If you are a fan of the parent trap I highly recommend this story.
I enjoyed the seeing the relationship between Vivian and Lucy grow even more then the romantic sub plots in the book.
I did find the story to be a little slow getting into and I do think I would have enjoyed it more if it was in first persons perspective of both Vivian and Lucy.

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

I requested this book simply based on how beautiful the cover is and I’m glad I did. But beyond that cover is a story of family and grief and Orenstein captures a realistic essence of both with all their flaws. I really enjoyed this book.

"Every summer, Vivian Levy and Lucy Webster spend a month with their father at his lake house — separately." Vivian lives a glamorous life in the city working as the top sommelier for a high-end restaurant, but she hides a secret that threatens to blow her perfect life apart. And Lucy lives a far humbler life in the small town of Fox Lake, Maine, teaching high-school English and still reeling from her recently imploded marriage.

When Vivian arrives at the lake house to spread her father's ashes, she's shocked to encounter Lucy, the sister whose existence has been kept from her for her whole life. Instead of bonding in their shared grief, the two immediately clash. Forced to spend the summer together, the two navigate the mess left behind their father, shedding light on secrets and the truth about their parents' pasts. In a journey to resolve unanswered questions, the biggest one of all remains: after thirty years, is it too late for them to be a family?

This synopsis of this book hooked me in from the beginning, as did the tagline of "adult Parent Trap" (one of my all-time favorite movies, as a twin myself). All in all, I'd say the novel delivered on its promises of a compelling family-centered drama. Both Vivian and Lucy were such complex characters, and I'd be lying if I said I liked both of them the entire time. In fact, both of them were downright obnoxious and insufferable at different points of the story and it took me a long time to warm up to both of them. My one complaint would be that it was hard to get into the story because of the difficulty in resonating and rooting for either of the main two characters at first.

However, while Vivian and Lucy's actions and choices were often frustrating, they also always rang true. Their behavior was undeniably rooted in their individual circumstances and situations, and as a result, they came across as truly grounded and tangible characters. I really enjoyed witnessing the development of their relationship, from hostile half-siblings to begrudging roommates to friends to sisters. Their relationship was truly at the core of this book, even with the romantic subplots for each of them (another compelling aspect of this book!)

I truly feel this book excelled in its characters and their growth. I also love how the setting came alive in the story and the random details that added extra interest to the story and also just made it feel more real and personal: Vivian's wine knowledge, Celeste being a romance writer, and Caleb's dream trip to Southeast Asia. I definitely want to read more from this author in the future.

Overall: I recommend for those who enjoy a good family drama and complicated sibling dynamics. There's also plenty here for the romance lovers and even for the skeptics. Just be prepared to roll your eyes a few times in the beginning, and then later on: to tear up and feel genuine pride for Vivian and Lucy's individual journeys!

A really interesting examination of grief from two half sisters who recently lost their father, a man who gave them very different experiences as children. The two come together for the first time, processing his death at his beloved lake house in Maine while simultaneously figuring out their own lives. Vivian was raised in luxury in NYC with her aloof father and disaffected mother, while Lucy grew up sequestered in a remote lake town in Maine. After their dad dies, the two are thrust together at his lake house to figure out what to do with it. Each has a different idea of what needs to happen with the house, prompted by their very different upbringings, and they must work together, despite their grief and other things happening in their respective personal lives, to figure out the best path forward.

This was poignant, tender, and thought-provoking. Maine Characters would be a wonderful twist on a summer beach (lake?) read - it's not romance-centric, but almost felt like reading a cousin of Emily Henry in some respect. I loved this.

Vivian and Lucy spend every summer with their father in a rustic Maine lake house, separately. Lucy, the illegitimate daughter from father's old flame, knows of Vivian. Vivian knows nothing of Lucy--raised in and amongst Manhattan's elite schools and social scene--until Vivian shows up at the cabin after her father died.

Vivian wants to sell the cabin and collect the proceeds. Lucy is LIVID. Can the two salvage a relationship and solve the mystery of who their father was?

Ultimately, Vivian is highly unlikeable until well into the book. Their dad was a real piece of work, and honestly, I feel like there was way too much reverence for a man with such questionable moral ethics. There were portions of this I did really love and found this book engaging and highly readable.

This was my first book by Hannah Orenstein, and it won’t be my last! The beautiful cover and the "adult Parent Trap" premise (one of my favorite movies) immediately drew me in. While I didn’t love either main character, I understood them and found their dynamic compelling. A book that keeps me hooked despite flawed characters is always a win.

The setting—a charming lake town in Maine—completely won me over, especially with the sisters' deep connections to their home. The complicated family dynamics were well done, leaving me torn about who to root for. I appreciated that the sisters’ relationship was the focus, with romance taking a backseat.

There was great character development, and by the end, I found myself warming up to both main characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it’ll be a big hit this summer!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

Based on the cover I thought this was going to be a light rom com. It had some romance but it had a lot more depth too. This is a story of family - namely sisters. Alternating between Lucy and Vivian’s perspective to tell their own stories of their complex relationship with their recently deceased dad, their failed romantic relationships, and their thoughts and feelings concerning each other.

