A very cozy novel taking place around the narrator's daughter's wedding. Gail Baines quits her job and gets an unexpected visit from her ex husband and a cat the day before their daughter Debbie gets married. We get to know a bit about Gail and Max's relationship when they were married, their falling out and eventual reconnection. The writing was very meditative, which I enjoyed. I didn't mind the slow pace since the book was very short, under 200 pages. A great palate cleanser, or a good option for when you're feeling like reading a book on one seating.

A sweet and enjoyable look into everyday life and the choices that define us. But at what point do we redefine ourselves?

I really thought this book would be 5 stars. I love the quiet, slice of life books. I was invested in this family and wanted to be invited to Deborah’s wedding. However, the third day, a story line emerged and I just couldn’t get behind. It instantly pulled me from the story and I had to drop it down a star.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor as well as the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley @NetGalley #KnopfPantheonVintageandAnchor @KnopfPantheonVintageandAnchor #AnneTyler @AnneTyler #Fiction #Book #BookReviews

Title: Three Days in June
Author: Anne Tyler
Format: eBook
Publisher: Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor
Publication Date: February 11, 2025
Themes: Aging, family, grief, empty nest, companionship
Trigger Warnings: Aging, job loss, cheating on girlfriend, affairs, divorce, empty nest,

This is my first Anne Tyler book. It tells the story of Gail Baines and a snapshot of her post-divorce life and her daughter’s wedding.

This author is one I have been meaning to read. This short novel is my first. It’s a simple character study that I enjoyed despite the slightly unexciting story line. Ms. Tyler spent time developing her characters and helping the reader care about what happens to her. I felt righteously indignant on her behalf in some parts and disappointed in her in others. Her ex-husband is a likable character whom I enjoyed meeting and found myself hoping for a romantic reconciliation even though one isn’t explicitly mentioned.

Readers of a certain life stage will find a lot to like here and a friend in Gail. The subject is handled with sensitivity without being condescending or overly sugar coated.

All in all, I think any reader of a certain age will relate to Gail and other readers will enjoy the peaceful character study. I will seek out other books by this author.

This follows three days in Gail Barnes life. The day before her daughter gets married, it is suggested that she find another job so she walks out. Then her ex-husband shows up needing a place to stay and bringing a cat. The day of the wedding and the day after the wedding. Secrets come into play that happened now and years ago.

This is an easy book to read that has great character development and an interesting plot. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Anne Tyler’s novel is undeniably well written and deeply character driven—she has a remarkable talent for crafting authentic, layered individuals. The entire story unfolds over the course of just three days, and yet Tyler manages to unpeel the layers of her characters in a really impressive way. She offers a window into who these people are and the complex dynamics that shape their relationships.

One of the standout characters for me was the ex-husband —perfectly quirky, endearing in a quiet way, and expertly drawn.

However, despite all of that, I walked away from the book feeling a bit underwhelmed. This was a shared feeling in our family book club, though no one could quite pinpoint why. While I appreciated the quality of the writing and the depth of character, I never felt fully invested. I wasn’t bored, and I’m not sorry I read it—it just didn’t leave a lasting impression or emotional impact. It was a quick read, and one I’m glad to have experienced, but not necessarily one I’d rush to recommend.

I should have loved this book but didn’t? It’s exactly what’s advertised: a lit fic story that takes place over three days in June, from the point of view of a 60+ divorcee whose only daughter is getting married. It had the things I usually love about lit fic - a lot left unsaid, leaving the reader to read between the lines - but I just felt like it never got to what it was building to and the ending was abrupt.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Despite Anne Tyler being a prolific writer, I've never read one of her books. At just 176 pages, this novella was the perfect introduction to her work.

I enjoyed the 3 chapter concept - one for each day of the story. Gail and her ex-husband Max are forced to spend time together the day before, during, and after their only daughter's wedding. Three Days in June is a character study in which the reader spends a lot of time inside Gail's head as she processes these major life events.

Overall, I recommend this novella for those who enjoy stories featuring realistic and complex characters, with insightful commentary on the human experience, similar to novels by Fredrik Backman. Despite the book's brevity, I found myself highlighting several quotes and passages throughout the story.

"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."

