The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley: A Spicy Sapphic Sports Romance of Second Chances and Marriage in Jeopardy

Austentatious #2

by Lindz McLeod

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

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Historical, Queer, Historical Fiction, LGBT, 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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

caroline bingley learning her charge in life is to be the mean lesbian (and to love georgiana)

homage to the 1995 P&P lake scene, excellent boiled potatoes, and a love confession wentworth would be proud of!!

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

Bookstagram | Blog

[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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

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. · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 💖👀

[Ashley Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

*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.

[Leila · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Unpopmary · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

I ended up liking this book overall, just not quite as much as I originally thought I would. And in full honesty, I haven’t read any of Jane Austen’s original works (which I know is practically scandalous), mostly because I’m not usually drawn to stories centered on straight couples. So my understanding of her world comes mainly from retellings, which makes it a bit harder for me to judge how faithful these characterizations are. That said, I can definitely see how readers more familiar with Austen might get even more out of this.

What really worked for me here were the characters, especially Caroline. The story follows her decision to change after Mr. Darcy essentially tells her she needs to improve her character if she wants to be taken seriously. So she turns to Georgiana for help in becoming a better person, hoping to present herself as more “marriageable.” But in the process, she starts to change in ways she didn’t expect, including her growing, persistent thoughts about Georgiana, which start to blur the line between friendship and something deeper… something closer to love.

I was especially curious about how Caroline’s transformation would unfold. She initially comes across as quite set in her ways, arrogant, sometimes shallow, and very much embodying the “mean girl” archetype. So I found it hard to imagine her evolving beyond that. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised by how subtle and gradual her growth felt. It never seemed forced or abrupt. Instead, it unfolded naturally, allowing her to become a better version of herself without losing the essence of who she is. She still retains the core traits that define her, which made her development feel authentic rather than like a complete personality shift.

Her emotional growth ended up being my favorite aspect of the book. From the beginning, she struck me as a character with a lot of potential, someone perhaps misunderstood. Maybe I’m reading a bit deeply into it, but I saw her behavior as shaped largely by her upbringing and by following her mother’s example rather than forming her own identity. Watching her slowly unpack those ingrained beliefs and become more aware of how her actions affect others was genuinely compelling. The diary entries especially made that introspection feel more grounded and helped me connect with her on a deeper level.

Georgiana, on the other hand, was a bit more complicated for me. From the beginning, it’s clear the story centers more on Caroline’s journey, but I wasn’t expecting Georgiana’s development to feel somewhat secondary. Still, I liked what the story was trying to do with her, showing that she’s more than just the “perfect lady” archetype, and I did enjoy seeing glimpses of her more authentic self. But I also felt like her development took a bit of a backseat as the romance became more central, which made some of her later choices feel less convincing to me.

As for the romance, I liked the idea of it more than the execution at times. The slow burn worked well at the beginning. Their connection felt natural, and I liked how it grew alongside Caroline’s personal journey. But midway through, it started to feel like the emotional development was being overshadowed by a stronger emphasis on physical intimacy. It gave me the sense that while they were moving forward as a couple, they were also losing some of the emotional momentum they had built.

The angst, in particular, leaned heavily on miscommunication (often from Georgiana) rather than external pressures that could have naturally challenged their relationship. While it makes sense given the historical context that their relationship would carry risks to their reputations and families, I was a bit surprised by how that conflict played out, especially considering Georgiana’s earlier characterization. At times, her reactions felt slightly at odds with the growth we had seen before. However, I can understand the intention behind the conflict, even if it didn’t fully work for me.

I think what held me back the most, though, was the writing style. It leans heavily into a very witty, exaggerated internal monologue, which I can see being appealing, but for me it sometimes felt a bit too performative rather than genuinely funny. The prose is also quite stylized, which made it read as more crafted than natural at times, and that occasionally pulled me out of the story. I also think this contributed to some uneven pacing, as the narrative spends a significant amount of time in Caroline’s inner thoughts. While this adds depth to her character, it sometimes slowed the momentum and made certain sections feel repetitive.

Even so, I had a genuinely good time reading this. It may not have become a new favorite, but I can easily see it shining for the right reader, especially if you love character-driven stories with a strong narrative voice and a soft, slow-burn sapphic historical romance that quietly builds its way into your heart.

Huge thank you to the author for sending this my way.

[The Sapphic Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC ***

I love Pride and Prejudice, so the premise of a sapphic romance between two of the side characters had me immediately interested. For context, this is the second book in a series, but I haven't read the first book. It doesn't seem like you need to have read the first book to read this one, either, as it's a totally separate sapphic love story also about Pride and Prejudice side characters.

Right from the start, Caroline and Georgiana's personalities leap off the page. From their interaction in the library, you know exactly who these women are, how different they are from each other, and understand their dynamic. Georgiana may be 3 years younger, but she's self-possessed and well-loved. She keeps her truest thoughts and feelings to herself in favour of showing herself to be exactly what everyone expects of her. Caroline, on the other hand, is honest to a fault, restless to prove she's worthy of her social status, and can be hypercritical as a result. They bicker and banter, and it's all so very sharp and Austen-esque that it's easy to fit this story into the Pride and Prejudice world.

