
Member Reviews

I loved the setting of this book, but it had such a long exposition and the buried plot points never really packed a punch. This felt more like a drawn out TV series than a can’t put down book, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton | Dutton for allowing me to read an ARC of Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein, in exchange for my honest review.
This was a wonderful story with heartfelt emotions, growing and grieving pains, family messes, and forgiveness and acceptance (of others and self), set in a jealousy-inducing location.
I really enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more by Hannah Orenstein.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein is such a heartfelt and emotional read. The story follows Vivian and Lucy, two half sisters who’ve never met until their dad passes away, leaving them to deal with their grief at his lake house in Maine. What I loved most about this book is how real both sisters felt. Vivian is this super polished sommelier from NYC with secrets she’s terrified will ruin everything, while Lucy is a small town English teacher dealing with a failing marriage. Their tension and misunderstandings felt so authentic, especially since they both have totally different relationships with their dad. The mix of resentment, jealousy, and curiosity between them was messy in the best way. It’s the perfect summer read, light but deep, dramatic but hopeful. Definitely recommend!

This book did a great job making the setting of Maine feel like almost like a separate character. The descriptions of the house, the lake, and the weather were so descriptive and really helped transport me through reading. The 2 sisters were relatable and I liked the dual POV. It did seem as though sometimes they were both too harsh and stubborn with each other, but I do feel like it worked out towards the end and they became much better at communicating. Overall really enjoyed this book and now I want to take a vacation to Maine.

This was.. okay? I read something incredibly similar by another author a little over a year ago as well.
This largely lacked likable characters (except you, Dawn). A lot of people who just don’t communicate with each other and basically nobody is faithful to anyone else. By the end, everyone seems to start to grow up/mature a bit but you have to get through the thick of this before you get to that point.
Good, albeit somewhat overdone, basis for a plot, but largely fell flat for me.

A sort of coming of age novel, but for 2 women in their late 20’s. And also a story of children realizing that their parents are much more complex than the children ever could have imagined. I thoroughly enjoyed this book for the Maine setting, the sisterhood, the love stories and the self-discoveries.

This was pretty good. I enjoyed the story and the characters. Maine is where I grew up and now my family has a seasonal site on a lake there, so the whole Maine part of the story and the lake reminded me of home. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked Head over Heels from this author so was so excited to see a new novel by her. I love the romance but more so the deeper meanings and themes in her books. This cover is gorgeous too. I will pick up anything this author writes.

I just finished a new book.Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein was a fun read. I think others will too.

I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this cover is what drew me in! Vivian & Lucy (30s) are half-sisters who never met until immediately after their dad died. Vivian grew up with a cold and distant relationship with her parents, while Lucy got the summer vacation fun version of her dad. As a result, they are experiencing their grief very differently and don’t know how to navigate their new sister relationship, and everything that comes with that, such as deciding what to do about their dad’s cabin. At the same time, both Vivian and Lucy are undergoing relationship struggles that mirror some of what they grew up with, though the sister relationship, father/daughter, and mother/daughter relationships are more of a focus over the romance storylines.
The book was a little slow to start and the characters were hard to root for at first. Eventually, we get to the heart of the story where the family secrets come to the surface. What follows is their journey of complex grief, figuring out if/who they can trust, tension, regret, yearning, exploring sisterhood, guilt, grudges, and forgiveness. This book definitely portrays how messy family dynamics and grief can get. But the character growth was satisfying and the ending tied things together well. I would love to visit this fictional little town.
3.5⭐️ rounded up.
Thanks to the publisher (Penguin Group Dutton) & NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Pub date: 5/13/25

Isn’t the cover and blurb just gorgeous? This story revolves around Vivian and Lucy, half-sisters grieving their father’s sudden death from a heart attack. They also come to terms with the fact that they never had a relationship with him until now. We don’t fully understand why Hank kept his families separate while attempting to maintain connections with both of his daughters. It feels unnecessary and, frankly, quite sad. Without giving away spoilers, I can say that the book offers a sort-of happy-ish ending. Some endings are heart-wrenching, while others are the big, triumphant moments like a first kiss, a proposal, a championship win, or a legal victory. This ending falls somewhere in between, which may leave some readers feeling unsatisfied.
I struggled to connect with the characters. While they were in difficult situations, they often handled them poorly. The past couldn’t be undone, and the multiple love triangles just felt overwhelming. There are four love triangles in this book:
Vivian/Lucy/their father Hank
Hank/Celeste (Vivian’s mom)/Dawn (Lucy’s mom)
Vivian/Oscar (NYC married boyfriend)/Caleb (small-town bartender)
Lucy/Patrick (soon-to-be ex-husband)/Harrison (new love interest)
That's a lot of relationships to juggle. It’s an ambitious amount of characterization, but it’s tough to get to know everyone deeply. Harrison and Caleb seem like decent guys, but we don’t have time to really understand them. Dawn is by far the best character, but she’s underused since it’s not really her story. Most of the other characters, unfortunately, aren't particularly likable.

