Three Days in June
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Pub Date 13 Feb 2025 | Archive Date 15 Mar 2025
Random House UK, Vintage | Chatto & Windus
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Description
**A SUNDAY TIMES & RED BOOK OF THE YEAR**
‘Just relishable. Thank God for the balm of good writing’ NIGELLA LAWSON
‘A joy to read in a single relaxing afternoon’ JACQUELINE WILSON
'Razor sharp on family, love and marriage' DAVID NICHOLLS
'I devoured it in one long lazy afternoon - I laughed and cried' VICTORIA HISLOP
The happily ever after is only part of the story… A funny, touching, hopeful gem about love, marriage and second chances
It’s the day before her daughter’s wedding and things are not going well for Gail Baines. First thing, she loses her job – or quits, depending who you ask. Then her ex-husband Max turns up at her door expecting to stay for the festivities. He doesn’t even have a suit. Instead, he’s brought memories, a shared sense of humour – and a cat looking for a new home.
Just as Gail is wondering what’s next, their daughter Debbie discovers her groom has been keeping a secret…
As the big day dawns, the exes just can’t agree on what’s best for Debbie. Gail is seriously worried, while Max seems more concerned with whether to opt for the salmon or prime rib at the reception, if they make it that far.
The day after the wedding, Gail and Max prepare to go their separate ways again. But all the questions about the future of the happy couple have stirred up the past for Gail. Because ‘happy’ takes many forms, and sometimes the younger generation has much to teach the older about secrets, acceptance and taking the rough with the smooth.
'Clear-eyed, out-and-out funny' RACHEL JOYCE
'Has all her trademark wry humour and brilliant observation' ELIZABETH BUCHAN
'If Anne Tyler isn’t the best writer in the world, who is?' BBC R4 WOMAN'S HOUR
'Anne Tyler really is the best' GRAHAM NORTON
'Our greatest chronicler of family life' DAILY MAIL
'Nobody does it better' VOGUE
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781784745752 |
| PRICE | £14.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 192 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 396 members
Featured Reviews
How can you not love Anne Tyler! Although less than 200 pages, and thus for me a single day read.. this is not short of all the things we love Tyler for - her razor sharp insight into domestic lives, uncovering all the tiny details in life that make us who we are. She is particularly skilled in examining the lives of those in later lives, with maybe regrets about how they lived their earlier parts of life.
Gail is in her early 60s - about to lose her job as an assistant headteacher at a private school - and this story covers just 3 days - the day before, of and after her only daughter's wedding. There is an amicable relationship with her ex-husband who has arrived in town to celebrate the wedding but the nature of the split many years prior still haunts Gail. We get an insight into young Gail, and what happened by the vibrant young woman who now appears to be world weary, grumpy,. uncaring about her own appearance.
A great read.
Chris H, Media/Journalist
A perfectly blended tale of the joys and perils of married life, Three Days in June is a quiet minor masterpiece from Anne Tyler, expertly combining bittersweet nostalgia and a sense of loss, with the sweet joys of lasting love and hope, always hope.
A total joy to read”
Every book she writes is better than the last. And the last one is always great. This writer has an almost rare talent in being able to get into the character’s psyche and bring them to life. You feel like you are saying bye to a friend at the end. She makes the mundane absolutely fascinating. Long may she reign!!
Catherine B, Reviewer
Anne Tyler is one of my favourite authors. I love the way she quietly observes the minutiae of everyday life. I devoted a grey afternoon to her latest Three Days in June. It is the day before Gail’s daughters wedding. First she loses her job, then her ex husband turns up with a homeless cat. Next their distract daughter arrives with upsetting news. Will the wedding go ahead. Will the ex-husband choose salmon or steak for the wedding breakfast? What will happen to the cat? Will Gail work again? Big questions, resolved in a pleasing way.
Helen R, Bookseller
I always look forward to an Anne Tyler novel. She manages to take people and events that are so normal and everyday and yet make them special. This time we see events unfolding over the course of one weekend,centering around divorced parents of the bride.
