Dear Mr. Knightley

November 11, 2013
Samantha Moore is more than ready to leave Grace House, the orphanage she has lived in for eight years. In order, however, to pursue her dream of writing, she remains and accepts a grant to attend journalism school. The grant holds an unusual stipulation: She must write regularly to the anonymous donor, as she would in a journal. Sam's letters, though addressed to âMr. Knightley,' could just as easily have begun âDear Diary.' Her elusive benefactor seems to know Sam's penchant for classic literature, pulling his pseudonym from Jane Austen's Emma. Debut novelist Reay laces Sam's speech, thoughts, and even her early journalistic endeavors with quotes and references from Austen, Charlotte Bronte, and Charles Dickens, among others. Sam's letters detail more than her academic pursuits. She shares her struggles to leave the orphanage and her tendency to hide in the words of her beloved books. The journal-entry format presents a deep first-person perspective as Sam learns to traverse the real world in search of her own happy ending. A delight for fellow lovers of the classics but also entertaining for those unfamiliar with referenced authors.

Starred review from November 15, 2013

Orphaned at an early age, Samantha Moore comforts herself by escaping into classic novels. Confronted with uncomfortable situations, she retreats, acting out the roles of the heroes and heroines. When an anonymous benefactor known only as Mr. Knightley offers to pay her way through Northwestern University's prestigious journalism school, the only condition is that Samantha write regular letters to him detailing her progress. College life is not easy. Samantha's classmates find it odd that she cannot converse in her own words, and her journalism professor threatens her with expulsion if she cannot put some of herself into her work. Slowly, she begins to find her own voice while her relationship with the mysterious Mr. Knightley deepens. Can she develop enough self-trust to create meaningful friendships, improve her writing, and possibly engage in a romantic relationship? VERDICT This delightful debut novel about how one young woman learns to become the person she was meant to be will resonate with fans of New Adult fiction and with readers who enjoy Jane Austen spin-offs.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.