Thank you, NetGalley, Penquin Group Dutton and Hannah Orenstein for this ARC.

I have enjoyed other books by this author, not so much this one. I thought it would be interesting to read about 2 1/2 sisters who have never met, but accidently meet at their father's cabin after his passing. Vivian is the daughter that everyone knew about while Lucy is the one that he kept hidden. Vivian was also the one who was raised with the money while Lucy didn't have the same advantages. I wasn't a fan of Vivian, she came across as selfish and cold hearted at times. I can't say that I ever warmed up to her. I definitely never warmed up to her mother. Lucy was just annoying. I really felt for her mother. As for Hank, he should have been honest. So many lives messed up because of him.

Enough of the characters, the plot was interesting and there were so many side stories. Some felt rushed and made this book longer than it needed to be. I would have liked .more of the relationship with the sisters than the side characters. Both girls were wronged by their father and needed to heal, it would have been great to see more of them healing together.

This book is the story of two half sisters who meet for the first time after the unexpected death of their father.

There were elements of the story I really enjoyed - the relationship that developed between the sisters - but there were too many side plots that made the book drag on and feel much longer than necessary.

In the end I did like it, but would have found it more enjoyable had it been more focused.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

*Maine Characters* by Hanna Orenstein is a captivating, character-driven novel that explores the complexities of family, identity, and self-discovery. Set in the picturesque yet emotionally charged backdrop of coastal Maine, the story intertwines multiple perspectives to unravel deep-seated secrets and evolving relationships. Ornstein’s prose is rich and evocative, drawing readers into a layered narrative filled with both tenderness and tension. A compelling read for fans of literary fiction with a focus on human connection. Absolutely loved this!!

Thank you for this ARC!

A solid read set in one of my favorite places, Maine, made this an easy and enjoyable read. This book will definitely be a forgettable one, but nevertheless a nice diversion.

The setting in this book is so gorgeous and nostalgic , you will instantly get swept back to your youth. As we follow Vivian and Lucy, two sisters who don’t really know that they’re sisters, we watch family secrets unravel lives. Both girls used to spend a summer month with their dad Hank at the lake. But when Vivian goes to clean the house up after his death in July, she finds Lucy there waiting for her dad to show up. She didn’t even know that he died. As the girls try to come to terms with who their dad was, they also get to know each other. There are ups and downs as they fight over selling the lake house of not, but it ultimately brings them together in a bond of true sisterhood. I highly enjoyed this and my only critique would be that it was a little drawn out. Otherwise, I loved it!

If you like the cover - you'll love the book. Orenstein deliciously describes the beauty of Maine, and I gobbled it up!

What I enjoyed most about this read was the way Orenstein wove her way between the A-plot (sisterhood/ family complexities) & the B-plot (romance!!), supplemented generously by the C-plot (friendship). Main Characters is a nuanced masterclass on the lesson that many children learn as they grow up: our parents are human people too and, as such, they are much more than they show us and are certainly not perfect. Allowing love to creep through and grow in the midst of what appears to be the ruins of a once picture-perfect family, two half-sisters and their mothers pick up the pieces, and just might be building something even more beautiful.

Described as a grown-up Parent Trap, Orenstein delivered that, and more. Each character revealed layers upon layers, the storyline twisted then turned, and yet Orenstein deftly described each and every color upon the palette of lake-living in Maine. A resounding 5-stars! Can't wait to pick up a physical copy in May.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It started off a little slow but as the friendship and connection grew between Lucy and Vivian, I became more invested. I loved how the two of them came together and really struggled through all of their problems. I also liked that it had a little bit of romance but the focus of the book was on the family relationships.

This was good but not great. A lot seemed pretty unbelievable and I just really hated Vivian and Celeste. The entire time. I was never once rooting for them. The level of self awareness was unreal for adt humans. And Vivian doing the same thing she was such a brat to her dad about… I just really didn’t care about what happened to anyone.

Maybe it’s that I’ve lived in Maine for years, but this was such a cute, fun, detailed read. It was delightful to know about all of the classic “Maine”/Portland things that Hannah Orenstein wrote about, and I definitely can imagine many towns like Fox Hill. I found myself both relating to and growing frustrated with all of the characters, above all Lucy, but that made them seem all the more real. I think this was a book that did a lot of fan service to people who are in the know about Maine, but I ate it up. I do feel like some things were repetitive/it could have been tightened up and shortened a bit, but since I enjoyed it so much I liked that it was a bit longer.

