I have really liked Anne Tyler's books and this novella is equally as good. I loved the characters - everyone of them has flaws, has made mistakes and the themes revolve around family, forgiveness and love. I could not put this book down I found it so enthralling and I really fell in love with the characters and could emotionally relate to them on many levels. The premise revolves around the main character's daughter's wedding and her ex (the bride's father) coming to stay with her. I teared up at different points including the end. Just an absolutely beautiful book about what it means to be human and be in relationship with others.

Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

Novellas that can pack a punch in such a short amount of time are worth all of the stars. I absolutely was swept up in the drama and have way too many quotes that really resonated with me.

The story follows Gail, whose only daughter is getting married. As a divorcee, Gail still remains on good terms with her ex husband Max and they have to come together make this wedding run smoothly. The setting is the day before the wedding, the day of, and the day after. We fleetingly meet characters but Tyler writes in such a way where I felt immersed in the setting.

In short it is a portrait of a marriage, the mistakes that can be made during, and the reconciliation after.

Some of my favorite quotes:

"I didn't tell her how many years of ups and downs and ice silences and hurt feeling we'd had to go through to get there."

"Someday I'd like to be given credit for all the times I have not said something that I could have said."

"Anger feels so much better than sadness. Cleaner, somehow, and more definite. But then when the anger fades, the sadness comes right back again the same as ever."

A huge thank you to NetGalley and to Knopf for an ARC of this!

Content: really none- no language, or open door scenes

Three Days in June follow Gail the day before, the day during, and the day after her daughters wedding. Gail is not an outgoing person and tends to keep herself withdrawn for fear of offending anyone and lacking social skills. Her ex husband Max is her polar opposite and stays in her guestroom while they prepare for their daughters wedding; with also a cute cuddly friend in tow. During this time Gail, while dealing with her ex and daughter getting married, reflects on her past and how she wants to move forward in her future.

This was such a delight to read. Gail felt very relatable to me and I commend Anne Tyler for tapping into those feelings of anxiety and social awkwardness. Definitely recommend for those who love a character driven novella with a focus on self reflection and rediscovery.

Anne Tyler is one of my favorite authors--Three Days in June does not disappoint! This novel takes place over the weekend of Debbie’s wedding, as narrated by her mother, Gail. And what a weekend it was!

Friday was not a good day for Gail, a socially awkward assistant headmistress of a private Baltimore school. She found out that morning that, at sixty-one years of age after devoting over twenty years of her career in that position, she was being replaced; she was not invited to Debbie’s Day of Beauty organized Debbie’s future mother-in-law; and her ex-husband was on her doorstep asking to stay with her because the foster cat he had with him required a change of plans. Gail was thinking about skipping the wedding rehearsal and dinner scheduled for that evening.

Tyler’s characters are a wonderfully quirky bunch!
For example, we find out that Gail’s former mother-in-law gave her a copy of "Manners For the Mystified".

Three Days in June would be an excellent book group read, guaranteed to generate a lot of discussion and laughter!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC through NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

This book was not for me. Perhaps I am just the wrong audience for this book. It was too slow for me.

Anne Tyler has made a career writing about socially awkward and shy people living in Baltimore, Maryland, whose lives are, for the most part, quiet and constrained. <i>Three Days in June</i> is a perfect example of her writing and was, for me, an excellent and relaxing read.

Gail is 61 and an assistant to the headmistress of a private school, when she's called into the headmistress's office to be told that the headmistress would be retiring, but that Gail would not be considered for the job. She's told she should consider a career change as "social interactions have never been her strong point." So Gail walks out, away from her career, but not from stewing about the encounter. It's an important weekend, with her only daughter's wedding to take place the next day, the rehearsal dinner that evening. Coming home, she finds that her daughter has dropped off her ex-husband to stay with her as he has brought the cat he's fostering with him and her fiancé is allergic.

What follows is three days in which Gail is pressed from every direction, even as she continues to think over how her boss sees her. She spends a lot of time thinking things and then keeping those thoughts to herself, kind of if Olive Kitteridge were sensitive to the feelings of those around her. As the weekend goes on, between the usual drama of a wedding and the presence of the man she divorced over twenty years ago, Gail comes to terms with how she wants her life to look like going forward.

Gail is a wonderful and opinionated character and this is a novel about character development and how, even at 61, a not particularly flexible person might find it in themselves to bend in a new direction. I like how Tyler writes and how fully realized her characters are and this small book was exactly what I was in the mood for. I'm glad she's still writing, and with the same compassion and humor.

