A difference maker…

In the early 1900s, Frances Perkins arrives in New York City and becomes actively involved in the social scene and various causes. Frances also meets Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Even though they dislike each other at first, they will have a dynamic and historic partnership over the next twenty years. Frances served as the first female Secretary of Labor from 1933-1945 and was relentless in her fight for workers’ rights, safety laws, and Social Security.

Women’s History Month is an excellent opportunity to share the story of Frances Perkins. I’ve never heard of Frances Perkins which is astounding to me because of the important role she played in the establishment of workers’ rights and Social Security. She was the first woman to serve in a Presidential Cabinet and was Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945. Frances was relentless in her advocacy for fair labor laws and safety standards in factories. She fearlessly engaged in male-dominated politics, raised a daughter, and attended to her husband and his mental health challenges. Sexual harassment in the workplace was a troublesome fact of life for women in the early 1900s workforce, but she dealt with it. Have you heard of Frances Perkins?

I greatly appreciate and trust Stephanie Dray’s well-researched and well-written historical fiction work. She is careful not to reimagine history to fit a modern agenda. Her author notes are not to be missed as she details her writing decisions. If something is ambiguous, she wrestles with it and evaluates all the evidence. A case in point: for perspective on Frances Perkins and her romantic life she interviewed her grandson. He has a certain opinion about his grandmother based on her past history and actions. Dray takes his viewpoint as the deciding factor in her characterization of Perkins. (see author notes) I appreciate this diligence and dedication to getting things right.

Dray provides an excellent picture of life for working people in the United States in the first half of the 20th Century as she explores workplace safety, working hours, conditions for factory workers, and long-term financial security. As you might suspect, this story is very much pro-union. Many of us might take these improvements for granted and never consider the plight of those who didn’t have the same assurances and protections.

I appreciate the balance the author achieves in exploring the personal and professional lives of Frances Perkins. Are the sacrifices a man makes viewed differently from the sacrifices a woman makes? Do we judge her more harshly? Does extraordinary accomplishment always involve sacrifice? In Becoming Madam Secretary, we observe many of the sacrifices Frances Perkins made for the greater good. Some readers might judge her or evaluate her as unlikable despite her commitment to effect change. It’s a difficult balancing act for a woman.

Content Consideration: mental health challenges, workplace harassment, depression, miscarriage

Reading the untold stories of incredible women is one of my favorite subgenres of historical fiction. Even though the author includes politics of the day and labor negotiations (which might be tempting to skip over), she also provides a compelling characterization of a successful woman who is credited with numerous achievements. Fans of U.S. history and untold stories of influential women will enjoy Becoming Madam Secretary. Book clubs might find a great deal to discuss here.

Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub for a complimentary e ARC of #BecomingMadamSecretary upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Happy Pub Day @stephanie.dray and BECOMING MADAM SECRETARY, a historical fiction novel about the life of Frances Perkins, the first woman to become part of a presidential cabinet as Secretary of Labor. To be honest, I knew nothing about what she did in her life or who she was. I went into this book blind and loved learning about all of her accomplishments— the changes and improvements she fought for in workplace conditions, eliminating child labor, and helping women and families in need to name a few.

This book was captivating from the first page and did read much faster than I expected considering it’s length. There were only a couple of slower parts but was able to hold my attention. Stephanie Dray did her research and brought Frances to life in the pages, along with all of the supporting characters. I loved learning about her life and the strong woman she was. Her support for struggling families warmed my heart and I loved her attitude. A great historical fiction in US history and women’s history— I highly recommend it for lovers of this genre!

Thank you @berkleypub for this review copy and allowing me to take part in this blog tour. This one is available today!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the reasons I enjoy reading historical fiction is that I learn more about historical figures I knew little about. Stephanie Dray's newest novel, Becoming Madam Secretary, shares the story of the life of Frances Perkins, best known as Franklin Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor following the Great Depression.

The novel opens in 1933 with the recently elected President of the United States Franklin Roosevelt summoning Frances Perkins and offering her the job as Secretary of Labor in his cabinet. Perkins would be the first woman in history to serve as a cabinet member, but that doesn't seem to persuade her to take on the role.