It's one thing to find Caroline endearing because she's so blunt and unintentionally rude (I do!), but how she responds to the letter from her mother about the trip they didn't invite her on adds so much depth and understanding as to why Caroline can be so emotionally detached and critical. As someone who was also not the favourite child and was raised by parents concerned with outside appearances, I relate hard to her. Throughout the book, we get similar glimpses into what Caroline's family life is like, and she feels so real. Her experiences have affected her and turned her into the person she is. Little things, like the way any wear on furniture is quickly replaced in her own home, speak to why she's simultaneously critical of similar wear in other homes and also longs to have physical evidence of memories. Caroline is straightforward and exactly who she says she is, for better or worse. She's the perfect example of a person I wouldn't get along with in real life (at least at the start), but I absolutely adore in this book.

Throughout their time together, Caroline and Georgiana notice things about each other beyond what most people see (or want to see). And as their bond deepens, they start to realize just how much the other has been paying attention to their likes, dislikes, and the truths they've been hiding to suit the expectations of others. When the flirting actually starts, it's just as scintillating as the rest of their verbal sparring and thrice as satisfying. They're equals in every way, and it's a pleasure to read. Caroline gradually shifts her perspective on the world and on other people, and it's a natural progression of the time she's been spending with Georgiana, having her own beliefs and practices challenged. Her journey is about getting in touch with her emotions and empathy, wanting to be the best version of herself (even if it starts off for three wrong reasons).

On the other hand, Georgiana's journey is about struggling with the weight of societal expectations, of everyone's perception of her as perfect, and learning when it's safe to be her true self with the people she trusts. Contrary to Caroline, who says what she's thinking without hesitation, Georgiana learns to be more open and honest. Caroline learns to be more conscientious and tactful, and Georgiana learns to let go and be herself.

This is one of my favourite romances I've read! The characters are authentic, memorable, and lovable with their distinct personalities and flaws. All of it feels very Jane Austen, down to the main character matchmaking on the side. The romance is well-earned, with clever, snappy dialogue between two equals. The relationship evolves naturally from Caroline and Georgiana balancing each other out. I honestly can't think of any issues I have with it. I'm utterly enchanted. I have to read more from this author!

[Holly_bookbanter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. This is my voluntary and honest opinion.

This is my first book by this author but I am a seasoned reader of lgbtq+ stories (particularly sapphic romance), and historical romance/fiction. I have also read and watched Pride & Prejudice so these characters are familiar to me.

Overall Thoughts:
This book is just perfection. I love these characters and seeing them on page again makes me giddy. They were true to the personalities created by Austen over 200 years ago and I loved the ever insufferable Caroline!

Spice Level:
This is a low spice sapphic romance. There are several scenes of romantic interludes but they are not excessively graphic or vulgar in any way and suit the style of the book well.

Characters:
With a book that utilizes well known and beloved characters it can be hard to assume their personality and translate it to page but McLeod has done an excellent job of maintaining their core traits while integrating the sapphic aspects of the story into them.

Caroline is as ever vain, judgmental, stubborn, and condescending…and I love it! She is such a fun character to poke at and I loved seeing her scoff at the idea of being nice and less honest. She had so much growth and watching her not just learn to be a better person but actively help others was lovely.

Georgianna with her sweet disposition, proper etiquette, and overt kindness was well written as someone who struggles to not do what others ask or expect or her despite her own feelings. Her warmth towards people of all rank and backgrounds showed how she was the perfect choice to tutor dear Caroline.

There were several enjoyable side characters as well, some from the Austen world, and some new.

Romance and Chemistry:
Their chemistry was so good! There was yearning, tension, and passion as their story progresses. With the added obstacle of their love being extremely forbidden, not just in general but for their station, their stolen moments were precious.

Writing Style and Pacing:
This is written in the Austen style but less heavy so it is more accessible to today’s readers. As someone who studied English literature I loved how it mimicked the style while still feeling like a modern story. There were a few spots that felt a tad slow but overall pacing was good with new plot points added at comfortable intervals.

Setting and Vibes:
This is set in early 19th century England with much of it at Pemberly, the Darcy’s residence. The description of the home and surrounding areas as well as events was comprehensive.

Content and Triggers:
Emotional Abuse
Classism
Sexism
Adult/minor relationship
Sapphic sexual content

Final thoughts:
I absolutely adored this book. It combined two of my favorite things: regency era historical romance, and lgbtq+ stories. The characters were so well done and were true to their origins. They both had great growth arcs and the story was an interesting and refreshing concept. I will happily read more of this author’s work!