Gail may be socially awkward but shes so endearing that you simply cant help rooting for her as she navigates events around her daughters big day.
Told with humour and warmth, Gail is a character I would love to hear more from.
Charles H, Reviewer
Anne Tyler has written a subtle novel told without pretension. Here we have a writer who has honed her craft to the point that her works feel like a breeze to get through. In this tale, the life of our protagonist is in a state of flux and upheaval - she may be about to lose her job, her daughter is getting married over the weekend and her ex-husband has just turned up on her doorstep with a cat. We learn how she reached such a moment in her life, while also watching the character slowly unfurl, acknowledge past mistakes and perhaps try and start anew. I very much liked this one.
This author can just take all my money at this point ! I officially am a complete fangirl and will read anything they write in the foreseeable !
The author is a complete powerhouse and I couldn’t put this book down . It captivated me from the first page to the last . Thank you so much
I adored this book. I read it in two days- it isn’t very long but I did want to savour it. For a book that isn’t voluminous it has a lot of depth and I was really invested. It’s hard to define the plot because the actual present action of the book is not the focus. The focus is the narrator’s thoughts around the present action. It’s a story about life and family and love and mistakes. It’s both a zoomed in and longitudinal plot. A very rare book that will stay with me and forever be one I return to.
Emma B, Reviewer
Just as sharply observed and witty as I have come to expect from Anne Tyler. It was a perfect length for a lazy afternoon (if you’re lucky enough to get one!) I found the parent characters compelling and unique. Many thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this book.
Lucy D, Librarian
Every book by Anne Tyler is a joy and this is no exception. The novel follows a divorced couple during the three days of their daughter’s wedding. It is a short read and yet I felt like I just slotted into the lives of these people. The ending is perfect.
Debra D, Reviewer
This may be a short book, but it's stuffed full of sharply observed wisdom and humour. It tells the story of the mother of the bride, Gail, and the three days around her daughter's wedding. Not only is Gail dealing with a crushing blow at work, but she's also feeling left out of the wedding preparations, and her ex-husband has just turned up on her doorstep.
As always, Anne Tyler writes with warmth and affection for her sometimes quirky but always very believable characters. Only a very grumpy person would find that this book didn't make them smile. I recommend it as a tonic and welcome break from books about misery and mayhem.
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC.
Janet S, Bookseller
Another perfect book by the master of small town fiction.
I just love the way Tyler describes her characters and their relationships, the minutiae of their lives and the subsequent results.
I have recommended this book to all our customers as the perfect read
tania b, Media/Journalist
A lovely meditation on love that is a wonderful addition to Tyler's body of work, as always thoughtful, wryly amusing and relatable. A really good read.
Anne Tyler can do no wrong in my opinion and this short but compelling novel is no exception. Everything that you've come to expect from her writing is present here - family and relationships that are carefully examined and explored. An excellent read.
Oh I loved this so much. I love how Tyler writes about nothing really, but makes it warm, endearing and all about the characters she masterfully creates. Love love love
Reviewer 391936
I loved this latest from Anne Tyler. As always she never shys away from very sensitive themes. Her characters are always recognisable as parts of ourselves. I
Thank you so much for access.
Christine R, Reviewer
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler is the story of a socially awkward mother and is a clip of her life three days before and after her only daughter’s wedding.
The story is about someone who quits or loses her job the day before her daughter gets married and she finds out she hasn’t been invited to the spa day the other female family members are on and then her ex husband Max turns up to stay with her with a cat.
Then Debbie, the daughter is told that her husband has cheated on her and she tells her parents and they have to go along with her decision to marry Kenneth. All throughout the story are cringe worthy moments that are just glossed over. Then on day three Max is leaving and the cat is staying and then Max comes back, to stay.
Highly recommended
Samantha L, Reviewer
This is an absolutely lovely novel by Anne Tyler. It focuses on the 3 days around Gail's daughter, Debbie's wedding.
As usual with books by Anne Tyler all of the observations on life, character and love are achingly beautiful, even if, sometimes, the characters are not.
