The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley: A Sapphic Regency Romance inspired by Austen

Austentatious #2

by Lindz McLeod

The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Lesbian, Queer, LGBT, Historical, Historical Romance

382 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Lindz McLeod is a queer, working-class, Scottish writer and editor who dabbles in the surreal. Her short prose has been published by Apex, Catapult, Pseudopod, DIVA, Nightmare, Best of British SF, and many more.
Her longer work includes the award-winning short story collection TURDUCKEN (Spaceboy, 2023), as well as novels THE UNLIKELY PURSUIT OF MARY BENNET (Harlequin, 2025) and THE MISEDUCATION OF CAROLINE BINGLEY (Harlequin, 2026), the collaborative anthology AN HONOUR AND A PRIVILEGE (Stanchion, 2025), and more, including the forthcoming WE, THE DROWNING (Android Press, 2026). Her work has been taught in schools and universities, displayed in a museum, turned into avant-garde opera, and optioned for TV.
She is a full member of the SFWA, the former club president of the Edinburgh Writers' Club, and is in her third year of a PhD in Creative Writing. She lives in Edinburgh with her talented wife and their two extremely photogenic cats, Dane and Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Reviews

[Robin]

Caroline Bingley learning her charge in life is to be the mean lesbian and to love Georgiana is everything Jane Austen wished for her (it’s true).

Falling in love with a Darcy is no rare thing, but for Caroline Bingley it may as well be. All it takes is one conversation with Fitzwilliam to send her spiraling to Georgiana Darcy where she enlists the spirited sibling to help her mend her ways. A great transformation to undertake, Caroline and Georgiana’s real endeavour is just beginning— choosing each other over and over again. Lindz McLeod’s The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley continues her Austentatious series, posing an essential question: what if every woman in Pride and Prejudice was queer and yearning their way to a happily ever after. This time a misunderstood icon, Caroline Bingley, and the character most deserving of being a heroine in a romance novel, Georgiana Darcy. Lindz McLeod has previously proven what a firm hold she had on Austen’s world and her characters. The romances she brings to life are an extension of a story far from over, something only a person writing in Austen’s echo could accomplish with such veracity. The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley is a treat for lovers of Jane Austen and complex women far and wide. Paying homage to the Pride and Prejudice (1995) lake scene, excellent boiled potatoes, and a love confession Wentworth would be proud of. This novel is romantic in all things, the stolen glances and sapphic longing, and the fight it takes to build an authentic life with the one you love. Georgiana finding someone who would stay, and Caroline a person who would appreciate her is a long awaited ending for two of Austen’s finest. Just as these characters find a home together, being seen and loved for who they are, there is belonging to be found in every single page.

“and f*ck that guy” - darcy and caroline about wickham

Bookstagram | Blog

[Abbie Konnick]

3.5 🌟

[K.J. Charles]

A sapphic historical based on Pride and Prejudice, starring Georgiana Darcy and Caroline Bingley. I come to this from having only the haziest recollection of either character, though I will note that the author has aged up Georgiana several years to make the ages OK for a modern reader.

This is a fun read told from Caroline's viewpoint: she starts off as highly snobbish and judgemental, decided she needs to learn to appear kind and pleasant, and ends up actually working on herself and becoming a better person. I do love a good redemption story and I particularly liked that actually a lot of her flaws are shown as good qualities once they're balanced and tempered (and that Georgiana isn't shown as being always right just because Caroline is frequently wrong). There's an enjoyable slow burn romance that heats up in a very satisfactory way, and I liked how they end up.

I didn't quite feel on board with the progress to the end when Caroline insists on coming out to her appalling vindictive mother, which just seemed a horrifically bad idea on any level. Or with Darcy 'testing' her to see if she was good enough for Georgiana, which...IDK, it left me thinking I'd never want to speak to the dickhead again. YMMV on both those things.

A bouncy, energetic feel-good take that's infinitely less mean-spirited than the source text and offers happiness to far more people. If you liked the terrific Mr Collins in Love you'll like this, and vice versa.

