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.

This had the potential to be a 5-star read for me! I felt the ending drug on for a bit too long which dropped it to 4 stars, but still very enjoyable, well written, and interesting. I was immediately sucked into the Maine small-town setting and thoroughly enjoyed all the characters.

I loooooved this book! I think it’s Hannah Orenstein’s best novel to date. The world building she creates around a remote lake in Maine is dreamy, I only wish I could’ve read it in the summer by the water. Although both sisters have grief and struggles they’re working through, you can’t help but root for them both to find happiness.

I really liked this. Orenstein really makes you empathize with both Vivian and Lucy. I was invested in their stories and loved how Orenstein wrote their friendship. It felt realistic in timing, and heartfelt overall. 4/5 Stars!

This novel tells a charming tale about a complicated sister relationship, which is right up my alley. I especially loved the strong sense of place that Orenstein crafted for her readers. I enjoyed each of the sisters' stories and watching how their worlds were simultaneously separate but intertwined. This book has both the depth and the heart to appeal to a wide variety of readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

🪵🌲𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🌲🪵

Can I just say, this cover is fantastic! The colors and scenery immediately drew my eye. This is a cover I’d love to display on my bookshelf. 😍

My review:
3.5🌟/5- Enjoyed it!!

This book is about two half sisters, Vivian and Lucy, finding each other and connecting over their father’s death. It is in dual POV, written in third person. It is a story about complicated family relationships, love and loss, complex grief, forgiveness, and sisterhood. There are strained father-daughter, mother-daughter, sister, and romantic relationships.

This isn’t a genre I typically read, but I found myself sucked into the story and wanting to know more. I loved the imagery of the cabin on the lake in Maine, learning more about wine from Vivian, and the development of Lucy and Vivian’s relationship as sisters. I really appreciated that their relationship took center stage over their romantic interests. I thought that the ending was perfect and came together beautifully. I think this book could be a big summer read! 🌲🚤🎣🪵🍷

💚dual POV
🩷love triangles
💚family secrets
🩷complex family dynamics
💚strained family relationships
🩷sisterhood
💚complex grief
🩷forgiveness

Big special thank you to netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC in exchange for my honest review 🫶🏻🤗

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy of this book, this is my objective review. After her father's sudden death, Vivian learns she has a secret half-sister (Lucy), and although she has long suspected that Lucy exists she still isn't exactly thrilled about it. Lucy knew about Vivian and, for a long time, she has spent the month of July with her father at his lake house in Maine, as a way for him to spend time with his secret daughter away from his family. But Lucy is shocked to learn that the reason her father didn't make it this year is because he died. Both Vivian and Lucy are wrestling with their own issues and traumas, while continuing to grapple with the consequences of their father's choices. Over the course of a summer, Vivian and Lucy learn to come to terms with each other's existence and must decide how to navigate life with their secrets out in the open.

It took me a while to get into this book, largely because I had a hard time liking Vivian or Lucy until maybe around 75% of the way into the book. I tried not to judge them too harshly, since their characters were struggling with a lot, but they just weren't all that easy to like. Thankfully they do get warmer as the story proceeds. Overall this felt more like women's fiction than romance, although there are romantic/relationship elements sprinkled throughout. The writing was engaging enough to keep reading to the end, and I was ultimately glad I stuck with the story. I gave it 3 stars but it's closer to 3.25 stars. Readers who like books about self-growth, troubled relationships, and challenging family dynamics will like this book. Publishes May 13, 2025, just in time for summer reading (which I think suits this book well, given the summer house/lake house vibe that prevails in the book, as well as the gorgeous and eye-catching cover).

When their father dies and Vivian and Lucy, two half sisters who have never met, wind up at the their dad's cabin in Maine, they discover that not only did they not know about each other, but really didn't know their dad either. Told in alternating voices, we learn of Hank's relationship with each of them as well as his relationship with their mothers. An interesting premise, Recommended for public libraries

This was my first time reading a book by this author and I’m so happy to say I’m a big fan. I loved the story of the two sisters and the journey they shared together throughout the book. The characters were unlikeable at first, yet very well written and well developed. By the end of the book I had come to appreciate them both. I always love a good family drama, so this book did not disappoint. I would absolutely recommend reading this book to others.

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

This is the third book I’ve read from this author, and my favorite by far. All of the female characters were flawed but had redeeming storylines that felt believable.

Also, I’m dying to go to Maine now. Who’s in?

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton.

Thank you to Net Galley & Penguin Group for the ARC. It took me a bit to get into the book but after I did, I enjoyed it. The story is about two women who come together after their father’s death, neither meeting each other until then. The story follows each of their journeys to acceptance of their shared sisterhood as well as their next steps in their personal life. Definitely fitting for a summer read as it takes place at a lake house.

After the sudden death of her father, Vivian is tasked with selling her father's beloved lake house. Only, when she goes to sell it, she discovers a half sister she never knew about. Vivian and her half sister, Lucy, are far from sharing a happy sisterly bond, and Lucy is outraged that Vivian wants to heartlessly sell their sanctuary, but Vivian needs the money. Throughout the summer, the sisters navigate the death of their father and their relationships with each other, their moms, and others.

I loved the concept of this book. I found both Vivian and Lucy likably unlikable at first, and grew to love them. I understood where they were coming from, but also understood why they didn't like each other. This novel did an amazing job navigating the complex feelings and relationships. Vacation towns/lakes are my favorite book setting, and I loved the amazing descriptions of the lake, sunsets, and Maine. I really enjoyed seeing the sisters grow together, as well as individually.

I can't wait for the release day of this book and see it being a big hit next summer!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced reader's copy!

I very much enjoyed this book, by far my favorite of Hannah’s! It really took me to Maine, which is now a top destination to visit and I loved the family drama!

Liked this a lot! Probably my fave of this author's books. Great setting and interesting characters. I love reading about restaurants and wine stuff too.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for the free e-arc.

If you're someone who loves diving into stories filled with rich wine discussions, the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, and the emotional journey of families untangling long-buried secrets, this book might be perfect for you. With a sommelier as its central character, it offers a blend of heartfelt drama, nuanced relationships, and the vibrant world of wine culture, making for an engaging and layered read.