May 26, 2025
Michaela Althouse/PhillyVoice
Recent releases '32 Days in May' by Betty Corrello and 'It All Felt Impossible' by Tom McAllister, above, both include mentions of the Jersey Shore.
Whether you're looking to spend your Jersey Shore vacation curling up in a cozy armchair, lounging by the pool or listening to the soundtrack of the ocean, there are plenty of new releases by Philly-area authors to pack alongside your towel and sunscreen.
Here are two romance novels, a collection of short stories and a memoir that were published in the last two months for any bookworm who wants the meta experience of reading about the beach they're sitting on this summer.
Set in Evergreen, a made-up town on an island off the New Jersey coast, Betty Corrello's novel follows Nadia, a butcher's daughter and ad executive, who moves to her family's shore house after being diagnosed with lupus. Once there, she meets former child star Marco, and the pair decide to date for just the month of May in this sweet, witty romance novel.
In 12 short stories, Philadelphia native Marie-Helene Bertino explores the idea of "death-shaped entities," from vampires to deceased boyfriends to haunted peaches. The titular essay centers on a woman who heads to Rio Grande to settle her father's affairs following his death and learns that he willed her a unicorn.
In the midst of a writing rut, Tom McAllister decided to write a 1,500-word or less essay for each year of his life, including growing up in Philadelphia. The result is a refreshingly honest but not overbearing memoir. Most of the stories take place in the city and the South Jersey suburbs, but one chapter tells of a 2014 trip to Cape May for a dose of beach.
Linny Mack's debut romance novel tells the story of a therapist, Sophie, who moves to Cape May in the wake of a messy divorce. As she unpacks her grief, she befriends an elderly neighbor and a local carpenter who is recovering from his own trauma. Those in the know can spot mentions of cultural favorites like Perry Street, the Rusty Nail and Cape May diamonds.
