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.

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.

Another wonderful Anne Tyler. Three days around a wedding is a great device. Slightly more whimsical than usual, which loses it a star!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

I've been reading Anne Tyler's novels for many years. They're all great, and this one in particular. I love the author's gentle touch with her characters.

A short work of fiction yet long on charm; replete with Tyler’s regard for the small change of life and the hours as they pass through us:

‘People don't warn you ahead of time that some days your face will be netted with wrinkles and other days almost smooth. Today I was wrinkly. My eyes were quirked into triangles and so many lines crossed my forehead that it resembled a sheet of ruled paper. But at least my hair hung vertically. No trace anymore of the beauty parlor experiment.’

Anne Tyler books are always an absolute pleasure to read - and this was no different.

It's the slow details of every day life; the nuances of relationships, the day to day activities, and the comfort almost of sinking into a realistic life for a few moments, with characters you can almost see beyond the pages of the book - and like your own family and friends, by the end of the book you have your own hopes and dreams for them too.

Anne Tyler has never failed to deliver. Her words are perfectly chosen, perfectly crafted together and capture in detail the everyday lives of people. I will admit to a bit of dust in my eyes at reading the final page. Perfect.

Classic Anne Tyler - a gentle meander through people's lives, unearthing all sorts of unresolved issues, misunderstandings and unintended hurts. This tale is set over three days, but covers the married and post married lives of the bride's parents. A great read with a satisfying ending.

Three Days in June was such a lovely read.
It’s the day before their daughter’s wedding, Gail arrives home early from work to find her ex-husband on the doorstep with a cat.

This beautiful book is just three days long, the day before, day of and day after the wedding.
With lovely characters and people from their past. Gail has to navigate the wedding, reflect on her past and try to work out her future. The burning question is what will happen to the cat…!

A delightful read, thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Anne Tyler for the copy to review.

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.

I’m a huge fan of Anne Tyler’s work. I find her writing to be thought provoking and insightful.
The author has a knack for being able to explore the full range and depth of the human emotions and psyche.
This one is no exception. With Anne Tyler’s usual flair and wonderful execution, this is a beautiful book and one worthy of adding to her collection.
Highly recommend. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I'm a long time fan of her work and have been reading her for decades. This book didn't disappoint and whilst treading familiar themes felt new and fresh.

Gail is a brittle and precise woman in her early 60, divorced and with her only daughter about to marry. It's a book of quiet drama that conceals huge events and a mass of emotional undercurrents. The characterisation is vivid and masterful and the story is moving and relatable.

As someone who's older and has experienced relationship breakdowns it felt resonant and truthful.. The humour worked well and the comic timing is spot.on.

Everyone should read at least one Anne Tyler book, if not the entire catalogue of books. Perfection.

Anne Tyler is a wonderful storyteller. Three Days in June is a masterful observation of how people think & feel. It’s a short(ish) story, but I felt that I knew the characters in real life by the end of those 200 pages. Just lovely, highly recommended. Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it early.

With around 200 pages this was a fairly quick read, but I never felt like anything was missing. The writing was beautiful, with the hint of humor which actually made me chuckle and characters that I immediately connected with. I’m pretty sure I will reread this once. I have the physical copy of my hand, going to keep my eyes open for a signed copy for my collection