Any book that has to do with Maine always peaks my interest and this one did not miss. It was giving The Parent Trap vibes which is one of my favorite movies! I definitely will be recommending this book to my friends for their summer read.

yeaaaaaa i ate this book up. not gunna lie.
First time reading Hannah Orenstein and I get the hype. It's giving lake house drama, complicated sister vibes, daddy issues deluxe, and make it Maine. 🦞☀️ Essentially, this is exactly why I have no desire to find my dad after he left me or any of my half/step siblings. TMI? probs but relevant.

I was livinggggggg for the tension and pettiness in this book. It was like demi and taylor in secret lives of Mormon wives, BUT New England!!! love love love

HOWEVER!!!!! This book had depth. Like emotional gut-punches in between sips of sauv blanc. Orenstein captures grief, identity, and messy family dynamics with such sharpness that I found myself feeling things (rude). my therapist WILL be hearing from me.

all in all- I loved!

3.5 stars.

"Maine Characters" by Hannah Orenstein is a great novel about secrets, love, family (found and otherwise), connection, infidelity, and grief. I had a good time reading this one, though it is not the typical type of novel I gravitate towards. I found the characters to be relatable, and the situation of a long-lost sister dynamic really spoke to me. I got emotional several times while reading this, I laughed a lot, and I even got surprised every now and then. There is a charm to this story that drew me in and kept me reading. I think a lot of readers may be put off by the main characters, Lucy and Vivian, who are drastically different but more similar than they let on, but the family drama, relationship dynamics, and uncovered secrets kept me wanting more. Honestly, I can see why some people may call them "insufferable." Their complicated dynamic with each other, with their now-deceased father, and with their mothers lends to this theory... but wouldn't *you* be a little bitter and upset at the situations that go on here?! I loved the picturesque Maine setting that Orenstein paints in this novel. I don't know if I totally agree that she pulled off the "Parent Trap but for adults" plot, but I still think this is worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Orenstein, and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Hannah Orenstein's Maine Characters takes the reader on an emotional journey through family secrets, complicated relationships, and connections between siblings. After the sudden death of their father, half-sisters Vivian and Lucy meet for the first time at his lake house in Maine. What follows is a summer filled with unexpected discoveries and tentative steps toward connection. Vivian, a driven New Yorker battling her own private struggles, contrasts sharply with Lucy, whose small-town life is coming apart at the seams. This is told through alternating perspectives, this novel looks at both sister’s emotional baggage and the beginnings of their bond together. Although the story starts at a gentle pace, it gradually builds momentum as the fate of the cabin and long-buried family truths come to light. This story reminds me of an adult version of The Parent Trap, Maine Characters is a heartfelt story. Perfect for anyone who loves family drama. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

3.5 stars

I love a New England lake house setting!!

This one definitely packed in the family drama that for sureeee lol it was giving parent trap vibes that were fun. I will say I was rage reading like 70% of the book because I couldn’t STAND one of the characters but there was redemption by the end

Also love seeing a side characters almost completely with my name :)

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton

A HUGE thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton and NetGalley! I am so grateful to have had the chance to read this as an ARC. It was SUCH a good read. I cannot wrap my head around the complexity of the storyline. It was painful to watch as the plot unfolded, but it was definitely a book that was worth making it to the end. =]

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein is a heartfelt summer read set against the picturesque backdrop of a Maine lake house. The story follows two half-sisters, Vivian and Lucy, who are brought together after their father's unexpected death. While the setting and emotional depth are enjoyable to read, the pacing and character development could be better.

Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy of Maine Characters. I really enjoyed spending my time with all of these characters, exploring their relationships with each other and how they each dealt with loss and grief in different ways. I loved the ending, it wrapped it all together so beautifully. The atmosphere of this book brought me back to my own childhood spending long summer days at my family’s cottage on the water, it was very nostalgic and felt like coming home, in a way. Definitely would recommend!

