I enjoyed reading Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

This was a lovely, light, feminist novel about a woman trying to work and succeed in the publishing industry in the early 1960s. Others have compared it to Lessons in Chemistry, but I find it much closer in tone to Marie Bostwick’s recent novel, The Bookclub for Troublesome Women. It’s all about women finding strength from books and each other as they try to find a role for themselves outside the home.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was delighted for a chance to read and review “Confessions of a Grammar Queen” by Eliza Knight which gives the reader a glimpse of what it’s like to be a women working in the 1960’s publishing world.

Savvy Bernadette Swift dreams of being the CEO of the publishing house where she currently works as a copy editor. However, her boss is a chauvinistic jerk, ready to block every step she takes toward success.

I am a dog lover so appreciated the chapters that gave us the POV of Frank the doggy that our protagonist was caring for while his owner, her brother, was fighting in Vietnam. It’s because this novel captures the chaos and tension of the sixties era that it stands a cut above a lot of the summer fiction being released this summer.

Thanks to Net Galley, Eliza Knight and the publisher for a chance to read and review this captivating book.

Been a minute since I posted@about a book, but this one is worth a plug. Confessions of a Grammar Queen by @elizaknightfiction @sourcebookscasa Indeed this witty and timely novel is full of big words. It’s the mid 1960s and Bernadette Swift is maneuvering a career in the male dominated world of publishing. She is championed by a senior colleague who convinces her to step and and grab a promotion she well deserves. Along the way she battles male chauvinism and sexual harassing. When she joins a feminist book@club she finally finds her people. I was rooting for Bernadette from the get go. #TheConfessionsOfAGrammarQueen and #ElizaKnight

I loved Confessions Of a Grammar Queen.Historical fiction at its best hysterically funny.The chapters in the dogs voice had tears rolling down my face. A perfect vacation read.#NetGalley #sourcebooks

4.5 stars for this great read for those who loved Lessons in Chemistry. A single editor and her dog take on the publishing world in the 1960s! A little bit of rebellion, a little bit of protest, and a whole lot of being better at the job than their male managers, this book could probably be placed in today's office as well, despite supposed equal rights. I loved how Frank, the dog, gets his own chapters. I love the tie-in with the politics of the times. This really added to the depth of the story. Just as Bernadette straddles the line between a perfectly put together woman and an ardent fighter of her own rights, this book straddles the line between a fluffy beach read and a deep intense thought provoking novel. I think it would be perfect reading anytime!

Historical fiction set in NYC in the 1960s. Bernadette is a driven copy editor who wants to move forward in her career and faces all the misogyny and sexism of the times. Her giant dog also is a main character. It felt a little too much like another book I had read for me to really enjoy it. There are some good girl power moments though!

I loved this this book! It's so hilarious that Frank- the dog- has its very own chapters. The main character Bernadette is a hoot too. I would have loved to meet her and help her out making it in the world of publishing. My own forays into the male dominated sphere of editing were a lot less heroic-a sign of the times!.

Sorry but the whole dog POV chapters were a bit unnecessary and threw me off. I ended up
DNFing because of that

Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight is a very, very good book that I enjoyed reading. The title is a take on the fact that Bernadette Swift, the main character, is a copy editior who spends her days correcting grammar in soon to be published manuscripts. The book is set in the 1960's at the start of the women's liberation movement and Bernadette gets involved in the fight for women's rights along with her friends and co-workers. While the fight for women's rights was - and still is - a serious cause, this book is not a deep dive into the movement. We read of Bernadette's struggles with men at work but we also read about her everyday life as a young, single, working woman in New York City during that time period. Bernadette is a very likeable character whether she's with female friends, her elderly neighbor, or her family.. The book also includes a budding romance with an amazing guy, and her loyal dog, Frank. For a fun twist we periodically get a chapter here and there written from the perspective of Frank, the dog. I whole-heartedly recommend this book. I give it 4.5 because it was SO good but it was not a "WOW" book - it is perfect when looking for an easy pleasant read. I received an ARC from NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

I was hooked from the beginning!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Set in the 1960's, Bernadette Swift is intent on working her way up the ranks, first as the first ever female copyeditor at Lenox & Park Publishing, next stop the first female CEO in the publishing industry! However, she has an office full of childish men and one sexist boss to contend with if she is ever going to make it anywhere. 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. While keeping her eye on the prize, empowering other women, trying to thwart her co-workers' attempts at sabotage, fend off her boss's boorish overtures, & spending time with her dog Frank, she spends what little time she has left dreaming about a a certain charismatic editor at Lenox & Park who has completely fallen for her, And it is only Monday......

