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    Dear Mr. Knightley
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    Dear Mr. Knightley
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    Dear Mr. Knightley
    Audiobook9 hours

    Dear Mr. Knightley

    Written by Katherine Reay

    Narrated by Hillary Huber

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Samantha Moore is, to say the least, bookish. An English major of the highest order, her diet has always been Austen, Dickens, and Shakespeare. The problem is, both her prose and conversation tend to be more Elizabeth Bennet than Samantha Moore.




    But life for the twenty-three-year-old orphan is about to get stranger than fiction. An anonymous, Dickensian benefactor calling himself Mr. Knightley offers to put Sam through Northwestern University's prestigious Medill School of Journalism. There is only one catch: Sam must write frequent letters to the mysterious donor, detailing her progress.




    As Sam's dark memory mingles with that of eligible novelist Alex Powell, her letters to Mr. Knightley become increasingly confessional. While Alex draws Sam into a world of warmth and literature that feels like it's straight out of a book, old secrets are drawn to light. And as Sam learns to love and trust Alex and herself, she learns once again how quickly trust can be broken.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Audio
    Release dateFeb 17, 2015
    ISBN9781494576813
    Unavailable
    Dear Mr. Knightley
    Author

    Katherine Reay

    Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author who has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books. She publishes both fiction and nonfiction, holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and three children. You can meet her at katherinereay.com; Facebook: @KatherineReayBooks; Twitter: @katherine_reay; Instagram: @katherinereay.

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    Reviews for Dear Mr. Knightley

    4/5

    184 ratings20 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This is the third epistolary book I've read. I can remember a local author commenting that the form isn't used often when she spoke to West Side Writers about her book and publishing experience. This book reminds me a bit more of C.S. Lewis's "The Screwtape Letters" in that most of the correspondence is one-sided (though there are a few letters from Laura Temper, Mr. Knightley's assistant, and even one or two from Mr. Knightley himself.I recently read another book by this same author and enjoyed it. A friend sent me that one. This one I found on a sale cart at the library. At first, I couldn't remember why the title sounded so familiar. Luckily, it clicked before I left the building. Samantha "Sam" Moore has had a rough life: abusive parents, a series of foster homes--some good and some bad, living at Grace House. As a result, she's walled herself off and often escapes into a world of books. She decides to take advantage of a grant to study journalism at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern in Chicago, IL--but to do that, she agrees to write regular letters to her benefactor who chooses the pseudonym "Mr. Knightley". Her journalism teacher forces her to find her own voice for her writing. It takes her a while, but when she finally does, he is so impressed that he recommends her for an internship at the Chicago Tribune. In the process, Sam finds herself connecting with quite a few people: Hannah, who knew her at Grace House; Kyle, one of the boys from Grace House; Debbie, a fellow student; Ashley, an English Lit major who understands many of Sam's characters; Professor and Mrs. Muir, who take her in like a daughter; Alex Powell, a writer she admires.Though I haven't read many of the classics that Sam chooses to reference, I managed to follow along. I could understand that she'd placed a wall around herself to protect herself from being hurt--probably before she realized it herself. I could relate to her feeling awkward in relating to others--not knowing what to say, saying the wrong thing etc.I also understood what her writing professor was telling her--that she needed to find her own voice and put more of herself in her writing rather than hiding behind characters, being tentative, trying to stay unnoticed--again, probably before she figured it out herself. I also realized that Josh wasn't a serious boyfriend before she did, but I can't fault her on that one because love, or the promise of it, is often enough to make us not see things clearly.I did predict that we would discover the identity of Mr. Knightley by the end of the book. I debated which character it would be. Would it be Father John himself? Mr. and Mrs. Conley, who offered Sam an apartment? Professor and Mrs. Muir, who took Sam in as they would a daughter of their own? Alex Powell, whose successful writing would provide foundation money?Well, you'll have to read it to find out.
    • 5/5
      Amazing twist

      You fall in love with the characters, to love and hate their decisions in life. I never saw the twist to the ending. Great read.
    • 5/5
      This one has been on my to-read pile for a while. The title references a Jane Austen novel, so immediately it has that going for it. Apparently, it's a re-telling of an older book called Daddy Long Legs, which I haven't read, but is on our YA Fiction Bookclub list of books to read this year, so it will be interesting reading that after having already read this one.

