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Dear Mr. Knightley
Dear Mr. Knightley: A Novel | Katherine Reay
Katherine Reay'sDear Mr. Knightleykept me up until 2:00 a.m.; I simply couldn't put it down."Eloisa James,New York Timesbest-selling author ofOnce Upon a Tower Samantha Moore has always hidden behind the words of othersnamely, her favorite characters in literature. Now, she will learn to write her own storyby 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 Universitys prestigious Medill School of Journalism. There is only one catch: Sam must write frequent letters to the mysterious donor, detailing her progress. As Sams 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 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, Reays debut novel follows one young womans journey as she sheds her protective persona and embraces the person she was meant to become. Dear Mr. Knightley is a stunning debuta pure gem with humor and heart. Serena Chase, USA Today Includes Reading Group Guide Plus Bonus Material: Q & A with Katherine Reay and Sams Reading List
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megnews
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Pickpick

A modern day retelling of Daddy Long Legs, told through a series of letters.

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ElizabethDemery
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

LOVE love love this book!

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sb3626
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So excited to get started with this! I just finished moving so the reading has been a bit slow for the last two weeks and I really missed it. Ready to jump into this one

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thea-block
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Pickpick

I loved the original “Daddy Long-Legs” book and the Broadway play (go look it up if you enjoyed these stories!) and this made it into a contemporary story including some hard knocks for the characters and redemptive inner changes. Probably my favorite Reay book in this Reay book kick I‘m on! 🤪

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

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OriginalCyn620
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#sweater #fallisbooked
🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🧡🍁🍂 4y
44 likes1 comment
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OriginalCyn620
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Megabooks Attachments is still my fav Rainbow Rowell!! 5y
TheBookHippie I really enjoyed Dear Mr Knightly reminded me of 5y
49 likes3 comments
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Kimberlone
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Bailedbailed

Both of these books are embarrassingly late, so I finally returned them to the library. The tagged book I actually tried to read the other night, but after about 50 pages I realized it was secretly an inspirational romance (I cannot with that genre). That, combined with the boring wilting flower that was the main character, made me decide to #DNF.

The Sherry Thomas I will definitely get back to at later time, though.

Buechersuechtling Never heard of the books that weren‘t your cup of tea but I like the “returning desk” of your library. Being independent from opening hours would maybe make me check out more physical books again … 4y
46 likes1 comment
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Kimberlone
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Oops - I locked my keys in the car and now have to wait for my roommate to bring me my spare key at work. Annoying thing to happen after an especially long day at the office, but at least I have some library books in my bag to keep me occupied while I wait!

Lady_Tigana_20 I see Hollow of Fear. I really like that series. Next book is out in October, I think. 5y
Kimberlone @Lady_Tigana_20 I really enjoyed the first two in the series, and I didn‘t realize a new installment was coming out soon! 5y
Lady_Tigana_20 It‘s called The Art of Theft. It‘s “expected” October 15th. (edited) 5y
46 likes3 comments
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Sapphire
Pickpick

This book surprised me. I thought it would be light, and the place where Samantha starts drew me in. But even with all the P&P homage, I didn't expect it to end as a romance. It's not that I didn't see the twist coming, I did. But the beautiful and painful way Sam develops feeling both quick and tortuously slow surprised me. This may be my favorite book of the year. It made me love my husband more for the reminder that he sees me, he gets me.

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Sapphire

The way pale yellow should look, like sunshine and butter, mixed with hope and cream.

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Sapphire
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Just started this while waiting for an iron injection. I am hooked! Thanks for the recommendation!

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smilingshelves
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Melissa_J I liked Dear Mr. Knightley 😊 5y
LibrarianRyan Yeahh. 5y
28 likes2 comments
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Graciouswarriorprincess
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My small library haul today.

hes7 I LOVE Dear Mr. Knightley! Enjoy! 5y
vicgreentoriafield Also a fan of Dear Mr. Knightley. It made me read some of her others 5y
Graciouswarriorprincess @hes7 Thank you. @vicgreentoriafield Good to know. 😀 5y
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GatheringBooks
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#QuotsyDec18 Day 21: Not sure whether being compared to a comfy #sweater is the most romantic description of someone.

Blueberry I'll take it 5y
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AlisonM
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Pickpick

I‘m a sucker for anything Jane Austen related... So I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I also enjoy books that are written as letters. #Book21of2018

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Clwojick
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Pickpick

This is the first book that I‘ve read from this author and I will certainly be on the lookout for more books from her. I found this one to be quite enjoyable. I liked it much more than others that I‘ve read on the Austen subject.

