Dear Mr. Knightley

Title: Dear Mr. Knightley
Author: Katherine Reay
Genre: Fiction
Summary: From Amazon: " Samantha Moore has always hidden behind the words of others, namely, her favorite characters in literature. Now, she will learn to write her own story by giving that story to a complete stranger. 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, 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.
Reminding us all that our own true character is not meant to be hidden, Reay's debut novel follows one young woman's journey as she sheds her protective persona and embraces the person she was meant to become.
Rating: Good
Why I Like It: This book has a lot of references to Jane Austen's work, which I really enjoyed. Also, the main character is an adult that has been through the foster care system. I have a special place in my heart for orphan's and children in foster care. I have worked with some of these kids as an occupational therapist. This book is a good example of how we can love the people around us and provide family for them whether they are blood family or not.
Reviewer: Brigette