Ratings:
4.25/5
1.5/5 spice

[Lizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear with me while I start this review on a tangent: in 2008, Lost in Austen aired in the UK. It’s a TV show about a modern-day Jane Austen fan who accidentally swaps places with Elizabeth Bennet. It’s great fun, and one of the reveals in that show, is that Caroline Bingley is secretly a lesbian, who is only looking to marry for status and wealth. Ever since then I have honestly taken this as canon, and it’s basically the only reading of Caroline Bingley that makes sense, if you ask me.

Onwards! I loved The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, which came out last year, and even just the title of this new release was enough to get me hooked, before I realised it’s the same author, and then I got even more excited! This is the sapphic Caroline Bingley story that I’ve been anticipating for nearly 20 years.

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I will admit, I wasn’t convinced when I saw that Caroline’s love interest was Georgiana Darcy. I also wasn’t convinced at the start of the book, when the author’s note explained that Georgiana had been aged up slightly, to bring her closer in age to Caroline. I wasn’t sure at first why this was necessary; why couldn’t the whole book be set a few years later, once Georgiana was older? As I started to read though, it made perfect sense, and helped create the story McLeod wanted to tell.

The book picks up almost immediately after P&P, with Caroline reeling from her perceived rejection by Mr Darcy. She doesn’t understand why she has so far been unable to make a match with anyone, especially Mr Darcy, and turns to Georgiana to help her understand why.

Georgiana, on the other hand, is determined to be seen as something more than an innocent young girl, which is how her brother and those around her perceive her. She wants to be understood for who she really is, which is someone with layers and flaws just like anyone else. While she helps Caroline become a better version of herself, she also comes out of her own shell a bit more. I also felt like maybe both Caroline and Georgiana were coded as neurodivergent? I definitely got that impression, but I may be wrong.

What I really appreciated about both books from the series so far, is the balance of new and familiar characters. Although the leads and, by definition, some of their friends and family are all Austen characters, McLeod expands these characters’ social circles, bringing in new characters who help add a new perspective. I thought the balance was just right, keeping us firmly in Austenland, without feeling too insular.

This is another excellent release from Lindz McLeod, and a must-read for any and every sapphic Jane Austen fan!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

[Stephanie Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

**My thanks to Harlequin Romance for providing me with an advanced review copy via NetGalley**

4.5 stars

This was so much fun. Caroline Bingley is a delightfully snotty presence in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and this book gives her the space to stretch out. It also manages to make me believe in a Pygmalion-esque ‘change myself’ arc, which so often is done clumsily with a character either performing a neat 180 in a few scenes or having been a misunderstood sweetheart all along; instead Caroline must put in the work to start viewing the world around her differently to how she had always been strictly raised to do so, and faces quite a few awkward, even painful, stumbling blocks in doing so.

The romance between Caroline and Georgiana is done quite well; the two women have equally believable and compelling romantic as well as sexual chemistry, and the slow-burn evolution of their relationship is deliciously enjoyable to watch. At times the plot does require Caroline to be rather stupid about realizing her own feelings, but in the romance context this can be somewhat excused by the sexual mores of the time and her lack of any real vocabulary to express same-sex attraction. However, she is also sometimes similarly slow in non-romantic contexts to realize what she says versus what she thinks, and how others are likely to perceive her barbed ‘observations.’ Caroline has some wonderfully cruel zingers, which remind me a great deal of Jane Austen’s own ungenerous observations of social life in her private letters; a part of me wishes that McLeod had leaned into Caroline being aware that her ‘honest opinions’ are carefully phrased to be cutting and unkind, rather than seeming not to realize that how she phrases her criticisms is a major part of the problem, especially since in Jane Austen’s case the careful construction of the cutting remarks is such a skillful example of her craft.

Mr. Darcy I think also suffers a little in his characterization, perhaps because he gets so little screentime and primarily functions as a potential obstacle for Caroline and Georgiana’s relationship; he comes off much more sketched-in than the other characters.

Some secondary characters of the author’s own invention provide good autism representation and more varied social and financial classes than is usual in contemporary Regency romance, and they’re a highlight of the novel. However, the characters Caroline encounters and befriends are almost uniformly liberal-minded and open to same-sex relationships regardless of their own inclinations, as well as surprisingly well-informed and -spoken on the subject, which felt a little too convenient but did keep the mood up.

I would highly recommend this title to anyone looking for a good, well-paced Regency-era sapphic romance, and to fans of Pride and Prejudice who wish the wonderfully sassy Caroline Bingley could have had more time on the page.

[Erin Hawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley was a lot of fun! Caroline and Georgiana are a very amusing couple who balance and challenge each other well.

Miss Caroline Bingley is our protagonist, point of view, and foil to the lovely Miss Georgiana Darcy. Maybe I only made this connection because I am currently rewatching Schitt's Creek, but Caroline was such a Moira Rose to me in the best way. Caroline is enormously self-assured, obsessed with herself, and prone to impressively erudite vocabulary to express her feelings. (Never have I read the words peroration or dubiety, and yet Caroline artfully wielded them as if regular fare.) I really enjoyed Caroline's personal growth arc and that she is so herself to the end, just a little more self-aware and kinder. Georgiana was not as well characterized as Caroline, but she wasn't the main character and I still felt plenty endeared to her. McLeod did a good job making Georgiana her brother's sister while distinctly her own. The relationship between Caroline and Georgiana is a nice blend of yearning, companionship, and attraction. I appreciated that they developed a friendship first, and Caroline's queer self-discovery was handled well and quite lovely. I also enjoyed the supporting characters and all of the love matches going on around the main couple.

