A day in june
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. Told with humour and pathos by award-winning author of Thieves Never Steal in the Rain.
REVIEWS
“Labozzetta is the rare writer who can convey a plot, settings and characters with numerous epiphanies in a smooth and fluid style…She is most accurate in capturing the thoughts, ambitions, fears and memories of her diverse characters…The novel is not to be only compared to a fine Italian wine, but, considering the setting, a pint of Vermont maple syrup, sweet and wholesome and a joy to savor…A Day in June is most magnificent.”
—Truby Chiaviello, PRIMO Magazine
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“Labozzetta has a marvelous way of pulling the reader into the story. Her characters are wonderfully well written with delightfully deep dialogue and a fast-paced plot. From the laugh-out-loud sarcastic barbs between Chamber of Commerce rivals to Jason's existential ponderings about morality and mortality, the author handles both humorous and agonizingly sad situations with an insight into human nature that renders her characters fully rounded. Surprising plot twists keep readers interested right up until the very end. Part love story, part philosophical discourse, this one leaves an impression.”
—Recommended by US Review of Books
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“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, On Turpentine Lane
“The world of fiction urges readers to suspend their disbelief, but this timely novel by Marisa Labozzetta requires no such effort. The events that take place in A Day in June are played out by a cast of well-developed contemporary characters, who engage the reader in a philosophical look at how the difficult choices of two individuals come to impact the lives of many others.”
—Roxanne Christofano Pilat, Italian Americana
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“Even the minor characters matter here…Labozzetta recreates small-town life in ways that show us there’s more to tourist traps than meets the eye. After all, these people have to live with each other when they’re not busy taking care of the seasonal guests. Through all the fussing and fighting, we get a great look behind the scenes of 21st-century American life at its best and worst.”
—Fred Gardaphè, Fra Noi and La Voce
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“…humorously though not superficially, Labozzetta’s latest novel embraces a wide array of significant issues troubling ethnic women, especially those of a mixed cultural heritage… Labozzetta’s work is a special mixture of freshness, bitter humor, and acumen as to the future of italianamericanità.”
—Theodora Patrona in VIA
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“A Day in June is both a comedy and a more serious look at the intersection of love and religious belief…”
—Steve Pfarrer, Hampshire Life Magazine
Awards
Eric Hoffer Grand Prize Short List, 2020
Best Book Award winner, 2019
American Fiction Book Award winner, 2019
Best New Fiction Award finalist, 2019