What do you think?
Rate this book
The Miseducation of Henry Cane
From the hit series Younger—a stunning coming-of-age novel about one young man's eye-opening sexual awakening at the hands of an intriguing older woman.
Henry Cane knows exactly what he’s going to do with the rest of his life.
That’s the problem.
Born into the rarefied world of Manhattan wealth and privilege, after graduating from Princeton, Henry is about to start his perfectly planned out life. He's always known he will move back to Manhattan and be groomed to take over his father’s publishing business. He's destined to date a string of appropriate girls until he dates the most appropriate girl and asks her to marry him.
It’s all so awfully tedious.
But Henry's been given eight weeks to do something else, to be an entirely different person. When his parents leave him alone in their Sag Harbor estate for the summer, Henry embarks on a double life as Joe, a blue collar fisherman on the other side of the bay. Once ensconced in his fake identity, he finds himself entangled in an affair with an alluring, older European woman—who happens to be married. As he becomes more and more infatuated with her, their affair threatens to unravel his tightly wound story, and could jeopardize his entire future.
This is the story of a boy becoming a man, shaped by the hands of women who truly control the narrative.
Henry Cane knows exactly what he’s going to do with the rest of his life.
That’s the problem.
Born into the rarefied world of Manhattan wealth and privilege, after graduating from Princeton, Henry is about to start his perfectly planned out life. He's always known he will move back to Manhattan and be groomed to take over his father’s publishing business. He's destined to date a string of appropriate girls until he dates the most appropriate girl and asks her to marry him.
It’s all so awfully tedious.
But Henry's been given eight weeks to do something else, to be an entirely different person. When his parents leave him alone in their Sag Harbor estate for the summer, Henry embarks on a double life as Joe, a blue collar fisherman on the other side of the bay. Once ensconced in his fake identity, he finds himself entangled in an affair with an alluring, older European woman—who happens to be married. As he becomes more and more infatuated with her, their affair threatens to unravel his tightly wound story, and could jeopardize his entire future.
This is the story of a boy becoming a man, shaped by the hands of women who truly control the narrative.
Audible Audio
First published August 6, 2019
52 people are currently reading
1124 people want to read
About the author
Charles Brooks
1 book8 followersCharles Brooks is an editor and publisher. He lives in New York City with his two daughters. The Miseducation of Henry Cane is his first novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
August 12, 2019
A fan of Younger, I was excited to grab another fun, quick read before the summer ends. I loved Henry as much as I love Charles. This one was better than Marriage Vacation.
March 25, 2020
No point in beating around the bush... did I just write that? I don't know who Younger is or anything about a TV show.. I didn't see this in the book...
Brooks jumps into the novel with both feet by chapter 3, we are deep into the Mrs. I like that some rich kids are still so naive and reliant upon tradition and outlines that they believe their life is laid out in front of them by the virtue of their birth. I guess that is the difference between the economic classes, I never went to dinner anywhere that a tuxedo was required so my life was left more to my direction.
I liked Brook's writing, it is so descriptive in such an unusual way, "the intricate Origami of armpit hair" ... So much of this book is just s0 funny you will find yourself laughing out loud. The pace and timing of humor, I would think is more difficult in the written word, but Brook's pulls it off well.
The book has some more explicit scenes, but I don't think the sexual awakening was the center of the story. I am not sure what this was actually about, except it was light, fun and something to forget when the cover closes.
Happy Reading!
3 stars
Brooks jumps into the novel with both feet by chapter 3, we are deep into the Mrs. I like that some rich kids are still so naive and reliant upon tradition and outlines that they believe their life is laid out in front of them by the virtue of their birth. I guess that is the difference between the economic classes, I never went to dinner anywhere that a tuxedo was required so my life was left more to my direction.
I liked Brook's writing, it is so descriptive in such an unusual way, "the intricate Origami of armpit hair" ... So much of this book is just s0 funny you will find yourself laughing out loud. The pace and timing of humor, I would think is more difficult in the written word, but Brook's pulls it off well.
The book has some more explicit scenes, but I don't think the sexual awakening was the center of the story. I am not sure what this was actually about, except it was light, fun and something to forget when the cover closes.
Happy Reading!
3 stars
September 4, 2019
LOVE that the Younger series is pursuing the book aspect. At first this seemed to be a typical fun summer read. It had a quick draw in there. However moving along further in the story each character showed such depth. Can't wait to see what they publish next!
August 13, 2019
This is a great summer read. It’s not a very thick book, and in a way i wish i was longer because for me the writing was good enough to invest in the characters. The synopsis when you read it sounds like The Graduate. A young college kid is wealthy has an affair with a woman, also rich, who is twice his age and he doesn’t know what hit him.
