A fun, emotional, drama-filled time! The setting was fabulous, and the author masterfully depicted the intricate bonds of sisterhood and grief's multifaceted journey. A perfect beach read for fans of Carley Fortune and Emily Henry, Maine Characters is not one to miss.

I love a lake house setting and forced reflection on messy emotions and past hurts. Maine Characters nailed this for me, bringing together Vivian and Lucy through their dad's cabin. It's a slow(er) start but I really appreciated the way their relationship grew throughout the story.

I still remember watching the Parent Trap for the first time as a kid, and I think I'll feel the same way about this book. That descriptor hooked me and I was stoked to be selected for an e-ARC - thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the book in exchange for my honest thoughts!

I love Hannah Orenstein, but I was immediately drawn to the description as "the Parent Trap for adults. And I happen to know a few people...(Kirsten and Cassie) who love Maine.

Vivian heads to her lake house in Maine to spread her father’s ashes and finds Lucy in the cabin. She realizes  Lucy is her half-sister, whom her father had hidden from her for her entire life, despite the inkling that her father had a secret.

Now the two women are in the lake house. Lucy’s marriage has fallen apart, and she needs to stay in the cabin. She has wonderful memories of being there with her father every July and wants to keep the cabin. Vivian wants to sell it for the money to start a new business with her boyfriend, who happens to be married. This book is like a modern-day parent trap, but the stakes are a little higher. Can these two get over the past to have a future together as a family?

This book is the perfect pick for the summer. The characters grow and change, and the small romance within the pages adds just the right touch.

3.5 stars
Slow and steady was the name of the game for this book. I wasn’t immediately drawn in, and I can’t say that I was enraptured by the story, but I was interested and wanted to know how the sisters would tie up their loose ends and what the conclusion would be. Could have used a little more action and plot points, but overall a good, scenic, and heartfelt story with complex characters and growth.

In Maine Characters, Hannah Orenstein introduces us to two stepsisters, Vivian and Lucy, who are thrown together for the summer in the lakeside town of Fox Hill after the unexpected death of their father. The twist? They’ve never met before—and now they’re sharing a house and a complicated legacy neither was prepared for.

Vivian, a bold, polished New Yorker, grew up with both parents and every advantage. Lucy, raised by a single mother, only got one month a year with their shared father—and she spent her childhood as a well-kept secret from Vivian and his wife. Naturally, tensions are high, and expectations low, when they first arrive at the cabin.

Lucy is open-hearted and hopeful about forming a sisterly bond, while Vivian is ready to pack up, sell the property, and move on. But over the course of the summer, their relationship starts to shift. Alongside small-town drama, romantic entanglements, and some serious family baggage, the two begin to uncover long-held secrets—and a connection neither of them expected.

I’ll admit, I was first pulled in by the stunning cover, but I stayed for the heartfelt writing and the slow-burn emotional growth. Orenstein has a knack for creating characters who feel real and relatable. Watching Lucy and Vivian discover themselves—and each other—was both touching and satisfying. And Fox Hill itself? It practically breathes off the page. I’d pack a bag and head there in a heartbeat if I could.

This is a cozy, emotionally rich novel about grief, growth, and the messy beauty of found family. If you're into stories that balance charm and depth with a splash of summer escape, this one's for you.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein has a dreamy cover! The idillyic setting made me instantly want to read the book.

This story is intended for fans of The Parent Trap, or anyone that enjoys a family drama. The story begins when Vivian heads to her dad's lake house after his death and runs into her sister whom she has never met. The reader finds out that both sisters are quite different due to the ways they were raised. Each daughter is also dealing with their own grief from the loss of a parent. Lucy wants to keep the lake house- a place where she has great memories with her dad- while Vivian wants to sell it immediately. When both women end up spending the summer together, the truth will be discovered.

This book deals with grief but also has moments of laughter. It would be perfect to read in a lake house setting!

I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review. I did not enjoy the story, unfortunately, and could not continue. Thank you for the opportunity and consideration.

Family Secrets, Small Town Drama, and Sisterhood Surprises

Wow—what a rollercoaster of a read! If you love family drama, complicated sister dynamics, and a picturesque small-town setting, this book needs to be on your TBR.

The story follows Vivian and Lucy, two half-sisters who have never met—until their father dies, and they’re suddenly thrown into each other’s lives. Vivian heads to her dad’s lake house in Maine to clean things out, only to find Lucy already living there, expecting to stay for the month. What follows is a messy, emotional deep-dive into their childhoods, their very different upbringings, and the man who shaped them both in totally different (and sometimes toxic) ways.

I went in pretty blind on this one—I'm a fan of the author and honestly, the cover totally sold me. At first, I had a hard time with Lucy’s character. She leans hard into the “forgotten daughter” role and takes out a lot of her anger on Vivian, which got under my skin. Like—don’t blame Vivian for their dad’s mistakes! But as the story went on, both women revealed so many layers, and their growth felt really real. Maybe I just related more to Vivian—more reserved, kind of high-maintenance, and definitely carrying some deep-rooted resentment—but either way, the back-and-forth between the sisters gave me emotional whiplash in the best (and most frustrating) way.

