32 Days in May

Corrello’s impressive sophomore outing (after Summertime Punchline) is a deeply emotional tour de force. Philadelphia ad exec Nadia Fabiola’s life is upended by a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disorder that has her heading back to her Jersey Shore hometown, Evergreen, to figure out her next moves. In an attempt to help her see that her life is more than just her disorder, her doctor sets her up on a blind date with his cousin—who, much to Nadia’s shock, turns out to be stunning but troubled TV star Marco Antoniou. After substance use issues resulted in nasty headlines, Marco agreed to recover while house-sitting for a month at his uncle’s Jersey Shore home. Nadia and Marco jump into a red-hot relationship that both agree will only last the month of May—but the closer they become, the more difficult it will be to say goodbye. The romance is passionate and believable, but what truly sets this apart is Corrello’s honest and compassionate depiction of the experience of living with lupus. She vividly delineates Nadia’s delicate dance between trying to have a normal life and learning to manage her condition. Readers with chronic illnesses will feel especially seen—and anyone who values resilient heroines is sure to root for Nadia. (May)