She is from Italy, she is enigmatic, mysterious and totally in charge. (She’s not the one i liked.) But Henry Cane has different ambitions than just being rich and being around his Junior League-y mom so he gets a job on a fishing boat and adopts a blue collar job and calls himself Joe. My favorite character i think was Sperry who is Henry/Joe’s hard-drinking, fun loving friend he’s known since he was a kid.
The book kind of reminds me of Jonathan Tropper, one of my favorite writers who wrote The Book of Joe, and the one made into a movie starring Adam Driver and Jane Fonda called “This is Where I Leave You.”
Henry/Joe is a good guy going down a bad path. I rooted for him all the way.
She is from Italy, she is enigmatic, mysterious and totally in charge. (She’s not the one i liked.) But Henry Cane has different ambitions than just being rich and being around his Junior League-y mom so he gets a job on a fishing boat and adopts a blue collar job and calls himself Joe. My favorite character i think was Sperry who is Henry/Joe’s hard-drinking, fun loving friend he’s known since he was a kid.
The book kind of reminds me of Jonathan Tropper, one of my favorite writers who wrote The Book of Joe, and the one made into a movie starring Adam Driver and Jane Fonda called “This is Where I Leave You.”
Henry/Joe is a good guy going down a bad path. I rooted for him all the way.
August 30, 2019
Every now and then, I am in the mood for a quick, lighthearted read. This one hit the spot when it came to that! I think going into this book, you have to take it for what it is. A fun, breezy, and summery read. The characters and story were fairly simple, but very likable.
This story follows Henry Cane, who is your typical, affluent Ivy-League graduate and spends his summers with friends in the Hamptons. His path has already been drawn out for him in terms of his career at a huge publishing house. Over the summer, he meets two very different women, Kit and Bette, who challenge him to see the world through a different lens.
Although the story was predictable at times, I thought it had a really sweet touch to it! If you are looking for a quick, feel-good story, this one's for you!
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for providing me a copy of this book!
This story follows Henry Cane, who is your typical, affluent Ivy-League graduate and spends his summers with friends in the Hamptons. His path has already been drawn out for him in terms of his career at a huge publishing house. Over the summer, he meets two very different women, Kit and Bette, who challenge him to see the world through a different lens.
Although the story was predictable at times, I thought it had a really sweet touch to it! If you are looking for a quick, feel-good story, this one's for you!
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for providing me a copy of this book!
August 4, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, much more than Marriage Vacation. It was a light, easy read and I like how younger Charles (Henry/Joe) discovered more about himself throughout the novel. His character's voice was kind as he grew confidence and found his place in the world.
I will say though that I didn't appreciate his older lover calling him 'boy'. If the genders were reversed it wouldn't have flown, nor would his intoxication level before/ during their first sexual encounter. So much so, I nearly put the book down a few times. But after this section of the book, I really enjoyed it. And I adore Charles (Henry/Joe) even more now.
I will say though that I didn't appreciate his older lover calling him 'boy'. If the genders were reversed it wouldn't have flown, nor would his intoxication level before/ during their first sexual encounter. So much so, I nearly put the book down a few times. But after this section of the book, I really enjoyed it. And I adore Charles (Henry/Joe) even more now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2023
I read a book!
This is somehow related to a TV series called "Younger," about which I know nothing. How it relates to the TV show I have no idea.
A young man of privilege decides to pretend to be working class for the summer. What fun! Eight whole weeks with a job — imagine that!
I was fully prepared to hate the book based on this plot point, but it grew on me. The job was not all-consuming, and the rich boy also had time to do rich boy things (otherwise the novel would have been so dull, right?).
It was at times sharply observed, such as describing a white tent as being something "a father would rent for his second daughter's first wedding."
There were a number of typos and ridiculous elements (note: they are called Canada geese, not Canadian geese), and this book might be categorized as a "beach read." It has elements of a fantasy/romance novel, with the redeeming feature of many literary references.
Would I have liked this more if I was a fan of "Younger"? There is no way to know.
It was fluffy, but also gritty. Pretending to be someone else is especially hard when you don't know who you really are yourself. Rounded down to 3 stars, because honestly — working for a living is no joke.
This is somehow related to a TV series called "Younger," about which I know nothing. How it relates to the TV show I have no idea.
A young man of privilege decides to pretend to be working class for the summer. What fun! Eight whole weeks with a job — imagine that!
I was fully prepared to hate the book based on this plot point, but it grew on me. The job was not all-consuming, and the rich boy also had time to do rich boy things (otherwise the novel would have been so dull, right?).
It was at times sharply observed, such as describing a white tent as being something "a father would rent for his second daughter's first wedding."