Perkins had prepared a list of things that she wants to accomplish if she took the job, including eliminating child labor, limiting working hours, instituting a federal minimum wage, and creating what would become Social Security. If she thought this would discourage Roosevelt, she was mistaken. He agrees to back her and she is stuck taking the job.

The book then goes back in time and we see Perkins' start, first as a graduate student in economics studying child malnutrition in Hells Kitchen in New York City. Her dedication, work ethic, and success captures the attention of others in the social work field, and she is asked to become a lobbyist with the New York Consumers League.

Through her lobbying efforts Perkins becomes acquainted with politicians like future governors of New York Al Smith and Franklin Roosevelt, and they recognize her talents and put them to good use. But being a woman in a man's world back then required a high wire act that Perkins managed to walk.

Frances also captures the attention of writer Sinclair Lewis, whose attempts to woo her are comical if unsuccessful. She does marry a man who appreciates that Frances has a career doing important work, but their union has troubled times ahead.

I found myself totally immersed in the life of Frances Perkins and I could not put Becoming Madam Secretary down. I found it reminiscent of Allison Pataki's The Magnificent Marjorie Post; both books highlighted women who accomplished so much in a time when women weren't expected to do much more than run a household.

Frances Perkins saw a need to fix major problems in this country at a most challenging time, and she was the woman for the job. Becoming Madam Secretary is an appropriate and excellent read for Women's History Month. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Penguin Random House for providing a copy for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Becoming Madame Secretary!

I knew Francis Perkins was the first female Cabinet member under FDR but I didn't know how amazing of a woman she was until I read Becoming Madame Secretary. I love Stephanie Dray's books and this is another winner! She has the perfect style for mixing history and a great storyline. This was a 500 page book but I flew through it because of the incredible writing.

I loved seeing a different side of FDR and seeing how hard Francis fought for what she believed from the early 1900s in the NYC tenements to being a lobbyist and serving as the longest Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945. I hope this book gives more of a spotlight to this incredible woman!

Plus, she does an incredible job on historical research which is key for me even in historical fiction. Stephanie's authors note about the fact/fiction and sharing her thoughts and what she included or excluded are the best. I wish every author had as detailed notes!

Highly recommend reading Becoming Madame Secretary!

I adore reading books by Stephanie Dray because her love of the characters whose stories she decides to tell is apparent on each page by way of development and historical detail. I was thrilled to learn about Frances Perkins who was progressive and way ahead of her time. It can't have been easy to  be a tireless voice for children and women in a world where men make all the decisions and knew little of how things actually worked. She could have easily sat home and been a dutiful wife and mother, yet she continued her fight often to the detriment of her family.

Engaging from the very first page, Stephanie Dray somehow made a 500+ page book a fast read. She was able to take real people from the history books and breathe life into them once again for us to read and learn from. The book world needs female authors to continue writing biographical fiction about strong female historical figures so we can see how far we've come and how far we still need to go. It's an inspirational story that I hope everyone will pick up.

Becoming Madam Secretary is a fascinating look into the life of a powerhouse of a woman, Frances Perkins, the first female Cabinet member. From her early days fighting to end child labor and unsafe working conditions in factories to her working to establish Social Security, it's amazing to think how much one woman accomplished, especially considering that for many years of her life women weren't even allowed to vote. Her personal life wasn't without its challenges and difficulties and I think the author did a good job balancing the private vs. public Frances Perkins. I wish there had been at least a chapter or two about her time working after FDR's death to see how she coped with the loss of her friend but I enjoyed the epilogue and the extensive author's note. This is a perfect choice for Women's History Month!

Many thanks to Berkley & Netgalley for the ARC.

The amount of research that Stephanie Dray puts into her work would astound you. It’s for that reason that I think her books fit more of a “narrative non-fiction” genre than historical fiction. Dray relies as little as possible on fiction or creative license—she uses source material to piece together not only the professional lives of her subjects, but their personal lives as well. She uses their own dialogue when she can and notes what things she changed or added for effect. The outcome is truly remarkable! Reading her books are like reading particularly captivating biographies, particularly since they are written as though the events are unfolding.

