Dear Mr. Knightley: A Novel

Samantha's only friends were characters in books, but her real life takes an extraordinary turn when a mysterious "Mr. Knightley" offers her a full journalism scholarshipon the condition that she write to him regularly. Will their long-distance friendship unlock her heart? Sam 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 that 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 Universitys prestigious Medill School of Journalism. There is only one catch: Sam must write frequent letters to the mysterious donor, detailing her progress. Sams letters to Mr. Knightley become increasingly confessional as she begins to share everything from her painful childhood memories to her growing feelings for eligible novelist Alex Powell. While Alex draws Sam into a world of warmth and literature that feels like its 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. Reminding us all that our own true character is not meant to be hidden, Katherine Reays debut novel follows a young womans journey as she sheds her protective persona and embraces the person she was meant to become. Praise for Dear Mr. Knightley: Katherine Reays Dear Mr. Knightley kept me up until 2:00 a.m.; I simply couldnt put it down.Eloisa James, New York Times bestselling author of Once Upon a Tower Sprinkled with classic literary references and filled with poignant characterizations, Katherine Reays modern retelling of Jean Websters Daddy-Long-Legs is both reverently crafted and delightfully surprising.Lauren Ann Nattress, Austenprose.com Katherine Reays touching debut novel made me cry in all the right places. For joy.Laurie Viera Rigler, author of Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict Sweet, stand-alone contemporary romance Includes discussion questions for book clubs, a Q&A with the author, and Sams reading list