Gail has concerns about the wedding and has to reexplore her relationship with her ex-husband Max as well as her daughter. This leads to many of life's awkward moments, richly detailed with humour, getting deep into the essence of the matter.
This, for me, is one of those novels which feels so right and is effortless to read, enabling introspection as well as appreciating the story.
A beautifully told and crafted tale that will uplift any reader.
Mandy J, Reviewer
Anne Tyler does it again. Tender, generous, witty and insightful, the story covers just three days in a family’s life as they prepare for the daughter’s wedding. As ever Tyler captures the simple joys and sorrows of everyday life with her usual understated but oh so incisive style. Loved it.
This was such an easy five star read! I don’t think my words could ever come close to much I loved Gail’s character.
I was hooked from the very first page, for being less than 200 pages this really hits hard.
I found Gail’s character really relatable & I think that’s why I loved her so much! I could have easily read another 500 pages!
This was my first Anne Tyler book & now I want to read every single one she’s written.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Anne Tyler does what she does best—captures the quiet, beautiful mess of everyday life. Three Days in June is a moving, slow-burning portrait of family, memory, and the things left unsaid. With her signature tenderness and precision, Tyler once again proves she’s a master of emotional nuance.
Anne Tyler is such a gem. This book, although on the surface seems to have a simple plot, is startling for the little details that elevate it far beyond that. Tyler's ability to look into the flaws and foibles of a cast of characters, but still return with love and grace, is a real treat, and this short novel contains so much wisdom.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Surita J, Reviewer
This was a pleasant read at an enjoyable pace. The story is told from Gail’s perspective, a divorcee in her 60’s facing losing her long time job at the same time as her daughter Debbie’s wedding. Unexpectedly put in the position of housing her ex-husband Max and a cat he has rescued for the weekend.
It’s interesting to see a relationship between mother and daughter which isn’t the typically bed of roses. Gail isn’t involved in the wedding planning as one might expect or has the closest relationship with her daughter. So it comes as a surprise that Debbie confides in her a possible infidelity from the groom to be. Gail is left in shock and questions if the wedding should go ahead. Max though seems indifferent to the news and believes that Debbie should be the one to decide if she can forgive the infidelity.
We learn why Gail and Max divorced and how it has affected Gail in her life since.
After the wedding, we see Gail question her next step in her life, where will the next chapter take her?
There is nothing I can say that has not , no doubt, been said by others. This novel is sheer perfection. I adore Tyler's writing and her characters are very dear to me.
I probably need to reread it, but this reminds me of Breathing Lessons.
Read it immediately
We meet Gail, a prickly and socially awkward divorcée in her early sixties, when she is being given the boot from her job as assistant headmistress at a private girls’ school. And she has a trying weekend ahead of her. Her 33-year-old daughter Debbie is getting married the next day and her ex-husband, the endearingly bumbling Max has rocked up at her doorstep, a cat in tow, asking to stay for the weekend
Gail is decidedly put out. She glares at the interloping feline and barely tolerates Max’s messy ways, but as wedding politics take their toll, she finds herself leaning on him more and more to get through the proceedings.
When it emerges that Debbie’s betrothed has had a one-night stand the wedding is thrown into doubt. Gail is scandalised by the betrayal while Max more inclined to smooth ruffled feathers and get on with it.
We learn that Gail’s reaction harks back directly to her divorce from Max and the narrative shifts in time to the affair that spelled the end of their marriage.
This is a tender, funny, beautifully observed piece of fiction. A short book to gulp in one sitting –and the ending is sheer perfection.
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM will have you believe that the most important people in a wedding are the bride and groom, and by all intents and purposes that wisdom would be correct. But the peripheral players, those with their own, separate, self-absorbed stories going on, they’re the ones to focus on if you really want to see some drama on the big day.
Gail Baines is the mother-of-the-bride. It is a Friday morning, the day before the wedding, and she has just had an unsettling conversation with her boss, the principal of an elite school in Baltimore, Maryland. Instead of continuing with the day at work, she leaves early, not raising much suspicion as her colleagues assume her role in the wedding requires the time off.
