I enjoy this authors writing and I loved the scene this story was placed in! The main characters were a bit immature and hard to read their dialogue back and forth at times.

Very cute story about 2 sisters. I loved how the story unraveled. The scenery descriptions were awesome - felt like I was sitting right there in Maine. I do think the story leaned a little too heavily on stereotypes (uptight New Yorker, naive country girl) but ultimately the characters worked. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

The Parent Trap is one of my favorite movies so I was very excited to read what was described as an "adult version" of the book. However, the two FMC's were a little hard to connect to at times and I was expecting a little bit more romance. This was my first Hannah Orenstein book and would be down to read more from her as the writing was solid and the story was still enjoyable.

I enjoyed the premise, setting, and conflict in this book. The characters felt authentic, and their growth did as well. I do think everything tied up a bit too nicely at the end, but overall enjoyed this as a summer read!

I enjoyed this book but not as much as I hoped I would. The Maine setting and the gorgeous cover drew me in, and I was interested in what would happen with the sisters and the property. Unfortunately, I found the characters somewhat unlikeable and that made my interest wane. I am going to try this one again on audio when it becomes available through my library, and if my thoughts change, I will come back and update my review!

Four stars. I loved this story of sisterhood, friendship, and found family. As a sister, I related so deeply to many of the themes in the book. I also absolutely loved the setting and felt like I was transported. The secondary story of fine wine and dining was also clearly so well researched and gave me some great ideas for summer entertaining!

The heartwarming vibe was set with the beautiful cover of this book. Half sisters, who have never met before meet after the death of their father. This book developed slowly, but I think it was necessary in order to really get to know the sisters. A story of the memories of childhood that shape who we become, a story of compassion, a story of ultimate acceptance. I loved it!

Highly recommend “Maine Characters”!!!! Some authors and storylines just draw you in to the point you care for the characters. This is one of those books!

Lucy and Vivian are stepsisters but never spent time together growing up. To the point, that Vivian was never told about Lucy. Their father kept Lucy a secret in Maine. He would spend every July at his family’s cabin in Maine with Lucy. Then in August, Vivian spent the month with him there. Both were very different too. Vivian was a successful sommelier and Lucy was a high school English teacher.

Unexpected their father dies and Vivian retreats to the cabin to sell it to fund her dream of opening a wine bar. Lucy was staying at the cabin due to separation from her husband. The unlikely duo grow to help each other through the grieving process.

Please go read this book! I know I’m not doing it justice but it’s a heartfelt book of growth and compassion. Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton publishing for this advance read!!! Run, don’t walk to get this new release!

Every year, sister’s Vivian and Lucy spent a month at their father’s lake house in Maine — separately. Vivian and Lucy had never met. Their months were spent separately so that their father could basically live a double life. When he was with Vivian he was living the lavish city life in New York and when he was with Lucy, he was living a care-free, laid-back lifestyle in Maine. After his sudden passing, Vivian found herself heading to Maine to spread his ashes and sell the house. When she arrived, she was greeted by Lucy, the sister she never met yet had suspected for many years. As their paths crossed, the two learned more about each other and began uncovering lots of family secrets.

This book brilliantly mixed family drama and romance all in one. Both sisters had so much to overcome. Besides the recent death of their father, they both had spiraling romantic relationships that I was so invested in! The dynamics of everything worked so well together and I absolutely loved this story. This is a 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 this summer!

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!