This book was very interesting and taught me all about Francis Perkins. I did not know anything about her or all that she started for America. Social Security and labor issues was something she was vital to in history, yet we never hear anything about her in history teachings. So I loved that we got to learn all about this fabulous woman in history. It got a little too long at some parts, but it was well researched and well written. Thank you for giving me an advance copy to read and review. History fiction readers will love this! I love Stephanie Dray and her other books. Great job.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Berkeley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

First, I had never heard of Frances Perkins prior to this read. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and its portrayal of trailblazer Frances Perkins, her rise in politics to become Secretary of Labor under FDR, and her friendships with FDR, Eleanor, Mary Rumsey and Sinclair Lewis. Frances’ determination and dedication to the goals she set for the country and American workers were extraordinary accomplishments for a woman of her time – well for that matter – a woman of any time. This book was a completely unexpected page turner for me. This book is a fictionalized biography and the author does an excellent job of mixing the facts with her imagined dialogues and Frances’ life path.

Dray details Perkins’ life from as a young woman in her 20’s who tackled factory-worker child labor horrors of the early 20th century and its impacts and culminates in her presidential appointment as Secretary of Labor. The book also details her marriage and its ultimate difficulties due to her husband’s mental illness, her daughter – also plagued with mental health issues, as well as he novel also subtly highlights the

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in exploring the origins of the New Deal and the start of labor reform in America.

Stephanie Dray wrote a great story of Frances Perkins. I was amazed at all Perkins did for our country, working at the behest of FDR. Roosevelt obviously recognized her values and beliefs and appreciated her work for them. I appreciate Dray telling the story of early 20th century labor, wages, and beginnings of social security along with the story of a woman who worked for the public even in times of great family challenges. I would suggest this to those reading Marie Benedict novels.

Stephanie Dray has done it again by giving us a beautifully researched and lyrically written historical fiction. Madam Secretary is truly the woman in all of us that has deep insecurities but is bound by the desire to do more good in the world and in essence “fake it until you make it.” Francis Perkins is a buttoned up New Englander who finds herself in the chaos of passing a bill to make workplaces safer for women and girls. With the tangle of love, pregnancy loss, and her husbands illness, History repeats itself in the story lines of a where does a woman fit in, immigration, social security and other programs such as unemployment benefits. 5 stars!

This book will be forever be one of my most favorite books. The history of Franklin Roosevelt's rise to President with the support of Francis Perkins , who became Madame Secretary. .From the Great Depression, unemployment, sweat shops, they worked together to aid all workers, passing many bills that have benefited us still today. Stephanie Dray has remarkably captured history in a way that is a must read for today's issues.. Francis Perkins foresight into the future of workers was remarkable.. Thank God for her!! Thanks to NetGalley, Stephanie Dray, and the publisher Berkley for this amazing historical novel, which I am sure will be on the bestseller list in 2024!

What a delightful book about all of Frances Perkins contributions to the US government, policies and democracy. It was wonderful to read about this exceptional woman that whom I knew nothing about. It reads like compelling fiction, but based on a true story sure to inspire and educate.

I knew very little about Frances Perkins but am familiar with the history of the FDR era. I found myself wondering how much was historical and how much was fiction. Dray's note at the end detailed what was historical. As usual, Dray has done her research, and the novel stays close to fact in much of the novel. The influence of Frances Perkins continues to this day. Book groups will find much to discuss about Miss Perkins' personal life, professional life, and the balance between them.

An interesting account of a woman in American history who I knew very little about. Well researched and well written!

Becoming Madame Secretary is a historical fiction account about the life of Frances Perkins, the first woman to hold a federal cabinet position and the longest serving secretary of labor in US history, during all 4 terms of FDR's presidency.

The novel begins when Frances is in her twenties, acting as a social worker crusading for better child labor laws, including her early relationship with FDR, a relationship that changed quite dramatically over the years. I learned SO much from this book, not just about the amazing Ms. Perkins but about Franklin Roosevelt as well as many other historical figures. I had never heard of her before reading this novel, which seems a terrible shame. She was responsible for so many social policies that we still use today, despite the difficulties she endured in both her personal and professional life. I thought it was remarkable what she was able to accomplish considering she had to constantly fight the rest of the cabinet and the legislature, mostly just because she was a woman. I also really enjoyed her developing relationship with FDR and Eleanor.

The authors note also gives us a good understanding of the extensive research done by the author and how much is true. Although more of a slower, steady read, I really enjoyed this novel.

thank you to net galley and the publisher for this e galley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This a wonderful historical novel about Frances Perkins, who became a trusted advisor to FDR, was the first woman Secretary and Labor and the architect of the Social Security Act. Against all odds, she was determined to make the world a better place for workers, women and children. For those not familiar with US history in the early 1900's, this is a must read.

A very interesting history about the development of labor laws told from a woman’s perspective. Details that come with an “insider” perspective,

Important Woman Unknown
Miss Perkins was a woman who defied societal norms to fight for change in American society. Raised in modest circumstances she became friends with a group of New York elite women who shared her passions and helped her achieve many outstanding achievements that changed the lives of every American. If you thought child labor barbaric, she fought and succeeded in having it outlawed. Safer workplaces, Social Security & many other programs that protect workers, children and the elderly were ideas she proposed to leaders, including President Roosevelt.
The author has availed herself of much existing research and brought this admirable woman and her work to life. At times her characters felt rather flat, and the tone seemed superficial. Miss Perkins' life was not an easy one, but she was resilient and committed to social change. She deserves to be well-known, her story shared and taught in schools. The novel was a bit long, but there was so much territory to cover. This was an easy read, interesting and informative.

