What I enjoyed most about this book, is the author Hannah Orenstein, created a story about two half sisters, that had never met, until their father passed away. Hannah told their story, the way it would probably play out in life. The day they meet, with the distrust of each other, the not liking each other, to them ending up sharing the camp together, and all the ups and downs, that comes with it. I saw the girls relationships with their mothers, because each one had created the person they are because of the things that had happened, there are many different points of views.
As the summer moves forward, so do the girls, but in life, they second guess themselves, and sometimes, tries to go back to fix something that didn't end the way they thought they wanted. Hannah takes us through it all, and life goes on, their life starts to look a little different. At the end of summer, they discover who they are now, because of all they have gone through, they have made plans for the future, but life would still test them to see if they were sure.
The details, the author showed us, and as they moved on in life, there is always doubt and wondering about what ifs, and the author included it all in their story. I enjoyed this book, because for me, this is the way life would be for them.
I received an ARC from Dutton through NetGalley, and this definitely was a book worth fighting for. When you read the book, you will know why I wrote this.

Two half sisters finally meet as adults because their father has died, which leads to the "Parent Trap for adults" description only insofar as they are sisters of about the same age who did not grow up together (well maybe in one other way that would be a spoiler). You have the relationship between the sisters as well as each of their relationships with their dad, his house, their moms, and past and present love interests. The character dynamics lead to perfectly messy moments, but what I really loved were the author's foodie descriptions of wines and foods, as well as her detailed location descriptions of restaurants, bars, and Fox Hill Lake, which I would like to visit except for it being fictional. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy!

My family has an old lake house, and that’s the main reason I chose to read this book. I related a lot to the characters in terms of their relationship to the lake and the house, and I totally understand tough sibling dynamics, though I admit this is not a situation I have ever found myself to be in. This was a cute book but serious when it had to be, and I quite enjoyed reading it.

I love the Parent Trap like everyone else but I wished that we could’ve found out more about the characters story lines earlier in the book. It would’ve helped me connect with them better

The ending saved the book for me! The author did a great job of changing my views of the entire read and the last 25% of the book was a 5 star read.

I wanted to read this book because of the Parent Trap reference but there was nothing Parent Trap about this book. For the first 75% of the book I found myself hating both Lucy and Vivian. I thought there were both self-centered spoiled brats. The last 25% I realized that while life led them in two directions, they were truly sisters, soulmates.

The book wasn't my favorite but was a great sit on your couch with no expectations kind of read to get you through a cold day in January. (And it did make me want to go to the winery tomorrow).

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dalton for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is such a fun summer read! The two main characters of this book are Lucy and Vivian, and they are half-sisters. They find out about each other when they both visit their deceased father's cabin in Maine. Vivian goes to Maine to sell the cabin. Lucy goes to the cabin to visit her father, who she thought was alive. The book delves into the story about how each of them process finding out they have a half sister, the grief of losing their father, and what to do next with the cabin. I enjoyed how the author described the setting and made it seem like you were there in Maine. I also enjoyed learning more about Lucy and Vivian outside of them finding out they had a half-sister. I enjoyed reading the parts about their backstory. I do think the book was a little too long in places. I also thought the book became a little too cliche in places as well. Overall, I would give it a 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the arc in exchange for a free review!

I liked the two main characters and their journey to acceptance of their family issues, but. I found the way that it ended a little convenient and predictable.

I didn’t particularly enjoy this book, found it a little boring. Maybe I just wasn’t the target audience, but I thought it was well written and I enjoyed the setting as I live in Maine myself.

If you are a fan of the parent trap I highly recommend this story.
I enjoyed the seeing the relationship between Vivian and Lucy grow even more then the romantic sub plots in the book.
I did find the story to be a little slow getting into and I do think I would have enjoyed it more if it was in first persons perspective of both Vivian and Lucy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I requested this book simply based on how beautiful the cover is and I’m glad I did. But beyond that cover is a story of family and grief and Orenstein captures a realistic essence of both with all their flaws. I really enjoyed this book.

"Every summer, Vivian Levy and Lucy Webster spend a month with their father at his lake house — separately." Vivian lives a glamorous life in the city working as the top sommelier for a high-end restaurant, but she hides a secret that threatens to blow her perfect life apart. And Lucy lives a far humbler life in the small town of Fox Lake, Maine, teaching high-school English and still reeling from her recently imploded marriage.

When Vivian arrives at the lake house to spread her father's ashes, she's shocked to encounter Lucy, the sister whose existence has been kept from her for her whole life. Instead of bonding in their shared grief, the two immediately clash. Forced to spend the summer together, the two navigate the mess left behind their father, shedding light on secrets and the truth about their parents' pasts. In a journey to resolve unanswered questions, the biggest one of all remains: after thirty years, is it too late for them to be a family?

This synopsis of this book hooked me in from the beginning, as did the tagline of "adult Parent Trap" (one of my all-time favorite movies, as a twin myself). All in all, I'd say the novel delivered on its promises of a compelling family-centered drama. Both Vivian and Lucy were such complex characters, and I'd be lying if I said I liked both of them the entire time. In fact, both of them were downright obnoxious and insufferable at different points of the story and it took me a long time to warm up to both of them. My one complaint would be that it was hard to get into the story because of the difficulty in resonating and rooting for either of the main two characters at first.

