4 1/2 stars!

Sommelier Vivian is shocked when her father Hank passes away, but the right thing to do, after the funeral, is to return to the lake house where they summered to fulfill his request to spread his ashes. When she arrives, intending to clean out the cabin and and prepare it for sale, she’s shocked to find Hank’s other daughter, Lucy, living there, confirming he knocked up another woman before her married her mother. It’s their first time meeting, and they clash. Vivian, raised Jewish, was aware of Lucy’s existence, and used it to keep her father distant, while Lucy, raised secular, was well aware of Vivian’s many privileges. Lucy is a local girl, an English teacher whose marriage to her high school sweetheart, Patrick, is on the rocks; Vivian is the wine expert at a swank NYC restaurant; one of the perks of her affair with the owner, Oscar, is he’s given her the summer off to grieve. Part of Lucy’s surprise stems from the fact that it’s not Vivian’s turn for the house: Lucy always spent July at the lake, and Vivian, August. Also: Lucy didn’t know her father had passed away, and it’s Vivian who delivers that blow.

The point of view switches from Vivian to Lucy, so that the eader’s sympathies lie first with one sister, then with the other. They alternately try to connect with/repel one another, but ultimately find they have more in common than not, and are able to fill in the missing pieces to create a more complete picture of their father. They forge a relationship that includes sharing space and planning a memorial service for Hank–and they invite their mothers, Dawn, a local waitress, and Celeste, a NYT best-selling romance novelist.

The expansive pace and literary writing give the feel of a leisurely beach read, though the fraught situation and emotions are intense rather than light in the way an Elin Hilderbrand novel is quickly consumed and disposed of. Orenstein is an observant writer, and the vivid details of the New England setting, the small town with just one bar, the taste of wine and a homecooked meal, and the fury with parents who disappoint you are explored slowly and deeply. The central conflict beyond resentment over the other’s existence is whether to keep or sell the house. The romantic subplots add to their character development, and their mothers have their own stories, with their daughters and with Hank. Orenstein juggles all of this expertly. A mystery resolved by a timely discovery of letters that gives voice to their deceased dad muddied the waters a bit for me–it felt like an abrupt insertion and quick fix, and the switch to a third voice felt jarring. Family dynamics are messy, unpredictable, annoying, loving, generous, and sometimes mysterious, and I didn’t need everything to be neatly wrapped up as it was.

Were this a romance, I’d tag it forced proximity and opposites attract; billed as the Parent Trap for grown-ups, the similiarity was just in getting to know a sibling, not a parental reconciliation. The premise is not unlike characters Sharon and Susan being forced to room in the same cabin when their antagonist pranking gets out of control. The novel references the Lindsay Lohan version at least twice (I’m partial to the orginal, starring Haley Mills). Pair with The Bear for another take on very different sisters living in a cabin on a the coast, The Cookbook Collector, which also has very fine culinary writing and Jewish underpinings, or Summer After Summer, which has a Hamptons spin on putting the family home up for sale.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #MaineCharacters via #NetGalley courtesy of #Dutton. A review will post to HLBB on 5/12/2025

This was my first book by Hannah Orenstien, and I plan to read more of her work. Her characters and in particular he depiction of the small town in Maine kept me engaged throughout the book.

The books starts with two sisters raised apart meeting at the lake house when their father passes away. It's a story filled with drama, secrets and of course grief, of many kinds. The sisterly bond and how to work through grief to forgiveness is the main theme.

Her character development was on point and the relationship between the sisters kept me going, wanting to learn more about the sisters.

I have a feeling his is going to be an instant hit!

I really enjoyed this book — it hooked me quickly and the plot setup felt fresh. The development of Lucy and Vivian’s relationship was well written, and I loved Caleb and his friendship with both sisters. I’ll be looking forward to future books by this author.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein was a great, cozy end of summer read. The book focuses on the familial relationships between half-sisters but with a small touch of rom-coms. If you’re spending a summer weekend on a lake, this is a great, easy read.

Really interesting premise and loved the setting of Maine! This was a little too long though and it took a while to get into. Definitely for readers that are interested in stories of growth, complexity of sisterhood and messy families.

I was excited to read this one - the description called it an adult Parent Trap (my favorite movie growing up) which maybe set my standards really high. I loved the references to Maine and living on the lake. It follows two half sisters who meet after the dad dies and they are staying at his house in Maine. Complex family dynamics but wrapped up a little too cute for me.

Every summer, Vivian Levy and Lucy Webster spend a month with their father at his lake house — separately. Raised in New York City, Vivian is an ambitious sommelier with a secret that could derail her future. Lucy grew up in a tiny Maine town, where she now teaches high school English while watching her marriage unravel. They’ve never met. While Lucy envied her half-sister from afar, their father kept Vivian in the dark.

When Vivian arrives at the lake to spread his ashes and sell his cabin, she's shocked to find Lucy there, awaiting his return. In an ideal world, they’d help each other through their grief. Instead, forced to spend the summer together, they fight through a storm of suspicion and hostility to untangle the messy truth about their parents’ pasts. While Lucy is desperate to hold onto the house, Vivian is scrambling after a betrayal.

