A new book from Hannah Orenstein (a never-miss author for me) that references The Parent Trap in the blurb? Sign me up!

Maine Characters tells the story of two half sisters unintentionally spending the summer together at their dad’s lake house after their father dies. One sister had the time with their father, the other had the memories. Their unique experiences with their father and how they grew up clash as they get to know each other and decide how to move forward with their lives, as both sisters are at a crossroads.

This book was a bit more serious in tone than Hannah’s other books, in that the characters faced deeper problems, like divorce, cheating, and familial relationships. But the characters are relatable and the story wraps up in a way I enjoyed.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fresh take on a summer read!

I was drawn to the book because of the beautiful cover and the title. I have family in Maine and I visit pretty often, so I loved reading about places I've visited. I thought Orenstein was descriptive with the setting and felt like I was exploring Fox Hill with the characters. I also liked how different the two main characters, Vivian and Lucy, were, and especially found it interesting learning all about wine through Vivian's character.

I honestly feel pretty neutral about the book overall because all of the characters were so surface level and some were outright annoying. The plot points were also so easy to guess, and it felt like I was reading a book where I knew everything that was going to happen before it did. Another thing was the spacing/formatting of the book. Orenstein included so many unnecessary page breaks, especially when the scene is just a continuation of the following one.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the e-ARC!

Will absolutely be buying a copy of this when it releases. I follow Hannah Orenstein on social media so I feel like I watched this story be born. An ode to a place so special to her, and that I personally love as well. The descriptions of the house, lake, and the loons were easily imagined. Vivian and Lucy couldn’t be more different but so much the same.
I loved all the side characters, and despite Lucy and Vivian being bratty at times- I was rooting for them. Adult parent trap was a great synopsis, and I liked the nods to the actual movie in the story. The topics of grief, divorce, forgiveness and friendship were so well done.
Love this one & can’t wait for more from Hannah!

Let’s start with the obvious: the cover is stunning. It’s what first caught my eye and made me pick up Maine Characters—that dreamy, coastal aesthetic promised a heartfelt summer story. And to its credit, the setting absolutely delivered. The Maine backdrop was vivid and atmospheric, and I felt fully transported to that quiet lakeside cabin.

The plot had a strong emotional core: sisters Vivian and Lucy, strangers until the death of their shared father, are forced to reckon with grief, old secrets, and the uncomfortable reality of suddenly sharing a legacy neither expected. There’s a solid concept here, and I appreciated the last 100 pages when the emotional payoffs finally started to land.

But getting there? That was rough. I struggled to connect with either sister for the majority of the book. Vivian’s judgmental nature and questionable taste in boyfriends (seriously, why?) made her hard to root for, and Lucy’s nonstop complaining and sense of entitlement grated on me. I wanted to care about their journey, but for a long stretch, I just… didn’t.

The pacing didn’t help either. So much of the emotional resolution was crammed into the final third that it made the earlier chapters feel unnecessarily slow and frustrating. And while the writing wasn’t bad, it often felt a bit forced—like the dialogue and emotions didn’t quite land with the authenticity I was hoping for.

I wanted to love this. The location was dreamy, the premise had promise, and I’m always here for complicated family dynamics. But in the end, this just wasn’t the right book for me. That said, if you’re someone who loves stories of estranged siblings finding their way back to each other—with a lot of emotional detours along the way—this might be your kind of read.

Vivian and Lucy don’t know each other - yet. They have one thing in common. They share a father, who just passed away. Every summer, they each spent a month with their father, at his summer cottage on the lake, though they didn’t know about each other’s month. Vivian, a privileged, moderately wealthy woman, who grew up with everything she could ever need, goes to the cottage with plans to clean it up to get ready to put on the market. Lucy, a teacher on the cusp of divorce, who’s spent life barely making ends meet alongside her single mom, is already there at the cottage when Vivian arrives. Off to a rocky start, the two women try to put the pieces of their father’s past together, but not without conflict and dispute. Not only do they try to make sense of the lives they’ve lived up until now, and their father’s secrets, but also- what do they do with the cottage? Vivian is keen on selling it to use the money for a business venture, and Lucy can’t bear the thought of giving up a place that holds so many cherished memories. The book follows the women through navigating all of these intertwined challenges.

