short and sweet. super fast paced and under 200 pages. a breath of fresh air for sure!!! very well written! :)

I finished this book a few weeks ago and I still miss the characters from Three Days in June. During their daughter’s the wedding weekend, a divorced couple grapples with their lives that failed to live up to their expectations. My synopsis doesn’t do the story justice but the characters became real and I found myself rooting for all of them.

3.5 stars.

Gail Baines gets fired on the day before her daughter's wedding. It makes an already bad day worse because the groom's mother didn't invite her to the day of beauty. Not to mention her ex-husband shows up at her door with a foster cat in tow. The story is told from POV, chronicling the three days-the day before the wedding, the day of, and the day after. I didn't jive with Gail's character. She seemed too rigid, very set in her ways. I didn't think she put forth much effort into the wedding itself or her appearance. She didn't seem happy about her daughter's nuptials, especially when Deb shares something about the groom. Max, the ex, was a little more likable, but I didn't like his cavalier attitude. Not to mention bringing a pet without asking your host if it was okay regardless that it was his daughter. It was a quick read and good to read once.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

I enjoyed this short book.

Gail is having a tough time. She is on the verge of losing her job. Her daughter’s wedding is tomorrow and her ex husband shows up at her house unexpectedly with a cat.

I thought Anne Tyler did an excellent job of illuminating the complexity of marriage and family relationships. Gail and Max are both socially awkward and horrible communicators. As their daughter’s wedding ceremony approaches Gail spends a few days with her ex and has time to think about their own marriage and the mistakes they made. I thought there was a lot of wisdom in this book. Gail’s friend is going through a divorce and wants to have a friendship with her ex like the one that Gail and Max have now but Gail doesn’t mention that it took decades for her and Max to reach a place without hostility.

I would recommend this book for people that like complicated family dynamics.

This is the first book I have read by Anne Tyler. It was really good and romantic. I loved the family in it. I look forward to reading more books by her. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for n honest review.

I really enjoyed this story and especially loved the ending. Even though it is short the characters are well developed.

This was a cute book about family And how your daughter was getting married The parents showed up who were divorced. And the story really took off. And how they looked at marriage and totally different way. Go back in their Past see why they got married to each other. Sort. Next close off the cat. There's so many different plots in this book It all comes together in hand

Anne Tyler is great--I have yet to read any of her numerous books and not loved them and her latest is no exception.
As always, she writes about average people with their average problems in a very matter-of-fact way. Gail, a divorced educator, is about to attend her only daughter's wedding. There's always a central conflict and the sparse beauty of Tyler's writing shines through.
It is a story of forgiveness and the many ways that quality can be interpreted. It is the story of the many faces of love. It may be short, but its message is gracefully conveyed.

This was ok. Idk if I like Anne Tyler’s writing though the plot was good and overall storyline good but I kinda felt sleepy trying to pay attention to it. 😂 at least it’s short.

This is a heartwarming, awkward at times, but funny novella by Anne Tyler - one of the greats (I think this is her 25th!) Her writing is beautiful, and her characters even in such a short book are so well developed, I only wish there was a little more to the story. There were a few moments when I genuinely was confused about how disconnected the main character Gail seemed from her daughter and her wedding plans. That was the point I realize, but it was frustrating just the same. The book has a great message that everyone is deserving of love and also capable of receiving love. Some just have an easier path to get there.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which is available now. Recommend!

Ann Tyler has a knack for exploring human nature in an accessible , witty way that resonates with readers. In this book the protagonist loses her job, has to reckon with her ex husband and has issues with her daughter's wedding . On top of this she has nothing to wear, dislikes her hair and starts to doubt herself. Although this was not my favorite of the many Tyler books I have read, it is still a pleasure to immerse myself in her world.