Her daughter, Debbie, is indeed partaking in a Day of Beauty, of which Gail has no interest in. She is a pragmatic person, a deputy headmistress who likes routine and tends not towards people pleasing, and has no desire to be primped and pampered. Until her feet take her to a salon to get her hair done, a procedure not seen-to for umpteen years, reluctant as she is to engage in chit-chat about the weather.
While not particularly pleased with her new ‘do, she doesn’t have the energy or wherewithal to get it fixed. Instead, she heads home, where on her doorstep she finds her ex-husband, Max. He has a rescue cat in tow, he tells her, so can’t stay with their daughter lest the cat’s dander trigger her fiancé Kenneth’s allergies. So, Gail reluctantly invites Max and the moggy to stay with her, where they both make themselves at home as soon as they cross the threshold.
When Debbie drops in on them later in the day, Gail’s preference for an uncomplicated life is further upended. Kenneth’s sister has let slip a secret during their spa day which threatens the upcoming nuptials, and while both parents are equally supportive, they both have different advice.
Ultimately, this news, paired with Max’s unexpected presence and the earlier conversation with her headmistress, sets in motion a reflection on her own marriage and its breakdown, and a contemplation on how life has panned out since.
Three Days in June is a masterful study on the painful ordinariness of a life, with terrifically realised characters in Max and, particularly Gail. Told in the first person, it is Gail’s inner thoughts we are privy to, which makes for some rib-tickling moments as she observes her cheerful ex-husband’s nonchalant comfort as he settles into her domain, and we the reader start to see how his effect on her is to unfurl her from her prickly bubble of worry at the everyday.
The two exes are yin and yang versions of each other; while Gail is “right-angled,” slow to warm up in social situations, rather literal about things – a maths teacher, originally – Max is a person who takes up a lot of space, not just in a room with his expansive physicality, but with his big, open-hearted personality.
He is an English teacher, a factor in how the former couple met, which we learn about when Gail thinks back to their own courtship and wedding day. He was immediately infatuated with her, thought she “hung the moon,” while she took a little longer to fall in love with him.
When it is revealed how and why they split, it is not as much of a surprise as it could have been, having got the measure of to the current dynamics of the relationship. The narrative unfolds in a beautifully restrained pace, with author Tyler’s uncanny aptitude for knowing when to conceal, when to reveal, when to insert a humorous comment or observation, when to amplify a seemingly small detail that in other hands would be a footnote, but in hers – as in life – becomes the point on which everything else circles.
By the end, having been through the rehearsal dinner with the future in-laws, the wedding day itself and the aftermath, we are left with a truly satisfying meditation on a marriage. Mother and father of the bride have dutifully played their parts, but what lies behind the proud parents’ smiles are stories that stretch much further than a special long weekend.
Kathryn M, Reviewer
Fabulous as always - everyone should be reading Anne Tyler. Like a fine wine she gets better with age. As a budding writer I stand back in awe as it is not apparent what it is about this prose that makes it so appealing, readable and thought provoking - genius.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
Suzanne M, Bookseller
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler was just as good as I anticipated and more. AT approaches family, love and aging with a thoughtful compassion that speaks gently to us all. The event of her daughter’s wedding is the three days that we focus on in June and all the emotions and lack there of are dealt with in this beautiful novel. The characters are deep and sensitive but we get to see the human vulnerability too and all in a small book. AT remains one of my favourite authors and I have bought the hardback to add to my collection.
Sue B, Reviewer
Such a good book….typical of ANNE Tyler ….using just the right amount of words…good characterisations and clever humour. Finished it in 2 sittings and wishing it was longer!
Account D, Reviewer
This is the first book of Anne Tyler's I've read and it will definitely not be the last. I absolutely loved this book. One of the reasons being I related so much to the main character. I saw character traits I have in common with her. The way Tyler writes dialogue and character interactions is so realistic. You feel like they're just normal people, normal situations... she writes normal everyday very well! Looking forward to reading more from her.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for ARC.
