheumatologist, who asks her to befriend his cousin, Marco who is a former actor.
Nadia and Marco are both dealing with their own personal issues, so for the month of May they decided to have a month long fling! It was great to watch Nadia and Marco’s relationship evolve over the month and I couldn’t wait to see what happened at the end of May. I just need to keep listening!
This book does deal with some chronic illness and other trigger warning such as depression, suicidal thoughts and addiction.

Nadia Fabiola is hiding in the shore town of Evergreen, New Jersey. Hiding from her recent lupus diagnosis, licking her wounds after being fired from a job she loved, and avoiding the people that care about her most. She is dealing with pain, depression, and an uncertain future. The last thing she needs is a romantic entanglement, but that’s exactly what she gets.

Enter former teenage heartthrob, Marco Antoniou, the cousin of Nadia’s rheumatologist. Marco is also hiding in Evergreen after a public burnout. Their first date is not what either expected, but there is no denying the chemistry between them. When Marco propose a month-long, no strings attached fling, it fits perfectly into Nadia’s plan to escape from reality which includes hiding her diagnosis.

I was immediately drawn into this story. As a native New Yorker, I appreciate a good old fashioned Jersey attitude and Nadia’s character serves up plenty of that. She’s snarky and sarcastic, curt and caustic, and real, raw, and relatable. I loved her. Joy Nash brings Nadia to life and voices her vulnerability, fears, and hope with sincerity. The more I listened, the more I fell in love with Nadia, Marco, and Nadia AND Marco.

Betty Corrello has delivered an unconventional romance that hit all the right notes for me. Poignant and hilarious is an unusual combination, but it works here and works well.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Audio, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advance copies. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ARC!

This book sounded great - I loved the idea of a romance with a time limit. I expected it to be pretty lighthearted in the regular rom-com format. I was surprised by how frequently I was cracking up at the witty banter between Nadia and Marco. Betty Corrello nailed the timing and smartassness perfectly. (Murano glass discussion at the museum - IYKYK!)

Nadia's lupus symptoms and her battle to maintain a normal life added a level of seriousness to the book, making her character feel like a real person and giving the story substance. I expected the book to be sweet and funny, but it was also raw in the best way.

The narrator did great with the voices and timing, keeping me in the story from beginning to end. I flew through the audio, excited to hear what happened next. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author!

Betty Corrello's 32 Days in May is a charming and emotionally resonant read that easily earns a solid four stars. From the moment we meet Nadia, seeking refuge in the familiar comfort of Evergreen, her journey of self-discovery and tentative steps towards connection grabbed me. Corrello beautifully portrays Nadia's vulnerability as she grapples with a life-altering lupus diagnosis and her desire to reclaim control. Her initial resistance to any disruption of her carefully constructed "boring" life is entirely relatable, as is her reluctance to share her health struggles.
The introduction of Marco, the charmingly flawed former actor, injects a delightful spark into Nadia's world. Their initial messy date and subsequent agreement for a no-strings May fling sets the stage for a wonderfully engaging dynamic. Corrello excels at crafting their interactions, making their chemistry palpable and their individual baggage feel authentic. The narrative smoothly navigates the humorous moments of their burgeoning relationship alongside the underlying anxieties and insecurities each character carries.
What truly stood out in 32 Days in May was its ability to evoke a genuine spectrum of feelings. I found myself laughing alongside Nadia and Marco during their lighthearted escapades, feeling their undeniable attraction, and experiencing a pang of sympathy for Nadia's internal struggles and her fear of vulnerability. The author doesn't shy away from the realities of living with a chronic illness, portraying its impact on Nadia's life with honesty and sensitivity. The added layer of her secret creates a compelling tension that keeps the pages turning.
While the "no strings" premise is a familiar trope, Corrello infuses it with a fresh perspective through Nadia's specific circumstances and Marco's own journey. The exploration of intimacy and trust in the face of chronic illness is handled with grace and nuance. The shift from the Jersey Shore to Rome adds a touch of romantic escapism, further enhancing the emotional depth of the story.
Ultimately, 32 Days in May is a heartwarming and thought-provoking novel about finding love and embracing vulnerability even when life throws unexpected challenges your way. It's a testament to the power of connection and the courage it takes to let someone in, flaws and all. This book had me feeling all the emotions, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling and tender story.