      This was nothing like a Jane Austen novel, but the characters reference Austen's works and other pieces of classic literature. Having myself read most of the books referenced in this book, I enjoyed that aspect of the characters and their references.

      I loved the format of this book -- a series of letters written from Sam to her unknown benefactor, Mr. Knightly. I guessed at what was supposed to be the big plot twist pretty early on, but I still loved seeing it play out. Also, some other things about the novel were pleasantly surprising, and I teared up more than once while reading this one. I started reading this late at night, thinking I would just read a couple of chapters and go to bed, but ended up staying up for 4 hours to finish it. I just had to get to the end!

      This book brought out all the feels. It was a warm-fuzzy kind of book and I loved it!

      Would I recommend this to fellow book lovers? Yes! Especially if you're a fan of classic literature!
      Would I recommend this to my teen daughter? Absolutely.
    • 4/5
      Being a Jane Austen fan, I was immediately drawn to this book. I chose to read it before even knowing what it was about. I am glad that I did!I really enjoyed reading this book. It is written as letters from Sam to her benefactor, who goes by the name Mr. Knightley. He is paying to put her through Medill School of Journalism. She doesn't know his real name or who he is, so it is easy for her to write of her deepest fears and emotions to him. As the story progresses, you can see a difference in Sam as she goes through school and life.Sam is a girl that went through a lot growing up in and out of foster care. She has many walls up to protect herself from people. One of her ways to deal with people is to put herself in some of her favorite characters' shoes. She quotes a lot of Jane Austen books and other classics. She considers how a character would act in any given situation and acts accordingly. It was a treat to watch her grow out of it as the story progressed.The characters in the book are all very believable and easy to care for. The heartbreaking tales of the lives of a couple of them really adds to the story. The author has handled the theme of child abuse and its subsequent issues very well and makes you really feel for the characters.I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a well written, emotional story of a person's struggle to get past emotional obstacles and trust issues to find where they belong and how to be a healthy part of a relationship, whether it be as friends or more.Disclosure: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a postive review.
    • 5/5
      Dear Mr. Knightley is Katherine Reay's debut novel and it is a true treasure. Samantha Moore has not had an easy life as she grew up in the foster care system. She is a loner who has a profound love of literature. At age twenty-three she accepts the offer of a grant which will pay for her to attend Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. As a condition, she has to write letters to her benefactor advising of her progress. The letters are to be addressed to a Mr. Knightley.The entire book consists of these letters and by reading them the reader is given the opportunity to follow the successes, as well as failures, of a very special and vulnerable human being. The letters are written with honesty, wit and are packed with raw emotions. Sam does keep Mr. Knightley informed about her studies, but she reveals a great deal more that goes beyond academics and literature. This is a well written story of a journey that is not without obstacles, pain and hurt, but it is also a story of growth, hope and love. The author has crafted a highly readable and compelling novel. I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
    • 3/5
      If you can suspend your belief quite a bit, this book is good. The main character's habit of quoting 19th-century fictional characters is supremely annoying though.
    • 4/5
      Samantha Moore is a young twenty-something female whose life has been turned upside down. She grew up in foster care and spent most of her life immersed in books, so much that she uses literary quotes to relate to people. Unfortunately this has a tendency to push people away rather than pull them closer. She's recently lost her job and subsequently her apartment. Forced to return to the only home she's known, she heads back to Grace House. However, her stay doesn't come without strings. She'll only be allowed to stay there if she pursues an additional degree. The priest at Grace House, Father John, persuades Samantha to apply to both the Medill School of Journalism and for a grant from the Dover Foundation. After her acceptance to Medill, she is awarded a grant that covers all of her graduate school expenses but she is required to send letters to the head of the foundation providing updates on her progress. These letters began with rather benign updates but eventually begin to reveal who Samantha is at heart through her interactions with her friends, peers, professors, and acquaintances. These letters also reveal many of the struggles Samantha must endure in her quest to finish her graduate degree. These struggles include a holiday bout with a ruptured appendix, being mugged, and her mental struggle with her degree choice. Fortunately these struggles result in Samantha finding housing closer to the school and negate her having to travel great distances late at