There were a number of typos and ridiculous elements (note: they are called Canada geese, not Canadian geese), and this book might be categorized as a "beach read." It has elements of a fantasy/romance novel, with the redeeming feature of many literary references.
Would I have liked this more if I was a fan of "Younger"? There is no way to know.
It was fluffy, but also gritty. Pretending to be someone else is especially hard when you don't know who you really are yourself. Rounded down to 3 stars, because honestly — working for a living is no joke.
December 9, 2019
If you watch the show Younger, you have to read this book. I love that their fictional characters write actual books that are published. Such a grand idea.
This story takes place in a summer, a young man nervous to grow up and looking for freedom.
His stories are full of well developed characters, and emotions that you can feel right through the page.
It's a story that reminds me of when I was young and a bit reckless.
Great page turner.
This story takes place in a summer, a young man nervous to grow up and looking for freedom.
His stories are full of well developed characters, and emotions that you can feel right through the page.
It's a story that reminds me of when I was young and a bit reckless.
Great page turner.
July 15, 2021
Kept my expectations very low since Marriage Vacation was horrible (ended up DNFing). Will say this is better than Marriage Vacation but by a slight margin. Very average but short story. Gave another dimension to Charles Brooks. If it's between watching the show or reading the book. Screw the book and watch the show. One of my favorites! Let's not talk about the final season though...
July 14, 2020
While I was a little leery of reading about a young white man living an elite life, this book surprised me, and ended up being good escapist fiction. Henry Cane charmed me as did the way his story unfolded.
July 23, 2021
The Miseducation of Henry Cane by Charles Brooks (3 stars) is a coming-of-age novel about a young man trying to escape his wealthy life who becomes entangled in an affair with a beautiful, older woman.
Henry Cane graduated from Princeton and grew up in the high society of Manhattan's finest. Once he returns to the city in the fall, he will begin the grooming process to takeover his father's business, Empire Press Publishing House. Though for this summer, Henry's parents have left him alone at their Sag Harbor estate. Henry Cane knows exactly where his future is heading, so for the summer he decides to rebel and become someone else. Henry begins living a double life as Joe, a blue collar fisherman on the other side of the bay. Joe meets an alluring, older woman and they begin a passionate affair.
As a fan of Younger, I was so excited to dig into The Miseducation of Henry Cane as the book is written in the TV show by one of the main characters, Charles Brooks. I feel like on the show they hyped this book to be the next The Great Gatsby or The Catcher in the Rye. It most certainly is not. The Miseducation of Henry Cane is actually ghost-written by Jo Piazza and it's breezy, beach read. One thing that annoyed me with the writing is that Henry/Joe switched back and forth between referring to his mother as Deidre or mother, sometimes even in back-to-back sentences, which was distracting and confusing. Just call her your mom you pretentious jerk!
Anyways, if I wasn't a fan of the show Younger, I probably would have enjoyed this even less as it's a pretty fluffy and predictable read. Henry Cane reminds me a lot of Nate Archibald from the Gossip Girl cast, one of my other guilty pleasures. I liked Henry's friend Sperry, a fun- loving, hard- drinking friend who's been there for Henry since they were little kids.
"After more days of wallowing in the house, reading old Agatha Christie novels, and subsisting on cheese sandwiches and beer"
... well if it isn't me when I'm in feeling low. Henry definitely grows as a character, and on me, throughout the book. I already liked Charles on Younger, so reading his somewhat memoir book, definitely gives a bit of a dangerous side to his character.
The Miseducation of Henry Cane is a fun, beachy read especially for fans of the show Younger!
Henry Cane graduated from Princeton and grew up in the high society of Manhattan's finest. Once he returns to the city in the fall, he will begin the grooming process to takeover his father's business, Empire Press Publishing House. Though for this summer, Henry's parents have left him alone at their Sag Harbor estate. Henry Cane knows exactly where his future is heading, so for the summer he decides to rebel and become someone else. Henry begins living a double life as Joe, a blue collar fisherman on the other side of the bay. Joe meets an alluring, older woman and they begin a passionate affair.
As a fan of Younger, I was so excited to dig into The Miseducation of Henry Cane as the book is written in the TV show by one of the main characters, Charles Brooks. I feel like on the show they hyped this book to be the next The Great Gatsby or The Catcher in the Rye. It most certainly is not. The Miseducation of Henry Cane is actually ghost-written by Jo Piazza and it's breezy, beach read. One thing that annoyed me with the writing is that Henry/Joe switched back and forth between referring to his mother as Deidre or mother, sometimes even in back-to-back sentences, which was distracting and confusing. Just call her your mom you pretentious jerk!
