Another historical fiction book that taught me so much about a woman that everyone should know about. Frances Perkins was the first female appointed to a U.S. cabinet position when FDR appointed her Secretary of Labor in 1933. She went on to serve for 12 years. The impact that she has had on the United States is immense, most notably the creation of the policy for social security. This book focuses on her life from her early 20's when she arrived in New York City to work for organizations pushing for labor regulations, until her death. There is a lot of information that Dray needs to convey so at times the book is a bit slow but overall a wonderful way to get more people to know about an extremely significant, fascinating woman.

I requested this ARC as the description intrigued me and I knew nothing about Frances Perkins. While this is a fictionalized account of her life, it was fascinating and I enjoyed learning a bit more about a time period I was not as familiar with. The thought that social security was the brain child of a woman was not one I was aware of it and I really enjoyed reading about Frances' evolution and how she became Secretary of Labor to FDR. A really interesting read and the characters, both real and imaginary, were fleshed out with great care. Definitely worth reading!

Becoming Madam Secretary was a fascinating read about Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet, appointed by FDR as Secretary of Labor. It was a position she held from 1933 to 1945. She was a pioneering force in creating the 40-hour work week, minimum wage, fought for the working class and the poor, and was the creator of Social Security. I have to admit that I did not know much about Frances Perkins’ history until reading this book. What an extraordinary woman. While the book is fiction, Stephanie Dray’s research and writing are phenomenal and brought Frances Perkins’ personal story to life. Historical fiction readers will love this book and could even make non-historical fiction readers fans of this genre. As always, I recommend not skipping the Author’s Note at the end of the book as it is full of valuable information about the author’s writing of this book.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Net Galley for the review copy.

Becoming Madam Secretary is a powerful and inspiring story of a woman who broke through barriers to achieve her dreams. Frances Perkin's journey to be the first woman appointed to the United States Secretary of State is a testament to her determination, resilience, and hard work. Her story shows us that anything is possible if we set our minds to it and never give up on our goals. Becoming Madam Secretary is a must-read for anyone who wants to be inspired by a true story of success.

I enjoyed reading about Frances Perkins, someone I was unfamiliar with, I probably should have spent more time attending US History class in high school.. but alas. At times, I felt the pacing lagged a bit, but that might have been a me thing.  The parts of her personal life and fight for equal rights were engaging, but when it got to the political pieces, it slowed down and was a struggle for me, reason for the 4 stars.... but then, I refer you back to the not attending US History class.. there was a reason, lol.  Anyway.  An important story, a great historical fiction, and would make a good book club pick. 

I was provided an advanced copy by the publisher through netgalley to read and honestly review.

4.5 stars

Stephanie Dray is one author that I have managed to stay current with, from her earlier books about Cleopatra‘s daughter to strong women in US history, she has kept me entertained and educated. Francis Perkins is not someone I am familiar with so I went in somewhat blind and was pleasantly intrigued and captivated with this remarkable woman.

Spanning most of Perkins life she is portrayed as a force to be reckoned with. Her drive, compassion and determination for change is well written in this epic sized book. Dray's passion and researched is evident in a story about a woman in politics is something unheard of in that time period.

Becoming Madame Secretary is a story of relationships, that between Perkins and FDR, her husband and daughter, her friend Mary and her country. The author notes were detailed, welcomed and finished this book off nicely.

My thanks to Berkley for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review

Becoming Madam Secretary is the perfect book for Women’s History Month! In her latest book, Stephanie Dray features a prominent woman named Frances Perkins, who made it her mission to improve the workplace conditions for women and children. In her rise to power, she met with much opposition but also gained the support of future president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Perkins became the first female member of a presidential cabinet, and was a driving force behind Social Security.

Frances was the original working woman who had it all, yet she questioned whether she was doing the right thing by having to sacrifice family time for the greater good of the country. Because of her efforts, I am grateful and in awe of her accomplishments.

This book is detailed and lengthy, but it never felt slow. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about both Perkins’ professional and personal life. The author’s note was insightful in regard to Perkins’ personal life. This is a book that I could read again!

I don't like reading nonfiction history books but I love learning so this fiction book about the first woman to hold a federal cabinet position was the perfect way for me to educate myself on the topic. I loved the author's writing style. This is a new to me author but her writing was so engaging and easy to read while still providing a lot of facts. I thought she did an amazing job researching Frances Perkins, US Secretary of Labor from 1933-1945 and I really enjoyed her author's note at the end. You can just tell she took her time and really invested in telling this story.

I didn't know anything about Frances Perkins. This book tells about her early life before becoming Madam Secretary and I really enjoyed the journey. I did feel like it dragged ever so slightly around the 75% mark so I guess I wouldn't have minded it being about 50 pages shorter but she had such a big life that I can understand it was hard to cut the book down even further. I really enjoyed the interactions with FDR and Al Smith and reading about events that actually happened resulted in me googling the events and being shocked and horrified at how conditions were back then. This was only 100 years ago but we have made so many advancements for the better thanks to the work Miss Perkins put in.

