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Maine Characters
11 hours, 57 minutes
From beloved author Hannah Orenstein, this love letter to lake life is “the Parent Trap for adults,” the story of two half-sisters who meet for the first time at their father’s cabin in Maine after his unexpected death.
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. After thirty years apart, is it too late for them to be a family?
For fans of Carley Fortune and Elin Hilderbrand, this sister story set on a lush lake brims with the undeniable heart, depth, charm, and humor that have endeared Hannah Orenstein to legions of readers.
From beloved author Hannah Orenstein, this love letter to lake life is “the Parent Trap for adults,” the story of two half-sisters who meet for the first time at their father’s cabin in Maine after his unexpected death.
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. After thirty years apart, is it too late for them to be a family?
For fans of Carley Fortune and Elin Hilderbrand, this sister story set on a lush lake brims with the undeniable heart, depth, charm, and humor that have endeared Hannah Orenstein to legions of readers.
Audiobook
First published May 13, 2025
1436 people are currently reading
47907 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Orenstein
6 books1,281 followersHannah Orenstein is the author of Playing with Matches and Love at First Like, and is the senior dating editor at Elite Daily. Previously, she was a writer and editor at Seventeen.com. She lives in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,657 reviews
July 5, 2025
If anything is described using The Parent Trap even in the slightest way, I’m buying it. This is very LOOSELY (using that word in emphasis) based off that movie, and even then the only similarities are two sisters with the same father who have never met in real life
Every single character in this book was so unlikeable & made the most questionable choices AND the two sisters bickered like they were 12. I think the second half was a whole lot better, & I found myself more invested to see how it would end + see some character development. I wish we dove deeper into the grief, the sisterhood and more themes that I think would’ve made this book feel less one-dimensional. The Maine setting was amazing though!
Don’t read this if you’re in a slump, but do listen to the audiobook if you pick it up!
Every single character in this book was so unlikeable & made the most questionable choices AND the two sisters bickered like they were 12. I think the second half was a whole lot better, & I found myself more invested to see how it would end + see some character development. I wish we dove deeper into the grief, the sisterhood and more themes that I think would’ve made this book feel less one-dimensional. The Maine setting was amazing though!
Don’t read this if you’re in a slump, but do listen to the audiobook if you pick it up!
May 23, 2025
I chose this book because of the title, then the description of the plot. I want to move to Maine in the future, and having a chance to experience life in the beautiful state through many characters was intriguing. The story, built on two half-sisters who maybe-kinda-sorta knew about each other's existence, was sure to present several poignant moments. And did it ever. At first, Lucy was super annoying; she overplayed the under-privileged sister role, and I found myself hoping she'd encounter a tragedy so we didn't have too many scenes with her. Vivian, the one who grew up in NYC with moderate wealth, had some not-so-great qualities but her passion and underlying desire to do the right thing continuously made me feel connected to her plight. I loved how everything progressed and ultimately came together in the end... new friendships, romance, a different career trajectory and a move to a different locale helped bring a lot of teachable moments too. Adding the author to my follow list and want to learn more about her offerings.
May 28, 2025
all the characters in this book are so unlikable. The supposed “nice” sister, Lucy, is just a plain bitch. The “mean” one, Vivian, is actually the nice one? Like???? Huh??
Also, the character development in this book sucks. All of them are supposed to be 30+ years old, but they all act like they’re 10.. I know of 10 years old that are more mature than these people actually 🫠
They’re all greedy & so one-dimensional. I wanted some nice sister bonding time, but all I got is one complaint about how much money the other one has.
Also, Lucy whines too much. Not to mention all the cheating that went on in this book 🙃🙃
yuck
Also, the character development in this book sucks. All of them are supposed to be 30+ years old, but they all act like they’re 10.. I know of 10 years old that are more mature than these people actually 🫠
They’re all greedy & so one-dimensional. I wanted some nice sister bonding time, but all I got is one complaint about how much money the other one has.
Also, Lucy whines too much. Not to mention all the cheating that went on in this book 🙃🙃
yuck
February 23, 2025
3.5 🌟
What a gorgeous cover on this novel!
From the moment I saw the cover of Maine Characters, I was drawn in.
