One sister showed some grace, the other was a turd. Also third person shifting povs was sometimes confusing especially when it wasn’t blatantly obvious

Long lost half sisters come together after their father’s death. One wants to save the lake house the other sell it. They’ve been kept apart their whole lives, can they be a family now?

I liked the relationship and the believable tension the sisters had. I thought this was a thoughtful book.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the ARC.

Lots of drama in this novel: sister drama, relationship drama, and family drama. At the centre of all the drama are half sister Vivian and Lucy, and the story unfolds from their perspectives. Both women are not entirely likeable, but as they work through their issues they manage to redeem aspects of their character and relationship. The author’s description of the lake and surrounding area is spectacular. A very good read!

3.5 Stars

I listened to Maine Characters via audio and I’m glad that I did. Admittedly, I fell for it based on the cover, title & the promise of The Parent Trap but for adults.

The storyline was enthralling & the setting made me want to go to Maine for the summer ASAP. I think if you enjoyed The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand then you’ll enjoy this. It was similar in that it was about a cast of imperfect characters you probably won’t like that much (I definitely didn’t) with twists & turns minus the who-done-it. And it definitely had elements of Grown-Up The Parent Trap!

I think if the characters would have been more likable I would have enjoyed it more. It’s hard to root for people who are kind of terrible? But the storyline was interesting and the audiobook kept me company during a long drive, cleaning & packing for a move so I can’t complain. I would say this is women’s fiction with drama & touches of romance.

Thank you to NetGalley & Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC of Maine Characters in exchange for an honest review!

This was *fine* it’s part family drama, part romance, though it mostly just felt surface level. A quick summer read.

Cute, a bit predictable, but I enjoyed this story. It's more of a sisters story than a romance, and the romance part is not spicy. I loved the Maine setting.

I was drawn to this book by the stunning cover and the description. The author highlights the beauty of Maine while exploring the complexities of families and sisterhood. I didn’t always like the main characters, though both had redeeming qualities. Their journey led them to forge a connection they didn’t have before and set them on a new path.
I loved the setting!! I want to visit that picturesque town.
3.5 stars

It took me a bit to get into this one, but I had been seeing it everywhere so I kept reading and I'm glad I did! It's a really sweet story about sisters, complicated family dynamics, and discovering yourself with the perfect summer setting. Also, I am always team READ THE AUTHOR'S NOTE/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS because you almost always uncover an interesting nugget about the writing process or inspiration. While I was reading this book, I kept thinking about how much one of the sisters reminded me of the story of Victoria James, who wrote the memoir "Wine Girl," and in the acknowledgements the author explicitly calls out the connection. So fun!

Maine Characters was a wonderful novel. My first by Hannah Orenstein. I loved the estranged family plot line and I couldn’t put this down. I love how much growth both had at the lake house. The lake lives in my head as does the cabin. Such descriptive scenes that really made me feel like I’m there.

This book was everything. It gave summer, and nostalgia, and hope, and tragedy and good times. I enjoyed it so much and I think it’s going to become a new summer staple for me.

I loved the author's last book, Head Over Heels, but this one didn't grab me. Also having recently lost my mother reading books where characters have lost parents are sometimes really hard. This one just wasn't the right time for me.

4.5 stars

This was a touching a heartwarming story. I really enjoyed both Lucy and Vivian, how different they both are and how they both went through different kinds of growths throughout the book. The family drama was juicy and I also enjoyed this stunning descriptions of the views and of the food. A trip to Maine is definitely on my bucket list.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review

Lucy and Vivian are half-sisters who have only the faintest sense of each other's existence—until their father's death brings them face to face. When Vivian returns to their father's beloved summer camp in Maine to prepare it for sale, she’s surprised to find Lucy already there, waiting for a father who will never return. Both had spent summers there growing up, never realizing they were sharing the same space at different times.
What follows is a mix of drama, family secrets, and emotional discoveries as the two girls unpack their father’s past and figure out what to do with the camp. I liked the ending—it felt right, even if something small felt missing. As someone from Maine, I loved the setting. The book really captured how special summer in Maine is.

This title is at your favorite local bookstore now and would make a perfect lazy summer read.

3.75 rounded up to 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group and Hannah Orenstein for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Any book that has to do with Maine always peaks my interest and this one did not miss. It was giving The Parent Trap vibes which is one of my favorite movies! I definitely will be recommending this book to my friends for their summer read.

yeaaaaaa i ate this book up. not gunna lie.
First time reading Hannah Orenstein and I get the hype. It's giving lake house drama, complicated sister vibes, daddy issues deluxe, and make it Maine. 🦞☀️ Essentially, this is exactly why I have no desire to find my dad after he left me or any of my half/step siblings. TMI? probs but relevant.

I was livinggggggg for the tension and pettiness in this book. It was like demi and taylor in secret lives of Mormon wives, BUT New England!!! love love love

HOWEVER!!!!! This book had depth. Like emotional gut-punches in between sips of sauv blanc. Orenstein captures grief, identity, and messy family dynamics with such sharpness that I found myself feeling things (rude). my therapist WILL be hearing from me.

all in all- I loved!

3.5 stars.

"Maine Characters" by Hannah Orenstein is a great novel about secrets, love, family (found and otherwise), connection, infidelity, and grief. I had a good time reading this one, though it is not the typical type of novel I gravitate towards. I found the characters to be relatable, and the situation of a long-lost sister dynamic really spoke to me. I got emotional several times while reading this, I laughed a lot, and I even got surprised every now and then. There is a charm to this story that drew me in and kept me reading. I think a lot of readers may be put off by the main characters, Lucy and Vivian, who are drastically different but more similar than they let on, but the family drama, relationship dynamics, and uncovered secrets kept me wanting more. Honestly, I can see why some people may call them "insufferable." Their complicated dynamic with each other, with their now-deceased father, and with their mothers lends to this theory... but wouldn't *you* be a little bitter and upset at the situations that go on here?! I loved the picturesque Maine setting that Orenstein paints in this novel. I don't know if I totally agree that she pulled off the "Parent Trap but for adults" plot, but I still think this is worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Orenstein, and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Hannah Orenstein's Maine Characters takes the reader on an emotional journey through family secrets, complicated relationships, and connections between siblings. After the sudden death of their father, half-sisters Vivian and Lucy meet for the first time at his lake house in Maine. What follows is a summer filled with unexpected discoveries and tentative steps toward connection. Vivian, a driven New Yorker battling her own private struggles, contrasts sharply with Lucy, whose small-town life is coming apart at the seams. This is told through alternating perspectives, this novel looks at both sister’s emotional baggage and the beginnings of their bond together. Although the story starts at a gentle pace, it gradually builds momentum as the fate of the cabin and long-buried family truths come to light. This story reminds me of an adult version of The Parent Trap, Maine Characters is a heartfelt story. Perfect for anyone who loves family drama. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

3.5 stars

I love a New England lake house setting!!

This one definitely packed in the family drama that for sureeee lol it was giving parent trap vibes that were fun. I will say I was rage reading like 70% of the book because I couldn’t STAND one of the characters but there was redemption by the end

Also love seeing a side characters almost completely with my name :)

Thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton

A HUGE thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton and NetGalley! I am so grateful to have had the chance to read this as an ARC. It was SUCH a good read. I cannot wrap my head around the complexity of the storyline. It was painful to watch as the plot unfolded, but it was definitely a book that was worth making it to the end. =]

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein is a heartfelt summer read set against the picturesque backdrop of a Maine lake house. The story follows two half-sisters, Vivian and Lucy, who are brought together after their father's unexpected death. While the setting and emotional depth are enjoyable to read, the pacing and character development could be better.