night, she also befriends the author Alex Powell and his friends, the Muirs. Dear Mr. Knightley was actually the first epistolary novel I've read. I thought it would be off-putting reading a novel in letter format, but all of the action and dialogue between the characters are revealed in these letters so at times it didn't even feel like I was reading in a different format. Samantha is a difficult character to understand as she's somewhat prickly at first and doesn't really know who she is since she's spent so much time trying to channel her favorite characters and use literature to try and connect with people. It isn't until she befriends a fellow orphan at Grace House, Kyle, and later Alex that she begins to grow and learn to love and trust. In many ways Dear Mr. Knightley is a coming-of-age story with a twist. I felt all of the characters were well-developed and realistic. It was heartening to watch Samantha grow and learn from her mistakes, although at times others had to point these mistakes out to her. I found Dear Mr. Knightley to be an engaging and fast read that was filled with self-discovery, romance, and drama. If you enjoy reading uplifting or inspirational fiction, then you'll definitely want to add Dear Mr. Knightley to your reading list. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Reay in the future.
    • 5/5
      When I first started this book, I had a hard time with it because it is so similar to Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster, which I had read and loved as a teenager. I kept wondering why it hadn't said anything in the synopsis about Daddy Long Legs instead of making it sound like an Emma remake or something. However, as the characters became their own people, and the main character's obsession with Jane Austen books was explained, I could just enjoy the book without comparing. Besides, I was waaaayyyy more comfortable with the 5 or 6 year age difference in this one (with the main character, Sam, being in graduate school), than the 14 year age difference in Daddy Long Legs the novel, and the even more disturbing 30 year age difference between Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron in the movie version (with the main characters being 18 or 19). Ewwww! (Said in a Jimmy Fallon voice.) All of that being said, I grew to really love this book. Sam was such a flawed person, with a horrible past to overcome, and yet I liked her. She would recognize the flaws in her character and try to overcome them. I liked that she wasn't excelling in her course work but that she really had to work and fight for her grades and for a job at the end. Alex was perfect and I adored him. I know there are a lot of women who prefer their men to have a little bit of the dark mark or the black spot on them, but I prefer a gentleman such as Alex or "my Mr. Knightley". I loved, Loved, LOVED all the book quotes. I would have failed miserably at Sam and Alex's game, but it was sure fun to read them and try to figure out where they came from. I thought it was cool that the author had "Sam's Reading List" at the end of the book, and they are all top favorites of mine as well. How could I not like this book?I don't usually like Christian fiction, but I actually really liked the Christian element in this. It was never preachy, to me it was just...... right and true. I don't know how anyone gets through the bad times in life without the knowledge of a God who loves them. It wasn't overdone, and no religion was referenced. Dear Mr. Knightley is not a fluff read, it is deep, heartrending, and heartfelt. If you would like a book that makes you want to read other books, that has a sweet romance, that has a girl overcoming massive obstacles, and that is clean, read this little gem.
    • 5/5
      This book so unique on the way it is written and set up. I loved that it was all letters basically written to one person and a couple of times there was a letter written back to her. I loved everything about this book and was sad when it ended because I loved the characters and everything about it. I do have to say that for me at least I kind of predicted the ending of the book but that could be because I have read so many books that it is hard for me to be surprised by the ending but I have to say that I loved this book and I can't wait until she releases more books!
    • 5/5
      Sam has been trying to escape her past for a while. After being shunted from foster home to foster home, Sam ended up in a safe house where she could finally move forward. While her after college career didn't turn out quite as planned, Sam has managed to be given an amazing opportunity. A mysterious benefactor has offered her the chance to go to a prestigious journalism graduate program. Everything will be paid for, and Sam only has to write about her progress to the anonymous donor known only as "Mr. Knightley." While Sam pours her heart into her letters, in the real world she has a much more difficult time. Afraid to let people get too close, Sam relies on her favorite book characters and quotes to get her through the day. All that begins to change when she meets her favorite current writer Alex Powell. Their friendship helps them both as they work through past and current issues. As Sam begins to come out of her shell, she realizes that her past can be a hindrance or a help to her. Sam will have to learn to let people in, even if it means getting hurt in the process.This book is written strictly as a series of letters