4.25* This book is such a quick read that I could have tried to read it all in one sitting. It so reminded me of Elizabeth Strout's novels about the thoughts of an older female protagonist. It follows Gail for three days: the day before her daughter's wedding, the day of the wedding, and the following day. This happy event makes Gail extremely introspective. She starts analyzing everything she says to her daughter, the advice that she gives her, and the confessions she makes.
I really enjoyed this story, even more than past Anne Tyler novels, perhaps because I am old enough to relate with her character. I will be highly recommending this to my friends and followers.
Many thanks to #Knopf for providing me with an early digital copy of #ThreeDaysInJune in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very quick read. I don't know if I would call it a novel, more of a novella?
Gail, the main character is the mother of the bride, and this book is basically her everyday life, for three days. The day before, the day of and the day after her daughter's wedding. The characters were interesting and quirky. The book was full of humanness and authenticity, however a bit slow at times. There was a lot of story written into this short little novel. I did enjoy it, and I thought the ending was cute. The cat was my favorite character.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy, as I said, it was an enjoyable read. :)

This story packs a punch as a lot happens to socially awkward Gail in three days. Her daughter Debbie is getting married after divulging a secret to her parents, Gail loses the job that she thought that she had and her ex husband shows up unexpectedly to stay with her and brings a foster cat. I really enjoyed how Tyler weaves ordinary tales of a life into a complicated narrative without making it feel overwrought. It was kind of a cozy story, all things considered.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Told over the span of 3 days, Gail has multiple life events happen in a short period of time; she’s on the outs at her job, her daughter is getting married, and her ex husband shows up on her door step with a random cat to stay the weekend. With twist and turns abound, Gail has to navigate old feelings, new feelings, and the ever changing landscape of that is her life.

This was an enjoyable novel! I didn’t find myself falling in love with the characters right away, but they grew on me. I’ve never read this author’s books before, but I am a fan now. If you are looking for a low key, reflective literary fiction book, I vote to pick this one up! The character study parts of the book is incredibly interesting, and I find now, even 24 hours later, I’m still thinking about the characters. A lot happens in this short book, so pick it up if you want to see how Gail navigates the craziness of 72 hours of her life.

Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I read the book (novella) but really didn’t find it interesting. I won’t be reviewing this on my public instagram book account because I realize my not liking the book doesn’t at all mean others won’t.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler is a lovely gem of a book. A very easy read, it covers the day before the wedding of Debbie Baines and her fiance Kenneth Bailey, the wedding day and the day after. Gail and Max, Debbie's parents are amicably divorced, yet Gail is taken back when Max arrives at her home the day of the Rehearsal Dinner, and has a cat he is fostering with him. Apparently Kenneth is allergic to cats so Max is unable to stay at Debbie's as planned. In addition to Max's surprise arrival, Gail had a difficult morning at work where she is the Assistant Headmistress at a private girls school. She is confused and unsure about the future direction of her career. Three Days in June is about family, secrets, regrets, reconciliation, forgiveness, yet most of all a story about the grace and wonder of love. I read the book in one sitting; it isn't long, yet it is a very entertaining. and heartwarming. Thanks to NetGalley, Knopf Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of Three Days in June;my review reflects my honest opinion. 4 stars.

Although I have lived all her books, I found this to be insipid and boring. The characters were really not interesting nor was the storyline. No one was well developed. I’m glad it was a short book as I was able to finish it quickly.

Even a short novella by Anne Tyler is worth putting everything on hold in order to read it. Three Days in June is no exception. In her inimitable style, Tyler pulls you right into her characters' minds. Gail's day begins with a meeting. Her Head of School tells her about a procedure she will soon be absent for, and then goes on to tell Gail that her job as Assistant Headmistress will no longer be hers the following year because she lacks conversational skills.

Gail leaves the school upset, to prepare for her daughter's wedding that weekend. Enter Max, Gail's ex-husband with rescue cat in tow who needs to spend the weekend with Gail since Kenneth, daughter Debbie's fiancé, is allergic to cats. In those three short but full days, we learn everyone's backstories. Why did Max and Gail divorce? Did Kenneth betray Debbie? Why does Max want Gail to adopt the cat? And how cute is that cat?

