Book Review: Dear Mr. Knightly

Book: Dear Mr. Knightly by Katherine Reay
Size: 336 pages
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson (November 12, 2013)
My Rating: 🌟
Category: Fiction

Summary: Samantha Moore, a 23 year old orphan receives a grant from an anonymous benefactor to attend college and study journalism.  The only catch is that she must write the benefactor, Mr. Knightly on a regular basis. Samantha shares her daily life – success and failures through the letters she sends Mr. Knightly.

It is a modern day adaption of the 1912 children’s classic Daddy Long Legs.

My Review

I was a bit skeptical when the book began, “Dear Mr. Knightly…”  and I realized the book was written as a series of letters. The story line pulled me in and I didn’t find it distracting at all. As someone who loves to read and write, I felt drawn to the main character.

While it is listed as a Christian book, all I noticed were a few references to prayer near the end.  I appreciated that it was a clean book I would be comfortable recommending to my mom.

Part of me really enjoyed the book while another part of me got irritated with the syrupy-ness of Sam’s personality. It was a fun read and left me contemplating if I am being the sincerest, truest version of myself.

What I liked

• I had a hard time putting the book down, it was engaging and entertaining
• A couple of time I thought I knew what was coming but I was wrong.  I like being surprised.
• I listened to the Audible version and enjoyed just relaxing to an easy read.

What I didn’t like

• Lots of references to Jane Austen.  Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of Pride and Prejudice.  If you are, you’ll probably love the references.  She did reference other books I love like The Count of Monte Cristo – which was fun.
• At one point I felt like everything was working out just a little too perfectly.  The author must have thought so too, because she just a few paragraphs later reminded the readers of all that hadn’t worked out so perfectly in Sam’s life.  Good move on her part, but I wonder if she couldn’t have gone back and reworked it so the reader wouldn’t have even had those thoughts in the first place.

I would recommend this book to: This book would be a great beach read – fun and engaging.  I’d also recommend it to young adult women or Jane Austen fans – you’d love the references.  

Sum it up: A 20-something’s shedding the dragon skin she is hiding under and becoming the person she was meant to be.