I really wanted to enjoy this but unfortunately had to DNF. I feel like the “Parent Trap for adults” descriptor was misleading, and that was what originally drew me in (along with the gorgeous cover). I felt like the characters were unnecessarily petty and immature, and while I didn’t get to the end or see if that was resolved, I couldn’t get onboard with it enough to finish. The concept itself was great in theory but was lacking in execution - I feel like a YA version of the story might have made more sense with the character’s maturity levels.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein

A book with the parent trap vibes but for adults! Two sisters who have never met both end up at their dad’s cabin at the same time. Vivian was kept in the dark and had no idea she had a half sister. But Lucy knew of her half sister Vivian. They both spend the summer together working through the messy truth about their parents pasts while also dealing with grief. Will they be able to figure things out and be friends or even family?

I was hooked right from the beginning. I could understand why Vivian was upset with her parents but I don’t think it was far for her to be anti Lucy.

I think both characters were very relatable. It was interesting to see their reactions to grief.. both very different. I thought it was a beautiful story. I could see myself reading this again, especially on the summer. I’ve spent time in Maine before so it was very cool reading a story that is based in Maine. I also love how pretty the book cover is. This is the first book I’ve read by Hannah but i really enjoyed it. I’d love to read more books by her.

Thank you so much Hannah, NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the ARC!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: May 13 2025

#NetGalley #MaineCharacters

The cover really drew me in and made me want to visit immediately. This one did take me awhile to get through, though, because I just really wasn’t vibing with either main character… I could see where both Vivian and Lucy were coming from, but was overall very frustrated by their lack of willingness to communicate through their new shared reality and how they ended up hating on each other instead (esp. Vivian towards Lucy, like girl… please be kinder). Though I would probably lash out too if I were in their situation, so who am I to judge? The love triangles were also a bit cumbersome after a while. They ended up taking me out of the story a little because I was having such a hard time believing that no one would honestly communicate with one another. My favorite character was absolutely the setting!! I’ve wanted to visit Maine ever since I did a project about it in 4th grade almost 20 years ago now, and this just added to my obsession! Probably wishful thinking to hope for a hot local bartender when I visit though…

Maine Characters is a love letter to a very particular kind of Maine summer. The comfort and psychological safety of an old family camp, the worn but irreplaceable furniture, the kitchen full of mismatched and precious dishes, sunsets on the lake in the boat full of damp pool noodles, the whole summer punctuated with bonfires and lobsters and loons. I absolutely adored that aspect of the book (and was not surprised to read in the acknowledgements that Hannah Orenstein knows this setting well). The cover is absolutely gorgeous and perfect.

Despite all that, I struggled to find a relatable or likable character in this book. I don’t need my protagonists to be perfect, and I understand that all of these people had been through some serious trauma, but I found both Vivian and Lucy to be immature and irritating for the first 75% of the book. I had a hard time understanding the actions and motivations of Celeste and Dawn. And don’t get me started on Hank and Oscar. This was frustrating because I enjoyed Orenstein’s writing style, and wished I had connected with the characters more. I did appreciate that the story left some unresolved plot lines, rather than unrealistically tying everything up in tidy bows when the characters were clearly not ready for that.

Finally, I think the choice of marketing this book as a “Parent Trap for adults” quite odd — it was nothing like that movie in almost any way!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a lot of drama! The 2 Main characters meet in an unexpected way and this just get more complicated. Although there is growth from both the characters there was a lot of pettiness. I understand the feelings on both sides and clearly the book wasn’t for me but I didn’t really see the point. This is more a story of reflection and growth and the only reason it was brought to light way the way the characters were brought together. Overall it was a decent read just not for me. I did like the setting of the story though.

I loved this book! I couldn't put it down. I loved Vivian and Lucy's characters. This book had twists I didn't expect but it ended perfectly.

Who needs a beach read when you can have a lake read?

I really enjoyed this one. It took a good while for it to get going, but once it did, it worked really well. I appreciated the way it examined the complexities of relationships, how nothing is ever black and white or cut and dry. This was a great character study; Vivian and Lucy, as well as their two mothers, are imperfect. Vivian and Lucy both have their moments of being imperfect, selfish, conniving, overly dramatic, and hindered by empty promises from men.

Considering this book is very Parent Trap like, I'll put it like this: there wasn't the same level of fun in their snippiness to each other, so the beginning dragged. Once the started to actually take the time to learn about the other, for better or for worse, and especially when the mothers came into the picture, this book shined.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m going to be honest I couldn’t get into the book. Not saying it’s the authors writing or fault I just feel that it wasn’t the book for me! I’m still thankful for the opportunity to read the ARC copy

I’ve enjoyed previous books by Hannah Orenstein and this is another book to add to the list. Unique premise and entertaining characters!

Maine Characters is about two women and one finds out she has a sister after her dad’s passing. It’s about growth, acceptance and making amends.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Main Character Energy* by Hannah Orenstein is such a delightful and empowering story! The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery, love, and finding her “main character energy” is both relatable and inspiring. Orenstein’s writing is witty, heartfelt, and full of charm, making it impossible to put down. If you’re looking for a feel-good, romantic read, this book is a must!

