Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!

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.

This review was posted on Goodreads and IG

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.

📖: Maine Characters
✍🏼: Hannah Orenstein
⭐: 4/5

Quick thoughts: Two half-sisters meet after their father's death. Together, they untangle his web of lies to better understand their past, how it shaped who they are today, and where they'll go from here. A captivating page-turner with strong character growth, though some subplot points make it difficult to fully cheer for either sister.

Loved:
➝ Beautiful setting in Maine
➝ Complex, but honest family dynamic
➝ Strong character development

Perfect for: Anyone who loves a complicated family drama, especially stories about siblings uncovering family secrets and navigating complex moral choices.

⚠️: Cheating, Death

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for a copy of this eArc!

Vivian and Lucy each spend time with their father at his lake house every year, but do so separate from one another. Vivian was raised in New York City and is a sommelier with a deep secret, while Lucy grew up in Maine, is a teacher and has a marriage falling apart. The two have never met, and Vivian has been kept out of the loop about Lucy, who has only ever looked on from afar. When their father dies, Vivian goes to his cabin to sell it and spread his ashes. It is then that she meets Lucy. The two spend a summer together to untangle the mistakes of their parents and figure out their emotions with one another.

Both Vivian and Lucy had a lot of flaws, which made them unlikable but also human. They actually balanced each other out and had an interesting relationship. Most notably, the setting was a wonderful character to this book; it really set the tone and vibe for everything the sisters needed to unpack, with each other and on their own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about sisters who don't meet until they are adults. I love a story about sisters and the dynamic is interesting. Their father is dead and they have a lot of unpacking to do about the childhood he gave each of them and where they go from here, now that they finally know one another. I enjoyed it, kept me interested. Quick read.

what a lovely read! this is my first read by this author and im excited to dive into more books by them. likeable characters, interesting plot and well thought out message. i would rate this 4/5 only for the fact that it didnt capture my attention as quickly as i wouldve liked

I really enjoyed this read!

While it was a bit of a slower one for me I did like the characters development and the back and forth. I have never been to Maine and have an obsession with the area and think the author captured the magic of it all perfectly.

The story itself was interesting and intriguing and kept me hooked! Long lost sisters, a lot of healing and learning, and a lot of how’s to work though. I would definitely recommend this book.


Huge thank you to Dutton and Net Galley for the ARC <3

I was thrilled to receive an advanced reader of this book. Anything set in Maine always draws me in. Not so much with this book. I found it hard to like either of the main characters nor did I care for the plot line. I struggled to finish the book, but I did. I will not be recommending it.

Though the cover was the first thing to grab me about this book, I really enjoyed the read!! This is my first read from Hannah Orenstein and I will absolutely be exploring her work after this!

I enjoyed the switching perspectives of Vivian and Lucy as they work through mourning their father, as they learn to connect with each other as sisters for the first time. I actually appreciated the growth and character development that they both experienced moving through that as well. I felt it was an overall easy read that kept me engaged all the way through! I can't wait to recommend it once it comes out in May 2025!

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGally and Penguin Group Dutton for allowing me to read this ARC of Maine Characters.

I fell in love with the cover and name as I recently went on a family vacation in Maine and absolutely loved the area. This is the first book I have read by Hannah Orenstein. I found this book easy to read and just a sweet story of two moms and their daughters and how their lives ended up being intertwined.

If you want an easy read, descriptions of a beautiful "town" in Maine with a story of messy relationships I would recommend this book.

This book was SO good. I loved the dual POVs, setting, character development and writing. The cover is beautiful and originally was the reason I was intrigued with this book. However, once I got started, I could not put this book down. 10/10 would recommend!

Maine Characters is a slow moving predictable story. Neither main characters are likable, which is a shame because it that would have carried me through the whole book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.