On top of all the family stuff, there’s plenty of romantic drama too. Lucy is separated from her husband but not ready to let go, so she’s testing the dating waters. Meanwhile, Vivian is tangled up with a man who still has a wife (yikes), while also rekindling a spark with a local bartender she met years ago. It’s messy, heartfelt, and keeps you flipping pages.

Read this if you love: Messy family dynamics, small-town Maine vibes, complicated sister relationships, a splash of romance (okay, more than a splash), stories that explore grief, identity, and second chances

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. This one drops on May 13, so mark your calendars!

I thoroughly enjoy this book - my first Hannah Orenstein! The author captured Maine beautifully, and I loved how the plot was more than your average romance. The family drama and love triangles kept me turning the pages. I can’t believe this almost didn’t get published!!! I’m so happy it did. The cover is absolutely gorgeous.

Was not a huge fan of this. I felt like there was little character development and the relationship between the two characters was rushed and not fleshed out. I still enjoyed it, just wasn't my favorite.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This was a light, enjoyable read. I enjoyed the premise, but I found it really hard to get into initially. I guess I wanted more from the characters. It felt a little surface level. There was a lot of ground to cover with the story and not enough pages. Because of this, we didn't dig deeper into everything. I also wanted more from the romantic aspect of the characters. I get that this is not a romance novel, but it was there to be explored. The author did a great job of weaving the four main characters together and I felt like this would be a good beach read.

First and foremost, what an excellent cover. Requested this ARC after hearing a great review of the book as an upcoming Summer 2025 release on the Bad on Paper podcast. In Maine Characters, we follow the story of Vivian and Lucy as they meet for the first time - despite the fact that they're half sisters. Think "The Parent Trap" - but two adults and less campy (literally) antics. In the wake of their father's death, the duo must navigate their individual grief and their father's betrayal. The setting of Fox Hill, Maine is a character by itself. Orenstein does an excellent job painting a vivid picture of this lakeside town and the characters that inhabit it. I was impressed with the level of depth in the complex relationships explored. This is not your average breezy summer beach read - it carries a more emotional tone that makes it a great comp to Carley Fortune. Looking forward to checking out more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton (Penguin) for the eARC. This title is set to release on May 13 2025

DNF at 21%

I really tried to like the book. I really liked the idea of the story. The concept was very creative, which was what made me want to request the book. The reason for my DNF is that I honestly found myself not rooting for either female main character. I found them both rather immature. I did my best, but I think this was not the book for me. I would be interested in trying one of this author's other books because I have heard great things.

This one wasn’t for me so I won’t be reviewing it widely but I really disliked all of the characters. I found them to be very immature, juvenile and annoying and it kept me from connecting with the story. I also feel like I read a very similar plot in another book so all in all this missed the mark for me.

The cover and premise of the book drew me in, especially since the book was described as being The Parent Trap for adults! And while I wanted to enjoy this book, I found that I could not get connected to the characters and the story fell flat. There were a lot of different storylines and the cheating in the book, which made it difficult to follow and read. I did not find the characters likeable and I felt that the pettiness and drama was extensive.

The book made me grow to appreciate the beauty of Maine and now I want to visit!

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!

What a fun and somewhat emotional read! It really did seem like Parent Trap but adult and with more complicated scenarios. I liked that all the characters had their flaws and were learning to work through them. Also the Maine setting was perfect - a great summer read!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

ARC provided from NetGalley

This was such a good book! There was great character development and the story was perfectly paced. The main characters (haha “Maine Characters”) Vic and Lucy are easy to sympathize with but also equally quick to get on my nerves. Which only means they’re realistic and well written.

They each have their individual moments of conflicting feelings for their dad, which I think is a great exploration of their grief. I love how it also touches on the feelings of their mothers too.

The romance as a sub plot was done very well and doesn’t overshadow Viv and Lucy’s relationship development with each other as sisters throughout the plot. And there were quite a few gasp worthy twists too!

Thanks to Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP- Dutton for the E-ARC! Really enjoyed. Great characters & fun writing style. Will read more from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

After their father’s passing, two half-sisters—who had no idea the other existed—are brought together in the most unexpected way. As they clean out the lake house and unpack old memories (and plenty of emotional baggage), they slowly build a bond neither of them saw coming.

This one was deeper than I anticipated—in the best way. Orenstein balances grief, self-discovery, and romance with charm and sensitivity. I loved the fully fleshed-out side characters, the emotionally satisfying ending, and the sense of place. It’s a summer read with substance—and the kind of book that sneaks up on you with its quiet emotional punches.

Described as “Parent Trap for adults,” this book started me on a summer reading kick that I can’t stop (nor do I want to)! A small town story about what it means to be (half) sisters, the importance of self care, love, and friendship. Although somewhat predictable, it was satisfying and a perfect summer read. I’m ready for the lake! 🚤

Thank you @netgalley and @duttonbooks for allowing me early access to read this!