Three Days in June, by Anne Tyler

Three Days in June provides us with a classic and satisfying Anne Tyler setup. A middle-aged divorced woman, Gail, has to survive the weekend of her daughter’s wedding while navigating a sudden job loss, her own social awkwardness, her relationship with her daughter, and, most significantly, the unexpected necessity to spend the weekend under the same roof as her ex-husband Max, who has arrived expecting to crash at Gail’s place and also bringing a rescue cat in need of a foster home. (Gail does not want a cat, nor does she want Max). As the weekend with its tensions unfolds, so does the backstory of Gail’s life and her marriage to Max, leading to a conclusion that feels (to me, anyway) unforeseen but also just right.