[lexie]

i loved every single second of this. lindz mcleod is THE sapphic historical romance writer for me and her latest two have been absolute bangers. the way we get both mc’s full characterization in which we understand why they NEED to be together yet we know exactly what is pulling them apart- until it doesn’t 😌

caroline is a complete mess. i don’t remember her well from the original pride & prejudice but she was a menace in this book and seeing her not lose that brutal honesty but be able to reform it into something more warm and kind??? THANK YOU. women can be multifaceted and for the social norms of the time, she is allowed to stand out and i’m so glad she didn’t lose it (as well as the emphasis multiple times throughout the story georgiana affirms that she loved caroline BEFORE her major character development!)

georgiana!!!!! my repressed, thorny girl. caroline is exactly who she needed to push her outside of her shell and convince her that she can choose herself!! the will-we-or-won’t-we slow burn of it all was painful but by the time they get together it was insane (and steamy as well 🔥)

i need her next book immediately and i recommend for anyone looking for a f/f historical romance with characters who jump off the page and a gorgeous love story!

thank you to netgalley and harlequin for the arc!!

[Sam’s Sapphic Reads]

3.5⭐️ Rounded Up

What a beautiful love story! I enjoyed following the progression of the two MC’s Caroline and Georgiana’s relationship. My heart strings got pulled a few times, with the intensity of feelings that hit me.

The characters were easily likable which tends to make a book MUCH easier to read. It’s always interesting reading a historical romance because the way they live and speak is SO different, you really get transported in time.

Around the middle of the book I did start to get bored. It felt as though we were stuck in place for a bit with no movement and I had a hard time pushing through it. Once I finally got back into it it was worth the read!

It was pretty predictable throughout, and unfortunately nothing stuck out to me to make this book different than the rest, but was still an overall good read.

I can also appreciate a book with incredible side characters. Such a plus!

Thank you NetGalley and Linz McLeod for the ARC!

[currentlyreadingbynat]

The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley was another enjoyable sapphic Austen retelling, although I didn't think it was quite as strong as The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet. Going in, I wasn't convinced that Caroline Bingley was a character I'd enjoy spending an entire book with, but I ended up liking her far more than I expected. She still has all the sharp edges and social ambition of Austen's original character, but watching her gradually become more self-aware made for a satisfying character arc.

I wasn't quite as invested in the romance, though. Caroline and Georgiana had some lovely moments together, but I never completely bought into their relationship in the same way I did with Mary and Charlotte. The middle of the book also felt a little repetitive at times, and I found myself wishing there were more side characters and subplots to keep the story moving.

That said, I really enjoyed the final third of the book, and by the end I was glad I'd stuck with it. Lindz McLeod continues to put a fresh spin on Austen's characters while staying true to the spirit of the original novels. While this one didn't quite capture the magic of the first book for me, it's still a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys Jane Austen retellings and sapphic historical romance.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin - Romance | Carina Adores for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

[zara]

4.5/5 stars

this is like if darcybeth are sapphics but we're reading from mr darcy's pov, and it's even more delicious because. well. sapphics.

[Liz]

I have to say this, because I’m not sure where else to, this was weirdly patriarchal. Hymens can break outside of sex, nor should they be the height of a romance. I feel especially strongly about this because this is a sapphic romance. Having such emphasis on breaking a hymen feels weirdly patriarchal and heterosexual, as if one of the characters were just genderswapped to make this gay to fulfil a genre need than the author really wanting to write about sapphics. I feel especially strongly about this, again, because I am a lesbian and do not want to read about how significant and important a hymen is.

Maybe that’s just a raging feminist lesbian take but the sex scenes and emphasis on Caroline “hunting” and “trapping” Georgianna made me especially uncomfortable. This didn’t feel romantic, not was I really rooting for any of the characters. It’s not as if Caroline and Georgiana are the actual characters from the original novel, either. I was flabbergasted from Georgiana’s strength and was deeply uncomfortable with Caroline’s characterization here.

Maybe the author’s novels aren’t for me, because I also had characterization problems with her first novel. I won’t be requesting the rest of the author’s novels in the future, which is a shame, because I really want to read any sapphic adaptations of Jane Austen’s works I can get my hands on. I’ll recommend her novels on the tail ends of others, as an aside, but there are stronger sapphic adaptations out there, and I just can’t in good faith wrap my arms around this book for my patrons.

[Rebecca]

This is a great sapphic adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I love the character of Caroline Bingley so much (not that I would love her in real life, of course) and have read so many adaptations featuring her. I absolutely adored this one. I like the idea of Caroline trying to improve herself to find a good husband, since that would definitely not be out of the realm of possibility.

Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for their next sapphic read, especially those who love Jane Austen's books.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

[PlotTrysts]

Last year's Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet was one of my top books of 2026, so I was highly anticipating this follow up. I was not disappointed! ⁠
⁠
You can't quite call these Austen variations or Austen sequels, although they are basically canon compliant. Instead, I like to think of them as Austen spinoffs in the way secondary sitcom characters sometimes go on to lead their own shows. Unlike (most of) those spinoffs, these are charming, fun, and really successful on their own.⁠
⁠
As for Miseducation, You might read that title and think, "Caroline Bingley? Really??" Yes, really. The book opens with Caroline staying with the Darcys and wondering why she, paragon among women, didn't cut it with Fitzwilliam. She is, in fact, so convinced of her superiority that she finally asks him why? Upon which everyone's favorite grump absolutely reads her for filth (he says she's cold, arrogant, and probably lacks the ability to love, which ... tracks for a man who had no problem telling the actual love of his life that her family is the absolute wooooorst). ⁠
⁠
Caroline then throws herself upon the mercy of Georgiana Darcy, the perfect gentlewoman, to get "nice girl" lessons. But as it turns out, Caroline never lacked the ability to love; she just wasn't trying to court the right Darcy sibling. ⁠
⁠
This is a redemption story for an Austen villain we love to hate. But when you look at Caroline closely, how villainous was she, really? She was just a Regency mean girl at heart. In Miseducation we live entirely in her head as she learns to be an agreeable companion, a charming conversationalist, and ultimately a romance heroine. (She never does learn to like reading novels, though.)⁠
⁠
This reads best if you're a P&P lover, although since it's a spinoff rather than a retelling it's not a requirement. It's absolutely a charming sapphic romance as well as an homage to Austen.⁠

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

[Angie]

I did not have any sapphic romances with Georgianna Darcy as a main character on my BINGO card this year, but I've now read two? Wild!

I liked Lindz McLeod's first book in this series, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, well enough, and I can't pass up a sapphic Jane Austen retelling. But I can't say I was excited to read about Caroline Bingley. And Caroline Bingley with Georgianna Darcy? Um... Let's just say my expectations were low. And after a strong start, the book was uneven. I kept getting bored--tired of the way the relationship between the two was playing out. But I'm glad I persisted because it did get better. And even though I don't necessarily agree with the McLeod's interpretation of Georgianna (her history, her motivations, her callousness(?)), McLeod's narrative makes it make sense.

As much as I liked this, I didn't fully buy into the romance. I'm happy how it ended, of course, but something was missing for me. Maybe it was too removed from other Pride and Prejudice characters? Maybe because Miss Bingley is a hard character to reinvent? I don't know. But I did like it in the end, especially the last few chapters.

[r.j.]

Thank you to Harlequin & Carina Adores for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, and unfortunately this one kind of let me down. All the different elements were good, and the premise was very promising, but at the halfway point things just… disconnect. The change that Caroline undergoes seems to happen overnight, with no shades of a changing worldview between one scene and the next. She’s selfish and egotistical and then suddenly… she isn’t. Similarly, she goes from not even understanding that being queer is something that’s even possible to telling someone else that there’s plenty of people like them. In one scene, she talks like someone educated in modern queer theory. Again, despite days earlier not even knowing it was possible.

I really liked the friendship between Caroline and Georgie and the budding romance; I really liked both the first and second halves of the book. The problem was that they didn’t feel as if they fit together. When viewed individually, each would be five stars, and when viewed as a whole… I could only give it three, because it felt like two novellas stitched together.

[Trio]

That was a load of fun! Fans of FF romance and Pride and Prejudice will enjoy Lindz McLeod's The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley.

I always enjoy tales about secondary characters and McLeod does a good job with this one. Beyond the story of Caroline and Georgiana's romance, the exploration of how Caroline has been raised to be such a mean, petty, judgemental, elitist witch with a "B" is so well done! Damn, how anyone could ever be this stuck up is amazing.

The audio version of The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley is nicely performed by Clare Corbett.

an audiobook copy of The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley was provided by Harlequin Audio, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own

[Sophie]

This was fun to read, and I enjoyed Caroline’s character development, but overall I found the resolution of the problems their relationship might have caused for them a bit too simple and modern. You may have to suspend quite a bit of disbelief, but it is a sweet romance.

[Emma]

I absolutely adored Lindz's first Austen retelling, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, as an Austen & nineteenth century literature scholar (and nerd), especially as I'm such a fan of Mary Bennet, and I wasn't sure if anything was going to top the first book for me. Austen sequels can often feel cringy, or just repetitive with a focus on Darcy and Lizzie's happy ever after. These sapphic P&P sequels are a breath of fresh air, delightfully queer and just a joy to read (with some proper swoony romance!!)

