Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein. It is the story of a developing relationship between two sisters, who didn’t know that each other existed until they were adults. Vivien’s father dies, and she leaves her sommelier job in New York City, where she grew up, to go to Maine and get her father’s summer lake cottage there ready to sell. When she gets there, she finds out that she has a sister who is just a few months older that her father had never told her about. Lucy lives in the area with her mother, and spent a month every summer with her father at the cottage. The women have very different experiences with him, and with the house. Their relationship develops, and they learn about their father and about themselves. It’s a little bit coming of age, a lot about family relationships. I liked this story, and grew to like both sisters as the book went on. #mainecharacters #hannahorenstein #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #arc #lovetoread #mainenovel #sisters #readersofinstagram #lakelife

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books for allowing me access to read this ARC!

4 stars. Lately I have been very much into romance, fantasy, and romantasy, so when I got approved for this ARC, I wasn't sure if I should try reading it now or wait a little bit when I was more in the mood for a solid fiction book. However, I gave it a shot and I ended up absolutely devouring this book. Once I got 30% into it, I just could NOT put it down. Was the beginning a little painful to get through because of the character's personalities? Yes. But the story really starts to improve as the characters start to make discoveries about themselves, and overall this book was such a feel-good story about personal growth and owning up to one's past mistakes, and I really enjoyed it. There's also a bit of romance tossed in which helped keep me interested in the beginning when I still wasn't sure of the book.

This was a very interesting read. I'm a big fan of women's lit, and the description of this along with the stunning cover had me! I enjoyed the majority of it, though certain parts I felt were a bit drawn out for me personally. By no means my favorite book of the year, but it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you #netgalley for providing an ARC of #MaineCharacters!

I decided to read this because I love spending summer in Maine and it accurately captured the charm of rural Maine. However, that’s where my enjoyment is the book ended. The storyline wasn’t believable. In the real world, Celeste would’ve had Lucy removed from the house and sold it. Lucy’s character was so annoying, unlikable, and kind of pathetic. Needed more of Caleb. Needed a follow up to next summer!

This was such a lovely read! Hannah Orenstein did a masterful job making the reader experience the book with all of the senses through the scenery and food in particular. I would have loved an epilogue or a little extra at the end but this feels like the definition of a cozy summer read if there was one

The story about a father who has passed away, but had two daughters and two “families” was an interesting premise for the story.
It wasn’t my favorite, but it was an okay read

annoying characters and pacing failed to keep my interest from start to finish
thanks to netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review

I struggled through the first part of this book as I didn't feel like I could sympathize/empathize with Vivian or Lucy. They both felt a little too unlikeable when I was trying to figure out where the story was going. But, I loved how Hannah described Maine, it makes me want to live on a lake house there!

I did think it was going to be a bit more romance but the focus of the book is definitely on sisterhood/relationships. While a bit slow at times it's a beautiful story between two women who learned to love themselves where they were at, deal with past family secrets, and how to cope with the choices they make.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the ARC!

This book was a family drama that beautifully explored the invisible bond that exists between two sisters who have never met before.

When Vivian's dad dies, she heads to Maine to put their lake house on the market. When she arrives, she comes face to face with Lucy, his other daughter, who Vivian didn't know existed. What follows is a story of two women struggling to come to terms with all the secrets and lies that have been the cornerstone of their entire lives.

I loved how this book alternated between viewpoints so that the reader was able to understand both main characters. Each woman was dealing with major life changes in their professional and personal lives, while simultaneously trying to learn who the other is and deal with the emotional fall-out of their father's secrets. At times, I didn't like either woman, but as the story went on, I was able to understand them and their actions better. Both were hurt and broken, but their strength and resiliency were admirable and I wanted them to find the happiness they deserved.

There was a small amount of romance in the book but it was very secondary to the storyline. The calm and peaceful small town lake setting was the perfect balance for the tumultuous events that were happening. The only thing that I really didn't like was the long chapters. But that's a personal issue, nothing to do with the book itself! I definitely recommend this one if you're a fan of contemporary women's fiction and family dramas. Maine Characters will be published on May 13th, 2025.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dutton for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Maine Characters was the female bonding book I didn’t know I needed. It’s such a beautiful story about not only learning to love yourself, but to learn how to forgive your parents and the choices and mistakes they might have made. And also about learning to be open to the curveballs life throws your way. This is a great story about two women that have to deal with the literal “sins of the father”. I love all the pop culture references, including something for the Swifties. This is my first read by this author, and I will absolutely be reading her other work.

I truly enjoyed this book so much. Being from Maine myself, I loved all of the references and SO appreciated that they accurately represented my state.

I so enjoyed watching Vivian and Lucy find themselves throughout this book. I enjoyed watching them becoming stronger women and realizing what was most important in life. This book feels like a warm hug and I just absolutely adored it. Thank you so much Net Galley for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I truly loved this book. Getting to know Vivian and Lucy, and Dawn and Celeste. To see how they all dealt with the loss of the man who connected them was a wonderful window into the world of grief.

The dynamics between Lucy and Vivian felt so honest and real. I could definitely understand the position that each of them was coming from. Their faults and foibles were understandable and real.

I was immediately drawn to “Maine Characters” by Hannah Orenstein because of the dreamy cover with its breathtaking swirls of color that surround an idyllic lake house. Then who could resist the punny title of the novel? And of course, with its pitch of being described as “Parent Trap” for adults, who could not resist diving in? Despite the initial lighthearted reasons that initially drew me to the book, Hannah Orenstein hooked me with her genuine portrayals of grief, heartbreak, sisterhood, and the possibilities of new beginnings.