A wedding is the catalyst for change in several lives

Meet Gail Baines, who is not having a good day at all. After working for many years as the assistant headmistress for a private Baltimore school, her boss informs her that (a) she is retiring and (b) there's no way that Gail will be taking over for her, so perhaps Gail should find a new job. Rough, right? To make it worse, Gail has to pretend all is right with the world because that night is her daughter Debbie's wedding rehearsal and she can't let her news dampen what is supposed to be a happy occasion. Then her ex-husband Max shows up with a foster cat in tow, looking to stay with Gail because his original plan to sleep at Debbie's fell through (Debbie's fiancé is, apparently, deathly allergic to cats). Throw in a pushy mother-in-law-to-be who has taken over the wedding arrangements, the groom's sister dropping a bombshell on the bride, a former beau of Gail's turning out to be the groom's uncle...well, its going to be a busy few days for a woman who doesn't particularly care for, and isn't good at navigating, social events. At the end of these three days in June, Gail's life will change in ways she never imagined.
Author Anne Tyler has a gift for creating characters who are wonderfully ordinary and navigate their everyday world of joy, heartbreak, and hope with (sometimes ) good grace and humor. Her latest story delves into the family of a bride just before, during and after the wedding. The reader sees the worry over "losing" a daughter, the clash of expectations between two very different families, and the shadow that past events can throw over this milestone day. Gail reminds me in some ways of Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge; both are women who are in many ways irritating and often their own worst enemies, yet are rendered in such a way that it is impossible not to love them just a little despite their prickly natures. Don't be fooled by the relatively small number of pages that encompass this lovely tale, it is exquisitely crafted and rich with nuance. If you have read Anne Tyler, you don't need my recommendation to grab a copy of this new release; if you haven't, then know that if you enjoy authors like Elizabeth Berg, Jane Smiley, and Elizabeth Strout then you will fall under the spell of Ms Tyler's latest offering. Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, VInatage and Anchor/Knopf for allowing me an early peek at this new gem from one of our most talented authors.

Having never read a book by Anne Tyler (though I own copies of several on her backlist), Three Days in June seemed like a quick, easy foray into this author's work. The writing is wonderful, and the story of 60-something Gail's life during her daughter's wedding weekend was so relatable. Anne Tyler packed a lot into this short book, as a reader, I felt like I got to know Gail very well and understood most of her choices. I didn't find her character terribly sympathetic, however, and the relationships with her ex-husband and daughter seemed a bit odd.

This was a pleasant introduction to Anne Tyler's writing style and has made me interested in reading some of the backlist that is on my shelf to see if I will enjoy a more in-depth novel. Thank you to Knopf and Netgalley for the digital ARC of Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. The opinions in this review are my own.

A lovely look at marriage and family, as told through the events of the days before, of, and after the main character's daughter's weddings. The writing is wonderful, as are the observations about long marriages and the complications that become part of life over the years. A short, crisp treat -- perfect for fans of the author, but also a great introduction for those new to her books.

I picked up this book because Anne Tyler is such a prolific and popular author. Once upon a time, this might have been in my wheelhouse (maybe 40 years ago). It felt very old fashioned and perhaps it is because the main characters are in their 60's and the author is older as well. I'm sure there are many who may love everything she writes (as seen by the many 5 star ratings on this one), but this story felt so stiff to me. I DO like that she tackled a subject matter that many people choose to never read (which has never bothered me) and that felt somewhat forward thinking. I just didn't feel invested in the characters and when it ended, I felt just blah.

Three Days in June is a slice of life story about a middle aged Baltimore woman whose only daughter is getting married, Gail is awkward, and having a really bad day before her daughter's big event....and then her ex-husband shows up with a cat. I really enjoyed this short, character driven story.

What an absolute treat to read the newest Anne Tyler novel prior to its publication date! Thank you so much NetGalley! Ann Tyler is an automatic read for me; her books are always exquisitely written with lyrical prose and intricate, multilayered plotlines. "Three Days in June" is quintessential Ann Tyler-the story is rich and multi-faceted, with characters who are vibrantly alive. It is a short book and the story centers on only three days of the characters' lives, but those three days are the kinds of days that change a person, whether a character in a book or its reader, forever. We need more books like this one; "Three Days in June" is like that one ray of sunshine that pokes through on an otherwise cloudy day, giving a person hope that things can get better. This book should be on all of the 2025 must-read lists.

The story takes place over 3 days The day before her daughters wedding we find Gail walking out of her job at 61 she is told that her "job" is going to someone else that's more socially acceptable and she just walks out. For 3 days we follow her and er family navigating her daughters wedding and having her ex-husband stay with her. I loved seeing a story based on an older female.
This was delightful. I hope you will grab a copy and enjoy it.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three Days in June was a light-hearted yet deeply meaningful family drama set over a weekend in June. Gail is a self-described worrier and mother of the bride. As she launches the big wedding weekend suddenly she finds herself with turmoil at work and at home. On the home front her ex husband arrives for the wedding with no hotel and a foster cat in tow. As she navigates and worries about etiquette and social awkwardness she also remembers the days of her marriage with Max and worries her daughter is making a mistake. I enjoyed this latest book by Anne Tyler. Thank you to the publisher for an ARC, all opinions are my own.