I admit I have heard of Frances Perkins but knew very little about her life (I’m not saying the American education system ignored important, career-driven women in history, but…). I knew the highlights but none of the depth. Perkins was the first woman to be appointed to serve in a presidential cabinet, and she was our longest serving Secretary of Labor (1933-1945). At a time when women were often discouraged from having prominent careers and weren’t the most welcome in politics, Perkins stands out for her tenure, respect, accomplishments, and grit. We talk all the time about our Founding Fathers in America, but never about our Founding Mothers (of which I’d argue Perkins would be included).

The book opens in the summer of 1909 where a young, dimple-faced Frances Perkins is walking through sooty, seedy Hell’s Kitchen in New York. She has completed college and business school at Wharton. She’s now on a fellowship in economics much to the dismay of Miss Matthews of Hartley House, where she will be staying. Frances brings with her bright-eyed visions and deep experience working with those in poverty. It’s her passion and also a pain point as throughout the book she encounters people who don’t have respect, understanding, or empathy for those less fortunate than themselves.

Frances quickly endeared herself to me as we learn about her early years in Hells Kitchen doing work to survey malnourishment in children for her thesis. She repeatedly is reprimanded for offering free services for the poor, as well as giving them money. The book chronicles when Frances first met Franklin Delano Roosevelt and their working relationship that eventually leads him to appoint her as the state Labor Secretary of New York during his time as Governor, and late to name her to his presidential cabinet when he took office.

But the story doesn’t solely focus on Frances’s career progression and accomplishments, it also focuses on Frances the woman. The first half of the book describes her falling in love with Paul Wilson, their courtship and marriage, and their efforts to build a family. Frances suffered two miscarriages, the second which was a risk to her life as she delivered. She heard the devastating words “some women are not meant to be mothers” from her doctor. She considered leaving Paul not because of a lack of love, but because she loves him so much that she can’t take away the possibility of having a family. Paul refuses to accept this (this same theme is later echoed when Frances tells FDR she shouldn’t be named to his cabinet, and he writes back and refuses to go along with her request). After months apart, Paul returns and tells her he had an affair and is wrecked over it. He wanted to see how she’d react, if she could still love him. She can. Frances accepts Paul’s affair with logic and compassion in equal measure. And eventually, in a happy moment, she gives birth to their daughter Susanna around Christmastime.

The chapters chronicling this phase of her life were powerful and poetic. Frances and Paul were deeply in love—that is clear from their story and letters. They also deal with difficult hurdles life throws at so many couples—miscarriage, infidelity, mental health, manic-depression, psychiatric treatment. Paul goes on to have a breakdown and eventually be diagnosed with bipolar disorder and manic-depression. Frances does everything she can to keep him at home, but eventually must concede and pay for him to go to a treatment facility. Through it all, Frances made it her mission to make sure her husband and daughter were cared for at her own expense. Frances kept Paul’s disease from the public, but it cost her greatly. She was serving as both a mother and father figure for Susanna while also serving her country on the President’s cabinet.

Paul spent much of their marriage in the psychiatric institution, and later their daughter Susanna exhibited the same disease (though Frances notes that thankfully by then there were more treatment options). Frances loved her family fiercely and to the end, as well as her closest friendships. She says fortuitously early in her marriage:

“I should’ve realized that in love there are no safety precautions—there is nothing to do when you reach the edge but fall.”

Frances also had several close friendships chronicled in the book. There is Eleanor Roosevelt, of course. Though Frances often felt caught in the middle of their marriage, secretly siding with FDR many times. The book also details a beautiful friendship between Frances and Mary Rumsey, who was a social activist, government offical, philanthropist, and founder of the Junior League which brought together women of means to donate to and fundraise to help communities and those less fortunate. Later upon Mary’s death, early coverage reduced her to an “heiress” due to being the eldest daughter of a railway magnate. Frances staunchily defends the accomplishments of her friend. The women were plagued with rumors that their friendship was a romantic relationship, though Frances herself says she may have been happier with that, but she was loyal to Paul and her family until her death.

“The point of my taking this job wasn’t to make my daughter as miserable as the poorest children in the nation. My job was to try to make sure that the nation’s children had as many opportunities as mine did.”

