32 Days in May Summary: Love, Illness, and Healing Collide - Books to Thrive: Best Books Summaries

Book Summary Contents

1 Introduction: A Romance with a Countdown and a Cause
2 32 Days in May Summary: What Is 32 Days in May About?
3 Who Is Betty Corrello?
4 Key Themes Explored in 32 Days in May
5 Character Deep Dive: Nadia & Marco
- 5.1 Nadia Fabiola: A Heroine of Contradictions
- 5.2 Marco Antoniou: Not Your Average Love Interest
6 Notable Structural Choices in the Book
7 What Makes This Book Unique?
8 Love Is the Hardest Kind of Healing
9 FAQ: 32 Days in May by Betty Corrello
10 Explore More Like This
11 Get Your Copy
12 Attachments & References
- 12.1 Share:

Introduction: A Romance with a Countdown and a Cause

In 32 Days in May, Betty Corrello delivers a poignant and refreshingly honest exploration of romance and resilience. This deeply emotional yet delightfully witty novel centers around Nadia Fabiola, a woman recently diagnosed with lupus who is trying to reclaim control over her life by setting strict emotional boundaries. What begins as a “no-strings-attached” summer fling quickly unravels into something far deeper, more vulnerable, and ultimately life-changing.

This 32 Days in May Summary will walk you through the story’s emotional landscape—from the healing backdrop of the Jersey Shore to the glimmering streets of Rome. We’ll examine the novel’s themes of chronic illness, identity, and intimacy, while spotlighting Betty Corrello’s growing literary authority. Whether you’re here for a deep dive into the characters or to explore how romance can bloom amid personal hardship, you’re in the right place.

Let’s uncover what makes 32 Days in May a standout in contemporary romance.

32 Days in May Summary: What Is 32 Days in May About?

Betty Corrello’s sophomore novel tells the story of Nadia Fabiola, a former high-achieving advertising professional whose life is suddenly derailed by a lupus diagnosis. Seeking solace, she retreats to Evergreen, a peaceful Jersey Shore town from her childhood. There, she meets Marco Antoniou, a once-famous actor trying to piece his life back together after a public meltdown and battle with addiction.

Both damaged, both hiding things, Nadia and Marco agree to a temporary, one-month romance. But emotions don’t adhere to timelines. As the days pass and their bond deepens, the ticking clock on their arrangement—and Nadia’s concealed illness—threatens everything they’ve built.

Who Is Betty Corrello?

Betty Corrello made her debut with Summertime Punchline, but it’s 32 Days in May that truly establishes her as a compelling voice in the contemporary romance space. Known for mixing humor with heart, Corrello leans into the contradictions of modern womanhood. A comedian-turned-novelist, her sharp wit shines through in dialogue, while her experiences as an Italian-American woman and someone deeply empathetic toward physical and emotional struggles give her work authenticity and depth.

Her stories—especially this one—are less about escapism and more about facing reality with humor, heart, and a little bit of hope.

32 Days in May Summary — Author’s image source: bettycorrelloauthor.com

Key Themes Explored in 32 Days in May

What Does It Mean to Love with Chronic Illness?

The novel’s central tension stems from Nadia’s lupus diagnosis. Rather than using illness as a backdrop, Corrello places it at the center of the story. She shines a spotlight on:

The unpredictable nature of chronic illness
Medication side effects and management
The erosion of self-image due to physical limitations
The emotional labor of hiding one’s diagnosis

In a standout journal entry, Nadia writes, “We should be terrified of our bodies… all you can really do is react.” This line encapsulates how destabilizing a chronic illness can be, while also underlining a central point of the novel: vulnerability is both terrifying and necessary for love.

Can Romance Heal Old Wounds?

Marco and Nadia are both emotionally raw, haunted by their pasts. Their relationship, sparked through a meddling doctor and shaped by an agreement to keep things light, grows into something far more substantial.

What’s compelling is how Corrello refuses to rush romance. Instead, the relationship is built slowly:

Whale-watching mishaps
Quiet dinners on the beach
Unspoken emotional exchanges
A trip to Rome that opens old wounds and new doors

It’s in these moments—mundane, messy, and magical—that the novel’s romantic authenticity shines through.

Is Full Disclosure Necessary for Intimacy?

One of the biggest questions posed in 32 Days in May is whether genuine intimacy is possible without complete honesty. Nadia hides her illness from Marco, terrified it will drive him away. He, in turn, harbors shame about his public collapse and years of self-sabotage.

This mutual withholding becomes the emotional centerpiece of the story. As readers, we experience dramatic irony: we know their secrets and the ticking time bomb beneath their connection.

It asks readers:
Is love real if it’s based on half-truths?
Can you protect yourself and be open to love at the same time?

Character Deep Dive: Nadia & Marco

Nadia Fabiola: A Heroine of Contradictions

Nadia is a rich, layered character. Once powerful in her career, her illness strips away her identity. She’s witty, sarcastic, and acerbic—but beneath it all lies pain, self-doubt, and a fear of being unlovable. Her internal dialogue is often darkly funny and tragically real, adding to her relatability.

Strengths:

Dark humor as a coping mechanism
Deep introspection
Refusal to be defined solely by illness

Flaws:

Fear of emotional vulnerability
Tendency to push others away
Stubborn independence, even when it harms her

Marco Antoniou: Not Your Average Love Interest

Marco, the charming former TV actor, seems cliché at first. But Corrello slowly peels back layers to reveal a man in emotional recovery. He has faced addiction, burnout, and public failure—yet he remains open, kind, and unexpectedly wise.

Strengths:

Genuine emotional intelligence
Artistic and thoughtful
Willing to grow and change

Flaws:

Struggles with self-worth
History of emotionally destructive patterns
Easily wounded, which he hides with humor

Together, Nadia and Marco form an imperfect but believable couple, united by their brokenness yet also by a shared willingness to try again.

Notable Structural Choices in the Book

Daily Chapter Titles: Each chapter is titled by its calendar date in May, adding urgency and rhythm to the story.
Flashbacks: Interspersed scenes of Nadia’s diagnosis and breakdown deepen the reader’s understanding of her trauma.
Dual Character Arcs: Both protagonists grow in tandem, though not always together—a balance rarely seen in romance.

What Makes This Book Unique?

32 Days in May stands out for several reasons:

Authentic Illness Representation: This isn’t “inspiration porn.” It’s gritty, real, and often uncomfortable.
Romance That Feels Earned: The characters fall in love slowly, despite resistance.
Emotional Maturity: Instead of relying on grand gestures or miscommunication tropes, it centers emotional nuance.
Laughter in the Darkness: The humor makes the hard parts more digestible and the sweet parts even sweeter.

Love Is the Hardest Kind of Healing

32 Days in May isn’t just a love story—it’s a testimony to the strength required to be vulnerable. Betty Corrello’s writing is humorous, raw, and fiercely empathetic. Nadia and Marco’s journey isn’t about “fixing” each other, but rather learning to be seen as whole, even when broken.

If you’re looking for a romance novel that respects the intelligence of its readers and the complexity of its characters, this one’s a must-read. You’ll laugh, cry, and probably highlight more quotes than you expected.

Try this story of imperfect love and emotional courage today.