Not suitable for under 18
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Ten years after their first affair, Sebastian and Caroline meet again: this time in very different circumstances, against the background of the war in Afghanistan.
Now a successful journalist, Caroline meets US Marine Chief Sebastian Hunter – can old passions be rekindled?
Oh how I loved the conclusion to Sebastian and Caro’s beautiful love story! Love seems like such an inadequate word, though…for how I feel about this book, and for how they feel about each other. Once again I’m at a loss for words, on how to do this book justice. It was everything I could have hoped for them, and so much more.
It’s been ten long years since Caroline and Sebastian were last together, since their love was exposed and they were torn apart. Caroline is now a well-respected journalist, traveling and reporting from all over the world. She’s sent to Geneva for a training class before she’s to report to Afghanistan for her next assignment. Sebastian enlisted in the Marines as soon as he turned 18, and has been moving up the ranks. But because of an indescretion he’s been sent to Geneva as part of the training leadership. Unbeknowst to either one, their paths are about to cross.
Can you imagine holding onto a love for 10 years???
“Why didn’t you come back?” he sobbed. “I waited and waited for you. like I said I would, but you never came back! Why? Why didn’t you come back? I love you I love you I love you.”
God, my heart just broke for Sebastian. Although he’s now a grown man of 27, there are still so many glimpses of that sweet, broken 17 year old boy we first met in The Education of Sebastian and I felt so sad for him. He’s had a tough 10 years, trying to get his Caro out of his mind, thinking she forgot all about him, that she no longer loved him. Try as he might, he was never able to forget about her.
Oh what a journey of rediscovery this story was, for the both of them- it wasn’t an easy path back to each other, not for a minute. And that’s probably what made this books so wonderful for me. We didn’t get hearts and flowers and glittery happiness, we got a real look at how tough it can be for 2 people who really, truly, love each to get over hurts and misunderstandings, to make a new life together.
“I haven’t changed how I feel. I still love you- I’ve always loved you. It’s only ever been you.”
“Ten years ago he’d said those words to me, told me that he loved me. I believed they were the words of a lonely, infatuated boy: real, but not lasting. Now the same man was standing before me, saying that he’d love me all this time- and that it was real. He didn’t care that I was older than him; he didn’t care that I was ridden with insecurities; and he’d forgiven me for doubting him.”
I completely and utterly adored this book. Going on this quest with Caro and Sebastian, seeing them fall in love all over again, seeing them fall apart just to find each other again, was beautiful and amazing and heartbreaking. It tore my heart to pieces to watch the struggles they went through, but ultimately my heart was so full with love for these 2, and all they had to deal with, everything was so worth it in the end.
If you are a fan of the older woman/younge man trope I can’t recommend these books enough! Such an extraordinary and inspiring love story, I will hold it in my heart for a long time.
If you haven’t purchased these books yet, I would highly suggest grabbing this copy, The Education of Sebastian & The Education of Caroline, as it has extra epilogues you do not want to miss, and bonus chapters in Sebastian’s point of view.