to Mr. Knightley (plus a wrap-up chapter at the end). I was afraid this format might get a bit old, but it managed to stay interesting throughout. It actually ended up forcing the author to keep things tighter as far as the story goes to keep the letters manageable (and believable). I loved that many of the main characters were flawed. While they were good at heart, they had great weaknesses as well. Those were the things that ended up making them so interesting and real though. I feel like a lot of us are at least a little like Sam. Books provide a beautiful escape from an ugly reality sometimes. Sam managed to take this a little too far though, but this was all really a defense mechanism for her. It was Sam's way of protecting herself, and while it did it's job it also kept her from experiencing some of the more beautiful parts of life.As you watch Sam progress from her imaginary world into a more realized actual life, you see her experience joy and pain. Her friendship with Alex Powell is particularly interesting to watch. These two people had such different lives, and yet they share some things in common. The ending had a bit of a twist, but I kind of expected it really? It was the only way the story made sense to me. That didn't matter though. I absolutely loved this book. It was so easy to love these characters even as you got annoyed with some of their actions. They felt like real people. This is a book I'll keep to read over and over. It was fun, smart, and thoroughly entertaining. I know loads of people will fill like they know Sam (or maybe are Sam a little bit). Wonderful book!Book provided for review.
    • 5/5
      Samantha Moore had had a rough childhood with an abusive father, a drug addict as a mother and moving from foster home to foster home. Then she found herself at a Grace House, a home for wayward and orphaned kids, and under the supervision if Father John. Sam had always lived in her books and, being a fan of Jane Austen, she often quoted her characters as a way to hide her true self. When Father John suggested her as a scholarship candidate to the Dover Foundation she refused because she wanted to do things on her own and on her own terms. After failing to do exactly that she contested the grantor of the scholarship to ask for a second chance. It was granted under one condition, that she write letters detailing her progress to his pseudonym--Mr. Knightley.Sam soon finds herself pouring out her feelings to someone that started out as a stranger but is soon a trusted friend. With Mr. Knightley she can share her deepest, darkest secrets, her fears and her desires, and even a true love. With a new set of "parents", new friends, a college degree and a new love blossoming in her heart, Sam is finally coming into her own and putting the fears of the past behind her. To her own amazement she is shedding her Jane Austen persona all while bearing her soul to one man and giving her heart to another. Can Sam have the life she has only dreamed of? Could this really be real or is she only a character in one of her beloved novels?When I first opened this book I have to admit I was skeptical. A book made entirely of letters? My first thought was, "How can this possibly meet my expectations?". Even though I have read such greats as The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright and The Prayer Box by Lisa Wingate I still had reservations. Those books had such great story lines and the letters were a PART of the story, NOT the story itself. So as I delved into this story I did so with a little skepticism. Have you ever done that? Read a book that you had questions about but, once you read it, were so glad you did? That is exactly what happened. A third of the way through I knew I had chosen well, halfway through I was in tears, three quarters of the way through I was literally giddy (did I say giddy? Yes, GIDDY!) at the prospect of how the story was going to turn out every time I picked the book back up to start reading again. I have read tons of books in my life and, although I have seen times I didn't want to put a book down, I have never felt giddy at re-entering a story. The way Sam bared her soul to Mr. Knightley just tore at my heart. I felt every heartache and disappointment she went through. I felt every loss and rejection and rejoiced with every happy moment Sam experienced. And when she finally found love, which she desperately deserved, I was ecstatic! It takes good writing to bring out those kind of emotions and in the form of letters? Excellent! If you love a story with depth and feelling, a story that makes you feel like you're a part of it, you'll love Dear Mr. Knightley. And, I must add, it's a DEBUT novel! Which obviously means I have many more books to look forward to from Katherine Reay. I was SO pleased with this book and I recommend it HIGHLY!Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisherfor my honest review. These opinions are mine and mine alone. I was in no way compensated for this review.
    • 2/5
