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.

his book would appeal to fans of Lessons in Chemistry and Sarah Goodman Confino.

Bernadette is a young copy editor in NYC. She dreams of being the first woman CEO of the publishing world. Instead she’s working as a copy editor, being harassed by her male colleagues in big and small ways.

But Bernadette is determined to rise through the ranks and wants to bring other women along with her. She encores her friends to make big moves in their careers and, even when connecting with a man who seems to be everything she wants and needs, hesitates to follow the traditional path expected of her.

Will Bernadette ultimately meet all het goals and will her dreams come true?

I loved this. I thought it was witty, fun, and relatable. I think Knight wrote a fast pace, dynamic, and fun read for people and I think that it was a great read

I absolutely adore this story! From the first chapter to the last paragraph, I would not change a word, sentence or thought.
My only minor comment is that the cover art is delicious and fun, but seems incongruous with the theme of Frank, Bernadette
and Graham, as they grow together and find their greatness. Flip side is that the cover art accelerates book sales more folks
will get to read this motivational story, and get to walk through every emotion known to man, woman and Frank🐾.
What a journey for Bernie, whom I KNOW well. I was a Bernie, and I feel a kinship with the character that made this such a
treat.
This book is for every woman to read, share, and your book club notes are included with the book!
My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley for the download copy of this book for review purposes.

This historical novel is a thoughtful examination of the challenges facing talented women in a bastion of masculine prejudice – the publishing industry – in the early 1960s. However, it is so much more as the author employees her own skills as a grammarian with a light touch of wit and a dash of romance.

The cliché of the glass ceiling is replaced by a wall…i.e., Mr. Wall, the protagonist’s rude and misogynistic supervisor who despises the idea of a woman in his department. After two years of servitude under his weighty thumb, characterized by inappropriate advances and unreasonable workloads, Bernadette Swift begins to realize that she has options. First, she joins a feminist book club and then with their support, organizes demonstrations to call attention to the need for equality in the workplace.

To counterbalance the obvious villains in the department (including a sabotaging secretary), the storyline includes supportive friends, an enlightened Board member, an interested senior editor and a lovable Great Dane named Frank. Perhaps, Graham, the senior editor, was painted as too perfect as he becomes the key figure in both Bernadette’s professional and personal lives.

Overall, I found this book and enjoyable and entertaining read.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

While this is a fun uplifting story it did feel overwritten at times (especially the first chunk introducing Bernadette). The chapters from the dog’s POV felt really out of place and unnecessary for the movement of the story; it almost felt too silly amongst the rest. 2.5 rounded up.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fun and encouraging, highlighting the strengths of women and their collective power. As much as this story was uplifting and motivating for women to stand firmly in their place and speak up about their potential and freedoms, it was also a very clean, predicable story that was all wrapped up with a bow. The characters weren’t terribly interesting and Graham was too perfect to believe. The story was good, but a little more realistic tension would have added to the overall message.

Oh dear me, the sexism of the sixties... you would think by now all of these issues would've been solved. Alas, which makes it even more interesting to be reading this book in this day and age. To keep reminding ourselves, that yes, there are those few people who dare to stand up and share their concern about the inequality between men and women. We all need to be advocates these days, for one thing or for another, but yeah, we might find it draining, let me admit.

Not the book though, as the characters are interesting yet not flawless, and of course there is Frank being frank with his zooming and his FRAPS from time to time. It was also fun finding out about words we use on a daily basis without giving it much thought, who knew the word bully came from the Dutch 'boele?'

This book is the movie theatre lobby before your Barbie screening where everyone was excited and wearing pink and complimenting each other's outfits with a dash of a sunglass wearing Peggy Olsen walking into her new job with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth and by that I mean an absolute total delight. Bernadette is great at her job, but because she is a woman she's constantly hazed for trying to break into the "boys' club." With some grit, determination and the help of the members of her clandestine book club (loved the RBG cameo!), Bernadette sets out to prove women are the backbone of the workforce. She also has a dog, Frank, and he gets his own chapters which are adorable. and I would be remiss to mention there is also hot dog loving hero. This is Lessons in Chemistry for women who did not do well in high school chemistry (me) and instead lost themselves in the words of the Brontës. Easily one of my top reads of the year. A great book club book, a great book if you're feeling lost and alone, just an all out charmer.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for my ARC.

This is a great historical fiction read about the copy editing world and how women fought to find success, equal pay, and respect in the workplace. Its protagonist, Bernadette, is a quirky grammarian with a brother in Vietnam, his dog, Frank, as her guard dog, and a wretched boss to fight off daily. This book is filled with amazing allusions, funny banger, female community building, and a satisfying ending that reminds us there are good people in the world, the workplace, and we sometimes had to work to find “our people.” I found the Frank POV endearing, but also unnecessary in parts.

I liked the time period the story is set in, it allows you to experience a different era (something the author explains in relatable details at the end of the novel). I thought it has a lot of merits based on the strong message it conveys (feminism, women's rights, strong female figures that deserve more recognition, etc.). I thought it depicted the social mores of the time in a vivid way. But the title made me think I would get a diary-like novel. Instead, Bernadette's perspective is rendered in a third person narrative which distances her from us, readers. Oddly enough, the dog narrates its point of view in the first person. I would have preferred to read Bernadettes's "confessions" directly to have a better more intimate access to her thoughts and feelings. A great concept but I found the execution a bit lacking in some areas.

The most charming and tenacious protagonist I’ve come across this year. Doesn’t hurt that we have the most joyful dog companion as well! Loved to see her rise with her skill and determination in the 60s, while also feeling entirely relevant to today. I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

loved this book about a women working in publishing and dealing with the boys club. she makes friends and find love and even has some of her dreams come true. loved fred point of view. loved that this happened in the 60's.

One dog, one gutsy woman in the early '60s publishing industry, and one gorgeously written novel that fans of histfic and women's struggle for equality will adore. Loved it!!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2
Confessions of a Grammar Queen
By Eliza Knight

Another advanced reader copy of a book given to me by @netgalley and another super fun read!

Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight is about copy editor Bernadette Swift, who is the only woman copy editor at publishing house, Lenox & Park. Determined to break the glass ceiling of 1963, Bernadette wants to be the first woman CEO of a major publisher. Encountering bumps at every turn, and with her faithful dog Frank at her side, Bernadette presses on and works towards her goals with determination and grace.

I really enjoyed this story. Bernadette was such a fun character to share a story with, and her determination was inspiring. There are so many characters I enjoyed, especially Frank the dog. His chapters were some of my favorites in the book! This is a fun, quick read, and anyone who enjoys grammar, women's equality, and dogs should pick it up. It is also not lost on me that I read this book about women fighting for their rights during Women's History Month.

#reader #netgalley #elizaknight #confessionsofagrammarqueen

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I want to thank NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an ARC.
Reading historical fiction is always a delight but books like this make it even better.
This story is set in 1960s though it's still applicable today. While it's appalling that women even now have to face chauvinistic behaviour and misogyny, the fact that there are courageous, wise, wonderful women who never give up. The fact that there are men who do agree with women and don't hesitate to stand against their own sex makes it even better.