For an 156 page novel, I was surprised at how quickly I became attached to the characters! While the main character, Gail, is deeply flawed, and some decisions she made weren’t given enough plot time at the end to hit as hard as they could have, I found myself cheering for her more than I was disappointed with then rushed ending.

Tyler has a simplistically beautiful way of telling domestic stories. She created suspense gradually, building up to an explosive secret at the end that shed a whole new light on how I viewed all the characters. It tackled a common theme in fiction (which I won’t give away here for spoiler reasons) in a way that I don’t seen done too often.

While I do think this novel would have benefited greatly from another 50 or so pages, especially toward the end, I am impressed at how well the author had me gripped in the story, and I look forward to reading whatever Tyler writes next!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Knof, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for the digital arc.

I've never read an Anne Tyler book so I'm not sure of her story telling and writing style. For me it was a good slow moving story one you'd read when you just wanted to have a slower pace in life. Not a style I usually go for but none the less it was enjoyable.

Anne Tyler reflects on family, weddings, regret, relationships over the course of a wedding weekend.

I enjoyed this novella, but it was so short that it felt like it was over just as I was getting familiar with the characters. This is a cozy read about the ordinary parts of life with a sweet love story and a feel-good redemption story.

The day before her daughter's wedding, Gail walks out of the school where she is assistant to the headmaster. The headmaster has just told her of her imminent retirement--and her selection of someone else as her successor. Shortly after she returns home, her ex-husband, Max, shows up. He had planned to stay at their daughter's house for the weekend, but because he's brought a cat with him, Debbie has asked him to stay elsewhere.

As much as she pretends to be annoyed with Max (and often succeeds), Gail still finds herself falling into an easy rhythm with him. United as they are with concern about their daughter Debbie's upcoming wedding, and the bombshell she's just dropped on them, Gail gradually realizes that what drew her and Max together is greater than what forced them apart.

With Anne Tyler's trademark portrayals of quirky, socially awkward characters in a quirky Baltimore setting, Three Days in June is a delightful escape. I thought the pages flew by--and they did, but the novel is also short by modern standards. A refreshing change with so many books made overlong by unimportant details and events. I hadn't read an Anne Tyler novel in several years and this book made me wonder why. #ThreeDaysInJune #NetGalley

This book is weird and I loved it! I like socially awkward characters like A Man Called Ove and The Maid. There were several times I giggled because of Tyler’s funny observations of ordinary life. This one is not dramatic or action packed. It’s just a cozy story about a quirky mom who has a lot happening over a span of three days.

This was just as lovely as I expected. It’s a short, character driven story. Tyler is the master at writing slice of life stories that I can sink into and am sad to see end. It’s everyday life and yet so interesting and beautiful. I loved this.

When we meet Gail Baines, she is preparing for her daughter's wedding and facing the loss of her job that has become much of her identity. Soon, her ex-husband of 22 years shows up and moves in for the weekend. Anne Tyler slowly reveals the events and decisions that tied Gail up into a woman who self isolated for protection. Throughout the wedding weekend, she is forced to face her actions and decide what her future will hold. This is only the second of Tyler's books that I have read and I am wondering why it has taken me so long to revisit her. The first was The Accidental Tourist that I read forty years ago. Reading this book reminded me of how it felt to read that first one so many years ago. Looking forward to seeing what else her back list holds for me.

Three Days in June written by Anne Tyler is a character driven story filled with ordinary, quirky people. Gail Baines is the MOB. As the weekend wedding of her daughter begins, she loses her job and begins to reflect on her life. I enjoyed this novel and must say that Anne Tyler's writing is like a fine wine........it improves with age! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Gail’s day is not going exactly how she would have liked it to go. Walking out on her job of many years, she arrives home to find her ex husband along with a rescued cat there for the weekend. It’s her daughter’s wedding and the cat is not welcome in her house as her fiancé is deathly allergic. While Gail is not happy, she bites the bullet and lets Max and the cat stay. Feeling left out of the wedding planning, Gail is overjoyed when Debbie comes over planning to call off the wedding. Gail wants to be there for Debbie, but pushes her in the wrong direction. Is there another answer, one that would help heal Gail’s past as well? This is a sweet story that many of a certain age will relate to. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this boo

Anne Tyler is 84 years old and still a prolific writer, and here I am reading her for the first time. Three Days in June captures the life of a 61-year-old divorced mother of the bride for 3 days around the wedding of her only child daughter. For a novel encompassing just 3 days, I feel like I know this woman fully. Like, Elizabeth Stout's Lucy Barton, Anne Tyler's Gail Baines is a no-nonsense blunt-speaking introvert who is full of reflection, introspection, and profound observation that makes me feel like I am reading my own story. It's funny that those of us who are often accused of not having good people skills often get people the most. I loved this story of imperfect people just getting on with life, and I will definitely be checking out her earlier works!

4.5 stars

thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

SYNOPSIS

- At 61, Gail just quit—or been fired from—her job after being passed over for a promotion.
- She already feels like an outsider in her daughter Debbie’s wedding plans, and then her ex-husband, Max, shows up on her doorstep with a foster cat and no place to stay.
- If that weren’t enough, Debbie drops a last-minute revelation that throws the entire wedding into question.
- Over the course of three days, Gail navigates old wounds & the messy complexities of life.

