"This is a hilarious and sweeping love story about a comedian forced to return to her Jersey Shore hometown and confront everything she left behind ten summers before. A plucky heroine remaking herself. A beach setting. The meaning of home. Humor. Romance. This one ticks all the boxes.” — Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author
“Fun and fresh...Wry observational humor and a dose of romance strike a good balance with some tough family dynamics.” — Kirkus Reviews
“This novel will provide the LOLs and feels for you this summer.” — Cosmopolitan
“I'm in love with Corrello's voice. Vivid, fresh, and wholly singular, hers is a voice that's been missing from the romcom pantheon. Wonderfully real characters, unexpected heart-twists, and knee-buckling humor makes Summertime Punchline a surprising stand-out. What a delight. Please welcome to the stage... Betty Corrello!” — Julia Whelan, author of Thank You for Listening
"A vibrant sunbeam of a book — I simply inhaled it. Betty Corrello's writing is both achingly vulnerable and wildly funny. The ideal summertime (or anytime) read, guaranteed to make you crave both a funnel cake and a cute single dad." — Rachel Lynn Solomon, author of Business or Pleasure
"Funny and keenly crafted, Summertime Punchline is packed with messy people, perfect chemistry and a satisfying amount of heartfelt forgiveness. I tore through it, you will too." — Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script
"Summertime Punchline is killing it! Betty Corrello brings a fantastic and fresh new voice to modern rom-coms with sharp writing, nimble humor, and an enchanting romance. I can’t wait to read what’s next.” — Amy E. Reichert, author The Kindred Spirits Supper Club
“Humor, heart, and steam collide in this charming story about how people and places change and grow whether we're there to witness it or not. Betty Corrello's debut is the romcom equivalent of a tight five—everything hits exactly how you want it to. My spouse kept asking what I was laughing at, and the answer was always just, ‘This book!’” — Sarah Adler, author of Happy Medium and Mrs. Nash's Ashes
“A charmingly heartfelt and genuinely funny second-chance romance. Summertime Punchline is a wonderfully witty love letter to stand-up comedy, true love, and there being no place like home. Betty Corrello is a hugely exciting new voice in rom-com. I absolutely loved this book!” — Georgia Clark, author of It Had to Be You
"Betty Corrello writes big-hearted, hot romance and perfectly crafted jokes that kick your ass; reading this book was like taking a beach vacation with an extremely hot single dad and the funniest person you know." — Lex Croucher, author of Infamous
"Summertime Punchline is the funniest romcom I’ve read in years– while also delivering all the chemistry, angst, and emotional depth I could ever want. I was torn between wanting to savor it and devour it as fast as possible. I’m officially a Betty Corrello superfan." — Ava Wilder, author of How to Fake it in Hollywood
“Betty Corrello’s hilarious and sincere debut completely swept me away. The beautifully messy heroine narrates with a dry wit that gives way to a surprisingly earnest and tender core. I laughed, I swooned, I dabbed my eyes. Corrello is a voice to watch.” — Rachel Runya Katz, author of Thank You for Sharing
2024-03-23
A comedian on the verge of her big break loses everything and returns to her Jersey Shore hometown—where she reunites with her longtime crush.
Delfina Silva-Miller did everything she could to get away from Evergreen, New Jersey, but at least her experiences growing up there with a deadbeat dad, a crush who frequently ran hot and cold, and a grandmother full of unconditional love gave her plenty of material for a comedy set. Just as she earns a spot at a high-profile festival, though, Del’s life comes crashing down, putting her in a bad enough bind to send her back to Evergreen. After all, where can a woman go when she has no job and nowhere to live while nursing the heartbreak of another failed relationship? Now she has roughly six weeks to get her life together and write a fantastic new set for the Brainwave Comedy Festival. Del is the narrator here; it’s a delight to be in her head, especially given her sardonically funny way of interpreting the world around her. Her love interest, Eddie Rodriguez, remains a bit of a mystery, and there’s a lot left unsaid about Del’s persistent crush on Eddie and what occurred during their 10-year separation. The small-town beach setting is bursting with memorable people, and Del and Eddie have a real, lived-in feeling as characters; they will undoubtedly reflect the fears, worries, and triumphs of many readers. While there’s a lovely romantic subplot as Del and Eddie reunite and reconnect, there are much bigger issues surrounding Del’s homecoming, especially her estrangement from her father and the way her focus on career affects her emotional fulfillment. It’s a “Can she have it all?” story, and though the book is fun and fresh at times, that feels like a stale question.
Wry observational humor and a dose of romance strike a good balance with some tough family dynamics.
