witchbuns

Betty Corrello, 2024

4.5 Stars for Del, anytime

HOW did she do that? Betty Corrello wrote one my most favourite-ever FMC and then she kept building on growth and positive decisions and made Del even more assured and confident throughout the story. This book is beautiful and simmering and fully realized. 

Del is back at home in seaside Evergreen while she works on her comedy material for her biggest break, running into Eddie, her old high school love or enemy or fuckboi mess. They clash and cling and she goes through it, supported by a strong best friend, her queen Nan, and the characters of the town.

This book writes songs (literally) and gives a slow burn that was absolute swoon. I love how imperfect everyone was, with no one sorted or adulting at 100%. Del grows so much in a short time frame but we see how ready she is to turn her dead end into a reset. She’s a great friend and daughter, and the relationship with her father feels so personally written. 

For me the writing was just so outstanding that I can overlook a few smaller edges of the book that I wanted more attention: her first meeting with Eddie felt less bitter than she describes it, the flashbacks should go deeper earlier in the book so the final chapter of high school happens before we start to trust Eddie, and when they really get together in the modern timeline, I was surprised at the intensity of their feelings, what they felt comfortable expressing. I think that’s due to the flashbacks not being over because we’re missing history. We also never hear what happens when Eddie goes back to Puerto Rico to see his father and why that makes him distance himself from Del. I am always starving for Latinx representation so I wanted that look into his feelings and how it affected his relationships.

However – this book blew me away and I can’t believe it was her debut novel. Also, I’m 35% into her second book (32 Days in May) and it’s absolutely five star flawless. The writing is insane and it’s a next-level effort, so if you liked this book I recommend jumping into 32 Days in May because she’s fully in control of her writing powers and it’s the best book of my year.