I spoke so much about Frances Perkins as a person and a woman, but I would be remiss to not touch on her legacy for this country. She was always a staunch defender of those who were poor and unable to make their way. FDR is a mentor to her, and she goes on to mentor Charlie Wyzanski who worked for her in the department of labor. Frances was the driving force behind the Social Security Act and is credited with her inspiration and work to support the New Deal. Frances also credits some of her inspiration to Paul, who despite the disease that robbed him of much of his mental health in adulthood, was brilliant and inspired.

“I could never allow romantic love to obliterate my responsibility to love mankind.”

Frances Perkins is a name I don’t think history has remembered with the importance it should. I’m so grateful to have a chance to read an advance copy of Stephanie Dray’s book, and excited to know it is releasing into the world. I hope many read this and reflect on all Frances Perkins did for our country, as well the woman, wife, mother, friend, and leader she was. A well-written and gripping story of a woman who changed history.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.

In Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray, we meet Francis Perkins on her first day working at The Settlement house doing a study on starving children she was given strict rules to follow because the settlement house will smack them in the middle of Hells kitchen in New York not to hang out with gangsters and not to give any of the people who attended the services money she broke both of these rules and this is what caught the attention of Agnes Kelly and got her the job as the lobbyist for the Justice league in Greenwich Village. She would become great friends with an heiress name Mary Herriman Rumsey, who started The Settlement houses and a passing acquaintance of Eleanor Roosevelt. Mary would also be the one who introduced her to her future husband Paul Caldwel Wilson Anne Franklin Delano Roosevelt who owned first meeting she thought he was a fluffy peacock and hit a very low opinion of him but before it was over he will rely on Francis as if she were his conscious he made her the first female cabinet member when he made her his labor secretary. It was her influence on the president that really pushed the Social Security bill she was also one of the first big proponent for child labor laws end a shorter work week for working people. This book has lots of historical events and although told in story form it is all historically accurate even her husband having to go to a sanatorium due to his confusion and psychosis and it all makes for an interesting interesting book and I must say this is my favorite book I’ve read in March so far and I think will be my March book because it is so so good! The authors notes were even interesting this is a great book and a book I know any history fan or lover of historical fiction will definitely want to read this book it was so so good! I want to thank Berkeley publishing a and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I was going to pass on reading this book, until I realized it was written by the author of The Women of Chateau Lafayette, which I absolutely loved. Becoming Madam Secretary was well written and clearly heavily researched. I really enjoyed the first seventy percent of the book, especially Frances' younger years and the parts about her personal life. After that, it got a bit tedious and just went on for too long.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for access to this arc.

*Stephanie Dray weaves a captivating narrative, bringing to life the indomitable spirit of Frances Perkins.

*The novel immerses you into the tumultuous era of early 20th-century America. Dray’s meticulous research and vivid writing transport you to the tenements of Hell’s Kitchen, the bohemian circles of Greenwich Village, and the corridors of power in Washington, D.C.

*Frances Perkins was a multifaceted character—determined, compassionate, and fiercely intelligent. Her journey from idealistic young woman to the first female U.S. Secretary of Labor is both inspiring and heart-wrenching. Dray skillfully portrays the complexities of Frances’s relationships, especially her evolving connection with FDR. Their partnership, marked by mutual respect and shared vision, becomes the backbone of the New Deal and leaves an indelible mark on American history.

*Becoming Madam Secretary is a testament to the power of women’s voices. Stephanie Dray masterfully blends historical accuracy with emotional depth, making this novel a must-read for anyone intrigued by the untold stories of remarkable women who shaped our world.

🎧Cassandra Campbell is a Golden Voice narrator for a reason! She has the ability to transport the listener into the heart of a narrative and captures the distinct voice of each character beautifully. The audiobook definitely enriches the reading experience.

5 trailblazing woman stars (perfect to read in March for Women’s History Month)

Before reading this book, I could not have told you all the amazing things that Frances Perkins accomplished for the betterment of this country. She championed eliminating child labor, made factories safer, and mediated countless labor disputes. She was the first woman to serve as a Presidential cabinet member, starting with FDR’s first term (and, in fact, served all 12 years). She was the architect behind Social Security, fought the State Department to allow Jewish Germans to come to the U.S. during WWII, and is an unsung hero.

