Clever, wordy and appealingly feminist, Confessions of a Grammar Queen is the story of a young woman finding herself, and finding her way in the midst of a misogynistic publishing house. Readers will be rooting for Bernadette’s success.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC. Bernadette Swift is trying to make her way as a copyeditor in 1960's NYC. While it is an uphill climb, she has friends, including her Great Dane Frank that make the job easier. Not only is she fighting for her right to work but also fighting equality for women. Cute story with a little drama - easy read! Like the last book, Knight gave the queen's dog chapters to express his emotions, she did the same with this book and Frank. Though I found the first book a quirky read, it grows on you and the "Frank" chapters are super cute! #ConfessionsofaGrammarQueen #ElizaKnight #SourceBooksLandmark #June2025

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Bernadette is such a strong female character you can't help champion and fall in love with. As she sets in to change the male-dominated publishing world, you are drawn into the expertly plotted and creative world of the author. Intriguing.

This book is a feminist dream. Bernadette is a sassy copy editor at a publishing company. She is a total boss. But I love the soft spots she has in her personal life. Fun read with so many odes to literary icons and words in general. Would recommend for the summer.

I really enjoyed this! It reminded me a lot of Lessons in Chemistry, in that there's a strong female lead trying to hold her own in a sexist, male-dominated workplace, a charming male coworker who actually wants to see her succeed, and a particularly perceptive dog who pops in now and then as a narrator.

Bernadette Swift knows her worth (as a woman and as a copy editor), and I loved how sure of herself she was, even with so many people trying to get in her way. I was rooting for her the whole time, and I’m glad the story ultimately had a happy ending. Given the time period, I’m not sure how realistic it is that someone like her boss would’ve actually faced any real consequences... but it was still satisfying to see it play out that way.

I also loved Bernadette’s circle of friends and their feminist book club. The way they showed up for each other was genuinely moving and made me want to find my own book club to join.

You do have to suspend your disbelief a little. Bernadette and some of the other women go through a lot at the hands of the men in their lives, and it felt like everyone’s stories wrapped up a little too neatly. Not a dealbreaker for me, just something that made the ending feel a bit more idealized.

The chapters from Bernadette’s dog Frank’s POV were extremely cute, but didn’t add much to the story for me. That said, they didn’t take anything away from it either IMO.

All in all, I liked this a lot. It was very readable, and I found myself just wanting to keep going to see how everything turned out. A solid 3.75–4 stars for that!

Thank you to NetGalley (and of course the publisher) for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I admit, I picked up this book for its cover and title, thinking it was a modern-day story set against the backdrop of NY publishing…something chicklit-y, maybe light and a bit snarky. This book is not that.

Set in the 1960s, the book is about a young female copyeditor making her way in the male-dominated world of publishing. Bernadette may be young, but she is the best grammarian the publishing house has and works the hardest, constantly being given an unreasonable number of manuscripts to edit each day...which she completes with speed and accuracy, turning twisted prose and error-filled passages into works of art. Against her is her abusive, angry, sexist boss and her team of male colleagues, who put her down and thwart her efforts even as she outperforms them. She stays the course and puts her head down despite the harassment because she has one goal in mind—to become to first female CEO in publishing history.

She finds an ally in a man in management, and support from the group of women she cultivates outside of her publishing job. When she is fired for rejecting her boss’s advances, she finds support she did not realize she had, and is able to break the first of many glass ceilings.

The Vietnam War rages on in the background of the book as Bernadette’s brother is fighting overseas, providing another layer of tension to her story. She inherits her brother’s dog, who also plays a role in the book, sometimes getting his own POV chapters that highlight his responsibility as a caretaker of Bernadette and everyone in their neighborhood.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I sped through this one, it's a fun book but pretty surface-level "rah rah" pussy-hat feminism -- there is a character clearly based on Ruth Bader Ginsburg cheering the main character along -- but it definitely kept me entertained. I did enjoy the aspects about copy-editing that I wasn't previously aware of. The perspective of the main character's dog was a pretty silly addition, but I liked the plot points about her brother in Vietnam. Overall, I could take or leave this, but I'm not mad I read it.

I truly loved this book. As an ELA teacher and grammar fiend, it hit all the boxes for a book I'd enjoy. Fans of Lessons in Chemistry will enjoy this historical fiction, along with the playful insights from Frank the dog.

This is a story to embrace. It reminds us of the power of the 60s with the profound changes in our country.

Some of us remember the days when women were hired as secretaries pouring coffee for male workers. Even when they had comparable jobs, the pay wasn’t equal for years. Most men felt like women should be at home taking care of the children, cooking dinners and cleaning. They never thought women were smart and powerful enough to be in leading roles of companies.

