👉🏻 For my friends who love quirky characters and a short story with heart.

THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler (J. Smith-Cameron, Narrator)

🎧Thanks, @prhaudio, for the #gifted audiobook #PRHAudioPartner #sponsored (Available 11 Feb 25) 4 Hours 24 Minutes

The premise is simple: Gail’s daughter is getting married tomorrow, and her ex-husband Max shows up at her doorstep with a foster cat to stay with her until after the wedding. We follow Gail and Max to the rehearsal supper, suit shopping, the wedding, and out to lunch the next day. All the while, Gail reminisces about their meeting, marriage, and breakup 21 years ago.

It’s only 156 pages (4 hours on audio), yet I felt I knew Gail well. I teared up at the end. How can some writers drop a fully-formed character in your heart with so few words? Sorcery.

I read this soon after TELL ME EVERYTHING by Elizabeth Strout and realized, like peanut butter and chocolate, they are two great things even better together. On my 2025 book bingo card, there is a square for “Wine and Cheese,” and here is my defense that these two belong there:

🍷Both are wonderful as audiobooks from PRH Audio
🧀Both authors are well-known, Pulitzer Prize-winning females
🍷Both are intimate character portraits rather than plot-driven
🧀Both feature female MCs in their 60s, prominent ex-husbands, and socially awkward characters (Olive and Gail)
🍷Both are big stories told in a few pages full of sensitivity and humor, joy and heartbreak and to quote @jamie.of.all.trades (re: Anne Tyler), both authors make “mundanity so darn interesting.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! It was such a wonderful story told with such emotion and humor. I can assure you if my ex showed up with a cat, he would be directed to the nearest hotel without his foster kitty!!
My mother has always loved Ann Tyler and recommended her to me in the past. Now I’ve recommended this one to her.
Thank you to the author/publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review on Goodreads. Not her best but still better than most fiction being published nowadays. As a member of the generation the subject of the book, Tyler’s understanding of us and our quirks and weirdnesses is uncanny. A very quick read. Recommended

This novel takes place over, well, three days. On the first day (the day before her daughter Debbie's wedding) Gail is fired from her job of many years and comes home to find her ex-husband Max and his foster cat waiting for her to let him stay with her for the wedding weekend. To make matters worse, Debbie learns something about her fiance that may change all of the plans. Max and Gail, together for the first time in a while now have to navigate their daughter's doubts, new in-laws and a wedding.

I should start by stating that Anne Tyler is a go to author for me; I have loved her since high school and have read many of her novels since. This one was also wonderful and I loved the story of a family within 3 days (3 pivotal days) of their lives. I had both the book and the audiobook and the audiobook really worked for this one and made me whip through it almost too quickly. I read a bit more than a third of this one but the audio was so compelling that I went back to it. The characters are so accessible (even if not fully relatable) and the writing is wonderful. Thankfully I still have some of her backlist titles to read while I wait anxiously for her next novel.

4.5 stars

thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the ARC to review

I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved some of Anne Tyler’s previous work and was really excited for this one. Instead, I found a short book that drags with characters that I struggled to care about. Her style of writing improved it greatly but in the end it just was not a book for me.

Gail discovers that she is losing her job right before her daughter’s wedding. To add insult to injury, her ex-husband shows up to stay with her with a foster cat in tow. She has to navigate these dynamics with a discovery that calls her daughter’s wedding into question.

Thank you to Net Galley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

2.5/5

Thank you, Knopf, for the gift of a new Anne Tyler book. Even in a shorter novel, she has a remarkable ability to draw you into a world, immersing you in the emotions and experiences of her characters. I’m always drawn to character studies—those snapshots in time that somehow capture not just a moment, but the essence of how life can feel.

I've long appreciated Tyler’s writing, and Three Days in June reaffirmed why I will always pick up her books. At its heart is an endearingly drawn mother, slightly awkward and hesitant as she navigates the challenges leading up to her daughter’s wedding—having just lost (or quit) her job, while also dealing with the unexpected return of her ex-husband. Through these moments, Tyler masterfully conveys compassion, crafting family dynamics that feel universally recognizable.

