Back for Seconds

by Betty Corrello

Two cups of chaos, a dash of generational trauma, and a pinch of Christmas magic.

June Alfiero is just trying to survive her first Christmas post-divorce. If growing up the only daughter of Evergreen's boardwalk pizza king taught her anything, it's how to eat or be eaten.

She's done indulging family drama; she refuses to play games with her ex; and she definitely will not be falling for the viral vegan homecook she accidentally dragged on TikTok after one too many margaritas. 

But when June comes face-to-face with the Adonis himself, Joey Pagano is nothing like his digital footprint. He's patient. Earnest. Maddeningly kind. And navigating his own heartbreak.

The more time they spend together, sharing home-cooked meals and soft confessions,—the more June's hardened exterior begins to melt. 

Suddenly, her small Jersey Shore town is serving up more than bittersweet it's late-night kitchen experiments, flirty bickering, shared secrets, and the kind of steady companionship June had given up on. Joey doesn't shy away from her mess—he pulls up a chair, pours a glass of wine, and asks for seconds.

With every boardwalk stroll and cozy, flour-dusted moment, June feels something inside her unclench. Maybe healing doesn't have to be quiet. Maybe it can be loud, joyful, and a little chaotic—just like Evergreen at Christmas.

But bearing her soul to Joey means risking the kind of heartbreak she's barely recovered from.

Will June take a chance on the delicious magic growing between them—or close the door before Joey can knock again?

From Cosmopolitan's book imprint comes BACK FOR SECONDS, a sexy, sensory exploration of how food, sex, connection, and community can make even the darkest days shine bright with hope and love. It's about letting yourself be seen—mess and all.

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Holiday

Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Betty Corrello is an incredibly beautiful and normal woman. Despite her hardened exterior, she is biologically 95% marshmallow. She blames this on the abundance of water in her astrological chart. Her greatest passion is writing stories where opposites attract, but love is chosen. When she's not writing, she can be found fretting about niche historical events most have forgotten––or petting her very tiny dog. In addition to writing books, she previously performed stand-up and sit-down comedy all over the east coast. She calls herself a stand-up comedian to avoid bullying, but she is actually an improv nerd. She does not like The Harold. She is Italian and American and spent time growing up in both countries. She is a proud Philadelphian. Go Birds.

Reviews

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a treat. It is full of sugar, spice, and Christmas magic. Life has knocked down both of the main characters. We see them trying to get back up, navigating their traumas while being obsessed with each other. There was a realness to the story I felt. It also made me hungry. I didn’t know it was part of a series. I want to go back and read the previous books and maybe one day there will be more.


I voluntarily read an early copy.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I found this so incredibly charming. I love a complicated, messy heroine, and I found June so relatable and realistic. She was petty, and vain at times, and genuinely so funny and warm. She felt lived in in a way that I haven't encountered with a new release in what feels like a hot minute. The setting of Evergreen was also so charming, and the love that Corrello has for a South Jersey Italian American enclave was infectious. Despite Joey being a little flat for me, I don't begrudge the writing for that. Full acknowledgment that I am just not the girl for a cinnamon roll hero. The family dynamics were so great, and I just wish that we got more. Fully intending on deep diving Corrello's backlist, immediately.

[Jen Deezy · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

Betty Corrello writes just the most solidly wonderful easy beautiful romances - and this one is no different! What starts as a hilarious meet cute/argument turns into watching two people who are somewhat broken & working on healing themselves or finding out how to be their true authentic self in a relationship & falling in love along the way. It just feels like the most relatistic read while also being incredibly romantic in the most genuine real human way. I really enjoyed it and after really enjoying 32 Days in May as well, Betty Corrello is definitely added to my auto buy author list!

Huge thanks to Netgalley for this arc. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

[Leia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so happy to revisit the Jersey Shore and meet another Betty Corrello strong female who is going through a season, and this is in a charming Christmas setting. June is loud and angry and full-bodied, recovering from a divorce with a man who diminished her and then cheated to escape. Joey is a trainer and aspiring chef recovering from a ten-year relationship that ended bitterly. They meet and spar and start a friendship with a slow burn, but Joey wants more. The side characters are Italian and Italian-Cuban family and eccentric friends that help them to all embrace where they are in their life stages.

What I loved about this novel was the time spent with June being indecisive and being so angry about her divorce. We know there's a romance ready to happen, but this was very realistic because June was not ready for romance. She is still recovering from a deep betrayal that continuously made her feel too large and undeserving of attention. There are parallels to her parent's marriage and her place in her family that draw out her psychology and lived experiences, which help us understand why this is so terrifying. She then begins to get louder and eat freely and start loving Joey, and it's beautiful. I'm very tired of romance books where the only barrier is trust, because it can be so two-dimensional. This is June analyzing her family dynamic and creating a drastic change to let Joey in. It felt very, very realistic with the shouting, the loud families weighing in, and the sibling dynamics.