I enjoyed this book! I was on the fence between 3-4 stars. I ended up rounding down, due to the fact I didn’t find either of the two main characters to be very lovable. I found aspects of both of their personalities to be a bit annoying and selfish. However, I LOVED the setting- it gave me Carley Fortune vibes! I also enjoyed the romantic elements, a slight plot twist I didn’t see coming, and I liked the happy ending the way everything tied up at the end. I thought it was a good premise for a storyline and plot. Overall, I enjoyed the book, despite the characters- and I would read this author again!

Read if you enjoy:
🏠 cottage setting
👯‍♀️ half sisters
🌊 lake vibes
🤫 family secrets
💕 romantic elements
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 family drama
🔁 dual POVs

I read this book via Kindle format, courtesy of @NetGalley!

After her father’s death, Vivian returns to the small town in Maine where she spent one month each summer with him at his lake house. Surprised to find a car in the driveway, she is stunned to meet Lucy, her half-sister. Though Lucy suspected her father might be hiding something from her, the enormity of a second family crushes her. She’s come to scatter her father’s ashes and instead discovers that she knew little of the man who was so often gone on long business trips. Lucy has arrived to spend July at the lake house. It has always been her month with her father. The sisters couldn’t be more different. Vivian is a sommelier at a prestigious New York restaurant. Lucy teaches high school English. Amid tears and recriminations, they spend the first night together at the lake house wondering how to go forward.

Untangling relationships and memories, the lake house becomes an incubator forming new bonds and a clarity to see the future. The long, languid summer burned by sparks and drowned in tears, witnesses a poignant story of the frailty and imperfection of the humans we are and love. The cast of secondary characters adds authenticity and depth.

⭐️: 4/5

Maine Characters was compared to a modern day, adult version of The Parent Trap, which obviously is a great movie (the Lindsey Lohan one, obvi), and while I definitely see the thematic and plot comparisons, I think what this one was missing was main character likability. I spent most of this book being irritated, annoyed, and sometimes angry at the absolute short-sightedness and hypocrisy of Lucy. Vivian wasn’t too much better, with her moral lapses, but to be honest, I think what bugged me the most about Vivian was that she didn’t put Lucy in her place more. Both were 30 year old women acting like children with their secret-keeping and avoidance, but it was Lucy’s self righteousness that had me wanting to legitimately hit her.

I think this one may have hit a little too close to home for me being totally honest. But here’s the thing that I don’t think is represented factually (at least to me, based on my experience) in books that claim to tackle issues and familial situations like this: when there’s a two family situation with two daughters, each with a different mother but the same father, when one gets something like a “nuclear family”, it is a DIRECT consequence that the other does NOT get that. So from my personal experience, most books don’t hit the correct emotions involving that, and this book was no different.

I digress though, because while I did have a few personal issues with the books and the characterization of some characters, I did enjoy this read. I love a small town, and I loved that the romance element took a backseat to the relationship between Lucy and Vivian. This was definitely an “in a perfect world”, “warm fuzzies” book, but sometimes those are exactly what you need to read to believe that there are good, caring people in the world, even if in this case, it’s a fiction book.

Thank you to @netgalley and @duttonbooks for providing this eARC for my review!!

Thank you NetGalley & Dutton Books for the eARC copy of Maine Characters!!

Vivian and Lucy are some of the most human characters that I've encountered in a while. I wanted to hug them, I wanted to yell at them, I wanted to share a glass of wine with them, and everything in between. Yes, they were a bit insufferable at times, but that's one of the most inherently human things about them. They aren't perfect, but they aren't supposed to be! Fighting one second and getting along the next is a core part of sisterhood, and for that I found Vivian and Lucy's journey incredibly relatable.

At its core, I think this story is about imperfect people making imperfect choices, and reckoning with how life could've been if things had turned out differently.

My initial interest in this book stemmed from the interesting premise and the absolutely stunning cover, and I'm glad that the book ended up being as good as I hoped it would be.