MY THOUGHTS

- Short but impactful. At under 200 pages, this book is brief, but it doesn’t feel rushed or underdeveloped. Tyler has an incredible ability to say so much with so little—each sentence, each interaction, each observation is deliberate and meaningful. I easily read in a day, but the story will definitely linger with me.
- A first, but not the last. This was my first Anne Tyler novel, but it won’t be my last. She has a rare talent for capturing human nature with quiet precision, turning everyday moments into something deeply insightful and meaningful.
- A book about the little moments. This isn’t a novel driven by big plot twists or high drama. Instead, it’s a book that finds meaning in the ordinary—the small conversations, the unspoken tensions, the way people misunderstand or surprise each other. Tyler’s storytelling feels effortless, but there’s so much depth in her writing.
- Masterful character work. The characters are perfect. Gail, Max, and Debbie are all flawed but deeply human. Gail, in particular, is such an interesting protagonist—socially awkward, sometimes abrasive, but also vulnerable and introspective. I loved the way Tyler allowed her to be complex and real, rather than forcing her into a neat, likable mold.
- A realistic, deeply felt exploration of love and relationships. The novel touches on so many aspects of human connection—romantic love, parental love, lost love, and self-discovery. Gail and Max’s interactions were especially compelling. Their history is complicated, their banter sharp, and there’s an underlying ache in their relationship that feels incredibly authentic.
- Quiet but powerful exploration of themes. Tyler weaves love, relationships, aging, loneliness, and infidelity into the story with subtlety and depth. Rather than grand statements or dramatic moments, these themes emerge naturally through the characters’ quiet struggles and interactions.
- Subtle humor and warmth. Despite its sometimes heavy themes, the book is heartwarming and even funny in places. Tyler’s writing is wise, perceptive, and laced with subtle humor. Even in difficult moments, there’s a warmth to her writing that makes the book feel comforting.
- The ending is perfect. I loved the ending. It felt just right—satisfying, true to the story, and reflective of the novel’s overall themes.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A short but powerful novel that captures the beauty and heartbreak of everyday life. Anne Tyler’s writing is sharp, warm, and deeply insightful, making even the most ordinary moments feel profound. This is my first book by her, but it won’t be my last.

Thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now.

Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Three Days in June by Anne Tyler. I love an Anne Tyler novel. They are all (or almost all?) set in Baltimore, and they seem to all have awkward characters with awkward relationships. They lead simple lives. This one is the story of Gail and Max, who were married and have been divorced for many years, during the weekend of the wedding of their daughter Debbie. Gail has just been told that she is losing her long time job at a school. Max shows up at her door with a rescue cat, and needing a place to stay for the weekend. Without saying much, the two explore their lives and their relationship, and maybe find a way back to each other? I enjoyed this one, will read anything that Anne Tyler writes. #netgalley #threedaysinjune #annetyler #lovetoread #baltimorestory #familyrelationship #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram #booknerd

This short little novel packs a big punch. I've read a few Anne Tyler books over the years and fits right in with the others in both style and comfort. She is so good at bringing complex characters to life in everyday situations, a "slice of life", showing us the humanity through both action and thought. In this case, as the title suggests, we see everyone moving through three days, which just happen to be the wedding weekend of the main character's daughter. I think I loved the most that Joan is a relatable, authentically flawed, often "in her head", middle aged woman! We need more of that in literature. If you are looking for a simple story with ordinary people going about their lives, that also showcases the depth of human complexity, then this might be for you.

Please note: I received a digital copy from NetGalley & Knopf in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

Three Days in June follows 61 year old socially inept Gail Baines for three days: the day before her daughter’s wedding, the day of and the day after. She is passed up for a promotion at work, her ex husband shows up with a cat to stay the weekend and her daughter faces a challenge with her upcoming nuptials. Gail is very aware of her lack of social skills and how it affects her work and personal life. The weekend forces her to re-evaluate her life, the changes and her vulnerabilities.

In under 200 pages Anne Tyler was able to explore well developed thoughtful characters balancing humor and emotional depth with a bittersweet ending.

4 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley and @aaknopf for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three Days in June was a corny, quirky and witty read….
So much family drama!
The story has humor, empathy and realistic situations happening that you can relate too.
A memorial novella from a favorite author Anne Tyler……
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was cute! A novella about a woman whose daughter is about to get married. I liked the storyline and the characters were all very different and enjoyable. I am Not yet at the age where my child is old enough to marry so I do think someone like my own mother would relate to this story more. Overall I liked It a lot. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I do think that Anne Tyler is a beautiful writer, but this book did not work for me. It's extremely slow and there is very little plot. The plot that does happen, which centers around the main character, Gail's, daughter's wedding, fell very flat for me. There is a moment where the reader is led to believe that there will be a climax of sorts, some action that shakes things up in this family, but the moment passes and nothing happens. Gail is not introspective at all, so there is not much character growth from her throughout the short novel, either. There just wasn't much here that I enjoyed besides the writing, which is admittedly excellent.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler is a delightful exploration of family dynamics set against the backdrop of a daughter's wedding. Gail Baines, the mother of the bride, is a wonderfully complex character—her social awkwardness and introspective nature make her both relatable and endearing. The interactions between Gail and her ex-husband, Max, are both humorous and poignant, highlighting the intricacies of their past and present relationship. Tyler's writing is sharp and insightful, capturing the essence of human connection with her signature warmth and wit. While the novel is brief, it leaves a lasting impression, offering a heartfelt look at love, forgiveness, and the ties that bind us.

I loved this book SO much. Probably my favorite of the year so far and my favorite Anne Tyler yet. Anne Tyler writes everyday family stories so well. She brings magic to mundane everyday moments.