The first half of the book is really snappy and engrossing, but the second half loses steam a bit. I always worry while reading queer historical romance how and if the couple is going to have their happy ending, and McLeod drew this tension out a little longer than was necessary or entertaining. I also did not love the importance placed on virginity and maidenhead (a very heteronormative construct to place on a queer couple), but I will allow that this is perhaps to reflect the attitudes of the time. There is also a recurring metaphor of predator and prey which I think was a somewhat clumsy way to depict Caroline being ruthless in what she wanted in life, especially when it comes to her romantic happiness.

There is some period-typical homophobia but it is very limited. I gave the first in the series, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, four stars, and I think I like this one more than the first. I do hope there are more books in this series and will most definitely read the next (and anything more from Lindz McLeod)! If you like your historical romance protagonists a little snobby, very audacious, and willing to eat a little humble pie, I think you'll enjoy this book. There are also delightful nods to Pride and Prejudice movies to entertain every Austen fan.

Thank you, Harlequin - Romance | Carina Adores, for the arc!

[Emmaline Savidge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Lindz first book following the romance between Mary and Charlotte much stronger than this one. Don't get me wrong there's still some great stuff here that will make for a cute read. I really enjoyed Caroline as a protagonist, she kinda sucks in the best way. She's unafraid to speak her mind even when it's unkind and she's adept at social manipulation. Watching her progression to being more self aware and kind was very compelling. The romance between Caroline and Darcy was also very sweet and fun to read.

My issues with the book really became obvious when the conflict keeping our couple apart started. It felt strange that Georgiana was the one more fixated on reputation and the necessity of Caroline marrying a man. The whole set up that makes them grow closer is Caroline asking Georgie to make her kinder so she can get a good husband. We keep seeing letters from Mrs. Bingley which explicitly pressure Caroline to find a suitor. The Bingleys do not have the same money or status as the Darceys, meaning that Caroline either needs to marry or rely on the charity of her brother. It just felt like Caroline should be the one fixated on the societal barriers to their relationship. I also feel like there was a real missed opportunity with not having Mrs. Bingley play a larger role in the conflict. She could have been staying at the manor with the girls, getting in the way of their relationship and hunting for suitors. Then she would act as an avatar of the unaccepting society that the girls are trapped within. My issue with the lack of role for Mrs. Bingley plays into one of my major gripes, which is how empty this world feels. Where are the reoccurring side characters at? The majority of this book is just Caroline and Georgie sitting in an empty house with two named servants. It leads to story that feels repetitive and lacking in a B plot. There's the whole thing with Caroline playing matchmaker, but that barely feels like a D plot. I think that could and should have been a bigger facet of the story. The romance between two normal people could have spurred Caroline to chose love over the money and the status that marriage could give her.

Overall, this book is cute enough but just didn't nail it. It's still a fun read and I'd recommend giving it a shot especially if you liked the first book in the series.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

The miseducation of Caroline Bingley, is a spin off tale linked to the classic Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice. Here we follow the opinionated, vain and snobbish Caroline Bingley after her failed attempt to catch Mr Darcy, we are back at Pemberley as a guest of the Darcy’s. Caroline is needing closure as to
Why Mr Darcy didn’t choose her, if you have read the novel
Mr Darcy does not mince words and Caroline takes the feedback obviously quite poorly. She decides she needs the help of Georgiana to help her be a better person as if not how will she ever meet a suitable husband!

For the purposes of this novel Georgiana is aged up to 20 (rather than being 16) and Caroline is 23, Georgiana as her friend agrees to help her and her great pursuit of betterment, hard work and a pursed lipped Georgiana follows until Caroline starts to question is the person she desires much closer than she thought. Plus a lake scene will always help!

This is a fun, engaging romance honestly having Caroline question her sexuality, love and desire is quite spot on. The background to flesh out her family is also a good update. She’s not portrayed as a villain in the original material but love is not a concept of regency times. There are also many a nod to the 1995 TV adaptation (the best version in my opinion!). The gentle realisation of her attraction and her boldness is actually refreshing. She is no Elizabeth Bennett and I loved this, Georgiana is a typical Darcy, brooding but gentler than her brother but again good to see her fleshed out into her own person with wants and passions.

It is spicy but not explicit, there is yearning and want throughout plus links back to duty and what is appropriate for the time period. Reading this I would have liked a Georgiana POV to understand her personal struggle and longing, also with the Wickham scandal was when she was 15 I am unsure if she was this age in this book and honestly I could have done without the maidenhood description and Georgiana had quite a knowledge of bedroom activities, I wonder had this come from Wickham or possibly other like minded women she knew unfortunately this was not explored.

