A review by chwaters
Edgewater by Courtney Sheinmel
3.0
If you didn't know Lorrie Hollander, you'd assume she had it all. Fancy private school, designer wardrobe, expensive horse...all the stereotypical trappings of the extremely wealthy. If you did know Lorrie, you'd know that appearances aren't all they seem. For one, Lorrie's family now consists merely of Lorrie, her sister Susannah and their unstable aunt Gigi and they live in a massive, crumbling mansion a la Grey Gardens. The estate was once grand, something of which to be proud. Now, it's an eye-sore and constant source of embarrassment. Lorrie has learned to deal with her idiosyncratic life, after all, her aunt may not take care of the house, but she always pays the bills. It all changes in the summer before Lorrie's senior year when the exclusive horse camp she's staying the summer at informs her that tuition has not been paid and that they need to send her home. Lorrie is furious at her aunt for allowing the tuition to go unpaid, but quickly realizes that nothing has been paid recently, not even their electric bill. Gigi refuses to tell Lorrie where their money is and changes the subject whenever Lorrie brings it up. Susannah's no help; she's more concerned with her numerous stray animals and deadbeat boyfriend. Determined to make ends meet and to keep up appearances, Lorrie gets a job at her horse's stable. At the same time, the son of the Kennedy-esque family (and kind-of neighbor to the Hollanders), Charlie, is in town and staying at his family's estate. Lorrie has a chance encounter with him that lands her an invite to one of the most elite parties of the year. There, she has a chance both to get to know the dreamy Charlie, as well as witness some strange incidents involving the famous family. Lorrie's summer will be nothing if not memorable.
So, we've got a down-on-their-luck family with decidedly odd and slightly mysterious circumstances, generational family drama of the scandalous variety and the beginnings of a romance - all in the same book. I think my favorite aspect was probably more in the beginning as Sheinmel introduces us to the Hollander estate (fascinating and disgusting at the same time). Lorrie begins as a somewhat annoying character, but ultimately shows some growth throughout the book. I had a lot of trouble suspending my disbelief when it came to a lot of other elements in the book, particularly early explanations of the parental absence and the later revelations that comprise the novel's denouement. That being said, the pacing is swift, so I barely gave myself time to question the plot points that were bothering me. The story is compelling, even if in a smug and voyeuristic way. Hand this one to those who love stories of family secrets, particularly if the family happens to be wealthy and/or famous.
So, we've got a down-on-their-luck family with decidedly odd and slightly mysterious circumstances, generational family drama of the scandalous variety and the beginnings of a romance - all in the same book. I think my favorite aspect was probably more in the beginning as Sheinmel introduces us to the Hollander estate (fascinating and disgusting at the same time). Lorrie begins as a somewhat annoying character, but ultimately shows some growth throughout the book. I had a lot of trouble suspending my disbelief when it came to a lot of other elements in the book, particularly early explanations of the parental absence and the later revelations that comprise the novel's denouement. That being said, the pacing is swift, so I barely gave myself time to question the plot points that were bothering me. The story is compelling, even if in a smug and voyeuristic way. Hand this one to those who love stories of family secrets, particularly if the family happens to be wealthy and/or famous.