I initially struggled to get into the novel since the main characters were so deeply flawed that I was unable to sympathize with either Vivian or Lucy enough to get drawn into their stories. However, it did not take long with the story being told in Dual POV that I quickly fell into both of their mindsets to the point that I felt torn to take sides. I too felt antagonistic of Lucy – does her claim to the cabin (and to a certain extent Hank) stand? But at the same time, Lucy’s quirky yet charming personality had me anguished that she could be cast aside in a moment like this. I went back and forth between being Team Vivian or Team Lucy but like the realization the two women had in the book, I realized I too did not have to choose sides. Both women are going through impossible situations and are hurting. One of my favorite moments of the book was when Vivian and Lucy realized it wasn’t them against each other but them against the situation. Hannah Orenstein really consumed me with the emotional turmoil that Vivian and Lucy are going through.

I truly enjoyed watching Vivian and Lucy grow both as individuals and as sisters. It was inspiring to watch them learn how to prioritize themselves in their romantic relationships while also learning where to compromise in their familial relationships. If you enjoy reading dramas about family dynamics and emotional turmoil with a dash of romance then you should check out “Maine Characters”.

Thank you Penguin Group Dutton for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

The first synopsis I read of this book said “the parent trap for adults” and oh my this book did not miss.

Lucy arrives at her family’s lake house after her father’s passing to learn she has a sister, who also plans to stay at the lake house. With vastly different upbringings and differing opinions on what should happy with the lake house, Lucy and Vivian have to learn to coexist, while dealing with their grief.

This book has the potential to be the best of 2025. A fantastic summer read.

I’ve read Hannah Orensteins other books and this one seemed different, in part because it didn’t feel like there was really a storyline. It wasn’t a romance, it was more just the sisters working things out, but I don’t think that was enough for an entire book.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein is a great contemporary fiction about two half-sisters who come together after the death of their father. Lucy and Vivian are half-sisters, but Vivian does not know that Lucy exists. After the death of their father, Vivian goes to a small town in Maine where her father owns a house and runs into her half-sister Lucy, who will do anything to prevent Vivian from selling their family home. What follows is an emotional journey as the sisters grapple with their complicated relationships with their father and this Maine town they both have memories in.

The characters of this book are very well written and I felt that they were given fantastic backgrounds that elevated their place in the story. By the end of the book, I had a good understanding of the actions of the characters and who they were. The characterization really drove the book forward and was a large part of the plot.

The plot of the story follows the varying relationship between the two sisters and centers around the attempt of Vivian to sell their dad’s house in Maine. Lucy spent her childhood summers with her father in that house and is very much against the sale. As the sisters interact with people around the town and their world’s begin to clash, they have to decide if they want to work on their relationship or not.

There were romances in this story, but they were not a huge plot point when compared to the sisterhood plotline. I thought that the romances were going to be a larger part of the story when I began reading it, but in the end, I was very happy with the focus on siblinghood and sister relationships.

Overall, I would give this story 3.5/5 stars. I am a fan of the writing style and the characterization used on all characters. I felt that the pacing of the story was a bit slow at times, but that was really my only issue with the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a story based around family and the drama that comes with being a part of a family.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I had no idea of the premise of the book; knowing it now, I'm surprised that I ended up liking it so much! This book heavily revolves around infidelity and its long-term repercussions. I have very strong feelings about infidelity (as I'm sure most people do), so it took me some time to be open to several of the characters. However, I thought Hannah Orenstein did a really beautiful job of humanizing her characters without making excuses for the poor choices they made, even when they were pretty terrible. This story is messy and uncomfortable and important. The healing and growth and truths about family that Vivian and Lucy experienced were so eloquently portrayed. I recommend this with caution, as it covers some painful topics, but all-in-all, it was very lovely.

*I knocked off a star because I really do hate reading about cheating, but the fact that the story centers on it and I still loved it so much speaks multitudes to how well-written this book is.*

Maine Characters is one of the best books I’ve read this year, brimming with humanness and complexity. Lucy and Vivian share a father, but only one knows it. After his death, they are brought together at his beloved lake house. Over the summer, old wounds are reopened, relationships are tested and repaired, and they reckon with the truth about their father, their mothers, and each other. Every character felt so real. They stayed with me long after the last page. Heartwarming and thought-provoking—a truly exceptional read.

I really enjoyed Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein. Both Vivian and Lucy were flawed yet I was rooting for them both throughout the novel. I did feel as though the story dragged a bit through the middle of the book but would absolutely still recommend this to friends to read. I loved the setting in Maine, the supporting characters and the bond that built between the sisters!

Finished this but it took 5+ couch sittings

The pros: loved the cover, it’s got some cute banter too between Vivian and Caleb (the other characters it felt like the author wanted you to just accept that they had chemistry without actually working for it so they fell flat). The author also clearly loves main and describes the landscape and the food so well I felt like I was there - or wanted to be for dinner time.

The cons: it’s really predictable, and more than just oh it’s a familiar trope/Parent Trap. There just wasn’t much there there in terms of plot. And the main characters weren’t super developed, which made it harder to like them when they were doing very unlikeable things. There was a lot of description about why they did the things they did but mainly about their parents and not much about them.

It’d go in my free library but I wouldn’t recommend it to friends.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an ARC copy!