I adored this book. Bernadette, with her glittery headbands, and way with words, worked her way right into my heart. Her brother was off fighting in Vietnam, and Frank was formerly his dog. Frank was delightful.... from the way he lifted the window to their apartment and made the rounds after she left for work and then shut it again when he returned so she was none the wiser, to the zoomies he got, to the fact that he loved shredding paper so much Bernadette had to come up with a code name to let him know when it was paper that was ok to shred. I loved Bernadette & Graham's budding romance, and I also loved how inspiring she could be. She was definitely a force to be reckoned with. This book kept me laughing. Told in the alternating voices of Bernadette & Frank,, this story is so much much. I especially loved Frank's viewpoint on things! I highly rcommend this one.

#bookreview
“Books had always brought her solace, making the library her metaphorical comfortable chair at the heart of Manhattan. Comfort: from Latin confortare, which also means to strengthen. Essentially, the library made her stronger.”
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It’s the 1960s. Bernadette Swift is a talented copy editor at a renowned publishing firm, yet part of her job inexplicably involves dry cleaning her boss’s shirt. Why? It’s evident—it’s because she is a woman.
Now, Bernadette’s life could have taken a simpler path had she kept her head down, worn her pantyhose correctly, and played coy in response to her boss’s inappropriate advances. After all, he only touched her leg! What’s the fuss about?
But that is not how legends are made. Bernadette Swift has had enough!
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Confessions of a Grammar Queen by @elizaknightfiction is a powerful read, cleverly disguised as a delightful journey into the world of women’s movements.
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The writing is punchy, engaging, and fun. The characters are well-developed, embodying the right temperaments for this story—a strong battle of wit and morality with repulsiveness.
The narrative also weaves Bernadette’s backstory in fragments, adding depth and insight.
The intertwined love story is beautifully conveyed, feeling authentic and bringing a smile to your face throughout.
Frank, the loyal and caring Great Dane, is simply adorable. (Life is good when the perspective is pure.)
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Lastly, this book conveys two significant messages: First, to quote Oprah, “You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.”
And, second, a person’s success is not solely based on their own strengths but also on the strengths of their support systems. It’s never just one person’s achievement. There are always individuals who believe in that person’s brilliance, and together they take bold steps towards advancement.
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I found the epilogue to be very moving, providing a beautiful conclusion to the story.
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it. 🖤🖤🖤🖤
#releasingtomorrow

3.5 stars. This is the first book I have read by Eliza Knight. I really wanted to like it and based on the description, I thought I would. I have read other books recently focusing on women’s equality (The Book Club for Troublesome Women has a similar premise, but I enjoyed it more). This one reminded me more of a Sophie Kinsella book.
Unfortunately, (based on other’s reviews, I see I’m in the minority and that’s ok, because not every story is for everyone) I felt a disconnect with much of the story. I feel like it was trying too hard to be too many things. There were times that I enjoyed a part of the story, such as the book club meetings Bernadette had with the other women feeling the need for equality. However, those parts were brief. When Bernadette is confident- ready to conquer the world, or at least stand up to the men in her company who feel she is beneath them, (even though she is highly qualified and capable of her job), I really loved seeing that side of her. I had a hard time getting a handle on her actual personality for about the first half of the book though.
Then there was the side story of Bernadette’s brother, Ben who was fighting over in Vietnam. Little time was spent on that part of the story, so it seemed more of a side note… to show what else was going on in that era, perhaps.
Another part I felt was an add on was the “dog chapters”. Bernadette’s dog Frank is endearing (and I love dogs). However, the fact that he is giving his perspective on life in several chapters doesn’t really add to the story being told. It just felt like another disconnected piece.
The ending seemed to tidy up a little too neatly for the time span in which things happened.
All in all, I wish the book focused more on developing one or two of the main parts rather than kind of jumping around so much.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book is in the running for favourite book of the year for me! It gave me Lesson’s in Chemistry vibes and that that is one of my favourite books of all time. But back to this book!