Who doesn't love The Parent Trap? This, and the gorgeous cover, drew me into this book. The lake and cabin feel like a character presence all its own, and the two women, while sometimes childish, felt realistic and relatable to me. I don't think I'll remember much of this in a year's time (I read a lot, and all but the most standout ones fade and blend in my mind), but this was a solid read and I enjoyed it very much! 4⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Two 30-something half-sisters, one from NYC and the other from a small town in Maine, meet for the first time at their father’s lake house in Maine after his sudden death. If you like Maine, lake life, pretty book covers, sisterhood, family drama, romance, and easy beach reads, this is for you.
Available 5/13/25.

Thanks to NetGalley and DuttonBooks for the eARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Maine Characters!

The cover artwork is gorgeous!!

Maine Characters follow 2 estranged sisters who come together over the death of their father. While they are sorting through family tragedy and financial decisions over their shared lake house, secrets and stories float to the surface.

Maine Characters is an easy read. I though that the pace of the story started off perfect in the beginning, lagged a bit halfway through and then was rushed towards the end. But if you are a family drama-trope kind of reader...would absolutely recommend!

Maine Characters is a heartfelt exploration of family, grief, and second chances, all set against the idyllic backdrop of a Maine summer. Vivian and Lucy are complex, relatable characters with clashing personalities and deep-seated wounds that make their forced coexistence as intriguing as it is emotional.
The novel excels in its depiction of sibling dynamics—equal parts biting tension and tentative connection. Watching Vivian, the polished sommelier, and Lucy, the down-to-earth teacher, navigate their shared grief and unravel the secrets of their father’s life is both touching and cathartic. The lake house setting is gorgeously rendered, almost a character itself, offering solace and space for reflection.
While the story occasionally leans into predictable territory, the emotional depth and humor keep it engaging. Fans of The Parent Trap for grown-ups will revel in the mix of witty banter and poignant moments, and the author's signature charm shines through in every page.
Main Characters is a love letter to lakeside summers and the power of family, imperfections and all. A must-read for anyone craving a story about healing, connection, and finding common ground in unexpected places.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Maine Characters is a read that surprised me.

I picked it up and it was a slow start. I had picked it up wanting something that got me out of a reading slump, and it did just that. I found myself enjoying Lucy's chapters more than Vivan's because partly I identified with more of Lucy's story. I do think both characters went through character growth and the plot development was surprising for both of them.

I actually good see this book being a book of the month choice and will likely try to recommend this to my book club.

This grabbed my attention as being a grown up version of Parent Trap. While it had similar elements such as: finding an unknown sister, two different worlds, humor and antics, it was much deeper than I imagined from the cover and description.

The book deals with two women who didn’t get the dad they deserved as children. One idolizes him and the other resents him. The view him completely differently but the one thing that is true is the not dealing with the root is destroying both of their lives. It takes coming together and seeing not only him but each other from the other sister’s perspective to truly heal what he broke.

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

First, the beautiful cover and description captured my attention. I read most books in a night or two. This one was a bit slow going, and unlike most books I read it didn’t make me want to pull an all nighter to finish. However, once I got about 30-50% through, it was a lot more interesting and captured my attention a bit more. I really liked the resolution to the book. I think the author tied everything up well, and there was good character development. Everything seemed believable.

The stunning cover of this book immediately caught my eye! The story revolves around two sisters who share the same father but have led very different lives. One sister was fortunate to grow up with their father, while the other only saw him for one month each year. After their father’s unexpected passing, the sisters meet at a lake house, setting the stage for a poignant exploration of family dynamics and healing.

While I appreciated Vivian and Lucy's individual backstories, I found some of their initial interactions frustrating. Vivian comes across as spoiled, while Lucy is understandably jaded and heartbroken over her limited relationship with their father. She struggles to form the bond with Vivian that she deeply desires. Watching their personal growth and discovering a long-buried family secret added depth to the narrative. The resolution was satisfying and tied the story together beautifully.

Thank you to @netgalley and @duttonbooks for the ARC.

First, thank you to NetGally and the publishers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I freaking loved this book! It was beautifully written and while there were love interests sprinkled throughout, I loved that the real love story was the one between sisters. I would definitely read a sequel. I am not ready to say goodbye to these characters.

This was such a feel good read. I really enjoyed getting to know that characters and seeing the development between then. This touched such strong life situations and I’m thrilled I had a chance to read!!

Two sisters who grew up completely apart are forced to come together after the unexpected passing of their father. This is a story of forgiveness, personal growth and asking for what you really need. Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced copy for my honest review.

I enjoyed this one! I think it would make a good chick flick. Feels like we are at the center of the family drama. If you like Emily Henry, I think you’ll like this.

I had a hard time getting into Mane characters, which is disappointing because I was so excited when I received this ARC! I was drawn in by the beautiful cover and the promise of "The Parent Trap" but did not see any similarities other than sisters who grew up apart.

Maine Characters is about two half-sisters who are brought together after the death of their father. Lucy and Vivian share the same father, but Vivian has no idea Lucy exists. When Vivian travels to a small Maine town to settle her father’s estate, she meets Lucy, who is determined to stop her from selling their family lake house.

There was not a single likable character in this book. Lucy was whiny and complained entirely too much while Vivian was cold and inconsiderate and both sisters imo were selfish, petty, and bullies towards each other. I did enjoy the last 15-20% where they decided to start acting like adults and we saw their character growth and the setting sounded beautiful. I'm ready to move to Maine! This was very close to being a DNF for me.

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

Maine characters was a wonderful read so well written characters I really enjoyed spending time with.Hannah Orenstein is a wonderful author one I look forward to reading.#netgalley #duttonbooks