From that first page, I was hooked. I will say that this was an emotional read and very rarely, will I say that about a book. Only a handful of books have an ability to emotionally get me like Maine Characters did.
We have our two mfc, Lucy and Vivian, who share the same dad, Hank, but were raised apart from each other. He suddenly passes away, and Lucy and Vivian decide to meet up at his cabin, which is on a lake in Maine.
I probably would've rated this higher, but it had a lot of characterization and love stories to keep up with, so if you loved drama, then this is for you.
Lucy is just your average local Maine girl stuck in a loveless, stagnant marriage. Vivian is a hoity toity uppity spoiled brat who lives on the upper west side of New York. As they come together at Hank's cabin on the lake, secrets will come out and be revealed. These secrets will have lifelong impacts on their lives.
🏵 beautiful Maine setting
⛱️ lake house
🏵 family drama
⛱️ large family
🏵parent trap vibes
⛱️emotional read
A big thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books Dutton for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Expected publication May 13, 2025
What a gorgeous cover on this novel!
From the moment I saw the cover of Maine Characters, I was drawn in.
From that first page, I was hooked. I will say that this was an emotional read and very rarely, will I say that about a book. Only a handful of books have an ability to emotionally get me like Maine Characters did.
We have our two mfc, Lucy and Vivian, who share the same dad, Hank, but were raised apart from each other. He suddenly passes away, and Lucy and Vivian decide to meet up at his cabin, which is on a lake in Maine.
I probably would've rated this higher, but it had a lot of characterization and love stories to keep up with, so if you loved drama, then this is for you.
Lucy is just your average local Maine girl stuck in a loveless, stagnant marriage. Vivian is a hoity toity uppity spoiled brat who lives on the upper west side of New York. As they come together at Hank's cabin on the lake, secrets will come out and be revealed. These secrets will have lifelong impacts on their lives.
🏵 beautiful Maine setting
⛱️ lake house
🏵 family drama
⛱️ large family
🏵parent trap vibes
⛱️emotional read
A big thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books Dutton for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Expected publication May 13, 2025
May 13, 2025
✦ ✦ ✦ ✧ ✧
(3.5 rounded down)
✧₊⁺ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc
✧₊⁺ overview ⁺₊ ✧
──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────
Maine Characters is a book that centers around self reinvention and past trauma. There is a romance aspect to this book, but it’s not the focus of the story. This book was definitely a tear jerker, and the ending hit really hard and close to home for me. The interactions that the characters have with each other and the way that their stories intertwine is masterfully written. Let me say, the cover on this book is also stunning, probably one of my favorites of this year's new releases.. As much as I did enjoy this book, there were a couple key issues that stood out to me, the first one being the character perspectives. Maine Characters contains a lot of flashbacks and reminiscing, but I found it hard to tell if it was past or present at parts because the whole book is written in present tense from a 3rd person POV. Along with this, I was having trouble relating to Vivian, especially with her whole cheating situation, but that mostly has to do with my morals. Overall, Maine Characters is an emotionally heavy book (in a good way) that navigates complex relationships and new beginnings. ✧₊⁺ relationships ~
──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────
✧₊⁺ features ~
❥ dual pov / 3rd person
↟ cheating
❥ found family
↟ family trauma
❥ emotionally heavy
↟ self reinvention
❥ no spice
──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────
honestly, this book hits really hard emotionally and i'm still recovering 😭😭 rtc once i'm finished processing <33
✧₊⁺ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc
──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────
✧₊⁺ overview ~
ahh the cover on this one is so pretty ⁺₊✧
(3.5 rounded down)
✧₊⁺ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc
✧₊⁺ overview ⁺₊ ✧
──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────
Maine Characters is a book that centers around self reinvention and past trauma. There is a romance aspect to this book, but it’s not the focus of the story. This book was definitely a tear jerker, and the ending hit really hard and close to home for me. The interactions that the characters have with each other and the way that their stories intertwine is masterfully written. Let me say, the cover on this book is also stunning, probably one of my favorites of this year's new releases.. As much as I did enjoy this book, there were a couple key issues that stood out to me, the first one being the character perspectives. Maine Characters contains a lot of flashbacks and reminiscing, but I found it hard to tell if it was past or present at parts because the whole book is written in present tense from a 3rd person POV. Along with this, I was having trouble relating to Vivian, especially with her whole cheating situation, but that mostly has to do with my morals. Overall, Maine Characters is an emotionally heavy book (in a good way) that navigates complex relationships and new beginnings. ✧₊⁺ relationships ~
──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────
✧₊⁺ features ~
❥ dual pov / 3rd person
↟ cheating
❥ found family
↟ family trauma
❥ emotionally heavy
↟ self reinvention
❥ no spice
──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────
honestly, this book hits really hard emotionally and i'm still recovering 😭😭 rtc once i'm finished processing <33
✧₊⁺ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc
──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────
✧₊⁺ overview ~
ahh the cover on this one is so pretty ⁺₊✧
November 21, 2024
This cover is beautiful and that is about the only positive thing I can say about this novel. While this is supposed to be a retelling of the Parent Trap I wasn't expecting these 30-something adult women to act like 10 year old children. I hated both Vivian and Lucy, their pettiness and bullying of each other was appalling and I was over it by the 25% mark.