I do absolutely adore Georgiana's character in P&P and wish she featured more in adaptations etc, so I was very excited to see that her and Caroline Bingley were the stars of this one! Caroline isn't a favourite of mine, but I really warmed to her whilst I was reading as she underwent her personal growth.

Though this didn't top book one for me, it certainly came a very close second and I really enjoyed reading about the Caroline and Georgiana. I like that Georgiana's past with Wickham wasn't completely ignored or written out (bisexual Georgiana? Yes please!!), although I'm very anti Wickham (likely because of how he features in my PhD!) Still, I liked this alternative take.

The cameos from Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley were especially fun to me (Charles' letter especially). On my recent visit to Chawton during a research fellowship, I got to see a photo of Darcy and Bingley's 1995 adaptation actors larking around in their costumes so I had that image of the two in my head whilst I was reading.

What must be the most special part of this book, however, is Edward the horse. Lindz asked for name suggestions on a bluesky post and I suggested Edward, my late granddad who was my best friend and my biggest academic supporter. The most reliable man I've ever met, calm and strong. I will admit a shed a little tear seeing Edward the horse come to life in this book 🥹 this turned to a full on cheesy smile at the end of the book, seeing what such kind words Lindz had for my and (my) Edward.

Thank you to Lindz and netgalley for an e book ARC, I was overjoyed to get my hands on an early copy (sorry I couldn't wait for UK release 🤣) I'd love to see Mary Crawford or Eleanor Tilney get the same gorgeous treatment 💖👀

[Kyra Howearth]

This re-imagining of Caroline Bingley was absolutely delightful! A delicious side plot to Pride & Prejudice, it was almost as though Austen had written this novel herself.

[BookishKB]

💐 The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

📅 Pub Date: May 5, 2026

[Joey L]

Nothing puts you into a reading slump quite like a deeply disappointing anticipated read... I would DNF this book so hard if it weren't for my love for the first book. I want to like it so bad but this is not doing it for me at all. It's unromantic, insta lust, and quite boring/repetitive.

The author spent the first half of the book trying to convince the reader that caroline bingley is a worthy love interest (but also it's clear that she didn't want to deviate too much from the canon so caroline has to be mean and irritating as well. which makes it all the more jarring), and the second half of the book trying to convince gorgiana that caroline is worthy lover. So many pages spent on that thus resulting in not enough time on what actually matters for a romance: the gradual falling in love, the romantic scenes, the careful resolving of both characters' personal issues etc.
The romantic pacing suffered heavily for this reason. Nothing reads as puzzle pieces fall into places, but rather like boxes being checked off the list. We don't have time for subtlety, so the first time caroline saw gorgiana semi-naked, she immediately lusted for her and that must be love, despite the fact that we never knew her even like women, or saw gorgiana the little sister of her friend as a sexual figure. And somehow gorgiana secretly likes her as well despite the fact that she clearly didn't like caroline's personality or even her as a person. We don't even have time to unpack traumas so we'll just had caroline told the readers yeah my mom's mean and controlling to me so I behave in that way.

Also like why do we have to have so many sex scenes. Like obviously I don't oppose to sapphic books being spicy but having caroline being such a horn dog that wants to get into gorgiana's pants every five seconds is not going to help convince anyone that she's a trustworthy lover unlike wickham... And the "hunt" for gorgiana is really inappropriate especially if you consider gorgiana's backstory. She's also kinda love bombing her ngl. I feel like it would be better if it were vice versa like gorgiana pursuing caroline. In that way gorgiana would have more agency and caroline would feel wanted and loved by her showing her love. idk
I'll admit that there're some romantic scenes in the book I find pretty cute, like I suddenly remembered why I loved the first one so much. So the author clearly got it. Such a shame this book can't be filled with those moments.

Historical romance has been nothing but flop for me this year what's going on I'm begginggggggg...!

[Ashley Ruth]

*Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin - Romance for providing a digital copy to review*

I just love any kind of Pride & Prejudice adaptation, especially one with a sapphic twist.

The story is told from the perspective of one Caroline Bingley. In the original story, she’s portrayed as an antagonist, but you can’t help but love her in this book. Yes, she’s a bit self-centred, shares her thoughts unfiltered, and has a very high opinion of herself, but all these things just make her an enjoyable character.

Her character arc is amazing and is driven by her relationship with Georgiana Darcy, who is aged up for this story. I loved watching their relationship go from friendship to something more, and I greatly enjoyed their banter. Georgie isn’t afraid to challenge Caroline, and I just love the two of them.

