I was so drawn into the cover that I didn’t even read the description before diving into this one. “The Parent Trap for adults” honestly would’ve nabbed me even more.

Overall, this was super atmospheric and would be a great summer read. My parents have a cottage on a lake, and it’s obvious that the author has personal understanding and affection for lakes and their small towns. It also contained lots of vivid descriptions of food and wine, with one of the main characters being a sommelier by trade. I enjoyed learning more about that.

I went in expecting a rom com, but this is not that. There are several funny lines and a sprinkling of romance/relationship drama, but it’s much more focused on mother-daughter and sister relationships. I wish we would’ve gotten like…any sense of resolution with any of the romantic threads, but again, it really wasn’t the focus of the book. No open door spice at all—I’m trying to remember if any characters actually had sex during the present of the novel. If they did, we didn’t hear much about it.

There’s a lot about cheating in this one, from multiple fronts. If that’s not your cup of tea, I’d probably skip this one. I’d also beware if death of a parent is triggering for you.

While I didn’t feel particularly connected to any of the main characters, I enjoyed this story. If you’re looking for a character-driven, family-drama-focused contemporary summer read, this would be a good pick.

Thank you to the publisher for a free ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Specifically for the publisher: I found the chapters to be (almost too) long. I’m a fast reader, and most took me 22 minutes. Most chapters for what I read takes me 6-9 minutes to read. I liked the uniqueness of switching POV within each chapters, but this did lend to the story feeling longer/more stretched out than necessary.

Also, the formatting on Hank’s letters is not quite right. The text was extremely large. Dawn’s letter that she reads aloud at the end is formatted correctly.

Thank you again for a chance to read this early!

There were some slower moments but for the most part I really enjoyed this book. It was a story about 2 step sisters who first meet after their father dies. There is a focus on personal growth and family reconnecting. I also enjoyed the setting and feeling the summer escape and relaxation.

Going to have to soft DNF at 20%. I am having trouble finding any redeemable or likable qualities about either of the two main female characters. Lucy acts like she’s 15, not 31. And Vivian is just acting like a…well, you know what. I was so excited about this book because the cover is stunning and I love The Parent Trap (I literally have a tattoo inspired by the movie). But this was not it. The beginning of the Parent Trap had a bunch of funny moments leading to a really sentimental moment of compromise between them. This was not reminiscent of that whatsoever, unfortunately. It was just boring with unlikable characters. Not sure if I’ll get around to picking it up again, sadly.

Thank you, NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton for this ARC for review. This book was so good I couldn’t put it down. Definitely my favorite Hannah Orenstein’s book to date. Vivian and Lucy meet at their father’s Maine lake house, where each has spent a month every summer with their father, separately. They are half-sisters but have never known about each other until now, when their father has passed away and meet and over another summer at the lake house, all the family secrets are revealed.

the environment throughout this novel was so yummy. i love maine so much and this book made me feel like i was escaping the winter cold and entering into my favourite place with the people i love. the writing style was also something i must highlight because i really enjoyed it. I thought that it captured the very essence of maine. the themes of grief were very highlighted in a delicate and beautiful way. i think there was just some moments that i felt were a bit repetitive. over all i enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I didn’t know what I was getting into with Hannah’s latest book, but was excited to read this in advance of publishing. It’s a story of grief and sisterhood. It’s complicated by decisions parents make but I enjoyed the messy parts to see the result. TW: loss of parent

Two sisters, two mothers, one father, many secrets. Vivian and Lucy shared the same father, a guy who had two lives and kept them separate, with one month on the coast of Maine each summer allocated to each daughter. It was only after his death that Vivian found out for sure about Lucy, when she showed up to claim what she thought was her house. The two women are very different--Vivian an urban sophisticate, and Lucy a small-town divorcee teacher. They clash, of course, and struggle with the new understanding of their father and dealing with the mess he left behind. As a Mainer, I enjoyed the realistic coastal setting, but actually this story could take place in any small town. The growth of each woman and romantic relationships over the course of the summer were perhaps predictable, but satisfying nonetheless.

I really enjoyed this one… Lots of feeling! This is the story about two sisters, Lucy and Vivian. Their father never told Vivian about Lucy, who was conceived before their father Hank married Vivian‘s mother. Hank would spend one month in the summer with Lucy in a Lakeside cabin, and a week in the summer with Vivian in the same cabin… But the girls never met. Lucy knew about Vivian, who lived in New York City and got to spend most of her time with Hank. Lucy always felt like she had to be perfect because she didn’t get to see her dad very often. When Hank suddenly dies, lots of secrets, start to emerge. When Vivian goes to the cabin after Hank‘s death, Lucy is there, and has no idea that her father has died. The girls get off to a very rocky start, but throughout the book they begin to build a relationship as sisters. I really liked how the story unfolded and I loved the characters. I loved the setting and this book made me Google Maine to learn more about this beautiful state.
I loved how the women learned to become stronger and start thinking about themselves. I loved how human the characters were. There were some things that I didn’t care for as much… I really couldn’t stand Vivian at first, but her character grew on me. I also had a hard time with Vivian’s mother and her boss Oscar. I felt like Some of the relationships were a little bit shallow. But overall, I very much enjoyed this book and I will be looking for more from this author. Thank you Netgalley for the digital copy. All opinions are my own.