The amount of love triangles and cheating in this novel made it confusing to even understand who was a character that was important to the storyline.
The final 20% FINALLY the characters pulled their heads out of their a** and acted like adults but honestly if I didn't need to review this for netgalley this would have been a DNF long before that point.
I wouldn't waste your money on this book 🤷♀️
The amount of love triangles and cheating in this novel made it confusing to even understand who was a character that was important to the storyline.
The final 20% FINALLY the characters pulled their heads out of their a** and acted like adults but honestly if I didn't need to review this for netgalley this would have been a DNF long before that point.
I wouldn't waste your money on this book 🤷♀️
Want to read
September 20, 2024this cover is so beautiful, i don't even care what this book is about, why is this so good to me ughhhhh
February 24, 2025
A tantalising, heartwarming, melodramatic story accompanied by a delectable selection of wine!
First, I fell in love with the cover and title of this book. Having read it, I absolutely adore Hannah Orenstein‘s writing style that is evocative and engaging. The characters were absolutely credible, as they developed to my utmost satisfaction.
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I loved the setting in Maine, the idyllic and charming portrayal.
As for the story, I really do not want to give away too much before the book publication in May 2025, but I want to give you an overview:
Dawn and Hank fall madly in love one summer in Maine. They’re young and hopeful. Little do they know that they will be entangled in a web of lies that ripple effects the lives of their daughters Vivian and Lucy.
Vivian is a spoiled ‚brat‘ from Upper West Side, NY who‘s a successful sommelier, but in a hopeless relationship. Her sister Lucy is a Maine-local who’s had limited opportunities in life and is trapped in a loveless marriage. As their paths cross they’ll uncover the secrets that will change them forever!
Easy 5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and Hannah Orenstein for this fabulous ARC! I can’t wait to read from HO 😍
First, I fell in love with the cover and title of this book. Having read it, I absolutely adore Hannah Orenstein‘s writing style that is evocative and engaging. The characters were absolutely credible, as they developed to my utmost satisfaction.
Find me on instagram
I loved the setting in Maine, the idyllic and charming portrayal.
As for the story, I really do not want to give away too much before the book publication in May 2025, but I want to give you an overview:
Dawn and Hank fall madly in love one summer in Maine. They’re young and hopeful. Little do they know that they will be entangled in a web of lies that ripple effects the lives of their daughters Vivian and Lucy.
Vivian is a spoiled ‚brat‘ from Upper West Side, NY who‘s a successful sommelier, but in a hopeless relationship. Her sister Lucy is a Maine-local who’s had limited opportunities in life and is trapped in a loveless marriage. As their paths cross they’ll uncover the secrets that will change them forever!
Easy 5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and Hannah Orenstein for this fabulous ARC! I can’t wait to read from HO 😍
February 5, 2025
Rating: 1.5 stars (rounded down)
Reading this book was the equivalent of licking chalk.
You’re left with dry mouth, an uncomfortable residue, and confusion about your own actions. It’s a prime example of don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
The most I can say about the writing is that we might as well be playing light as a feather, stiff as a board. The very first page was so strange in its pacing. There are SO MANY instances where I could have sworn the author couldn’t think of a word, and just decided to put a hyphen between each word in a jumble of a description. I wish, as a reader, I got more opportunities to sit in a scene and feel with the characters. Instead, everything was told to me instead of shown.
I had really high hopes for the characters considering the title, but their depth goes about as far down as a sandbar. Vivienne is stuck up and guarded and Lucy, the long lost sister, is a soft spoken doormat that surprises herself when she utters the word “no”. And they pretty much show no potential beyond those roles.
The book is marketed as something similar to The Parent Trap. I disagree. There’s long lost twins, sure. However, the entire plot revolves around the father passing. Plus, the “career-ending” secret that Vivienne reveals made me physically raise a brow. All I can say is that it’s all a bit anti-climactic.
Overall, I found it lacked a compelling narrative and I, in fact, chose sleep over reading this book multiple times (a rarity for me).
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Publishing for providing me with this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Reading this book was the equivalent of licking chalk.
You’re left with dry mouth, an uncomfortable residue, and confusion about your own actions. It’s a prime example of don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
The most I can say about the writing is that we might as well be playing light as a feather, stiff as a board. The very first page was so strange in its pacing. There are SO MANY instances where I could have sworn the author couldn’t think of a word, and just decided to put a hyphen between each word in a jumble of a description. I wish, as a reader, I got more opportunities to sit in a scene and feel with the characters. Instead, everything was told to me instead of shown.
I had really high hopes for the characters considering the title, but their depth goes about as far down as a sandbar. Vivienne is stuck up and guarded and Lucy, the long lost sister, is a soft spoken doormat that surprises herself when she utters the word “no”. And they pretty much show no potential beyond those roles.
The book is marketed as something similar to The Parent Trap. I disagree. There’s long lost twins, sure. However, the entire plot revolves around the father passing. Plus, the “career-ending” secret that Vivienne reveals made me physically raise a brow. All I can say is that it’s all a bit anti-climactic.
Overall, I found it lacked a compelling narrative and I, in fact, chose sleep over reading this book multiple times (a rarity for me).
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Publishing for providing me with this arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 11, 2025
I wasn't sure how I'd like this, given it's billed as the grown-up version of The Parent Trap, but it turned out to be so much more than I expected!
Sometimes I struggle to find similarities in another story when someone draws comparisons, but in Maine Characters, everyone felt like they stood out on their own. All of the characters experienced SO much growth, and the way the story ties up just has so much love!
Sisterhood, complicated family dynamics, and the aftereffects of finding out your parents aren't exactly who you thought they were. Such a great read!!
**Thank you Dutton for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel coming soon!!
Sometimes I struggle to find similarities in another story when someone draws comparisons, but in Maine Characters, everyone felt like they stood out on their own. All of the characters experienced SO much growth, and the way the story ties up just has so much love!
Sisterhood, complicated family dynamics, and the aftereffects of finding out your parents aren't exactly who you thought they were. Such a great read!!
**Thank you Dutton for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel coming soon!!
May 5, 2025
I liked this. It was fun and the vibes were amazing, I would recommend to read this during the summer. As someone who lives in New England, I loved the scenery and the portrayal of Maine. I am also a huge fan of "The Parent Trap" movie and I grew up being obsessed with it. I loved the whole premise behind this story and I enjoyed reading about Lucy and Vivian's dynamic, specially since they didn't grew up together.
At first, it took me a bit of time to get into it but the ending touched me a little bit. Even though I didn't agree with some of the choices both sisters made through the story, I can understand why they did it. However, I feel like I would've enjoyed this more if I could've relate to either of the sisters but it was hard to do. The romance perse wasn't my favorite but I'd didn't really matter that much because I was more invested in the family drama and dynamics.
At first, it took me a bit of time to get into it but the ending touched me a little bit. Even though I didn't agree with some of the choices both sisters made through the story, I can understand why they did it. However, I feel like I would've enjoyed this more if I could've relate to either of the sisters but it was hard to do. The romance perse wasn't my favorite but I'd didn't really matter that much because I was more invested in the family drama and dynamics.
June 16, 2025
This was an easy 5 stars for me! It’s one of those things where you thrive on the drama a bit! 😆 This is like The Parent Trap for adults. I ate it up. The setting is gorgeous, excellent character development, characters you love to hate (but then there is redemption to be found)—best enjoyed with a nice glass of wine (or really anything will do). One of the main characters is a wine expert, so that was a fun aspect to the book as well. Thank you again to the author & publisher for my free copy! 🥹
September 28, 2025
messy family drama with severely unlikable characters, immaculate summer lake house vibes, and a lot of plot.
May 22, 2025
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.✨ // The gorgeous cover is quite deceiving for a “summer read” — this is in fact a serious drama about family, sisterhood and infidelity. I think because it was marketed as a “parent trap for adults” I went in with different expectations— I also wanted more of that atmosphere of Maine brought to life. I love messy and dynamic stories about families and I was engrossed in this plot but at moments it fell a little flat.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
October 9, 2024
My first book by Hannah Orenstein, and it won't be my last! I was initially drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover and reference to it being "an adult parent trap" (forever one of my favorite movies). I was easily able to sink into this book and while I didn't particularly like either main character, I understood them and found their dynamic fascinating. A book that can keep me reading despite majorly flawed main characters is always a win. The setting was what really won me over, I loved reading about the small lake town in Maine and each of the girls' special ties to the home. The complicated family dynamics were well executed and left me struggling to figure out who to root for. I liked that the sisters' relationship took the center stage, and the romantic relationships were a secondary storyline. There was some great character development over the course of the story, and by the end I found myself coming around to both the main characters. I really enjoyed this book and I have a feeling this will be a BIG summer read!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced copy for my honest review.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the advanced copy for my honest review.
February 26, 2025
For all my friends who grew up loving The Parent Trap, this one’s for you! First of all, can we just take a second to admire how gorgeous the cover of this book is! It’s so pretty! This was my first book by Hannah Orenstein and it won’t be my last, I loved everything about this story! From the cover to the words written inside creating this must read novel.
Aside from the gorgeous cover, let’s dive into the setting. The backdrop of this story is perfect. A cabin and the lake. What more could you ask for, but the way Hannah writes makes you feel like you’re right there. Fair warning though, it will make you want to book a lake house in Maine.
Although the setting is hard to beat, Vivian and Lucy were the heart of this story and I absolutely adored their dynamic and growth. Two sisters who share the same father but grew up apart, meet at their late father’s lake house in Maine. They navigate really hard but also really beautiful (and important) themes through out their time together so here’s a friendly reminder now before going into this book-bring a box of tissues!
This book releases May 13th.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
Aside from the gorgeous cover, let’s dive into the setting. The backdrop of this story is perfect. A cabin and the lake. What more could you ask for, but the way Hannah writes makes you feel like you’re right there. Fair warning though, it will make you want to book a lake house in Maine.
Although the setting is hard to beat, Vivian and Lucy were the heart of this story and I absolutely adored their dynamic and growth. Two sisters who share the same father but grew up apart, meet at their late father’s lake house in Maine. They navigate really hard but also really beautiful (and important) themes through out their time together so here’s a friendly reminder now before going into this book-bring a box of tissues!
This book releases May 13th.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.
March 5, 2025
This is like epitome of messy family drama but also like… not in a way that I like lol. I just needed Vivian and Lucy to be even 10% more likable. The story was good and kept me engaged but since I didn’t feel connected to the characters at all I wasn’t really affected by what they were going through emotionally! Could just be a me thing though!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
August 7, 2025
This book had all the things I love: beautiful scenery, summer vibes, great food descriptions, and complicated character dynamics. So why was it so BORING? I couldn’t wait to finish it, but that was only because I wanted it to END. There were some good bits and pieces, but overall… meh. Most of the characters were incredibly unlikeable, and the storylines felt wildly unrealistic— and the characters’ reactions to these events didn’t quite add up, so that left a weird taste in my mouth. The fact that this book also had such a gorgeous cover, and ALSO claimed to be a grown up version of Parent Trap, then fell so flat, only amplified my disappointment.
February 8, 2025
For lover of the parent trap, I think you would highly enjoy this book about two half sisters who lost their dad and happen to show up at his cabin one summer. One to sell it and the other to spend her summer with her dad so she thinks. When their father suddenly passes away and Vivian heads up to her father’s cabin in Maine to clean and prep it for an upcoming sale. When she arrives she comes face to face with her father’s other child she only knows little to nothing about. Lucy has come to her father’s cabin in hopes to spend another summer with her father like she has all her life and finally comes face to face with the sister she’s only heard stories about.
This emotional story goes through the grief of losing your father and the obstacles one must overcome. I enjoyed Lucy and Vivian’s story but it wasn’t my favorite. I think this would be a great summer read. I almost wanted more from the story instead of the two fight almost the entire book but their arguments were understandable. I enjoyed the setting and would love to read this on the lake this summer!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for sending over this advanced readers copy!
This emotional story goes through the grief of losing your father and the obstacles one must overcome. I enjoyed Lucy and Vivian’s story but it wasn’t my favorite. I think this would be a great summer read. I almost wanted more from the story instead of the two fight almost the entire book but their arguments were understandable. I enjoyed the setting and would love to read this on the lake this summer!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for sending over this advanced readers copy!
June 3, 2025
(free review copy) What a delightful summery story! Set on a lake in Maine, this is a tale of two adult half sisters and their reckoning with a lifetime of secrets. There are light romantic elements, but this is NOT a romance ~ the focus is on family and coming to terms with the past. Oh, and it’s also very much about a wonderful Maine lake house that ties the sisters together, for better and worse.
This book was a much-needed relief from the seemingly endless cookie cutter new releases, and the author’s lifelong experiences at her Maine lake home shone through. This is a summer favorite for me!
Source: free digital review copy via Edelweiss
This book was a much-needed relief from the seemingly endless cookie cutter new releases, and the author’s lifelong experiences at her Maine lake home shone through. This is a summer favorite for me!
Source: free digital review copy via Edelweiss
August 8, 2025
DNF at 35%. I really tried to finish Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein. The cover is gorgeous, and I’m a sucker for a Maine setting, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. I don’t mind an unlikeable main character, but here, every character felt unlikeable. I usually enjoy a dual POV, yet the perspective switches were so abrupt and frequent it felt like whiplash.
I also think the “Parent Trap for adults” comparison is misleading. Yes, there are two sisters who grew up separately, but that’s where the similarity ends—one of them even knew about the other her entire life. I made multiple attempts to push through, but I could never get invested in the story or its characters
I also think the “Parent Trap for adults” comparison is misleading. Yes, there are two sisters who grew up separately, but that’s where the similarity ends—one of them even knew about the other her entire life. I made multiple attempts to push through, but I could never get invested in the story or its characters
June 9, 2025
1.5 stars- this book was not very good! characters were insufferable and honestly I was rooting for them to NOT be friends bc they were both so annoying. This was 300+ pages of so much happening but also nothing happening and honestly the entire central conflict of this book could’ve been solved in about 2 sentences. hated!
May 25, 2025
4.5/5 stars
This is a review of the audiobook performed by Mara Wilson.
This book is women's fiction with some romance. The story takes place in a small town by a lake in Maine.
Vivian and Lucy are half-sisters who meet for the first time after the sudden death of their father. The book alternates between the two sisters' POVs. Vivian is a sommelier in New York City. Lucy is a teacher in Maine. Vivian grew up very privileged, while Lucy only got to see her dad every July.
Mara Wilson did an incredible job with this audiobook. I had planned to read the eBook. However once I started the audiobook I fell in love with her performance.
The cover of Maine Characters is stunning. This book is a love letter to Maine. I love that the house on the cover is based on a photograph of the author's lake house. The heart of this book is the relationship between the sisters. The book features complex family relationships and lots of secrets. I also really liked that Vivian's mom is a famous romance author.
The sisters both have complicated romantic relationship situations. I also like that even though romance isn't the main focus it's still an important part of the book. I really enjoyed the romantic aspects of the book (each woman sort of had their own love triangle).
Overall this book is charming. It's promoted as having Parent Trap vibes. The setting by the lake is wonderful. The family drama between the sisters is so good. And the title is perfect. I really liked this book so much!
This is a review of the audiobook performed by Mara Wilson.
This book is women's fiction with some romance. The story takes place in a small town by a lake in Maine.
Vivian and Lucy are half-sisters who meet for the first time after the sudden death of their father. The book alternates between the two sisters' POVs. Vivian is a sommelier in New York City. Lucy is a teacher in Maine. Vivian grew up very privileged, while Lucy only got to see her dad every July.
Mara Wilson did an incredible job with this audiobook. I had planned to read the eBook. However once I started the audiobook I fell in love with her performance.
The cover of Maine Characters is stunning. This book is a love letter to Maine. I love that the house on the cover is based on a photograph of the author's lake house. The heart of this book is the relationship between the sisters. The book features complex family relationships and lots of secrets. I also really liked that Vivian's mom is a famous romance author.
The sisters both have complicated romantic relationship situations. I also like that even though romance isn't the main focus it's still an important part of the book. I really enjoyed the romantic aspects of the book (each woman sort of had their own love triangle).
Overall this book is charming. It's promoted as having Parent Trap vibes. The setting by the lake is wonderful. The family drama between the sisters is so good. And the title is perfect. I really liked this book so much!
June 2, 2025
I'm a huge fan of Orenstein's, and this is her best book yet. Fully drawn, engaging, complicated women dealing with an insurmountable secret can often lead to fluff or melodrama, but the nuances and challenges of the issue were handled beautifully. Neither Vivian or Lucy was made into a stock hero or villain, creating sympathetic portrayals of women with differing clashing views- especially when it came to their father.
The last half of this is so strong, especially with the spinning plates of three or four storylines colliding at once, but the plane was landed! I loved this- a perfect summer read with heft.
The last half of this is so strong, especially with the spinning plates of three or four storylines colliding at once, but the plane was landed! I loved this- a perfect summer read with heft.
November 3, 2024
Two sisters with the same dad raised completely apart end up meeting at his lake house in maine after he suddenly passes away. a story filled with drama, secrets but, most importantly sisterhood. such a beautiful story of grief and forgiveness. after years apart lucy and vivian finally get to be the sisters they always wanted.
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this ARC!
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this ARC!
May 30, 2025
3.5⭐️
Maine Characters delivered a compelling premise: two half-sisters meeting for the first time at their late father's lakeside cabin, forced into an uneasy summer of shared grief, resentment, and reluctant bonding. This was pitched as an adult version of The Parent Trap, and while I think the comparison works in some ways, this book definitely didn't have the same fun, light, summery feel that was expected.
Vivian and Lucy were distinct and well-drawn, each with emotional stakes that made their perspectives believable. Vivian's high-pressure NYC life clashed with Lucy’s quieter small-town world in all the expected ways. Their mutual distrust and slow thaw into tentative connection felt authentic, even if the pacing dragged at times.
The descriptions of lake life and the complex emotions tied to memory, inheritance, and forgiveness felt genuine. I think the book was trying to do a bit too much at points, focusing on grief, romance, betrayal, and reconciliation in multiple plot lines and POVs.
Still, this novel had charm, depth, and plenty of heart. For readers who enjoy stories of complicated families, messy emotions, and summer settings rich with nostalgia, Maine Characters was a warm, introspective read worth diving into. Just don't expect an easy breezy beach read.
Maine Characters delivered a compelling premise: two half-sisters meeting for the first time at their late father's lakeside cabin, forced into an uneasy summer of shared grief, resentment, and reluctant bonding. This was pitched as an adult version of The Parent Trap, and while I think the comparison works in some ways, this book definitely didn't have the same fun, light, summery feel that was expected.
Vivian and Lucy were distinct and well-drawn, each with emotional stakes that made their perspectives believable. Vivian's high-pressure NYC life clashed with Lucy’s quieter small-town world in all the expected ways. Their mutual distrust and slow thaw into tentative connection felt authentic, even if the pacing dragged at times.
The descriptions of lake life and the complex emotions tied to memory, inheritance, and forgiveness felt genuine. I think the book was trying to do a bit too much at points, focusing on grief, romance, betrayal, and reconciliation in multiple plot lines and POVs.
Still, this novel had charm, depth, and plenty of heart. For readers who enjoy stories of complicated families, messy emotions, and summer settings rich with nostalgia, Maine Characters was a warm, introspective read worth diving into. Just don't expect an easy breezy beach read.
