Betty’s writing is delightful - the way she weaves grief and bitterness and humor and wit so artfully together. At one point I read the word “glee” on-page and thought “that’s exactly how I feel right now”.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

And then when there’s sadness, and rage, I felt that too; the depth of it in the pit of your stomach and aching in your throat.

This entire book felt like when you’re gathered around the kitchen island snacking and laughing in the warm kitchen glow and realize that you belong with the people around you all the way into your bones. It feels like family and it feels like love and it feels like being scared and doing the thing anyway because not doing it is scarier.

Joey is gentle and kind and safe, and June is a loving, warm, absolute spitfire. They balance each other out PERFECTLY, and their chemistry is instantaneous and flawless on all fronts.

This is more than my second Betty book, so while I’ve already come back for seconds, I will definitely keep coming back for more.

Thank you CosmoReads for the digital copy to review! It's so hard for me to get an early copy of Betty's books cause I never want to read it TOO SOON cause then it's over and I have to wait *again* for her next adventure. As a self-proclaimed non-lover of insta-love, Betty fully captivated me with this story and how it came together.

First of all, June? I LOVE HER YOUR HONOR. We love unlikable and difficult female MMCs in this house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Forever!!!!!!!!!!!! Amen!!!!!!!!!!!! She was *intensely* relatable for me. I'm a fat girl. We don't often see our love stories play out in the media. Or in books tbh. But June's inner self doubt, always being told she's a crybaby, being told she's too much? God, it's like she was written for me and I'm pretty sure Betty had me in mind (I was born in June... also I'm kidding Betty <3) when she wrote June because I am her. She is me. Though it's been way longer for me for intimacy and I've also never been married or fallen for JoeyDaVegan. Speaking of......

Joey, my sweet, sweet, lover boy. God we love a down bad man in this house, amen. He was *so far gone* for June the minute he laid his eyes on her. We love to see it!!!!!!!!! Also, truly adored his POV and seeing his grief and love of his grandmother shine through.

But one of the things I loved most about this story was the connection that brought June and Joey together - and how June felt like she was truly brought to make Joey happy. That they were meant to find out how to love and be loved again - together. How they just *got* each other instantly and felt that comfort that comes with best friends. Knowing your person. Soul mates as friends first, and I love that they decided to make a friendship that they wanted to elevate and keep above all else. AND I loved that June recognized she needed some space.

Also, cameos from Eddie and Del had my heart singing, my OG babies who brought Betty into my life. Forever and ever will I love them. And of COURSE there is food and drink and salivating on the page because this is a Betty book.

I really loved this! There’s mouthwatering food descriptions combined with lots of humor and heart. This book reminded me of the contemporary romances I read in the early 2010s (which is one of the highest compliments I can give) while still feeling incredibly current. It’s one of my favorite romances I’ve read this year.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

Honestly, it takes a lot for me to enjoy a contemporary romance, especially a HOLIDAY contemporary romance. And this book had it. I literary laughed out loud and snorted at the witty banter and overall fun-ness of this story. June really was relatable. Some of her emotions and experiences are something I have gone through, so it made this story for heartwarming for me. I loved seeing her growth, her stubbornness, because I went through it too.

Having a dual POV between June and Joey worked really well here. Some authors don't handle that back-and-forth transition very well. Here, each character had their own distinct voice. I would love to hear the audiobook version, too. The setting was so homey and gave the perfect Christmas-y feeling, even though I read this in September. It was perfect! I will definitely give Betty's other books a look because she is hilarious!

Betty Corrello is back with another outstanding romance in Evergreen!

This book centers around June, a newly divorced woman with a fiery personality, and Joey, who she trolls online for his shirtless, vegan cooking videos. The two strike up a friendship and hot romance while both dealing with recent breakups.

The romance between June and Joey is absolutely phenomenal! I loved their dynamic and banter, which had me squealing. Joey was such a great friend and partner, giving June the time to process her feelings, while still being there to support her. Plus, who doesn’t want a great chef for a partner?! (Warning: this book will make you crave Italian food 🤤)

June and her family are messy and so real. I adored the emails from her mom, who is also on a healing journey after a divorce. All of the characters were fully realized and felt like people I know, for better or worse.

I love everything Betty writes and this book continues her series full of hilarious moments, steamy romance, and lovable characters. Seriously, if you haven’t checked out her books, this is your sign!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Cosmo Reads for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The perfect messy, hilarious, hopeful holiday romance!! She needs to be on every TBR this fall. Betty is an expert at weaving messy characters, rough back stories, and hopeful romance in her books, and Back for Seconds is no exception.

(Rounded up from 4.5 stars)

Ahhh, I loved this romance! June and Joey… both are reeling from recent break-ups, both are truly misunderstood by their ex-partners… and yet, once they meet, they just click. It’s true that when you know, you just know!

I love that June is loud, sassy and constantly getting into yelling matches with men; she is unapologetically herself after having to hid her true self while married. Joey, on the other hand, is deeply attached to his family and wants to secure a future for not only himself, but all the Paganos; this is clear to June in a matter of a week, whereas his ex of ten years couldn’t understand his source of motivation.

Their chemistry is immediate and undeniable, and seeing the courage it takes for both of them to open up their hearts again is so lovely. Love after heartbreak is never an easy thing. Both sets of siblings add much needed comic relief, and I always love seeing strong familial bonds. There’s yearning and lots of food, messy family dynamics, nosy friends and neighbours, and Christmas spirit as the story takes place over the holidays!

Betty Corrello is quickly becoming an autobuy author for me. I love her writing style, and June and Joey did not disappoint. Add in Jersey and Italian families, and you've got a winner!

I want to bottle up all the passion that is in this book and carry it with me! I want to laugh and feel and cry and be angry along with June and Joey and always remember how that feels! There is just so much to love about this Christmas romance! June and Joey and their earnestness, their honesty, their tenderness, and their devotion were inspirational. I received an advance reader copy of this book.