Thank you to Netgally and Berkley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own. 4.5 rounded up

The most if I’ve ever known about Frances Perkins was she was the first woman appointed to a cabinet post. I didn’t realize she held that job for 12 years. I also had no clue the work she did for the New Deal programs.
Reading this book was enlightening, Dray had a gift for bringing her characters to,life. Readers will hone in on Perkins’ life, personal and private.
Perkins was an activist from a young age and carried that banner for many decades.
I appreciated the detailed author’s note Dray provided at the end to let readers know what was fact and what was historical fiction.
It’s a compelling book.

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

I recognized Frances Perkins picture and name but that's about all I remembered about her until I read this book. She knew early on that she wanted to help those who most needed help and she seemed to surround herself with those who felt the same way. This book included just a few of the famous people she knew and spent time with and the story is not only a telling of her history but a reminder of our history and the things going in on the world while the United States was having its own growing pains.

At the same time that Frances was making history, on her way to becoming the first woman to become a member of the presidential cabinet, she was facing unsurmountable problems on the home front. Working at a job that required all her time and attention, she still needed to juggle making sure that her ill husband got the care he needed. At least the government jobs she held made it possible to provide the medical care her husband needed although those same jobs kept her from spending the time her husband and daughter would have liked to have spent with her. It seems Frances was always aware of the needs of families, the financial needs and the needs to spend time together. When she first started working and throughout her career, she fought against the long hours that people, even young kids, worked. She also fought against extremely dangerous work conditions. And she fought with her own guilt feelings of not being with her family when they most needed her.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt knew a huge asset when he met one and he made Perkins a member of his team early on. This story was a great way to remind myself of history and the author's note at the end goes into detail about what was written as it really happened, what timelines have been altered, what events are fictionalized or guessed at, and other interesting things concerning Perkins and the writing of this book. I shy away from politics and wasn't sure I'd enjoy this book but it's about a woman who felt so strongly about doing what was right for those who needed help and I'm amazed at all this woman accomplished with and/or despite others. We also get more than a few glimpses of dirty politics, where money and power are placed above the health and lives of humans. Perkins never stopped campaigning for the person who had nothing and she sacrificed much to help those who needed it the most.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.

This felt like an epic story. It’s well written and about a woman I knew nothing about. I liked Frances, she’s feisty and determined. She accomplished so much in her life. It’s an intense book at times. Historical fiction/ political fans will enjoy this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

am a big fan of Stephanie Dray! She is a fantastic author and I get so excited when I see that she is publishing something new. Her last book, The Women of Chateau Lafayette, was absolutely incredible and focused on three generations of women surviving- all of whom have a tie to the home of the famous Marquis de Lafayette. I highly recommend it if you like historical fiction.

Before reading Becoming Madam Secretary, I had never heard of Frances Perkins or really ever thought much about the struggles of women to perservere in our government. Dray tells her story with respect while still managing to reveal the struggles and weaknesses Frances must have survived. Frances Perkins became a real person to me while reading this book. She was an extraordinary person, and I came to appreciate the woman she was and the strides she made for women.

I am sorry to say that I didn't know much about Frances Perkins before reading this book but wow, she was an amazing woman! This was pretty much historical fiction at its best -- it felt familiar in the way it was written but also I learned so many new things. I wouldn't change anything about this book and I cannot recommend it enough -- Frances Perkins is a worthy subject!

Becoming Madam Secretary comes out next week on March 12, 2024, and you can purchase HERE!

THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT WAS OVER, THEY said. The republic, ruined. Democracy, done. It lay in broken, cracked-open pieces like the drought-afflicted farmland in the heart of the country.

Trampled under the sole-worn shoes of thirteen million jobless in the breadlines. Crushed under the weight of the economic depression and buried under collapsing banks.

Some cried out for a dictator like that swaggering bully Mussolin in Italy. But my countrymen elected Franklin Delano Roosevelt-man who couldn't walk, much less swagger.

They summoned him to save America, and in turn, he summoned me . . . .

A little bit ago, I gave a relatively unfavorable review to another "historical fiction biography" (which is what I would consider Becoming Madam Secretary as well), and I've been trying to put my finger on what made this book so much better, because I did very much enjoy it. I feel as though Frances Perkins truly came to life and jumped off the page for me (not even knowing who she was prior to the book). I could almost painfully accurately relate to some of the things she felt/went through (incredible in my opinion given the time she lived in vs. now); other parts of her personality and experience, I couldn't relate to at all, yet her character was vividly relatable in both instances. It was also a really interesting "behind-the-scenes" look at FDR. As Dray put it in her Author's Note, "In short, there is no American life that has not been ttouched by Frances Perkins and her service to the country...Yet most Americans don't remember her name." Obviously I started the book as one of those Americans, but I will not forget her name again, and I do believe everyone should know about her.

