Book Review: Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Hannah Orenstein’s Maine Characters is a heartfelt and deeply emotional novel about family, grief, and the unexpected bonds that form when two strangers realize they share more than just DNA. Described as “The Parent Trap for adults,” this book delivers a compelling mix of tension, self-discovery, and summer nostalgia, all wrapped up in the picturesque setting of a Maine lake house.

A Tale of Two Sisters

Vivian Levy and Lucy Webster couldn’t be more different. Vivian, a sophisticated sommelier from New York City, has always believed she was her father’s only daughter. Lucy, a small-town English teacher in Maine, has known about Vivian for years—and resented her from afar. Their father kept them apart, carefully maintaining two separate lives, until his sudden death forces them together for the first time.

The novel begins with Vivian arriving at the lake house to spread their father’s ashes and finalize its sale, only to find Lucy already there—waiting for a man who will never return. What follows is a summer filled with grief, resentment, and ultimately, revelations about the tangled secrets of their parents’ past.

What Works

• Complex, Well-Developed Characters: Both Vivian and Lucy are flawed yet deeply relatable. Their dynamic is fraught with tension, but their journey toward understanding each other feels authentic and earned.

• A Beautifully Crafted Setting: Orenstein’s descriptions of lake life—the stillness of the water at sunrise, the smell of pine, the warmth of bonfires—create an immersive backdrop that adds to the novel’s emotional depth.

• A Fresh Take on Family Drama: While the estranged sibling trope isn’t new, Maine Characters brings a fresh perspective by exploring not just sisterhood but also identity, inheritance, and the weight of unspoken truths.

What Could Have Been Stronger

• Some Predictability: While the emotional beats are satisfying, certain plot points—like the eventual reconciliation—feel inevitable. A few more unexpected twists could have made the story even more gripping.

• A Slow Start: The first few chapters lean heavily into exposition, and it takes a bit of time before Vivian and Lucy’s interactions truly ignite. But once they do, the story is hard to put down.

Final Thoughts

Maine Characters is a beautifully written novel that captures the complexities of family, the pain of long-held secrets, and the healing power of shared history. If you love books about messy, complicated relationships (with a touch of lakeside charm), this one is well worth the read.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely—especially if you’re in the mood for a summer read with emotional depth and a satisfying (though slightly predictable) resolution.

Have you read Maine Characters? Let’s discuss in the comments!