Educating Caroline by Meg Cabot - 2.5/5

I’m still unsure how I feel about this book. As a romance, it’s well written, Cabot balances romance and sensuality with a plot that actually develops characters, which is rare in the genre. The first half hooked me with its strong pacing and immersive Victorian setting, especially through characters like Caroline and her suffragette friend, Emmy. Caroline herself is pleasant and relatable, though not particularly striking.

My main issue was the love interest, Braden. He’s aggressive and controlling at times, and the blurred consent in their encounters made it hard for me to enjoy. While Cabot frames this as passion, in execution it didn’t work for me. That said, I understand it reflects the early 2000s mindset of romance fiction, where flawed men were often normalised.

Despite these flaws, the book has strengths: it’s an easy, engaging read with believable characters, immersive world-building, and a storyline that feels grounded rather than purely trope-driven. If you can overlook some problematic elements, it’s enjoyable, especially in the first half.