Anyways, if I wasn't a fan of the show Younger, I probably would have enjoyed this even less as it's a pretty fluffy and predictable read. Henry Cane reminds me a lot of Nate Archibald from the Gossip Girl cast, one of my other guilty pleasures. I liked Henry's friend Sperry, a fun- loving, hard- drinking friend who's been there for Henry since they were little kids.
"After more days of wallowing in the house, reading old Agatha Christie novels, and subsisting on cheese sandwiches and beer"
... well if it isn't me when I'm in feeling low. Henry definitely grows as a character, and on me, throughout the book. I already liked Charles on Younger, so reading his somewhat memoir book, definitely gives a bit of a dangerous side to his character.
The Miseducation of Henry Cane is a fun, beachy read especially for fans of the show Younger!
May 30, 2021
I read this because I love the television show Younger. This book is “written” by Charles Brooks, one of the male leads in Younger. Brooks is publisher of Empirical Press, and this is his novel about a memorable summer when he just graduated Princeton. He wanted to forget his life. Escape. Rediscover himself. It’s a short and fun read. Makes me love the character Charles Brooks even more.
August 27, 2024
*3.5 stars. I really couldn’t get into the first half of this book however around page 80 or so I began really enjoying it. It is a quick and easy read and I really enjoyed the ending. I also really began liking Henry towards the end and he felt like a very real person. I’ve never seen the tv show younger but am interested to watch it after reading.
May 28, 2023
3.5 / 5
Read
March 17, 2021Fluffy, easy read. Picked it up simply because I follow the show Younger.
December 19, 2019
Super quick read. Ok for what it was.
The 1st book from the series was better, as was the author who wrote that one-"Marriage Vacation".
This one was extremely..juvenile.
Couldn't tell you how many times the main character, Henry, said "What else could I do?What other choice did I have?" in the first 20% of the book that it drove me crazy. The author honestly couldn't have come up with anything else to say?
I also didn't understand/like how the main character will say "my mother" and then in the next sentence say their mothers actual name. The first time it happened I was confused as to who they were talking about. They never started of with saying "My Mother, Deidre" as a way of introducing the mothers name, just went from my mother and then their name a few sentences down. Maybe it's just me but I found it confusing.
The 1st book from the series was better, as was the author who wrote that one-"Marriage Vacation".
This one was extremely..juvenile.
Couldn't tell you how many times the main character, Henry, said "What else could I do?What other choice did I have?" in the first 20% of the book that it drove me crazy. The author honestly couldn't have come up with anything else to say?
I also didn't understand/like how the main character will say "my mother" and then in the next sentence say their mothers actual name. The first time it happened I was confused as to who they were talking about. They never started of with saying "My Mother, Deidre" as a way of introducing the mothers name, just went from my mother and then their name a few sentences down. Maybe it's just me but I found it confusing.
June 6, 2021
I love Younger. I have just finished binge watching seasons 1-6 in order to prepare for season 7. I can say with certainty that Charles would not have written this book. It is perversely autobiographical, in a way Charles would not have been comfortable with. It even mentions that Henry is supposed to go work at Empirical! A fun summer read, but opens up some gaping plot holes.
Side note- the book takes place in 1994 and two characters discuss whether they are a Charlotte or a Samantha. In actuality, they couldn’t have been either, as Sex and the City premiered in 1998.
Side note- the book takes place in 1994 and two characters discuss whether they are a Charlotte or a Samantha. In actuality, they couldn’t have been either, as Sex and the City premiered in 1998.
November 8, 2019
Mrs. Robinson and Other Archetypes: THE MISEDUCATION OF HENRY CANE
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
A privileged, recent graduate takes the summer on his own in the Hamptons.
Looking at the S&S webpage for this book I see there is a tie-in to Younger, a show on the TVLAND Network – I just read that one of the show’s characters is supposed to be the writer. But, I have never even heard of this show so I can only tell you about the novel on its own merits. The author is apparently a character on this show. I thought this story was trying very hard to fit the mold of a 1960s-70s film like The Graduate, maybe with a soupcon of the cross-classist Love Story. But, from a few cultural references, I believe that it is placed in the 1990s.
There maybe some message there but, Henry’s Mrs. Robinson doesn’t have a daughter also in a relationship with Henry and no one dies from leukemia. There are three youngsters who have important places in the story:
Henry is the main character. A privileged graduate with a career spending the summer at his family beach house in the Hamptons, he is not so much self-absorbed as he is lacking in agency. He admits this to the reader immediately. He’s in love with literature, but somehow seems to resent going into the family’s publishing business at the end of the summer. He tells us that his life has been directed by women: first his mother and then his ex-girlfriend. Now, as he, somewhat literally, floats through summer with neither a girlfriend or his mom to direct him he acts without thought to the consequences. It’s not that he is passive, he is submissive. He believes he has no choice in his future and therefore his present is like a phantom. He adopts a working-class persona and picks up a new job on a whim.