Gail works at a school as an assistant to the headmistress. Tonight is her daughter's wedding rehearsal and the wedding takes place tomorrow. She was forced to quit her job this very morning. It seems people don't really notice her anymore or seek her opinions like they used to. She's only 61.
To top of her stress level, her ex has shown up to stay at her home for the wedding, with the dog in tow.
Once defined by her job, Gail must make some changes and improvements to her life. Is it finally her turn? Will she realize who she is now?
This is such a pretty story. The writing flows and the story charms. This is my first Anne Tyler and I have added her to my favorite authors. I liked how she captured the atmosphere of the story and could not put it down.
Thank you to the author and publisher for presenting me with a copy of this book.

In Anne Tyler’s usual folksy and endearing style of writing, Three Days in June, tells the story of Gail, a divorced and socially awkward woman who finds herself jobless just a day before her daughter’s wedding. When her ex husband Max, arrives on her doorstep bearing a cat, and expects to stay through the wedding , it seems her life can’t get any more complicated and desperate. But of course it does when daughter Debbie confides something to her parents that throws a monkey wrench into the wedding plans.

What unfolds is a tale of love, forgiveness and the fine art of diplomacy wrapped into a package filled with humor ,emotion and compassion. This is Anne Tyler and her best. Five shining stars for a story I would have loved to keep on reading. Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for and advance copy in exchange for my review. It was published on February 11, 2025. You will be happy to read this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, AA Knopf, and PRH audio for an e-ARC and audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Told over the course of 3 days, we are introduced to Gail Baines, a mother of the bride preparing for her only daughter’s wedding weekend. While most may think they know what a typical wedding weekend may entail as the mother of the bride, Gail’s weekend is anything but typical. In addition to finalizing the last of the wedding details, she is also juggling the unannounced arrival of her ex-husband Max with a cat in tow, the ramifications of quitting her job the day before the wedding after missing out on a promotion, the feeling of being ostracized by her daughter’s future in-laws, and quelling her fears of her daughter going through with the marriage after receiving some damning information about her fiance. Told with wit, humor, and touching emotion, Anne Tyler takes an ordinary 3 days and makes them simply extraordinary, sending us on a windy road with Gail who is coming to terms with her past in the hopes of witnessing a bright future for her daughter.

☀️Read this if you enjoy short books that pack a punch
☀️I thought the narrator of the audio book did a great job conveying the rollercoaster of emotions and decisions that Gail faced over the 3 day weekend. She also gave great voices to the many characters in Gail’s life
☀️Anne Tyler’s books are like curling up with a warm cup of tea and blanket for me. They’re well rounded, tell an interesting, typically familial, story and leave me with all the feels.

Three Days in June is the latest from literary titan Anne Tyler, who has now written more than two dozen novels. This was only my second book by her — the first was Redhead by the Side of the Road back when it was nominated for the Booker. Unfortunately, this book was a bit of a miss for me.

First, though, the good stuff: There’s no denying that Tyler can write characters who could walk off the page and relationships that feel deep and real. She takes a tiny slice of these characters’ lives and uses it to say big things about what it means to be human. The vibes are cozy, and I almost want to put her and Elizabeth Strout on a shelf together (although Strout does it better, IMO). This book tugged at my heart, and because it was short — around 4 hours on audio — it felt like a nice use of an evening despite the places I thought it felt short.

Now for the parts that I thought didn’t work. First, this book is meant to be set in the present day but feels very out of touch. Gail, the main character, is meant to be my mother’s age, but reads much more like my grandmother, like the fact that she only uses the landline while at home and her cell phone stays in the purse, as a rule (by contrast, MY mother is addicted to TikTok). Her daughter is supposed to be in her early 30s, but her friends all have Gen X names — Debbie, Kenneth, Bitsy, etc. Tbh, it feels like Tyler wrote a 60yo main character from the POV of when she was 60, which was 23 years ago, and it’s really distracting. Other things also felt out of touch and distracting, like the fact that nobody in this book seems to know how weddings work — for example, the members of Debbie’s bridal party giving toasts didn’t know they were supposed to give toasts until they saw it on the programs printed at the tables? Finally, and worst, Tyler left one of the biggest relationship plotlines, a major component of the story, completely unresolved.

