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.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book! There were portions I loved - any book set in a literary-focused world and with a vocab that has me learning new words is a win for me, but admittedly there were times it seemed a bit forced. I felt like there were side characters whose stories seemed disconnected from the central plot. I enjoyed the exploration of women’s rights and the themes of strong women and the power in finding a community that supports one another.

I seem to be in the minority, but I was not a big fan of this book. I found the main character to be pretentious and the chapters from her dog’s perspective felt out of place. I’ve frequently seen this book compared to Lessons in Chemistry and find that quite apt, as I didn’t care for that either but it was widely loved.

New York - 1963

Bernadette Swift is the only female copy editor at Lenox and Park Publishing, yet her boss, Mr. Wall, thinks of her as his maid. He piles more work on her than the other (male) copy editors and expects her to make coffee for everyone even though his secretary sits with nothing to do. the other men in the office often play pranks on her as well. Bernadette is determined to become the first CEO of the publishing company.

Graham Reynolds is an executive with the firm and is always pleasant to her. They sometimes run into one another when she sits on her favorite bench outside and eats her lunch. He tells her that there is an opening for Senior Copy Editor and she applies for it with Mr. Wall who tells her NO. But she persists and she agrees to give her the job temporarily and with it she gets even more piles of work.

Bernadette has a Great Dane dog named Frank. He loves her so much and works hard to protect her. We read what he’s thinking. Several of her neighbors love Frank and look out for him during the day.

At a book club meeting, a group of women discuss the things that women face that aren’t fair and they decide to call a rally to have everyone discuss what they need to do to solve these problems.

Oh my gosh! I loved, loved, loved this book! I started work in the 1960s timeframe and know how women were looked down upon and treated shabbily. I was amazed how Bernadette always kept her cool but stood up for herself. Men and women in the work place can be so ugly and catty. I have always been an avid stickler for things being perfectly written and enjoyed my times as the Red Pen Secretary marking correspondence to ensure it went out of the office letter perfect. Today, I’m retired and reading and reviewing is my passion so reading this book about copy editors was simply joyous. I hope readers will grab this book and enjoy every page as much as I did. Well done!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Bernadette Swift, a young copyeditor at Lenox & Park Publishing, is determined to become the first female CEO in the publishing industry. But first she needs to take the next step up that ladder with a promotion that her boorish and sexist boss wants to thwart. Seeking a base of support, Bernadette joins a feminist women’s book club at the New York Public Library, and soon, she’s inspiring her fellow members to challenge the male gatekeepers and decades of ingrained sexism in their workplaces and pursue their personal and professional dreams.

I enjoyed all the vocabulary in this one. Believe me, with a copy editor as a main character, you learn a great deal!

I also enjoyed the premise of this story. I love ambition and Bernadette has it in spades. And trust me when I tell you she deals with a lot of discrimination and misogynistic issues. People can be so cruel.

But, I am in the minority on this one. To me, this book is a hot mess. There are quite a few historical inaccuracies…and trust me, I never catch these. But these are a bit obvious. (Barista…in the 60s?) I also found Bernadette to be very inconsistent with her reactions. One minute I am amazed at her strength and the next I am wanting to pinch her head off for not showing enough strength. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️.

I was also not a big fan of one of the narrators. She was a bit overly dramatic. However, there is a cute dog in this book. And he made the whole story. The narrator did fantastic for this furball!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

If you enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry, you will love this book!

Set in the publishing world in the 1960s, we follow Bernadette and her desire to run a publishing house one day. However, she has to get past the misogynist men of that time, especially her boss, Mr. Wall.

This book flew by! I was engrossed in Bernadette's life, her Great Dane Frank, seeking women's rights, and so much more. I rooted for Bernadette on every page. I loved her usage of the English language. She was not afraid to use words we may not use every day. She was proud of her copy editing skills, and who can blame her? Editing is hard work, ensuring that the right words and phrases are used, not to mention that the sentences make sense. I love that her red pencils have a B on them for Queen B.

The men portrayed in this novel are typical of this time period. However, not all men wanted to keep the women at home in the kitchen. There are a few good men sprinkled throughout. I also thought it was interesting when she learned something about her mom's ambitions when she was younger. You can't keep a good woman down for long.

There are chapters from Frank's perspective that are sweet. He cared for his girl, Bernadette, and others in the neighborhood. He is an intelligent dog. He loved ripping up paper, too. He has a code word for when it is okay to shred whatever paper is given to him.

There is an epilogue that brings everything together in the present day. It was intriguing to read and ponder how these women charted their path in life.

We give this book 5 paws up.

I love to read about women paving the way for other women. Bernadette is an admirable and inspiring main character, with much more patience and perseverance than I would have ever had if placed in her shoes. It gives Lessons in Chemistry vibes but in the publishing world.

The chapters from Frank’s POV were adorable and brought some much needed levity to the novel. They were my favorite chapters.

This was overall an enjoyable read, but it felt like something was missing. Perhaps it was the pacing of the plot. I think the subplot with her brother in the war could have played a more significant part of the book perhaps? It felt disjointed and unconnected and I really didn’t feel emotionally attached to what happened to her brother.

Thank you to SourceBooks and NetGalley for the ARC.

Bernadette Swift is a word nerd. As a kid, she would read the dictionary. Now she’s a college graduate and working as a copyeditor for Lenox & Park Publishing. She has the skills and the determination to make it to the top of her profession. There is just one problem. It’s the 1960s in America, and women are treated like second-class citizens in much of daily life. So her boss and her coworkers, all men, expect her to make them coffee and take their shirts to the dry cleaners after they spill that coffee on themselves. All while doing her editing work.

But she’s not alone in New York City. She has friends and good neighbors, and her roommate Frank looks out for her. Frank is a Great Dane, from her brother Ben. Ben is serving in the military, and is currently in Vietnam, so Bernadette worries about him and send him treats once in a while. But while he is gone, Frank takes good care of Bernadette, making sure she gets walks and laughs.

But the world is harsh for a working woman. She is paid significantly less than her male coworkers, she is given more work, and she is not invited out when the rest of the boys spend the evening out drinking. Bernadette is okay with that. She has Frank, of course, and her feminist book club. And she finds herself bumping into another editor, Graham Reynolds But Graham isn’t like the other men in the office. He doesn’t expect her to run random errands for him and objects when her boss does. He respects her work and appreciates her as a person.

Bernadette understands that she has to work harder than the men in the office, but she does, and she’s offered a promotion. A temporary promotion. But when her boss propositions her to make the promotion permanent, Bernadette takes a stand. Or she tries to. She reports him to Personnel, but the man there she reported him to refuses to do anything. So she does the next best thing and tries to bring together the working women in New York City to make a stand.

Confessions of a Grammar Queen brings together the feminist movement of the 1960s and the New York publishing industry of that time to create a story that is humorous and resonant at the same time. Bernadette is a strong character who is making her way in a difficult time, but she does it with the support of friends and family and a scene-stealing dog.

I really enjoyed this novel. I loved the insider publishing knowledge, and having historic events from the ‘60s woven into the narrative brought the time to life. But it was Frank who is the best part of the book. Not only does he steal every scene he’s in, especially when he has the zoomies, but he steals all the hearts as well. And some of the chapters are told from his perspective, adding an unexpected voice to the story. And the romance is sweet, making this a hit on every level.

Egalleys for Confessions of a Grammar Queen were provided by Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.