I finished this novella in one day, holding it in my hand as I went about my business, totally unable to stop reading until I came to the perfect ending. The book itself is just about perfect, wry, funny, touching, introspective, warm. In other words, a typical award-winning Anne Tyler book. Thanks so much to Net Galley and Random House/Knopf for an early copy to read and review.

Back in Baltimore with Ann Tyler! I never get tired of Tyler's close examination of the everyday lives of her characters. Gail Baines is a socially awkward mother of the bride. Always on the edge of the action, Gail is faced with losing her job, having to get through a wedding weekend, and then her ex-husband, Max, and his cat show up on her doorstep for the weekend.

Gail and Max are lovely characters, and their weekend together is an opportunity for them to reacquaint themselves, and re-examine their relationship in the light of their new lives.

Tyler is all about the characters, and this novel was full of great ones.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Someday I’d like to be given credit for all the times I have not said something that I could have said.” ‼️‼️‼️

This book is teeny tiny at only 156 pages but boy does it pack a punch. These characters are so incredibly endearing. I am in awe of how invested I was in these characters and their family dynamic in so few words. What a testament to the talent of the author!

The audiobook is *chefs kiss*. This narrator IS the female main character. She just nails her quirkiness and social awkwardness. Love loved it!

Thanks for the free audiobook @PRHAudio and to @netgalley, @aaknopf, and the author for the complimentary ARC.

This book is very realistic. It might be fiction, but it is about true married life. It hit home with me, and I believe it will with other long time married people, especially women, since I do think we see things differently than men.

I was drawn into the plot immediately and loved my time in this world. Even through the difficult parts, I was enjoying the ride waiting to see what would happen.

The characters are exceptionally well developed, and I cared about them so much. Still now, a week after I completed reading the book I am thinking about them.

It is a great feature of reading fiction that you can see the thoughts of people while they live out their lives. I know I hoped for a certain ending and knowing the thoughts, instead of just actions, I was hanging on wishing the ending I wanted would materialize. It did! I ended the book, and I don’t think I did this before, but I just sat and said, SIGH, to myself - well, maybe out loud!

A sincere thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Three Days in June is a quiet, introspective novel that unfolds over the course of a long weekend. Told in the first person, we follow Gail Baines, a longtime school administrator who is unexpectedly passed over for a promotion to headmistress—deemed too lacking in people skills for the role. Without much thought, she walks out, leaving her things behind. Meanwhile, her daughter Debbie is preparing for her wedding, and Gail’s ex-husband, Max, arrives with a foster cat. The last-minute addition throws a wrench in plans since Debbie’s fiancé, Kenneth, is severely allergic. As the wedding approaches, a revelation from Debbie forces Gail to confront the past.. She reflects on her failed marriage, her role as a mother, and what this next stage of life means for her.

Tyler has a gift for crafting characters that feel lived-in and real, making even the smallest moments seem warmth and authentic. The dialogue between Max and Gail captured the kind of easy familiarity exes can have when they still have respect for each other, even when they disagree. There’s a mix of humor and heart, but despite its short length, the novel lost some momentum for me around the halfway point. I found my attention drifting, and it took effort to stay engaged. That said, the ending brought things together in a thoughtful and satisfying way, making it a worthwhile read.

A socially awkward mother of the bride contends with her feelings on the day before, the day of, and the day after her daughter’s wedding. Character-driven and reflective, Three Days in June follows Gail as she grapples with her feelings about the past, the present, and possibly, the future.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Anne Tyler is so great at writing authentic characters! I may not always agree with them, but I see them and want to root for them. Three Days in June is a short book with tight prose depicting a slice of life. I really enjoyed it.

