Three Days in June

by Anne Tyler

A new Anne Tyler novel destined to be an instant an inept mother of the bride attempts to navigate the days before and after her daughter's wedding.

Gail Baines is long divorced from her husband, Max, and not especially close to her grown daughter, Debbie. Today is the day before Debbie's wedding. To start, Gail loses her job—or quits, depending who you ask. Then, Max arrives unannounced on Gail's doorstep, carrying a cat, without a place to stay and without even a suit.

But the true crisis lands when Debbie shares with her parents a secret she has just learned about her husband-to-be. It will not only throw the wedding itself into question but also send Gail back into her past and how her own relationship fell apart.

Told with deep sensitivity and a tart sense of humor, full of the joys and heartbreaks of love and marriage and family life, Three Days in June is a triumph, and gives us the perennially bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer at the height of her powers.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Family, Book Club

195 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2025

About the author

Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1941 and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated at nineteen from Duke University and went on to do graduate work in Russian studies at Columbia University. She has published 20 novels, her debut novel being If Morning Ever Comes in (1964). Her eleventh novel, Breathing Lessons , was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1988. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Reviews

[Brady Lockerby · Rating 3 out of 5]

is it possible to say that a book was basically about nothing, but you still enjoyed it? that would be the case with this! quirky main character + a few laugh out loud moments

[Yun · Rating 4 out of 5]

But then when the anger fades, the sadness comes right back again the same as ever.

Oh my word! Anne Tyler, where have you been all my life?

On the surface, this seems like such a simple story. We follow Gail Baines on the eve of her daughter's wedding, where everything is set to go off without a hitch. So then why does Gail feel somewhat disappointed that she wasn't invited to the bridal spa day, whatever that is? On top of that, she has just found out that she might be losing her job at age sixty-one. And then Gail's ex-husband shows up at her house with a cat in tow, and it really is starting to feel like more than she bargained for.

What a understated, yet poignant little novella this turned out to be. While not much happens on the surface, it feels so sharp and observant underneath. Every scene is one lifted out of everyday life, but infused with so much meaning and emotion and humor. And together, they constitute a glimpse into a life well-lived but also one full of human follies.

Maybe one reason this works so well is that the author chose to keep it short. It's a novella, so the story doesn't go on longer than there is content for. It's as long as it needs to be, and then it's wrapped up. So every scene in here feels like it was put there with meaning and impact.

I loved the messages in here, that every life and every relationship can be joyful but also quietly messy. And that as we grow older, we needn't always remain exactly the same, that there is room and opportunity for change and second chances and discovery and rediscovery. And while such a message and delivery is not nearly as dramatic as most thrillers would have you believe is necessary, the quiet drama in here hits so much harder than those over the top ones ever could.

I cannot believe Anne Tyler has written twenty-five novels, and this is only my first by her. I feel like I have been looking for writing like this for a long time. Even though I am late to the party, I'm glad to have finally arrived. And now I've got her long backlist to keep me busy.

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[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Tyler always manages to turn the ordinary, the mundane, into extraordinary and imaginative, with her observations on the minutiae of life.

‘Three Days in June’ follows Gail Baines’s story for three days, as she faces a crisis in her working life, and there’s also the matter of her daughter Debbie’s upcoming marriage, which tells us of the day before, the day OF the wedding, and the day after.

Gail has no real people skills, and that’s partly why she is facing an uncertain future after being passed over for a promotion at the school where she works. Not only that, but it’s Debbie’s wedding in a few days, and then Gail’s ex husband, Max, turns up unannounced with a foster cat of unknown origin (both to Gail and to Max)! There’s also a shock regarding Debbie’s fiancé Kenneth, the day before the wedding.

Told with wisdom and humour, there are no great mysteries here, no thrilling plot, just a keenly observed depiction of life at its most ordinary - ordinary but nevertheless acutely interesting! Pure delight.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Vintage UK for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can hardly wait for 2025 after reading one amazing book after another! I have to say, this has become my favorite Anne Tyler book. When I finished the last chapter, my eyes welled up, and I sighed with happiness as a wide smile spread across my face. What a delight! I finally found something genuinely engaging, refreshing, and heartfelt—like reading a chapter from the lives of my friends, family, or even my own life. There's nothing pretentious, far-fetched, exaggerated, or clichéd in this book, and that’s exactly why I loved it so much.