What I liked: Sisterhood, Found Family, and a Summer Vacation at a lakefront house in Maine.

What I disliked: Considering the sisters are 30 years old when discovered (each with independent lives and careers), the plot has too much repetitive melodrama and bickering.

This novel is an absolute gem, equal parts moving, raw, and beautifully written. At its heart, it's a story about family: the ones we're born into, the ones we lose, and the ones we never knew we needed.

Vivian and Lucy are half-sisters who've lived completely separate lives. Vivian, a polished sommelier from New York, arrives at her late father's lake house expecting a quiet goodbye and a quick sale. Instead, she walks into a storm, one that includes Lucy, a small-town teacher with a crumbling marriage and a fierce attachment to the house. The twist? They've never even met.

What follows is a summer of clashing personalities, long-buried secrets, and slowly unspooling grief. The tension between them is palpable, but so is the undercurrent of longing, for understanding, for connection, for truth. As they piece together the fragmented story of their parents' choices, the book digs deep into themes of resentment, loss, and forgiveness.

The setting—the quiet lake, the creaking cabin, the ghosts of summers past—adds a nostalgic weight to every page. And while the emotional punches land hard, there's also humor, warmth, and the glimmer of hope that even the most complicated families can find a way forward.

This is a powerful, character-driven story about what happens when everything you thought you knew is turned on its head. If you love layered family dramas with heart and bite, you’ll devour this one.

Thanks to @duttonbooks for the gifted e-ARC and to @prhaudio for the ALC!

Two women meet at their lake house and discover they are sisters. Their dad has taken each of them to the lake separately every summer. Now he’s gone leaving them to uncover all his long buried secrets.

Both women are struggling with their relationships and careers. Both want different answers from their father. As they spend the summer together, they call a truce and try to learn to get along. This one is real and harsh at times. With stark prose. Nothing is romanticized. At times, both characters were unlikable. But it kept drawing me back in.

The book deals with grief and loss in its various forms and with knowing what you want in life and pursuing it. It illustrates the difference that privilege can make and shows the complicated relationships we have with our parents.

The audio for this one was excellent. The narrator gave the Maine residents distinct accents, so it was easy to tell the characters apart.

I really enjoyed this one!

Maine Characters is an emotional, character-driven novel about sisterhood, grief, and unexpected connection. I loved the dual POVs and the vivid Maine setting, it felt like the perfect summer read with real depth. Hannah Orenstein captures complicated family dynamics with honesty and warmth.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

When you see that this book gives adult parent trap vibes, just know that’s fully accurate. The perfect book for head into summer with. Love the story

I’ve been reading largely romance books for quite some time so when this book came up on Netgalley for advance reader copy I got sucked in by the cover and the romance tagline. The plot seemed a bit unorthodox but not knowing Hannah’s previous works I expected somewhat of a quirky found family situation especially with the “Parent Trap” reference in the summary. It was in no way what I expected but I am not upset in the least. Hannah managed to weave together a genuine story of all the different varieties of love, grief, and growth. The two sisters showcase a very different approach to life, love, and their shared parent and as the reader I found I could easily empathize with both of them as though there were no “sides” to be taken.

There’s a certain level of humility when depicting grief while twisted up in anger.
Vivian’s relationship with her father is wrapped up in a slow deterioration over time while Lucy holds him on such a pedestal. Even with dual POV, at the start of the story Vivian holds her feelings so close to the vest that it is still difficult to tell how she truly feels. There’s a line at one point that speaks to her “flashes of real grief” which I found especially poignant while she was still keeping her feelings walled inside. In contrast Lucy is a bleeding heart on her sleeve. Her pain is central and visible and serves to highlight the gorge between the half siblings even more. But even with these differences the two sisters have more in common than they realize and the harmony they are able to reach feels hard won.

There were a few points where I felt the storyline was dragging somewhat but the pacing overall fit in with the scenery so it was a minor complaint.

