I had mixed feelings about this book. The start was incredibly slow, and it took a while for me to get into it. In fact, I didn’t begin to enjoy the story until I was halfway through.

While I really liked the premise and the setting—both were intriguing and had a lot of potential—it just took a while for the story to fully capture my attention.

However, as I continued reading, the plot started to pick up, and I could see why the book has its appeal. By the end, I felt a bit more connected to the characters and the story. That being said, there was still a lingering feeling that something was missing.

Overall, this book was heartwarming and had a great ending. If you’re someone who enjoys slower-paced books this might be worth a try.

Let me start off by saying that the plot in this book can be really stressful to some but the location in which this book takes place.. takes all of that away! Hannah does a great job of explaining Maine, the tranquility at the lake, the build up of how the cabin supports the family through a hard time.. the loons on the lake/John Denver references etc.

I appreciated how the story line came together in the end with the entire family putting all of their differences aside and starting anew. I could picture Vivian starting her new wine bar in Portland and Lucy teaching.

All in all, this book was a 5/5. The plot was something new to me and not a romance rewritten 500 ways.. and it is sort of an ode to The Parent Trap. It’s welcoming to every reader, calming to most and puts you in a slower frame of mind in life as you picture yourself on a Maine lake. Excellent story that I will read over and over again!

You know the saying, “never judge a book by the cover”? Break it for this one! The story itself is as beautiful as the colors that grace the outside.

💦 Vivian and Lucy just lost their father and found out that they’re sisters. They also have different opinions on what to do with the lake house their dad left to Vivian. She can’t sell the house and get away from her sister fast enough. Can Lucy convince her to change her mind? Or will Vivian sell the cherished house and go back to her life in New York leaving everything and everyone behind?

🤝🏽 As a 90’s child, the Parent Trap vibes in this one are strong, but add so much to the book. I went in thinking it was going to follow the stereotypical plot points of similar books I’ve read, and it really doesn’t. The sister relationship is at the center of this novel, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it wound up being a book of the month choice for a major book club!

💦 In the end, this book is about women choosing themselves, and I hope you’ll choose to read this book when it publishes in May. I’d pair it with the Cabernet Franc from Longoria 🍷by a lake with the waves rolling in and the ☀️ shining. Cheers!

It was like an adult version of an older movie I watched when I was younger. Loved the plot and the easy read. Look forward to more from this author.

Maine Characters gave lots of love to my favorite place and the lake houses I grew up in. I loved the descriptions of small towns, back roads, and life on the lake. I also really enjoyed the character development overall. However, I felt like Vivian's change in opinions and actions happened so quickly and I didn't really identify that change in her POV. I really enjoyed the generational aspect of this book as well.

FIRSTLY can we take the time to appreciate the gorgeous cover?! This has been described as an adult parent trap. The way Hannah writes makes you feel like you’re right there at the cabin on the lake. After their dad passes away, two sisters that were raised completely apart end up meeting at his lake house in Maine. One sister grew up with her dad and the other was hidden her whole life. As the story goes along we meet their mothers and learn the full story. I would recommend to people who like family drama, messy relationships, and a beautiful setting. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

A really sweet book about half sisters who only meet when their father dies suddenly. But there’s a twist: one of them didn’t know the other existed. And now they’re stuck together at the family lake house for the summer. It’s clear that the author really loves Maine, and she paints an evocative setting. There are two complicated mother-daughter relationships, in addition to the sisters. Four women who were brought together by the same man have to figure out how to navigate a new life without him.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

As a New England native, I was excited to dive into Maine Characters—the setting was easily my favorite part of the book. Hannah Orenstein does a great job capturing the charm of a Maine summer, from the peaceful lake house to the small-town dynamics. Unfortunately, the characters didn’t resonate with me as much as the backdrop did.

Vivian and Lucy’s complicated relationship had potential, but I struggled to connect with either of them. Their emotions felt surface-level, and their hostility toward each other often felt repetitive rather than compelling. While their separate struggles—Vivian’s career turmoil and Lucy’s crumbling marriage—were interesting in theory, I never fully invested in their stories. The tension between them felt forced at times, making their eventual moments of understanding less satisfying.

I wanted more depth, more raw emotion, and more reasons to root for them beyond their shared grief. The premise was strong, and the setting was immersive, but the execution left me feeling detached. If you love Maine-based stories, it’s worth checking out for the atmosphere, but if you’re looking for deep, emotionally gripping characters, this one might fall short.

Thanks netgalley for the e ARC of this! If you love stories about found family, second chances and small coastal towns, this book will absolutely win you over. Captures the charm of Maine perfectly :)

I thought this book was the sweetest romance! It definitely gave me parent trap vibes and tapped me back into the 90s and one of my favorite movies growing up! From the first page to the last, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down!

