Summertime Punchline by Betty Corrello

Growing up in Evergreen, New Jersey, Delfina Silva-Miller dreamed of escaping her chaotic home life, her unreliable father, and the heartbreak tied to her longtime crush, Eddie Rodriguez. At eighteen, she finally leaves town, determined never to return.

Years later, Del has built a career turning the painful moments of her life into sharp, successful comedy. But when her career and personal life suddenly fall apart all at once, she has no choice but to return to the Jersey Shore town she spent years avoiding. With only weeks to prepare for a major comedy festival that could change her future, Del plans to keep her focus on work and avoid getting pulled back into old memories.

That becomes difficult when she reconnects with Eddie, who has grown into someone far different from the reckless boy she once knew. As the summer unfolds, Del is forced to confront her past, her fears, and the possibility that the life and love she’s been chasing may have been closer than she ever realized.

Set against the lively backdrop of the Jersey Shore, Summertime Punchline is a heartfelt and humorous story about second chances, family, ambition, and the complicated relationships that shape us.