*Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review and to PRH Audio for the gifted ALC*

For whatever reason, I went into this book thinking it was a romance. It definitely isn't, though there are some romantic subplots throughout. But if you want a snarky contemporary novel with notes of The Parent Trap and Schitt's Creek, this may be for you. The relationships in this book feel rightfully strained, but I loved how we got to see them develop over the summer. You'd be pretty pissed too if you found out that your dad had a secret family and basically left you on read. I took my time to enjoy the audio of this one, narrated by the one and only Mara Wilson. And truly, it made it feel all the more nostalgic!

This book made me want to blast Noah Kahan and run away to Maine, so truly I think it nailed it.

This story delves into themes of family secrets, sisterhood, and second chances, set against the picturesque backdrop of a Maine lake. The pacing was a bit slow initially and some of the resolutions a bit too neat. I appreciated the setting and the exploration of sisterhood and the growth of the characters.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein had a lot of things I liked; the whole setting by the lake, two half-sisters who don’t know each other, and some juicy family secrets. Vivian and Lucy felt real, and I enjoyed seeing how their relationship slowly shifted from strangers to something more complicated.

That said, the story didn’t quite grab me all the way through. Some parts felt slow, and a few emotional moments didn’t land as deeply as I wanted. I think there was a lot of potential in exploring grief and family tension, but it just didn’t hit me as hard as I hoped it would.

A propulsive sister drama, Hannah Orenstein’s Maine Characters greatest strength is its vivid depiction of the fictional Maine lake town in which it is set. The oh, so gorgeous cover captures the beauty of the area as well as the general mood of the book. The story was not as lighthearted as I was anticipating based on the description, but overall I found this to be an interesting, if at times overly emotional, tale.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

Family drama, secrets, grief, and a little romance? Sign me up! This one sucked me right in, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting (I hadn’t read the summary). I thought this would be a light summer romance (with it’s GORGEOUS cover), but it was heartbreaking in the best way, and definitely had me crying at the end.

While at times both Lucy and Vivian could be unlikeable, their emotions and reactions felt messy but real. They both had some complicated romantic situations, but I enjoyed their character growth throughout the summer. The setting was beautiful and made me want to visit a small town in Maine. Highly recommend this beautiful story about sisterhood, secrets, grief, and forgiveness – it’s perfect for summer!

Thank you Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC!

Though I have other books by Hannah Orenstein on my TBR list, Maine Characters is the first I've read by her. Not going to lie, the cover of this book is the reason I first picked it up. We're told not to judge books by their covers. But I do. And this one is gorgeous. It helped me imagine the setting easier as I was reading which immersed me in the story more. I really liked the plot between half-sisters Vivian and Lucy meeting for the first time after their dad dies. While I loved the plot overall, I just didn't buy the characters themselves. I didn't feel like they suited their ages well and there was not much great character development through the story. I didn't love this one, but I'm excited to read more by Hannah Orenstein.

As someone who grew up going to Maine every summer, I absolutely loved the setting. The story itself dives into the complexities of families and the relationships within. I’d definitely recommend.

I was originally interested in this book based on the cover and have never read a book by the author. The main characters weren't likable. They are in the 30s and act very childish. They also both go back to terrible spouses just to leave them again for a new romance/someone they met very recently. I also didn't find the story line very believable. One daughter knows about the other their whole life but never reaches out even in their adult lives.

I loved Hannah Orenstein’s Head Over Heels so was very excited to get my paws on her newest book. This novel has been touted as The Parent Trap: Adult Edition. Vivian, the glamorous city dwelling sommelier, and Lucy, the down to earth teacher, are thrust together when their father unexpectedly passes away and they both end up at his lake house in Fox Hill, Maine. The kicker: they’re half sisters who’ve only just met for the first time. Vivian grew up in the city with her parents, and Lucy grew up with a single mom who was the other woman in Vivian’s parents’ marriage. The two half-sisters couldn’t be more different. But what further complicates the situation is that Vivian is determined to sell the lake house to fund her dream of opening her own wine bar, and that Lucy isn’t willing to let go of the memories she shared with her father in that house every summer (oh, and she’s recently separated with nowhere else to stay).

There was a lot to like about this book from a plot perspective. The characters, however, were tough to connect with. Both Vivian and Lucy made bad decisions left and right. They were both emotionally immature, and terrible at handling conflict. They were each selfish and self-centered in their own ways. I tried to give them grace given that they both had personal lives that were fraught with drama, but it was grating after a while. It kept me from loving this book. I liked it, but I didn’t love it.

I’d give it a read if you like books about flawed characters, family secrets, and finding yourself again after grief. If infidelity is a trigger for you, be mindful as there is a lot of that discussed throughout this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was hoping for this one to feel more summery & hopeful amidst the drama, but overall most of the drama and plots felt unnecessary and I wasn’t invested in how the story would end. Also, I was nooot a fan of any of the characters hahah. I found both sisters annoying, oops. It was alright, definitely not parent trap though!

