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Member Reviews
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Anne Tyler's new book is divided into three parts, one for each day of these 'Three Days in June'. These are the day before, the day of and the day after the wedding of the main character (Gail's) daughter, Debbie.
Gail has a shock at work on day one, then her ex-husband Max arrives, with a cat in tow. The comedy and drama plays out between them, their daughter, colleagues and prospective in-laws over the next two days.
As with all Tyler novels, the prose slips down like Prosecco, and her insights into family relationships are as sharp as a cake-knife.
This is a celebration in more ways than one. It's refreshing to have a flawed 61-year-old woman as the central character. Tyler makes the exasperating Gail loveable. And there's a happy ending, too.
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A sweet novella from Anne Tyler with her trademark flawed central character narrator. Although fairly predictable, this was an enjoyable read.
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Excellent read, loved characters and plot. Been a fan of Anne Tyler for years, she still puts fun into reading for me.
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My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Every Anne Tyler novel is a beautifully written little gem and "Three Days in June" is no exception. It covers the weekend of a family wedding, seen from the viewpoint of Gail, the mother of the bride. Gail might be best described a socially awkward, lonely and introspective. Her observations are acute and rewarding. She leaves us in no doubt that she loves her daughter very much, and is proud of her, yet cannot express this easily, nor can she think of how to join in with the wedding preparations.
Equally her relationship with her ex husband is fraught with misunderstanding.
As the days proceed we see her fretting and responding to a series of social and emotional challenges. A perfectly planned and executed, subtle, social comedy is the result.
Her writing is so skilled that this is a very easy read, carrying the reader along through a well described world and story. Recommended.
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Wonderful. I enjoyed my short time in the company of Anne Tyler's characters in this novel so much. The writing is brilliant and quickly engages you. It is very short so I read it overnight.
After a setback, the central character walks out of her job on the eve of her daughter's wedding but is so unassuming that this is not the main focus. Her ex-husband turns up to stay with her, and this is OK. The groom's mother takes over the organisation, and this is OK. She has her hair done, hates it, but this is OK too.
But the way the story of these lives unfolded had me hooked though not keen on the ending.
I recommend this novel. I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publishers but my views are my own. I should point out that I have read lots of Anne Tyler who never disappoints.
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I've never read any Anne Tyler before. I don't know why - the teetering TBR pile perhaps? Or maybe I was just being contrary when I ignored the recommendations of friends. Now I have even more books to add to the TBR pile, Anne Tyler's entire back catalogue. What a writer!
Gail is 61 and has just walked out on her job. Who can blame her? Her boss at school is going to resign but rather than pass the mantel to Gail this woman has recommended someone else and not only that, she suggests Gail should find another job because she has no people skills. Gail walks out and finds her ex-husband and a cat at her home, both expecting to stay for the duration of their daughter's wedding. Over the next three days Gail reflects on her life and we discover why she and her husband divorced. We also see her come to terms with herself and her situation, A quiet novel, full of compassion and wisdom.. I loved it.
Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.
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I was hooked from the first page. I read the wonderful Three Days in June in an evening and back again for a couple of hours in the early morning, putting everything else aside.
Anne Tyler, oh so skillfully, tells the story of Gail's life over the course of the weekend framing the wedding of her only daughter Debbie. With barely a blink it seems, Gail accepts her ex-husband Max to stay over, together with a rescue moggie.
Sharply observed, matter of fact, just a little quirky. Happily absorbed, I was sorry to reach the end.
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Anne Tyler is one of my favourite authors and this book about Gail and her ex husband Max is full of her trademark insightfulness and gentle humour. I enjoyed every page.
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I have read mostly all of Anne Tyler's previous novels, so was eager to read this latest offering.
This tale of a failed marriage and lost years is told with such delicate touch that you really don't notice the time going by. The impending marriage of their only child is weaved in over three days that the book covers; the disruption of a quiet, predictable and grey life ending with a burst of colour that breaks through the silence. Just beautifully written and perfectly pitched.
I look forward to buying the book in print when it is published next year, and can think of many people who will be receiving a gifted copy too.
Thank you for this early copy, it is most appreciated and has not disappointed!
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was disappointed when it came to an end, which seemed to happen too quickly.
Gail is getting ready for her daughter's wedding and life throws a spanner in the works. She seemingly quits her job, as her ex husband arrives on the doorstep with a cat in tow. Together, they attend the wedding rehearsal and wedding, reflecting on their own lives and mistakes.
Wonderful storytelling.
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Three days in June describes the day before, the day and the day the wedding of divorced couple Gail and Max. Gail is the narrator and we follow her at her job being told she has no social skills and should seriously consider another post, having her former husband and his stray cat stay with her, wedding wobbles if her daughter and the wedding itself.