Bernadette was such a great female lead to this story! I loved her from page 1 with all her quirkiness and intelligence combined with a vast thesaurus to her disposal. The book opens with the dedication tho any logophiles out there who enjoy language and I totally can understand why. I loved how every now and then words were sprinkled in that we most likely are not using on a daily basis and that was so much fun! But I digress. Bernadette is such an amazing lead because she stands up for herself, for her rights in the workplace but not just her’s but all her fellow women in publishing and the workplace in general. She was pioneering in her field and I loved to tag along for her story.

Graham, the male lead, is such a refreshing contrast to the villain Mr. Wall, who both made the story even more interesting. Mr. Wall is an excellent villain for this story I have to say, so mean and unlikable! Graham is kind, encouraging and supportive. I loved that!

And I cannot end a review about this book without mentioning Frank! You might ask, who is Frank?! He is Bernadette’s Great Dane and he is the most fun addition to the plot. Some chapters are written from his perspective (no spoiler, it is revealed in chapter 2) and it was so much fun!

All in all, as you can probably tell, I loved the book. If you loved Lessons in Chemistry I am certain this is one for you! And if you have not read both of these, I most certainly recommend reading both!

Bernadette is one determined copy editor. It's the 1960s and she's the first woman told hold the job at Lenox and Park but she's stymied at every turn by her loathsome boss Mr Wall. Luckily she's got good pals and an awesome dog named Frank. And she has a nascent love interest in Graham, an editor. This is so very sincere. Knight uses Bernadette to recount a bit of the history of women fighting for equal rights in the 1960s. While she's described as quirky, and is a bit at first , that falls away as she becomes more involved with her protest and efforts to be promoted. Frank is the sparkle here, an unlikely hero of sorts who has his own chapters. There are a couple of things that didn't make sense to me, notably that Bernadette keeps going to the bus station to ride home, which troubled me (and probably only me) because she seems to live in Manhattan (are we talking Port Authority? ) and she also brings Frank to work, presumably via bus which just would not have worked in the 1960s. Wall is a textbook villain (you can practically see him twirling his mustache) but he's the rat she needs to oppose. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

The basis of it reminded me of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus because of the main character working in a "man's world" and the dog's POV. And Lessons in Chemistry is my all time favorite book. So, I had a good time reading this book, but the pacing was a bit slow for me so I had a bit of trouble to really dive into the book. But overall it was a good read! :)

Multiple chapters from the POV of a dog…… ok. Other than that it was fine.
Review also on goodreads.

What an incredible story.

This is perhaps one of the best-written books I’ve ever read. The triumphs, the downfalls, and the history are all well-told and inspiring.

In the words of Reese Witherspoon: “Women’s stories matter,” and this book is essential.

I loved Bernadette so much and was rooting for her from start to finish. I loved her book club and how empowering they were and sought change rather than waiting for it. I enjoyed Bernadette's strength and went after what she wanted while encouraging the others to do the same.

I loved Frank’s chapters; they were such fun additions to the story!

Graham was the perfect companion for her, and I liked how supportive he was of her. He never took credit for her achievements.

This was so inspiring, moving, and important. I’m so happy to have read it.

This was an ARC I received from NetGalley.

Not going to lie, this book was not at all what I expected based on the cover. To be honest, I didn’t even read the synopsis because I liked the cover and title so much.

This story is about a woman who edits in the publishing world during the 1960s. Her boss is a creep, and in no way does she want to rise the ranks by allowing him to touch her inappropriately. She wants to make it on her own merit, while also getting the women she knows to stand up for equal rights for women in the workplace.

This was very well written and researched. It was told from two perspectives-Bernadette and her dog Frank. I loved the strength Bernadette had, and how she would not throw anyone else under the bus through her trials. This was a fantastic, empowering story.