This was a wonderful read. I finished it in one long, lovely beach day and, as I find with the majority of the Anne Tyler books I’ve read, I wish the book was just a tad longer. This author really has the ability to reveal enough about her characters for readers to actually care about them. And so it’s difficult to say goodbye to them once she’s got her story told! That being said, there’s advantages to being able to start and finish a good book in one good day. Enjoy!

I loved this book, as I do all of Anne Tyler's work. This story is not a deep or complicated read, but instead a focus on the everyday lives of a family working through an important event. The setting was an ordinary one, but as happens in life, the day to day stuff gets tangled and what begins as ordinary gets complicated with choices large and small. The characters were so well drawn, always a wonderful part of Tyler's talent, that I could relate to each one's situation and feelings. For fans of the movie Groundhog Day as a metaphor for real life, readers can enjoy the themes of change and maturation and appreciation during the three days in this family's life.

Set in the three days around her daughter's wedding (Day of Beauty, D-day, The Day After), this short novel by Anne Tyler digs deep. The reader meets Gail at the end of a less-than-perfect workday and then follows her home where she finds her ex-husband and his rescue cat in need of lodging for the big event. Not an ideal scenario for anyone and Gail seems to be a woman who is not particularity adept at handling surprises with grace. There is plenty of quiet comedy however as we see Gail and everyone around her reveal themselves in all of their individual glory both during this momentous life event and in memories that surround these occasions. A wonderful book to give to a friend or family member.

Many thanks to #NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

Jennifer DeBernardis #netgalley #threedaysinjune #annetyler
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC. I love Anne Tyler and read this short piece of fiction in one sitting. I love her quirky characters and their believable, real selves. I love that it’s set in Baltimore, as a lifelong Marylander. We spend three days with Gail during her daughter’s wedding weekend where she walks out on her job and gets two unexpected houseguests.

Three days in June--before and after Gail Baines' daughter's wedding. Gail, 61, and long-divorced from Max, is a socially inept administrator to a headmistress. Thinking she's up for a promotion when her boss announce's she's resigning, she finds out -- not! This throws her into a tailspin, compounded by the arrival of her ex-husband, with a cat [!] intending to stay at her house before their daughter's wedding. And so it begins.

This novella [?] puts one in familiar Anne Tyler territory--ordinary life for those of a certain age. Not a fast read, and slowish in spots, but short enough to keep my going.

There are secrets, some soul-searching and the usual quirky characters--particularly Gail and Max; the others have minor roles, save for Debbie, the daughter.

Some lines/descriptions definitely brought smiles [only some noted!].

"I wondered why I had so many irritating people in my life."
"...one of life's frustrations is that sometimes, it's best to say nothing."
And conversely:
"Someday I'd like to be given credit for all the times I have not said something that I could have said."
"Sometimes when I find out what's on other people's minds I honestly wonder if we all live on totally separate planets."
"washing her face industriously" [describing a cat]

No spoiler but did not care for ending--though not sure what I would have done/suggested.

3.5, not rounding up because I didn't love and think I may be getting weary of Tyler.

I’ve read a handful of Anne Tyler novels, which for most writer would feel substantial but for this Pulitzer-winning author of 27 books, it still feels like I’m just getting acquainted with her work. I liked this book fine but it’s certainly not a favorite of what I’ve read so far. The story is narrated by Gail, a pragmatic and socially awkward sixty-something over the course of her daughter’s wedding weekend. Many things go wrong, some things go right, and all of it is told with Gail’s sharp, dry sense of humor. I really enjoyed Gail’s voice with her snarky asides and frequent self-congratulating for not saying what she’s really thinking. But overall, this story felt underdeveloped. There were quite a few side characters for such a short book (175 pages) and the relationships and conflicts Tyler introduced weren’t as fully formed as I would have liked. While I was perfectly content to be in this book, it didn’t hit me emotionally or give me anything profound to think about. I have a few additional minor quibbles, but, overall, this is a Tyler novel that will offer her fans some satisfaction, but it’s not the one I’d start with if you’re new to her work.

I’ve been reading Anne Tyler for many years . I’ve read over 20 of her novels and I keep on reading them. That says a lot about a writer who keeps me interested in her storytelling, her characters with her keen sense of human nature . This novel is short, sweet, funny , and touching. As in many of Tyler’s novels, there are characters who are a bit quirky, who we may not totally see ourselves in , but the emotions they feel over the ordinary things in life are real and so relatable. A mother of the bride is left out of the wedding activities planned by the mother of the groom, feeling pushed aside by her daughter. She’s dealing with job loss, the wedding, and an ex husband on her doorstep. The reality of coming to terms with herself and her past while wanting nothing but happiness for her daughter makes for a good story.

Anne Tyler is a treasure who writes with heart and humor. There’s no doubt I’ll read the next book she writes.

I received a copy of this book from Knopf through NetGalley.

Three Days in June
By Anne Tyler

I have had mixed reactions to Anne Tyler's books in the past – some I've liked, some not so much. This one is a keeper.

Gail Baines is an assistant headmistress in a private school. She is 61 years old, divorced, and as some would say, buttoned up tight. This is the weekend of her daughter's wedding and there are a lot of ups and downs. She has just found out that she may be losing her job. The wedding planning has been taken over by the groom's mother-in-law, leaving Gail on the outside looking in. And to top it all off, her ex-husband Max shows up on her doorstep, asking to stay with her – and bringing a cat!

Although the whole story takes place over three days, the drama and its consequences prove to last much longer than that. This is a touching book about having differences, making mistakes, asking and giving forgiveness – and ultimately not letting love get away!