The story centers on Gail Banes’ life as her daughter’s wedding approaches, spanning from the day before the ceremony to the day after. In just three days, Gail finds herself reliving a pattern from her past that hits her hard, forcing her to make important decisions about her life and embrace changes or losses in the best way possible.

It all begins at the school where she works, where she’s abruptly told that her executive associate position is no longer needed and that she’s considered too socially awkward for the management role she requested. Shocked by the news, she leaves the school without even taking her belongings. When she arrives home, she finds her ex-husband Max—who has brought a cat with him but conveniently forgot his suit for the wedding—explaining that he needs to stay with her because their daughter didn’t allow him to stay at her house due to her fiancé’s allergies.

As if that weren’t enough, her daughter Debbie arrives, tearfully confiding a secret about her fiancé before the rehearsal dinner, a revelation that could change the course of their marriage plans. Debbie’s confession sends Gail down memory lane, reminding her of an incident that ended her own marriage and bringing up feelings of guilt, shame, regret, and sadness. Meanwhile, Gail and Max attend the rehearsal dinner, with Gail still questioning her daughter’s choices as well as her own.

Should she adopt the cat Max brought? Should she return to teaching math, a career she gave up long ago? Should she start over at 60? Is it too late to take risks and make a fresh start, even if it means making more mistakes? Does she have the strength to change things?

I absolutely loved this bittersweet, engaging book. Gail and Max are wonderfully peculiar, quirky characters, and it’s easy to see why they were drawn to each other in the past. Gail may not be socially awkward; she’s simply direct and unfiltered, speaking her mind without hesitation. She’s smart, an overthinker, and a bit of a worrier. Max, on the other hand, is the opposite—laid-back, embracing life’s ups and downs with a smile, and often making unexpected remarks in tense situations. But that doesn’t mean he lacks insight into people and their motives; he’s a wise man hiding behind a carefree façade.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characterization and the honest storytelling. I’m giving this book five stars and highly recommend adding it to your TBR as one of the best fictions of 2025. But don’t let it sit on your list for too long—just read it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Canadian Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

How have I never read Tyler?!?! What have I been missing?!

Gail is having a bad day -actually a questionable 3. She quits her job on the spot (she’s 61) and as mother of the bride in two days, she is ill prepared.
Her ex- who irritates her- has brought her a cat that she doesn’t want and is suddenly staying with her for the wedding. Enough said?

This is an unassuming story. Not a loud one; not a shocking one. Tyler has created this prickly character who grew on me. All her imperfections with her questions and reflections made her a relatable one.
4.5 ⭐️
A shoutout to TGH for sharing a great story w me!

[Kezia Duah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely meant to be a simple story but still packed with the realness of human nature. I loved how eccentric all the characters were. They had me cracking up several times.

Unfortunately, my love for this book started off way stronger than how I felt by the end. It slowly dwindled until I just thought it was okay. Some of their decisions left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, which definitely contributed to me not loving it as much overall.

I still did really enjoy finding little bits of relatability in the characters — whether it was Gail’s social awkwardness or Max’s carefree way of living — which kept the story from feeling boring even though it was super simple. I guess in some ways, I could see why they’d be attracted to each other.

Anyway, it’s a super short book and a quick read to pass the time!

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading Anne Tyler for many years . I’ve read over 20 of her novels and I keep on reading them. That says a lot about a writer who keeps me interested in her storytelling, her characters with her keen sense of human nature . This novel is short, sweet, funny , and touching. As in many of Tyler’s novels, there are characters who are a bit quirky, who we may not totally see ourselves in , but the emotions they feel over the ordinary things in life are real and so relatable. A mother of the bride is left out of the wedding activities planned by the mother of the groom, feeling pushed aside by her daughter. She’s dealing with job loss, the wedding, and an ex husband on her doorstep. The reality of coming to terms with herself and her past while wanting nothing but happiness for her daughter makes for a good story.