This book takes us from her early days working with progressive women in New York. She was unafraid to take on issues that made her a lightning rod with factory owners. In her early days, she was a lobbyist with the National Consumers League in Albany, figuring out the rules in a world mostly dominated by men. She became well known for her tricorn hat and parasol.

Along the way, she has a friendship with author Sinclair Lewis that he wanted to develop into something more. She’s also friends with wealthy socialites, including Mary Harriman Rumsey. She does eventually marry and has a child, but her husband struggles with mental illness for much of his life. Frances is conflicted by the work she feels called to do and her desire to be with her husband and daughter.

It is her connection with Franklin Delano Roosevelt, though, that changes the course of her life forever. She doesn’t like him at first and is annoyed when he won’t champion her vote to reduce the work week to 54 hours in Albany (oh, how we all want to work only 30 hours a week now!).

We are along for the ride as Frances campaigns for various men, including FDR, and eventually, he makes it to the White House. Faced with the Great Depression and a world poised on the brink of war, his work is cut out for him. Frances is summoned to Washington to serve as the Secretary of Labor.

Dray does a fantastic job of bringing this historic woman to life. Don’t miss her notes at the end, where she explains some events she chose to exclude and her research project. This is my third book by this talented author. I can’t wait to see who she writes about next.

I can't say enough about Stephanie Dray's Frances Perkins and the woman who will now be known and never forgotten. Captivating and inspiring Dray introduces us to a woman one formidable woman who was among a sea of men. An American heroine who we have to thank for Social Security among so many other accomplishments. A heroine who was a wife and mother at the same time.

Bravo. This is truly a must read. Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you Berkley Pub for the free book and thank you PRH Audio for my #gifted listening copy of Becoming Madam Secretary! #PRHAInfluencer #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyBookstagram #berkleypub #BerkleyIG #berkley

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐲
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

★★★★★

If you are looking for a book to read for Women’s History Month, THIS IS IT! I’m embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of Frances Perkins prior to picking up this book. What a woman! Books like Becoming Madam Secretary are what make me love reading historical fiction so much! If you have a love for historical fiction, and want to learn about an amazing woman who contributed so much to her country, you have to read this book! This book will without a doubt be one of my top books of the year!

Dray paints such a vivid portrait of Frances Perkins and her life. From her early days in NYC studying malnutrition in children, to her work reforming labor laws, to her time serving as the first woman U.S. cabinet member as the Secretary of Labor. It is obvious that the author put so much research into this novel, and I was so impressed by all of the details and the authors note at the end of the book, which distinguished fact from fiction. Perkins was portrayed as a strong woman, who stood her ground in a male dominated political scene. I loved her sense of humor, her grit, and her determination. I adored the relationship Perkins had with FRD, and while their relationship did not start off well, it blossomed into such a beautiful and respectful partnership. Perkins had to juggle so much between her personal life and her work life, and I love how the author portrayed some very vulnerable moments in her life. There were so many characters I just loved, including Charlie Wyzanski. One of my favorite quotes, found below, was from Wyzanski:

“𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘴, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯—𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯—𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦.”

🎧I started reading the physical book, and at times switched to the audiobook so I could continue to listen since I did not want to stop once I started! Cassandra Campbell is a favorite of mine, and she was flawless in this role. I loved my time listening to her bring Frances Perkins to life. I cannot recommend the audiobook enough!

Posted on Goodreads on March 11, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around March 12, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on March 12, 2024
**-will post on designated date

Another historical fiction book that taught me so much about a woman that everyone should know about. Frances Perkins was the first female appointed to a U.S. cabinet position when FDR appointed her Secretary of Labor in 1933. She went on to serve for 12 years. The impact that she has had on the United States is immense, most notably the creation of the policy for social security. This book focuses on her life from her early 20's when she arrived in New York City to work for organizations pushing for labor regulations, until her death. There is a lot of information that Dray needs to convey so at times the book is a bit slow but overall a wonderful way to get more people to know about an extremely significant, fascinating woman.

I requested this ARC as the description intrigued me and I knew nothing about Frances Perkins. While this is a fictionalized account of her life, it was fascinating and I enjoyed learning a bit more about a time period I was not as familiar with. The thought that social security was the brain child of a woman was not one I was aware of it and I really enjoyed reading about Frances' evolution and how she became Secretary of Labor to FDR. A really interesting read and the characters, both real and imaginary, were fleshed out with great care. Definitely worth reading!

