Family Secrets, Small Town Drama, and Sisterhood Surprises

Wow—what a rollercoaster of a read! If you love family drama, complicated sister dynamics, and a picturesque small-town setting, this book needs to be on your TBR.

The story follows Vivian and Lucy, two half-sisters who have never met—until their father dies, and they’re suddenly thrown into each other’s lives. Vivian heads to her dad’s lake house in Maine to clean things out, only to find Lucy already living there, expecting to stay for the month. What follows is a messy, emotional deep-dive into their childhoods, their very different upbringings, and the man who shaped them both in totally different (and sometimes toxic) ways.

I went in pretty blind on this one—I'm a fan of the author and honestly, the cover totally sold me. At first, I had a hard time with Lucy’s character. She leans hard into the “forgotten daughter” role and takes out a lot of her anger on Vivian, which got under my skin. Like—don’t blame Vivian for their dad’s mistakes! But as the story went on, both women revealed so many layers, and their growth felt really real. Maybe I just related more to Vivian—more reserved, kind of high-maintenance, and definitely carrying some deep-rooted resentment—but either way, the back-and-forth between the sisters gave me emotional whiplash in the best (and most frustrating) way.

On top of all the family stuff, there’s plenty of romantic drama too. Lucy is separated from her husband but not ready to let go, so she’s testing the dating waters. Meanwhile, Vivian is tangled up with a man who still has a wife (yikes), while also rekindling a spark with a local bartender she met years ago. It’s messy, heartfelt, and keeps you flipping pages.

Read this if you love: Messy family dynamics, small-town Maine vibes, complicated sister relationships, a splash of romance (okay, more than a splash), stories that explore grief, identity, and second chances

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. This one drops on May 13, so mark your calendars!

I thoroughly enjoy this book - my first Hannah Orenstein! The author captured Maine beautifully, and I loved how the plot was more than your average romance. The family drama and love triangles kept me turning the pages. I can’t believe this almost didn’t get published!!! I’m so happy it did. The cover is absolutely gorgeous.

Was not a huge fan of this. I felt like there was little character development and the relationship between the two characters was rushed and not fleshed out. I still enjoyed it, just wasn't my favorite.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This was a light, enjoyable read. I enjoyed the premise, but I found it really hard to get into initially. I guess I wanted more from the characters. It felt a little surface level. There was a lot of ground to cover with the story and not enough pages. Because of this, we didn't dig deeper into everything. I also wanted more from the romantic aspect of the characters. I get that this is not a romance novel, but it was there to be explored. The author did a great job of weaving the four main characters together and I felt like this would be a good beach read.

First and foremost, what an excellent cover. Requested this ARC after hearing a great review of the book as an upcoming Summer 2025 release on the Bad on Paper podcast. In Maine Characters, we follow the story of Vivian and Lucy as they meet for the first time - despite the fact that they're half sisters. Think "The Parent Trap" - but two adults and less campy (literally) antics. In the wake of their father's death, the duo must navigate their individual grief and their father's betrayal. The setting of Fox Hill, Maine is a character by itself. Orenstein does an excellent job painting a vivid picture of this lakeside town and the characters that inhabit it. I was impressed with the level of depth in the complex relationships explored. This is not your average breezy summer beach read - it carries a more emotional tone that makes it a great comp to Carley Fortune. Looking forward to checking out more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton (Penguin) for the eARC. This title is set to release on May 13 2025

DNF at 21%

I really tried to like the book. I really liked the idea of the story. The concept was very creative, which was what made me want to request the book. The reason for my DNF is that I honestly found myself not rooting for either female main character. I found them both rather immature. I did my best, but I think this was not the book for me. I would be interested in trying one of this author's other books because I have heard great things.

This one wasn’t for me so I won’t be reviewing it widely but I really disliked all of the characters. I found them to be very immature, juvenile and annoying and it kept me from connecting with the story. I also feel like I read a very similar plot in another book so all in all this missed the mark for me.

The cover and premise of the book drew me in, especially since the book was described as being The Parent Trap for adults! And while I wanted to enjoy this book, I found that I could not get connected to the characters and the story fell flat. There were a lot of different storylines and the cheating in the book, which made it difficult to follow and read. I did not find the characters likeable and I felt that the pettiness and drama was extensive.

The book made me grow to appreciate the beauty of Maine and now I want to visit!

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!

What a fun and somewhat emotional read! It really did seem like Parent Trap but adult and with more complicated scenarios. I liked that all the characters had their flaws and were learning to work through them. Also the Maine setting was perfect - a great summer read!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

ARC provided from NetGalley

This was such a good book! There was great character development and the story was perfectly paced. The main characters (haha “Maine Characters”) Vic and Lucy are easy to sympathize with but also equally quick to get on my nerves. Which only means they’re realistic and well written.

They each have their individual moments of conflicting feelings for their dad, which I think is a great exploration of their grief. I love how it also touches on the feelings of their mothers too.