Anne Tyler is a treasure who writes with heart and humor. There’s no doubt I’ll read the next book she writes.

I received a copy of this book from Knopf through NetGalley.

[JanB · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel tells the story of Gail, the MOB, during 3 days surrounding her daughter’s wedding.

Gail feels like an outsider at her only daughter’s wedding, she learns she’s being passed over at work, her daughter shares a disturbing revelation, and her ex shows up at her doorstep with a foster cat.

Gail must navigate these events, and as she does so she reflects on the past and gains clarity on her future. The characteristic Tyler wisdom & subtle humor are here and at less than 200 pages, I easily read this book in one day. So much is said in so few pages, the mark of an excellent author.

Anne Tyler’s depiction of human nature and her observations about the world are excellent. She’s one of a handful of authors who can write about the ordinary in an extraordinary way, with flawed but sympathetic characters.

Another winner from Anne Tyler!

*I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
*pub date Feb 11, 2025

[Terrie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gail Baines quit her job today. She didn't clear her desk or collect her personal belongings. She simply said goodbye to her boss after a brief discussion, walked out the front door, and drove straight home.

It wasn't the ideal way to begin the weekend of her daughter Debbie's wedding. The big day is tomorrow, and the mother of the bride is already foggy about the details.

Gail is surprised when she sees her ex-husband, Max, approaching her front door unannounced. He has no accommodations or proper attire as the father of the bride, but he does have a cat.

When the bride tearfully shares a secret with her parents concerning the groom, it could impact the impending nuptials and begins to put Gail into a bit of a spin...

Three Days in June is divided into three 'longish' chapters: Part One: Day of Beauty, Part Two: D-day, Part Three: The Day After. It is narrated in the first-person voice of Gail, allowing readers to learn what makes this main character tick. I found her honesty and frankness refreshing, albeit not for everyone. With Gail, what you see is what you get, and I like that. Not so true with most of the other characters, I'm afraid, but isn't that what makes Family Fiction so gosh darn interesting?

Anne Tyler's first novel If Morning Ever Comes wasn't a book for me. I am glad I took a second look at her work with her new novella Three Days in June. I found the characters to be realistic, diverse, and interesting. Topics that center around family, love, and marriage, with the addition of subtle humor, show a true understanding of family life through the author's writing. What I like most about this story is that it feels like real life.

4.25⭐and definitely recommended!

Thank you to Knopf and Anne Tyler for the DRC through NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to get this read in - three days in June.

😅🫠

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gail is an awkward sort of women.. no real social skills…, she learns of the loss of her position as second in command at the Aston School in Baltimore the same weekend as her daughter is getting married.
Also, her ex-husband comes to town, and ends up staying at her house which is fine because they’ve stayed friendly.
I really enjoyed how Tyler wrote about each character.. she really lets you feel what they are feeling!
This was a fun, sweet read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the Arc!

[Rachel Hanes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts out with Gail, who is 61 years old, being told that she lacks people skills. Ha! She was also told that perhaps she should go and seek her dream job. What?! She wasn’t even invited to her daughter’s “Day of Beauty” day before her wedding. Is there even such a thing? And to make matters worse, Gail’s ex-husband shows up on her doorstep with a cat. A foster cat with no home! 🐈

As this story progresses over the span of three days, we learn about Gail’s daughter, Debbie and her husband to be, Kenneth. In learning a bit of their story, it takes us back to Gail and her ex-husband Max’s story. How we all live and learn, forgive and forget, and grow and mature.

I enjoyed Gail’s character and really resonated and connected with her. This is my first read by Anne Tyler (which I can’t understand why), but I am looking forward to reading more from her after this short read. I definitely recommend this quick read!

[Amber Rae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Respectfully, why is anyone rating this higher than a 2??

[Emily May · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What can I say," I told her.
Because one of life's frustrations is that sometimes it's best to say nothing.