The closest Henry gets to being directed when his at first is his friend Sperry, totally entitled and unaware of his status, or his perception thereof. He is thrilled to be going into the job he has always wanted in mergers and acquisition. Sperry comes from a very broken home filled with his father’s ex-wives, but he refers to women in an abominable way, and is upbraided by Henry, who is much more respectful. If Sperry doesn’t act with more awareness I see a harassment suit in his future.
Kit is a smart and determined young woman from the working class with aspirations to college and a career. But, she lacks the means and is wary of anyone offering help. She provides the cross-class tension found in the movie Love Story. The mysterious European woman is younger than me, but older than Henry at first believes.
Henry is not bad, or stupid, he is just adrift in a boat without his usual captains. He cares about people and always wants to help. SOmehow, though he acts with the means of an adult, there is something childish in his behavior. At one point he says he has been treated as an adult his whole life and has always tried to behave thus, but to me this is an inaccurate assessment of his maturity.
I am not sure why Henry decided to adopt the persona of Joe, why he uses it to interact with people outside his milieu. It is, of course, something that serves him poorly in the end, and is so obviously a bad idea that we see Henry’s immaturity right off.
I thought his relationship with the older woman was an obvious nod to The Graduate’s Mrs. Robinson. But Mrs. Robinson was involved with The Graduate’s Ben Braddock out of spite and malice. In this story, the woman involved with Henry is more about boredom, frustration and loneliness.
Mr. Pabon’s narrative voice as Henry is soothing and understated. It felt suited to the character. I don’t know why this is classified as humorous or women’s fiction; I felt it should be literary fiction and coming-of-age. And, I don’t think the “sexual-awakening” is the most important or central theme of the story.
I can’t say I liked the book, and I think it was its use of them aforementioned cultural references that I felt were used out of context. It’s not terribly long so it’s a good vacation read.
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
A privileged, recent graduate takes the summer on his own in the Hamptons.
Looking at the S&S webpage for this book I see there is a tie-in to Younger, a show on the TVLAND Network – I just read that one of the show’s characters is supposed to be the writer. But, I have never even heard of this show so I can only tell you about the novel on its own merits. The author is apparently a character on this show. I thought this story was trying very hard to fit the mold of a 1960s-70s film like The Graduate, maybe with a soupcon of the cross-classist Love Story. But, from a few cultural references, I believe that it is placed in the 1990s.
There maybe some message there but, Henry’s Mrs. Robinson doesn’t have a daughter also in a relationship with Henry and no one dies from leukemia. There are three youngsters who have important places in the story:
Henry is the main character. A privileged graduate with a career spending the summer at his family beach house in the Hamptons, he is not so much self-absorbed as he is lacking in agency. He admits this to the reader immediately. He’s in love with literature, but somehow seems to resent going into the family’s publishing business at the end of the summer. He tells us that his life has been directed by women: first his mother and then his ex-girlfriend. Now, as he, somewhat literally, floats through summer with neither a girlfriend or his mom to direct him he acts without thought to the consequences. It’s not that he is passive, he is submissive. He believes he has no choice in his future and therefore his present is like a phantom. He adopts a working-class persona and picks up a new job on a whim.
The closest Henry gets to being directed when his at first is his friend Sperry, totally entitled and unaware of his status, or his perception thereof. He is thrilled to be going into the job he has always wanted in mergers and acquisition. Sperry comes from a very broken home filled with his father’s ex-wives, but he refers to women in an abominable way, and is upbraided by Henry, who is much more respectful. If Sperry doesn’t act with more awareness I see a harassment suit in his future.
Kit is a smart and determined young woman from the working class with aspirations to college and a career. But, she lacks the means and is wary of anyone offering help. She provides the cross-class tension found in the movie Love Story. The mysterious European woman is younger than me, but older than Henry at first believes.
Henry is not bad, or stupid, he is just adrift in a boat without his usual captains. He cares about people and always wants to help. SOmehow, though he acts with the means of an adult, there is something childish in his behavior. At one point he says he has been treated as an adult his whole life and has always tried to behave thus, but to me this is an inaccurate assessment of his maturity.
I am not sure why Henry decided to adopt the persona of Joe, why he uses it to interact with people outside his milieu. It is, of course, something that serves him poorly in the end, and is so obviously a bad idea that we see Henry’s immaturity right off.
I thought his relationship with the older woman was an obvious nod to The Graduate’s Mrs. Robinson. But Mrs. Robinson was involved with The Graduate’s Ben Braddock out of spite and malice. In this story, the woman involved with Henry is more about boredom, frustration and loneliness.
