I have enjoyed other novels by Eliza Knight including The Mayfair Bookshop and The Queen’s Faithful Companion. So, when I see her name on a book cover, I am excited.

This time, Knight explores the world of publishing in the early 1960s. To say that women were not highly valued for their skills is an understatement.

As this story opens, Bernadette is working on editorial tasks but is not respected for this. Rather, she is asked to bring her boss’s dirty laundry to the cleaner. Understandably, Bernadette does not appreciate this and wants more. Will she succeed? Will friends that she makes at the New York Public Library help her? Find out in this enjoyable read that also features a likeable editor who has fallen for Bernadette. I recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Knight’s book deftly captures the trials of the 1960s and women’s rise to equality. I found the publishing house to be the perfect microcosm and the fashions were fabulous. A must read for anyone who doesn’t recognize how far we’ve come and how easy it would be to slide backwards.

The struggle is real for women in every decade! This book was a perfect illustration of the battles that came before us. Set in the 1960s, Confessions of a Grammar Queen reflects the devotion and determination of women (and even a few men) that believed in a woman's right to be treated fairly and equal to their male counterparts. The emotional and even physical hardships our main female lead, Bernadette, had to endure was sad/frustrating/disappointing only because I know it really happened to so many women that came before us.

I loved Bernadette's dedication and bravery as she fought for what she knew she deserved. I also appreciated her ability to find balance between belief in herself, willingness to accept help, and the courage to call out those around her that would keep her down. The dog POV was a fun addition and gave us a peek at the outside perspective of what his owner was going through. This was a story of love, faith, and resolve set against a background of war both at home and in other lands.

Solid 4 out of 5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Confessions of a Grammar Queen is a spirited historical novel set in 1960s New York, following Bernadette Swift, a determined copyeditor at Lenox & Park Publishing. Aspiring to become the first female CEO in the publishing industry, Bernadette faces the challenges of a male-dominated workplace, including a sexist boss and a jealous coworker. Seeking support, she joins a feminist book club at the New York Public Library, finding camaraderie and strength among like-minded women.

The novel excels in portraying the struggles and triumphs of women in a patriarchal society, highlighting themes of ambition, friendship, and resilience. Bernadette's journey is both inspiring and relatable, and the inclusion of her loyal Great Dane, Frank, adds a charming touch to the narrative.

However, some readers may find certain elements of the story predictable. The portrayal of the antagonist characters, such as the boss and coworker, can feel somewhat one-dimensional, lacking the complexity that could have added depth to the narrative. Additionally, while the feminist themes are empowering, they may come across as heavy-handed to some readers.

Overall, Confessions of a Grammar Queen is an engaging and empowering read, offering a glimpse into the challenges faced by women striving for equality in the workplace. While it may not offer groundbreaking twists, it provides a satisfying and enjoyable exploration of ambition, friendship, and the pursuit of one's dreams.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own unless otherwise noted.

I couldn’t resist this book – the title, the cover, and the author! With a feminist women’s book club and the setting of New York in the early 1960s, this was a book I had to read.

It pretty much lived up to its promises – with a likeable main character, a sweet romance, a workplace drama and a historic setting “about women’s rights, women’s importance in the workplace, women opening up and talking about things that they’ve never shared before as well as the importance of female friendships and building a community.”

I think there will be plenty of readers who are young enough to be newly aware of the treatment of and attitude toward women during this time period – “the 1960s Equal Pay Act, the lack of maternity leave, being overlooked for promotions, and being told by their male counterparts that they didn’t belong.” I began to work in an office in the mid-1970s, and even though the National Organization of Women was then 10 years old, most women were as powerless as those in “Confessions.”

In addition to the growth of women’s rights, I agreed with the emphasis that reading and book clubs create a bonding experience and a supportive community.

If you liked Lessons in Chemistry and The Book Club for Troublesome Women, this is the book for you.

Bernadette loves grammar and is an amazing copy editor, but her terrible boss gives her no credit, but the bulk of the work. Did I mention this is the 1960s publishing world? When women everywhere were fighting for equal rights, not just in the workplace. This was a book about the strength of women coming together and sticking up for themselves. And if you have ever worked with toxic people, you will recognize them. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful book. I loved it from the very first page!

This was a decent read but for a supposedly detail oriented copy editor (possibly including fact checking) some things just didn’t work in 1963. If you look past that it’s a fun read. Charming and thoughtful. Enjoyed the characters and setting. Frank’s chapters were amazing.

This is Lessons in Chemistry for the bookish set! The main character in Confessions of a Grammar Queen has very similar vibes, she’s a woman who is absolutely amazing at what she does and is therefore very intimidating to the men around her who are very protective of their boys’ club in the workplace. Except in this story, Bernadette Swift has my dream job - a copy editor for books at a publishing house. She is the only female copy editor in the department, and works for a truly insufferable (yet sadly believable) man who is clearly threatened by her.

The story comes together as she starts connecting with other women through a feminist book club (along with a few progressive-thinking men) to stand up for themselves to enact change. I was cheering her every step of the way, at the same time so grateful for the women like her who came before me and made my presence in the workplace more accepted. It’s not just about the movement though, it’s a well-rounded story with family, friends, and romance - plus a truly charming Great Dane named Frank! I love a good dog character, and he absolutely delivered. Thanks to those elements, this novel almost had a cozy vibe to it that I wasn’t expecting but really enjoyed.

