Three Days in June by Anne Tyler - Book Review

Publication Date: 11th Feb 2025 

Genre: Contemporary Family Drama 

2.5 Stars (outliner) 

One Liner: Enjoyed the writing but disappointed by the ending 

Life hasn’t been easy for Gail Baines. Losing her job, not being invited to participate in her daughter’s wedding activities, and the sudden arrival of her ex-husband (with a cat) cause more than enough stress. 

However, Debbie, her daughter, shares a secret with her parents, and it takes drama to the next level. How can Gail and her family navigate the situation? Will they address the past to find a way for the future? 

The story comes in Gail’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

This novella is a family drama divided into three parts – day one, day two, and day three.

Since we get the story from Gail’s POV, we only see what she presumes and assumes. This makes for an interesting choice since she is quite judgmental and quick to jump to conclusions. 

The pacing is steady even as the narration moves between the present, the MC’s thoughts, and tiny snippets of the past. I’m not a fan of long chapters but this format made it easy to separate the days and their events. 

Despite having a heavy vibe, there are little bits of unexpected (dry) humor that lighten the scene and provide a little insight into the character(s). 

Of course, it is easy enough to guess the reveal that comes midway through but this is not a mystery book, so no extra points for the reader. 

Max brings his share of charm and humor while getting on the MC’s nerves for no reason. I empathized more with him as the story progressed. Though he is not the kind of person I like (have some ambition!), Gail made me root for him instead of her. TBH, he deserved better. 

Gail, our narrator, and main lead. What do I say? I don’t mind unlikeable characters. I understand her lack of social skills or discomfort in interacting with others. I can even see why she holds herself aloof and distanced. But, she is so darn judgmental and selfish! Though I felt for her initially, by the end, I couldn’t support her. Despite that, I liked how the author created her and Max’s characters to contrast and complement each other. 

A few things have been felt open, which is fine since this is a slice-of-life kind of novella. However, the ending was disappointing. I did not want THAT to happen. There has to be an adult-to-adult conversation, acknowledgment, apology, and acceptance. Some things cannot be brushed under the carpet or ignored when they have such a lasting impact on their lives. Also, the message it sends is very unappealing. 

To summarize, Three Days in June is an interesting read as a study of characters but was a letdown in terms of plot development and conclusion. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #ThreeDaysInJune