I love love loved this book! When I read the description, I was so excited to read it and it truly did not disappoint! Following these half siblings was so interesting! The whole book gave a parent trap vibe, only the dad passed away and the happy ending for him wasn't there. 
I gave the score I did , because cheating doesn't really settle well with me and sometimes it can really ruin my perspective of a book. However I really enjoyed the rest of the book and watching Vivian and Lucy start to get along and learn how to be sisters.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for my review.

What a gorgeous cover on this book and I'll admit I fully judged it by the cover, and the old saying proved true.
I was excited for this Parent Trap for adults set in Maine but the reality was unfortunately a bit of a drag with unlikeable characters who I could not connect with.

Unfortunately not for me, but I know it will be a popular summer read and I think you will like this if you like Jennifer Weiner books :)

I didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I would after reading the description. It took a while to get into the storyline and I wasn't impressed by either of the main characters.

Sisters that knew about each other, but were raised completely separate. Vivian raised in the big city in a wealthy family. Lucy raised in Maine by a single mother most of the time. They each have one month a summer spent with Hank, their father, at his Maine cabin. When Hank dies, Vivian takes his ashes to Maine to spread him at the lake and sell the cabin. When she arrives there, she finds Lucy living in the cabin. They spend the summer learning about each other, also about themselves and deciding what to do with the cabin.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I was a bigggggg Parent Trap fan when I was younger (still am, tbh) and this had some of those vibes with half- sisters meeting without fully knowing about each other. I say it like that because Vivian suspected that her dad had another kid after overhearing a phone call. Lucy on the other hand knew that Vivian existed but she had never met her. My heart breaks for Lucy and Vivian but for some reason I feel more for Lucy. Being the hidden child and only really getting her dad one month out of the year. She is getting divorced, her dad dies, her half-sister wants to sell the lake house out from under her, and then she loses her job all in a short amount of time. Don’t get me wrong, I feel bad for Vivian too about losing her dad, but she dislikes Lucy for being the result of her dad cheating and meanwhile she is the other woman in her relationship… just doesn’t add up. She did grow on me a little but and I really loved them learning how to live together and support each other. The ending was sweet with them ending up in the same town, doing their own thing, and finally standing up for what they deserved. Their moms meeting and talking out some things that happened and things the both never shared was a little crazy. Overall, I really loved this story and the characters really grew on me.

In Maine Characters, two half sisters end up at the same lake house following the death of their father. Except only one of them knew of the existence of the other so this is their first time actually meeting - tensions are high and emotions are wild. I am a big fan of family dramas and this had all of that with some romcom built in. It had Parent Trap vibes but for adults. I really liked seeing how these two women had vastly different upbringings despite having the same father and how they worked through their differences. It was heartwarming and emotional. And the setting in Maine made me want to go there and the food descriptions made me hungry.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton for an ARC of this book. I was immediately captivated by the absolutely beautiful cover - the illustration perfectly captures the serene lake house setting that forms the heart of this story.
The premise is compelling: two half-sisters who discover one another's existence only after their father's passing, finding themselves at odds over his cherished lake house. One sister, drawn to financial practicality, wants to sell the property, while the other clings to the emotional significance and memories it holds.
While I appreciated the author's ability to create an atmospheric setting that transports readers to this lakeside haven, I found myself wishing for more complexity in the sisters' characterizations. The foundation for an emotionally resonant story is certainly there, though I felt the sisters' journey could have delved deeper into their conflicting perspectives and emotional growth.
The lake house itself emerges as almost a character in its own right, and readers who enjoy stories centered around family properties with hidden histories may find much to appreciate here.

This book was very interesting. I've always wanted to visit Maine and this gave me just a little slice that made me want to go even MORE!

This book is so heartwarming and lovely. Described as an adult version of Parent Trap, this book starts with two half-sisters meeting after their dad dies. Vivian grew up with their dad and her mother and suspected that her dad had secrets, but she never knew for sure that she had a half sister. Lucy, meanwhile, only got to spend a month a year with their dad, but knew Vivian existed and in many ways got much more of their dad's affection. They end up at their dad's lake house at the same time after their dad dies and clash big time, and the rest is history.

I found this extremely endearing and touching. Vivian and Lucy are absolute brats to each other in the beginning, which I loved - it felt realistic for how they would act meeting each other for the first time when they're mired in grief and have to confront the fallibility of their father, and their interactions had a distinctly teenage air, which was such a nice touch echoing how family can make us regress. Getting both Vivian and Lucy's perspectives was perfect: we got to see why they bristled against each other but also how they were yearning for connection, and Orenstein makes them great foils for each other. They both learn a lot from each other, and their growth feels natural and earned. I liked all the sub-plots, and the healing of family trauma was especially impactful. Also, the lake setting is gorgeous and had me dying for a lake summer, and the town really came alive in the book. I was smiling a lot while I read this and found the ending really lovely! Highly recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Based on the cover and summary, I thought I would really enjoy it. It was okay to good for me. It was a lot heavier than I anticipated. It was almost too similar to The Parent Trap for me, many times I was left thinking about “did this happen in the movie?” I would definitely read another book by this author.