I also enjoyed all the side characters and how their relationship with Caroline also changes as she starts to be more considerate of those around her and unlearns the lessons her mother taught her.

It’s just a sweet and cosy romance that reminds you how special Jane Austen’s characters are.

[Sonia]

I read this for a bookclub, and I would give it a solid 3.5 stars. The author mimics Austen’s style well, if with significantly less sharpness (admittedly, it is hard to truly capture the acidity of Austen, and most adaptations lean harder on the romantic elements than she ever did). Both Caroline Bingley and Georgiana Darcy are developed into full fledged characters with flaws and appealing qualities — even Caroline, who starts the story pretty much insufferable. Also yay, sapphic Regency romance! The problem is that the stakes never feel very high, despite the fact that they would have been, and the “education” premise felt contrived even by romance trope standards. Still, I will check out the other book in this series, because the author is both skilled and witty, and the world needs more good sapphic historicals.

[Em]

I LOVED this book! It took a bit to get into but Caroline completely won me over with her redemption arc. This was a beautiful sapphic love story with so much care and thought put into preserving the characters we know and love of the original story while giving them a chance to grow into a completely reasonable but different version of themselves. It was amazing seeing an aged-up Georgiana really find confidence in herself and learn to demand what she desires. Caroline’s character progression was so natural and cleverly designed to fit right into the developing bond shared between her and Georgiana. The last few chapters near had me in tears, they delivered everything I wanted to see and proved their love. These two will forever be canon to me now.

[Abigail]

Thank you Harlequin Audio for the gifted audiobook.

Jane Austen but make it sapphic! Georgiana Darcy and Caroline Bingley fall in love while trying to find Caroline a husband and omg I couldn't get enough of this book.

The yearning was top notch, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. There's something so sensual about Regency-era yearning, the secretive brief touches or glances that really elevate the pining and even more so in this book between two women. I also loved the parallels to Orpheus & Eurydice's story.

The characters were wonderful. Not just Georgiana and Caroline, but I loved the way Lindz McLeod wrote the men too. Charles Bingley and Mr. Darcy were two of my favorite side characters, who you mostly meet through letters to their sisters. I adored their love and care for their sisters.

I can't wait to read more of Lindz McLeod's queer Regency books!

The audiobook was delightful. The narrator did fantastic character voices that made me giggle and were perfectly suited to the Regency era.

[Anna Kļaviņa]

DNF @ 51%

I feel entirely justified in judging the book by its cover. The cover is hideous, and the book is only slightly better. There’s no wit, no comedy of manners... I don’t even want to be the too harsh as it isn’t the worst fanfic / retelling I’ve read. But I was deeply unimpressed from the start. Imagine Miss Darcy sitting there reading while ignoring a bored guest (Miss Bingley). That would be rude in 2026, never mind in the period it’s meant to be set. I should have stopped reading at that point.

[Leila]

Stars: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Format: 📖 ARC

This was a charming regency romance with a queer love story at its heart! From frankly disliking Caroline Bingley in P&P (Books and 1995 adaptation) it was wonderful to fall in love with her here - though she doesn’t make it easy. Georgina is delightful as expected but it was great to get to know more about her and see her less people-pleasing side.

This was a fun and easy read where we get to see Caroline challenge herself to be better so she can find a husband and along the way she sure finds something else. Her jounrey is not smooth but her growth is believeables and I love her writing to herself. Noticing the good in the world is always worthwhile.

The side characters are well thought out and added to the story plus it was special to get a peak of old favourites from P&P!

I now need to read the other books in the Austentatious series.

Thank you to the author, to the publisher, Harlequin - Romance - Carina Adores, and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Rachel Harp]

Needed dual pov but did like better than book 1!

[Amy]

5⭐️ Need recommendations for another book like this!

I had this on audible and couldn’t stop listening, an amazing storyline with two great FMC’s. Loved how it was written.

[Ally Bonhaus]

adorable and missing many of the tropes that make me upset/roll my eyes & no outright homophobia let’s go!!!!

[vicky]

un poco me dormí en vivo pero al mismo tiempo necesito veinte libros más de mujeres de jane austen enamorándose entre sí (sugiero una novela de emma y harriet😌)

[Paula]

It read kind of flat. I didn't fall in love with the love story and the plot wasn't really there. I liked Caroline, but the story spans like 3-4 weeks? So her character arc makes very little sense.

[Annine]

Haven't read pride and prejudice so I'm just reading this series as its own thing