Betty Corrello’s sophomore novel, 32 Days in May, delivers on the promise of her acclaimed debut Summertime Punchline while venturing into more emotionally complex territory. Set against the backdrop of Evergreen, a fictional Jersey Shore town, Corrello crafts a narrative that balances wit and heartbreak with remarkable dexterity.
The novel introduces us to Nadia Fabiola, a former advertising whiz whose life has been upended by a lupus diagnosis, and Marco Antoniou, a former TV star nursing wounds from his own public burnout. When they agree to a May-only fling—no strings, no future—neither anticipates how thoroughly they’ll crash into each other’s carefully constructed walls.
What distinguishes Corrello’s work from typical romance fare is her unflinching portrayal of chronic illness. Rather than using lupus as a plot device, she integrates it into the fabric of Nadia’s identity, creating a protagonist whose struggle feels authentic without becoming defining. The result is a love story that doesn’t shy away from pain while still delivering moments of pure joy.
Character Analysis: The Complexity of Chaos Demons
Nadia Fabiola emerges as one of contemporary romance’s most compelling protagonists. Whip-smart and wounded, she maintains a sardonic shield that barely conceals her vulnerability. Her narrative voice—sharp, self-deprecating, and occasionally devastating—carries the novel through its most challenging emotional terrain.
“I repeat my mantra, out loud, to steady myself
Deep breath.
‘I am no one.’
I lift the scissors and bury them into my hair.”
This opening scene establishes Nadia’s mindset with piercing clarity. She’s not just cutting her hair; she’s attempting to shed the person she was before her diagnosis. Corrello skillfully avoids turning Nadia into an object of pity, instead portraying her as a woman recalibrating her relationship with herself and the world.
Marco Antoniou provides the perfect foil—and match—for Nadia. His public persona (the affable Vinny Baldacco from the fictional sitcom Dude’s Ranch) masks a man wrestling with addiction and self-worth. Their mutual understanding of shame creates an intimate connection that transcends physical attraction.
The secondary characters add delicious texture to the narrative:
- Liv: Nadia’s perpetually exasperated older sister who balances tough love with fierce protection
- Soph and Allie: The downstairs neighbors whose relationship offers a glimpse of stability amid chaos
- Dr. Sebastian Antoniou: Marco’s cousin and Nadia’s rheumatologist whose well-intentioned matchmaking sets the plot in motion
The Heart of the Story: Lupus, Love, and Lies
What elevates 32 Days in May above formula romance is Corrello’s willingness to engage with difficult questions: How much of ourselves do we owe to others? What does it mean to truly see someone? Can love survive when built on partial truths?
Nadia’s decision to hide her lupus diagnosis from Marco creates the central tension. While this choice might frustrate some readers, Corrello renders it understandable through Nadia’s interior monologue:
“‘I think I get it now… why you wanted to do this.’
‘Tell me.’
‘Nothing in life has ever been effortless for me… ever. I thought I did everything right. And it didn’t get me anywhere. Actually—it almost killed me. And I think… I think you’re like that, too.'”
The novel deftly explores how chronic illness reshapes identity. Nadia’s list—”things i never knew before lupus”—serves as a poignant refrain throughout the narrative, tracking her evolving relationship with her condition. Meanwhile, Marco’s recovery from addiction parallels Nadia’s journey, creating a symmetry that never feels forced.
Setting as Character: Evergreen and Rome
Corrello demonstrates exceptional skill in creating immersive settings that function as extensions of her characters’ emotional landscapes. Evergreen represents both sanctuary and stagnation for Nadia—a place where she can heal but also where she might disappear into the fog of her illness.
When the narrative shifts to Rome, the change in setting catalyzes crucial character development. Against ancient ruins and bustling piazzas, Nadia and Marco experience versions of themselves unconstrained by their pasts. The contrast between the sleepy Shore town and the eternal city underscores the novel’s exploration of identity and reinvention.
Structural Elements: The Calendar as Metaphor
The novel’s structure—organized by days in May—creates a ticking clock that propels the narrative forward. Corrello subverts this conventional device in the final chapter (“Thursday, May 32”) with a calendar that defies reality, suggesting that love can transcend the constraints we place upon it.
This structural choice reinforces the novel’s thesis that arbitrary timelines (like Nadia and Marco’s one-month limit) often crumble in the face of genuine connection. It also elegantly mirrors Nadia’s experience of time as distorted by her chronic illness—some days stretching endlessly, others disappearing in a haze of pain.
Style and Tone: Finding Humor in Heartbreak
Corrello’s prose shines brightest in dialogue, where her background in comedy becomes evident. The banter between Nadia and Marco crackles with tension and wit.
She also demonstrates remarkable skill in depicting physical intimacy. Rather than relying on explicit description, Corrello captures the emotional undercurrents of Nadia and Marco’s connection, making their relationship feel earned rather than inevitable.
Critique: The Challenge of Balance
While 32 Days in May largely succeeds in its ambitious aims, it occasionally struggles with pacing. The novel’s middle section—set in Rome—sometimes meanders, and certain emotional revelations feel rushed in comparison to the carefully constructed early chapters.
Additionally, some readers might find the resolution of Nadia’s relationship with her sister Liv underdeveloped compared to the central romance. Given the richness of their dynamic, their reconciliation deserves the same nuance afforded to Nadia and Marco.
These minor flaws, however, don’t diminish the novel’s overall impact. If anything, they reflect Corrello’s willingness to tackle complex emotional terrain without offering easy answers.
Comparison to Other Works: Finding Its Place
Fans of Corrello’s debut Summertime Punchline will recognize her distinctive voice, though 32 Days in May trades some of the former’s lightheartedness for deeper emotional exploration. The novel sits comfortably alongside works by Emily Henry and Christina Lauren, though Corrello’s willingness to engage with chronic illness places it in conversation with more emotionally weighty titles like Tia Williams’ Seven Days in June.
What distinguishes 32 Days in May from its contemporaries is its refusal to treat illness as either tragedy or inspiration. Nadia’s lupus is simply part of her reality—sometimes overwhelming, sometimes manageable, always present.
Final Verdict: A Romance That Respects Reality
32 Days in May offers readers a romance that doesn’t sacrifice emotional truth for comfortable fantasy. Corrello has crafted characters whose flaws make their connection all the more powerful, proving that the best love stories acknowledge human frailty rather than transcending it.
The novel’s most affecting moment comes when Marco presents Nadia with a calendar containing only Mays—a gesture that simultaneously honors their original agreement and redefines it. This encapsulates what makes Corrello’s work so compelling: her ability to find magic in the messiness of real life.
For readers seeking a romance that balances humor with heart, delivers authentic characters, and refuses to shy away from difficult truths, 32 Days in May is a standout offering that confirms Betty Corrello as a distinctive and important voice in contemporary fiction.