When Vivian pulls up to her late father’s Maine lake house just weeks after his death to put it on the market, she’s shocked to find another woman, Lucy, there who claims to also be his daughter. The half-sisters quickly find themselves at odds about everything, including selling the house. What follows is a heartwarming story of growth.

While I loved the premise of this one, I found myself wanting just a bit more depth from it. If you’re looking for a light, strangers to sisters, personal growth book with a little bit of romance, this one is for you! Best read at the lake with an Allagash or a crisp white wine!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

Maine holds a special place in my heart, so I was overjoyed when I received a copy of this new book to review. It's a family drama set in a very familiar setting on a lake in Maine. You're along for the ride on this emotional rollercoaster as the two sisters spend the summer together and work through some pretty big hurdles. This was the first book that I've read of Hannah's and I truly loved her style of writing. Perfect read while on vacation!

Vivian Levy grew up in a wealthy neighborhood in New York City. She is a sommelier and hopes to open her own wine bar one day. After the upsetting and untimely news that her father has died, she heads to his beloved lake house at Fox Hill, Maine, with the hope of selling it and scattering his ashes there. With that money, she could open her own wine bar, as she had no plans to keep the vacation home. Upon her arrival in Maine, she discovers that the house is occupied by Lucy Webster, who claims to be her half-sister. Lucy didn't even know their father had died, so this is an upsetting revelation. Vivian has no interest in her newfound half-sister; she is angry that he has been kept in the dark about this while Lucy knew of her existence and always hoped they would meet. Vivian still wants to sell the house, but Lucy is sentimental about it and wants to hold onto it as she has so many special memories here with her father; they spent every July there together. As the summer unfolds, not only do the sisters get to know one another better, but they also learn more about themselves and what they want out of life. Hannah Orenstein's Maine Characters is reminiscent of an adult version of The Parent Trap; it has all that readers want in a lakeside story, complete with some family drama and soul searching.

I must admit that I wasn't the biggest fan of Vivian at first in Maine Characters. She is kind of abrasive and off-putting, with only one mission in mind. When Lucy enters the scene, this blows up her plans, and she is constantly reminding Lucy that she doesn't have a legal claim on the cabin. I did like that as the sisters spent more time together, they did come to appreciate one another, and their relationship grew from there. They also did a lot of soul searching at the lake as Lucy's marriage is at a crossroads, and Vivian has to tackle some life issues as well.

Orenstein truly knows the setting of a lake town in Maine in Maine Characters. She brought it to life beautifully, and all that a summer there entails - everything from the loons, the sunsets, the small-town feel, and lapping waves on the dock. Fans of Carley Fortune's lakeside summer reads will especially appreciate the vivid setting.

While it is a fluffy beach read at heart, Orenstein does tackle some more serious issues like generational patterns and complex relationships with family. But don't worry! It is nicely balanced with a summer at the lake; plus, a side subplot of blossoming romances.

While this isn't my favorite beach read of the summer, readers who enjoy a lake story filled with sisterhood moments and emotional depth will especially appreciate Maine Characters. In the comments below, let me know if you plan to read Maine Characters this summer and if you are a fan of Hannah Orenstein.

I flew through Maine Characters and think it's going to be a perfect pool or beach read for a lot of people this summer. It has all the things I love in a summer novel: complicated family dynamics, an atmospheric setting, and some ~*emotional tension*~.

I was immediately drawn to both Vivian and Lucy. Vivian’s polished city life clashing with Lucy’s quieter small-town world felt really believable. I loved how they each brought so much baggage to the lake house, and you could feel the tension building as their lives collided. The sister relationship is messy, honest, and emotional. I liked watching it slowly shift from guarded to vulnerable. The plot has a great rhythm; there’s grief, frustration, humor, and hope. I appreciated that it didn’t try to tie everything up in a neat little bow, but still gave a really satisfying ending.

If you’re a fan of Carley Fortune or Elin Hilderbrand, this one definitely belongs in your pool/beach bag!

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC.

I just love reading Orenstein‘s novels!
Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein is a charming and heartfelt women’s fiction.
A heartfelt story
MCs is a touching exploration of sisterhood, summer, mourning, complicated families, all tied in the wistful beauty of lake life.
The story was very well written and the characters were wonderfully developed and so very real, they almost felt like real people at times, not just characters.
The setting is descriptive and alluring.
It will hold your attention and draw you in, taking you on journey I wished didn’t end so soon!
A beautiful story of family, and self-discovery in the charming backdrop of Maine.