Have any of you guys read any others by Katherine Reay? Any suggestions on which one I should read next?

robinb I enjoyed this one by her. 😊 6y
DebinHawaii I echo @robinb with The Austen Escape and I also really liked: 6y
robinb @DebinHawaii I‘ll have to try that one too... thanks! 6y
staci.reads Dear Mr. Knightley has been my favorite of hers by far! I really liked The Bronte Plot, but wasn't crazy about Lizzy and Jane. I haven't read any others. 6y
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Clwojick
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Spent my evening #audiobaking protein balls while listening to the tagged book. My favourite go-to healthy(ish) recipe for when I‘m craving something sweet. Sooooo good (the balls, and the audio) 😉

KellyHunsakerReads Would you share your recipe? 6y
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Court7
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Pickpick

Not really sure how to review this book. Everything up until the last chapter was amazing. Reading it felt like praying. I don't know how else to say it. It spoke to me. It inspired me. It made me want to reflect and act. To be better. That being said the ending did not sit well at all. I cannot decided if it ruined it. I think it could have been the perfect book were it not for that and so I find myself inspired and disappointed and angry.

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hes7
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Pickpick

“If you don't sail high, with the risk of crashing and burning, do you really live? Can you love? I doubt it. I'm ready to fly.”

Book-addict Sam attends journalism school, thanks to mysterious benefactor “Mr. Knightley,” which allows her to meet new people, confront her past, and finally engage life by herself, not through characters. It‘s an epistolary delight, a reread I enjoyed. Now, I want to read all the classics.

Book 3 ✔️ #4in48Readathon

Bronte_Chintz Seen so many reviews regarding this book that tip one way or the other, I have finally stacked it! 👌🏻 6y
Cinfhen Great review 💚 6y
Henrik_Madsen I really like the cover too. 6y
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SW-T
Mehso-so

I picked this up because of the format. Generally like books written as letters. Our heroine is incredibly naive, but has a great memory, because she quotes books all the time. Not labeled as such, but it‘s basically Christian fiction with a confused virgin heroine who tries to grow up and connect more fully with the world at age 23. Reminiscent of Daddy Long Legs in a modern setting.

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JenlovesJT47
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For day 19 of the #150PnPCoverParty - there are so many books I could have chosen for #letters - it's one of my favorite types of books to read and I have a shelf dedicated solely to books written in diary/letter format on Goodreads. These 3 are my favorites. Dear Mr. Knightley is very Austenesque and highly recommended. Love Letters To The Dead changed the way I write in my own journal, and Guernsey is an amazing book, can't wait for the movie!

JenlovesJT47 Would love recommendations for other diary/letter books! I truly love this type of book. Must be the avid journaler in me! 🤓📚📓 6y
mellissimo 'Love virtually' is also a wonderful book! But it's written in E-Mails not letters, does that make a difference? 😉 6y
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CrowCAH Wow a whole GoodReads shelf?! Amazing! 😊 6y
JenlovesJT47 @mellissimo emails work! I really liked Attachments by Rainbow Rowell. Thanks for the rec! 🤗💚 6y
JenlovesJT47 @CrowCAH yes lol I might go a little overboard with my Goodreads shelves, I currently have 86! 😳 But I like to stay as organized as I can. Hard to do when I own almost 6,000 kindle books and my TBR on Goodreads is exploding! 😅 6y
SaturnDoo Oh my, you sound like me 🤣 I try to keep my GR shelves to a minimum...to time consuming to keep up with lol. I do have an epistolary shelf and a novels in verse shelf. I ❤ those writing formats.My 10,000+ epubs are organized on jump drives and in a private GR group. 6y
JenlovesJT47 @SaturnDoo you sound a lot more organized than me! 😅 6y
LeahBergen The tagged book sounds like Daddy Long Legs. Have you read it? 6y
LeahBergen A classic epistolary novel is 6y
JenlovesJT47 @LeahBergen I haven't read it but you're right, it's a retelling of Daddy Long Legs (which is free on kindle!) - another one that is on my never ending TBR 😅 6y
JenlovesJT47 @LeahBergen ooh thanks, I'll check that one out! 6y
CrowCAH @JenlovesJT47 oh wow! I do like to stay organized, too! I have a Pirates and nautical shelf to keep track of the ever growing TBR! As well as books I‘ve read by year. But no where near 86 shelves! Lol 6y
JenlovesJT47 @CrowCAH even with 86 shelves my stuff is nowhere near organized. I think it would take me a month straight of doing nothing else but that before I could have everything completely done! 😳😆 6y
SaturnDoo I enjoyed Daddy Long Legs. It's sequel is Dear Enemy which I haven't read yet ☺ 6y
JenlovesJT47 @SaturnDoo @LeahBergen thank you for reminding me I need to read Daddy Long Legs asap! It's been on my TBR for years. 6y
readinginthedark Wait, did you just say they‘re making a movie of Guernsey?! 😯🤩❤️ 6y
JenlovesJT47 @readinginthedark yes!! I posted the trailer the other day, it looks really good. Can't wait!! ❤️ 6y
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Mrs.AntonacciReads
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Pickpick

Unexpectedly delighted with this read. Super quick and heartwarming. Perfect for winter!

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MrsMetcalfeReads
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Today's library haul!! 😁😁📚📚

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austenandarthur
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Pickpick

A beautiful, lyrical, soul-searcher of a book. I cannot recommend it enough.

