Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein on May 13, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Family Life / Siblings, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Women
Pages: 400
Format: Audiobook
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
Drawn in by its charming cover, I picked up Maine Characters expecting a light summer read — and while the lake setting was exactly what I needed, the story turned out to be much deeper and more emotional than I anticipated. Hannah Orenstein has crafted a heartfelt, complex novel about family, grief, and the bond between sisters who never knew each other — but desperately needed one another.
Vivian and Lucy, half-sisters raised in completely different worlds, meet for the first time at their father’s lakeside cabin in Maine, brought together by his sudden death. Only one of them knew the other existed. The premise sets up a tense and emotional reunion — and while their first interactions are filled with suspicion and friction, the story slowly blooms into something more touching and introspective.
What really worked for me was how both women, while trying to learn about each other, also came to better understand themselves. Deciding to stay at the cabin together for the summer allows them to explore not just the physical space their father left behind, but also the emotional legacy of a man who lived a double life. Uncovering the truth about Hank’s past is painful and messy, and watching both characters process that in different ways added to the emotional weight of the story.
The relationship between Vivian and Lucy isn’t easy, and that’s what makes it feel real. They start off clashing, not just because of their differences but because of everything they’ve been denied — a shared history, answers, even the truth about their father. Yet as the summer unfolds, the resentment softens into understanding, and eventually, something like love. Their evolution felt earned and deeply satisfying.
There were moments I rolled my eyes at Vivian, especially when she was tangled in her messy relationship drama, but even those moments added to the realism. Both women are flawed, and it’s those imperfections that made them feel human and relatable.
This book is layered with emotion but never heavy-handed. It’s a tribute to sisterhood, the complicated grief of losing someone you never fully knew, and the way a quiet summer by the lake can change everything. It left me wanting to call up my own sister and head to the lake.
If you’re looking for a book that’s heartfelt, reflective, and grounded in rich character development, Maine Characters is well worth the read.