Review & Giveaway - - 32 Days in May

32 Days in May

by Betty Corrello

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: May 13, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

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.

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.  

PJ's Thoughts:

So many feelings. One might think that a book with chronic illness front and center might be emotionally heavy and that would be correct...to a degree. It certainly throws Nadia for a loop and she hasn't handled it well. But one would also be wrong because this story is so much more. 

Corrello has crafted two main characters - and a wonderful supporting cast - who leaped from the pages into my heart. Marco and Nadia are so wonderfully complex. I was endlessly intrigued by them both and emotionally invested in their journeys, right there with them every step of the way. 

I loved the humor that the author wove throughout the story without sacrificing the emotional heft. It gave their relationship an authenticity that added relatable layers to their characters and their feelings. There are light moments, vulnerable moments, dark heart-wrenching moments, and poignant moments. There are wonderful friendships, complicated family dynamics, lessons learned, acceptance found, hope, tenderness, and unexpected love. There's snappy banter, surprising twists, and immersive descriptions both of the Jersey Shore and Rome, Italy. I couldn't put it down. 

I thoroughly enjoyed 32 Days in May and will definitely be seeking out more books written by Betty Corrello. 

Have you read any books by Betty Corrello yet?

How do you feel about books that explore the reality of living with a chronic illness?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, May 21 will receive a print copy of 32 Days in May.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18