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Julie548
Pickpick

I loved this one! Makes me want to read Jane Eyre! #litsyatoz

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Lotsofbookstoread
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Loved this one!

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Books88
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Got some awesome #bookmail today 😍

Laura317 This was a cute book! 7y
diovival I did not care for this book. Not for me. 7y
Books88 I haven't read it yet, I'm just happy for a new pretty book ❤ 7y
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vicgreentoriafield I really enjoyed this one. It was fast and cute 7y
diovival @AJBowers I sound like the Debbie Downer of your comments section. Ha! 😊 7y
Books88 @diovival lol, everyone has their own experiences with a book. Some books that everyone and their mother praises, I get all excited and go to read and end up wondering what I just read and why everyone likes it. ;) 7y
71 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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WhitneyElaine
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I love this. And I can hardly put this book down!

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saholmes

I finished this book that I started during the readathon. I liked the book, but I felt weirdly unsettled at the end. Tears welled at the revelation but there did not seem to be a good resolution to me. I enjoyed the book especially all the quotations but the end left me vaguely disappointed. Maybe I just wanted a longer ending with more details than what I got.

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saholmes
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Celebrating beginning the book I was most looking forward to reading! #24in48

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vicgreentoriafield
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Goodreads says it best: Dear Mr. Knightley is a contemporary #epistolary novel with a delightful dash of Jane Austen.

#readjanuary

Samwise_Gamgee Prettiest shelves in all the land 7y
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OriginalCyn620
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These are the #epistolary novels that I own. I've read Bernadette, which was great! I'm reading Dear Mr. Knightley for the PopSugar challenge, and Perks I will read sometime soon. #readjanuary @RealLifeReading

MallenNC Bernadette is another good one! 7y
B.Reader All three are great! 7y
28 likes2 comments
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Imagineannie
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Bailedbailed

Couldn't do it. Great premise (I love Jean Webster's Daddy Long Legs) but the execution distracted. The novel, like its inspiration, is in epistolary form BUT the letters from the protagonist read like they're written not by a grad student, but by the narrator of a novel. She also observes and describes the reactions of others to her with a clarity that seems unlikely for someone meant to be socially awkward.

Right book, wrong reader?

MrBook Nice review! 7y
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EloisaJames
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Pickpick

This is a wonderful rewriting of one of my favorite early YAs, Daddy Long Legs. I think I read that book 30 times as a kid--arguably essential to my career as a romance writer. This is a great Austenian version! #authorsonlitsy #romantsy

Dragon I loved an old movie with Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron called Daddy Long Legs 🕷 7y
EloisaJames @Dragon that's a version of the book! 7y
monicab50 Loved the movie but never read the book 😔 I'll try this 😊 7y
JuliaQuinn I'm so glad you liked this! Katherine was so excited when I told her I knew you. 7y
71 likes20 stack adds4 comments
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beagle.mama
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Pickpick

Finished this last night. It is sweet, innocent, sad, tough, anger inducing, and comfortable. The story of a young woman who spent most of her life in foster care and how she fared in grad school thanks to an anonymous benefactor. Told through letters. Lots of references to Austen, making me feel I should go back and reread.

GlitteryOtters Between your review & @rubyslippersreads comment, y'all just sold me on this one💕 8y
beagle.mama @GlitteryOtters I hope you enjoy it! I'm still rooting for her. 8y
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Meglet
Mehso-so

I never fell in love with this book. It's easily read - I didn't have any trouble spending an hour reading - but nothing sucked me in. It was easy for me to finish and walk away - the characters didn't haunt me and make me want more. And that seems to be all there is to the book - characters. I never felt like I got to know the settings or anything else that would make the story come alive for me.

LibraryLydia Have you read the original? 8y
Meglet @LibraryLydia, no. What original? 8y
LibraryLydia It's based on the 20's novel Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster. It's aaaaaamaaazzzing and sweet and much better than this. 8y
Meglet Oh! Ok, thanks. I'll have to check it out! 8y
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Meglet
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I started this one after finishing The Madwoman Upstairs, based on recommendations. It's a fine story so far, just not scratching the itch.

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Karen4
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Pickpick

I am only halfway done with this book, but it is so great I want everyone to know about it as soon as possible.

TheBookHippie Absolutely loved this book!!!! 8y
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bookswithbooze
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Pickpick

The book made me cry and smile. I'd recommend this for anyone who is going through a hard time right now but wants to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

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LibraryLydia
Bailedbailed

I just couldn't get past page 30. There was none of the wit or spark of the original story in it & I was not interested in the protagonist at all. I'll admit I started it with high expectations, which is my own fault. If you haven't read Daddy Long Legs you'll probably like it better than I did.

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debrthom
Pickpick

If you love the classics, you will enjoy Katherine's fictional characters. Her style is fun and easy. Her spins of classic authors make her books enjoyable. Great book to take along on a vacation.

Laura317 I love her books, too! 8y
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