Book Review: Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello
***May contain spoilers***
***Scroll to the bottom for my rating***
I picked up this book along with my other recently completed read, Welcome Home Caroline Kline by Courtney Preiss, at the 2nd Annual Beach Book Crawl at the Jersey Shore; it was not only a fitting read to help represent the Jersey Shore but also the perfect last read of the summer. Yes, I am aware that August has ended, but this book extends to September as well, so I’ll say it once again (in a sing-songy voice): Perfect!
Summertime Punchline is a story of growth, adulthood, second chances, and change. Seemingly hitting rock bottom after quitting her job, finding her boyfriend between the legs of her roommate, and losing the closeness of her best friends in the city, Delfina is forced to move home to the town she swore she’d never willingly return to unless it had to do with a visit to her Nan.
Even though Nan remained in Evergreen and was the most important person in Del’s life, she rarely came back to visit, wanting to distance herself as much as possible from the pain and anger of her past.
When she finally returns to Evergreen in her friend’s beat-up car, it is no wonder that the first person she runs into is her high school crush turned enemy, Eddie.
Taking this massive change in her life as an opportunity to focus her attention on the thing she’s been working so hard for, her upcoming stand-up set at Brainwave, she is shaken when she realizes that the previous material that got her in the show no longer serves her.
Needing to reevaluate and revamp her style and set, it takes memories from the past, moments of vulnerability, new relationships, and repairing old ones to get her the laughter and applause she’s dreamed of. Except, with all these factors making strides in her life, Del’s dreams change from what they once were, to something somehow scarier, but even more exciting, although she doesn’t realize it until it may be too late.
This book was very different from the second-chance romances I’ve read recently, and I enjoyed that it was different. It felt even more mature to me somehow, and I think that helped elevate Betty’s writing and the importance of the growth both Del and Eddie are going through individually and together.
This book made me laugh and cry. It rang true to the troubles of finding yourself after college, after all those friends around you start moving onto the next milestone of their journey, after hitting a low you never expected.
With all that aside, it didn’t do enough for me. Although it made me cry, reflect, and think, it was missing something. I’m unsure what, but I wanted a little more from this story. Therefore, I have to rate Summertime Punchline a 3.5 out of 5 stars with a 2 for spice.
As always, thanks for reading! 💜
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️