The romance as a sub plot was done very well and doesn’t overshadow Viv and Lucy’s relationship development with each other as sisters throughout the plot. And there were quite a few gasp worthy twists too!

Thanks to Netgalley & PENGUIN GROUP- Dutton for the E-ARC! Really enjoyed. Great characters & fun writing style. Will read more from this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

After their father’s passing, two half-sisters—who had no idea the other existed—are brought together in the most unexpected way. As they clean out the lake house and unpack old memories (and plenty of emotional baggage), they slowly build a bond neither of them saw coming.

This one was deeper than I anticipated—in the best way. Orenstein balances grief, self-discovery, and romance with charm and sensitivity. I loved the fully fleshed-out side characters, the emotionally satisfying ending, and the sense of place. It’s a summer read with substance—and the kind of book that sneaks up on you with its quiet emotional punches.

Described as “Parent Trap for adults,” this book started me on a summer reading kick that I can’t stop (nor do I want to)! A small town story about what it means to be (half) sisters, the importance of self care, love, and friendship. Although somewhat predictable, it was satisfying and a perfect summer read. I’m ready for the lake! 🚤

Thank you @netgalley and @duttonbooks for allowing me early access to read this!

This was a solid read. I really enjoyed the premise and the setting but our two main characters, Vivian and Lucy, were frustrating to read. This will probably be a personal taste thing so don’t let my opinion deter you from reading this one. This deals with some heavy topics and I thought they were handled well. Overall, a good read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maine Characters is a cute, easy summer read! Vivian and Lucy are trying to find their way after their Dads passing, and of course its bumpy.

Struggled with Lucy’s character, as she continually held Vivian’s upbringing over her head and acted like she was “better” than Vivian because of it.

Overall, a cute read! Perfect for those summery days lounging by the pool. This isn’t my first read by Hannah Orenstein, and certainly won’t be my last!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC!

Maine Characters was an enjoyable read with an intriguing premise that immediately caught my attention. The idea of discovering you're the inspiration for the protagonist in someone else's novel? So clever and full of potential.

That said, it’s important to note that this is women’s fiction, not a romance. I went in expecting a love story to be at the center, but the focus was much more on self-discovery, navigating relationships, and reclaiming control of your own narrative. It’s layered, emotional, and very much about the journey of the main character herself.

While I didn’t fully connect with every part of the story, I appreciated its originality and the thoughtful look at identity and storytelling. If you enjoy women’s fiction with a fresh concept and a touch of literary drama, this might be a great fit for you.

When two half-sisters, Vivian and Lucy, meet for the first time, Lucy knows about her half-sister, and Vivian being in the dark about her sister, odds are that it will come to a blow. 

When Vivian’s dad unexpectedly dies on Father’s Day, she’s tasked with scattering his ashes and selling the lake-front cabin that she and her father spent time together in the summer. Understandably, Lucy is upset since the cabin is the last item she has left from her dad.

What Vivian thought were month-long business trips every year, her father was actually at the cabin with her half-sister the whole month of July.

Many times during reading, I had to circle back and confirm that these two characters are in their early 30s and not in high school. It honestly was a little confusing to keep up with. What shocked me most was that Vivian was suspicious about having a half-sister but could never confirm it. Even after flat-out asking her father.

This story made me angry at times. It felt like Vivian and Lucy were throwing stone after stone at each other, trying to see who could land the biggest hit. The found family aspect in this story was my favorite part. Vivian and Lucy unknowingly needed each other to lean on, and I’m so happy they resolved the tension between them and actually became friends.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton and Hannah Orenstein for the ARC.

I liked the idea of the book but didn’t love how often the POV changed. Not even every chapter but half way through each chapter. Too many story lines going at once and it didn’t seem to tie them all in a bow. But the overall book was decent.

“Maine Characters” is the story of Vivian and Lucy, two half sisters who don’t meet until their dad (who kept Lucy’s existence a secret from Vivian and her mom for 30+ years) suddenly dies. They’re forced to spend the summer together at the Maine lake house they both spent time at with their dad over the years as they get to know each other and see if they can build a sisterly bond despite the awkward circumstances.

I found the pacing to be a little odd (plot points and reveals that took place at the halfway point seemed better suited for the first third of the book) and the overall vibes to be fairly surface level, but there’s a strong sense of place and some nice character development that occurs before the end of the book.

While “Meant to Be Mine” remains my favorite Hannah Orenstein book, fans of “The Parent Trap” or those who love Portland, ME and lakeside getaways will enjoy reading this book over a summer long weekend getaway.

When half sisters Lucy and Vivian meet for the first time after their shared father's death, sparks fly and tempers rise. I loved getting to know the sisters as they got to know each other through out the book. The author does a beautiful job of portraying how imperfect families can be and how hard we sometimes have to fight to love each other through it. I really enjoyed how well rounded each character felt and exploring how deeply the years of heartbreak from one person's choices resonated.