Special shout out to:
Vivian’s mom’s personal growth!! Beautifully and realistically done. Bringing attention to someone’s attitude is not a permanent fix. You have to have a willingness to change their outlook on the part of the individual and a willingness to forgive on Vivian’s part.

Additional notes on what makes this story unique:
There’s an artistry to how Hannah described certain scenes, almost like a written painting. The boat scenes I think especially. Her poetic descriptions aren’t just for the reader to be able to visualize the scenes but to feel them. It makes a lot of sense that she drew from a lake she visited throughout her life as well, somewhat of a love letter to summer nostalgia.

Thank you Penguin Group Dutton for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Oh, this book had all the juicy family drama.
Two women each spend one month on their own independently with their dad at a lakeside cabin in the woods and have every year since they can remember. It isn't until the dad dies that they meet. And realize they're sisters. And uncover all of the family secrets while fighting over the ownership of the house. And that's the light version. Lots of unraveling to do...

I wanted to love this book because it was marketed as an adult version of The Parent Trap. However, it wasn't even remotely enjoyable. I liked the setting of Maine and the Jewish representation, but that was probably about it. As Bugs Bunny would say, "That's all, folks." The characters were insufferable. I also hated the prolonged cheating narrative that was present for more than one person. The romance was barely there, and I felt the toxicity leap off the page. I couldn't find myself rooting for anyone, and honestly, I'm not really sure how I powered through to finish this one! I wish the pretty cover matched the text because this was one of the worst books I've read in a while. Thank you to Dutton Books for the ARC to read and review!

Don’t be fooled by the gorgeous, summery cover—this is a much heavier read than expected. While it’s been marketed as a “Parent Trap for adults,” the story dives deep into themes of family, sisterhood, and infidelity. I went in anticipating a lighter tone, so my expectations were a bit off.

That said, I love messy, complicated family dynamics, and this book definitely delivered on that front. I was pulled into the plot and found myself invested, though there were moments where the story felt like it lost a bit of momentum. I also would’ve loved a stronger sense of place—I was hoping for more vivid atmosphere and detail from the Maine setting.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this book more than I even expected to! Once I saw this was an adult version of The Parent Trap - I was immediately sold. This book made me feel like I need to pick up more women’s fiction because I was fully invested in this story from start to finish. Hannah’s writing is beautiful and I will definitely be reading more of her books. Lucy and Vivian were so different, yet both were relatable characters. The more of Vivian’s story that we heard, the more I connected with her character. Lucy was immediately likable for me. Reading about their sister relationship bloom was so emotional and definitely the best part of the story. But I also really enjoyed their individual stories. I was rooting for them both to find happiness, whether that be with a guy or even alone. I was living for the family secrets and relationship drama. And the small town lake vibes were spot on. I could perfectly envision the town and views. Highly suggest this one!

Thank you to Penguin Random House, Net Galley, and Hannah Orenstein for letting me read the ARC of this book. The cover pulled me into this story and the beautiful atmosphere. She did a wonderful job of setting up costal setting. The writing in this book was well done, it was easy to follow and easy to read. I felt the pacing of the book was slow, and felt there was not a huge climax. It was a heartwarming book but I felt detached from the characters and the overall story. I wish there was more focus on their relationships growing instead of focusing on the dad’s drama repeatedly. I wanted more from the romance, but maybe that wasn’t the point of the book. It was a cute read for a nice lake day.

This would make for a great summer read focused on family relationships rather than romance. It’s billed as “Parent Trap” for adults, which is partially true. The main characters are two sisters who had never met before finding each other following their father’s death. We follow the development of their relationship and their bringing together of their mothers. So it’s more a story of finding sisterhood, uncovering family secrets, and finding one’s place in the world. The writing is rich and descriptive, and I felt like I was there at the lake! Overall I really liked this book, and the author’s note at the end made me like it even more to learn of her personal connection to the story.