However, while Vivian and Lucy's actions and choices were often frustrating, they also always rang true. Their behavior was undeniably rooted in their individual circumstances and situations, and as a result, they came across as truly grounded and tangible characters. I really enjoyed witnessing the development of their relationship, from hostile half-siblings to begrudging roommates to friends to sisters. Their relationship was truly at the core of this book, even with the romantic subplots for each of them (another compelling aspect of this book!)

I truly feel this book excelled in its characters and their growth. I also love how the setting came alive in the story and the random details that added extra interest to the story and also just made it feel more real and personal: Vivian's wine knowledge, Celeste being a romance writer, and Caleb's dream trip to Southeast Asia. I definitely want to read more from this author in the future.

Overall: I recommend for those who enjoy a good family drama and complicated sibling dynamics. There's also plenty here for the romance lovers and even for the skeptics. Just be prepared to roll your eyes a few times in the beginning, and then later on: to tear up and feel genuine pride for Vivian and Lucy's individual journeys!

A really interesting examination of grief from two half sisters who recently lost their father, a man who gave them very different experiences as children. The two come together for the first time, processing his death at his beloved lake house in Maine while simultaneously figuring out their own lives. Vivian was raised in luxury in NYC with her aloof father and disaffected mother, while Lucy grew up sequestered in a remote lake town in Maine. After their dad dies, the two are thrust together at his lake house to figure out what to do with it. Each has a different idea of what needs to happen with the house, prompted by their very different upbringings, and they must work together, despite their grief and other things happening in their respective personal lives, to figure out the best path forward.

This was poignant, tender, and thought-provoking. Maine Characters would be a wonderful twist on a summer beach (lake?) read - it's not romance-centric, but almost felt like reading a cousin of Emily Henry in some respect. I loved this.

Vivian and Lucy spend every summer with their father in a rustic Maine lake house, separately. Lucy, the illegitimate daughter from father's old flame, knows of Vivian. Vivian knows nothing of Lucy--raised in and amongst Manhattan's elite schools and social scene--until Vivian shows up at the cabin after her father died.

Vivian wants to sell the cabin and collect the proceeds. Lucy is LIVID. Can the two salvage a relationship and solve the mystery of who their father was?

Ultimately, Vivian is highly unlikeable until well into the book. Their dad was a real piece of work, and honestly, I feel like there was way too much reverence for a man with such questionable moral ethics. There were portions of this I did really love and found this book engaging and highly readable.

This was my first book by Hannah Orenstein, and it won’t be my last! The beautiful cover and the "adult Parent Trap" premise (one of my favorite movies) immediately drew me in. While I didn’t love either main character, I understood them and found their dynamic compelling. A book that keeps me hooked despite flawed characters is always a win.

The setting—a charming lake town in Maine—completely won me over, especially with the sisters' deep connections to their home. The complicated family dynamics were well done, leaving me torn about who to root for. I appreciated that the sisters’ relationship was the focus, with romance taking a backseat.

There was great character development, and by the end, I found myself warming up to both main characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it’ll be a big hit this summer!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Based on the cover I thought this was going to be a light rom com. It had some romance but it had a lot more depth too. This is a story of family - namely sisters. Alternating between Lucy and Vivian’s perspective to tell their own stories of their complex relationship with their recently deceased dad, their failed romantic relationships, and their thoughts and feelings concerning each other.

Billed as a “Parent strap for Adults” set on a lake which sounded like a fun premise. Vivian and Lucy are half siblings who have spent time over the years with their dad at his home on the lake. They discover each other after the death of their dad and chaos and big emotions ensue. Personally, I didn’t find the characters very likeable and the one mother was basically intolerable. But I always think it’s a great skill of the author to evoke strong emotions, even if they’re not warm and fuzzy ones. Temper your expectations and take this book for what it is, a story of 2 over dramatic women in their 20s working through some shit and finding their way to a better relationship. 3.5 stars overall

was an easy read! liked the sisters aspect and felt different than most summer romcoms… kept finding myself looking for something more but overall liked! will be a great summer read for yall!

The main characters are intolerable, and I think that’s a skill for an author. Vivian’s mother’s histrionics are so intense that it was difficult to read. I almost DNF’d this novel at 25%. I’m glad I pushed through because I love Maine and the atmosphere was spot on. I don’t think the Parent Trap description was accurate, but fine. Chick-lit isn’t my genre but this one worked its self out in the end, even if predictable.

Parent Trap-inspired?! In a gorgeous Maine setting?! Sign me up!!
I quickly found myself enjoying this heartwarming and playful rom-com by Hannah Orenstein, despite the fortuitous plot set up. Two vastly different half-sisters find their worlds turned upside down when their secret-keeping father's unexpected death uncovers all the family's history and skeletons in the closet. I had so much fun predicting the story as it unfolded, and loved reading a story about strong, bold women.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinions!

I loved this book! The premise was so interesting — sort of a modern spin on The Parent Trap, although no twins and the women are adults — and something I haven’t seen covered before. In a nutshell, two women unexpectedly meet at their family house in Maine after their dad dies, only vaguely knowing that the other exists and that they are half sisters… but without any context nor having met at all growing up. There’s enough drama to keep it interesting but not over the top (for what are some sensitive topics covered, the author does a great job keeping things light and engaging — it’s an easy, fun read — but also realistic); the drama feels authentic and not over the top. This book also made me want to book a trip to Portland, Maine immediately! Definitely recommend!!