3 stars.

Very emotional and heartbreaking. This book was giving me parent trap vibes. Very touching story but I don't think this is something that stood out to me or something I'm going to remember after a few months.

This was a sweet novel weaving a web of complex relationships for sisters, parents, and love interests, new and old. It explores the deep and intricate feelings of grief, forgiveness, and family bonds and history. The backdrop is set on a beautiful lake in Maine, and the writing uses descriptions of the setting as well as food and drinks in such a fantastic way to add to the story. Overall, this was a sweet, endearing journey of complex relationships. Pick up this perfect summer read on June 13th!

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

Maine Characters is a cute, lighthearted story that makes a perfect summer read. It doesn't particularly stick with the reader or challenge them in anyway, but it's the perfect palette cleanser. 3 stars

The cover of this book captured my eye right away. I absolutely ADORE Maine and have always gravitated toward books set in this beautiful state.

This novel is a love letter to lake life, sisterhood, and the complexities of family, set against the lush backdrop of a small Maine town.
What unfolds is an exploration of grief, forgiveness, and the bonds of sisterhood. While the sisters initially clash, their journey toward understanding and connection is both touching and relatable. The complicated family dynamics are expertly woven, leaving readers torn about who to root for.
Though the sisters’ relationship takes center stage, there are romantic subplots that add depth to the story. The romance tropes include second chances, emotional healing, and the idea of finding love in unexpected places. Maine Characters is a perfect blend of drama, heart, and humor, making it an ideal summer read.

The person I am not vs the person I was when I requested this book are not the same person. I was deeply intrigued by the "Parent Trap" reference and thought this was going to give me all the fun nostalgia but in a more adult setting.

I didn't realize how truly heavy this book was going to be. From the beginning, you learn about Vivian who is grieving her dad and going to his summer cabin in Maine. The last thing she said to him was hurtful, and he basically just dropped dead. Upon arrival to the cabin, someone is there -- her sister, Lucy, with whom she never knew existed. Lucy, however, knew about Viv but didn't know her dad died.

I get that grief can cause a lot of feelings, but these girls pissed me off, it felt like a pissing contest between the two. I DNF'd after 20%.

I wasn’t sure what to expect but definitely gave me The Parent Trap vibes as described. Honestly, I can’t imagine coming and learning about a sibling after a parents death.

Deeply emotional, and thought provoking storyline, that does give off a more “present day” Parent Trap vibes. The reader will both root for Vivian and Lucy, as they are trying to navigate their own relationship, and the ones around them.
The ending leaves the reader satisfied with each characters growth, and allows you to think more of what happens to them after the last page.

I absolutely loved this book, even though it’s not my usual genre! I was hooked from the start and couldn’t wait to uncover each new twist. The story is filled with secrets that lead to powerful moments of self-discovery and navigating grief. I also adored the charming small-town Maine setting, with just the right touch of romance woven in.

Sadly this was a DNF for me at 15%. Advertised as the Parent Trap for adults but fell flat. Unlikable characters that were either to petty/bitchy or juvenile. There was a lot of potential for me given the New. England setting but I just couldn’t get invested fast enough to continue.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC - I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

5 ⭐️ I loved this secret, scandal filled, story! Parent Trap vibes but make it lake. This was my first Hannah Orenstein - def for fans of Hildebrand and Fortune!

The complicated family dynamics were well executed and really drew me in! The sisters storyline was definitely the priority and romance was the secondary plot, which I loved. Character development was perfection. This will be a great summer book!

This cover is GORGEOUS.

“Not every family was that close, she knew that, but she understood that if you got lucky, a sibling could feel like another limb.”

I loved this book! Maine Characters is a story filled with love, loss, heartbreak, and acceptance. The characters were well developed and pulled at my heartstrings.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for this ARC of Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein!

An adult version of Parent Trap? Say no more! I was first intrigued by the premises and the beatiful cover of this book but it ended up far exceeding all of my expectations. This is the perfect cozy summer read - it takes place in a fictional lake town in Southern Maine. I couldn't put this book down because I loved all of the characters. This is a book about what it means to be family and all of our human flaws. I loved the depth in which all of the relationships were explored and I found the characters to be so realistic. Looking forward to my next Hannah Orenstein read.

Very emotional story. Unexpected twists and turns. I enjoyed the ride. Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy all opinions are my own.

Parent trap for adults but a little more dramatic. The sisters felt very petty at first and then seemed to come around to each other in the end. The longer chapters felt a little draining but overall a decent read.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

The description of the setting of this story is awesome. Anyone would want to stay in that place. (Or at least have it to run to whenever a vacation or quiet time was needed.) This is a very thought provoking book. When you think you know where you would stand on an issue, but after you read this story, realize you really wouldn't make that stand at all. Vivian and Lucy could have easily parted ways forever, but it was so refreshing to see a couple of adults work something out and even become friends. The way everything was "resolved" in the end was such a positive way to end a story. It's almost like a new beginning for all!

While this book was different than the others I've read by the author I loved the complex dynamic of the female relationships. I felt like the character's struggles and feelings were related and explored very well. The resolution at the end was satisfying without feeling unrealistic.

Complicated family situation with half sisters who were kept from each other by a duplicitous father. They share the love of his Maine cabin where they spent alternating months in the summers. They find commonality and healing over the course of a shared summer.

This book had a lot more depth than I was expecting. Two half sisters meet following their father's death and a summer of healing follows. I'm more of a coastal New England girl, but this truly is a love letter to a lake summer. I do follow the author on Instagram and the sisters' strained relationship with each other and their father is a little jarring as it's the complete opposite of the author's family. This book makes me want a perfect glass of wine while watching a summer sunset.

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.