I really just love Hannah Orenstein's writing. I read her book on gymnastics and truly enjoyed it, and knowing she writes a lot in Maine I was eager for this one. And it delivered! Eliza has left NY and returned to her childhood home in Maine a bit broken. When she reunited with Theo, I think we all know what's going to happen, but that's the pleasure of the romance genre. Orenstein's deftly constructed prose, light humor, and relatable characters are a joy to read, and I always love when a location is made a character as well, the way Maine is. I look forward to her books and this was no exception!

This book hit me really hard in the chest and I was emotional to the max.
What and amazing read I’ll definitely pick up the physical of this book when it’s released!

I loved this book so much!
The characters were wonderful and relatable and I found myself rooting for them. I adored the romance and wanted more in the end.

Tense and creative, Maine Characters is a story of love and loss, regrets and reconciliation. The strained relationship of half-sisters takes center stage as they come to terms with the death and trouble caused by their father. Lucy grew up with her single mother, knowing about her father’s other family and of her step sister. Vivian was in the dark about her sister’s existence, only guessing of the possibility. They grew up in completely opposite circumstances and come face to face when Vivian comes to her father’s Maine cabin and Lucy is there. Antagonism is everywhere as they face off and cannot come to terms about the cabin. Theirs is a shaky relationship fraught with difficulties. It is a difficult journey to trod.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I knew as soon as I saw the cover and read the overview this book would be for Me! The author paints a beautiful picture of small town lake life, and you wish you were visiting the cabin along with them.

Imagine spending one month every summer of your entire life in the family’s lakeside cabin with your Father, only to find out years later you have a sibling you never knew existed, doing the same thing- only in a different month.

Vivian was raised in the City, Enjoying the luxuries that come from wealthy parents. She never had to wonder if things could be afforded because she always had them. As an adult, She lives a fast paced life as a sommelier in a busy restaurant.

Lucy was raised in the tiny lakeside town, by her mother and they had to constantly pinch pennies to make ends meet. She ends up staying close to home, becoming a teacher and marrying her high school sweetheart.

So, what happens when Vivian and Lucy meet for the first time outside of the lake house where they both planned to spend their summer? *Cue the Parent trap* All jokes aside, these sisters are in for a summer they never saw coming.

The other Characters in this story play such big roles, I don’t want to give anything away too soon. But there will be secrets, laughter, tears, heartache, and love. I enjoyed this book until the very end.


Thank you NetGalley and Hannah Orenstein for this lovely ARC!

Okay I have to admit I was drawn into the beautiful cover of this book but flew through it in 24 hours. This is such a fun beach read that millennials who loved The Parent Trap will enjoy although this digs in much deeper. I have to admit I hated Vivian at first and felt so sad for Lucy but the character development was wonderful and I grew to love both characters. I wish there was an epilogue because I’m dying to know how things turned out but maybe a sequel will be in the works! My only reason for 4 starts vs 5 was that I don’t feel like the transported me to Maine like a summer book should. I wanted to feel more of the scenery and quaint town. Will recommend to my followers and friends!

This is like epitome of messy family drama but also like… not in a way that I like lol. I just needed Vivian and Lucy to be even 10% more likable. The story was good and kept me engaged but since I didn’t feel connected to the characters at all I wasn’t really affected by what they were going through emotionally! Could just be a me thing though!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I was initially drawn to this because of the amazingly gorgeous cover. It held up to my expectations. I love the play on words in the title.

Maine characters was interesting from page 1! I’m not sure why I love lost family so much, but it is always a favorite of mine. I loved how realistic the anger was. This is a big secret and should cause some riff. The pain both of these sisters went through in their own life because of the secret was awful. The expectations (or lack of) Vivian had for other men was sad to me. The power people have over your own self worth is unreal! Learning both of the mom’s sides of the story was so interesting and your heart will hurt for them. Character growth was 10/10 and it was so fun to add some potential new starts to 3/4 of these women’s lives!

3.25⭐️
(ARC review) — Thank you to author Hannah Orenstein and her publisher Dutton Publishing. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the May 2025 release of 𝑀𝘢𝑖𝘯𝑒 𝐶𝘩𝑎𝘳𝑎𝘤𝑡𝘦𝑟𝘴 in exchange for my honest review. Family drama in a great Maine setting in a cabin on the lake. This was entertaining and definitely lots of secrets unraveling but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. They just were hard to like. Easy read though and the ending did come together and I liked how it finished. The book has modern day “Parent Trap” vibes for sure. {P.S. cover is adorable… love it}