I love Anne Tyler's middle aged protagonists and even though this was short it didn't need to be any longer. I couldn't help but root for Gail and hope for a realistic but happy enough outcome.

Taking place over, quite literally, three days in June, this was a quick read (165 pages!) full of quirky characters and personal drama. While the wedding sitting at the center of this story was actually probably small and unconventional by today’s standards, there was still plenty going on with this cast of characters. I thought it was interesting to tell this story from the lens of the mother. I would classify this more as character-driven, as the events of the weekend forced her to look inward, also allowing the reader to reflect on how the choices of our parents and therefore our choices as parents have a causal relationship.

While not my favorite style of writing (I do prefer more plot tbh) this made me think and I felt like the author developed the characters well in just a short space and there’s something to be said for that!

3⭐️

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick, cozy little read. I really liked the characters. I also have a very friendly relationship with my ex-husband, so I really identified with that part of the story. While there wasn’t a lot of “action,” this book said a lot about the marriage and struggles of the couples.

This was an interesting book, where the main character is Gail and is trying to figure out her life. She quits or is fired from her job of many years, her daughter is getting married and her ex shows up on her door.

Three Days in June follows Gail, who is a little quirky, a little socially awkward. In the three days ahead of her only daughter’s wedding, she quits her job at work, realizes she’s a bit of an outsider for her own daughter’s wedding preparations, and her ex-husband shows up on her doorstep with a foster cat.

We follow along as Gail navigates realizations about herself and how she’s living her life.

It was honestly just the right amount of quirky and real-life for me!

Thank you to @netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a good book. The main character is Gail. She is a divorced mother, who works at a school. Her daughter is getting married in two days. Her ex-husband comes to her house and ask if he can stay with her till after the wedding. She tells him it is ok. They go together to the rehearsal dinner. They develop feelings for each other. They go together the wedding together. On the last day her husband is leaving they fall in love.

In 3 days one learns about Gail's history. It's Debbie's [daughter] wedding. Gail lacks some social skills so she isn't confident in social settings. Her ex-husband is in town and doesn't have a place to stay during the wedding so he and his foster cat crash at Gail's. As a reader you learn more about Gail's feeling and life.
This is a definite read. It would be a great book for book groups as there is lots to discuss.

This is not how Gail Baines saw her life in her sixties. She has just been informed that the school where she works is getting a new head and her job has been given to someone else. She quits on the spot and huffs off home. Her daughter is getting married tomorrow and she has plenty to do even though she has been left out of the spa day today. Then her doorbell rings.

She sees Max, her ex-husband, on the porch. He has a cat with him and he tells her that he can't stay with their daughter as he had planned because her fiancé is allergic to cats. Can he stay with Gail? It's the last thing she wants but what can she say? She hasn't seen much of Max since he moved away after their divorce but she guesses one weekend after all this time won't matter.

Then that night their daughter comes to them in tears. She found out at the rehearsal dinner that the man she's marrying tomorrow had an affair while they were together. Should she call off the wedding? Gail is all for that and is outraged but Max suggests that the daughter go talk things out. The next morning the wedding is back on and the weekend progresses.

Anne Tyler should be named our author of good feelings. Reading one of her books is like getting an unexpected bouquet of flowers and her knowledge of people and their quirks is instinctive and forgiving. Her characters feel like people you've met and their lives are like those of others you've known. There are surprises along the way and the reader finishes the book with a feeling of satisfaction and that the world is a good place. This book is recommended for readers of literary and women's fiction.

This book was a great little palate cleanser. It wasn’t revolutionary but it was a nice little book about a quirky main character navigating the days surrounding her daughter’s wedding. Old feelings are brought to the surface when her ex-husband arrives and needs her help, and they have to parent their daughter through some tumult. This one is only 4 hours on audio, so for its length it does a great job of getting into the characters and telling the story. This is my first read from this author and will definitely keep her on my radar for more!

I had such a great time reading this. The story was very realistic and I became invested in the story very early on.

Loved the ending!

Anne Tyler is always a great read and this was no exception. This novel is short, quirky, funny, sad and live oh so messy lives. I think that is why I love Ann Tyler so much - we can see ourselves and life happening inside her novels.

The book is short and a quick read but don't go too fast because there are some great nuggets in here about life, family and knowing ourselves!


Thank you to Knopf and Net Galley. for a chance to read this book.

