This book was so freaking perfect. Set in the 60’s a successful, hardworking dog mom faces the unfair reality of women in business and finds the support of other long suffering women and a perfect guy. The feminist action in this book was heartwarming and was truly about women supporting women and highlighted just how much things have changed and how much things never change. I also loved that her dog Frank told his perspective about how much he loved and protected his girl.
The narrators were so good and the story was so fun because of their efforts. The narration for Frank was told with the feelings of Homeward Bound, it was just the perfect voice acting for a dog.

4.75 ⭐️
I truly enjoyed listening to this ALC. It's witty and moving.
1960s Historical Fiction. Focuses on Women's rights in the workforce.

I enjoyed this book so much! I loved how strong and smart Bernadette is. I loved the book club ladies and their fight for equal rights while supporting one another. Graham is such a book boyfriend, but maybe a bit too perfect. And I absolutely loved reading the POV from the very loyal furry friend, Frank!

The audio was perfect! Bernadette's voice matched the character's personality and Frank's voice was silly yet enjoyable.

Thank you Netgallery and Tantor Media for the advanced copy.

If you’re a fan of Lessons in Chemistry, prepare to fall head over heels for Confessions of a Grammar Queen. Set in the 1960s, this fun and quirky novel introduces us to Bernadette, a fierce, word-loving heroine with a passion for language—especially the rare and delightful kind. She’s not alone on her journey, though. At her side is Frank, her harlequin Great Dane, whose narration in the audiobook is a standout, complete with a heavy Brooklyn accent that adds unexpected charm and warmth.

What starts as a whimsical tale quickly delves into deeper territory. Bernadette and a dynamic ensemble of women begin to challenge the status quo, organizing to push back against the rampant sexism in their workplace. It’s a heartfelt portrayal of breaking glass ceilings and fighting for dignity, all while maintaining a tone that’s both engaging and empowering.

Frank, the dog, absolutely steals the show. Lovable, wise, and surprisingly insightful, he might just be my favorite character of the year. The audiobook brings him to life in a way that adds an entirely new layer to the experience—so much so that I’d highly recommend choosing audio over print just for his narration alone.

Confessions of a Grammar Queen is a treasure from start to finish. It’s thoughtful, bold, and filled with heart. I loved every minute of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the advanced listening copy.

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! The narrator did an excellent job with bringing this book to life. I especially loved the voice of Frank! I highly rcommend this one.

3.5 stars

This was a clever and unique read with lots to love. I will say that I was distracted by so many words and phrases that were not correct for the era. I was also confused by the chapters narrated by the dog. They didn’t seem to fit the tone of the book and really threw me off. Overall an entertaining read.

I did enjoy the audiobook narration which was well done.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Historical Fiction with a Bad Ass FMC!!

Strong FMC paving the way for women in the workplace, It's really hard for me to read these stories. I want to scream "stand up for yourself!!" knowing they couldn't.

My favorite character, hands down, is Frank!

As someone with a degree in English and certification in Editing and Publishing, I felt seen. I really enjoyed the perspective of a female editor in the 60s, and am now curious to learn more aboutt the rise of women in the publishing industry. I found Frank very cute, but was confused by his chapters. It seemed magical realistic, unlike the rest of the book. There was also a point in chapter 4 in which Bernadette imagines what Grant would look like in shorts...whiles he's wearing shorts. So that was a bit confusiing. I think the Ben plot made me feel for Bernadette more. I also loved her cast of friends! I'm looking forward to more books similar to this from this author! It's a 3.5 out of 5 for me.

I feel like this is the year for books about women in the workplace in the 1960’s. This I think is the third one I’ve read in 2025. I enjoy historical fiction and like that so many books are focusing on this. With that said, this one was OK. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. The dog chapters reminded me of Lessons in Chemistry. They were fun to read. The plot was easy to follow and quirky. Bernadette was a fun MC. I love that there was a focus of female friendships.

A fiercely feminist historical fiction novel set in 1960s NYC that sees a determined Bernadette fighting for women's rights in the workplace as she tries to earn a copy editor job at the publishing house where she works. I loved the spunky heroine, the bonds of female solidarity, her Great Dane companion who has a few chapters told from his POV and the budding romance from the one supportive man in the company. Perfect for fans of Lessons in chemistry and great on audio. Don't be fooled by this cute cover, Confessions of a Grammar Queen has a lot of grit and heart! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

'Confessions of a Grammar Queen' is a fun story about a woman who dreamed big and didn't let anyone stop her from pursuing her dreams.

Set in the 1960's, our main character, Bernadette Swift, is a working woman and the first ever copyeditor at Lenox & Park Publishing, aiming to become the first ever female CEO too. The story is a blend of what I wanted Mad Men to be, the struggles of the office women, with a dash of romance, and an emphasis on the feminist movement. And the author does a great job blending all of those together and weaving them into a great story.

Bernadette is, moreover, a clever character as she narrates the story (well, with the help of her dog, who also has a pov in this one!). She and her friends are all so sweet, funny, and supportive of each other that one can't help but root for them.

The romance was also cute, though fortunately, it was left on the sidelines. And yet, the male lead sounded too good to be true, but the overall love story was enjoyable.

The ending, however, was kind of rushed and it could have been handled a bit better.

Finally, the audiobook was splendidly narrated, and the dog voice was funny!

This review is also posted on Goodreads and Storygraph.