3.75⭐️
Thank you Dutton & NetGalley for the e-ARC!
This book was not what I was expecting, but I did end up really enjoying it overall!
This is sort of Parent-Trap esque as it follows two half-sisters who didn’t grow up together but reconnected after their dad died.
At first I did have trouble getting into the story and also didn’t really love one of our MCs. However, this grew on me quickly and I really liked it, especially the second half of the book!
Maine Characters has a few crumbs of romance but is ultimately about family and relationships, which I really enjoyed the story focusing mainly on.
As it’s set in Maine, the story and their time at the lake house was so atmospheric and beautiful - this makes for a great summer read!
All in all, I would recommend🤍

When Lucy arrives at her dad Hank’s lake house in Fox Hill, Maine for her annual month-long summer stay, she’s expecting to enjoy some quality time with her dad. Instead, she finds the house empty. Not long after, a stranger arrives — with Hank’s ashes in hand. The woman turns out to be not a stranger at all, but Lucy’s half-sister Vivian, whom she’s never met — the daughter Hank kept hidden in New York. Vivian says she’s there to spread Hank’s ashes and sell the house. Lucy, reeling from grief and already grappling with a crumbling marriage, is blindsided. This lake house has been her anchor, and she’s not giving it up without a fight.

What Lucy doesn’t know is that Vivian never knew about her either — and that selling the house may be the only way for her to survive her own messy life. Can these two women, raised apart and bound only by grief, find common ground… maybe even family?

I picked this one up because I fell in love with Maine a few years ago, and the setting definitely delivered that familiar cozy, small town charm. But what surprised me was how invested I became in Lucy and Vivian’s relationship. At first, they’re both a little bratty in their own ways — but the character development is so well done, layered and believable. They’re products of their circumstances, and it’s hard not to root for both of them.

The chapters are long, but they’re broken up by alternating POVs, and the author is great at dropping little hooks that make it impossible to stop reading. This would make a perfect beach or lake read — and honestly, I’d happily read a whole series following these two beyond this story.

Maine Characters is one of those books that quietly pulls you in and sticks with you long after you’ve read the last page. It follows two half-sisters, Vivian and Lucy, who’ve never met thanks to a lifetime of secrets and a very complicated dad; think parent-trap but with 30-year olds. When their father passes away they both end up at his lake house, neither expecting the other to be there. What follows is a summer full of tension, uncomfortable truths, and the slow, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking process of finding yourself and discovering newly found family while processing the grief of loss.

Vivian is a driven sommelier from New York with a secret she’s not ready to face, while Lucy’s life in a small Maine town is coming apart at the seams. They couldn’t be more different, and watching them clash and then slowly connect makes for a really captivating read. I will say I did struggle a bit with how the dialogue is written; the book is written in third person, with POVs switching up every couple of paragraphs rather than every other chapter, which means it can sometimes be difficult to follow the dialogue and storyline. This in turn makes it difficult to really get a grasp of Vivian and Lucy and their independent personalities until about a third of the way into the book.

As someone who grew up going to a lake (or rather ocean) house in Maine in the summer, the setting was one of the main reasons I picked up this book (and the cover — STUNNING). The lake house setting adds a nostalgic, peaceful vibe that absolutely drew me in and upped the rating by a star. Hannah Orenstein does write beautifully, even if I have some qualms with her dialogue structure.

Overall, a good book to pick up and bring along on your summer vacation!

What I loved most is how real their relationship felt—awkward, painful, but also full of possibility. This book is about family, grief, and second chances, and it hits all the right notes. If you’re into character-driven stories with heart, this one’s definitely worth your time.

I requested this book due in part to a) the gorgeous cover and b) the interesting premise - two half sisters meet for the first time at their deceased dad's cabin in Maine. I haven't read this author before but went into it expecting lots of family drama which was delivered in spades. I will admit, I found it hard to bond initially with either sister, both Vivian and Lucy have their walls up for various reasons, but as the book went on and we as readers were drawn more and more into their lives I became utterly engrossed.

There is a bit of romance happening with both sisters, but the romance really takes a backseat to complicated family relationships and the untangling of three decades worth of lies, half truths and omissions their dad handed down to them. While the ending was a little too perfect (even though I did love how it all worked out), I do appreciate that both sisters got a chance to get to know each other and themselves by the end. I did want to shake their father Hank though, the author tried to paint him as a flawed individual (which he was) but he also give the short straw to both of his daughters (one for being the fun summer dad and one for being the absentee dad) and it showed.

Recommended for fans of both summer reads + low stakes family drama. It was enjoyable.

I really loved this book. It is so well-written and thought out. The characters are great with layers of emotion. It is well paced and heartfelt.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

“The Parent Trap for adults.”

