3 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this advanced copy of Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein.

This book is complicated in the way I feel about it. I had a very tough time getting attached to the characters. I didn’t really get sucked in until about 47% through. I found the two sisters to both be hard to sympathize for in the beginning.
This book focuses a lot on the idea of marriage, cheating, and the consequences of choices. And while I respected the growth all the characters had I was really dissatisfied by the ending. I felt pinning the final failure on Celeste was a disservice. Hank was the true villain of the story. His decision is the one that ruined the girls childhood and future.
By the end of the story I was really rooting for Vivian and Lucy to find their happiness. I also felt some scenes were a little unnecessary. The story really should be trimmed around the first half.

I feel like fans of Emily Henry would enjoy this book. It’s a complex look at families and marriage.

I could not put this book down I loved it. I have never read a book by this author but after reading this I bought more of her books.

Hannah Orenstein's Maine Characters is a charming summer read that invites you to the serene shores of a Maine lake. The story follows two half-sisters, Vivian and Lucy, who are brought together by their father's passing.

With witty banter and heartfelt moments, Orenstein weaves a tale of family secrets, personal growth, and the beauty of second chances. As the sisters navigate their complicated relationship, readers are treated to a delightful blend of humor, drama, and heartwarming moments.

If you're looking for a light and breezy novel that captures the essence of summer, Maine Characters is the perfect choice.

reading this after a visit to maine in the fall... was so good 😭 peak vibes, peak feels. i had a blast reading this book and loved the writing. the pacing felt a bit slow at times but that just gave me more of a reason to soak it up and take my time. definitely read this one. thank you for the arc netgalley!!

3.5⭐️ the cover drew me in but the story made me stay. This was such a lovely story of Vivian & Lucy becoming the sisters they always wanted. Incredibly sweet and enjoyable book to read. I would definitely read more books by the author.



Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this eARC!

This book features a lot of flawed characters. It is written in third person, which I normally struggle with in a book — it makes me feel more distance from each person and their POV.

Each relationship was also convoluted and to be frank, pretty fucked up. Still, I’m glad I finished the book. I love Maine, my boyfriend is from there, and it was comforting.

The loons at the end were quite fitting. I will say, this is not a romance. It’s more of a contemporary fiction novel.

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein is a charming and heartwarming novel that captures the essence of summer, family, and self-discovery in the picturesque backdrop of Maine. The story revolves around a protagonist who returns to her hometown, where she reconnects with her roots and navigates the complexities of her relationships. Orenstein's writing is engaging and filled with warmth, making it easy to get lost in the characters' journeys. I loved how the book beautifully explores themes of love, friendship, and finding one's place in the world. This novel is a delightful escape that perfectly balances nostalgia and personal growth—ideal for anyone looking for a cozy, feel-good read!

What a fun ride! This is unlike anything else I've read and it was a much needed break from my typical go-to books. I have been in awe of Hannah over the past few years and am so excited for everyone else to read!

Half sisters Vivian and Lucy meet for the first time at their father’s lake house after his death, and it’s about as awkward as you can imagine. The secrets come out over glasses of wine (through a lot of whining) and they try to deal with the consequences of three decades of miscommunication as miserable roommates.

A sweet start with aggressive saltiness punctuating the story, disjointed and cobbled together, I really REALLY wanted to like this one but couldn’t. Caught in an identity crisis between being a deep, thought-provoking story about forgiveness, and a comedy, I had a hard time settling into the story. A few lines were startlingly cringey in seriousness, but would’ve been phenomenal in a tongue-in-cheek manner. One hypothetical conversation over a basket of Olive Garden breadsticks made me laugh out loud (if only the author were brave enough to have had it occur outside of Vivian’s imagination).

Tense was a major, distracting issue throughout. At times, it became hard to follow either the order or events or who was talking.

“Sometimes, love isn’t enough,” was a line from the fourth (!) male love interest introduced in this short book, and I think I would add, “sometimes, a vibe for a book isn’t enough.”

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC.

What a beautiful book! I've never read anything by this author before, but I'm eager to read more of their works. likable characters, a compelling story, and a thoughtfully delivered message. excited to reds more by this author!

This book was a very heartwarming and wholesome read. It was a slower read but it picked up towards the end and I enjoyed it. It is a sad book but there are some feel good moments.

