In 32 Days in May by Betty Corrello, It would be difficult to explain to someone without a chronic illness just how horrific the past six months or 
so have been for Nadia Fabiola. Her lupus diagnosis explained the issues she’s been having (and denying) for some time. But it also cost her everything: her career, personal relationships, and even her apartment in her beloved Philadelphia. So, Nadia heads to her family’s seaside home on the Jersey Shore to rest and recover. Just when she’s on an even keel with her meds working and a part-time job with her close friend Soph, she gets introduced to her doctor’s cousin, former TV actor Marco Antoniou. And he throws her life into further chaos with his charming demeanor and soft smiles. Just what Nadia *doesn’t* need right now.
‘I couldn’t stop wondering: What would this month bring? Would it always be like this–soft and easy? Would it hurt when we said goodbye?’
Marco really catches Nadia off guard when he asks her if she’d like to date him: but just for the month of May. After that he’ll be off to different parts of the globe working. A spring fling isn’t the worst idea. Well, it could potentially turn out badly for both of them if they get too serious and catch feelings for each other. But the odds of that happening when Nadia is keeping Marco at arm’s length is slim to none, right? Not so much. Because as they spend each day together exploring the tiny island of Evergreen and then to historic Rome, the couple realizes they have a lot more in common than they first thought. And it starts giving them–or Nadia, at least–the spark of hope that maybe things could last beyond May.
“Don’t you think you deserve better? Someone who you can take to Rome without being afraid that they’ll fall apart?”
…”I’m not perfect–you saw how imperfect I can be. Don’t *you* deserve someone better?”
Tears are prickling at my eyes. “Fuck that. I don’t *want* better. What’s better than you?”
32 DAYS IN MAY was a novel that easily could have been overly serious and heavy but instead was a joy to read. Witty, insightful, raw, and yet filled with hope, Betty Corrello also added enough humor and warmth to make this a most memorable read.
“We’ll just have to make sure May never ends.”
CW: View Spoiler »
In a nod to the Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron movie Sweet November, author Betty Corrello found just the right balance in her newest novel, 32 DAYS IN MAY. It paired our heroine Nadia’s scary life-altering diagnosis of lupus with the comforting warm breezes and sunshine of the Jersey shore in May. But things didn’t truly heat up until Nadia and her one-month fling, former actor Marco Antoniou, had a whirlwind trip to Rome. That was when everything caught up to her. Including not only her serious health issues but those pesky feelings she’d developed for her short-term boyfriend as well.
Given the subject matter, it could be a trigger for some readers so please check the CW if so. But I truly thought Corrello did a great job of getting to the nitty gritty of Nadia’s health concerns without being overly graphic. It still came across how much she was dealing with. And although I shook my head when she pushed herself too much, I could absolutely understand that Nadia just wanted to get out there and live her life. Not knowing day to day how she would feel–or even hour to hour–her anger, sense of loss, and frustration were completely valid. And expertly described.
It wasn’t all about Nadia’s diagnosis, though. Her flirtation with Marco–and their snarky, sexy, hilarious banter–was the highlight for me and what ultimately brought laughs and lightness to her story. They might have been from very different backgrounds and life experiences, but Marco and Nadia meshed in a way that couldn’t be denied. Same could be said for her close friends and neighbors, Soph and Allie. They brought diversity to the group while Nadia’s sister Liv added a touch of anger issues (lol) and a whole lot of family drama to her scenes. But it was clear that every single one of them loved and looked out for each other. And that was exactly what Nadia *and* Marco needed in their lives.
QOTD: Nadia chose the Jersey Shore as her place to heal. Where would you go if you needed to get away for a while?
Book Info:
Publication: Published: May 13th, 2025 | Avon |
“[A] deeply emotional tour de force…Readers with chronic illnesses will feel especially seen—and anyone who values resilient heroines is sure to root for Nadia.” — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)
Return to the Jersey Shore with a new romance by Summertime Punchline author Betty Corrello in which a young woman recently diagnosed with lupus attempts a no-strings fling with a former television star.
“Laugh-out-loud funny, deeply sexy, and heartbreakingly real… It’s a total knockout.” —LEX CROUCHER, New York Times bestselling author
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.
Travel from the Jersey Shore to Rome and back in this delightfully funny, beautifully honest exploration of love, intimacy, and vulnerability while living with a chronic illness.
“[S]exy, funny, messy, and heartfelt to boot. You need this on your shelves and in your heart.” — SHIRLENE OBUOBI, author of Between Friends and Lovers?
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