Mr. Pabon’s narrative voice as Henry is soothing and understated. It felt suited to the character. I don’t know why this is classified as humorous or women’s fiction; I felt it should be literary fiction and coming-of-age. And, I don’t think the “sexual-awakening” is the most important or central theme of the story.
I can’t say I liked the book, and I think it was its use of them aforementioned cultural references that I felt were used out of context. It’s not terribly long so it’s a good vacation read.
November 11, 2019
I picked this up from my library out of curiosity because I'm a fan of the show where this came from. This isn't the first book from the TV show Younger to turn into a real life book, ghost written by one of the characters, but while Marriage Vacation was a major part of the plot of the show this just... wasn't really? It was mentioned like four times and never really resolved. But none the less, we have this novel that was supposed to have been written by one of the characters. One of the characters that I have always found boring af. So I was doubly curious as to what I would think about this. And, honestly, it's sort of up my alley. I love books about rich people who are bored. They always get in such delightful trouble. The problem here is that the trouble was just typical; rich kid about to be launched into the career he isn't sure he wants has an affair with an older woman. Nate Archibald would be so proud. There wasn't much original about this book in the slightest. But it did manage to be charming. It was also fairly slight so I didn't feel like I contributed excessive amounts of time to it. That might have furthered my enjoyment. But I did also devour this frothy read. So it was entertaining. No weighty classic like they sort of make it out to be on the show, but that's okay. Sometimes I love all the froth.
January 23, 2022
I read this because I was a fan of the show Younger and this book was a tie in featured in seasons 6 and 7. It's similar to The Graduate. Older woman seduces younger man. You can read the book without knowing anything about the show. Actually its probably for the best. I had a hard time believing this was a younger version of the character Charles even given the, roughly, 20 years between his age here and his age on the show. TV Charles is polite but not a pushover, book Charles (Henry) definitely is. Marriage Vacation, the other book tie in from the show, was a better read.
My other criticism is the poorly researched cultural references throughout. It's supposed to be 1994. George Clooney is at a party in the Hamptons and everyone is agog. Clooney wasn't that big a star in 1994 and certainly wouldn't have been a jaw dropping A list celebrity guest on Long Island. Another character asks if they're a "Samantha or Charlotte". SATC didn't debut until 1998 and the book it's taken from bears no resemblance to the show so you can't use the book excuse. There were others but those were the 2 most glaring to me.
Lastly, the book is dedicated to Liza, another character from the show. A character that Charles loves. The dedication doesn't sound very loving. It actually sounds like he's throwing shade and I don't see that as in keeping with the character.
My other criticism is the poorly researched cultural references throughout. It's supposed to be 1994. George Clooney is at a party in the Hamptons and everyone is agog. Clooney wasn't that big a star in 1994 and certainly wouldn't have been a jaw dropping A list celebrity guest on Long Island. Another character asks if they're a "Samantha or Charlotte". SATC didn't debut until 1998 and the book it's taken from bears no resemblance to the show so you can't use the book excuse. There were others but those were the 2 most glaring to me.
Lastly, the book is dedicated to Liza, another character from the show. A character that Charles loves. The dedication doesn't sound very loving. It actually sounds like he's throwing shade and I don't see that as in keeping with the character.
February 23, 2022
This book snagged me immediately when I saw it was connected to the series "Younger", a show I watched through Amazon Prime and adored!
I had high expectations for this novel, maybe too high, and dove right in. A few chapters in I wondered about the pace and story line. While not reading it I thought about the characters, who were all delightful in their respective ways, but didn't really think it was going anywhere... until it did.
Once the plot thickened in led me down many paths and, while I was able to figure some out before the character did, there were some I thought would go another way.
Henry Cane, the son of the boss of a publishing house, knows his fate in working in the family business yet wants to explore himself and take some risks. Some go a bit too far, some just far enough and he finds himself repenting, learning and growing from boy to man in the summer in between college and career.
Recommended as a beach read which would be fitting as much that happens in the development of the story does so on the water or sand.
Thanks for reading,
Sarah Butland
I had high expectations for this novel, maybe too high, and dove right in. A few chapters in I wondered about the pace and story line. While not reading it I thought about the characters, who were all delightful in their respective ways, but didn't really think it was going anywhere... until it did.
Once the plot thickened in led me down many paths and, while I was able to figure some out before the character did, there were some I thought would go another way.
Henry Cane, the son of the boss of a publishing house, knows his fate in working in the family business yet wants to explore himself and take some risks. Some go a bit too far, some just far enough and he finds himself repenting, learning and growing from boy to man in the summer in between college and career.
Recommended as a beach read which would be fitting as much that happens in the development of the story does so on the water or sand.
