Ann Tyler writes about ordinary people with extraordinary skill. Three Days in June explores those small moments of drama within a family and the intricacies and complexity of human interaction. Her characters are flawed and complex, every situation believable.
Poignant, emotional and gently humorous (I particularly loved the homeless cat!) I read this in a single sitting and was sorry when it ended. Wonderful.

"Oh, why was I so bottled up?" asks Gail Baines

Anne Tyler is the consummate storyteller who over several decades has created some of the most moving characters in literature- it's the subtleties and nuances and the poignancy of the 'everyday' that give her novels such a viivid insight into the lives she creates.

Gail Baines is such a character; this is a fairly short novel but it's always a case of quality of quantity that delivers the impact from Anne Tyler. This is a novel set over three days; three days through which Gail faces unemployment, her daughter's wedding, the return of her ex-husband and the unexpected arrival of a feline visitor.

Recounting the events as they happen as well thinking back to past pivotal moments, Gail manoeuvres her way through this challenging few days but just not always able to openly express herself- especially the conversations she wishes she could have with her daughter.

This is a wonderful read full of comical moments- observing the snobberies and oneupmanship between people ( the mother of the groom ) , the pathos that pervades from Gail but ultimately this is about life, families, mistakes and surviving in our small ways.

If you've never read Anne Tyler but have read Elizabeth Strout then I recommend you discover the incredible writing of Anne Tyler.

A one sit read as you'll be hooked into following Gail as she navigates Three Days in June.

Quote:
"Anger feels so much better than sadness. Cleaner, somehow, and more definite. But then, when anger fades, the sadness come right back the same as ever."

Anne Tyler is up there as one of my favourite writers and this book didn't disappoint. Well written with characters that felt so real they could have stepped off the page and settings that felt so vivid I could have stepped into them. I was sad to reach the last page, but so, so happy with the resolution. I absolutely loved it. Thanks to Netgalley.

A charming short story by Anne Tyler.
When Gail and her ex-husband Max are unexpectedly thrown together for 3 days as their daughter is about to get married, memories of the past resurface.
Great characters and a satisfying ending, I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Anne Tyler fans will relish and adore this short but perfectly formed story of family life. Mother of the bride Gail reuinites with her ex husband as they come together for their daughter’s wedding.

The story is of the wedding and the family dynamics change over that period with naturally an entertaining and satisfactory conclusion to this beautifully plotted and written story.

Awwww, this was so wholesome; like what I imagine grit-loving-people feel like when they tuck into a freshly-made warm bowl of delicious (to them) grits! Or maybe something healthier? But definitely warming; sweet. A wholesome feel-good comforting and cozy novel. Really enjoyed tucking into it 🥰

Three Days in June follows Gail whose daughter is about to be married, beginning with the wedding rehearsal day which has already started badly for Gail, summoned to her bosses’ office for news which sees her walking out of her job. Then her ex-husband turns up unexpectedly, complete with a foster cat, needing a place to stay. When Debby drops a bombshell, Gail immediately switches into fretting mode while Max takes a more considered stance. Over the next few days, Gail comes to understand that compromise and forgiveness are more important than being in the right, and that her daughter is perhaps more mature than she is.
Tyler unfolds this short novel about marriage, love and relationships through Gail’s voice with characteristic insight, empathy and humour. Thrust into an unexpected domestic intimacy with Max, she finds herself reassessing her part in the breakup of their marriage while he emerges as far from the apparently inept character who walked through her door with a cat-carrier. It’s a simple, straightforward narrative handled with Tyler’s consummate skill, honed over many decades. The novella length suits her well.

This is such a wonderful short story, I devoured it in one day.

The story is about Gail who is in her 60's and is facing big changes in her life - her daughter is about to get married and she has just been told someone else will be replacing her at work.

Unsure what to do in her life, Gail doesn't have much time to think about it because her ex husband Martin arrives ready for their daughter's wedding.

As we see the pair preparing for the wedding, we also get to see more about their relationship, what happened, why it broke down, and how it is impacting Gail today.

The beauty of this story was that I was instantly absorbed and felt for the characters. I liked Gail's quite blunt side, made me wonder if she was neurodiverse, and her voice was fresh. I enjoyed the way she looked back and analysed her life and the decisions she'd made, how she viewed Martin then, recently and now.

It is one of Anne Tyler's many skills - creating such fantastic characters who feel like genuinely real people.

