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A review by theamyleblanc
Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
5.0
This book wrecked me. And then it pieced me back together with warmth, love, and understanding.
I love Austen-adjacent stories and I've read a lot of them. This one is different. It doesn't take the characters and re-write the story in a different setting or time or situation. Dear Mr. Knightley borrows bits and pieces here and there to help Sam navigate life. There's a veritable feast of literary references in this book; it was entertaining to guess what things were from or to see how it was used. It was lightly done and always fit the moment.
I loved Sam, and Alex, and Ashley, and Kyle. They were all distinct, dynamic, and deep. I wanted to know all of them, be friends with all of them. And I identified more with Sam than I expected. Some of the things she struggles with are so universal and those moments hit me hard. Some of the things are specific to her and her life and sometimes it was tough to read. But it was never without hope, strength and courage.
The epistolary style was an amazing choice. Sam's story could only be told this way. It immediately draws you in because you feel like she's talking directly to you. The reader becomes her confidante - almost becomes a version of Mr. Knightley - and that's something to be cherished. It was also easy for me to lose the sense of story structure which allowed me to stop anticipating the next thing and just be present in the moment with Sam.
Thank you, Katherine, for writing such a lovely novel (and a debut, no less!). I treasured every word.
I love Austen-adjacent stories and I've read a lot of them. This one is different. It doesn't take the characters and re-write the story in a different setting or time or situation. Dear Mr. Knightley borrows bits and pieces here and there to help Sam navigate life. There's a veritable feast of literary references in this book; it was entertaining to guess what things were from or to see how it was used. It was lightly done and always fit the moment.
I loved Sam, and Alex, and Ashley, and Kyle. They were all distinct, dynamic, and deep. I wanted to know all of them, be friends with all of them. And I identified more with Sam than I expected. Some of the things she struggles with are so universal and those moments hit me hard. Some of the things are specific to her and her life and sometimes it was tough to read. But it was never without hope, strength and courage.
The epistolary style was an amazing choice. Sam's story could only be told this way. It immediately draws you in because you feel like she's talking directly to you. The reader becomes her confidante - almost becomes a version of Mr. Knightley - and that's something to be cherished. It was also easy for me to lose the sense of story structure which allowed me to stop anticipating the next thing and just be present in the moment with Sam.
Thank you, Katherine, for writing such a lovely novel (and a debut, no less!). I treasured every word.