Orenstein's tale of two sisters set in the backdrop of picturesque, idyllic rural Maine is a realistic, engaging story that rings true to how two sisters who share a father but nothing else might clash in the aftermath of his death. Who do you lash out at when the person who caused all the pain has died? How do you make a connection when your experiences and goals are at odds? The only character whose development I found unbelievable was Celeste... she didn't need to turn author she did and yet for Vivian, I was happy. Thanks for bringing these characters to life!

Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein was such a heartfelt and unique read. I loved the messiness of this story. I completely ate it up. Two half sisters who have never met because their father kept them apart? Sign me up. It was done so well, I read this in one sitting. It was emotional yet it had its funny moments. I enjoyed the character development but I will admit that I found Lucy to be a little annoying. I cannot wait for people to read this one when it comes out, I do think it could spark a lot of interesting conversations.

I loved how Orenstein infuses the story with humor and charm, but also with a deep sense of healing. You feel the weight of their grief and the beauty of their emotional unraveling. There’s this incredible balance between their hostility and vulnerability that makes their journey toward sisterhood so heartfelt and deeply moving. I honestly couldn’t stop myself from turning page after page, desperate to see if they could somehow bridge the gap of thirty years and become a family. All in all, this book is an absolute treasure.

This made me want to move to Maine! It is a heartfelt, summery, and drama-filled read about two half-sisters feuding over the sale of their father’s beloved lake house.

I enjoyed this very much! It is a cozy and comforting read with a few predictable outcomes and a few surprises, all culminating in a neat and satisfying conclusion. The romance storylines (rightfully) take a backseat to the central plot of Lucy and Vivian getting to know one another and coming to terms with who their father was and the different pieces of him they witnessed.

Maine Characters is charming and I agree with the blurb that fans of Carley Fortune and Elin Hilderbrand will find plenty to like. 4.5 stars.

Thank you very much to Dutton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.