I think Anne Tyler’s Three Days in June is meant to be nuanced and perceptive, but to me it just felt flat. As a narrator, Gail isn’t terribly engaging, and for a plot structured around a wedding, there’s not much action. Not that I needed dramatics or hysterics, but I finished this novella and thought, “okay … so?”

Y’all this book is short and sweet and funny and delightful and damn it, if I don’t absolutely love older characters who are set in their ways and a bit cranky with change.

This book is only 165 and I HIGHLY recommend you pick it up. Gail’s bad day turns into a weekend of messy moments but along the way she discovers a thing or two about herself and those most important to her. This quick read is a remember on how important growth and change can be at any age.

Anne Tyler’s Three Days in June is a quietly powerful novel that unfolds over a single weekend, capturing the emotional turbulence of Gail Baines, a sixty-something school administrator whose life is upended just as her daughter’s wedding approaches. Gail is blindsided when she’s passed over for a promotion she assumed was hers, and instead learns she’s being replaced entirely. Reeling from this professional blow, she returns home only to find her ex-husband Max—cat in tow—unexpectedly staying at her house due to a wedding-related mishap. What follows is a tender, awkward, and deeply human exploration of regret, resilience, and the strange comfort of old connections. Tyler’s writing is rich with nuance, making even the smallest interactions feel meaningful.

This isn’t a story of dramatic twists—it’s a story of emotional truths. Over the course of three days, Gail confronts her past, her fading sense of purpose, and the bittersweet reality of watching her daughter step into adulthood. Tyler’s signature warmth and wit shine through as Gail and Max navigate the chaos of wedding prep, suit shopping, and unresolved feelings. Their shared history simmers beneath every exchange, and the novel gently asks whether second chances are ever truly out of reach. If your friend loves character-driven stories that feel like real life—messy, funny, and full of heart—Three Days in June is a beautiful, relatable read that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for this ARC!

This family drama was a quick read but it really did pack a punch.

The main character, Gail has just lost her job. Her only child, Debbie is getting married and her ex-husband shows up on her doorstep. She seems a bit overwhelmed but also protective of her daughter. When Debbie finds out about an indiscretion of her fiancé, Gail is extremely judgmental and wants to see her daughter handle it a particular way - - but it seems she may be letting personal experiences influence her.

This story was a bit emotional. Gail's story really was a sad one. She was at a point in her life where she was looking back and seeing where her life changed in negative ways. She saw the results of decisions from years before and wondered what could have been different, Even though parts of the story are a bit heartbreaking, it also has rays of hope.

Thank you to NetGalley for this early copy.

I have generally liked all the Anne Tyler books I've read and would love to read more. There is a warmth and kindness about her works, and her dedicated insights always make for great reading.

This was a simple look at three days that make up the crux of a wedding ceremony, I suppose you could say - the day before, the day of, and the day after. The way that it was framed through the bride's mother and the way in which we saw her back story was intriguing, though I wonder if this book would've been more effective had it been "Five Days in June" (so two before, two after). I would have liked a bit more information here and there but still enjoyed the journey.

I also enjoyed the ending - I've been vacillating on whether or not it was "earned," but I enjoyed how it made me feel overall, so I suppose that's a tangential concern in the end. Overall, a pleasant read and one that will keep me returning to Tyler.

I love Tyler and definitely liked this one. Typical slice of life book with an interesting main character. I love books like this, definitely recommend.

A Cute little novel about an elderly woman whose life is changing. Her daughter is getting married. Her job doesn't fit well with her anymore, but she can't yet retire.
Her ex-husband comes to town for the wedding and has to stay with her because he brought a cat that his son-in-law is allergic to and all this creates questions of the how, the when, and the what comes next

This little book is great for any readers who like to really dive into characters. The condensed timeline (the 3 days of the title) and the building pressure of a wedding was slightly stressful but really more interesting to analyze how these characters have interacted with each other for years. While this book was perfect on its own, I hope the story continues with another book.

I read another reviewer describe this book perfectly: ordinary and mundane. This was a slice of life from our protagonist in the three days surrounding her daughter’s wedding. I was waiting for some big reveal or emotional moment, but there was none. Low plot, all vibes that were fine but didn’t wow me. I did appreciate the later part of the book where we learn more backstory on Gail. I wish more of the book would have focused on those parts from the past instead of the wedding prep. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, opinions my own.