This short delightful novel kept me company on a much delayed flight and reminded me afresh why Tyler is so admired by authors as well as general readers.
The p[ot is seemingly slight - a divorced couple meet up for the first time in years on the occasion of their daughter's wedding, and we are drawn immediately into the small frictions of blended families, rehearsal dinners, mid-life and ageing anxieties, workplace dilemmas and animal dander. Every paragraph is a delight and you will be willing it to all turn out right. Glorious.
Nicola B, Reviewer
Another quietly powerful novel from the wonderful Ann Tyler. This story takes place over three days and sees a divorced couple, Gail and Max, come together for their daughters wedding. It explores their past relationship and what drove them apart as their daughter faces a crises in her own relationship. It's low-key and pretty uneventful but somehow manages to cover a lot of life and momentous change. I loved it from start to finish - the characters, the family dynamics, the hope of a second chance - I just wanted more! It is easily the warmest, most human, and most hopeful novel I've read in a while, and I won't wait long to read it again.
Three Days In June
Anne Tyler
The author Jacqueline Wilson has described Three Days in June as being a joy to read. I heartily agree. I love her writing so much and I think if I was only allowed to read one author for the rest of my life it would have to be Anne Tyler. No one else can touch her. 60 years of writing stories about ordinary people living ordinary lives that draw you in so that you feel like you’re living with the characters and caring for them SO MUCH! How does she do it? Who knows.
Low on drama yet bursting with humanity, with Three Days In June she has absolutely done it again. Brava.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Three Days in June by Anne Tyler is a story of Gail Baines set around the weekend of her only daughter's wedding.
When Gail either loses her job or gets fired depending on whose story you believe.
But this is not the only event this weekend that brings
Three Days in June, is a novel that can be classed as women’s fiction, but this should not be made in a derogatory term, for when used at its best it is about a female story of growth throughout the novel of the main female character, not just a female in the lead role.
The female in question is Gail Baines who is going through a weekend of celebration but it ends up being a weekend of change
Another aspect of Anne Tyler’s novel is the cozyness of the novel which may feel overly sweet and sickly at times in which nothing happens.
There are in fact major moments and events happening throughout the novel, however it is done in such a way that is not for shock value but just happens in a natural flow.
While the story is told through Gail’s point of view, in some novels this can lead to other characters being nothing more than a cardboard cutout person. But, the writer is able to give each individual enough definition to allow the story to flow.
Which gives, Three Days in June an elevation from a standard general Adult Fiction novel to Literary Fiction, but still without the overly written nature that can affect the later genre.
While some readers may find Three Days in June, is a novel that is full of apple pie, for the right reader it will be a thoroughly enjoyable novel and one of the best that they read this year.
Alice K, Book Trade Professional
I adored this novella, short but perfectly formed. As with all Anne Tyler's books she has a wonderful way of reading people and laying bare the messy interactions between human beings, and the love at the heart of those interactions.
Alice A, Reviewer
A lovely short novel, full of compassion and so entertaining. I can thoroughly recommend it.
My thanks to the author, to the publisher and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read the book and share my review.
The saying goes that ‘good things come in small packages’ and that perfectly describes Three Days in June. At just under 200 pages it’s a slim one but it’s 193 pages of perfection.
The story centres around the wedding of Gail’s only child Debbie and the action takes place the day before, the day of and the day after the wedding. We spend the three days with Gail, who is reflecting on her past and contemplating her future. The arrival of her ex- husband brings shared memories and a rescue cat looking for a home.
There is no high drama, as anyone familiar with Anne Tyler will know, her writing is low key. Focusing on human connections and the small details of life, sprinkled with wit and humour. It’s a warm story and I really cared for the characters.
If you feel like you need to a bit of self care, I recommend picking this one up and spending your afternoon immersed in this touching and enchanting story - I adored it.
