Review: Their story is a tragic yet beautiful story.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 5, 2013
Words cannot even express what I feel for this series. I felt so many different emotions while reading; love, sadness, pain, guilt, humor, and jealousy. I have never felt so much connection and appreciation for a book couple before until now. Sebastian and Caroline are officially my all time favorite couple; they are like a different version of Romeo & Juliet, an older woman falling in a forbidden love affair with a younger man not being able to be together. Their story is a tragic yet beautiful story.At the end of The Education of Sebastian, my heart was left broken. Caroline was forced to stay away from Sebastian when his parents found out about their relationship. Sebastian being only 17 Caroline was breaking the law and the statue of limitations is three years in California. Sebastian promised to wait for her and that is the last time the two would see or hear from each other.The Education of Caroline picks up 10 years from that moment their secret was revealed. Caroline is now divorced from her husband and followed her & Sebastian's dreams of starting a new life in NYC, becoming a journalist, even living in the small Long Island beach town, and is now 40. Sebastian stayed in San Diego and enlisted in the military, something he was forced into by his father. While reporting in the middle-east Caroline sees Sebastian for the first time in 10 years. At 27, Sebastian is even more handsome then before. Caroline tries to approach him, Sebastian is hurt thinking the woman he loved didn't come back for him in three years and is cruel to Caroline. Finally the two begin to talk again and both announce their love for one another hasn't changed. Sebastian takes Caroline on their dream of touring Italy, something the two discussed and planned while having their affair in the first book. Both have changed drastically in their time apart, can they still possibly love each other the same as they did 10 years ago? Can their differences and their new lives come together?I found where the two are in their lives 10 years later incredibly realistic. Caroline grew up, she was determined to have a life of her own and that is what she did, she became successful. She didn't really date, she did however finally have a life of her own and not needed to depend on a man. As for poor Sebastian, his feelings of Caroline giving up on him and not returning to him left him full of hatred. He drinks heavily, sleeps his way through every woman possible but is very successful as a marine. He has no goals or ambitions anymore, not since Caroline left. I find Sebastian completely and utterly sexy. I thought he was sweet and loving in the first book but in The Education of Caroline the man came out of him and steamed up the pages! Ladies Sebastian will not disappoint you!Their sweet moments in Italy made me envious of them they were able to take a trip like they experienced with someone you love as much as they loved each other. Dear my sweet Sebastian, you completely won me over in Italy when you surprised Caroline with the night of dressing up and giving her the "surprise" that might have been one of the most romantic things I have ever read in a book. I can't help but smile when I just think of it! You are in my top 10 Book Boyfriends of 2013 list already!!The ending made me so nervous, I kept thinking these two would lose each other again, my heart couldn't take it. My heart was just breaking for them the entire time I was reading; this is definitely not a sappy romance novel. I also really appreciated the fact the author took the time to discuss where all the smaller characters from the first book are 10 years later and what happened to them. I felt so close to them after reading The Education of Sebastian it was nice to hear about them. Even David, Caroline's ex husband came back in this book and I discovered he is actually a really great guy.My only complaint, not enough to lower my rating is the Epilogue. There is one and I enjoyed it but I would have liked to have found out if the two have children or not. I hate not knowing because it was something they discussed in both books.The Education Series is a must series to read. I hope to buy both books in paperback very soon. Ms. Harvey-Berrick writing style gives the reader every bit of emotion her characters feel. With beautiful details I could feel what Caroline & Sebastian were feeling too.I give The Education of Caroline 5 Stars. Another favorite!