⭐2⭐
First off thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton and Hannah Orenstein for allowing me to read an advanced complimentary copy of the book. Opinions and thoughts expressed are completely my own.
Maine Characters has a stunning art designed cover that beckons you to the lake house and the unfolding drama of two long lost sisters. Can the loss of their father and their shared memories of his love open them up to each other? Dear reader, I wish I could say so, but I was deeply disappointed and felt bamboozled into the 1.5 star cottage that has rats in the toilets (yes that happens) busted pipes, and occupied tenants, when I was promised a dazzling 5 star lake cottage.

First off my main beef is with the main male characters in this story. THEY ALL SUCK! Hank was a lousily father to Lucy, hiding her and not owning his love for her mother. He basically coddled Vivian and look at where that got her. Both Lucy's and Vivian's former and current love interest SUCK! I did not root for rekindling or sparking any flames whatsoever in this story. Also I personally dislike when books glorify or justify cheating and this story does just that.
I know other reviews talked about the immaturity that both sisters held tight to and I fully agree to their reasoning, but the men in story just outshined them so much.
Sadly, this wasn’t the story I was hoping to read to launch me into my lake summertime vibes.

After the death of their father, two half-sisters finally meet unexpectedly for the first time in their family home in Maine. As they get to know one another and try to reconcile who they thought their father was as they learn about their very different upbringings, the two sisters introspect on the current state of their lives, what they want for themselves and in their relationships. The complex relationship between the sisters as well as their respective mothers kept me engaged, and I thought the romantic subplots were incredibly sweet. I really enjoyed and highly recommend especially as a summer read this year!

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have always had a love for Maine as a New Englander and the state being my neighbor. So, when I saw this book and the gorgeous cover, I had to read it.

Meet Vivian and Lucy, half sisters with the same dad. However, only Lucy knows about Vivian until they meet after their father suddenly dies.
Vivian lives in upper west side of New York and lives a rich full life. Lucy is a school teacher in a small town in Maine and lives a quiet life.
After their father passes away, Lucy and Vivian are forced into an uncomfortable decision of what to do with their Father’s lake house in Maine and uncovering many family secrets.

There were many parts of this book I enjoyed and also didn’t care for. The plot for one felt too similar to “The Beach Trap” by Ali Brady for one. The characters are people you like and dislike at the same time, which I can understand was the entire point. It was hard for me to relate to the sisters and I wish there was more to their story than just anger and bitterness through 75% of the book.
While the romance wasn’t my favorite, I was more invested in the drama and dynamics of the sisters and their stories unfolding trying to understand their father and each other. I do think the author did a wonderful job at storytelling with grief and they were incredibly descriptive about everything from the scenery, to the emotions and the characters.
The first half and last half were good, the middle felt dragged out for the fighting between the sisters.

Overall, it’s a great quick beach read and I wouldn’t tell anyone to not read it. You may love it more than me!

3 Stars⭐️

If you like:
•Family drama
•Lake House in small town
•Parent Trap vibes

Then this one is for you!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Books Dutton for this ebook copy.

After her dad’s death, Vivian heads to the family lake house to sell it and fund her dream restaurant—only to discover Lucy, the half-sister she never knew about, already there. Lucy’s known about Vivian for years, following her glamorous NYC life online while living quietly in her small town.

With Vivian’s restaurant plans falling through, the sisters decide to spend the summer fixing up the cabin. Along the way, they form a bond, unpack old family secrets, and Vivian finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Caleb—Lucy’s laid-back childhood friend who’s the total opposite of her controlling ex.

This is a heartfelt, easy read about second chances, sisterhood, and finding love and purpose where you least expect it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Maine Characters is a story about two sisters that find out about eachother during a trip to a lake house after their father dies. It is a story touching on the struggles of family dynamic, on opening your heart to something new, and really about personal growth. We thought this was a great summer read with engaging characters and a great plot line. The characters are all so different and it was fun to see them come into themself. We would recommend this book to friends and family.

3.5 ⭐️

This one started off a little hard to get into. I didn’t connect with Lucy or Vivian. Both at times annoyed me. But, as I got deeper into their story, their grief and the history of relationships they both had with their now dead father it became more clear why they were the way they were. I think because I have my own history of an absent father, I understood and related to Lucy more.

This story follows the grief two sisters of suddenly losing their father, but not finding out about each other until one shows up at their dad’s lake house to sell it and finds the other there. The shock and hurt of finding out a huge secret and now trying to reconcile that with the lies of the father they lost. As they talk and work their way through the loss they find that maybe out of this mess their dad left behind, that something good can come out of it.

Trigger warnings:
- death of parent (off page)
- infidelity
- divorce

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton and Hannah Orenstein for allowing me to read an advanced complimentary copy of the book. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.