Was It Something I Said?: Everyday Etiquette to Avoid Awkward Moments in Relationships, Work, and Life

by Alison M. Cheperdak

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

304 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2026

About the author

Alison M. Cheperdak is a bestselling author, internationally certified etiquette coach, and the founder of Elevate Etiquette, a modern consultancy devoted to helping people move through life with confidence, clarity, and grace. She is also an attorney and entrepreneur with a career spanning television journalism, law, and public service.

She is the author of Was It Something I Said?: Everyday Etiquette to Avoid Awkward Moments in Relationships, Work, and Life (HarperCollins, 2026).

Through private coaching and group seminars, Alison works with individuals and organizations to refine professional presence, communication, and modern etiquette, from first impressions to high-stakes interactions. She has taught programs at Harvard Law School, the U.S. Congress, and the White House.

Her insights have been featured in The Wall Street Journal,Vogue, The Washington Post, Today, Fox News, Southern Living, and more, and she reaches millions each month through her signature daily etiquette content.

Alison's interest in etiquette began at twenty-two, when she was newly engaged and full of questions about how to navigate the many small but meaningful decisions surrounding weddings, relationships, and social expectations. What began as curiosity quickly became a lifelong study of etiquette, executive presence, and the quiet power of thoughtful behavior.

Today, her work is rooted in a simple belief: etiquette isn't about perfection. It's about the small choices that shape how others feel in your presence.

Learn more at href="https://www.elevateetiquette.com"...

Reviews

[CatReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alison Cheperdak is an American lawyer, former television reporter, and former White House staffer, who now runs a business focusing on etiquette. Her 2026 book Was It Something I Said? is a collection of short etiquette pointers spanning all areas of life, from business, travel, family, personal, etc. In concept, this book is similar to Sara Jane Ho's Mind Your Manners: How to Be Your Best Self in Any Situation and Capricia Penavic Marshall's Protocol: The Power of Diplomacy and How to Make It Work for You, though closer to the former (though I was hoping it'd be closer to the latter given Cheperdak's professional work). I would have appreciated more detailed personal anecdotes rather than laundry lists of advice (at least when listening to this book).

My statistics:
Book 77 for 2026
Book 2283 cumulatively

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up out of curiosity. Enjoyed the shoutouts to Ogunquit! Some really great tips on how to respond to people saying rude things to you and I appreciated how easy this was to digest. Second half mainly dealt with super in-depth etiquette stuff (how to set a table, what to wear to a gala, etc). It was well-explained but overwhelming! And I thanked my lucky stars I don’t have to deal with that. One gripe was how in the sir/ma’am section it’s mentioned that these are heteronormative titles but never gave an option for gender neutral honorifics.

[Aspen Nielsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alison Cheperdak brings a modern yet grounded approach to etiquette in the current age. I love how kindly she approaches all topics—her care about making people feel welcomed, celebrated, and seen is visible in this book.

[Sophia Strobel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a useful, straightforward guide that I think would be helpful to a broad range of people, especially young people. Alison’s tone I warm and precise, and the diagrams were a great touch too!

[Maggie McKneely · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would never have picked this up if my own free will, but my book club insisted, so here we are. But I’ll admit I actually enjoyed this.

This is one of those books where different chapters will resonate will different people. For example, I almost entirely skipped the chapter that went into great detail about formal dining placements. But I found parts of the chapters on hosting and interpersonal communication to be very useful and interesting. I could actually see myself using this book as a resource in the future if I find myself in situations covered here. For such a short book, it’s incredibly comprehensive, providing advice for nearly every facet of life that requires some modicum of etiquette.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a long-time follower of Alison Cheperdak’s Elevate Etiquette, I had high hopes for her debut book, Was It Something I Said?, and it did not disappoint. This isn't your grandmother’s etiquette book. It takes the guesswork out of modern etiquette with amazing visuals and practical advice for every situation. Whether you need a full guide or a quick reference tool, this book is a total game-changer for navigating life with confidence. You can read it cover-to-cover or just flip to a specific chapter when you're in a social pinch. You’ll love that she incorporates relatable examples. A must-read for anyone looking to navigate social scenarios with ease.

[donutqueenie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a handy crash course into many etiquette topics. It’s easy to read because the tone is casual but polished and also relatable.

The graphics and drawings were confusing.
-Three of the five chin positions looked the exact same to me.
- The description for sitting position with “feet flat”describes the knees being slightly apart like the width of a golf ball but the corresponding drawing labelled “feet flat” shows knees about 10 inches apart. That’s a bowling ball, not a golf ball.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Release date 3/17/26.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this author on IG and after absorbing her content I put her book on hold at the library. This book has something for everyone- traveling, business meetings, grieving friends, etc. As soon as I finished I purchased two copies- one for myself and one to gift.

This book helped alleviate some of the anxiety I tend to feel when I stress about whether I did X right or should have done Y. Highly recommend; this book can help anyone become a kinder, more respectful participant in any situation.

[Kueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to have. I think every family today needs this book in their homes from the being. Definitely teaches us what the Title says and much much more. I really enjoyed the book it's a keeper and one for sharing.

[Emma Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been following her on Instagram for a couple years now and was excited to see she had released a book! lots of it is stuff I already knew but definitely had some new knowledge and tips too! always good to brush up on!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, relevant current day etiquette book for a multitude of situations.

[Jacqueline115 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated this book from start to finish. Many wonderful tips that I was not aware of. Being polite and understanding etiquette goes a long ways.

[Carolyn Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read! Informative and written very conversationally with great stories. Very well done!

[Karli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m better than everyone bc I read this book 💁🏽‍♀️