Really enjoyed this, now must read the other novel in this series. I would add this is a standalone and knowing a bit about pride and prejudice may help to understand the back story but can be read on its own merit. I received a copy via NetGalley and harpercollins so I thank them for giving me an advance read!

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not long after his marriage to Elizabeth Bennet, Caroline Bingley asks Mr. Darcy what made her unsuitable for marriage to him. His bluntness stuns her - frankly, they are too similar - and Caroline spirals. She turns to Georgiana Darcy, with whom she is staying, for advice on how to be "more like Elizabeth" so that she can someday find a husband. Rather than dismiss her outright, Georgiana suggests that Caroline start to reflect on how her behavior affects others. Caroline is shocked to discover the depths of her unkindness and how little she paid attention to those around her. This leads to observing Georgiana more closely, which in turn leads her to wonder why the formerly faceless suitors she imagined all look a little more like Georgiana in her imagination.

Like the first in the series, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet, The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley is a lovely introspective character examination of a perhaps less-beloved person from Pride & Prejudice. Caroline Bingley does not exactly make a good name for herself, and in this book Lindz McLeod reflects on why that might be. Caroline's mother is a social climber, and has instilled Caroline to look only at people and opinions that can aid her in social climbing herself. Georgiana's suggestions help break that instinct in Caroline in a way that feels natural. Most importantly, Caroline doesn't fully alter her personality, but shifts as she falls in love.

The narrative perspective works especially well for a queer awakening. In third person limited, we are privy to all of Caroline's inner thoughts but in a way that feels inviting rather than invasive (as I think first person would in this case): we are sharing and observing her shared reflection. It's gentle and cautious, even as Caroline starts to throw her own inhibitions to the wind and stands up to those who have shaped her in a way that makes her feel less than. For intimate scenes, the perspective feels comfortable to the historical romance reader.

Clare Corbett narrates the audiobook, and similarly to my notes on perspective, the narration adds a softness to our unlikeable heroine. This doesn't make her less unlikable, but does perhaps make her sympathetic.

Thank you to Carina Adores for an eARC and Harper Audio for an ALC. The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley is out 5/5/2026.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second sapphic JAFF I've read so far this year, and I am pleased to learn from the Acknowledgements that this Caroline was inspired by the 1995 miniseries. Note that Georgiana has been aged up to 19 in this novel, to be more age appropriate for a romance with Caroline.

In this novel, Caroline is bored and feeling rejected, as Mr. Darcy just married her rival the week before. She's been staying at Pemberley because she's avoiding her awful mother. When Caroline makes the mistake of asking Darcy why he didn't pick her, he explains that she's judgemental and too much like him, and she's going to have a hard time with her personality if she expects a man to fall on love with her. Or something to that effect. Offended, she demands that Georgiana, her friend and his sister who is so like him, teach her how to be likeable. To become more nice like Georgiana herself. All so she can find the right guy, of course. But as they spend more time together, learning how to not say every mean thought that comes into her head, Caroline starts to think more and more about her friend's lovely form. But can they be together if all these kindness lessons are meant to help Caroline attract a husband?

I will say that I am disappointed that Caroline never finished reading Udolpho. That might be a minor spoiler but come on, girl, read your crush's favorite book. I also feel like the kindness lessons stopped and Caroline just became nice because she was spending more time with Georgiana. But that's not what we're actually here for, so fine.

This was a nice read, and I enjoyed the romance! Caroline turns from cruel and cynical to brave, kinder, and in love. I'm not sure how much Georgiana grew (this is a single POV from Caroline's perspective, which was nice after all the dual POV I've seemed to read recently), but I guess she did find a love that was willing to choose her no matter what. And I think she did say that she learned to speak a little more of her own mind.

A fun read! I forgot that this was in the same series as the Mary/Charlotte romance, which I think Darcy briefly referenced in this one. They apparently wear bodiced petticoats in this book, rather than shifts with stays, but we did have a lot of Caroline dreaming of Georgiana in the petticoat, which made me laugh.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin/Carina Adores for the ARC.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This book had me squealing like I was 14 again, reading wattpad books instead of going to sleep at a decent time for school the next morning🥰

This is a feel-good, adorable, simple love story between Caroline Bingley and Georgiana Darcy, Mr. Darcy's sister. To me, it had just the right focus on their romance and them getting together, with a tinge of the realities of being queer in a time when it was much more dangerous. I appreciated that more of the focus was on the romance and celebrated their love story.

It follows a classic theme of falling for the mentor, where Caroline asks Georgie to help her better herself so she can find a husband, and then ends up falling in love with Georgie. The tension and their push-and-pull was well executed and left you dying for them to get together.

The sex scenes were really well done too; I enjoyed the focus on intimacy and how it wasn't overdone. There was just enough sexual intimacy to remind you how passionate they were, without it essentially becoming erotica once they got together.