An enjoyable story that highlights the struggles women faced for equality, in the 1960s and still face today. Well-written, with fully rounded characters and an excellent plot, the excellent narration is just he icing on the cake.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧Song Pairing: I Got My Mojo Working - Joyce Harris & The Daylighters

💭What I thought would happen:

I saw sold from the title. As I am not a grammar expert, I know the MC would likely school me irl

📖What actually happens:

🩷Women in publishing
📻1960s
💪🏼Feminism movement
💋F@ck the patriarchy
💛Surprise hot MMC

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

Calling all fans of Lessons in Chemistry! This is the book for you. Or really anyone who is looking for some badass feminism with a dash of female rage. Aka the perfect Kelly cocktail 😉

I read and listened to this. Both formats were 🤌🏼🤌🏼! You can’t go wrong

Not a single flippin’ note! Aces!

Okay – this FIVE STAR brilliant, fun, and empowering book about grammar-loving Bernadette Swift is my favorite women’s fiction of 2025! I laughed out loud, underlined so many amazing lines, and closed the book feeling inspired. Bernadette’s strength reminded me that standing up for yourself—and for others—is always worth it. And Frank’s chapters left me completely smitten!

The story takes place in 1963 NYC where Bernadette works as a copy editor at a big publishing company. She dreams of becoming the first woman CEO there, but most of the men she works with don’t take her seriously. Her boss is rude, and her coworkers act like she doesn’t belong. But Bernadette is smart, determined, and not afraid to speak her mind.

When things at work get tough, Bernadette starts a secret book club for women at the New York Public Library. It gives her and her new friends a place to talk about books, life, and how to stand up to unfair treatment. With their help—and the support of her loyal dog, Frank—Bernadette begins to fight back against the unfair rules at work.

There’s also a sweet love story with a fellow editor who respects Bernadette’s talent and courage. But what really makes this book shine is how it shows one woman’s fight to be heard and to make things better—not just for herself, but for all the women who come after her.

Thank you to Eliza Knight, NetGalley, and Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ahead of its proposed release date of June 10th. I absolutely adored the cadence, tone, and style of the voice actors! They did a phenomenal job bringing the characters to life.

It’s Lessons in Chemistry meets the publishing world. An enjoyable read with great narrators. I loved the friendships and the support from the book club. There is a small romance that was super sweet.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this book was a true delight. Somehow, this historical fiction novel about women's rights and equality in the 60's is both serious and lighthearted all at once. It was a true pleasure to read. I adored the characters, their relationships, personalities and growth. I especially enjoyed the chapters from the perspective of the dog, I couldn't help but smile through those pages! Bernadette is a quirky young copyeditor with a desire to become CEO and a horrible sexist boss. She and her feminist book club support one another in challenging the status quo and fighting for equality. Through it all, we watch Bernadette fight against a terrible boss, consider love, build strong relationships and her great dane is there to support her along the way. A wonderfully written book that will have you cheering and smiling from start to finish.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

4 stars!! SOOO CUTE. This is a historical fiction I can certainly get behind. Confessions of a Grammar Queen is perfect for readers who liked the premise of Lessons in Chemistry but were too bummed by all the trauma. This book was a delightful mix of fighting the patriarchy, finding strength in sisterhood, and a dog’s POV for comedic relief. The romance was a bonus! Stina Nielsen is a queen herself and I thoroughly enjoyed P. J. Ochlan’s anthropomorphized great dane narration. I adored most characters, except the antagonists of course. They can catch these hands. The most enfuriating thing is not how misogynistic some of the characters were, but how there are still bozos who think that way. Anywho. I digress. This was a cute story of perseverance in the face of adversity, hard work, and quite literally making friends along the way. Highly recommend to anyone in search of a sweet pick-me-up.

Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for the ARC!

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.

The audio was so well done. I really enjoyed the narrators and thought they brought the story to life perfectly.

There’s no way I can put into words how I feel about this book. I believe it’s a must read for all women!
I think a lot of us have forgotten, or are just too far removed from the history of the time, that it was a long, hard and sometimes traumatic battle for equal rights. I would like to think we’ve evolved, but our battle now seems to be more against each other.
This book points out a VERY important message-women should be lifting each other up, not cutting each other down. “Confessions of a Grammar Queen” felt like a much needed nudge to do just that!
On a lighter note, the romance subplot was a super sweet, slow burn, which I happen to love. It also has dual POV’s, and the second one was the surprise that I wouldn’t have known I needed!

I went into Confessions of a Grammar Queen expecting a light, fun read—something cosy and clever. But what I got was so much more. Set in the 1960s, the story follows Bernadette Swift, a brilliant copy editor who’s constantly underestimated in a male-dominated publishing house. Her sharp mind, witty comebacks, and refusal to be sidelined completely won me over. Watching her push back against the sexism around her, with the support of her fabulous book club friends, felt incredibly empowering.

Also, I have to mention Frank the Great Dane—his chapters were unexpectedly delightful and added so much charm. I didn’t expect to fall for a dog character, but here we are.

This book was such a joy to read—funny, fierce, and full of heart. Honestly, I could see it playing out perfectly on screen. Someone needs to adapt this into a movie, stat!

This is kind of a fluffier version of Lessons in Chemistry. We have a highly intelligent woman pushing for more in a time when it's not common and an dog whose perspective we're treated to.

Bernadette is a junior copy editor at Lenox & Park Publishing, but she's aiming for the CEO position in her future. However to get there she's going to have to overcome a harassment from her male colleagues and immediate supervisor.

Along the way Bernadette also encourages her friends in her book club to push for women's rights in general, but also to fight for their own personal successes.

This was a good read and I did enjoy it, but I do with Bernadette was a little less perfect. I'd have liked some flaws or event her losing her cool with these crappy men she had to deal with, something that humanized her a bit more and made her a little more layered.

Bonus points for the cameo of Ruth Bader Ginsberg in the book club. I remember the story of her having to tell the school to alternate which parent to call as she worked too.