This one was like... drama central at a lake house, but with a splash of heart. Two sisters meet for the first time under super awkward circumstances—like, their dad just died, and suddenly they’re sharing the same space. Yikes, right? Cue the sibling rivalry and major emotional unpacking.
The setting? Total lake-life vibes. Maine is basically a whole character here, and the small-town charm is chef’s kiss. But the sisters? Kinda hard to root for at first—one’s all ambition with a side of secrets, and the other is trying to untangle her life in her hometown. It takes time to warm up to them, but there’s solid growth by the end.
The family drama is juicy, though it leans a little heavy on the messiness (so. many. triangles.). Still, if you’re into complicated relationships and a hint of healing, it’s worth a read. Perfect for soaking up some sun on a lazy summer day.
Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for this ARC!!
I’ve read (and loved) a previous novel by Hannah Orenstein, so I was so excited to see this one. The premise really drew me in, and I mean, look at the cover of this book! How gorgeous!
It took me quite a while to get into this book. Except for the first couple of pages, the first half of the book was a very slow burn for me. The second half, though, made it worth it. Once I got to a certain point (right around halfway through), I couldn’t put it down.
I felt this book had a lot to say about the world, and I love that in a novel — especially in one where I might not have expected it. I loved the overall larger themes this book commented on, including the messiness of humanity and the complexity of familial relationships, to name a couple.
If you like a messy book (in the best way!) with powerful character arcs, this might be the right book for you!

3.75
This book has a wild start! But it’s addicting in its set-up. After her father passes, Vivian returns to his cabin in Maine with preparations to spread his ashes and to sell the house, but runs into Lucy there - who she quickly learns is her half-sister that her father never told her about. Lucy, however, knows all about Vivian. I find these characters , these two sisters, simultaneously excruciating and relatable. Even apart from their grief, both characters personal lives are crumbling apart — and the cabin in Maine is their hideaway, but they then have to deal with each other.
Lucy and Vivian are direct opposites in many ways - Vivian being the cynic and Lucy being the optimist. Their affects lead to different interpretations of their father and their familial relationships and the different ways those mindsets have affected them — I think this is explored in a really interesting way.
I love the backdrop of Maine & feel as though emily henry lovers would love this one!!

A nostalgic novel with a beautiful backdrop. Reading it made me want to book a trip to Maine. I enjoyed feeling immersed.

This story initially grabbed my attention because from the plot summary it seemed like a story filled with drama and secrets however the overarching theme would be centered around sisterhood and that core relationship. I can confirm this book centers around all the above. This reminded me, and will remind most readers, of the "The Parent Trap" which immediately brings a sense of nostalgia to the story, altogether enhancing the reader's experience with the novel. Two sisters separated, finally reunite at their late father's lake house - what could go wrong?
I love the themes centering around sisterhood and developing that bond even through trauma due to the fact i am the eldest sister of 5 and could relate to Vivian so well with her personality and outlook on life.
This was truly such a fun read and look forward to more of Orenstein's work!

This review is based on an Advance Reader Copy provided by NetGalley. This was a cute story of two half sisters from very different backgrounds meeting for the first time after the unexpected death of their fathers. There was a lot of relationship development (sisters, mother-daughter, some romantic but not the focus) that made it a nice departure from the typical romance stories I read. I liked the added details of wine expert and descriptions of Maine scenery and life. It was predictable but cute overall and an enjoyable read.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein is a beautiful story. The "Parent Trap for adults" comparison is spot on, but this book is so much more than that. It touches on complicated topics such as sisterhood, grief, and family secrets. It has that small town charm that connects you to the world and characters quickly.
Two half-sisters, Vivian and Lucy, who have never met, are brought together at their late father’s lake house after his unexpected passing. Their meeting is complicated as both have different backgrounds and experiences with their shared father. The way that they deal with their grief and their feelings about their father is done quite well and is very emotional. I really enjoyed watching their relationship evolve over the course of the book.
The setting really sold the story for me. The author paints such a detailed picture of the small town setting. Whether describing meals, wines, or the town’s local haunts, the story was incredibly immersive.
While I didn’t always agree with their actions, I could understand them, and I found myself rooting for the sisters by the end.
Though the book was a bit slower to start, once you begin feeling connected to the characters and their outcomes, you won't want to put it down.
This book is a great summer read!

3.5 rounded up to 4. I wanted to love this book but unfortunately it was just a like for me. Gave major adult parent trap vibes set against a small town I wanted to visit. I found both characters unlikeable which made the book hard to read at times and a few of the storylines predictable.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton and NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
Maine Characters is a story of betrayal, lies and secrets but also reconciliation, family and love. It follows Vivian and Lucy half sisters who knew of each other but did not meet until after the death of their father and are thrusted into spending the summer together at his lake house in Maine. They experience ups and downs together and personally as they navigate grief and their futures.
The book is written from both viewpoints but in the third person point of view which is not my preferred pov created emotional distance from the characters for the reader.