The story centers around half-sisters, Vivian and Lucy, as they meet for the first time at their father’s Maine lake house after his untimely death. As these two very different women grapple with the loss, they attempt to form a relationship and work through some major life changes and decisions.

I honestly was not a fan of the FMCs but the writing in this book flowed seamlessly and it was easy to stay engaged in the story. Orenstein’s descriptions of Maine and small-town living made me want to book a trip there immediately. This would be a great read to take to the lake this summer. Also, isn’t this cover gorgeous? It’s one of my faves so far this year.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Books Dutton for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Will post my review on the publication date.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was really good. Its very much a reverse Parent Trap vibe, and i liked that. Its different than other things i have read before. It had a slow pace, but never a boring pace. I also felt the pacing was true to the events, and it paid off in the end. The writing in this is done so well, and its so emotional. It felt very human, and real.

My only real flaw with the story is the whole Oscar situation. I wish we had gotten something different with Vivian, especially with her knowing he was married, because girl, i cant root for you in that.

This was my first book by Hannah Orenstein. I was initially drawn to this book because of the gorgeous cover and reference to it being "an adult parent trap". This book draws you in from the moment Lucy and Vivian meet at the lake house. There are so many layers to this book from their dad, to each of their mom’s. I loved the ending of this book, but found myself wanting more. Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books Dutton for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Vivian and Lucy find out they are half sisters who have been spending the summers at their lake house with their father separately after he dies unexpectedly. They decide to spend the summer there together trying to figure out how to move on and where to go with their lives, Vivian wants to sell the house to start her business and Lucy wants to keep it and preserve the memories she had with her father. I enjoyed the premise and the writing style and seeing the characters develop and change throughout the book. This is the perfect beach/summer read and will be looking to read Hannah Orensteins other books. I want to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This novel delivers a tender, emotionally rich story about family, grief, and the complicated ties that bind us. Set at a lake house in Maine, the story follows half-sisters Vivian and Lucy—strangers until their father’s unexpected death brings them together for the first time.

I found the character development to be a strong point in the novel. Both Vivian and Lucy are well-drawn, flawed, and believable, and their individual journeys felt genuine. The storyline was well thought out, with enough layers to keep things interesting as secrets unraveled and emotions simmered beneath the surface.

The pacing was a little slower than I typically prefer, but the emotional payoff made it worthwhile. There’s something quietly powerful about the way the story explores forgiveness, identity, and what it really means to be family.

Overall, I found this to be a heartfelt and enjoyable read—perfect for readers who enjoy introspective character-driven stories set against a serene summer backdrop.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As an only child who has vulnerably yearned for siblings, especially a sister, in my adulthood this book really hit me hard at times. This book follows Vivian who finds out her recently deceased father has been hiding his secret family, including her half-sister Lucy. We follow Vivian and Lucy as they navigate their new reality of sisterhood, their father's untimely death, and their other personal relationships. We cover family, love, and most importantly our relationship with ourselves.

I really enjoyed this book. The reviews are true, a lot of this book is a constant back and forth between Vivian and Lucy. They have very different worldviews and goals at the beginning of the novel, but I thought it was such a treat watching them not only grow together, but grow as individuals as well. There were seemingly a lot of plots happening throughout the story and I think Orenstein did an amazing job of weaving them into the main plot and wrapping everything up at the end. I thought the relationships were very raw and made the story very entertaining while also very realistic. This type of situation is a breeding ground for regret, anger, and confusion. The emotions captured in Vivian and Lucy's stories showcased the abilities of the author.

I never say this, but my main complaint about this book is that it should have been longer! Or at least given me a time skip epilogue! I really wanted to see where these relationships stood after more time. Other than that, a wonderful solid read and Lord knows that cover is gorgeous.

4⭐️

**Thank you Dutton and NetGalley for the eARC**

Vivian and Lucy are estranged half sisters. And their father has just died, thrusting them into a strange meeting at the summer lake house in Maine. They are both facing crossroads in their relationships and professional lives while trying to navigate and integrate their newfound sisterhood. Truths will come to the surface and rock them in many ways.

Orenstein paints beautifully vivid pictures of Maine in summer. She truly created images that helped me visualize where the characters were. There were some times that it felt like I was bogged down in wording whether from descriptions or just the exposition of the story, but overall, I enjoyed the journey and experience with the characters. I always love a story with good character growth and change. This would be a great summer beach/lake read!