I would like to note the two things that really stuck out to me in this book. One, Caroline's slow understanding of her sexuality was written very realistically, especially when she looked back on her past experiences with girls and saw them in a new light. It felt extremely relatable and absolutely mirrored the experience of queerness which was lovely to see. Two, I loved that there were other queer people around them who sussed them out very quickly. Again, it's extremely relatable since queer people tend to gravitate towards each other, usually before you can really comprehend why you were drawn to them. I loved specificially that the author stated this quite plainly in the book too, which again, is a very realistic queer experience.

In a world where Heated Rivalry is praised as the epitome of queer media by mostly straight white women, and the upcoming season of Bridgerton receives severe backlash for focusing on a lesbian storyline; books like this are refreshing and required. I really hope people can start showing the same sort of love that gay mens stories get towards other queer stories and experiences.

[KelseyreadsHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 I loved the first book and was excited to read this one. It was a slow burn and found myself getting inpatient but overall held up to my expectations. With the declarations were as romantically swoon worthy as you’d expect.

Caroline and Georgiana are friends but the closeness of their friendship is fairly new. So when Caroline enlists Georgiana’s help with the Great Endeavor their friendship turns prickly at times. I loved the tension this added.

It’s somewhat epistolary with an epigraph of most chapters of letters between Georgiana and Caroline’s family or journaled reflections by Caroline. Other than this, the story is told from Caroline’s point of view. It was frustrating at times not knowing where the cause of Georgiana’s wariness came from but it all made sense in the end.

For Caroline, it’s a queer awakening that begins after seeing Georgiana emerge from the lake in her shift and petticoats. With a lot of reflection and discernment of dreams followed. Along with rationalizing that’s just what good friends did or felt.

I also enjoyed Caroline’s internal growth. Starting with Mr. Darcy’s list of her shortcomings of stubbornness, selfishness, and unable to love to Georgina showing her how to balance kindness with honesty.

Even though we didn’t get Georgina’s perspective you could sense her growth too. From playing the role expected of her to doing what she wanted. And Caroline seeing this and encouraging Georgina to reach for it.

I loved the humor throughout, it was witty and found myself chuckling out loud several times.

The passion in the buildup and their intimacy could really be felt. The scenes are shorter and not explicit but were still steamy.

Overall, I loved this and hope there are more wlw historical romances to come from this author.

As noted in my review for the first book, I have not read Pride and Prejudice and it did not limit my enjoyment or understanding of this story.

The Miseducation of Caroline Bingsley is the second book in the Austentatious series.

There are four open door encounters. They’re not explicit and I felt their passion for one another.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[AllBookedUp · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a queer awakening, feminist retelling of "Pride and Prejudice" that gives readers an entirely new perspective on Caroline Bingley. After being rejected by Darcy, Caroline asks him, “Why Elizabeth and not me?” In his own socially awkward way, Darcy blurts out the truth: she is arrogant and unkind.

Deeply hurt by his words, Caroline turns to Darcy’s sister, Georgiana, and asks her to teach her how to become as sweet and kindhearted as she is.

As the story follows Caroline through Regency society, she slowly begins having revelations about herself. She notices her growing fascination with Georgiana, including moments where she becomes unexpectedly aware of Georgiana’s beauty. Caroline also comes to realize that she was never truly in love with Darcy to begin with.

One of the major turning points comes when Georgiana brings Caroline to visit one of her less fortunate friends. Caroline struggles to say anything kind about Eleanor’s modest home and is visibly horrified that Eleanor personally serves her guests, including people Caroline considers beneath her social standing. Georgiana is deeply disappointed by Caroline’s lack of grace and frustrated that Caroline seems unable to absorb the lessons she has been trying to teach her. In anger, she gives Caroline a journal and tells her to begin writing things down as a form of self reflection.

From there, we slowly see Caroline genuinely trying to change. Later, when she goes to Georgiana’s room to show her the journal entries she has written, filled with thoughtful and kinder observations instead of her usual sharp commentaries, Caroline becomes increasingly aware of feelings she does not yet fully understand regarding Georgiana.

I will add this little observation: if we thought Mrs. Bennet was foolish and noisy, with marriage being her sole purpose in life, Caroline’s mother, Mrs. Bingley, makes Elizabeth’s mother seem mild in comparison. Mrs. Bingley is vicious, entirely consumed by social status, and relentlessly driven by classism and appearances.

This is a thoughtful, character driven journey of self discovery that adds depth, heart, and a refreshing new lens to a beloved classic. I really enjoyed this "Pride and Prejudice" meets "My Fair Lady" inspired story.

[m · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I had originally requested an eARC for this book I hadn't realized that this was coming from the same author of another Jane Austen Universe sapphic recanonization I had read last year that centered Mary and Charlotte--I had simply thought maybe something was in the zeitgeist and I was happy to read another sapphic Pride and Prejudice story. Alas, I started reading and immediately recognized the voice and humor and knew I was in for a treat.

Admittedly, I am not as familiar with Pride and Prejudice as most considering that almost all of my exposure to the material is through retellings so I cannot comment on how faithful characterizations are or how accurate the setting is, but I can say that I loved so much about this story. Author Lindz McLeod does a masterful job of straddling the line of making Caroline soooo annoying and yet soooo endearing (she is my favorite character from the Pride and Prejudice universe I've decided).

How else am I to react when a woman embarks on a ridiculous venture to "re-actualize" herself (but not really) in order to make a love match just to prove a point that she is capable of love at all (that'll teach Fitzwilliam Darcy). She enlists the help of kind, understanding Georgiana, who despite her class and wealth, is incredibly grounded and humble. Georgiana is the best person Caroline knows and thus an obvious choice. With great difficulty, Georgiana helps Caroline learn what it means to be a better person, and along the way the two discover what it means to fall in love.

The first half is written with so much humor I was almost taken off guard by the amount of angst the second half had in store (although I shouldn't have been surprised--any queer period piece should have a healthy amount of angst, and I personally do love angst so it wasn't unwelcome). I enjoyed every bit along the way, although I do wish it was a slower burn (personal preference) and that perhaps it would have been nice to get more glimpses into Georgiana's inner workings throughout. Still, I hope Lindz McLeod has plans for more Austen novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 Title: The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley-Austentatious #2

✍🏾 Author: Lindz McLeod-I read The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet & gave it 5⭐

📅 Publication date: 5-5-26 | Read: 5-5-26

📃 Format: e-Book 352 pgs.

Genre:
*Historical Romance

Tropes:
*Jane Austen re-imaging of Pride and Prejudice
*sapphic romance
*forbidden romance
*opposites attract
*slow burn

👆🏾POV:3rd person dual

⚠️TW: homophobia, classism, ton gossip, death of parents, virgin h

🌎 Setting: England

Summary: After marrying Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy gives Caroline a hard truth about their incompatibility and "why not her." She decides to change her spoiled and elitist ways to become a more agreeable person with better marital prospects. Georgiana becomes her etiquette teacher and corrects her every time she insults or gossips about someone unnecessarily. The more time they spend together, the more they fall for each other even though their love is still taboo.

👩🏾 Heroine: Caroline Bingley-23, arrogant, gossips about people negatively
👩🏾 Heroine: Georgiana Darcy-20, well-liked pianist, quiet book lover

🎭 Other Characters

*Fitzwilliam Darcy-Georgiana's older brother, just married to Elizabeth Bennet
*Charles Bingley-Caroline's brother, married to Jane Bennet
*Louisa-Caroline's older married sister
*Lady Catherine-the evil aunt who tried to keep Darcy and Elizabeth apart
*George Wickham-a soldier Georgiana fell in love w/ @ 15 and she wanted to elope, but Darcy paid him off


🤔 My Thoughts: I loved Caroline's self-reflection journey with Georgiana as her sounding board/conscious. Georgiana matched her judgmental quips and called her out when she was just being a mean girl. The conversation about drinking sherry, Caroline's mother catching her pleasuring herself, and the constant playback of Georgiana coming out the lake were so innocently hilarious.

Rating: 5/5 ✨
Spice level: 2/5 🌶️

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin-Romance| Carina Adores, and Lindz McLeod for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

[phoenix *ੈ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✧ Genre: Lesbian Romance • Historical Fiction
✧ Tropes: Friends to Lovers • Forbidden Romance
✧ Rating: 3.5/5 ★
✧ Spice: 2.5/5 🌶️

✧ Summary:
After being rejected by Mr. Darcy and told that her arrogance and unkindness are the reasons he could never love her, Caroline Bingley decides she needs to change. She asks Georgiana Darcy to help her become kinder, more charming, and worthy of affection—but while spending time together, Caroline slowly realizes she may not want a husband after all. Instead, she finds herself unexpectedly falling for Georgiana.

✧ Thoughts:
I enjoyed this book overall, but it definitely took me a while to fully get into it. I had trouble with the first half. The beginning felt a little slow for me, and I wasn’t immediately attached to either the romance or Caroline’s personal journey. I started enjoying it a lot more in the second half, especially the last 20% were amazing!

I think my favorite part was Caroline herself, although it took me a while to grow fond of her. I’m not a huge Pride & Prejudice fan and I don’t remember anymore what I thought of her while reading it, but I liked her in this retelling. I just wish the emotional development had felt deeper, especially earlier in the story.

The romance was cute, but although I’m a fan of queer historical romances, it didn’t completely sweep me away. I liked the concept of Caroline asking Georgiana to teach her how to be lovable, and there were some really lovely moments between them, but it didn’t 100% click for me. Still, I enjoyed where their relationship was going and the ending was perfect, and I especially enjoyed the conversation between Caroline and Georgiana’s brother.

✧ Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Minna Perälä · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Caroline Bingley is generally difficult character to like, I was really intrigued how she could be turned into a likable main character and romance heroine. In Pride and Prejudice, she's catty and arrogant, and thinks everyone, especially those with less money or lower status, are inferior people.