I feel like I know these characters personally. Anne Tyler’s ability to zoom in on a snapshot of life and turn it into an incredibly engaging book is unmatched. This book is fairly short on pages, but certainly not on depth. She is able to express feelings and situations so acutely that it is impossible not to identify and emphasize with these characters. If I had a critique, it would be that I want I didn’t want this story to end.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

I loved this book. Gail and Max Baines have been divorced for 20 years. Debbie, their daughter, is marrying a former law school classmate tomorrow. A short story about an ordinary human life event is told with such insight and humor. It is absolutely fascinating and a joy to read. I loved it. Five stars.

Thank you to Knopf through NetGalley for the early read in exchange for a fair review. It was my honor.

Simple, classic, perfect.. I haven’t been so absorbed in the quotidian literary novel since Tom Lake. Gail, Max and Debbie are very much of their decade down to their hair and daily wear choices..without instagram burnishing. The challenges of being sixty something doesn’t get press so having a well articulated portrayal of Gail and her stream of thoughts and actions is illuminating. Celine the cat is memorable. While the three days is totally a standalone read it leaves me wanting more..that the point, I’d say.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is fast read but a charming book. It takes place over three days and features a divorced couple whose daughter is getting married. I also love that the story has an adopted cat.

Gail is socially awkward and not warm, even with her family. The story begins with an incident at the school at which Gail works, after which she quits or is fired—it doesn't seem to be clear which is the case, even for Gail herself. The entire story takes place in the days around/of her daughter's wedding, and is divided into three parts: Day of Beauty, D-day, and The Day After. I couldn't relate to Gail at all. I felt a little sad for her, but not particularly sympathetic. Her social skills are clearly responsible for her sorry life and relationships. Too, Gail sounds much older than 61. None of my friends (whether Gail's age-peers or considerably older) talk or act like she does.

This is only the fourth Anne Tyler book I've read since I've kept comprehensive records, spanning reading years 2012–2024 and publication years 2006–2025. Only the first (both read and published)—Digging to America—earned 4 stars from me; the rest earned 3 stars, which falls somewhere between I'm not mad and I'm glad I read it, but I wouldn't read it again. If you are an Anne Tyler fan, I would certainly encourage you try her latest work. If you've had no or mixed exposure to Tyler, give it a try or skip it. Either way, it's short and flows well, so one doesn't have anything to lose by trying.

“Three Days in June” by Ann Tyler
A Different Read
For me this was a difficult read. Initially caused by the format 3 Parts.. with no easy or convenient breaks in the story within each of the three parts. Thus, I discovered that I truly need chapters to give me convenient places of reference when I need to take a break in my reading. And when I need to swap between my reading media. |
Also, I found this story sad, confusing, and I had only begun to think I might be learning to appreciate the story when it ended. In retrospect it was a good story which I did not enjoy while I was reading it. It was only about 175 pages long but seemed closer to 375.
I suggest you ignore me and give it a try. You just may love it from beginning to end!
Happy Reading ! !

THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler is a LibraryReads Hall of Fame selection for February. Tyler recounts the story of Gail, aged 61 and her ex-husband, Max, on the weekend of the wedding of their daughter, Debbie, to Kenneth. It is a short period of time filled with a surge of emotions. Of course, there are in-law frictions and, potentially more disastrous, concerns about fidelity between the newlyweds. Gail, too, has disrupted her own life by impulsively walking out on her boss when she does not get an expected promotion. Reflecting on her situation, Gail later muses, "What was I supposed to do with the rest of my life? I'm too young for this, I thought. Not too old, as you might expect, but too young, too inept, too uninformed. How come there weren't any grown-ups around? Why did everyone just assume I knew what I was doing?" Her angry, anxious mood is not helped by Max's arrival – he is forced to stay with her because he is fostering a cat and didn't know that Kenneth is allergic. That leads to a rapprochement of sorts as Max and Gail support each other through the festivities. Tyler, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist (for Breathing Lessons), brings these characters to life – especially Gail who finds social situations difficult ("Sometimes when I find out what's on other people's minds I honestly wonder if we all live on totally separate planets") and is repeatedly described as lacking people skills. At 176 pages, the novel offers a relatively short introduction to readers unfamiliar with Tyler's character-focused writing (see also French Braid or Clock Dance or A Spool of Blue Thread which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize), while appealing to Tyler's many fans.