This story took place in NYC with the publishing industry just six decades ago. All along, I was cheering for Bernadette who took risks at her copy-editing job to make an impact for equal rights for women. She used her knowledge of rarely-used words and strength with proofreading to show a superior intellect at her work place. In her free time, Bernadette encouraged women to attend a book club at the library with feminist literature.

The plot was fun and quirky with romance on the side. It was almost too peculiar with a big dog, Frank, who belonged to Bernadette. He had his own chapters and a voice for how he felt. I love dogs and it made me pause thinking about them. However, I felt like Frank took away from the importance of what the author was trying to convey.

The author also included historical presence at the time with the early military presence in South Vietnam. There were some inspiring quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt and a few others. At the end, readers were left with a positive note for the progress made by a few women for a lot of women.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with the expected release date of June 10, 2025.

Enlightening historical fiction. Both empowering and romantic. Thoroughly enjoyed Bernadette’s plight at a time when women in the workplace were relegated to secretaries or receptionist positions. But she made her way through the ranks, bolstering her friends and finding romance along the way.

I enjoyed the storyline but felt it was slow at times. The characters were fun.

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

This book was an absolute delight to read. Bernadette's journey toward rediscovering her self-worth was deeply inspiring and thought-provoking. What truly stood out to me were the heartfelt friendships she developed with the women around her. Each relationship felt genuine and uplifting. And, of course, there was her wonderful love interest, Graham his connection with Bernadette added such a warm, romantic layer to the story. And let’s not forget Frank, her loyal dog, who brought so much heart and humor to the narrative. Frank's chapters were my favorite! If you’re looking for a book that’s empowering, funny, heartfelt, and full of romance, this is the perfect choice!

What a FUN book! One unlike any I’ve ever read. The concept and theme behind this book was so fun. I loved it! Such a fun character to follow too.

It’s the 60’s and Bernadette is a green copy editor at a large publishing company. Her dream is to be the CEO.

Bernadette’s boss is one of those demeaning and unenlightened men who treat women as less than the men. With twice the work and very little support, she pushes on.

With the help of her book club and one lovely fellow at work, she will not let anything stop her.

What a wonderful story!

NetGalley/ June 10, 2025 Sourcebooks Landmark

An absolutely entertaining read about the publishing world in the 1960s. Bernadette wants to eventually be the CEO of a publishing house but for now she has to navigate her way through the chauvinistic world of male copy editors that want nothing to with a woman in the business world. She rallies the other women working as secretaries and receptionists to fight back for the right to work in jobs commensurate with their qualifications. The male characters run the gamut from full on awful humans to compassionate and supportive friends. The characters are well developed and have diverse personalities that are amusing to read about. A pleasant surprise were the chapters from her dog Frank's perspective. He is a Great Dane and plays an important role in the story. I enjoyed how Bernadette had a goal and stopped at nothing to achieve it. The epilogue wraps up the story nicely and the Author Notes give you some backstory of how the protagonist was based on real women, which I love.
For those historical fiction fans that want a little lighter content, this is the perfect story of a woman overcoming the challenges of the time. I highly recommend this delightful book!
#ConfessionsofaGrammarQueen #historicalfiction #netgalley
Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed learning about Bernadette and I especially loved reading Frank’s perspective. I liked that the story didn’t revolve around a love interest but instead watched Bernadette come into her own and rally with other women.

I loved this book! I love the female empowerment, and just the mindset of lifting other women up. I think it was a good read, and it kept me entertained! I love the way it made me think, and how it was written!!

Bernadette is a woman working in publishing in the 60s. She is such a smart, determined character who is impossible not to fall in love with!

She is faced with challenges that were all too commonplace for women in the 60s. She is ready to fight for what is right and to be the change she wants to see.

She makes enemies and friends along the way, and she might find herself a love interest to stand by her side.

Also, Frank, her great dane, has his own POV throughout the book. I mean, come on!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

A woman copy editor's story set in the 1960s publishing world is intriguing for any logophile. Bernadette is a feisty heroine and I loved her thoroughly. Her character is very inspiring and yet very real in light of the social context. The writing flows effortlessly, with well-researched nods to the women's rights movement and literature.. There is a whole ensemble of supporting characters that are done beautifully too. The only parts that felt forced were that of Frank, her pet. While the love between Bernadette and Frank shined through, the dog's POV felt out of place at times.
Apart from that, the book is enjoyable and a toast to female friendships,determination and love of language. The book club, the quotes, the discussions- all were very endearing.
I have a personal fondness for this book due to its homage to Jane Eyre, my all-time favorite classic. To sum up it’s an uplifting and encouraging read.