Reading Anne Tyler is like taking a warm bath. The words wash over you. This is a simple story but with many facets. The main character is Gail , a woman of 61 who’s daughter is getting married and who’s former husband has turned up to stay with her for the wedding.
We go through the ups and downs of their marriage with the wedding of Debbie in the background until Debbie turns up with a sorry tale.
Gail has lived her life behind a net curtain always cautious and never saying what she feels.
Although this is set over 3 days we go through a lifetime with this small family and it is an absolute page turner!

A beautiful short story form the queen of characterisation Anne Tyler. The story centres around the three days around Gail's daughter's wedding and her ex-husband and a cat turning up on her doorstep need somewhere to stay.

Wryling funny and insightful the story explores the relationships in Gail's life and lets her reflect on her life. Both uplifting and occasionally sad this is a beautiful picture of the complexities of relationships. Stunning! I gobbled it up in one sitting.

I love Anne Tyler. She is such a good study of character. I was lucky enough to get this via NetGalley and I read it in nearly one sitting. The title covers exactly what it is about and it’s great :-)

Three Days in June is a short but powerful novel that follows Gail Baines, a 61-year-old woman whose life takes unexpected turns in the days leading up to her daughter's wedding. Facing job loss and a surprise visit from her ex-husband with a rescue cat, Gail reflects on her past and her relationships.

This book is filled with the author’s trademark humour and insight and effectively captures the complexities of family life and personal change.

This novella is perfect for fans of the authors previous work and those who enjoy a mix of humour and emotional depth to their reads.

A great read!!!

I have enjoyed all the Anne Tyler books I have read recently but this one had a different feel to it. It was okay, but felt like an early story that had been dusted off and resurrected. The book felt rushed and the characters weren’t fully explored or developed. It’s a novella rather than a novel. Given that, it is well written and I enjoyed reading it - it just felt rushed, especially at the end. Not the best Anne Tyler I have read.

A second chance romance book. I enjoyed this read spread across 3 days surrounding their daughter's wedding. Would recommend

You can’t fault Anne Tyler. She always delivers emotionally and this time she gives us a heart-wrenching story that touched me even more than usual as I am of an age with her main characters. Gail is long divorced from the father of her only child, a daughter whose wedding reunites them more closely than expected since he ends up coming to stay with her for those few days in June. The story is narrated by Gail. Her conversations with others and her inner thoughts show us the person she is now, the person she was when she was married and the person she was way back when. Her husband Max - has he been the same person all the way through? And what does that mean now, after all this time? It’s all so poignant and understated in that wryly humorous Anne Tyler way. And the wedding was just verging on excruciating. I loved every page.

'Kitchens were more...vertical than living rooms.'

With thanks to Random House, Vintage via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

This is another masterpiece from Anne Tyler - it’s quite short and full of her usual charm, wonderful characterisation and wry humour. 61 year old Gail has been ‘let go’ from her job, just before her daughter’s wedding. The wedding means the return of her ex husband and the story focuses on the relationships between all the characters in the book. Anne Tyler’s observational skills are second to none and her understanding of relationships with all their ups and downs is truly wonderful. Please write lots more book Ms Tyler!

A wonderful short read set around the protagonist having to attend her daughter's wedding. Anne Tyler has the most amazing way of capturing family life so that it is completely relatable but still page turning dramatic at the same time. This is definitely one of most favourites.

Does Gail lack any skills?
Told from the POV of 61 yo Gail, this is the accounting of three days her life where she loses her job, her daughter gets married, and she reminiscences about the past, about her marriage, her relationship with her mother in law and mother and life trajectory.
This title has set the standards higher for me for books especially happening in a limited amount of time and told from the first person POV.
Anne Tyler’s craft is impeccable; she is one of the strongest masters of literature.
She seamlessly blends one word to the other, leaving no trace of the earlier sketches and creates a smooth narrative.
I also adored the way Gail’s characterisation and her observations as well as others’ voices are exhibited so potently in her narration.

Had there been different themes and another layer to the plot, this would have easily been a 5 star read for me.
However, this is not your usual 4 -4.5 star read. This is a close to 5 star read in Anne Tyler scale of writing, which is already beyond the star ratings and cannot be compared with other books.

Excellent literature.

4+ ⭐


I think I just read my favourite Anne Tyler book.
Amusing, relatable and utterly charming.

What can I say about Anne Tyler’s writing that hasn’t been said before, she is simply one of the greatest writers ever.
I took as long as I could reading this one, and when I finished, I dug out my 1985 yellowed paperback copy of “Accidental Tourist “ and started reading immediately, (for the umpteenth time) because I just wanted more Anne Tyler.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Vintage, Random House for this advance electronic copy. I enjoyed it enormously and recommend it heartily.