I was admittedly pre-inclined to love this book as an employment lawyer, law professor, and self-professed HR nerd, but it delivered in all ways! I was aware of Frances Perkins and her contributions to our country but I was so glad to get this detailed and entertaining account of her life. She was a trailblazer and did so much to create the good parts of our country. I think anyone who has any interest in feminism, employment issues, or political history would love and should read this book. It may be my favorite of the year so far.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

FANTASTIC!! FABULOUS!! FASCINATING!! I became obsessed with Frances Perkins and her story. I found myself disappointed when responsibility called and I had to close the book. Oh, how I wished I had the audiobook to pick up where I had to stop reading. Since I didn't, I couldn't wait to get home and dive back in.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that historical fiction is in fact fiction. Stephanie Dray blends the two together seamlessly. I was able to discover so much from about Frances Perkins. Searches turned to more searches. I became addicted with Madame Perkins' story and those that surrounded her.

The story isn't just about her time with FDR during his presidency. Instead of a blip of time in her life the reader is taken back in time to when Frances started her work in Hell's Kitchen at Harley House. Vivid descriptions of the struggles of those in the area, no longer had me guessing or imagining. I could picture the horrors and the strength of those aided them, including Frances Perkins. I was reminded of the importance of service to others.

Her dedication to those less fortunate was a strength. Watching her fall into politics was an adventure. She is an inspiration. Within this story she never gave up her values. Her dedication to her husband left me speechless. I am in awe of Frances Perkins Wilson thanks to Stephanie Dray and her beautiful words. I hope others read this book, gaining respect for those in the past that created a better future.

This was an enthralling read about an extraordinary woman, Frances Perkins. Understandably, a large part of the story focused on her relationship with FDR and the creation of Social Security. Another big part of her story hear was her marriage and then motherhood. These personal parts of her story were more emotional, but I found them moving and just as interesting. Overall, this book was well-written, and I felt Frances' frustrations, disappointments, and heartbreaks as well as her joys and triumphs. Also, I really appreciated the author's notes at the end.

This was hard to put down, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or books about strong women.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the early read.

Becoming Madam Secretary is the very best kind of historical fiction. It's the kind of novel that will send you down the rabbit hole of doing your own research. Learning about Frances Perkins is so interesting. We know so little about important women in history and she is someone everyone should know about. Stephanie Dray does a great job of interweaving history with the personal story of Frances and giving the reader a vision of the US at that time. There are so many parallels to what is going on in the US today. I loved every minute of reading this book. Do your book group a favor and suggest this amazing book for your next read. Now I want to do a field trip to Damariscotta, Maine to visit the Frances Perkins Center.

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray is a captivating and dramatic novel that tells the story of American heroine Frances Perkins. This book offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of America's most courageous trailblazers for women. Join Perkins on her journey as she navigates the challenges of her time and leaves a lasting impact on history.

Becoming Madam Secretary is a captivating and informative historical novel about Frances Perkins who was the first woman to hold a cabinet position in the U.S. The novel begins in 1909 when Frances was living in New York City conducting research on maternal nutrition and advocating for social reforms to protect workers - especially women and children - and follows her career and personal life through to 1935. Her work took her to Albany to lobby the state legislature for labour reforms which led to her working for Governor Smith and then Franklin Delano Roosevelt during his term as Governor. She became a trusted political advisor to FDR and when he was elected President in 1932 he appointed her Secretary of Labor. She served in that position for the 12 years of FDR's presidency focusing through the Depression years on passing social security legislation and then on additional labour and immigration reforms.

Frances Perkins was a fascinating and ambitious woman who played a key role in U.S. history but who isn't very well known and this well-researched and well-written historical fiction novel highlights her many accomplishments. This is a fictionalized account of the life of Frances Perkins, however, the author hasn't strayed far from the facts. There's an excellent Author's Note at the end of the book where she explains which aspects of the story are factual and where she had to make assumptions due to lack of documentation particularly relating to the personal life of Perkins.

I'm Canadian but I did know that Perkins was the first female Cabinet Secretary serving under FDR although I knew nothing of specific accomplishments throughout her life. In addition to highlighting all that she achieved, the author also shows how Perkins struggled to balance her demanding career and her drive to help others with marriage, motherhood and the mental health issues that plagued her husband and later her daughter. This inclusion of aspects of Frances Perkins' personal life makes her all the more relatable. The novel can be a bit slow at times but I appreciated the attention to historical detail and everything that I learned about this incredibly accomplished woman whose work had such an important impact on American society and who isn't as well known as she should be. Overall an enjoyable and informative read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I have long been obsessed with FDR and excited to read about the first woman in the Cabinet. I went in knowing nothing about Frances Perkins and was especially captivated by this book. I adored her early life and struggles, her friendship with Mary, and her relationship with her daughter. It is amazing how much the world changed in 100 years. It astounds me and I lived through half of it. I very much enjoyed the author note at the end as well.