Another lovely intimate character portrait from Anne Tyler.

It's hard to know what to write about Tyler at this point in her career-- she is consistent, I feel, in both quality and style. If you enjoyed her previous books, you'll probably enjoy this one also. If you found her other books boring, or had complaints that nothing happened, Three Days in June won't satisfy you either.

As the title promises, this one is set over three days in June. The day before, the day of, and the day after the wedding of Gail's daughter. Of course, we also do some revisiting of Gail's past to build our understanding of who she is and how and why she's at this place in her life.

Tyler explores characters, situations and feelings. Her stories are thoughtful but undramatic, which happens to work for me, and I'm often left with a bittersweet feeling at the final page.

[Teres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Elizabeth Strout's Amgash series will love Tyler's latest slice-of-life novella. Count me among them!

[Ron Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Tyler’s new book is called “Three Days in June,” but it can happily be read during one day in February. A svelte, finely constructed novel, it’s a story of self-sufficient loneliness that seems to defy the conventions of romantic comedy until it finally, gloriously gives in.

We meet the narrator, Gail Simmons, on one of those ordinary days that swerves off the road into a telephone pole. A flinty woman who cuts her own hair, Gail is an administrator at a girls school in Baltimore. On a Friday morning toward the end of the year, the headmistress casually calls her into the main office to let her know she’ll be absent the following Monday. And, oh, there’s one more thing she should mention: Gail, 61, will be pushed out of her job next year.

“Face it,” the headmistress says, “this job is a matter of people skills. You know that! And surely you’ll be the first to admit that social interactions have never been your strong point.”

It’s a credit to Tyler’s deft handling of perspective that despite how thoughtlessly this news is delivered, the headmistress seems to have a point. There’s something decidedly prickly about Gail. Her interior life is a chorus of critical observations on others’ grammatical gaffes, sartorial missteps and excessive noise. “Someday,” Gail says, “I’d like to be given credit for all the times I have not said something that I could have said.” Even though we’ve known her for all of three pages, it’s hard to imagine her stroking a potential school donor or coddling some lazy legacy freshman.

“No one had ever told me before that I lacked people skills,” Gail thinks, before conceding, “Not in so many words.”

Still, her boss’s comments are too much. Shocked and hurt, Gail quits right then and walks out of the school without even cleaning her desk. “Someone could send it all to me later, I thought. Or throw it out; what did I care?”

Tyler fanatics like me will remember the opening of....

To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
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[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Three Days in June, by Anne Tyler, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Gail Baines is insufferable. Gail is the mother of the bride, Debbie, her ex husband Max is in town,and staying at her house for the wedding. I did not care for any of these characters. They were so selfish, and annoying.

[Dez the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

If ever wondered what it was like to be in your own head….welcome to Gail Baines.

This is a novella intended to encourage introspection. A good look at life choices, how we deal with them and how sometimes the hardest judge of our own lives is ourself.

The novella is about Gail, a 61 year old who seems to be having some difficulties in more frequency as of late…he daughter is getting married but there’s trouble in paradise, her beloved work seems to think she needs to go another direction, her relationships seem quirky but laced with standoffish behavior. I felt angered, I felt sorrow and I felt frustrated.

This is a slow burn, meant to make you ponder more than just what you normally think about. I looked at my life, and also questioned if I had ever been this way to other people. It was interesting trying to discern the message here.

A quick read, not your typical heart warming story but it did give me things to think about. More about the “why” than the “what”, about question for yourself more than others, and about hope.

Thank you to the publisher for an advance review copy!

[EveStar91 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because one of life’s frustrations is that sometimes, it’s best to say nothing.

Gail's daughter's wedding days pack a lot of changes and emotion for Gail in Three Days in June. Usually straitlaced and plan-ahead Gail finds herself quitting her job, deal with her ex-husband showing up on her doorstep with a cat, try to make sure her daughter doesn't regret her decisions while trying to figure out her feelings for her ex-husband - all while questioning her people-skills and not falling for the new cat.

Someday I’d like to be given credit for all the times I have not said something that I could have said.