      My love of Emma, and the sad truth that Jane Austen's novel is not enough to fuel my voracious love for the character, occasionally leads me to fall foul of the odd marketing ploy. I was so keen to read a story that isn't another sequel/prequel/reworking of the original novel that I rushed to download - nay, pre-order - Katherine Reay's book simply because of the title. 'What a clever little homage to Austen,' thought I. Sadly, I was wrong. Again. Reay's story is more a reworking of Great Expectations than Emma, although she does liberally quote from Austen. (The only time I identified with Sam the narrator, or correspondent, was when she admitted to 'adoring Emma, though she's out of my reach' but gravitating 'toward Fanny Price, morally spot on but commonly thought dull'.) Actually, the concept of Dear Mr Knightley disturbed me throughout, and the big reveal only increased my distaste. Secret benefactors demanding certain 'conditions' in return for their support might work in a nineteenth century novel, but reading about a young woman writing letters to a man who insists she correspond with him in order to receive a scholarship is - worrying. Especially in a novel for the teen market, which I'm presuming this is.Also, the first person narration - via Sam's letters to the anonymous 'Mr Knightley' - does not quite ring true. If the concept is contrived, then the writing is forced - I might almost say 'textbook'. I'm sure the author did her research into kids in care/foster homes/abusive backgrounds, all that, but Sam's voice is never convincing enough to translate the necessary emotions. I can imagine the author checking off a list of typical personality traits in kids from Sam's background - insecurity, anger, fear of rejection, etc. - and then studiously applying them to not only Sam, but Kyle, Cara, and even poor little rich girl Ashley. Only nobody really talks like Sam does, psycho-analysing every little word or deed - I got completely bored with all the 'personal reflection' Sam gets lost in, and didn't believe a word she was spouting. I don't like authors who use abuse in any form as a device, and that's how Sam and Kyle and the others came across to me - Disney-fied victims who are 'feisty' enough to go after that happy ever after. Reay was obviously trying to make Sam into a 'tough and real and flawed' heroine, but missed the mark by telling and not showing enough of what makes her who she is.On a side note - Sam's 'Mr Knightley' is an insult to Austen's hero! I won't give away the 'twist', but Sam herself writes that the reason she prefers the original Mr Knightley over Darcy is because he is 'a kinder, softer man with no pretence or dissimilation'. And then he turns out to be the biggest lying skunk in the book! Austen's Knightley would never have toyed with Emma's feelings in such an underhand way. And then Sam forgives him! What a travesty.Katherine Reay's love of Austen and other classic authors shines through, but unfortunately her understanding of troubled teens does not.
    • 3/5
      ** spoiler alert ** Samantha Moore is awarded a scholarship to go to journalism school on condition that she write regular letters to the director of the foundation awarding the grant. It is suggested that her letters should be journal-like and the director is to remain anonymous, adopting the name Mr Knightley. One day at school, Sam runs into her favourite contemporary author, Alex Powell, and they strike up a friendship. In a repeat of the plot of "Daddylonglegs", Sam falls for Alex, who turns out to be Mr Knightley. (The age gap here is only five years.)Things I liked:- Kyle's story and happy ending-The unemotional yet realistic details of Sam's childhood experiences with her parents and foster parentsThings I didn't like:- The basic plot; what Alex does is an unforgivable betrayal- From the start Sam's letters are totally inappropriate for the supposed audience of the director of a foundation. I fail to believe anyone would include details about, for example, whether or not you were going to sleep with your boyfriend.- Sam's adoption by the Muirs - it seemed excessive, unnecessary and like a repeat of Kyle's situation- Endless rehashing of the way Sam hid behind literary characters and dialogue from books to protect herself from being known- The sprinkling of Christianity - Sam is sort of converted by the Muirs. I'm not sure why I found this "off" - I should be delighted; maybe it was just unexpected...- The switch to a third person narrative for the last chapter
    • 4/5
      This is a good book. I wasn’t prepared for the more serious content dealing with child abuse but it was a good story.
    • 5/5
      So absolutely adored this book! Will definitely read again and highly recommend!
    • 1/5
      Unfinished. Boring. Too many references in this one to classics I don't care for, like the tiresome Pride and Prejudice. Main character Samantha Moore, who's lived in a group home since she was 15, gets a grant to attend journalism graduate school at age 23 from a mysterious "Mr. Knightley" who only requests that she write letters to him that he won't answer. I skipped ahead to the end and it was rather predictable - especially given that this is an updating of Jean Weaver's 1912 Daddy Long-Legs, which I wasn't too fond of either.
    • 4/5
      I didn't mind the epistolary format, as I have read it in several other books. It's not my favorite, because the first book I read that had it was Anne of Windy Poplars, my least favorite in the Anne series (it took me 4 tries to finally finish that book!), so I have a kind of bad taste in my mouth when I think of it. Lady Susan by Jane Austen also uses it, and it's probably my least fav Austen novel. Hmm, maybe I don't really like it after all! :) However, it didn't bother me at all in this book, because it was consistent all the way through (until the last chapter). I felt that it read more like a diary than a letter.

