Book Smart Kate

32 Days in May by Betty Corrello (May 13, 2025) Many thanks to Net Galley and Avon Books of a gifted advanced reading copy. It was fun to buddy read this one with @_bookishmama @books_w_bex and @bibliolater.alligator

Nadia is in a dark place, and her family knows it. Since her lupus diagnosis, her life has changed dramatically—medications, uncertainty, and the weight of depression have replaced the fast-paced, glamorous world of advertising she once thrived in. Seeking a quieter, more manageable existence, she retreats to Evergreen, New Jersey, the island where she and her family vacationed every summer.

She never expects romance to be part of the equation. But when her rheumatologist asks if he can give her number to his cousin, she’s stunned to find herself on a date with none other than Marco Antoniou – former teen heartthrob and someone equally in need of an escape. With Marco set to leave at the end of May, they agree on a no-strings-attached relationship, a fleeting connection with a built-in expiration date. But as they spend more time together, what starts as a lighthearted distraction becomes something much deeper. Marco lets Nadia in, but she keeps her own struggles – her diagnosis and the emotional toll it’s taken – hidden from him.

Oh, wow. This book is packed with heavy emotions and powerful themes (DM me if you want to learn more before reading). What Corrello does so beautifully is craft two incredibly complex, fully realized characters while still giving us moments of genuine humor. By the end of the book, I felt like I truly knew Nadia and Marco.

I also came away with a greater understanding of lupus, something I hadn’t known much about before, and I appreciate how seamlessly that knowledge was woven into the story. I loved how Nadia and Marco found strength in each other – how they saw each other’s worth even when they couldn’t see it in themselves. The way they made themselves vulnerable, piece by piece, was so beautifully done.

Even now, days after finishing, these characters are still lingering in my mind. I’ve read several books since, but I keep coming back to Nadia and Marco. My only complaint? I needed to know more about what happens next for them. And honestly, what a great problem to have – to love characters so much that you just want more. So this is my plea for a bonus epilogue.

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

Spice: 🌶️