Becoming Madam Secretary was a fascinating read about Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet, appointed by FDR as Secretary of Labor. It was a position she held from 1933 to 1945. She was a pioneering force in creating the 40-hour work week, minimum wage, fought for the working class and the poor, and was the creator of Social Security. I have to admit that I did not know much about Frances Perkins’ history until reading this book. What an extraordinary woman. While the book is fiction, Stephanie Dray’s research and writing are phenomenal and brought Frances Perkins’ personal story to life. Historical fiction readers will love this book and could even make non-historical fiction readers fans of this genre. As always, I recommend not skipping the Author’s Note at the end of the book as it is full of valuable information about the author’s writing of this book.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Net Galley for the review copy.

Becoming Madam Secretary is a powerful and inspiring story of a woman who broke through barriers to achieve her dreams. Frances Perkin's journey to be the first woman appointed to the United States Secretary of State is a testament to her determination, resilience, and hard work. Her story shows us that anything is possible if we set our minds to it and never give up on our goals. Becoming Madam Secretary is a must-read for anyone who wants to be inspired by a true story of success.

I enjoyed reading about Frances Perkins, someone I was unfamiliar with, I probably should have spent more time attending US History class in high school.. but alas. At times, I felt the pacing lagged a bit, but that might have been a me thing.  The parts of her personal life and fight for equal rights were engaging, but when it got to the political pieces, it slowed down and was a struggle for me, reason for the 4 stars.... but then, I refer you back to the not attending US History class.. there was a reason, lol.  Anyway.  An important story, a great historical fiction, and would make a good book club pick. 

I was provided an advanced copy by the publisher through netgalley to read and honestly review.

4.5 stars

Stephanie Dray is one author that I have managed to stay current with, from her earlier books about Cleopatra‘s daughter to strong women in US history, she has kept me entertained and educated. Francis Perkins is not someone I am familiar with so I went in somewhat blind and was pleasantly intrigued and captivated with this remarkable woman.

Spanning most of Perkins life she is portrayed as a force to be reckoned with. Her drive, compassion and determination for change is well written in this epic sized book. Dray's passion and researched is evident in a story about a woman in politics is something unheard of in that time period.

Becoming Madame Secretary is a story of relationships, that between Perkins and FDR, her husband and daughter, her friend Mary and her country. The author notes were detailed, welcomed and finished this book off nicely.

My thanks to Berkley for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review

Becoming Madam Secretary is the perfect book for Women’s History Month! In her latest book, Stephanie Dray features a prominent woman named Frances Perkins, who made it her mission to improve the workplace conditions for women and children. In her rise to power, she met with much opposition but also gained the support of future president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Perkins became the first female member of a presidential cabinet, and was a driving force behind Social Security.

Frances was the original working woman who had it all, yet she questioned whether she was doing the right thing by having to sacrifice family time for the greater good of the country. Because of her efforts, I am grateful and in awe of her accomplishments.

This book is detailed and lengthy, but it never felt slow. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about both Perkins’ professional and personal life. The author’s note was insightful in regard to Perkins’ personal life. This is a book that I could read again!

I don't like reading nonfiction history books but I love learning so this fiction book about the first woman to hold a federal cabinet position was the perfect way for me to educate myself on the topic. I loved the author's writing style. This is a new to me author but her writing was so engaging and easy to read while still providing a lot of facts. I thought she did an amazing job researching Frances Perkins, US Secretary of Labor from 1933-1945 and I really enjoyed her author's note at the end. You can just tell she took her time and really invested in telling this story.

I didn't know anything about Frances Perkins. This book tells about her early life before becoming Madam Secretary and I really enjoyed the journey. I did feel like it dragged ever so slightly around the 75% mark so I guess I wouldn't have minded it being about 50 pages shorter but she had such a big life that I can understand it was hard to cut the book down even further. I really enjoyed the interactions with FDR and Al Smith and reading about events that actually happened resulted in me googling the events and being shocked and horrified at how conditions were back then. This was only 100 years ago but we have made so many advancements for the better thanks to the work Miss Perkins put in.

Thank you to Netgally and Berkley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own. 4.5 rounded up