The novella is a quick read but manages to convey quite a bit about Gail's life and feelings on most things, in-between the lines of her daughter’s wedding events and her feeling bereft. The writing style is low-key, a little like how Gail and her daughter prefer things and suits Gail's introspective thoughts. However, Gail's behavioural patterns, especially with communicating her thought processes might have better mirrored her introspection and growth, instead of merely repeating the comfortable patterns with minimal communication of her earlier life.

“Cats are not coldhearted!” I said. “They’re only protecting their dignity, in case they get rejected. ‘I’ll just reject you first,’ they’re saying.”
“Yes, so you’ve always told me.”

🌟🌟3/4🌟
[Half a star for the premise and the whole book; 3/4 star for the characters and their growth; Half a star for the story and themes; Half a star for the world-building and societal description; Half a star for the writing - 2 3/4 stars in total.]

[Brandice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A socially awkward mother of the bride contends with her feelings on the day before, the day of, and the day after her daughter’s wedding. Character-driven and reflective, Three Days in June follows Gail as she grapples with her feelings about the past, the present, and possibly, the future.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Anne Tyler is so great at writing authentic, human characters! I may not always agree with them, but I see them and want to root for them. Three Days in June is a short book with tight prose depicting a slice of life. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this novella by one of my top ten favourite authors, Anne Tyler!



Gail and Max have been amicably divorced for over 20 years.



Their daughter, Debbie, is getting married to her long-time boyfriend, Kenneth. Max, who moved away from Baltimore after the divorce, was going to stay at Debbie's place but has to bunk with Gail instead because he is fostering a cat from a shelter that he volunteers for and Kenneth is allergic to cats.



Gail is leery at first, but Gail and Max manage to share her small house without too much hassle. It was cute, actually, how well they got along and how the cat ingratiated itself into Gail's reluctant heart.



But all was not smooth traveling on Debbie's road to wedded bliss: Debbie wanted a low-key, non-traditional wedding, but her mother-in-law-to-be had totally different plans and practically hi-jacked the entire event.



Throw in a few more unexpected curves - which I will not elaborate on for fear of spoilers - and you start to wonder if there will even be a wedding.



In the meantime, it appears that Gail and Max might be having their own version of a Groundhog Day movie redo.... or is it all just wishful thinking on Max's part? I have my fingers crossed that Gail finally decides to live on the wild side!



What a great read: 5 out of 5 highly enjoyable stars!! My thanks to the author, Anne Tyler, her publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novella in exchange for an honest review.
Expected Publication Date: February 11, 2025.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about complicated families, and lives that may take a lifetime to fully understand. It takes place over 3 days in June that are titled: day of beauty, D-day and the day after. And, what could happen within those 3 days that could change everything for Gail, Max and their daughter, Debbie.

Which leads readers wondering, can second chances be possible?

This heart-felt, self-reflecting, soulful quick read will give Tyler fans everything they need in one sitting. And, for cat lovers, even older cats like Celine, show why second chances are purr-fect for humans. 🐾

For those new to Tyler, this would be a great first peek at her nostalgic style of storytelling.

[Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delight! As always, Anne Tyler has captured a mildly eccentric but relatable character on the page so fully that you can imagine her walking right off and into the streets of Baltimore. I loved this slice-of-life story that follows a woman in her 60s on the day before, of, and the day after her daughter's wedding. This event calls up past events in the protagonists life and causes her to consider her habits, her behaviors, her state of being, her choices. It puts her in close proximity to her own ex-husband and a stray cat. It's heartwarming and nuanced and full of Tyler's signature observations that make her one of my favorite and the most consistent of writers!

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kept seeing this book pop up on must-read lists. So I got in line at the library. Not sure what the big deal is. Kind of felt like I was reading something by Elena Ferrante - little action, a stretch of emotions, but nothing super compelling. Actually, at least Elena Ferrante makes me really dislike her characters. In this case, I was lukewarm about all of them. It was an average book about average people living average lives dealing with average troubles. Bored. Only saving grace was that it was a very short book.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

We need more stories centered around older women, and Anne Tyler’s upcoming Three Days in June delivers just that!