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

This story was so well done and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy reading from this author and I'm looking forward to the next book. The plot was really well explored and I enjoyed the overall story. The characters were great and I was able to dive myself into this book. It was well done and I highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this quick novella by Anne Tyler. I found the characters human & messy but very relatable. I think it felt true to real life scenarios & I also really enjoyed a happy ending. I also enjoyed that this book subverted the typical men-always-cheat script. I will continue to read anything Anne Tyler writes.

I adored this charming novella, and not just because the protagonist is named Gail and there’s a cat. It is sweet and touching without being sappy, and feels very real in the relationship between Gail and her ex-husband. Also, sometimes it’s nice to read something that doesn’t go on and on.

An Anne Tyler book does not disappoint. Her books are dependably character driven, reliable in knowing well written storytelling. And in this book, the author again brings us a pure and beautifully well written story. Gail is the mother of the bride, and the 3 days surrounding her daughter's wedding. Her ability to depict human nature and how we live our lives in the world is a treasure. I know when I read one of her books, I am getting a story with heart and touching humor. Without a doubt I will read anything she writes. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity

For a book that only took place over three days, I feel like I lived a lifetime with these characters. While I found the pacing a little slow at times, I never felt bogged down by the reminiscing, or reliving, of the past. I was not anticipating any resolution so the end was a pleasant surprise.

Overall this was a good story. I read somewhere that the young characters in the book had “old” names that were 100% realistic and I couldn’t get that out of my head because it’s true! That would be one critique. Still love Anne Tyler and will read anything she writes!

This was a sweet light story. I enjoyed it. The characters were relatable, and I really loved that Max and Gail found their way back to each other. It made me look at things a little differently. Do I look more harshly at the mistakes others make, and look at my own with more forgiveness, like Gail?

We do all make mistakes, and sometimes they can destroy what we love, while indulging in a moment's whim. Sometimes those things that are destroyed can be mended, sometimes they can't. So think about what you do before making one of those monumental mistakes.

A quick read.
I found most of the characters to be rather bland.
The cat was more interesting Gail.
Most of the people seemed indifferent to each other and what was going on.
And who still uses an answering machine?

I very much enjoyed this book. The story was very good and it really makes you think about the choices you make in life.

Thank you for the ARC.

Three Days in June is a short novel that follows main character Gail through the course of three days, the day before, after, and the wedding day of her daughter. Through the preparations for the wedding, and the realities of life of the mother=of-the-bride after the wedding, we follow Gail as she navigates these feelings she experiences, of stress, chaos, of past experiences in her own life, of letting go, of growing older, of unconditional love. The characters in this story are well developed, and you can't help but get connected with them over the course of these three days. I found this story to be enjoyable, funny, sweet, and uplifting.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC.

Anne Tyler finds hilarity in the mundane in this delightful story about Gail Baines, a socially awkward mother of the bride navigating the three days surrounding her daughter’s wedding. I do not necessarily connect much with the main character, who is a middle-aged divorcee preparing for her adult daughter’s wedding day. However, I still felt a kinship with Gail and laughed out loud multiple times while reading at some of the ordinary and simultaneously ridiculous events taking place and her hilarious commentary throughout. Less than 200 pages, it is a quick read filled with drama, joy, and heartbreak surrounding the dynamics of love and family. I do wish there had been a bit more resolution at the end, but enjoyed the journey regardless! This book was my first by this author and I absolutely plan to read more. I definitely recommend this one, especially to women who may connect with this main character, as I think you’ll find it entertaining! Thank you to NetGalley, Anne Tyler, and Knopf for the gifted ARC. This is a voluntary and honest review.

Three Days in June follows Gail through walking out on her job through her only child's wedding. Gail is a bit different. She has a complicated relationship with her daughter, which is evident when Gail is excluded from some of the pre-wedding festivities. To complicate matters, Gail's ex-husband, Max, shows up unannounced needing a place to stay for the wedding weekend. Not only does he arrive at her front door with no wedding attire, but he also has brought a cat. Yes, you read that correctly - a cat. Right before the wedding, their daughter shares a secret to make Gail and Max question whether a wedding will even happen. The secret also brings up things that happened in the past when the couple was still married. Three Days in June starts out as a story about a quirky woman over three days, but then evolves into a tale about the complexity of life and relationships. I also want to shout out that I found Max to be an absolute delight. While this is a shorter read, it certainly packed a punch.