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librarydoc's review against another edition
4.0
**This is the blog entry I wrote for the PSLA top 40 site. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**
Edgewater. A beautiful coastal town for the rich and the famous. Mansions. Pristine beaches. Small town feel with all of the upgrades. Lorrie has lived here all of her life. She goes to the prestigious Hillyer Academy during the school year, and an expensive equestrian camp in the summers. But Lorrie Hollander is different from her wealthy, entitled neighbors. Her mother left her 12 years ago in the “care” of her mentally unstable Aunt Gigi. Although Gigi makes some effort to keep up pretenses by doling out Lorrie’s trust fund, their once beautiful estate has become a pitiful shell of its former self. Lorrie begins to realize that not is all as it seems. Bills begin to go unpaid. The house is in even worse shape than usual. The last straw is a letter from her school saying that her spot at Hillyer has been given to another student since her tuition has not been paid. Lorrie learns that her mother has a secret past that connects her to one of the wealthiest and most important families on the island. How does Lorrie fit into the tangle of lies and deceit? How can she take care of her and her sister by herself?
I wasn’t sure about this book at the start. It read like a typical teen-angst novel. It took me a few chapters to really get into the groove of this book. But I soon began to respect and eventually love Lorrie. Her grit and determination to take care of her sister made me cheer for her all the way to the end. I was also emotional when Lorrie had to make tough choices and sell items that were very dear to her in order to pay her bills. I wanted things to end well for her (although I won’t tell you whether or not they did). Teens will connect with this book on many levels. I always have students looking for horse-themed books, and this one has enough to hook them and keep them reading. The celebrity angle will also hook teens, as well as the romance theme. Once I connected with these characters, I really liked this book, and recommend it highly.
Edgewater. A beautiful coastal town for the rich and the famous. Mansions. Pristine beaches. Small town feel with all of the upgrades. Lorrie has lived here all of her life. She goes to the prestigious Hillyer Academy during the school year, and an expensive equestrian camp in the summers. But Lorrie Hollander is different from her wealthy, entitled neighbors. Her mother left her 12 years ago in the “care” of her mentally unstable Aunt Gigi. Although Gigi makes some effort to keep up pretenses by doling out Lorrie’s trust fund, their once beautiful estate has become a pitiful shell of its former self. Lorrie begins to realize that not is all as it seems. Bills begin to go unpaid. The house is in even worse shape than usual. The last straw is a letter from her school saying that her spot at Hillyer has been given to another student since her tuition has not been paid. Lorrie learns that her mother has a secret past that connects her to one of the wealthiest and most important families on the island. How does Lorrie fit into the tangle of lies and deceit? How can she take care of her and her sister by herself?
I wasn’t sure about this book at the start. It read like a typical teen-angst novel. It took me a few chapters to really get into the groove of this book. But I soon began to respect and eventually love Lorrie. Her grit and determination to take care of her sister made me cheer for her all the way to the end. I was also emotional when Lorrie had to make tough choices and sell items that were very dear to her in order to pay her bills. I wanted things to end well for her (although I won’t tell you whether or not they did). Teens will connect with this book on many levels. I always have students looking for horse-themed books, and this one has enough to hook them and keep them reading. The celebrity angle will also hook teens, as well as the romance theme. Once I connected with these characters, I really liked this book, and recommend it highly.
janewhitehurst's review against another edition
3.0
This book was billed to me as a mix between Gray Gardens and Gossip Girl, and with those kind of expectations, it's no surprise it fell flat. Edgewater follows Lorrie who, along with her sister, is being raised by her rich, and wacky aunt. When their money seems to run out, Lorrie returns home to their ramshackle (and full of wild animals) mansion and tries to fix the family. She also meets a rich politician's son and falls in love along the way. While this all sounds interesting, I just never connected with any of the characters or felt the story was fully-formed.
wandereaderr's review against another edition
5.0
So so so good. Especially when things start getting really good, you know what I mean!?
msseviereads's review against another edition
3.0
The Littlest Princess meets Grey Gardens. Fast read and will appeal to young adult readers.
clowry1991's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely story that just shows that money cannot buy happiness nor does it make you more important.
izzybooks_2000's review against another edition
1.0
Actual rating: DNF
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I ended up setting it aside after 100 pages or so because I was bored. I had to keep flipping back a few pages because I couldn't even remember what had happened the last time I'd put it down. I did like Courtney's writing style, though, so I wouldn't be opposed to checking out another book by her. And it is her first YA book, so maybe if she writes another one it'll be better. The story just wasn't interesting enough for me.
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me. I ended up setting it aside after 100 pages or so because I was bored. I had to keep flipping back a few pages because I couldn't even remember what had happened the last time I'd put it down. I did like Courtney's writing style, though, so I wouldn't be opposed to checking out another book by her. And it is her first YA book, so maybe if she writes another one it'll be better. The story just wasn't interesting enough for me.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
In some ways this is a mash-up of Prep and any Sarah Dessen: modern romance plus some class issues. Lorrie isn't quite a fish-out-of-water but is heading that way, and her desire to keep things from her friends is understandable. For me, more about the house would have been great because I got not only the Hoarder part but a sense of Miss Havisham's house mixed with Misslethwaite Manor. Oh well.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
ameliagm's review
2.0
Well... it started out interesting. A unique plot. At first it was charming and witty and sweet but by the end it was ridiculous. It’s a big pet peeve of mine when an author rushes the story to fit a lot of action in at once. I find it’s much more interesting to draw out a story. Towards the end it seemed like the author was just shoving in drama for no reason. It wasn’t consistent at all nor was it realistic in the slightest. Also not a great portrayal of mental illness, to be honest. I finished it simply to feel resolved but not really because I felt compelled to out of want. It was a strange blend of political scandal and teenage drama. Not an excellent blend.
bethanymiller415's review against another edition
Student Review By: Claudia W. (11th Grade)
Grade Range: 8th grade and up
Genre: Realistic, Mystery
Literary Merit: Very Good
Characterization: Excellent
Review: Edgewater is an excellent novel written by Courtney Sheinmel that revolves around Lorrie, a girl who’s world has been turned upside down. At the surface everything seems great, but with a mentally unstable Aunt in control of the their finances it was only a matter of time until things went terribly wrong. After many untimely events Lorrie was forced to begin providing for herself as unimaginable events unfolded.
Sheinmel does an excellent job of describing each character as well as helping establish a connection between the character and the reader throughout the novel. In addition to this Sheinmel also does a great job of keeping the reader on their toes. While reading you may think you know what's going to happen next, but then the unexpected will happen. Overall it is a great book about family, friendships, and secrets.
Recommendation: I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a mystery and doesn't mind romance. Also, someone who appreciates extensive description of not only characters, but setting and events as well.
Grade Range: 8th grade and up
Genre: Realistic, Mystery
Literary Merit: Very Good
Characterization: Excellent
Review: Edgewater is an excellent novel written by Courtney Sheinmel that revolves around Lorrie, a girl who’s world has been turned upside down. At the surface everything seems great, but with a mentally unstable Aunt in control of the their finances it was only a matter of time until things went terribly wrong. After many untimely events Lorrie was forced to begin providing for herself as unimaginable events unfolded.
Sheinmel does an excellent job of describing each character as well as helping establish a connection between the character and the reader throughout the novel. In addition to this Sheinmel also does a great job of keeping the reader on their toes. While reading you may think you know what's going to happen next, but then the unexpected will happen. Overall it is a great book about family, friendships, and secrets.
Recommendation: I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a mystery and doesn't mind romance. Also, someone who appreciates extensive description of not only characters, but setting and events as well.