I was mainly interested in this book because of the description of “parent trap for adults”, but that fell flat for me. I see where the author is coming from, but the fun part about parent trap, that was missing, is them switching places and the high jinks that follow. So yes we have sisters that didn’t know about each other meet for the first time after their dad’s death. I LOVED the setting of Maine in the summer at a lake in a cute lake house, but that was about it. The characters were kinda meh and the plot just didn’t hit. The focus was on the sisters, but the romances were just kind of there. I like the set up for the relationships being complicated with cheating and lost loves etc. but by the end I was over it.
So I don’t know.. save your money, but also I want to go vacation there?

I wasn't sure what to expect with Maine Characters but it quickly drew me in. Vivian and Lucy are half sisters who have never met but are now thrown together after their father passed away. This was a beautifully written novel focusing on the themes of forgiveness, connection, and growth. This book tackles some hard emotions and Orenstein did that with care.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. The drama between the two sisters had me hooked. I found myself unable to put the book down. I needed to know how this story ended. I definitely want to read more books by Hannah Orenstein.

I really enjoyed this book! It reminded me a lot of "The Parent Trap" but adult version. It's filled with family secrets, angst, grief and small town vibes. The two main characters, Lucy and Vivian, could be pretty unlikeable at times especially the way they were handling things in the beginning. But I did like reading the moments when they started to warm up to each other. I feel like this book would be the perfect summer read due to the lakeside setting and beautiful descriptions of Maine in the summer time.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC!
Pub date: May 13, 2025.

This book had me hooked from start to finish - I devoured it in just two days! As my first Hannah Orenstein read, it certainly won’t be my last. Initially drawn in by the stunning cover, I was thrilled to discover a story that was just as captivating.

Without giving away spoilers, watching Lucy and Vivian evolve individually and build a meaningful bond was truly heartwarming. Orenstein’s vivid descriptions of New England, especially the lake, felt so authentic and nostalgic to me as someone who grew up in the area. I also loved the nods to Portland, Maine - one of my all-time favorite destinations.

This story is one I’ll be recommending to all my reader friends. I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes a #1 read for 2025. Honestly, I’d love to see Orenstein continue Lucy and Vivian’s journey in a sequel—I can’t get enough!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is a must-read!

This was so MESSY but in the best way. Drama, family secrets that had me gasping, and sisters that figure out how to exist together and bond after being kept apart for the majority of their lives. It's like an adult (way more dramatic) version of the Parent Trap. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, BUT it was weird to me that the book was separated into Vivian and Lucy's POVs but was written in the third person. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

It was ok, quick entertaining read for an airplane ride/travel day. I wanted more time with some of the supporting characters to be honest. I did like the setting, makes me want to plan a trip to Maine in the summer!

This book is “the Parent Trap for adults,” but with more sister drama. A phrase that came to mind throughout the beginning portion of this book is that 'comparison is the thief of joy' - as Lucy is jealous of her perception of Vivian and how she believes that Vivian grew up. Both sisters have to work through their own bumps in the road as they work on coexisting and getting through the summer. It was a pleasure to watch the characters grow and to see them come to terms with the secrets they uncover.
Thank you NetGalley for the electronic Advance Reader Copy, all opinions are my own.

This cover is beautiful and that is about the only positive thing I can say about this novel. While this is supposed to be a retelling of the Parent Trap I wasn't expecting these 30-something adult women to act like 10 year old children. I hated both Vivian and Lucy, their pettiness and bullying of each other was appalling and I was over it by the 25% mark.

The amount of love triangles and cheating in this novel made it confusing to even understand who was a character that was important to the storyline.

The final 20% FINALLY the characters pulled their heads out of their a** and acted like adults but honestly if I didn't need to review this for netgalley this would have been a DNF long before that point.

I wouldn't waste your money on this book 🤷‍♀️

Maine Characters
by Hannah Orenstein
Pub Date: May 13, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From beloved author Hannah Orenstein, this love letter to lake life is “the Parent Trap for adults,” the story of two half-sisters who meet for the first time at their father’s cabin in Maine after his unexpected death.
This is my first book by Orenstein.
For me it wasn't a great fit, but I love the cover!!
Maine is a great setting for a summer story! I’d recommend this book if you love family drama, secrets, and messy relationships. Overall, I wish the book was shorter and that the two main characters were more likable (the cheating bit was unnecessary), but it was entertaining and would be a good beach read.

Loved the premise of this book and it was a quick read on a long flight. I didn’t love it though, largely because I found the characters pretty unlikeable. It also felt a little knee-jerk in a few places - the story would be developing and then suddenly take a hard pivot in another direction in a way that didn’t flow. Quick light read but not one of my favorites. 2.5 stars.