A Day in June (13)

by Marisa Labozzetta

A young man attempts to save the economy of his depressed Vermont town with a contest that offers a free wedding. But when the winner who has lost her fiancé to the priesthood is urged by her hilarious grandmother to find a replacement, a web of deception forces three millennials and an entire town to re-examine their notions of faith and death, love and acceptance.

“A Day in June delighted me with its graceful smart, witty writing. And with this rare gift: Marisa Labozzetta’s delicious premise delivers.—Elinor Lipman

268 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2019

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marisa Labozetta shows some tricky fingering, when it comes to arousal. Pun intended, yes. A DAY IN JUNE presents a roundelay of romance, in which the tensions between two guys & a girl unfold within a good many other entanglements, both for all three of them & for most of the secondary figures, & yet all of these tumble into surprises &, ahem, tickles. The central trio fit Hollywood's notion of a love object, young & healthy & unafraid to flirt. Yet the novel's most remarkable & moving affair may involve two oldtimers in a nursing home, who need aides to bathe them before their wedding night. The bride in that case is the grandmother of our protagonist, Ryan, a young woman whose conflicting impulses reflect the dual-gendered name. Those conflicts extend beyond her wavering between Jason & Eric. She samples both, before the story's far along, & Labozzetta delineates the neediness, rooted in a bad parental breakup, that spurs her-- yet she never comes across as merely needy. She's got other resources, other talents, & a prickly integrity. As for the men, without spoiling the story I can say that Jason's other lover is the God of the Catholics. He's left seminary, in no small part in order to pursue Ryan. As for Eric, I found his complications less compelling, & by & large the novel could be faulted for its failure to acknowledge how everyone here is among the blessed of the earth, comfy white Americans. That said, Eric too demonstrates wit & conscience & yearning, & he provides a fine sneaky conclusion, decidedly saccharine-free. A swift & satisfying read, yet never lacking in the heart's moil.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a happy, engaging romp through New England and the lives of its city and country dwellers. This made for a great beach read and kept me guessing along the way. Would love to listen to the audio version to enjoy all the accents!

[Robert Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another successful novel from Marisa Labozzetta. This one, a bit easier to access than some of her earlier works, tells a story of a wedding contest in a Vermont town, yet weaves in critical life issues that impact her characters, and us - love, betrayal, relationships, religion, aging, death. Marisa's writing in A Day in June is so incredibly smooth that she is able to present us various levels of the story without hindering our reading. The premise is attractive, even light hearted, and the characters are real, interacting with each other as humans do. The overall environment pulls the reader into the story, and I, for one, was fully in the Vermont town of Brackton, observing the emotional reactions, subterfuge, deceit, and ultimately resolution of the wedding contest and all it brings. Marisa has a unique ability to weave complex themes within a simple story, raising the reader's satisfaction and causing us to reflect not only on her compelling characters but upon our own lives. A superb author with another superb novel.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great romantic comedy that doesn't shy away from dealing with serious themes. Eric Boulanger returns to his economically depressed hometown to care for his mother. Once there he tries to revive the town by running a contest that offers the winner a free wedding. The winner is Ryan Toscano, who, unfortunately, has just lost her fiancé to the priesthood. But, according to her Jewish grandmother, this shouldn't be a hindrance and she urges her to find a replacement in time for the wedding. From these beginnings come a complicated series of relationships with couples coming together and falling apart. The book is full of comic dialogue and situations and even the minor characters are given life. Even though the book deals with such serious issues as love and commitment, faith and morality, aging and death it never loses it's light touch or humor. This book was received as a Goodreads giveaway.

[Maria Giura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marisa Labozzetta’s A Day in June is a smart, delightful read from start to finish. She expertly weaves the paths of her complicated characters while also revealing the humor and levity that arise even in life’s weightiest circumstances. A Day in June is the perfect summer—or anytime—read for adults of all ages, including millennials who will see their vibrant, open-minded, and purpose-seeking selves in Labozzetta’s seamless and highly engaging narrative.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A small town in Vermont holds a contest that they hope will help drum up new business and bring some attention to their town. The prize is an all-inclusive, all expenses paid wedding. There’s just one catch - the winner hasn’t told them that she and her fiance are no longer together. He’s entered a seminary. It feels a lot like a Hallmark movie. There are a few little plot twists that keep it from being too predictable.

[Nancy Reynolds · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry. I hate to write bad reviews, but this book did not do it for me. I won it at Goodreads. I was really finding it hard to like, so I jumped to the end of the book after I'd read about one-third to see if I would like the ending. Nope. Not at all. So I was really glad I hadn't spent the time reading the part in between. This is just one person's opinion - and I'm sorry I can't say something positive.

[Rita Ciresi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dual settings of rural Vermont and Boston lend small-town charm and urban sophistication to Marisa Labozzetta's latest delightful novel. A Day in June has all the elements of a rich, satisfying romantic comedy: sharp dialogue, conflicting philosophies of love, a large cast of young, vibrant lovers who pair off in surprising ways, and of course, the promise of a wedding in the end.

[Noni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed "A Day in June"....it was hard to put down! The characters were well developed and the plot was a combination of funny, heartwarming and thought-provoking. I recommend it to anyone who wants a good read!!!

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A totally new audience is targeted in this book than Marisa's other novel, and she totally knocked it out of the park. What a fun concept of a "giveaway" to win a wedding and all the drama that ensued!

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took me three weeks to finish. I kept picking up my other books to read because I just couldn't get into this story. A Day in June just didn't keep my interest. I must confess, I do not gravitate to romance stories so the fault is mine not in the writing.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! It was well written, the characters were relatable & the scenes were set beautifully. I can still feel the cold and fog walking from the inn 😉. Thank you Marisa Labozzetta for an incredibly wonderful Day in June!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book off Goodreads. This book is awesome. Highly recommend. Thank you.

[vincenza russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story really kept my interest. The subject matter and characters are very timely to today's changes in relationships, challenges and attitudes on love, commitments and marriage.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I got this book at our book club's book exchange. It had a lot going on and was enjoyable to read.

[Lori Carlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story and fun read. I highly recommend it!!

[K.R. Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marisa Labozzetta’s award-winning novel A DAY IN JUNE—about a young woman who wins an all-expense-paid wedding after her fiancé leaves her for the priesthood—is an engaging exploration of relationships, family, God, small towns & procrastination.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ryan, a woman, and Jason ended their relationship a year and a half ago because Jason wanted to enter the priesthood. Ryan has not gotten over the breakup and enters a contest to win a wedding in a small town in Vermont. Much to her surprise, she wins. In the meantime, Jason, who does not know about the contest, takes a leave from the seminary and returns to Ryan in the hopes of rekindling their relationship. There are many bumps along the way, but all is cleared up in the last chapter of the book.
The story line was interesting but didn’t hold my interest. I felt there were subplots that didn’t enhance the story therefore they weren’t needed.