all the characters in this book are so unlikable. The supposed “nice” sister, Lucy, is just plain rude & childish. The “mean” one, Vivian, is the nice one? Like???? Huh??

Also, the character development in this book sucks. All of them are supposed to be 30+ years old, but they all act like they’re 10... I know of 10 years old that are more mature than these people 🫠

They’re all greedy & so one-dimensional. I wanted some nice sister bonding time, but all I got was one complaint about how much money the other one had.

Also, Lucy whines too much. Not to mention all the cheating that went on in this book 🙃🙃

yuck

I adored this book so much!! Was completely invested in the story and really connected & felt for the characters. It gave me The Parent Trap vibes (only an adult version). So of course I had to go & watch the movie since it had been a while! Hannah is a wonderful storyteller—I really want to read more of her books now! Thank you so much for the digital ARC of this book.

thank you to @duttonbooks and netgalley for the free advanced copy.

read if …
🦞parent trap is a must watch
🦞you love (to hate) your sister
🦞are in desperate need of a lake vacation
🦞love messy family drama

this was not something i’d classify as a romance. it is much more (the terribly named) women’s fiction. it’s about sisters and family and relationships.

i was worried i wouldn’t like this because the premise, but i really couldn’t put it down. i wanted to keep reading and learning more about all four women.

Head Over Heels is forever my favorite by this author, but i enjoyed this one much more than i thought i would!

The premise of this book is interesting and the plot was relatively engaging once I got about 1/3 of the way in. However, I just didn’t really connect with the characters so I didn’t love the book overall. The idea of two half sisters being forced together, where only one knew about the existence of the other is pretty complex. The author worked through a lot with both these characters, and didn’t shy away from their faults, but I didn’t feel as engaged as I wished. I loved how they both had somewhat independent storylines (apart from their obvious connection) and that those developed on their own to shape each sister. It was really frustrating to see both of them directing the blame towards each other when clearly neither of them were at fault. I did love the complexity of the sisters and the story itself and thought it was well written. Overall, a good story, just not for me. 3.25⭐️, 0🌶

This cover deserves 5 stars. It is gorgeous. On to the story... I love this author and I had high expectations for this. Another reviewer compared it to an Elin Hilderbrand book and I can see that a bit since the bulk was a family drama over the summer, however I did think it had a bit more romance than an Elin book. I thought it was great and I enjoyed both POV. Each character had unique voice/circumstances I was never confused about whose POV I was reading. I thought it was a great summer read for a family drama fan!

This was a little more emotionally taxing than I expected. Love the cover. Love the setting. Just wasn’t expecting so much heaviness.

The pacing was terrible, the marketing this as a “parent trap” retelling is not accurate. Hard to find any plot.

One sister showed some grace, the other was a turd. Also third person shifting povs was sometimes confusing especially when it wasn’t blatantly obvious

Long lost half sisters come together after their father’s death. One wants to save the lake house the other sell it. They’ve been kept apart their whole lives, can they be a family now?

I liked the relationship and the believable tension the sisters had. I thought this was a thoughtful book.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the ARC.

Lots of drama in this novel: sister drama, relationship drama, and family drama. At the centre of all the drama are half sister Vivian and Lucy, and the story unfolds from their perspectives. Both women are not entirely likeable, but as they work through their issues they manage to redeem aspects of their character and relationship. The author’s description of the lake and surrounding area is spectacular. A very good read!

3.5 Stars

I listened to Maine Characters via audio and I’m glad that I did. Admittedly, I fell for it based on the cover, title & the promise of The Parent Trap but for adults.

The storyline was enthralling & the setting made me want to go to Maine for the summer ASAP. I think if you enjoyed The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand then you’ll enjoy this. It was similar in that it was about a cast of imperfect characters you probably won’t like that much (I definitely didn’t) with twists & turns minus the who-done-it. And it definitely had elements of Grown-Up The Parent Trap!

I think if the characters would have been more likable I would have enjoyed it more. It’s hard to root for people who are kind of terrible? But the storyline was interesting and the audiobook kept me company during a long drive, cleaning & packing for a move so I can’t complain. I would say this is women’s fiction with drama & touches of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC of Maine Characters in exchange for an honest review!

This was *fine* it’s part family drama, part romance, though it mostly just felt surface level. A quick summer read.

Cute, a bit predictable, but I enjoyed this story. It's more of a sisters story than a romance, and the romance part is not spicy. I loved the Maine setting.

I was drawn to this book by the stunning cover and the description. The author highlights the beauty of Maine while exploring the complexities of families and sisterhood. I didn’t always like the main characters, though both had redeeming qualities. Their journey led them to forge a connection they didn’t have before and set them on a new path.
I loved the setting!! I want to visit that picturesque town.
3.5 stars

It took me a bit to get into this one, but I had been seeing it everywhere so I kept reading and I'm glad I did! It's a really sweet story about sisters, complicated family dynamics, and discovering yourself with the perfect summer setting. Also, I am always team READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS because you almost always uncover an interesting nugget about the writing process or inspiration. While I was reading this book, I kept thinking about how much one of the sisters reminded me of the story of Victoria James, who wrote the memoir "Wine Girl," and in the acknowledgements the author explicitly calls out the connection. So fun!

Maine Characters was a wonderful novel. My first by Hannah Orenstein. I loved the estranged family plot line and I couldn’t put this down. I love how much growth both had at the lake house. The lake lives in my head as does the cabin. Such descriptive scenes that really made me feel like I’m there.

This book was everything. It gave summer, and nostalgia, and hope, and tragedy and good times. I enjoyed it so much and I think it’s going to become a new summer staple for me.

I loved the author's last book, Head Over Heels, but this one didn't grab me. Also having recently lost my mother reading books where characters have lost parents are sometimes really hard. This one just wasn't the right time for me.

4.5 stars

This was a touching a heartwarming story. I really enjoyed both Lucy and Vivian, how different they both are and how they both went through different kinds of growths throughout the book. The family drama was juicy and I also enjoyed this stunning descriptions of the views and of the food. A trip to Maine is definitely on my bucket list.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review

Lucy and Vivian are half-sisters who have only the faintest sense of each other's existence—until their father's death brings them face to face. When Vivian returns to their father's beloved summer camp in Maine to prepare it for sale, she’s surprised to find Lucy already there, waiting for a father who will never return. Both had spent summers there growing up, never realizing they were sharing the same space at different times.
What follows is a mix of drama, family secrets, and emotional discoveries as the two girls unpack their father’s past and figure out what to do with the camp. I liked the ending—it felt right, even if something small felt missing. As someone from Maine, I loved the setting. The book really captured how special summer in Maine is.

This title is at your favorite local bookstore now and would make a perfect lazy summer read.

3.75 rounded up to 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group and Hannah Orenstein for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.