Thanks for reading,
Sarah Butland
October 16, 2019
If Younger wants to keep publishing Millennial's books, I suggest they hire a better ghostwriter. Where Marriage Vacation was always meant to be a fun "Eat Pray Love" piece of chick-lit, this book by Charles Brooks is lauded in the series as basically the next great American novel. The way that Kelsey and Liza fawn over his manuscript had me expecting nothing short of a diamond in the rough masterpiece.
The Miseducation of Henry Cane is far from that. Generously described, you could call it a kind of The Graduate coming-of-age novel in which a young man begins an affair with an older woman during his last summer in the Hamptons before joining his father's firm. It is obvious that Henry Cane is Charles' thinly-veiled alter ego in all this. The story is predictable, peppered with some p.58-style romps.
How the person described in those pages ended up as a respectable businessman and father of two is somewhat beyond me, expect for - you know - people change. The editors of this real-life version have also given the book an ending but even if they hadn't, I cannot imagine what would have been so mysterious to Liza about the story in its unfinished state.
The next time the show teases a great book, I will just leave the rest up to my imagination. That would've served me better than this lukewarm tie-in.
The Miseducation of Henry Cane is far from that. Generously described, you could call it a kind of The Graduate coming-of-age novel in which a young man begins an affair with an older woman during his last summer in the Hamptons before joining his father's firm. It is obvious that Henry Cane is Charles' thinly-veiled alter ego in all this. The story is predictable, peppered with some p.58-style romps.
How the person described in those pages ended up as a respectable businessman and father of two is somewhat beyond me, expect for - you know - people change. The editors of this real-life version have also given the book an ending but even if they hadn't, I cannot imagine what would have been so mysterious to Liza about the story in its unfinished state.
The next time the show teases a great book, I will just leave the rest up to my imagination. That would've served me better than this lukewarm tie-in.
November 1, 2019
Vacation day 2 -- book 1 done before even hitting the beach.
I binged on Younger last summer because I have a friend involved in the show and wanted to be supportive. And I loved it.
I especially love the fact that several of the books they publish on the show are actually written and published in real life. So meta. This is one of those books.
A full on beach read, and about a summer at the beach, it's a coming of age novel. The main character Henry Cane is about to start the next chapter in a life that is set for him -- schools, job at the family company and so on. The summer before he is set to start his career, he decides to masquerade as Joe, work as a fisherman, and take up with an older woman. Complications ensue, relationships grow and it all comes crumbling down with a surprisingly satisfying ending.
There are some steamy bits and a lot of details about the 1 percenters, but I appreciate this simply for what it is -- a romp through youth gone by in a posh beach setting. Vacation perfection. Thank you Charles Brooks.
I binged on Younger last summer because I have a friend involved in the show and wanted to be supportive. And I loved it.
I especially love the fact that several of the books they publish on the show are actually written and published in real life. So meta. This is one of those books.
A full on beach read, and about a summer at the beach, it's a coming of age novel. The main character Henry Cane is about to start the next chapter in a life that is set for him -- schools, job at the family company and so on. The summer before he is set to start his career, he decides to masquerade as Joe, work as a fisherman, and take up with an older woman. Complications ensue, relationships grow and it all comes crumbling down with a surprisingly satisfying ending.
There are some steamy bits and a lot of details about the 1 percenters, but I appreciate this simply for what it is -- a romp through youth gone by in a posh beach setting. Vacation perfection. Thank you Charles Brooks.
February 19, 2021
Now that he has said goodbye to his ex-girlfriend Henry is Hamptons bound for the next eight weeks before starting his new job at his father's Manhattan based publishing company. Bored with the same scene year after year Henry decides to do something spontaneous and applies for work on a fishing boat under a different name. After a chance encounter, "Joe" finds himself entangled in an affair and his double-life becomes increasingly more difficult to maintain by the day. The complicated web he thought would be fun to weave for the summer could disrupt everything he has planned for his future and cause ripples he couldn't have predicted. For fans of the tv show "Younger" you will be familiar with this book that has been ghostwritten by author Charles Brooks. Though the book does have a tie-in to the show, I have never seen a single episode and had no trouble getting into the story. "The Miseducation of Henry Cane" is a quick, light (and sometimes steamy) read that would be a good companion on a future beach day.
November 6, 2023
I’m not usually one for romance or slice of life novels, nor have I seen the show this book was based off of, but I found this book surprisingly captivating.
It was a very light read on the surface, with some hints to a deeper narrative about finding yourself and your place in the world. I enjoyed the myriad cast of characters who were all very well fleshed out, it truly felt like stepping into someone else’s shoes and living a part of their life.