And Joey - my fellow Cuban vegan, I can see you very clearly. His experience never feeling smart or successful enough and being a steady caretaker was layered on in each chapter, that we see how beautiful he is beyond that stallion head of hair. He's into her instantly, I'll grant that, but isn't that what happens (often) in real life? I loved reading about him and his family and am sad this is the last Evergreen book, because I need some Mimi bonus content and I really appreciate the themes of untangling your mess by the shore.

I really can't wait to hear this narrated by Joy Nash, who did the other Evergreen novels. I love Corrello's books and listening to the audio versions is sublime, because Nash really embodies these strong, messy female leads and her male voices are delicious. I highly recommend revisiting the back catalog of Evergreen through Nash's narration to see these brassy females get seriously loved.

Thank you to Betty Corrello, Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for the ARC to review early.

[KellMichelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty Corello has such a gift for creating characters who feel wonderfully human, and Back for Seconds was no exception.

I’ll admit the romance leaned a little insta-love for my usual taste, but the genuine care, tenderness, and yearning between June and Joey completely won me over. Their relationship felt built on kindness and emotional safety, and watching two people carrying so much heartbreak slowly let themselves be seen was incredibly refreshing. It was less about dramatic tension and more about finding comfort in someone who chooses you over and over again.

The supporting cast absolutely stole the show. Every nosy family member, eccentric town resident, and chaotic side character made Evergreen feel like a place that actually exists. They brought so much humor and warmth to the story that I found myself laughing just as often as I was swooning.

As a Jersey girl myself, this book hit an extra sweet spot. Even though Evergreen is fictional, it feels unmistakably rooted in the Jersey Shore. The boardwalk atmosphere, the Italian-American families, the town gossip, the food, and the fierce hometown pride all felt authentic and incredibly nostalgic. It captured the kind of small-town New Jersey charm that made me feel like I was right there alongside the characters.

If you’re looking for a cozy, food-filled romance packed with heart, healing, hilarious side characters, and a healthy dose of Jersey nostalgia, this one is definitely worth coming back for seconds

[Jessi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to get an advanced copy of this book.

I was SO excited for this one. I had the opportunity to meet Betty earlier this spring, and she talked about thir story with such love for the characters she had written, I absolutely could not wait to get my hands on a copy

And then I did.. And it just wasn't good. I don't know how or why but none of the story makes sense. You can't bee BOTH so scorned from love, questioning your worth, AND falling IN LOVE in 3 days....No one falls in love in 3 days. Especially someone who is WORRIED they moved too fast in their old relationship.

This just didn't have the magic I've come to love



And now zero stars for Betty. Apparently my review is only worth something if it's positive (and this one wasn't even mean. I just didn't like this book). Spoiler alert, bashing someone's appearance in a thread and IG story isn't the way to win people over. Yes I have blonde hair. And a masters degree. And I have read 100+ books a year. And have championed 32 Days in May (even just recommended it as a birthday gift). But you've lost me as a reader and I certainly will never recommend your writing again

Hope you're "really funny joke" was worth it.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for a honest review
Following tropes:
💋 Leavimg a Cheating Ex/ Finding new love
💋 Fake Dating leading to real relationship
💋 Family Drama ( lots of it )
💋 Insta Love
💋 Curvy Heroine
💋 Rom- Com
💋 Divorced heroine finding herself
If .the Jersey shore cast met the 2005 movie cast of Pizza my Heart you get Back for Seconds. June is a divorced woman who is the daughter of a pizza shop owner. After one too many glasses if wine she trash talks Joey's family's vegan restaurant on tiktok , catching his attention. They battle through cheating exes and family drama to appear as if they are together. Sometimes family and food ( and some internet attention) can bring people together.

Come for the laughter and sweet scenes plus stay for June and Joet both taking back their self esteem after their exes crushed their confidence. The book was well written, engaging and entertaining

My only complaint is the amount of time devoted to June's swarmy ex who broke her heart. Too many flash backs and time spent on their story ( in my opinion). Also the beef seemed one duded..she hadnt moved on but he had, rather then focusing on her healing her broken heart with Joey and not worrying about her exes new life.

[natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has BUZZ. I don't typically gravitate toward a holiday romance, but I would follow Betty Corrello anywhere. I adored the messiness of these characters and their circumstances. It is so special to read about characters going through difficult circumstances and being brought closer together because of it. A difficult feat is accomplished in this book as these characters become incredibly important together in only a handful of days, but the emotions of the characters felt poignant and accessible in a way that really sold me on their connection. This story reminded me what it felt like to fall in love with my partner. It also made me SO HUNGRY. I loved the use of food as a metaphor for allowing yourself to gorge on all the messy, imperfect parts of life without shame. This story masters a balance of a cozy holiday vibes, incredible chemistry, and charming humor. A perfect read for messy woman who need a reminder to let themselves be loved. This is such wonderful representation of meeting someone where they are and loving them how they are. 5⭐️

[Kelsey Fredericks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back for Seconds takes us back to Evergreen and I enjoyed every minute! Betty Corrello has an honesty and heart to her writing that is so unique. Every time I pick up one of her books I am surprised by the depth, culture and honesty of her characters. June is recently divorced and trying to find her way again and Joey and her on again off again girlfriend have broken up for the final time. I love how vulnerable and honest they are with each other and the support they give one another through a hard Christmas season. This book continued to give us the love story we crave, while not shying away from the difficulties of rejection in a relationship and ever changing family dynamics.

I loved Joey and June and highly recommend this book! This will be a delightful read by the Christmas tree this year! Betty also instills her books with culture and I loved reading about Joey and June's Italian and Cuban roots respectively.

Thank you NetGalley and CosmoReads for the ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review – Back for Seconds

If you want a swoon-worthy trainer, a thick queen from Jersey, two broken hearts that need mending, and plenty of delicious Italian food, this is your read.

This story had me completely invested in these characters. There were moments that were so emotional I wanted to yell at them through the pages and beg them to just talk to each other. Their journey wasn’t easy, but watching them work through their past hurts made the payoff that much sweeter.

The chemistry, the heart, the family, and the comforting Italian food all came together to create a romance that was equal parts emotional and satisfying. If you love stories about healing, second chances, and characters you’ll laugh with, cry over, and occasionally want to shake some sense into, Back for Seconds deserves a spot on your TBR.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this early.
3.5 ⭐
Firstly the Christmas, cosy vibes was definitely what I needed during a heatwave. Having characters in their 30s made the story so much more relatable, and their situations more realistic. Their dynamic and the interactions between them had me giggling, and gave me a fuzzy feeling in my chest.
They both had their flaws, both had trauma and had their reasons to not rush things, but you could feel the pull and the chemistry.
I wish it hadn’t been so instalovey- it was a very short time frame this all took place, but I thoroughly enjoyed this, and wish I had more time with them.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank You NetGalley for the ARC!

Genuinely such a cute story.

June and Joey are my favorite kind of people. They are both so sweet and kind and I'm so glad they found each other. I know some people don't love an insta-love trope but personally it's my bread and butter so even though their relationship moved quick I think Corrello did a fantastic job of keeping us in their heads and making it believable how ready they were to fall in love with the right person.

While a lot of the book centers around December and the holidays it isn't overly Christmas and I feel no matter when you read it, you'll enjoy the story as much as I did.

[Rebekah van der Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this holiday romance. I don’t even celebrate any of the holidays but I appreciated the charm. The setting and story was done in such a fantastic way. I couldn’t help but fall in love with the characters. My mom lived in Jersey for a large chunk of her life and I have some Italian heritage and extended family so it was nice to read a story from that perspective. Overall it was beautiful and emotionally charged. The fears that June had were real to me and I loved Joey’s character. Perfection!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Betty’s first book! This is a favorite of mine too. I especially enjoyed being back in Jersey, and how the characters brought their Italian heritage to life. As a girl who is Italian, that aspect made my heart smile. I always loved Betty’s books because they’re not only charming but also talk about real, honest things happening in people’s lives. I loved June and Joey; they were perfect.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*thank you for the opportunity to receive and read this eArc!!*

I don't even know how to put what I feel in words...
I connected to June so much as the one that was always too emotional, too loud, too much. I connected to Joey with never feeling like I'm enough AND add in his relationship and grief with his Nonna...this really was a warm hug in a lot of ways for me. 

[Letizia Lorini · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads this month. Betty is a queen of hilarious, messy books that make you feel EVERYTHING. Truly a gem

[Sam Alvizar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to be the best holiday read of your life 🥹 I laughed so hard and I related to some tough stuff in this one. Amazing amazing amazing.

June is freshly divorced and going through her first Christmas without her ex.

Joey is a *spicy* TikTok chef (iykyk 🤣) and personal trainer who just ended a decade long relationship.

The two are instantly lusted by each other and both hilarious to the core. He yearns and she meets him right there every time.

I can’t wait to re read this one next to my Christmas tree!

Releases in October! ✨❤️

[maddie's reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for the arc!

I love Betty Corrello

Rtc!