Lindz McLeod's Miss Caroline Bingley gets to experience a steep learning curve into kindness after losing The Perfect Man to another woman. I have to admit that I loved being inside her head. The reader has the front row seat when she tries to keep snarky comments inside, slowly learns to understand why people cannot be judged by looks or posession, and experiences gay panic and literal wet dreams. (I loved that the author had taken the iconic "Darcy with wet undershirt" scene and rewritten it sapphic.)

I liked that, although Caroline Bingley becames kinder and more attentive, she doesn't become a completely different/new person in the novel. She knows what she wants and deserves (or thinks she deserves). She struggles to keep her growing feelings and desires inside as long as possible. But once she accepts herself and her affections, nothing stops her from getting what she desires.

If The Miseducation of Caroline Bingley was a modern romance, Caroline could be seen as mildly predatory and the story would be off-putting for me. But the novel is not dark in any sense of the word. I think she's just written as a mix of masculine and feminine historical romance protagonist. If her character was a man, he'd be described as passionate and determined. Caroline Bingley has certain amount of butch energy in her in Pride and Prejudice, too, so I think it's a very fitting how Lindz McLeod has written this version of Caroline Bingley.

In the beginning of the book, the reader gets glimpses into Georgiana's thoughts through letters. I wish it would have continued throughout the book. If letters to Mr. Darcy or other relatives was out of the question - because of the nature of her thoughts, she could have written journal entries. I wish we saw her point of view, too. We get to see some of Georgiana's vulnerability and a bit about how her past with affects her decisions but there would have been more to unwrap and show on page.

The lack of second POV was pretty much the only reason for me to rate the book with 4 stars instead of 5.

ARC of the novel received through NetGalley.

PS. In the future, if there'll be more sapphic Austentatious novels, I'd love to read a book about Margaret Dashwood (5-10 years after Sense and Sensibility).

[SullenSapphic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spice Level: 2/5 Open-Door

After being told by Mr. Darcy that she is “arrogant” and “unkind,” Ms. Caroline Bingley takes that sting and hurt and does only what she knows to do, get Ms. Georgiana Darcy to teach her the ways of etiquette. Despite her wanting elite social status, Caroline wants to be cared for and craves affection.

Ms. Georgiana Darcy must break through that harsh exterior of Ms. Bingley if she wants her to learn etiquette. However, while teaching Caroline the finer techniques of etiquette, she finds herself having a hard time containing her true feelings for her friend. Will Ms. Bingley learn the etiquette she most desperately wants? Will Ms. Darcy get her girl?

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and the Author in return for my honest review. I honestly had no expectations coming into this audiobook because this book is based on characters from Pride & Prejudice, a book I have never read. Fear not, this is not a book you need to have prior knowledge of the original work to understand what is happening or to know the characters.

I really liked the dynamics between Caroline and Georgiana. They are friends but have their differences but I wouldn’t categorize them as frenemies. Caroline is very much the spoiled brat who is like a “Veruca Salt” type and Georgiana gives it right back to her. Of course, back in the times that this book takes place, being queer is very taboo and not well looked upon. So, this does play a factor in how things play out for Ms. Bingley and Ms. Darcy. Not giving any spoilers so if you want to know what happens, you’ll have to read.

Clare Corbett is the narrator for this audiobook. Loved her narrating. Lots of emotion in her voice and she really made Caroline and Georgiana come to life and made you feel their struggles and yearning.

🐎 Historical Romance
🐎 Sapphic Romance
🐎 Homophobia
🐎 Forbidden Love
🐎 Slow Burn
🐎 Opposites Attract
🐎 Sapphic Awakening
🐎 “Falling for the teacher”

[ech0reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me an ARC.

I am absolutely obsessed with these queer Pride and Prejudice stories. I loved seeing Caroline Bingley turn from someone I actively disliked in the original text to someone I could empathise with and admire how much she's grown as a person. Understandably, her upbringing left her with some trauma and misunderstandings about her role in society, and what's 'appropriate' and the way she should act and it takes time for her to unlearn her biases and judgemental attitude. It was so lovely seeing her friendship with Georgiana develop, at first being shallow and then they both got to be their authentic selves, opening up to each other more, and becoming romantically involved.

I really liked the nuance demonstrated around queer relationships in the regency period. It makes sense that richer, higher status people who were concerned with how they looked and how others perceived them would shun anything 'unconventional', being worried about judgement from other elites. But the lower status, poorer people didn't have to worry about status or perceived judgement from others, so they were more open to 'unconventional' ways of living. Not all of them, Bingly, Darcy, and Elizabeth are all incredibly supportive, which is expected from their characters.

Darcy is, understandably, incredibly protective of his sister considering what happened with Wickham, but he's also delightfully open-minded and immediately accepting of their relationship once he understands that Caroline truly cares for his sister.

This was such a tender read. I really loved how both Georgiana and Caroline changed and grew as the book progressed. Most of the people around them were so overwhelmingly loving and supportive and it was heartwarming.