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Caitlin won't wait for him to love her. Caitlin. Beautiful. Dazzling. Charming. Rich. And very, very clever. To everyone at her exclusive Virginia boarding school, she seems to have it all. But there is a secret need that haunts her life. A need for love. And only one boy can make her forget her unhappy home life, can fulfill her need for love: handsome, sensitive Jed Michaels. Jed, who has already given his heart to another girl. But Caitlin is determined to win him for herself, one way or another. Then a tragedy occurs that has consequences that not even Caitlin can deal with. . . Loving is the first in a series about the unforgettable, raven-haired beauty Caitlin. There's never been a heroine like her.

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

3 people are currently reading
264 people want to read

About the author

Francine Pascal

1,139 books1,843 followers
Francine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.

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5 stars
59 (28%)
4 stars
65 (31%)
3 stars
64 (31%)
2 stars
13 (6%)
1 star
5 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Karina Almeroth.
Author 4 books28 followers
August 19, 2013
Was OBSESSED with these books (and Sweet Valley High) as a child of the 80's! I would read them over and over. I still have them (and all my Sweet Valley Highs, and all my Baby-sitter Clubs!)...I might just take a trip down memory lane and read the Caitlin series again! I wanted to BE her!
Profile Image for Bren fall in love with the sea..
1,956 reviews473 followers
May 6, 2019
Took a trip down memory lane with a reread of this series from my childhood that I adored.Easy reading plus Caitlin was pretty unforgettable and Jed has always been one of my favorite men's names plus his character was so strong and kind so I had a bit of a crush!

Worth rereading..much preferred this series to Sweet Valley.
Profile Image for cc.
1,042 reviews38 followers
February 25, 2020
4/5☆s to Joanna Campbell's Loving, book one in the Caitlin: Love Trilogy.

In the vein of Francine Pascal's numerous hits of the 80s and 90s, we explore the simplicity of teenage drama. Caitlin, the protagonist of our story and likely the antagonist of many of her classmates', is the queen bee of her prestigious prep school: wealthy, beautiful, popular, and brilliant, everything comes easy for her. Until new student Jed arrives and becomes enamored with a quiet scholarship student.

Can a book released in 1985 possibly hold up in 2020? As it turns out, yes. And, in some ways, better than many newer releases.

The thing about Caitlin as a protagonist is that she's not a good person. No, despite my most desperate hopes, she does not kill everyone who gets in her way. In fact, any deaths that may or may not occur at her hands are purely coincidental.

However, while many modern stories following villains have said villains either ensconced in cloaks of pure evil or heartbrokenly aware of their own malice, the pleasant thing about this story was Caitlin's utter lack of self-awareness. She doesn't do things for the sake of cruelty and she doesn't feel any particular emotion when she harms others to get what she wants.

And that element of teenage brutality? Is so necessary and yet so lacking in modern literature.
Profile Image for Annabelle.
1,189 reviews22 followers
April 9, 2024
After Sweet Valley High came the Caitlin trilogy, followed a few more books; I think I bought most of them in the States, and read this sometime in 1987 to 89, I think. The Caitlin series were a bit more daring the SVH books, just a bit. Think PG-13.
Profile Image for Erin.
1,935 reviews1 follower
January 12, 2009
This was the first book in the Caitlyn series from the mid-80'e. It was interesting, although a bit cliched, but anything from the 80's is a refreshing blast from the past! I hadn't read these back then, but I figured I'd give it a shot now.
Profile Image for Kris.
624 reviews13 followers
June 19, 2014
I loved this book when I was 12. it was fun to read it again as an adult. I collected all three Caitlin trilogies from used booksellers.
Profile Image for Gina.
189 reviews
December 24, 2018
In the 80s- these novels were part of my teen reading escapes
Profile Image for Sara.
361 reviews4 followers
January 11, 2022
Another re-read from my younger days. Caitlin is just such a bad person in book 1! Hoping her character turns around in the next books, like I think she does.
9 reviews
Read
June 4, 2025
I found these books in a box in my garage & decided to reread them for purely nostalgic reasons because I absolutely adored these books back in the 80s! Still pretty good ha!
Profile Image for PurplyCookie.
942 reviews205 followers
October 19, 2010
I was a fan of the Sweet Valley series when I was growing up. I thought that I’d read through this new series created by Pascal just to check if she can step out of the shadow of her more popular works.

A bit of a disclaimer though: When Pascal advertised her new series, ”Caitlin”, she described Caitlin as a dazzling Sweet Valley Jessica Wakefield type. What we got instead was someone resembling Lila Fowler—you know, the poor, little rich girl type.

But then I thought this was an original book gauging the time when it was written. Although I haven't read the other two books in the series, judging by this one, I trust I will not be disappointed. And yes, at first I did find Caitlin a bit of a snob, but then, one can’t help but feel sorry for her.


More of Purplycookie’s Reviews @: http://www.goodreads.com/purplycookie


Book Details:

Title Loving (Caitlin: The Love Trilogy #1)
Author Francine Pascal
Reviewed By Purplycookie
Profile Image for Jana.
49 reviews
November 24, 2010
I read this way back when I was a teenager and for some reason felt the urge to find the series and read it again. Always a sucker for easy reads that have a little romance.
Profile Image for Meghan.
Author 5 books223 followers
Read
July 10, 2012
I'm fairly certain I read this book in Junior High... can't remember.
Profile Image for Kendra Mccaskill.
14 reviews8 followers
August 8, 2012
This is a book I read as a teen. Loved the change in her character. Good reading for a young adult.
Profile Image for Sheila Read.
1,574 reviews40 followers
July 9, 2013
I have read so many of these books I can't remember all of them.
Profile Image for C.D. Gorri.
Author 371 books1,906 followers
November 12, 2014
This book really got me into reading series when I was just a kid! I am so glad it is listed here!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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