      I ended up staying up way too late on a Saturday night to find out who Mr. Knightley was and how Sam would react, when I should have gotten to bed early, but I couldn't resist. :) I thought the ending was a little overly dramatic and unrealistic. It needed that ending, but I think the author should have added a little bit more time for Sam to work through her feelings.

      One other thought: I was a little disappointed in the faith element. I didn't know if this was considered a “Christian fiction” by the end of the book. Not only was the very first mention of religion not until page 141, but the few references were very vague in talking about “faith” and “God.” Only once that I saw did it even mention “Christ.” I felt like those few references were just added so the author could market it to the Christian community as more than just a clean romance. :( I wanted more!

      All in all, I was pleasantly surprised! I would give it a 7.5 out of 10.
    • 5/5
      Katherine's letter-writing approach is fresh, a form rarely seen in Christian fiction. Any initial reservations I might have had quickly disappeared as I began to get caught up in the action and fast-paced dialogue of Sam's letters to Mr. Knightley. What at first seems to be a light, Austen-based romance surprisingly goes far deeper and turns out to be so much more.Katherine is very knowledgeable on foster care system and classic novels; her love for classical fiction shines through every page. It is my understanding that this story is a modern version of Jean Webster’s Daddy Long Legs, which I've never read. Neither have I read the Austen classics from which these characters frequently quote, but that in no way lessened my understanding and enjoyment of this novel.Sam is a delightfully human heroine - fun, quirky, smart, warm, loving, flawed and broken all at the same time. As a child who had known abuse and neglect, she used literature almost as a defense mechanism, erecting walls around herself to keep from getting hurt, only to discover that "no matter how many characters I hide behind, how much work I bury myself beneath, my past still pushes me every day and haunts me every night." She seemed to find a sanctuary in the letters she was required to write, and Mr. Knightley became a glorified diary as she began to pour her heart out to her unknown benefactor. Sam and Alex are complex characters and there's a great supporting cast. I loved Sam's rapport with the young teen Kyle and how they helped each other open up about the abuse they had experienced. And I wish I could pull Professor Muir and his wife off the pages and into my own life. One of my favorite takeaways from this story is the Professor's admonition to Sam concerning her background: "It's your past - your story to share. But never let something so unworthy define you."While the spiritual element is subtle, grace is a major theme from beginning to end. When Sam questions Father John at Grace House about the grant, he tells her, "Consider it grace - a gift unwarranted and undeserved." Sam felt so real that I was walking along beside her as she gradually matured both emotionally and spiritually. Her words give voice to the grace she received: "How can I not believe that there is a God who exists and loves, when the people before me are infused with that love and pour it out daily? I still can't grasp that it's for me, but what if it is?"Storylines are tied up pretty neatly at the conclusion, but that flowed nicely with the theme of grace and I loved it. I especially enjoyed the last section which was written outside the letter format.Rarely do I finish a novel and wish I had time to start again at the beginning, but I think a second reading would reveal so many things that I missed the first time. Dear Mr. Knightley should easily appeal to fans of the classics, but I don't hesitate to recommend it to all readers. This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my honest review.