The loss of a parent is a very difficult situation to navigate, but having the extra layers of lost love and family dynamics made this incredibly more devastating. This book really had me frustrated and angry with the situation and almost every major character. It kept me wanting to continue to see how they would develop their relationships as well as overcome their individual pride and jealously over the other. This book was almost like free therapy. You see the characters pain and anger, and how they ultimately realize their own actions and how it was unfair to judge the other for something they were not able to control. I can’t imagine being as graceful as each of them were in the end. This book was a real journey and seeing the growth of each character was really satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to read and review this eARC copy! Initially the cover and promise of a Parent-Trap meeting of long lost sisters drew me in - what millennial woman doesn’t love Annie and Hallie? - but I was blown away by the authenticity and depth of Lucy and Vivian, the development of their friendship, the evolution of their romantic relationships, and their relationships with both their mothers and their dad. This novel perfectly captures the essence of grief and of growing to understand that often, our parents are kids who made mistakes too.

“Parent Trap for adults” is so accurate. I enjoyed this so much! The character development was amazing. The writing flows beautifully, I can vividly picture the sunsets and I felt every gut punch and every butterfly. Take me through your character’s emotions and it’s an auto 5 star for me. I related a lot with Vivian’s plot line with her mother, it was nice to see that improvement in that kind of relationship is possible. Even if it’s only fiction.

I did have issues with one of the romance plots and how quickly it was resolved. And both romance plots were the same just in a different font. But ultimately loved reading this.

Highly recommend!!

🌟Thank you NetGalley for the ARC🌟

Okay, first off, this cover is absolute gorgeous!!! Definitely buying a physical copy of this book for my library once it is released next spring. The setting is also perfection, summer at a small lake town in Maine. Two sisters, who both have significant connections to the lake house, meet at the house unexpectedly following the death of their father. The shocker is, they HAVE NEVER MET. All the drama unfolds from there, full of so much family drama trying to unravel the untold past as half-sisters who share two different versions of a father. The book at times felt a little long, but the character depth was truly spectacular and I truly enjoyed it! Perfect book to pick up for your summer 2025 reading!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

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3.75 stars! I was really excited to read this book, and I was not disappointed! It was my first time reading a book by this author, Hannah Orenstein, but it won’t be my last.

This is a story of two half sisters (one knows the other exists and the other has no clue) who wind up sharing a summer together in their deceased father’s lake house just after his death. We go along with them while they process their relationships with each other, their shared father, and their respective mothers. We get to see them grieve what they had and didn’t have in these relationships, and then what they end up making for themselves out of everything. It was very heartfelt, and an account that reminds us all that at the end of the day, our parents are just people/humans like us.

I enjoyed this book, and I thought the pacing and secondary characters were really great. One of the main characters, Lucy, took me a while to warm up to, but in the end I liked her. Overall, I would recommend this book!

Thank you to Hannah Orenstein, NetGalley and Dutton for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Ehh… I liked this book but having finished it a few days ago, most of it has already left my mind.

My favorite thing about this book was the writing. Hannah did a great job of keeping me engaged and letting the story flow well. I just found myself having a hard time really loving Vivian or Lucy. The constant switching between POVs in the middle of chapters was also something I could have done without. I would have preferred the entire chapter from one POV.

I do think Lucy coming to terms with the fact she idolized her father despite his character flaws that continued to hit her in the face. She had to grieve both her father’s death and the realization that he wasn’t the best father while alive, either.

Vivian was more surly and closed off, but eventually opened up to the idea that maybe running away from the things that are good for her and running into things that bring her down are no longer serving her. It’s time to do something unexpected, like stand up to her mom and boyfriend.

Overall, it’s a good book, just didn’t connect super well with me. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me this eARC and Hannah Orenstein for writing an entertaining book!

I truly enjoyed this read. I found myself wanting to know more of the backstory. The writing was enjoyable to read and the characters were well nuanced. I do wish there was a little more insight into the dad.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin for this ARC in exchange for a review.

Thank you to NetGalley & Dutton for this ARC! *Maine Characters* by Hannah Orenstein is a charming and evocative exploration of the relationships that shape a young woman's life in a small town in Maine. The narrative is rich with vivid descriptions of the coastal landscape and a cast of quirky characters that add depth and warmth to the story. Orenstein skillfully weaves themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, making it a relatable read for anyone navigating the complexities of adulthood. With its heartfelt storytelling and engaging prose, this novel captures the essence of community and the impact of our connections with others.

Vivian's dad passes away on Father's Day. Per his last wishes, Vivian is taking his ashes to her father's cabin in Maine to spread his ashes. Upon arriving at the cabin, she finds another woman there. Lucy is Vivian's sister that she has never met. A fretful summer is spent deciding what to do with the house, what to do with his ashes and getting to know each other as sisters.
This was a fabulous book. I enjoyed it so very much. The descriptions of the lake, cabin and town really came to life in my mind. I will definitely be pressing this book to my friends.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book and provide feedback.