This is pitched as an adult parent trap and I guess I see that. I loved the growth in the sisters with dealing with their father’s death. There is a romance subplot(s) but the focus is on the relationship between the sisters.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This is not my typical genre of reading so the feel of the book fell flat for me - the characters had quirks about them that made them unlikeable to me, personally. However, overall it was nice story and kept me interested in reading it to see how the story may end. I could definitely see this story as a movie or limited series.

I don't usually go for "women's fiction" but there was something about this book (including the Maine setting) that made me want to read it...and I'm so glad I did. It's been one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

Two half-sisters unexpectedly meet at their father's cabin in Maine and must come to grips with his death, their childhoods, and what they want to do now.

While the book probably went a little long and I didn't really identify with either of the main characters, the emotions and thoughts and character challenges all still resonated with me-the sign of good writing, in my opinion. It was an emotional read, but maybe one I needed.

I thought this was okay but I really didn't love it. This took me forever to read (I'm not a huge fan of long chapters to be honest) and I really didn't connect with either Lucy or Vivian. I did expect there to be more romance which I think is why I was a bit disappointed. This was more leaning towards women's fiction and focusing on the sister's relationship which isn't what I usually lean towards reading. I did love the Maine setting and this is definitely a cute summer read if that's your vibe!

I liked this book but ultimately didn’t love it. Admittedly I am in a beast of a reading slump so the problem could have very well been me. I was intrigued by the premise of the book but had a hard time getting past that after acting blown away by Lucy’s existence, Vivian actually had suspected that she had existed for half of her life? This book wasn’t for me in the end but I look forward to seeing what Orenstein does next!

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨⛵️🦞
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The story hooked me from page one, which I always appreciate. The dual meaning in the title - set in a lakeside home in Maine and told through the perspectives of two female protagonists (the “main” characters) - is clever and well-executed.

The dynamic between half-sisters Viv and Lucy was compelling. While they appear very different on the surface, their parallel struggles with self-worth added depth to the narrative. The romantic tension kept me guessing, and I genuinely wasn’t sure which guy either woman would end up with - which made the journey more fun.

This book felt like The Parent Trap meets adulthood, set not at a summer camp but a lake house, complete with charming local spots like Foxy Roxie’s. I’m a sucker for a good lake read, and this one delivered.

I happened to read this right before July, which aligns perfectly with the book’s setting and made the reading experience even more immersive. I’ve read one of Orenstein’s earlier novels and remember enjoying that one as well. It’s also refreshing to see protagonists in their 30s navigating adult relationships, marriages, and friendships with kids - it felt age-relevant and real.

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for an advanced copy. This was my first Hannah Orenstein book and I really enjoyed it. The title grabbed me and the cover was further proof that I needed to read this book, and I am glad I did. It is a story of two adult half-sisters who meet for the first time at their father’s lake house after his death. While there is some romance, the focus is strongly on the relationship between the sisters, as well as their relationships with their parents. The author did a wonderful job of creating a realistic storyline, full of grief and anger, as well as love and acceptance, while centering it all in a gorgeous, peaceful lake house and small Maine town. Perfect summer book.

Maine Characters centers around two half-sisters whose lives collide at their father’s house in Maine after his unexpected death. Vivian is a sommelier, Lucy is a high school teacher, and both are facing major changes in their families, love lives, and careers. I love a family drama and a sisters story, and the setting is beautiful. Highly recommend reading it on a piece of shoreline

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Thank you to @duttonbooks @prhaudio and @hannahorenstein for my #gifted audio ARC of Maine Characters. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Maine Characters was a delightful summer story with a Parent Trap influence. Though much of it focused on the grief two half sisters feel as they mourn their father, the majority focused on how Lucy and Vivian grew up, with only Lucy having any knowledge that she had a half sister she'd never met.

I'm always going to get pulled in by a sister story, and though Lucy and Vivian's relationship started out rather rocky, it warmed my heart to see them form a bond and learn to care about each other. While I initially liked Lucy, VIvian took time to warm up to. I felt like she only cared about herself and intentionally said and did mean things to Lucy simply to hurt her. I hated how Vivian grew up with all of the money, privilege, and an intact family unit, while Lucy and her mother struggled.

This was definitely a slower-paced novel, but I liked being able to listen to it. I felt narrator Mara Wilson did a nice job not only telling Lucy and Vivian's story, but also their mother's stories. I also loved how all of them bonded together in the end to not only grieve for the father and partner they lost, but to provide each other love, support, and comaraderie. The character growth was lovely to see, too.

This was a heavier and more character-driven summer read, but I loved the Maine setting, the small-town vibes, and the long summer days spent by a lake.

If you haven't read this one yet, definitely give it a try!

Bright, funny, and emotionally honest. Orenstein captures the tension between ambition and belonging in a small-town summer. The romance and family arcs were equally compelling. It was a satisfying, feel-good read.