First off can we talk about how beautiful this cover is? Even though I read the arc copy I can’t wait to get a physical copy for my bookshelf 10/10. The book was basically parent trap with a dead dad in Maine. Loved all of it.

”Spending time with Lucy might be the most meaningful interaction she’s had with—family?—in a long time… It feels like a tiny slice of sisterhood.”

If I’m being honest, I have to admit that I picked Maine Characters because of the cover. I was drawn in by those bright, beautiful colors and the gorgeous lakehouse illustration. Plot-wise, I went into the story totally blind. I thought it was a safe assumption that any book with such a fun, cute, romantic cover would include a fun, cute, romantic story to match.

That was not the case at all. Maine Characters is best described as a domestic drama. It’s a churning, roiling sea of emotional turbulence, filled with conflicts, lies, betrayal, and infidelity. Talk about misaligned expectations.

”I hate to even suggest this, but you’re the only two people who are fully going to get what the other is going through. Maybe it’s worth giving her another shot?”

This story is primarily character-driven, and I did enjoy getting to know Lucy and Vivian despite all the hard things happening in their lives. I loved watching them grow as individuals and as sisters, and seeing their relationship evolve through the story. The lakeside setting was beautifully crafted and had me feeling like I was right there among the lobster rolls and capsized kayaks.

”Thirty feet away, Hank’s boat sways as waves lap at the dock. He got what he wanted: his two girls at the lake for the summer.”

I found myself struggling to stay engaged in the story at times, because so many of the characters were deeply unlikeable, and I had a visceral reaction to how much I hated them. The women are bad, but the men are worse. (Seriously, if you need a book to remind you why men are a terrible idea, this is that book.) It’s basically the opposite of a light and cheerful romance.

Readers who enjoy family dramas that are heavy on sibling dynamics, will appreciate this one, especially fans of The Parent Trap. A 3.5-star read for me!

”These are the summer days she lives for…”

——

A huge thank you to Hannah Orenstein, Penguin / Dutton, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Beautiful cover and interesting plot. Enjoyed the setting but felt like there was some character development missing. Good writing but also a lot of characters to keep track of that I didn’t love

I haven’t read anything by this author before so I was really excited to dig into her work. I thought the storytelling was really impressive and the setting was very enchanting. Definitely will be recommending to other people.

I requested 𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 (Pub 05.13) based on the cover and the promo of “the Parent Trap for adults” Thank you to Dutton and Netgalley for the early copy.

WHAT WORKED:
Setting- Maine lake house
Charm and depth.
Flawed Characters- I couldn't stand either sister at the beginning
Took about 40% to get into.
Long "unknown" Sisters relationship front and center.
Romance behind the stage.
Complicated family dynamics/history.
Certain aspects could've been trimmed up- got a bit long.

It was a very cute story. I was originally drawn to it because I love the parent trap but I felt it took too long to get into the story. I will still purchase it for my library as I think it’s enjoyable.

Maine Characters is a cute modern day parent trap with lake vibes, full of family drama and a touch of secrets. The recipe for a perfect summer read.

After her father's sudden death, Vivian arrives at the lake house set on a mission to fix it up and list it on the market ASAP. Except Lucy, is already there. Vivian and Lucy quickly realize they are the secret their father was keeping. They come from vastly different backgrounds having been raised by the same man who was a different "dad" to each of them. Throughout their summer together they question why their dad lived two lives, keeping the biggest secret of all.

While all of the characters involved are not "loveable", you still can't help wanting them to be okay.

Overall, I would not characterize this as a romance, as the romantic storylines are secondary to the main plot, but rather it is a book about sisterhood and life.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book*

This had a lot of potential but I felt like it didn't quite meet my expectations. I'm sad to say that the story felt a bit flat to me

This book delivers on the Parent Trap secretly sisters storyline! I think it would be a great for a light, quick Summer read, particularly if you’re looking for a book with Hallmark vibes without as much of a focus on the romantic relationships. It’s a little predictable, and sometimes that’s perfect and comforting. Also, it doesn’t hurt that the cover is absolutely gorgeous. Without spoiling anything, I liked how it all came together by the end of the book, and the focus on friendships (and sisterhood!) between women was a welcome key theme!

Maine Characters takes place almost entirely at a cabin in Maine; this setting makes for a wonderful reading experience, but without the typical approach of centering the romantic elements of the story. The characters make s’mores, they’re forced into close proximity, they warm up to each-other (slowly!!) and bond! Instead of the typical romantic plot, the focus is on the two sisters, who are introduced as the cold, uncaring New York City main character and her secret (to her) blonde, laidback teacher who was raised in a small town in Maine. I was delighted to find out as the story progressed, however, that there was more to each sister’s personality than was obvious in the first few chapters. The book is dual-POV and each sister shares childhood memories as the story progresses, with each one shedding light on another aspect of the interconnected relationships.

As a trope, I would describe this book as enemies-to-besties. Those with complex family dynamics may appreciate how well this was written into the story. The book is a little cheesy, but in a comforting way! Sometimes you want a book that won’t stress you out and with character growth that’s satisfying to read!! This is that book, and I kept thinking about how much one of my besties would enjoy these aspects of it.

The drawback, for me (personal preference!! Others might love this!) was that I felt, particularly at the beginning of the story, like every single interaction the characters had was included, and it felt unnecessary. However, I think as an audiobook, this wouldn’t be nearly as noticeable, and I think this story would make a fabulous movie!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an electronic ARC so that I could provide my honest review.