*Maine Characters* by Hannah Orenstein is an absolute gem! With her signature wit and charm, Orenstein brings to life a heartfelt story of rediscovery, resilience, and romance. The vivid setting of coastal Maine is a character in itself, transporting you to charming seaside towns and capturing the essence of small-town life. The characters are relatable and endearing, navigating love and life with a perfect mix of humor and vulnerability. This book is a warm hug for anyone craving a fresh start or a reminder of the beauty in life’s unpredictability. Highly recommend!

A heartfelt, engaging story about two sisters who have an unusual situation. Vivian, a big city sommelier, was raised by her father and family. Lucy, however, is her father's other daughter. Vivian grew up never knowing about Lucy, but Lucy has always known about Vivian. When Vivian travels to their beloved Maine lakeside cottage after their father's death, she is started to find Lucy there. Can these two sisters overcome a strange past and forge into the future to become family? Great characters, an absorbing plot, and a picture perfect lakeside setting make this a great read that I look forward to recommending.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton, and Jamie Knapp for the opportunity to receive an ARC of Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein!

This book has so much to enjoy. The dialogue and storyline pull you right in and truly make you feel right there in the middle of it all. The women's emotions, gut reactions, and arcs are raw and visceral. Orenstein is a fantastic writer! I kept thinking that this is the type of drama where George Clooney would be cast as the dad. Very artful and real. It was great to see things tidy up at the end for Vivian, Lucy, and their mothers and I loved the hopeful feeling it all gave me.

I'd give it a solid 3.5 stars. This type of storyline and genre isn't typically my cup of tea, but this was a great read. It's not something that will stick with me forever, but it's a wonderful feel-good tale of healing, grief, and connection in unlikely places. Perhaps perfect for your next reading club selection! I highly recommend Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein, for she is a fantastic writer and storyteller.

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Ok have to say, this book wasn’t what I was expecting at all. I went through all the emotions with these characters like I knew them myself. I found myself torn between Lucy and Vivian’s storylines. I understood the hurt and anger both sisters had but for completely different reasons. Watching both grieve the death of their father while simultaneously trying to navigate through the lies, hurt, and shock of the secrets he kept was truly a rollercoaster. I felt like I was getting caught up on secrets to turn the page and another was dropped on us.

I thought both sisters had really interesting side plots with romance and heartbreaks of their own. Usually in a book like this I’d get bored with one of the plot lines, but it wasn’t the case. I loved this story, I will be recommending it to everyone once it’s out!!

Thank you to netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

MAINE CHARACTERS by Hannah Orenstein is an absolutely beautiful story about complicated family dynamics and I loved it so, so much. I will definitely be picking up more of Orenstein's books after this! Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the advanced copy!

Beautiful story about complicated family dynamics and finding your way together!

Maine Characters was my first book by Hannah Orenstein, but it won’t be my last! The book tells the story of two half sisters who meet for the first time after their father’s unexpected death. The book takes place at their father’s cabin in Maine and tells the story of the sisters’ journey to unravel their history and learn to accept their parents as flawed human beings who made a lot of mistakes. The characters and their lives are all rich and complicated. And the entire book was a love letter to beautiful Maine. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy!

I loved this book. This was a quick easy read and while some of the "surprises" were predictable, it didn't take away from the story. It was simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking. The ending was neat and unrealistic in the comforting way that the ending of any good rom-com should be.

When Hank Levy dies on Father's Day weekend, a set of events are triggered that exposes the secrets from his past. When Vivian arrives at her father's lake house, she unexpectedly meets the half-sister she suspected, but didn't know for sure existed. The remainder of the summer, the sisters, Vivian and Lucy, deal with their own relationship struggles as they come to terms with the separate lives their father chose to leave. Culminating with the 4 most important women in Hank's life participating in one final celebration of life, Maine Characters is a study of sisters, relationships, a love letter to Maine lake summers and coming to terms with the man that has left them all.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy via NetGalley.

What a delightful little read - my only real regret is that I did not read this in the spring or summer, because this feels like the perfect book to read at a lake house or on a beach.

Vivian and Lucy were both super interesting characters, and I loved getting to hear more about their background and how different their lives were while still having the same father. Yes they both got annoying at times, but overall you felt pretty strongly for both of them (or at least I did). The most interesting character though, in my opinion, was Dawn. I wanted the entire story to be about her and be flashbacks to her youth versus present day. She had the saddest but most inspiring story, and I really did love her character.

The cover also really pulled me into this novel. The colors and the lake house depiction really scream summer to me. If you like Emily Henry books, I think that you may really like this one, as it has romance but it's definitely more about a sisterly relationship instead of romantic love.

Definitely consider picking this one up! It was great!

I had a hard time getting to this book. The adult parent trap brought me in, but the characters took me a long time to start liking.