By a weird coincidence, the day I started reading Becoming Madam Secretary a post about Frances Perkins popped up on my Facebook memories! I had read and shared a short biographical post about her a few years ago. I had been aware that she was the first woman to serve in the Cabinet, but I didn’t know much else.
Stephanie Dray’s historical novel about her career was well researched, well written, and very interesting. Perkins’ interest in social welfare, her determination, and political connections changed people’s lives even before she became Secretary of Labor for FDR. As Secretary, she was the main architect of The New Deal including her passion project The Social Security Act. Every American owes her a debt of gratitude.

Not only was this a story of the first female presidential cabinet secretary, Frances Perkins, but her story connected with so many other historical figures and offered new insight into them as well. Franklin and Elinor Roosevelt of course, but also writers like Sinclair Lewis were truly brought to life.

I had no idea of the depth of Frances Perkins struggles, not only with the misogynistic culture and the callus sentiment toward the working class, but her personal struggles within her own family.

Truly this story offers a timely reminder of the tendency toward fascism of the 1930 and the propensity toward elevating the wealthy and corporations over people that we should all take to heart today. She was the link between unions and owners and it's to remember the important of both sides and how we cannot have a strong country without a balance of unions to offset capitalists.

Once again Stephanie Dray knocks it out of the park with her rich vivid and thoroughly engaging historical fiction writing skills. This particular book was not only fascinating it was incredibly educational. How is it that I've never heard of Frances Perkins? The first female to serve on a president's cabinet and not only that, but created the Social Security Act. Her work absolutely changed the way this country functions. I'm blown away by the details and the meticulous way Stephanie Dray can tell a story and put the reader right in it. I loved the journey from cradle to grave. The emotional thread throughout the piece, the relationships, the tension and pacing. All of it was spot on. I think this book should be required reading as an educational tool as well as encouragement for our younger generation of females who would benefit greatly to see the results of perseverance and determination through the fear, through the struggle, through all the odds. I wish I could personally thank Stephanie Dray for writing such a powerful and important novel. This is one I'll never forget.

Dray is one of my favorite historical fiction writers for her highly detailed yet readable looks at hidden women from history. Uncovering the life story of Frances Perkins was so interesting, especially since I had always heard her name in the musical “Annie” with no idea who she was! Dray follows Perkins from her early twenties as a child labor crusader in the horrific early 20th century New York City factories to her appointment as the first woman on a presidential cabinet. What an amazing woman!

I like how Dray setup Perkins’ relationship with FDR; it didn’t start out as positive but it became the most important one of her life. My favorite relationship was her friendship with Mary Harriman, the founder of the Junior League, and I was amazed that Perkins could focus on her work with the turmoil in her personal life with her husband and then daughter’s struggle with mental health.

Perkins’ legacy is one that affects us all in our day-to-day lives from labor laws to Social Security. I am glad that she is getting her time in the spotlight.

I really enjoyed Becoming Madam Secretary. I knew a little about Frances Perkins but learned so much more reading the book. Her legacy spans many years, famous personalities, and social issues. She was influential in reforms on child labor, maximum working hours, standard minimum wage, and a Social Security safety net for American laborers. There are so many things that we take for granted today that she championed during her career. She encountered many famous people working and found a way to work with all of them to advance her revolutionary ideas. McManus of Tammany Hall, Al Smith, FDR and the author Sinclair Lewis all are woven into Secretary Perkins story. She worked alongside Jane Addams, Florence Kelley and Mary Harriman Rumsey for the rights of children and women in the workforce. She was a very private woman, but her own personal story is very moving. Her support of her husband and daughter during their struggles with mental illness and her deep friendships attest to her strength of character. The author, Stephanie Dray did an excellent job of bringing Frances Perkins to light in this book.

Stephanie Dray has managed to create the most profound, wonderful and readable novel about our country. Who was Frances Perkins, you may ask? Read BECOMING MADAM SECRETARY to find out. Written with impeccable research and passion, I believe every woman in America needs to read this book. In fact, I would have it become required reading for high school. I learned so much. I read a lot of historical fiction. But this book has taught me more than I have ever learned in school about the first woman labor secretary and how she championed for what we now call SOCIAL SECURITY here in America. So important. Every citizen of the United States needs to know just how much blood, sweat, and tears went into early politics. In Dray's capable hands, she manages to make Miss Perkins into a rock star and yet keep her human at the same time.
I loved this book!

What a great book! I'm embarrassed to say I knew nothing of Frances Perkins nor her incredible achievements. A fiction book that sends the reader searching for more information must be a great book and this is one of them. She was such an accomplished woman, for her times and even for today, and she should be an entire chapter in school history books. Because the source material was, at times, difficult to come by or non-existent, sometimes the book comes across as a series of vignettes. But that's my only critique and I continue to be astonished that a book about the woman deeply involved in FDR's New Deal and the architect of Social Security could be such a page-turner! Many thanks to Bookbrowse.com for an advance copy.

What a powerful story about a person I had never heard of but who was very important to US history. I am in awe of women who persevered through so much opposition when there were no role models for them. This book was very well written and I really enjoyed the author's note at the end.