Book Trade Professional 197780
It is rare to find a novel that makes you laugh out loud but also leaves your heart aching – but then this is the skill of Anne Tyler. Love, marriage, motherhood are not easy for Gail Baines with her apparent lack of people skills. And getting through her only daughter's wedding – in the company of her ex-husband, her mother, and the family of her son-in-law to be – is never going to be plain sailing. And so it proves, though in often unexpected ways. An absolute gem of a book – I have already recommended it to everyone I know.
It’s rare to come across a story that takes you deep into the complexity of love and human connection. Two people, once bound by marriage, find themselves separated, but the love between them doesn’t simply fade away. Instead, it lingers, pure and undeniable, despite the weight of past mistakes and the scars of doubt.
The beauty of this story lies in the moments of intimacy that blossom amid misunderstanding. It captures how we, as humans, struggle to trust after being hurt, how the past can cloud the present, and how hard it is to let go of something that feels so right. It’s about the quiet resilience of love—how, even in its most fragile form, it can adapt, grow, and transcend the hurt we carry.
Each moment feels raw and real, especially as they come to terms with their choices and how time forces them to evolve. It’s more than a love story; it’s a journey of self-discovery, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the people you are meant to be with.
Under 200 pages, this novel isn’t just a quick read, it’s a reflection on the deeper currents of emotion and connection. You won’t forget it once you’ve finished, and you’ll think about it long after the last page. For a tale that’s as honest as it is moving, this book will find a place on your keeper’s shelf.
Margaret M, Reviewer
Sad and funny in just the right amounts.
Love Ann Tyler, her understanding of people and situations are enthralling.
Gail is the Deputy Head of a school in Baltimore, Marilee is the Head, she tells Gail she is leaving and has someone to take over Headship and a new Deputy. Gail storms out of the school. When she arrives home her ex-husband Max is there with a cat, preparing to stay with her whilst attending their daughter Debs wedding. The wedding is to take place the following day and they are due to attend a rehearsal. Gail has a lot going on, with leaving her job and Max turning up unexpectedly. Their daughter Debbie turns up in tears and declarers that her Fiancé has been unfaithful. Gail and Max disagree on what steps to take.
The actual wedding goes smoothly and Max and Gail put on a united front. Meanwhile the cat is making herself at home in Gail's house.
What caused the breakup of Gail and Max's marriage?
Will Debbie and Kenneth be happy?
The sharp wit, funny comments and insights make this book a great read. Only left me wanting more.
Thank you Ann, NetGalley and Chatto & Windus for this ARC
Collette M, Reviewer
This was only a short book but Anne Tyler as always packed a lot into it. Relationships that were both fascinating and equally frustrating at times. Characters I really would love to hear more of too but I’m not that’s something this author does follow ins.
Ruth M, Reviewer
With thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance review copy.
It is many many years since I last read anything by Anne Tyler, and I don't remember her being anything like this delightful. Because this little gem is an utter delight. In recounting the events of the eve of Gail Baines' daughter's wedding, the wedding day and the day after, Tyler packs a lifetime of mistakes, regrets and redemption into less than 200 pages, with the lightest of touches and a hefty dose of humour.
Nothing much actually happens. Well, Gail might be about to lose her job as assistant head in a high school, and her ex husband Max turns up at her door to stay for a couple of nights for the wedding, with a cat in tow but no suit, and her daughter finds out the groom has been keeping a secret from her. In the course of three days Gail remembers what it was she loved about Max and sharing her life with him, and learns a thing or two about forgiveness, not least about forgiving herself. And she adopts the cat, which is definitely my idea of a happy ending.
Events are told in Gail's voice, and Gail herself reminded me very strongly of Olive Kitteridge - prickly, obstinate, would almost die rather than show affection, and her own harshest critic. She is a wonderful creation and this is a perfect piece of writing.
A beautiful, relatable story of real love, with all its twists and turns. I loved it and found it a captivating read.
Andi L, Reviewer
A charming novel - it has love, humour and family, centred around three days in June.
Gail's daughter is getting married and the three days are before the wedding, the wedding day, and the day after the wedding.