I feel as though some aspects of the book suffered in their brevity; I would have loved to see more bonding moments between Henry and Eddie, or a more in-depth look at who Elizabette really was. The romance between Kit and Henry was slightly rushed and a tad unrealistic, although I can appreciate a story of young, hectic love.
Overall the book was solid, and I see some real potential from this author. I may come back to see if he has other works in the future.
It was a very light read on the surface, with some hints to a deeper narrative about finding yourself and your place in the world. I enjoyed the myriad cast of characters who were all very well fleshed out, it truly felt like stepping into someone else’s shoes and living a part of their life.
I feel as though some aspects of the book suffered in their brevity; I would have loved to see more bonding moments between Henry and Eddie, or a more in-depth look at who Elizabette really was. The romance between Kit and Henry was slightly rushed and a tad unrealistic, although I can appreciate a story of young, hectic love.
Overall the book was solid, and I see some real potential from this author. I may come back to see if he has other works in the future.
May 9, 2021
Do you watch Younger?
I am OBSESSED with the show. I recently rewatched it all before the current season started and it made me want to read all of the Younger related books! I love that some fictional books from the show were made into real books!
I started with The Miseducation of Henry Cane because it was discussed in the most recent episode. This one is the book Charles wrote that Liza and Kelsey are obsessed with but he doesn’t want to publish...
This was a quick light read. I didn’t love the older woman, younger man story line and the steamy scenes made me uncomfortable, but I did love the story line of Henry growing up finding himself. If you are a Younger fan this one is worth the read! I’m not sure it would be as special without the background of the show though.
I am OBSESSED with the show. I recently rewatched it all before the current season started and it made me want to read all of the Younger related books! I love that some fictional books from the show were made into real books!
I started with The Miseducation of Henry Cane because it was discussed in the most recent episode. This one is the book Charles wrote that Liza and Kelsey are obsessed with but he doesn’t want to publish...
This was a quick light read. I didn’t love the older woman, younger man story line and the steamy scenes made me uncomfortable, but I did love the story line of Henry growing up finding himself. If you are a Younger fan this one is worth the read! I’m not sure it would be as special without the background of the show though.
June 30, 2021
As a fan of the TV series Younger, I had heard about this book and wanted to read it so when I found it on my library's Hoopla app, I was thrilled. I struggled to finish this book and was just about ready to add it to my Did-Not-Finish list when it became more interesting (about ¾ of the way through) so I continued reading. The Miseducation of Henry Cane tells the tale of Henry Cane (really Charles Brooks himself, Publisher at Empirical Publishing) during the crazy summer he had after he graduated from Princeton, before he began to work for his father at Empirical. No spoilers, but it just wasn't my cup of tea, although I prefered it to Younger's other novel, Marriage Vacation.
May 17, 2022
This review may be as convoluted as the book itself. I bought it (for cheap) because it said "From the TV Land series Younger" on the cover. I've never watched Younger, but I love movie and TV tie-in books. This story is about Henry Cane, a rich yuppie who spends the summer pretending to be Joe, and learning how to work on a fishing boat. He also starts an affair with an older married woman, which becomes an obsession. The writing is good, and the plot is interesting, but here's where it gets weird. Charles Brooks, the author, is actually a fictitious character, one of the editors and book publishers at Empirical Press (also fictional) in the TV Land series Younger! Well, that's a first! Fiction written and published by a fictional book publisher. Wow.
June 13, 2021
Well that was short and sweet.... and funny... great light summer read reminiscent of Mrs Robinson (showing my age) that I finished in 4 hours. It was so enjoyable and entertaining I kept my nose stuck in it till it was done!
It was fun "watching" a young priveliged man take some risks during his last summer before his career starts... a little steamy and explicit in parts but all very realistic!
I quite enjoyed this short little story - nice change from my the heavy books I've been reading.
Though I admit - I had no idea what "Younger" was until this book. A tv show I guess but don't think I get that channel - so I still don't know but I'm definitely googling it :)
It was fun "watching" a young priveliged man take some risks during his last summer before his career starts... a little steamy and explicit in parts but all very realistic!
I quite enjoyed this short little story - nice change from my the heavy books I've been reading.
Though I admit - I had no idea what "Younger" was until this book. A tv show I guess but don't think I get that channel - so I still don't know but I'm definitely googling it :)
March 29, 2020
Ripped from the universe of TV Land’s Younger, a ghostwriter has written a novel by the show’s character Charles Brooks. Henry Crane is a college graduate ready to spend one final summer in the Hampton’s before joining his father’s publishing business. He takes the summer as an escape, pretending to be a fisherman and starting a relationship with an older woman. The novel itself is pretty light and definitely hit all of your coming-of-age, mistaken identity, romantic love triangle stereotypes. It wasn’t that bad to read, but it lacked a wow factor in the originality category.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews