Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein had a lot of things I liked; the whole setting by the lake, two half-sisters who don’t know each other, and some juicy family secrets. Vivian and Lucy felt real, and I enjoyed seeing how their relationship slowly shifted from strangers to something more complicated.

That said, the story didn’t quite grab me all the way through. Some parts felt slow, and a few emotional moments didn’t land as deeply as I wanted. I think there was a lot of potential in exploring grief and family tension, but it just didn’t hit me as hard as I hoped it would.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Thank you to Hannah Orenstein, Penguin Group Dutton, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Author: Hannah Orenstein

Genre: Romance/Women’s Fiction

Publication Date: May 13, 2025