Three Days in June is an intimate character illustration depicting the everyday life. Centered around the ups and downs, and the unexpected changes we must deal with. Even though this is a shorter read, it packs a powerful punch. Heartfelt, humourous, nostalgic, and with a deeply relatable main character, this brilliantly written novel is truly a must-read!

I listened to the audiobook version which was read by J. Smith Cameron who did an excellent job. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format.

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler will be available on February 11. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted copy!

[Diane Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Days in June in which Gail loses her job, sees her daughter get married, puts up with her clueless ex-husband who shows up on her doorstep with a cat, and we're off to the races. Of course it's in Baltimore, and of course Gail muddles through in her awkward way. One of the reasons she was replaced as assistant headmaster at a private school is because "she's not good with people". We can all identify with that a bit. As she says, she never gets credit for the things she doesn't say.

As always, Anne Tyler makes me wish she were a personal friend, or at least a next door neighbor. Her characters are so real, so human, so full of endearing faults, it's a pleasure to spend some time in her world.

[Dee (Hiatus through mid-Sept.!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for Anne Tyler’s latest - I really liked this quick novel set over 60-something Gail’s weekend where her daughter gets married, she deals with career issues, her Ex-hubby & a rescue cat he brings to her home. Very, very good “day in the life” type read, a good character driven book & super easy to read!!

[Constantine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Literary Fiction + Novella

Three Days of June is a heartwarming and humorous novella about a divorced couple who must unite to support their daughter, Debbie, on her wedding day. However, their daughter's big day is threatened by a secret she has just learned about her husband-to-be, and old feelings begin to resurface between Gail and Max, the parents.

The story takes place over three days, and it follows and is narrated in the first-person style by Gail. In these three days of book time, we, as readers, become engaged with these characters and see all their strengths and vulnerabilities.

I loved this novella a lot. Although the story appears simple, light, and humorous, it is much deeper if you examine it from a different angle. This can only be achieved by a great author. Although I have never read anything by Anne Tyler before, I can see why she has such a strong reputation. She has a new fan now, and I’d love to read all her past and future books.

Despite being a novella, the characters are really well-developed, and you get to see that they are multifaceted. They are like real people and very relatable. The author has brilliantly balanced the humorous moments with those that require more emotional depth. The ending of the novella is heartwarming and will leave you on a good note. This was a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

[Jacklyn Perkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book follows a semi miserable woman who loses her job when her daughter gets married is reunited with her ex husband and they get back together… only good part about this book was she kept the cat. I received a free version of this book through good read and I gave it 1 stars

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could have any author write my bio, I would choose Anne Tyler, and here’s why: with every novel she writes, she displays a deep, abiding love for her flawed and imperfect characters. Through all of them, she chronicles the hopes, dreams, foibles, and secrets of her stumbling middle-class characters. Three Days in June is no exception; once again, Anne Tyler has mastered the art of the everyday.

When we first meet Gail Baines, we are led to believe she is a socially awkward, not particularly likable character. She is 61 years old, about to lose her job because she’s just not a “people person,” and her daughter, Debbie, is about to get married. Amid this, her ex-husband, Max, shows up at her doorstep with a cat (to which her soon-to-be son-in-law is allergic) and needs a place to stay.

When a secret emerges that makes Debbie question whether she can go through with her imminent marriage, it opens an opportunity for Gail to question herself. Is absolute certitude a gift or a curse? Is it a good thing or a bad thing to try out various random ideas and give up if they don’t work out? Shouldn’t life be about taking chances – just a little?

In so many ways, Gail Baines is everyone. She is all of us, yearning for closeness but unable to get out of her own way as she strives to get things right with her daughter and ex-husband. She can barely figure out how to navigate a relationship with the cat! Funny and wise, poignant and empathetic, Three Days in June is another gem from a writer who feels like an old friend. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for enabling me to be an early reader in exchange for an honest review. Anne Tyler fans, be prepared to fall in love with her world all over again!