April 27, 2025
Thank you Dutton Books for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I’ve been a fan of Hannah Orenstein for a while and loved her last release. I couldn’t be happier to see this title pop up. I love the cover and setting so much. It’s a solid, enjoyable summer read for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Annabel Monaghan!
Synopsis:
“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. After thirty years apart, is it too late for them to be a family?For fans of Carley Fortune and Elin Hilderbrand, this sister story set on a lush lake brims with the undeniable heart, depth, charm, and humor that have endeared Hannah Orenstein to legions of readers.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—I love a lake house setting. The moment I saw the cover I added it to my TBR. I really thought Orenstein captured the feeling and nostalgia of a Summer home.
The Visceral Writing—The writing is incredibly descriptive, which allows the reader to feel, taste, and hear the sights and sounds of Maine.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Disconnect to Characters—While the setting and descriptions were extremely descriptive, I didn’t feel a strong connection to the characters. I didn’t feel their relationship blossom and change throughout, though the story told me that happened.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Content Warnings:
Infidelity, grief, death of a parent
I’ve been a fan of Hannah Orenstein for a while and loved her last release. I couldn’t be happier to see this title pop up. I love the cover and setting so much. It’s a solid, enjoyable summer read for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Annabel Monaghan!
Synopsis:
“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. After thirty years apart, is it too late for them to be a family?For fans of Carley Fortune and Elin Hilderbrand, this sister story set on a lush lake brims with the undeniable heart, depth, charm, and humor that have endeared Hannah Orenstein to legions of readers.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Setting—I love a lake house setting. The moment I saw the cover I added it to my TBR. I really thought Orenstein captured the feeling and nostalgia of a Summer home.
The Visceral Writing—The writing is incredibly descriptive, which allows the reader to feel, taste, and hear the sights and sounds of Maine.
What Didn’t Work for Me:
Disconnect to Characters—While the setting and descriptions were extremely descriptive, I didn’t feel a strong connection to the characters. I didn’t feel their relationship blossom and change throughout, though the story told me that happened.
Character Authenticity: 3/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Content Warnings:
Infidelity, grief, death of a parent
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July 10, 2025help!! i’m conflicted i have mixed feeeeeelings that need to be processed so pls hold while i do that before writing my thoughts out
April 13, 2025
3.5 Stars, rounded up!
Dear Hannah,
How in the world is there no epilogue?!
Love, Stephanie
I'm kidding, but not really. These characters made such major changes at the very end of the book and I NEED to know how they turned out. How did they adjust? Are they happy? Thriving? I am left to sit and ponder. *Sigh*
Vivian heads to her Dad's summer house after he passes away to pack up and get it listed for sale, what she finds upon her arrival is shocking. Lucy is at her Dads summer house, waiting for him to show up for their annual month long vacation, when a car she doesn't recognize pulls into the driveway. Two half Sisters, a Dad with secrets and a very old lake house. What could go wrong?
I enjoyed getting to know Vivian and Lucy. They are both at a crossroad, drained and confused about their futures. Their first few weeks together were rough as they judged either hard and frequently but as they got to know one another, a story of friendship and forgiveness unfolds. Maine Characters is full of love, loss, new found strength and sisterhood.
Thank you Dutton Books & NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dear Hannah,
How in the world is there no epilogue?!
Love, Stephanie
I'm kidding, but not really. These characters made such major changes at the very end of the book and I NEED to know how they turned out. How did they adjust? Are they happy? Thriving? I am left to sit and ponder. *Sigh*
Vivian heads to her Dad's summer house after he passes away to pack up and get it listed for sale, what she finds upon her arrival is shocking. Lucy is at her Dads summer house, waiting for him to show up for their annual month long vacation, when a car she doesn't recognize pulls into the driveway. Two half Sisters, a Dad with secrets and a very old lake house. What could go wrong?
I enjoyed getting to know Vivian and Lucy. They are both at a crossroad, drained and confused about their futures. Their first few weeks together were rough as they judged either hard and frequently but as they got to know one another, a story of friendship and forgiveness unfolds. Maine Characters is full of love, loss, new found strength and sisterhood.
Thank you Dutton Books & NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2025
This is exactly the same as The Beach Trap by Ali Brady, is it not?
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