I really, really enjoyed this. it was a bit of a departure from Orenstein's previous work, but I think it worked out really well for her. I was very drawn into the story from the get-go.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC!

This book was hard to get through and I thought about not finishing several times. It is not lighthearted and fun. Nor did I really get parent trap vibes. The girls were bratty and childish for at least half the book. It came together more closer to the end but I was not invested in the story or the characters.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc

The first half of the book was slow and hard to get through. Also, just not a fan of the characters and how they were portrayed. Lucy was really annoying to read and why I struggled through this book. The second half picked up a bit to quickly and things felt rushed.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

People are complicated and things are not always what they seem. When Vivian travels to her father’s summer home in Maine after his death, she encounters a half sister she was never told about but suspected. Lucy knew she had a half sister, and spent a month every summer with her father, even though she knew he had another family. At first Lucy and Vivian are at odds, but as they move through the summer, truths about the past become clear. I really enjoyed the developing relationship between Lucy and Vivian, as well as their complicated relationships with their mothers and father. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed this story and the nostalgic parent trap-esque vibe but it fell a little flat for me throughout…vivian and Lucy were both flawed in their own way and found ways to grow through what they were going through. I think I was just expecting something a little more fun than sad

I was drawn in by the vibes of the cover and stayed for the messy family drama! It featured complex family dynamics and relationships, which I found to be relatable. Each sister had a completely different relationship with their dad and now have to deal with that. I loved the setting and the “parent trap” feeling. Thank you for the book!

Unfortunately I did not get this book completed before it was archived, however, when I started it, I felt drawn in to the characters and the setting! Will be purchasing this book in the future so I can complete it!

This book is a love letter to the lake and the places and people that make up who we are. Perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand.

I liked this book enough, but the pacing of the story made it hard for me to give this book my attention. I kept pushing it aside for other stories. This was unexpected for me because I've really enjoyed this author's other novels.

Something about summer screams the Parent Trap for me. Maybe it’s the summer camp vibes, maybe it’s because the first time I ever watched the movie was on a family beach vacation, but regardless, summer = Parent Trap in my mind. So when I saw this cover and the book description, I knew this had to be on my list for summer reads.

When Vivian and Lucy’s father unexpectedly passes away, they both return to his lake house. The catch? Vivian has no idea Lucy exists, and Lucy has no idea her father is dead. While Lucy grew up knowing her father had a second life in New York, spending just one month of the summer with him every year, Vivian has no clue about her father’s second life. When she goes to the lake to spread his ashes and sell the cabin, her world is rocked by Lucy’s revelation.

Now, the two are facing off. Who really has a right to keep or sell the house? How can sisters overcome the tragedy they’re both experiencing? After thirty years, is it too late to be family?

I can’t lie, the characters REALLY annoyed me in the first half of the book. Despite being in their thirties, both women are extremely immature and petty. I guess I’ve never had a mysterious half sister revealed to me, but they’re not nice to each other (or even those around them), at all.

However, the book redeemed itself by the end. I won’t reveal too much of the ending (although I am sure you can assume how things will go), but it did end with a really hopeful, uplifting tone that I appreciated.

While I won’t say this is my book of the summer, it is one that will be a nice, sweet beach read!

I love Hannah Orenstein. Her characters are always complex; I started out really hating the girls because of their actions, but then I realised that’s what made them flawed humans. They were growing. Really good summer read.

While I enjoyed the book, some people would not. There is a lot of emotion in the book - 2 sisters who knew nothing about each other. A Dad who kept so many secrets. It was interesting to see how the sisters handled finding out about each other. Would they become family or stay strangers. This would be a great read for a book club as there is so much to discuss. This was my first time reading Hannah Orenstein and now I'd like to read more of her books.

Mara Wilson was a fabulous narrator. I ended up listening to this one instead of reading the arc to catch up on my list. This is a sad story in the beginning, but by the end, you're feeling so much joy for all of the characters. Thanks to netgalley for the arc.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein is an absolute delight from start to finish. Set against the scenic beauty of coastal Maine, this novel is a refreshing, smart, and heartfelt exploration of what it means to step out of the supporting role and become the star of your own story.

This was such a fun, layered exploraiton of family and love in a beautiful summer package—the setting was exactly what I wanted to escape into.

My first book by Hannah Orenstein, and it won't be my last! I was initially drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover and reference to it being "an adult parent trap" (forever one of my favorite movies). I was easily able to sink into this book and while I didn't particularly like either main character, I understood them and found their dynamic fascinating. A book that can keep me reading despite majorly flawed main characters is always a win. The setting was what really won me over, I loved reading about the small lake town in Maine and each of the girls' special ties to the home. The complicated family dynamics were well executed and left me struggling to figure out who to root for. I liked that the sisters' relationship took the center stage, and the romantic relationships were a secondary storyline. There was some great character development over the course of the story, and by the end I found myself coming around to both the main characters. I really enjoyed this book and I have a feeling this will be a BIG summer read!

equested this for the cover, because it is beautiful but the insides were diggerent story for me completely. I wanted to see more on the vibe of "Parent trap for adults" but yea, this gave me emotional exhaustion after finishing it instead.

I wanted to love this, I really did. I love unhinged family mess, and the Jewish rep and coastal New England setting were strong. But everything else? Oof. The writing felt stiff, the characters were quite flat, and the emotional beats didn’t land for me fully besides just exhausting me. The cheating arcs had me side-eyeing every page and wondering why this was the hill the plot chose to die on and just to mention....i truly despise infidelity storylines so it probably just wasnt for me.

This was so cute! The perfect read for the start of summer. Gives you all the cozy lane feels and I just love how the story kept unfolding. This book kept my attention the whole way thru and I could not put it down!

The most perfect summer read with a beautiful setting in Maine! I really loved this story and it kept me on my toes, page after page. I think this is the most perfect story for a beach vacation or for anyone who wants to be transported to a beautiful scenery with a heartfelt family story with lots of depth.

This was a delight! The combination of family drama and a beautiful summer setting will always make a good beech read and this one felt refreshingly different. It was sad and sweet and I couldn’t put it down.