I was thrilled to receive an eARC of "Three Days in June" by Anne Tyler, as I adore her writing style. She has a unique way of introducing us to the lives of ordinary Baltimore people in the most extraordinary manner. Her talent for infusing warmth, humour, depth, and an insight into the human experience makes her books a joy to read. This novella was no different, set over three days but reflecting on the lifetimes of the main characters.

Our protagonist in "Three Days in June" is Gail Baines, a socially awkward 61-year-old woman whose only daughter, Debbie, is getting married.

Gail arrives at work the day before the wedding, only to discover she's been passed over for promotion to principal at a private girls' school due to her lack of people skills. A comment cited was, “Good God, Mrs. Morris, surely you realize your daughter doesn’t have the slightest chance of getting into Princeton.” I couldn't help but laugh at this as a reader 🤣.

She storms out, only to find her semi-estranged ex-husband, Max, arriving to stay at her house for the wedding festivities with a foster cat he hopes she will adopt.

Can her day get worse? Well, bad luck comes in threes, and daughter Debbie shares a secret about groom Kenneth that her parents disagree on how to handle.

All these events send Gail on a voyage of self-reflection: how she met Max, their marriage, what went wrong, and questioning what she should do with her life moving forward. Should she return to classroom teaching, which she enjoyed so much?

I loved this little novella. It's just another perfect slice of ordinary Baltimore lives with flawed main characters. Our couple, Gail and Max, both have their quirks but seem to be a perfect match for each other. Gail, an outspoken worrier, is paired against the chilled-out and laid-back Max. I must say, Max always had the right answer to all of Gail's second-guessing and catastrophising. And yes, we all loved the inclusion of a cat 😻.

I read this book in two sittings and may have shed a little tear at the end of this perfect novella. It's a balm for the soul, which is what we all need these days. This book would make a perfect Valentine's or Galentine's gift for the book lover in your life 💕.

Humorous take on family live, love, children, divorce. An ordinary situation, three a bit out of the ordinary days, a lot packed in a short book.

I’m not very familiar with the Anne Tyler’s books but this novella was well written as I would expect. For me, it never really got going. Despite being the days around the wedding of the only daughter of divorced parents there didn’t seem to be much emotion from any of the characters. Slightly tedious but short enough to read in an afternoon.

A quick read detailing the course of a weekend in which the wedding of a grown up forces her divorced parents to spend time together and reflect.
It’s well done, very cleverly structured and well observed, but for some reason I can’t say I loved this one.

Anne Tyler masterfully sets up this story in the opening pages and follows through with a sublimely enjoyable story. Her writing style is so relaxed and her characters are magnificent.
Over the Three Days in June, Gail faces a career challenge, her daughter's wedding and a few other surprises and dilemmas.

I enjoyed this so much that I didn't want it to end.

I'm not really familiar with Tyler's work, having only read A Spool of Blue Thread, but this short story was enjoyable despite the narrator not being particularly likeable. She's a bit selfish and opinionated and I didn't warm to her a great deal.

It's set over 3 days, including her daughter's wedding, during which she spends time with her ex-husband, Max, and her internal monologue reflecting on their lives to date.

Perfect for those who have a quiet weekend planned and want to sit and read all afternoon, I read it in one sitting

Three Days in June offers a quietly compelling glimpse into the lives of a family, unfolding pieces of their story over the course of three days.

What struck me most was how well the characters were developed, despite the book's brevity. They felt real and their interactions truly drove the narrative.

This isn't a story packed with high drama, but that's its strength. It captures the subtle shifts and undulations of ordinary life, the everyday stresses and anxieties that we all experience. It's relatable and, in its own way, deeply engaging.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really wanted to enjoy this book after reading the blurb. Sadly I just didn't. Found it hard to get in to and it really didn't hold my interest. Got about halfway through and then gave up. Sorry.

This was a fab quick read all about ‘life’ and how time can change your mindset. Anne Tyler writes so beautifully.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Anne Tyler is so good at writing about people who deliberately reduce the scope of their lives – both physically and emotionally - to protect themselves. It’s territory that she’s explored in a number of her books and I can’t think of anyone who does it better. This is right up there with the best that she’s written.

In this instance it’s Gail, a divorced deputy Principal who imagines that she will eventually inherit the top job when her boss retires, but instead finds herself sidelined. At the same time her daughter is getting married which brings her ex back into her life and has her thinking about the compromises you do and don’t accept in a relationship.

As the title suggests it’s set over three days and it’s an exquisite character study written with all of Tyler’s warmth and wisdom and gentle humour. I absolutely adored it.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

After reading the blurb and looking at other reviews, I thought I would give this book a go, I have never read any of Anne Tyler's books before and I love finding new authors to read.

