Betty Corrello’s sophomore novel “32 Days in May” is a revelation—a masterful blend of romance, raw vulnerability, and unexpected joy that finds its footing in the most unexpected of places: chronic illness. Following her acclaimed debut “Summertime Punchline,” Corrello returns to the Jersey Shore with an emotionally resonant story that tackles the messy intersection of illness, identity, and love with remarkable insight.
The novel walks a delicate tightrope, offering both the escapist pleasures of romance while refusing to sugarcoat the realities of navigating a life-altering diagnosis. What emerges is a story that feels profoundly authentic, often uncomfortably so, while still delivering the warmth and humor romance readers crave.
The Premise: A Time-Limited Romance
Nadia Fabiola has retreated to Evergreen, a sleepy Jersey Shore town, after her life imploded following a lupus diagnosis that cost her both her high-powered advertising career and her sense of self. Working at a local produce stand and living in her parents’ beach house, she’s determined to keep her life small and manageable. Her carefully constructed isolation is disrupted when her rheumatologist introduces her to his cousin, former TV star Marco Antoniou, who is carrying his own baggage after a public burnout and struggle with addiction.
After a messy but chemistry-filled first date, they make an arrangement straight out of a rom-com playbook: a month-long fling with an expiration date—only May, nothing more. But as their connection deepens, Nadia faces a dilemma: reveal her illness and risk rejection, or maintain the deception and savor what limited time they have together?
Corrello’s Masterful Character Development
What makes “32 Days in May” stand out is Corrello’s unflinching character work. Nadia and Marco are gloriously flawed, frustrating, and utterly human:
- Nadia Fabiola: Far from the typical plucky heroine, Nadia is a study in contradictions—sharp-tongued and defensive while harboring deep vulnerability. Her internal monologue crackles with sardonic humor even as she’s wrestling with depression and physical pain. She refers to herself as “tissue paper in a windstorm,” capturing both her fragility and the way illness has upended her sense of control.
- Marco Antoniou: Initially appearing as the stereotypical fallen star with a mullet and recovery issues, Marco quickly reveals unexpected depths. His sensitivity, creativity, and earnestness challenge Nadia’s assumptions about him. His own self-perception as a “vampire” who uses people reveals his awareness of his patterns while still struggling to break them.
What’s remarkable is how Corrello writes characters who hide their most authentic selves from each other yet reveals them fully to the reader. This dramatic irony creates both tension and profound empathy. We understand Nadia’s fear of revealing her illness while simultaneously recognizing the inevitable consequences of her deception.
A Refreshingly Honest Portrayal of Chronic Illness
Perhaps the novel’s greatest strength is its depiction of chronic illness, specifically lupus. Corrello captures the daily reality of living with an autoimmune disease with unflinching accuracy:
- The mundane logistics of medication management
- The unpredictability of symptom flares
- The brain fog that makes simple tasks overwhelming
- The way illness reshapes identity and future plans
What sets “32 Days in May” apart from other “sick lit” is its refusal to make illness the entire character arc. Nadia’s lupus is simultaneously central to her story and just one facet of her complex life. The novel acknowledges that chronic illness fundamentally changes a person without reducing them to their diagnosis.
In one particularly poignant scene, Nadia documents in her journal: “things i never knew before lupus: we should be terrified of our bodies. you realize how little control you have over yourself; how all you can really do is react.” This observation captures the existential crisis illness can trigger while avoiding sentimental platitudes.
Romance That Feels Hard-Earned and Real
The love story between Nadia and Marco unfolds with a gradually building intensity that makes their connection feel earned rather than inevitable. Their banter crackles with authenticity—sometimes tender, sometimes antagonistic, always revealing.
Their adventures range from whale-watching with a nauseous child to navigating an art opening in Rome, but it’s in the quieter moments that their relationship feels most compelling. A scene where Marco massages Nadia’s feet after a long day without making it sexual speaks volumes about the kind of care she’s been missing.
The novel’s exploration of intimacy goes beyond the physical (though those scenes are handled with both heat and sensitivity). The real question at the heart of the romance is whether genuine intimacy is possible without full disclosure. Can Nadia be loved for who she truly is, illness and all? Can Marco allow himself to be vulnerable enough to love someone when he’s spent years protecting himself from rejection?
Structural Strengths and Occasional Missteps
Structurally, the novel employs a clever device by labeling each chapter with the corresponding day in May, heightening our awareness of the relationship’s ticking clock. Occasional flashbacks to Nadia’s diagnosis and breakdown provide necessary context without overwhelming the present-day narrative.
If the novel has a weakness, it’s in occasionally overrelying on misunderstandings to generate conflict. A few moments feel contrived, particularly when characters withhold information that would easily resolve tension. Additionally, some tertiary characters (particularly in Marco’s art world) can feel thinly sketched compared to the richly drawn protagonists.
The climactic crisis, involving Nadia’s health emergency, works dramatically but occasionally veers close to using illness as a plot device rather than a lived reality. However, Corrello pulls back from the edge, grounding the moment in emotional truth rather than melodrama.
The Supporting Cast: Rich and Memorable
While Nadia and Marco are undeniably the stars, Corrello surrounds them with memorable supporting characters:
- Liv: Nadia’s bossy, pregnant older sister whose tough love masks genuine concern
- Soph and Allie: Nadia’s downstairs neighbors and employers whose relationship provides both contrast and aspiration
- Dr. Sebastian Antoniou: Marco’s cousin and Nadia’s rheumatologist who serves as an unexpected matchmaker
- Audrey: Nadia’s therapist whose wisdom cuts through Nadia’s self-deception
These characters aren’t just sounding boards for the protagonists; they have their own fully realized lives and perspectives, creating a rich tapestry of community around the central pair.
Final Verdict: A Standout Sophomore Novel
“32 Days in May” confirms Betty Corrello as a significant voice in contemporary romance. Building on the promise of “Summertime Punchline,” this novel shows remarkable growth in emotional depth and thematic complexity while maintaining the humor and charm that made her debut memorable.
Fans of Tia Williams’ “Seven Days in June” or Emily Henry’s emotionally complex romances will find much to love here. Corrello brings a distinct voice to romance—sharply observant, often acidly funny, yet unafraid of raw emotional truth.
At its core, “32 Days in May” asks profound questions about vulnerability, authenticity, and the courage to be seen fully. How much of ourselves do we hide to be loved? Can we accept care without feeling diminished? Is love worth the risk of rejection?
The novel’s greatest achievement is making these philosophical questions feel urgent and personal through characters who leap off the page with vibrancy and flawed humanity. In Nadia and Marco’s journey, Corrello offers something rare in romance: a happy ending that feels both hopeful and honest, acknowledging life’s complexities while still believing in the transformative power of love.
By extending May to a symbolic “32 days,” the novel makes a powerful statement about creating your own timeline, refusing to be constrained by expectations, and finding ways to make love work despite circumstances that seem impossible. It’s a message that resonates far beyond the romance genre, speaking to anyone who has had to reimagine their life after unexpected challenges.
Betty Corrello has delivered that rare second novel that not only avoids the sophomore slump but exceeds the promise of her debut. “32 Days in May” is a testament to love’s ability to meet us where we are—complicated, messy, and worthy of being cherished.