    • 5/5
      I was surprised to find out this was a debut novel. The Characters are fleshed out nicely and the plot is strong. I really enjoyed how the story opened with correspondence through letters. It allowed me to fall into the characters and feel of the times. I also like how it isn’t a re-telling, but embodies Mr. Knightley’s character in subtle ways.Samantha is far from flawless, which is what makes her easy to relate to. I sank into my easy chair and lived through her while reading this book.Katherine Reay is a stunning debut novelist, writing with emotive prose, strong imagery, and unique structure. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was that it ended. A must read for Austen fans.Cover: Love itTitle: Love itPublisher: Thomas NelsonPages: 328Pace: SteadyFirst Lines: Dear Sir, It has been a year since I turned down your offer. Father John warned me at the time that I was making a terrible mistake, but I wouldn’t listen.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a Review Copy free from the BookSneeze blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The options I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
    • 4/5
      In 2009 St. Martin’s Press coined the the term New Adult as an emerging genre in the publishing business. Focused on protagonists in the 18 – 25 age range, the genre is naturally targeted for readers of the same age. Katherine Reay’s debut novel, Dear Mr. Knightley, certainly qualifies as a New Adult novel, but this 50-something reader was drawn into the life and times of Samantha Moore, a young woman in desperate need of identity and purpose. This is a novel that will appeal to younger women readers, but definitely crosses the generational divide in its style and subject matter. Who out there has never struggled with finding the real person within?Samantha Sam Moore thinks she is adept at hiding — from her past, relationships and herself. Having retreated into her beloved books for years, she finds herself without a true identity and a life without direction or purpose. Faced with no job and no home, Samantha finds herself back at the group home she sought to escape. When a mysterious offer of graduate school is made, Samantha grasps the lifeline, but her hold on it is tenuous at best. Full tuition and living expenses for the prestigious journalism school comes with a cost — stretching herself far beyond the walls she has carefully erected. She must also write letters to her benefactor, a man known only as Mr. Knightley. It is within these letters that Samantha reveals and claims her true self.There is a lot to like about Dear Mr. Knightley. If you are an Austen or Bronte fan, you will be pleased with the many references to their works. But this novel is not a rewrite of a beloved classic. Told through letters, Dear Mr. Knightley is like a coming of age novel. Samantha is forced to confront her demons and to start living without the crutch of her literary friends. The growth of Samantha’s character is touching and tough, but will have you cheering for her triumphs and sympathizing with her failures. The message of God’s love is subtle, but is definitely portrayed through the loving support of an older couple who comes into Sam’s life. You are going to love the turn of events in that relationship!Definitely a book I will recommend, I think Dear Mr. Knightley would be perfect for a book discussion group, especially for those New Adults in the group!Recommended.Great For Book Clubs.(Thanks to LitFuse for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)