This book was so good! A little slow starting out while getting to know the characters and then it picks right up and I was captivated! As a girl grown and raised in Maine I really appreciated the real references such as Sherman's book store, holy donuts, and any book that references my favorite show Gilmore girls is a winner in my eyes. A wonderful story about two completely opposite half sisters who learn their families history and secrets together. Such a heartwarming journey. Loved the characters and the development and the ending! Great read.

This book was cute. I was drawn to it because I live in NH and love to read things that are based in New England. I enjoyed the characters Lucy and Vivian. I enjoyed the character development. I wish we could have seen a little bit more on their future

Vivian and Lucy are half sisters grappling with their father’s sudden passing and mourning at his lake cabin in Maine. The fact that they’ve never met before, or that Vivian wasn’t 100% sure Lucy actually existed, and having been raised in wildly different ways makes it hard for the sisters to find peace. And because losing their dad and meeting a long lost sister they don’t vibe with isn’t enough, Lucy and Vivian’s professional and love lives are in the toilet.

While I requested this book 100% because of the cover I was pleasantly surprised by the story. The sisters are equally insufferable at the beginning and make a series of stupid choices but that made the building of their relationship and individual growth more interesting. Some aspects of the plot were tied up a bit too neatly for me but overall this was a great read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

**ARC REVIEW**

4.5 ⭐️ rounded to 5

Thank you NetGalley & Dutton Penguin Group for the ARC for an honest review.

When I got this book on Netgalley I was hyped (have you seen the cover??). A Maine romance ?? I’m already there - but it was not what I expected (I may have skimmed the summary).

In this book there are two women who find out that they are sisters through their father’s indescrecions. This wasn’t a sweep you off of your feet romance - it was a enemies to friends romance about 2 sisters who grew up drastically differently and were treated differently from their father.

I was giggly, teary, and beautifully surprised by this one.

I’ll admit that I was surprised by this book! I didn’t expect to uncover the secrets of this family’s story in such a poignant way. Lucy and Vivian were pretty intolerable at the beginning, but I found myself rooting for them in the end. Overall, an enjoyable read set in a really lovely place.

I know the saying goes "don't judge a book by its cover" but I totally picked this book for its cover. I also loved the adult parent trap storyline and the setting was perfect. The contrast of the small coastal town and bustling New York City worked really well to show the stark difference between Hank's two lives. I didn't particularly fall in love with any of the characters in this book, but I was able to emphasize with them all. I think that deep understanding of why they made the choices they did, even if I wouldn't have made the same, is what made me like the book so much. I would love a followup on Vivian and Lucy and how their relationship continues in Portland, but maybe more romance-y and happy where this book was grief filled and heavy.

Thank you NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

please take my review with a grain of salt because i only got through the first chapter but this book sucked. both characters were insufferable in the first chapter!!! THE FIRST CHAPTER!!! i came into this book thinking it would be about the half-sisters learning to bond in the wake of loss, and it might be like that, but i was not getting that vibe. so i gave up. end of review.

Thank you Penguin, Dutton, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for honest feedback.

Admittedly, the premise “grown up Parent Trap” reeled me right in, so amazing job at establishing a hook there! I love cozy small town settings - very Sarah Dessen, Emily Henry, Carley Fortune, etc - so I was really excited to read this.

Overall, I enjoyed it! I felt that at certain points, it was lagging with the constant back and forth between Lucy and Vivian’s points of view, and there were certain aspects of the storyline that I wasn’t fully invested in, but the story all tied together with a very sweet (albeit sort of rushed) bow.

This is definitely a summer read that I will recommend to others. Thank you again!

I really enjoyed the Maine Characters. It reminded me a lot of another book I read, but can't remember the title (its kind of driving me crazy) ... but this Maine Characters was much better. More upbeat and positive than the "book I can't remember".

Vivian always suspected her father had another daughter and Lucy always knew about her father's "real" family. When the father passes away, their world's collide. Enjoyable characters and the author took some roads that I didn't expect; and didn't take some paths I thought she might. Regardless, I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen.

Approx 400 pages, approx publication date is May 13, 2025. 4.25 stars, rounding up to 5.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dutton Paperback for approving my request to read the advance read copy of Maine Characters in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Hannah Orenstein for publishing Maine Characters.

Maine Characters was my first Hannah Orenstein book and it definitely left me wanting to go read all of her other books! The beautiful cover initially drew me in. It was such a good story with a “Parent Trap” like twist. I was engaged throughout the entire story. I really enjoyed seeing Vivian and Lucy navigate their sister relationship with all its ups and downs throughout the book. I didn’t love some of the drama, but overall I really enjoyed the story as a whole and would definitely recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the advanced reader copy! All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I requested this ARC because I'd loved Orenstein's gymnastics novel "Head Over Heels" and liked fine "Playing With Matches". This one also goes in the love column.

The story is told in dual third-person POV from Vivian and Lucy, two half-sisters who are meeting for the first time right after their father's death. I liked how we got right into the issues, and realities and sharing a vacation home and a father unequally and without knowing. It's messy and so human and engaging. Great writing. It really makes you think about how parents become truly human as you become an adult. Even in the most cohesive families, there are difficult discussions.

The story goes back and forth uncovering details of their father Hank's relationship with each of them, as well as his past with their very different mothers. I enjoyed how the communication issues (letters) of the 80s and the social media presence of the 2020s each played a part, as they should.

While this is primarily a story of sisterhood and personal growth, there are also strong dollops of romance for each sister, in their own way. Mostly closed door with some vague references.

No one is entirely without blame in this kind of messed up situation and they all make mistakes throughout the book. The ending was sweet and the whole book definitely made me want to visit Maine. (Though Emily Henry had already started that with "Happy Place".)