Writing: 5/5 Plot: 4/5 Characters: 5/5

The eponymous three days span the wedding of Gail and ex-husband Max’s only daughter, Debbie. A quick 176 pages manage to encompass the potential perils of Debbie’s marriage and the complete history of Gail and Max’s complex and misunderstood relationship. Deeply character driven — I love that I was so interested in every single character even though I didn’t really like that many of them. To be clear, none of the characters were “bad” people, just mildly irritating and not my types!

The blurb labels Gail as “socially awkward” and that is certainly true, but more to the point, Gail never really seemed to understand herself, especially in relation to others. As the history is retold — in concise, clear, essential prose — we the reader gain the insight that Gail never had, until in a clarifying moment, she finally does. It is brilliantly done.

Read in one sitting — the prose just kept propelling me forward.

A pleasant reading experience as always with Anne Tyler - the MC reminded me of another fictional character the entire time, I just couldn’t put my finger on quite who….Regardless. My one criticism is that it felt a little short, or abrupt at the end. I understand it’s called Three Days in June but I still think it could have been beefed up a smidge - almost felt like a short story in a novel’s body at the end. Could just be me, sometimes reading in a Kindle skews my perception of how much I’ve read or not read.

So great! Might be my favorite Anne Tyler book ever. Great characters, funny asides, and gentle wisdom. I loved the main character - and I adored Max.