Gail is not a likeable person who even with editing her initial reaction often manages to say the wrong thing. It is initially quite difficult to care about her but Gail grows on you and you want to know if she can accept her qualities as well as her faults.
A somewhat slight novel redeemed by it's ending
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Ann Tyler has the ability to take an ordinary situation and characters and make her reader care deeply about the outcome.
In Three Days in June Max has come to stay with his ex-wife, Gail, for their daughter's wedding. Gail is rather bottled up. Seemingly rather unemotional and aloof. She is an administrator in a school and has been passed over for the promotion she thought was hers because the school principal thinks that she does not have the required 'people skills'.
Max is a bit bumbling and shambolic. He thinks he can attend his only daughter's wedding in chinos and a sports coat; but he comes across as kind and caring.
By the end of the book I really cared about these two and wanted them to find the happiness they needed.
Definitely another triumph from Ann Tyler.
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Anne Tyler’s 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒆 is a beautifully layered story that pulls you into the ordinary yet emotionally charged life of Gail Baines. Gail, a 61-year-old assistant at a private school, is already dealing with the blow of losing her chance at a promotion when her daughter’s wedding weekend kicks off, only for more surprises to unravel—including her ex-husband showing up with an old cat.
The novel, set over the course of just three days, captures Gail's inner turmoil as she faces not only the complexities of her own life but also the family dynamics around her daughter’s big day. Tyler’s writing, as always, shines in its ability to make the mundane deeply meaningful. Gail is bottled up, unable to express her emotions openly, and watching her navigate through snobbery, old wounds, and unexpected companionships is both humorous and heartwarming.
The short novel moves quickly, but every moment is packed with wit, tension, and insight into family life. Tyler’s gift lies in her characters—people you can relate to, who make mistakes, and who struggle to find their way. The dynamic between Gail and her ex-husband adds a lovely tension to the story, making it more than just a tale of a wedding weekend, but of life, reflection, and subtle personal growth. It’s a story you’ll devour in one sitting, laughing and nodding along the way.
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Another wonderful Anne Tyler. Three days around a wedding is a great device. Slightly more whimsical than usual, which loses it a star!
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Anne Tyler captures the essence of each character in so few words that it is masterly. I felt I knew the protagonist, Gail, her idiosyncracies, her way of interacting with the world, in fact a wholly rounded character before the end of the first chapter. This reads so easily but takes great skill.
We are launched into the days surrounding her daughter's wedding which brings out the true character of everyone invested in the occasion, even if not overtly. This makes it a great setting for a writer adept in revealing the varying tropes and temperaments. Especially between Gail, her ex-husband Max and their daughter.
I just love how the spine of the narrative moves forward in a linear way whilst the reader sees the churning of the muddy waters that form the past of the relationships. So sharp, so brilliantly observed and I really felt like a fly on the wall.
And funny, so funny about the everyday
With many many thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouse UK for the opportunity to read and review
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Anne Tyler is such a clever writer. She takes the ordinary and turns it into something extraordinary. What would be banal in the hands of someone else becomes gripping social drama. Her ability to observe social niceties and get underneath to the reality is unsurpassed. I just love her simple written style and the sharpness with which she draws her characters and an ordinary domestic situation. This narrative is tight; observed over three days, the central characters play out their parts in the setting of a wedding. A prospective bred and groom, an ex husband, a cat needing a new home. What could possibly go wrong. Anne Tyler’s writing s so understated, it hides the extent of her talent. This book is a joy.
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This is one of Tyler’s best and what she does so well: gentle domestic drama with fabulously observed characters.
Gail is a schoolteacher who loses her job just as her daughter is about to get married and her ex husband comes to town.
Set over three days, Gail decides how to move forward with her life.
Simple but sweet, this tale is deceptively insightful and I defy anyone not to love the happy ending!
Thoroughly recommended.
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Another excellent novel from Anne Tyler. Three days in June is a microscopic look at a woman’s relationships with her family and people around her. A classic case of will they or won’t they but with a beautiful and gentle tone.
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I absolutely loved this book
I've seen it being raved about on #bookstagram so knew I needed to read it and I'm glad I did.
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This was a gorgeous read and another excellent novel - or perhaps novella, given its length - from Anne Tyler. Like Redhead at the Side of the Road, it's a deceptively simple story about three days in the life of Gail as her ex-husband returns for their only child's wedding. Across the three days we learn about Gail's life and why she separated from Max. She is at turns oblivious and sometimes very frustrating but always believable and, by the end, I was rooting for her.
At times genuinely funny, its a masterclass in characterisation and dialogue. Loved it!