At the end of the day, it felt to me like Tyler’s publisher is happy to keep putting out her heartwarming stories but afraid to give her editorial feedback to make sure the books have both emotional impact and cultural relevance.

Three Days in June is well-written, and I can understand how some readers might feel invested in Gail’s story, but unfortunately, I wasn’t one of them. I struggled to connect with her, which made it difficult to stay engaged. Despite the book’s short length, it took me longer than expected to finish because I often found myself setting it aside—reading it in the evenings even put me to sleep at times. While I appreciate the concept and the themes Anne Tyler explores, I think this one just wasn’t the right fit for me. However, I can see how it might resonate more with the right audience.

Three Days In June is the story of a woman, Gail, whose only daughter is getting married. The story is divided into three sections: the day before the wedding, the wedding day, and the day after. Gail is not included in most of the wedding plans so she feels like an outsider at her own daughter’s wedding. It appears that she is losing her job. And her ex-husband shows up with a foster cat and asks to stay with her. Throughout the three days, Gail finds herself looking back over her life and the demise of her marriage. She also contemplates her future.

This is a character-driven novel. Despite being only 176 pages, the characters are well-developed and realistic. Gail is quirky while her ex-husband is laid-back. The plot is simple, but at the same time, the novel has its complexities. It is both serious and humorous. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I highly recommend Three Days In June by Anne Tyler.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for allowing me to read and review Three Days in June, a novel, by Anne Tyler on NetGalley.

Published: 02/11/25

Stars: 4

This is a book palette cleanser for me. I'm a voracious reader and overall enjoyed the few hours it took me away. Behind the scenes three days before the wedding Tyler gives us the scoop. The bride's family dominates with feelings, but not over-the-top drama, questions are posed and answered or dealt with.

I found this to be surprisingly satisfying and memorable.

Absolutely giftable.

With adult guidance I would use Three Days in June to transition a young reader to young adult storylines.

📖 Book Review 📖

𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚
by Anne Tyler
156 pages
@aaknopf

Out Now!

☑️ Synopsis

Gail Baines is having a bad day. To start, she loses her job—or quits, depending on whom you ask. Tomorrow her daughter, Debbie, is getting married, and she hasn’t even been invited to the spa day organized by the mother of the groom. Then, Gail’s ex-husband, Max, arrives unannounced on her doorstep, carrying a cat, without a place to stay, and without even a suit.

But the true crisis lands when Debbie shares with her parents a secret she has just learned about her husband to be. It will not only throw the wedding into question but also stir up Gail and Max’s past.

Told with deep sensitivity and a tart sense of humor, full of the joys and heartbreaks of love and marriage and family life, Three Days in June is a triumph, and gives us the perennially bestselling, Pulitzer Prize–winning writer at the height of her powers.

📕My Thoughts:

Recommended ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I recommend this short read if you are looking for an authentic slice of life short novel. A profound look at the day in the life of a woman who is haunted by her past, and has allowed it to inform most of her choices.
Anne Tyler opened a window into the life of this family over the course of three days in June.

QOTD: What is a short read you enjoyed recently?

#threedaysinjune #annetyler #shortreads #novella #literaryfiction #AnneTyler #sliceoflifereads #sliceoflifebooks

This novel follows Gail the mother of the bride during the weekend of her daughter. Gail feels like an outsider at her only daughter’s wedding, she learns she’s being passed over at work, her daughter shares a disturbing revelation, and her ex shows up at her doorstep with a foster cat. The reader learns something about Gail that changed the dynamic of the family years ago. This novel is short, sweet, funny , and touching. There’s something decidedly prickly about Gail. Her interior life is a chorus of critical observations on others’ grammatical gaffes, sartorial missteps and excessive noise. At its heart, this is Gail’s story. Quietly poignant and deeply character-driven, the novel explores her journey of love, heartbreak, and rediscovery. Gail’s vivid anecdotes, wry humor, and nervous energy contrast beautifully with Max’s laid-back, carefree demeanor, making their dynamic utterly captivating. Thanks to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for the opportunity.