Billed as a “Parent strap for Adults” set on a lake which sounded like a fun premise. Vivian and Lucy are half siblings who have spent time over the years with their dad at his home on the lake. They discover each other after the death of their dad and chaos and big emotions ensue. Personally, I didn’t find the characters very likeable and the one mother was basically intolerable. But I always think it’s a great skill of the author to evoke strong emotions, even if they’re not warm and fuzzy ones. Temper your expectations and take this book for what it is, a story of 2 over dramatic women in their 20s working through some shit and finding their way to a better relationship. 3.5 stars overall

was an easy read! liked the sisters aspect and felt different than most summer romcoms… kept finding myself looking for something more but overall liked! will be a great summer read for yall!

The main characters are intolerable, and I think that’s a skill for an author. Vivian’s mother’s histrionics are so intense that it was difficult to read. I almost DNF’d this novel at 25%. I’m glad I pushed through because I love Maine and the atmosphere was spot on. I don’t think the Parent Trap description was accurate, but fine. Chick-lit isn’t my genre but this one worked its self out in the end, even if predictable.

Parent Trap-inspired?! In a gorgeous Maine setting?! Sign me up!!
I quickly found myself enjoying this heartwarming and playful rom-com by Hannah Orenstein, despite the fortuitous plot set up. Two vastly different half-sisters find their worlds turned upside down when their secret-keeping father's unexpected death uncovers all the family's history and skeletons in the closet. I had so much fun predicting the story as it unfolded, and loved reading a story about strong, bold women.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinions!

I loved this book! The premise was so interesting — sort of a modern spin on The Parent Trap, although no twins and the women are adults — and something I haven’t seen covered before. In a nutshell, two women unexpectedly meet at their family house in Maine after their dad dies, only vaguely knowing that the other exists and that they are half sisters… but without any context nor having met at all growing up. There’s enough drama to keep it interesting but not over the top (for what are some sensitive topics covered, the author does a great job keeping things light and engaging — it’s an easy, fun read — but also realistic); the drama feels authentic and not over the top. This book also made me want to book a trip to Portland, Maine immediately! Definitely recommend!!

As someone who loves vacationing in Maine during the summer, Maine Characters gave me some serious Parent Trap vibes — in the best way possible! The story of Vivian and Lucy, two half-sisters who’ve never met but are brought together by their father’s passing, is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Vivian, a driven sommelier with a secret, and Lucy, a small-town high school teacher dealing with a crumbling marriage, could not be more different. Yet, their shared grief and complicated family history draw them into a summer of unexpected connection and tension.

Set in a picturesque Maine lake house, the setting alone made me long for a summer getaway, and the layered family drama kept me hooked. The way the two women navigate their grief, their differences, and the messy truths about their parents' past made for an emotionally charged read. As their bond slowly unfolds over the course of the summer, I found myself rooting for them to heal and find a way to be a family after all these years apart. This book also left me craving a glass of wine, especially with Vivian’s sommelier expertise woven into the story!

This book was such a fantastic read, and now I’m so eager to dive into the author’s backlist. I can’t wait to see what other stories she’s written that will make me feel just as connected to the characters and setting as I did here. If you love family dramas with a beautiful setting, Maine Characters is a must-read!

I’ve been a fan of Hannah Orenstein’s for years! I’m calling it now Maine Characters will be one of the books of the summer! I loved sister dynamics at play in this book and setting in the family cabin was perfect!

This is a belated review but I absolutely loved Maine Characters. Hannah Orenstein is such an underrated talent and this might be her best work yet. I loved the nod to an Elin Hilderbrand-esque scandal, set in Maine rather than Nantucket. This is juicy, immersive, and a must read. A perfect beach read!

This book was cute! The setting was adorable. The characters were a bit hard to connect to. Overall I would still recommend it to friends.

When I first started reading the book, I was ready to give it a low rating because the pacing was slow and the characters were so unlikeable. However, the plot gradually drew me in, and I couldn’t stop reading. Both of the main female characters undergo significant growth, which ultimately made the ending worth it. If you enjoy family drama, like Keeping Up with the Kardashians or The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, you might enjoy this book. With all the love triangles, I honestly needed a chart to keep track of them all!

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This was my first book by Hannah Orenstein, and I really enjoyed it. I liked the unique plot, and the character growth throughout the book. I loved the location and setting. I would rate this book 3.5 stars. I wasn’t a huge fan of the 3rd person point of view, which sometimes made it confusing.

This book was such a delightful read! It’s perfect for summer and will undoubtedly be a hit. It made me long to be out on the lake, watching the sunset with my favorite drink, just like Lucy and Vivian. Although it was challenging to connect with the main characters initially, they truly grew on me as the story progressed. The character development was impressive, and I found myself proud of the choices they made by the end. Having read a few of Hannah Orenstein’s novels, I’d say this one is my favorite so far!

Wow - a perfect beach/summer read! I loved so many things about this book - sisterhood being the central plot, the descriptions of Maine and food, complete character development. This was such a fun and beautiful take on "The Parent Trap". My only critique is that it was a little too long. Some of the side plots with the romantic interests felt drawn out but overall I really enjoyed the book!