Enlightening historical fiction. Both empowering and romantic. Thoroughly enjoyed Bernadette’s plight at a time when women in the workplace were relegated to secretaries or receptionist positions. But she made her way through the ranks, bolstering her friends and finding romance along the way.

I really enjoyed this! It reminded me a lot of Lessons in Chemistry, in that we’ve got a strong female lead trying to hold her own in a sexist, male-dominated workplace, a charming male coworker who actually wants to see her succeed, and a particularly perceptive dog who pops in now and then as a narrator.

Bernadette Swift knows her worth (as a woman and as a copy editor), and I loved how sure of herself she was, despite lots of people trying to get in her way and bring her down. I was rooting for her the whole time, and I’m glad the story ultimately had a happy ending. Given the time period, I’m not sure how realistic it is that someone like her boss would’ve actually faced any real consequences... but it was still satisfying to see it play out that way.

I also really loved Bernadette’s circle of friends and their feminist book club. The way they showed up for each other was genuinely moving and made me want to find my own book club to join.

You do have to suspend your disbelief a little. Bernadette and some of the other women go through a lot at the hands of the men in their lives and it felt like everyone’s stories wrapped up a little too neatly. Not a dealbreaker for me as a reader, just something that made the ending feel a bit more idealized.

The chapters from Bernadette’s dog Frank’s POV were extremely cute (he's such a good boy) but didn’t add much to the story for me. That said, they didn’t really detract from it either—so do with that what you will!

All in all, I liked this a lot. It was very readable and I found myself just wanting to keep going to see how everything turned out. A solid four stars for that!

Thank you to NetGalley (and of course the publisher) for the ARC. All thought are my own.

I'll be posting my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph closer to the publication date, per the publisher's guidelines.

I enjoyed the storyline but felt it was slow at times. The characters were fun.

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

This book was an absolute delight to read. Bernadette's journey toward rediscovering her self-worth was deeply inspiring and thought-provoking. What truly stood out to me were the heartfelt friendships she developed with the women around her. Each relationship felt genuine and uplifting. And, of course, there was her wonderful love interest, Graham his connection with Bernadette added such a warm, romantic layer to the story. And let’s not forget Frank, her loyal dog, who brought so much heart and humor to the narrative. Frank's chapters were my favorite! If you’re looking for a book that’s empowering, funny, heartfelt, and full of romance, this is the perfect choice!

What a FUN book! One unlike any I’ve ever read. The concept and theme behind this book was so fun. I loved it! Such a fun character to follow too.

It’s the 60’s and Bernadette is a green copy editor at a large publishing company. Her dream is to be the CEO.

Bernadette’s boss is one of those demeaning and unenlightened men who treat women as less than the men. With twice the work and very little support, she pushes on.

With the help of her book club and one lovely fellow at work, she will not let anything stop her.

What a wonderful story!

NetGalley/ June 10, 2025 Sourcebooks Landmark

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.