Highly recommend checking out this inspiring, uplifting story, it’s a great read.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark Publishing for sending this DRC for review consideration.

a very rare DNF for me, i did not like the writing style or the story line, I got to 12% before i abandoned it. I never DNF, so small chance i go back

I thought this book was so beautifully written! Bernadette Swift works in copy editing in New York, a predominantly male-dominated field in the 1960s. It shows the struggles of the work disparities without the book being a downer. I loved the relationship between the FMC and the MMC, and it was just a sub-point in a book with a larger meaning, which was also so fitting for the type of man that the MMC. Also, the chapters from Frank’s POV had me GIGGLING as I was reading it. Overall, an easy and enjoyable read. My first read from Eliza Knight but will definitely be picking up another from her.

Books. The 1960s. A character similar to Anna Wintour. All of these ideas lead me to read “Confessions of a Grammar Queen.” Plus there’s a dog. I really enjoyed the well written story about a strong determined Bernadette Swift who conquers the company ladder and rises to the top.

I went into this with an open mind, hoping for a light and entertaining ARC book. Unfortunately,
the Vietnam sub-plot felt unnecessary, the dog chapters and the main character didn’t hold my interest and I found the story boring. There was simply too much going on, and none of it was done particularly well. In the end, I DNF’d — not the book for me.

THANK YOU NETGalley for the ARC of this book.

Confessions of a Grammer Queen by Eliza Knight is a romcom, women's fiction novel. Bernadette is the first female copyeditor at Lenox and Park Publishing in the early 1960's. She faces sexism, pay inequality, and harassment, no name a few of the obstacles. This book got off to a little bit of a slow start for me, but once I got into it, it was an absolutely wonderful read!! The author did a great job of telling an important story while keeping the reader engaged and entertained. I loved how vibrant the characters were and having periodic chapters written from her dog’s perspective were absolutely delightful! Just a fantastic read that must be added to your TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebook Landmark, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book and I thought it gave great insight into women’s rights in the workplace in the 60s. It was an easy read and I really enjoyed Frank’s chapters in the book. This book had a lot of parallels to Lessons in Chemistry, which I enjoyed.

Eliza Knight brings the 1960s to life with this well-researched, uplifting, unapologetically feminist story of women fighting for a seat at professional tables. I loved it!

I was with Bernadette every step of the way as she navigates the sexist culture of the New York publishing industry and her particularly horrid boss. As a grammar loving little girl who grew into a grammar-loving woman (why, yes, I did red-pencil memos I received from corporate execs), I was absolutely gleeful soaking in her extensive vocabulary and perfectly placed punctuation while editing a plethora of manuscripts (8 to 1 vs. the men!).

Female bonds are strong in this book. I especially enjoyed the clandestine book club that meets at the library. Think banned books, supportive sisters, and, ultimately, a rising up against the injustices of the reigning patriarchy. It's fun, emotional, and empowering. It is found family and sisterhood on the very best level though it isn't always easy. Knight goes deeper to explore issues, especially generational ones, that bring differing perspectives to the fore.

While serious issues are centered in this book, the overall tone is lighter than one might expect and that is due, in large part, to Bernadette's beloved Frank. In fact, there are chapters sprinkled through the book that are told from Frank's perspective. And who, you may ask is Frank? Is he Bernadette's romantic interest? No, that title goes to a certain editor who more than earns his romance hero title. Frank is Bernadette's protector, her confidante, her best friend, and her roommate. Frank is a dog, a huge Harlequin Great Dane to be specific, and Frank has opinions. Frank's chapters bring humor, endearing emotion, and fierce loyalty to the story. I cannot imagine the book without him.

If you're in the mood to take a step back in time (I graduated high school in 1969. I can't bring myself to call this historical fiction) and cheer on Bernadette, her co-workers, friends, and Frank as they fight the good fight for respect and equality in the workplace, add Eliza Knight's Confessions of a Grammar Queen to your summer reading list. I highly recommend it.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review

4.25⭐
As a copy editor in the 1960s, Bernadette is focused and excellent at her job in spite of the persistent obstacles from her boss and male colleagues. Joining a women's book club initially provides camaraderie and intellectual exercise, but the discussions move beyond just talk about books into shared experiences and then action. As someone who lived through it, the dynamics and support in the discussions brought it all back. Come for the interesting historical aspects, but stay for Frank, the Great Dane.

Loved, loved, loved this fun, fresh, feel-good, feminist novel! Eliza Knight’s Confessions of a Grammar Queen is whipsmart, entertaining and filled with nicely drawn characters. The 1960s setting in Manhattan was a brilliant choice, and Knight salted the tale with period-specific details, including clothing and music, that bring the era to life. The women find themselves in circumstances all too relatable in the present day. (We’ve come a long way, baby, but not far enough!). And the very best portions of the book are the chapters devoted to an adorable Dane named Frank!

Highly recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I’m always looking for new historical fiction to read and this fit the bill. It was fascinating to learn a bit more about what it would have been like to be in the publishing industry as a woman in the 1960s. I loved Bernadette and really enjoyed this novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC.

A young lady in the 60's was working towards her favorite job. She was what they today would have called a nerd. It was quite funny at times even though it is a story about a situation for ladies in the 60's in the workplace. I enjoyed reading the story and the author's branch out to different types of stories and topics.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and leaving a review by my own accord.