This extremely talented author is well known for shining a light on a microcosm of our everyday lives. Her characters don't live the lives of actors in Hollywood, or million-dollar athletes, or billion-dollar tech moguls, or presidential wannabees or has-beens. In this piece of contemporary fiction, she once again takes a small slice out of life and turns it into a tender and arresting story that envelopes you like a warm hug.

Enjoyment of this book may hinge on whether the reader perceives Gail, the main character, to be deserving of sympathy or if she just elicits frustration. However, it is in the little things, such as a discussion about cat dander and what an odd word that is, that makes this story so delightful. As well as how Gail maneuvers through her travails. This may very well be my favorite Anne Tyler book.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Knopf publishing for the digital ARC of this exquisite book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Author Anne Tyler never disappoints. As always, even in this novella-length story, she makes you pay attention and gives you something to think about. It’s only, as the title says, three days in June and fairly short, but it’s packed with a wedding, complicated relationships, and people that have to look at their past choices and/or carefully consider the choices that may well be for the rest of their lives.

At the start Gail Baines seems like a cranky, judgmental woman that doesn’t have many friends and is hard to get along with, but as the story progresses we might unfortunately see more of ourselves in her: someone who isn’t always comfortable, who is bossy possibly because she’s unsure, who keeps to herself and whose inner dialogue is often critical of the people and things happening around her. Her ex-husband Max used to adore her, but something – we don’t know what yet – caused their marriage to fall apart and what she remembers most now is his annoying habits. Their current relationship is amicable, or at least amicable enough so they can attend their daughter’s wedding together.

Debbie is thirty-three years old and getting married. Gail’s inner voice thinks Kenneth’s parents are too this or too that but Debbie is strong, opinionated and vocal so Gail keeps those thoughts mostly in her head. Max looks like the peacemaker, which kind of irritates Gail. Debbie shares a secret with her parents on the eve of her wedding. Gail’s first thought is call it off, Max’s wait and see, but Debbie probably regrets even mentioning it and does not want any advice or further discussion.

Three Days in June just kinds of rolls along, lulling you into thinking not much interesting is happening, until suddenly you realize there is a lot going on beneath the surface; relationships, especially Gail and Max’s, are deeper than we thought. A secret is revealed, unexpected actions are taken – and a cat chooses Gail as her next owner.

Three Days in June is a fascinating book about people: choices made, consequences, the possibility of new choices. I received an advance copy from NetGalley. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Gail's daughter is getting married. This story takes place on the day before the wedding, the wedding day, and the day after the wedding. Gail is somewhat socially awkward. The day before the wedding she loses her job and her ex shows up for the wedding without a place to stay. Gail has not been asked to help with the wedding. She has a lot on her plate. Her unresolved issues about her marriage and whether her daughter should really marry the guy fill the three days. Also, what is she going to do without a job.
This is a great story about someone who is just trying to get on with their life. How much can Gail's life change in these three days? I found the story engaging and I really wanted Gail to get settled. Anyone who has doubts about relationships will feel for Gail and hope for the best. I recommend this book.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #AnneTyler, and #Knopf for a copy of this book.
#ThreeDaysinJune

A sweet little story.

"Three Days in June" is a quiet exploration of family dynamics, personal growth, and human relationships. Set against the backdrop of a wedding weekend, Gail, the mother of the bride, has a tumultuous three days. A series of semi-unfortunate events occur in Gail's life, to Gail, to Debbie (the bride) and Max, Gail's ex-husband which all interconnect to dredge up unresolved issues in Gail's life.

While it could have been written as silly, overemotional and over-the-top, Tyler's signature writing shines. She is a master on making her stories and characters represent the mundane, everyday life and it felt very authentic. I think the shorter length of the novel is perfect and keeps the punches concise and centered.

Pub Date: February 11, 2025 thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for the gifted copy. #ThreeDaysinJune

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As if weddings are not stressful enough to plan and attend, Gail, a mother of the bride, is left out of the wedding activities and made to feel like an outsider. Her daughter and the groom's mom have planned everything without consulting her. As if this is not enough, Gail loses her job and her ex shows up without a place to stay, without a suit and a cat.

I really enjoyed this story and found both the situation and characters very relatable and humorous! This is a sweet and touching story with bits of humor and wisdom thrown in. A wonderful read!

"Sometimes when I find out what's on other people's minds I honestly wonder if we all live on totally separate planets."

I really loved Three Days in June - this was a quiet novel that had characters that felt so real, it truly felt like I was dropped into Gail's life for these three days in June - the day of her daughter's wedding and the day before and after.

I would recommend this if you love reading:
- Character driven stories
- Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
- Family dynamics

Thank you to Knopf for the free ebook to review.