Anne Tyler has a remarkable talent for creating authentic, deeply human characters! While I may not always agree with their decisions, I can see them clearly and can't help but cheer them on. Three Days in June is a brief but impactful book with concise prose that perfectly captures a moment in time. I thoroughly enjoyed every page.

Thanks NetGalley

Anne Tyler is a well-known and well-respected author, so I was looking forward to reading Three Days in June. It does take place in three days as the title indicates but the histories of the mother of the bride, the father of the bride, the bride and others are long and bumpy. Gail Baines is an okay person perhaps not an endearing person but an okay person nonetheless. I know how she feels trying so hard to contain herself and her words for these three days.

I wouldn’t call this a dysfunctional family since the divorce happened long ago, but the people involved have different expectations of each other. A story told with honesty and humor, making it more. It takes a skilled writer to do this. Would I want Gail as a friend, maybe I already have one like her. Gail certainly is an interesting personality along with her ex, Max. I liked the cat too.
4.5 Stars

Anne Tyler writes so well. She creates complex characters in everyday life. This book was just that. Gail Baines is a little hard to like but only because she struggles a bit with normal emotions. She loves her daughter, loved her husband and has a successful career in education. Though all those are in flux in the book. Max is likable, loves Gail despite their divorce and is very close to his daughter. He's bounced around jobs but is always employed. He's moved from their Baltimore area home to a teaching job out of state. Debbie loves her husband-to-be but her limits of what she can deal with are tested.

I love that Max is completely comfortable staying at Gail's house since his soon to be son-in-law is allergic to Max's foster cat. Or is that all a set up so he can convince Gail to adopt the cat? Either way, that's soon his hope. Gail has no need for a pet. Her life is ordered the way she likes. The happiness of Gail, Max and Debbie may just pivot around the events of these three days. As Gail and Max go through the steps of the wedding weekend they spend a lot of time together and some quality time with their beloved daughter. Yet again, Gail is on the outs as the groom's mother omits her from their spa day. Debbie lets this happen but makes sure to see her mom too. As Debbie makes her difficult decision mom and dad are so supportive and don't become overbearing.

I liked Max and he was so good to Gail and Debbie. As the story behind their divorce unfolds it's a bit surprising and heartbreaking. Throughout, it's obvious Max would like to reunite with Gail but it seems Gail has no intention.

A very real story of ordinary problems that occur in families, the story was well told and interesting. It also had a satisfying ending. You'll enjoy this read.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I like some of Anne Tyler's books and some I don't like. I really liked this one. It is about, as the title says, three days in June. Those three days are centered around the wedding of divorced couple Max and Gail Baine's, daughter, Debbie. I get the impression that since the divorce, Debbie and her family are not that close. The first day is about the rehearsal dinner. Gail has just gotten some heartbreaking news regarding her job as an assistant to the administrator of a school. So, she is down in the dumps and really doesn't even want to go to the dinner. Her x-husband arrives with a cat in tow and is planning on spending the weekend at Gail's house. She is not sure she really likes that arrangement but she agrees with it. The second day is the wedding and the third day is the day after the wedding. I think the day after the wedding is the best chapter since it goes into what actually happened with Max and Gail. You get the feeling that they were very old friends who really liked each other. The book is short but it is packed with loads of emotions. I definitely recommend this read which goes on sale 2/11/2025.
Thanks to #netgalley, #knopf and #annetylerauthor All opinions are my own.

Gail Baines has just lost her job, her daughter is getting married, and her ex-husband turns up on her doorstep with a cat. Three Days in June explores Gail's life in the days surrounding the wedding of her daughter, Debbie. As with the previous Anne Tyler novels I have read this one is character-driven and nuanced story-telling. When Debbie confides a secret, before her wedding, to her parents Gail is forced to confront feelings from her own past and come to terms with both Debbie's choices and her own.

Anne Tyler accomplishes so much in this short book. Gail is the best kind of character, quirky and outspoken with a side of slightly awkward. Women of a certain age will find comradery with her, as did I, and identify with her struggles and choices. 5-Stars.


Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Anne Tyler’s Three Days in June is a beautifully crafted story about family and the messy yet tender connections that define us. Set over the course of one pivotal weekend, the novel centers on Gail Baines, a socially awkward mother trying to navigate the chaos of her daughter Debbie’s wedding. But when Gail’s ex-husband, Max, unexpectedly arrives, the reunion stirs up unresolved emotions—especially when Debbie reveals a shocking secret about her fiancé that threatens to derail the wedding.

Gail is a relatable and flawed protagonist, and her interactions with Max are laced with nostalgia, tension, and even humour. The portrayal of family dynamics is spot-on, balancing the heartbreak and hilarity that come with close relationships.

The writing is classic Anne Tyler. She has a way of making ordinary lives feel extraordinary, and Three Days in June is no exception.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

**SPOILERS**
What a sweet story! Anne Tyler shows that a great novel can be written from the most mundane of life experiences. Everyone has a back story. I cheered at the end when they got back together. Yes please, more Anne Tyler.

THREE DAYS IN JUNE highlights how Anne Tyler can adeptly craft a flawed character that we can't help but resonate with and cheer for.

Gail Baines unwittingly finds herself at a crossroads. Did she just resign out of spite the weekend her daughter is getting married? Her ex-husband, in town for the wedding, ends up crashing at her place, with a foster cat in tow.

The scene allows for a natural opportunity to reflect on key moments of her past. With her daughter's marriage about to begin, Gail considers how naively confident it is to go into such a decision blissfully. What broke up Gail's marriage? What is required in order to be happy? What is it to share a life? The pace is meandering but pleasant and I was drawn to the pondering and introspection.

(Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

Pub Day for Three Days in June by Anne Tyler! I’ve only read one other Anne Tyler book—Vinegar Girl, which I really enjoyed!—and I was excited to dig into this one. This is a short, quiet, slice-of-life type book. This book follows Gail over, yes, three days in June: the day before her daughter Debbie’s wedding, the day of the wedding, and the day after the wedding. Gail’s ex-husband ends up having to stay with her during these three days, and the reader gets a poignant look back at their marriage, while also charting their current relationship. I really liked Gail as a character; she may lack people skills, as her boss tells her at the start of the book, but her internal narrative was sharp and witty. Pick this book up if you’re looking for something that perfectly blends the melancholy with the hopeful.

Although on the short side, Anne Tyler's latest novel gives the reader a lot to think about as her characters reflect on their own lives over the course of three days surrounding the daughter's wedding. A lot of readers will find something relatable about the characters and their situations. The cat in search of a forever home added some nice touches of humor. Thanks to NetGalley, Knopf and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

Anne Tyler's newest work "Three Days in June" left me with a lot to think about. Following Gail Baines the day before, of, and after her daughter's wedding, while Gail turns interspective about herself and her former marriage. Tyler keeps the book short and funny with very real characters (including their quirks) and very real situations.

Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

At only 156 pages, this was a quick read for me. This is a bittersweet, very engaging book that put me right where the characters were. My fave book by this author is still A Spool of Blue Thread but this is a close second. Thanks to NetGalley for this early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Anne is a new to me author and I enjoyed her story. It was full of humor, self discovery and a bit of family drama. I actually felt really bad for Gail throughout most of the book. She didn’t stand up for herself, was in a bit of a depression and just really needed a friend/hug/someone to see her. I was really mad at her daughter and ex husband…don’t want to give anything away but they were both jerks. lol There were some funny moments, many serious ones and thought provoking…what would you do or how would you act in this situation? A quick and entertaining read. Thank NetGalley for the complimentary copy.

A nice little slice-of-life novella, set over three days in June when Gail Baines' daughter is getting married.

The book kicks off with Gail being effectively fired, before her ex-husband shows up hoping to stay with her... along with the cat he's fostering.

This would make a good book club pick.

I did feel a separation between the reader and Gail that I wished weren't there - but also seemed to be intentional (part of her personality with everyone).

My first Anne Tyler; not my last.