I found this book to be tender and touching. Gail and Max, Deb and Kenneth – these are characters that most people will readily relate to. We have all made mistakes in life – the lucky ones get a "do over".

This lovely little book by prolific literary icon Anne Tyler takes place in one weekend in Baltimore. Imperfect protagonist Gail is a 61 year old divorcee with a worry list, facing career problems while simultaneously preparing for her only daughter’s wedding. An unexpected house guest of her ex-husband and his nameless foster cat complicate an already stressful time.

At 176 pages, this little stunner didn’t need to be a long book, or have a lot of unnecessary characters, or even take place in more than three days to fit in a whole lot of story. It’s a very honest and straightforward novel about relationships, marriage, love, and growth.

This was my first Anne Tyler, but it won’t be my last. I loved it. It was simple and sweet and compelling and wise. I read it in one sitting and I might go back and read it again. Highly recommend.

Three Days in June offers a glimpse into the life of Gail Baines who is not having a good day. I find the plot slim, the characters poorly developed, and not one is likable. Nothing of much consequence happens that I wonder if I would have liked the book if it has been longer and gone more in depth into these characters.

If you’re looking for a beautifully crafted story, I highly recommend Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. This novel captures the essence of human connection and the complexities of family life in such a relatable way. What I loved most about the book is how Tyler delves into the characters' emotions and relationships over just a few days. The way she portrays their struggles and joys feels incredibly authentic, making you reflect on your own experiences. The dialogue is sharp and witty, adding a delightful layer to the narrative. Tyler’s ability to weave everyday moments into something profound is truly remarkable. It’s a book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page. If you enjoy stories that explore the intricacies of life and love, this one is a must-read!

Three Days in June is the first Anne Tyler book I've ever read, and I have no idea why I've never read any of her books before. This book is wonderful! It's the sweetest book I've read in a long time. I read the last page with a big smile on my face. It was just perfect. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler is a short but focused look at everyday life. The events here fall broadly under "slice-of-life" umbrella, where a relatively common event(s) leads to some soul-searching and new dynamics between the characters.

Like most of Tyler's characters, the people in this story will likely remind you of people you know even if you don't want to be friends with them. They aren't truly unlikeable, they aren't being evil or hateful, they have personalities that can be hard to deal with in real life, but they are simply people navigating life as they know it. The vast majority of characters in most novels (and movies and television shows) aren't truly likeable even if we enjoy the limited contact we have with them. If you must truly "like" a character, as in someone you would want as a friend, in order to enjoy a story, then I would suggest you gain a little more empathy and try to understand these people as who they are rather than judge them for not being as you believe yourself to be.

One thing Tyler has always done with her characters that I find engaging is allow them to make, to us, seemingly peculiar word or idea associations. I think we all do that, and every now and then we have to explain to someone how our thinking went from 'a' to 'b' via 'x.' An example from the beginning of the book is the tapping of a wristwatch (her father's in particular) to the restarting of a heart. It isn't an analogy so much as an association in Gail's mind.

If you enjoy glimpses into other lives that don't involve murders or other extreme catalysts, you will find a lot to enjoy here. Just spend a few days in this family, learn part of their past and leave pondering what their futures hold. If you need something unusual to happen to make a story compelling, or you simply want more "action," then perhaps this won't appeal to you.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

With her usual affection for her characters, Anne Tyler has written a short novel describing the three days of a wedding weekend. Described with good humor, the main character is mother of the bride Gail, who may have lost her job the day of the rehearsal dinner. To make her bad day worse, her ex-husband shows up with a cat and announces that he must stay with her. And then the worst, their daughter/bride arrives with a dire announcement of her own. At times amusing, these quirky people appeal to our sympathies, and we are eager to read on in hopes that all will be resolved.

In typical Anne Tyler fashion, she makes the ordinary characters in Three Days In June very interesting. The three days in June are the day before, the day of, and the day after a wedding. I found myself thinking of these characters even when I wasn’t reading this book. This is a delightful character driven book. I highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Unique characters are the best…especially when you can see a bit of yourself, family, or friends in them! The author writes compelling emotion so I was hurting for, hoping for, and cheering for the characters to find their way as they needed to. This is a wonderful short novel about yet another real life experience.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Publishing for the ARC to read and review.

This was such an enjoyable read! It covered just three days. Gail and Max have been divorced for a while. Their daughter Debbie is getting married so Max descends on Gail for a place to stay but also has a cat with him. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. Of course there are secrets that come out but the wedding takes place and the following day Max is supposed to leave. I highly recommend this read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Three Days in June offers a glimpse into the life of Gail Baines who is not having a good day - she is either fired or quits her job, she goes back and forth in her mind about that situation; her daughter is getting married but spills a secret that could destroy her marriage before it even happens; and Gail’s ex-husband is staying with her for the days leading up to the wedding and brings a cat he hopes Gail will adopt. This is a slow-moving novel which relies on the everyday details of its characters lives to move it forward. The problem is that none of these characters are very likable and the pace of the story feels interminable. Nothing of much consequence happens, and nobody really seems all that interested in what’s gong on around them, or in each other. There was a distinct lack of emotional depth which kept me wondering whether I really wanted to keep reading, and the ending felt like a bad Hallmark movie - sappy and not very original

Oh, I really enjoyed Three Days In June. I loved the premise,
the characters (including the cat), and the ending was also executed perfectly. Believe it or not, this was my first time reading a book written by Anne Tyler. I can easily see why she is so popular. This was a heartwarming story that consumed me for two days. I felt that it was very well written. I definitely recommend this book to other readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reading copy.