Gail is divorced and has been described by her boss as "socially inadequate", but she is actually witty and has a great sense of humour.
Gail's ex husband turns up with a cat in tow to stay at Gail's for the wedding. I loved the banter between the two of them.
There is much drama prior to the wedding day.
The author has created great characters - I think I loved them all, but with a clear favourite, Gail.
Brilliant storytelling with a real 'wow' of an ending, all be it in a gentle way.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.
Anne Tyler’s Three Days in June is a charming and heartwarming exploration of family, relationships, and personal growth told over the course of a chaotic wedding weekend. As a fan of stories about family dynamics, I found this to be a humorous yet believable tale, with plenty of emotional depth to keep me hooked.
The story centres on Gail Baines, the socially awkward mother of the bride, who finds herself navigating a whirlwind of stress and surprises. The day before her daughter Debbie’s wedding, Gail’s anticipated promotion at work falls through, and she abruptly quits her job. Things only escalate when her ex-husband, Max, unexpectedly shows up with a foster cat in tow and no plans beyond staying at Gail’s house. To top it all off, Gail is excluded from the bridal party’s spa day, and her professional hairstyling doesn’t go as hoped. Just when it seems like things couldn’t get worse, Debbie arrives on Gail’s doorstep with shocking news that threatens to derail the entire wedding.
Tyler masterfully balances humour with poignancy, capturing the chaos of family life with her trademark sensitivity. I couldn’t help but empathise with Gail, feeling her stress as she faced one challenge after another. Watching her transform over three days—gaining strength and a new perspective on her relationships—was deeply satisfying. The shifting dynamic between Gail and Max added warmth and complexity to the story, softening both characters in a way that felt authentic and rewarding.
Final Thoughts:
This book is a delightful reminder of the joys and struggles that come with family and love. It was a pleasure to watch Gail’s journey, and I look forward to reading more from Anne Tyler. Three Days in June is a relaxing, witty read that I would highly recommend to fans of heartfelt family dramas.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
Three Days in June is the story of a woman who's watching her daughter get married, dealing with her ex-husband being back in the house for the wedding and having a crisis at work. All of these things require all of her social powers which, unfortunately, are in short supply.
A really charming slice of life story, where I really related to the protagonist even though we have little in common.
Reviewer 799120
This was great! I came here to remind myself of the title of the book ahead of publication tomorrow - will be buying it for a friend. Perfect for any Anne Tyler fans.
It's hardly a surprise that this is a gorgeous book!
Anne Tyler could write a shopping list and somehow manage to make it interesting.
This time, she takes us into the world of Gail Baines - an everywoman (like all Tyler's best characters) Gail is faced with losing her job, losing her daughter (to marraige) and facing up to a life that she can no longer blunt the edges from. We see her past and present and it is gloriously told over a very short book that wastes not so much as one word - a book to treasure.
Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to read in advance.
Anne-Marie W, Media/Journalist
Gail's daughter, Debbie, is getting married, and Gail had to supervise her ex husband Max to ensure their daughter's wedding goes smoothly. Weddings bring up all sorts of emotions and memories and this one is no different. Weaving an intriguing tale of past and present, Anne Tyler takes you on a journey and leaves you fiiled with hope for the future. This has everything you want from an Anne Tyler novel. I loved it!
No one writes more poignantly about being a woman than Anne Tyler.
3 Days in June introduces us to 60 something Gail. Her boss has just told her she is should think about retiring, her only daughter is getting married and her ex husband Max has turned up looking for a bed, and with an abandoned cat in tow.
Gail deals with all of this with the same reserved distance and mild irritation. Everything is too much fuss to think about deeply, it appears.
Soon, an alarming revelation about her soon to be son-in-law shakes her out of her equanimity. Gail needs to start facing life without her daughter and potentially a job. It’s time for her to face up to her past and make some decisions about the future.
This is a very short novel set over 3 days. Not a word is wasted as get to understand Gail and her relationship with Max, past and future. It’s an immersive beautiful book about woman at a crossroads. Wonderful.
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