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.

I absolutely loved this book. A powerhouse of a female lead main character in NYC in the 60s? With a dog whose perspective covers half the book? I’m there. Such lovable lead characters and equally good antagonists. Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Confessions of a Grammar Queen is a mixed bag for me, but overall is a book that would make a nice pick up for a summer beach bag. Quick-paced and gives Lessons in Chemistry in some ways. However, maybe trying too hard to be too much and has a couple of strikes against it. Some kitschy bits (the dog) and squeezing a romance in here that could have used more build up. And, it's a bit like the tv show The Buccaneers, it's an "historical" novel in that it takes place in the 1960's but the lens is very contemporary, which may rub historical fiction fans.

In this book, we follow Bernadette Swift, a young copyeditor at Lenox & Park Publishing, who is determined to become the first female CEO in the publishing industry. But we are in the 1960s and first she will need to convince her sexist boss that she is as good as a male editor, while trying to keep her attraction for colleague Graham hidden.

This was a really fun read. This book is begging to be adapted into a film or TV show, as the writing is so visual and the author really captures the settings and the characters' clothing. I found myself rooting for the characters struggling to find their place in a man's world. The MMC was a little too perfect and the end of the book wrapped everything up neatly, which some may find annoying, but it did make it a feel-good book for me.

A recommended read for fans of Lessons in Chemistry.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

With a plentiful amount of humor and romance, this historical fiction novel is chock full of power…..the power of female friendships, the power of the fight for women’s workplace equality and the power of words.

Bernadette Swift, also known as “Queen B the Grammarian” works as a copy editor with dreams of becoming the first female CEO of a major publishing house. But it’s the 1960’s where working women, regardless of their position, were asked to make and serve the coffee while putting up with ridicule and unwanted sexual advances from their male bosses and coworkers. That is until Bernadette, a true bibliophile and logophile decided it was time for changes in the workplace. With a wonderful cast of women friends and Bernadette’s Great Dane Frank who narrates intermittent chapters with his delightful thoughts and love for “his girl Bernadette”, this is an entertaining and powerful story as we witness women reclaim their voice and courage as they break down workplace walls. In one beautiful word, this book was SPLENDIFEROUS!

Thank you NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and Elizabeth Knight for the delightful experience of being an early reader in exchange for my honest opinion.

“Confessions of a Grammar Queen” by Eliza Knight is an excellent new edition to the Women’s Fiction/Historical Fiction genre. I just finished reading Lessons in Chemistry and this book was giving very similar vibes. Like Lessons in Chemistry there chapters are even chapters narrated from the dogs perspective. I was very entertained throughout the whole story and had a good time reading it. Bernadette was a witty and fun protagonist.
Thank you to NetGallery and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book was SOOO close to being great. It featured a fun, smart protaganist; her nearly perfect boyfriend (would have liked a slower burn though); a fun dog (who narrates alternative chapters though I'm not sure why); and colorful, descriptive details.

BUT....there were a handful of historical inaccuracies that just made me shake my head. After all, it's a book about a copy editor!! The terms "Girl Power" and "default parent" were not around in the 1960s. "Barista" was not used in English until 1992. Sloppy writing and editing in my opinion.

An entertaining, quick read but the problematic language were big distractions for me. Three stars.

Readers, watch out for Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight. It's out in just a few weeks and will be one you don't want to miss.

DNF at 15%. A weird contradiction. Parts of Bernadette’s chapters are overwritten and needlessly wordy. Then, there’s the dog’s POV, which while I might like in a different book, is hard to take seriously in this one,

What a fun read! The book was witty and well-balanced. I enjoyed the humor mixed with the historical aspects of what was going on during that time period (Vietnam.) The pacing on the story was excellent and I enjoyed Frank's chapters - even if they did seem unnecessary at points. The bits of romance were also super cute. Characters were well developed - even if I wanted to punch Mr. Wall in the more than a few times. He was the worst.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and think it will become a Summer book club hit!

A fast paced, light read that I really enjoyed. Bernadette had a goal and wasn’t going to stop until she reached it. I really admired her character and how driven and confident she was.
I also liked how the author touched on women’s rights and the struggles woman have faced in the work-force..

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.