I just don't have the same opinion as most, I read only 50% of the book and to be honest I was bored, nothing happens, the opening few pages was about the best I read, where she tells her boss where to stick their job and leaves. The rest is just mundane, it's not funny, sad or any other emotion. I love books that take you on a journey and transports you somewhere else, this just had me sat in a bus stop going nowhere.

It is a well written book, it just isn't for me and I cannot read anymore when I know I have other books that will be more up my street. I hate giving negative reviews as I know how much hard work writers put into their books but I am sorry this is a 1 star book for me

It feels like a little while since I read an Anne Tyler book, but as soon as I started I felt comfortable and relaxed as I was confident this would be another good one. Ms Tyler has the style of writing that is easy to read and seemingly about mundane everyday life and relationships but she manages to inject warmth, humour, depth and understanding of the human condition that make them a joy to read. This one was no different, set over three days but reflecting on the lifetimes of the main characters.
Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

Three Days in June is classic Tyler - a quiet book about quiet people, in which nothing hugely dramatic happens in terms of plot but enormous emotional shifts occur for the characters. I loved it, and especially loved the ending. I also find it nothing short of miraculous that, more than 60 years after the publication of her first novel, the quality of Tyler's writing has slipped not a bit. In fact, when compared to her earliest books I find I have a stronger emotional connection to the fiction she has published in the last decade or so.

Anne Tyler at her best! Set over 3 days and a family wedding. Anne Tyler explores family life with precision and care. Gail and Max are divorced parents of Debbie who is just about to marry. Over the 3 days past secrets are revealed as well as family relationships as Gail takes stock of her life and the decisions that have brought her to this stage in her life. Her relationship with both her daughter and former husband are revealed in small domestic scenes.

Tyler's beautiful writing sucks you in in 176 pages.

Another triumph for Anne Tyler who always succeeds in making the ordinary and everyday into something special. In Three Days in June we meet Gail who has just lost her job and who has her daughters wedding the following day. Throw in an ex husband and a secret that may disrupt her daughters wedding and the scene is set for another wonderful tale by this author. I sped through the pages and was only sorry when I had finished the book. A must for all Anne Tyler fans. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for a honest review.

Gail's daughter is getting married and her ex has come to stay for a few days bringing a small cat.
The story doesn't flow easily and when it goes to the past you don't realise it's the past till half way through the paragraph and the ending is so abrupt and not for me so gave it 2-3 *
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

Anne Tyler squeezes so much into this novella. Spanning three days in Gail’s life, we reflect with her on the minutiae of herself, her family, her career. Quietly reflective and contemplative, I enjoyed spending time with Gail and her ex husband Max, as they find themselves brought together to celebrate their daughter's wedding. I love that the characters are so real, quirky and flawed; that the everyday happenings are just as you’d expect; all the tensions of families being joined through marriage. There’s nothing contrived here, it’s all just everyday life beautifully observed. Fans of Anne Tyler will not be disappointed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Random House UK for a copy in exchange for a review.

Anne Tyler’s “Three Days in June” is a charming exploration of family dynamics and self-discovery. The characters truly shine, feeling remarkably realistic and human. Gail, the quirky protagonist, is a delight to follow, and while her ex-husband receives the most development among the supporting cast, every character feels believable. Though the setting isn’t strongly emphasized, this doesn’t detract from the story’s impact. Tyler’s accessible writing style ensures a smooth, enjoyable reading experience.

The simple plot—Gail’s daughter’s wedding, her ex-husband’s temporary stay, and the resulting disruption to her routine—serves as a catalyst for Gail’s self-reflection. The relationships are portrayed with nuance and subtlety. Through carefully crafted interactions and flashbacks, Tyler masterfully shows rather than tells, allowing readers to glean insights into Gail’s connections with her daughter, ex-husband, mother, and even her future in-laws. This approach effectively reveals Gail’s character, quirks, and limitations, creating a rich and complex portrait. “Three Days in June” beautifully blends contemporary and literary elements, offering a touching exploration of family, self-knowledge, forgiveness, acceptance, letting go, and the enduring power of human connection.

This book is an absolute joy to read. I felt real empathy with Gail, not only being a similar age but having been Mother of the Bride twice. The descriptions of the wedding and emotions felt are spot on. I highly recommend this book.

I love Anne Tyler so much and this snack-sized book was such a treat - I ripped through it in a single sitting. This story has all her signature wit and charm, but also really tugs on your heartstrings too. I gently wept all the way through the second half (in a good way). Lovely, gentle, uplifting, very funny about family and wedding dynamics and the dangers of being too hard on yourself. Would be a good recommendation for fans of The Wedding People, I think.