I was drawn to this book from the gorgeous cover, set in Maine and described as a Parent Trap-type story. In all, I enjoyed the book and seeing the relationship Vivian and Lucy create while navigating major life changes and grief. This book took me a while to get into- I felt like Vivian and Lucy were too immature and unlikeable for the first 1/3 - but am happy things turned around once they decided to really get to know each other. There were too many love triangles and the book felt longer than it needed to be, but I was excited to see the new directions all the characters lives were taking by the end. 3.5⭐️

As someone who grew up in Maine and spent summers ‘upta camp’ on the lake, I was so excited to read Maine Characters! Unfortunately it didn’t quite work form me.

It felt like the story needed another round of polishing. There was a lot going on in the story, and both Vivian and Lucy annoyed me a bit in their actions and lack of communication. The Parent Trap analogy felt like a stretch, I didn’t get those vibes. I did love the Maine/camp/lake descriptions and the stunning cover!

I think Maine Characters will find the right audience. I’d recommend reading it by the lake during summer with a cold glass of wine! Thank you Dutton & NetGalley for the eARC!

Being pitched as "the Parent Trap for adults" is what originally drew me to this book, but it's surprisingly a much richer emotional experience than I expected.

It would be a phenomenal beach or lake read because of its scenic waterfront setting that draws you in.

The story involves two half-sisters who end up at their father's lake house after his death. Only one sister knows the other exists, and the other sister doesn't yet know of her father's passing.

In addition to reeling from the loss of their father, each sister is also dealing with romantic turmoil.

Initially outwardly hostile toward each other, the story unfolds as the sisters attempt to learn to lean on each other and face their troubles as a team.

Intriguing and heartwarming, I definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to #netgalley for this ARC of #MaineCharacters

This was my first book by Hannah Orenstein and it definitely won’t be my last. I really liked this book. It definitely made me want to plan a trip to Maine. Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC.

I went into this blind because I liked the cover and live in Maine 😊

5/5 ⭐️ I was going to give it a 4/5 but I can’t stop thinking about it.

I liked that the story kept getting more intricate and by the end every element was tied in. This would be a great summer read!

This book was very cute! I enjoyed the characters and setting (the fact that this is an important place to the author is so clear) but I found the plot to be a bit drawn out. Overall a solid read, I just could have used a little bit better pacing!

Rating: 4.5 Star
*Maine Character* by Hannah Orenstein is a delightful and heartfelt novel that blends love, personal growth, and the beauty of the Maine coast. The story follows Tilly, a woman who returns to her family’s small-town home in Maine after a personal and professional setback. The setting itself is wonderfully immersive, with Orenstein capturing the charm of Maine’s landscapes and the sense of community that feels both comforting and genuine.

Tilly’s journey of self-discovery is relatable and well-paced, and her interactions with the colorful cast of characters – from quirky locals to her own family – bring a lighthearted yet meaningful layer to the story. The romance is warm and slow-burn, perfectly balanced with Tilly's evolving sense of independence and self-worth. Orenstein’s writing is smooth and engaging, making it hard to put the book down.

The book does fall short in a few areas, as certain plot points feel a bit predictable, and some secondary characters are underdeveloped. However, these minor drawbacks don’t overshadow the novel’s charm or the emotional depth it provides.

Overall, *Maine Character* is a sweet, thoughtful read that will appeal to fans of contemporary fiction looking for a cozy, uplifting escape. It’s a wonderful blend of personal growth, romance, and the magic of Maine – a novel you’ll want to curl up with.

Thank you Dutton Book/Penguin and NetGalley for a copy of Maine Characters!

Ahh Maine, I love books set in New England and this one had beautiful imagery of the fictional lake town of Fox Hill.

If you were sold by the description calling this a “Parent Trap for adults” please don’t be fooled because that was not what this was. I can honestly say the writing left more to be desired. Almost every character was so unlikable and I just didn’t like Lucy at all. I kept hoping she would get better throughout the entire book, but she just pissed me off the entire time.

The story and the characters had so much potential, but in my opinion, it never got there. The cover is beautiful and there are some interesting moments but I’m not sure there were enough to redeem the characters.

A heartwarming easy read that will tug at the heart strings. Seeing the way the sisters bond and grow to like each other felt real and well written. I wasn’t a fan of the pacing and the romance felt needless. The first 120 pages were great and made up for a dull ending.

Great read. Perfect for the beach or a vacation. Sweet story of sisters also. Recommend if you have ever waded through family drama and came out still loving your relatives at the end of the

After her father’s death, city-girl Vivian heads up to his beloved Maine lake house only to discover she has a half-sister she never knew existed. Part family drama, part romance, this had strong Elin Hilderbrand vibes, with rich descriptions of the food, wine, and Maine lakefront setting that had me ready to book a trip to Bar Harbor.

It started off a little slow for me, but the strong finish made up for it. I wasn’t expecting such an emotional punch behind such a cute cover.

3.5⭐️ rounded up.

This book gave me whiplash! The adorable cover does not adequately express the drama in this book 😂

Lots of villains in this one, but lots of character growth and a happy ending!