This novel promised quirky and delivered in full. It also brought heartache, fury, frustration, and sweet, sweet revenge.

This novel was a pleasure to read. The social commentary was much more pronounced than I'd expected it to be. I loved the scientist turned television host a nice plot device. I could see this being made into a film or tv series.

Just adored this book! The publisher describes this novel as being about a female chemist named Elizabeth Zott in the 1950s and 60s who sort of accidentally becomes the host of a cooking show - and while that’s true, that just doesn’t really capture all of what this book is - a charming and marvelous character novel which made me feel all the emotions - from laughing at the things characters said, inspired by the book’s feminist message, angry at the sexism and misogyny Elizabeth experiences, sad at some tragic things that happened, all the way back to happy at this great story. Elizabeth is an indelible character, but the book is full of other wonderful quirky characters too, including one of the best dog characters ever.

I can also see why the Good Morning America Book Club chose this one, as it definitely would be a good book club pick.

I seriously couldn’t put this one down and stayed up way too late two nights in a row reading it. Even though this just came out, everyone has been raving about it and I can totally see why! Just a unique and wonderful novel that I highly recommend! 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advanced copy! This book is so amazing and delightful, I can barely get over it. Just like the viewers of Elizabeth's cooking show, I found myself enraptured by her chemistry lessons and the way she used her platform to empower women. The love stories were very sweet and I loved how fate surprisingly brought a lot of the characters together. Plus, you get the point of view of the dog :)

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is a must read. It's my favorite of 2022 so far. This historical fiction takes place in the 50s-60s and follows the life of Elizabeth Zott, a chemist who refuses to fit into societal norms. Zott has worked tireless to pursue her academic career and establish a name for her self through her love of science specially chemistry. Zott falls in love with Calvin Evans another chemist, whom she refuses to marry because in doing so she will lose her name and her research and just become Mrs. Calvin Evans.
What I loved about Garmus' debut novel is the thought provoking theme of endurance and women empowerment. The novel is filled with heartbreak and setbacks but also hope and love. Highly recommend as a must read.
I want to thank Netgalley and Doubleday publishing for allowing me to read this breathtaking novel in exchange for an honest review.

Such an inspiring story reminding each of us our worth is not determined by others. Elizabeth Zott was a fantastic role model for perseverance and loyalty.

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.

Elizabeth Zott is a chemist and single mother who unexpectedly and reluctantly ends up the television host of a wildly popular cooking show for housewives in the early 60s due to limited opportunities. Elizabeth is an admirable character easily cheered for who refuses to be bound by the limitations society places on her sex and subversively inspires other women to understand their worth and potential using science and cooking as a conduit. Filled with a cast of loveable characters who comprise a found family, including an incredibly endearing and brilliant dog (his points of view were some of my favorite parts!)

I found Lessons in Chemistry fresh and readable, though it does present complex concepts (feminism, sexism, misogyny) in an overly simplistic way. This story has enough heart and humor that I'm willing to look past the lack of nuance and accept it for what it is: entertaining.

Do be aware of content warnings if that's something you like a head's up on. For a lighthearted story it does contain instances of rape, sexual harassment, adoption, death, and suicide.

Lessons in Chemistry
Author, Bonnie Garmus
Pub date: 4.5.22

Thank you @doubledaybooks and @netgalley for my e- arc of this fantastic debut! I loved it so much that I had to buy a finished copy! Another @gmabookclub pick and now a New York Times bestseller!

I loved chemist Elizabeth Zott's story so much! She is intelligent, witty, resourceful, brave, daring, resilient, and an absolute inspiration! In the early 60's, women in science are unheard of- the status quo for a woman is to be at home managing the household, making, dinner, and caring for the children. But Elizabeth is no status quo woman, nor does she believe any other woman should be...

At Hasting Research Institute, where Elizabeth fights just to have a seat at the table, she meets the Nobel Prize- nominated, lonely, quiet, and brilliant, Calvin Evans, and the two have instant chemistry and fall in love. A few months later, Elizabeth finds herself pregnant and alone and shut out from the world. Desperate, she agrees to star in Supper at Six, a cooking show with a scientific twist. Elizabeth shines and inspires her female audience, daring them and herself to be brave, reach their potential, and follow their dreams. After all, chemistry is change. And although change requires courage, "change is what we're chemically designed to do."

Filled with wisdom, inspiration, and emotion, Lessons in Chemistry "is not just an introduction to chemistry... it's a thirty- five- minute, five- day- a- week lesson in life. And not in who we are or what we're made of, but rather, who we're capable of becoming."

I found this book somewhat disappointing. Garmus possesses talent as a writer but I feel her execution was lacking.

I felt a high level of frustration with Elizabeth - a highly intelligent woman who lacks common sense along with social awkwardness. I would have enjoyed Elizabeth much more if she wasn’t so stereotypically flawed which I find annoying. Why does every intelligent woman suffer negative defect(s) in some form? Let her shine in her intelligence for once. The constant man-bashing grated my nerves. The entire plot felt preposterous despite addressing serious issues. Mad was way over the top with her precociousness. A few of the historical references did not occur in 1955, truly I did not pick up a 1955 vibe all, era felt later in my opinion. I also didn’t find a whole lot of humor, however, I did enjoy Six-Thirty, frankly the best part of the entire book.

Entertaining read but I did expect more and that’s where the problem begins. What I read was not what I was expecting at all. I would read another effort from Garmus, I feel she has the gift of writing and I hope the next project truly highlights her gift from beginning to end.

What a beautiful book full of power, feminism, brilliance, humor, cooking and chemistry! A book that made me think and laugh. And at times it broke my heart. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I'm convinced this'll be one of my favorite reads of the year already and there was so much I loved about this book. However, I recommend checking out the TWs before starting it.

I could gush about this book for hours, but here are some of my highlights:

I loved the main character, Elizabeth Zott! She was incredibly smart, independent, head strong, and socially clueless. She understands the world through science and applies that to all aspects of her life. I found her very relatable. This book is feminist first and foremost. Zott is ahead of her time in her views and her social cluelessness even helps her at times to be blind to some of the slights she receives. I loved how Zott used cooking, chemistry, and knowledge to empower women everywhere via her show. I loved that she didn't dumb anything down, didn't bite back words, she was always her authentic self.

Lessons in Chemistry does not sugarcoat being a woman in science in 50s and 60s. I found a lot of these scenes difficult to read and heartbreaking but also quite realistic.

There's also some discourse on religion and faith in the book. Zott is quite the rationalist, and I found this so refreshing as an agnostic. These discussions were always logical and never disrespectful against having faith which I also appreciated.

There are a lot of assholes in this book, but there are also some fantastic characters. I especially loved Elizabeth Zott's ever growing found family. The people that really love her and have her back But the dog Six Thirty really stole the show. The best book dog I've read in a long while. I loved that we got his POV at times as well, and how influential he was in their lives. Him and Zott's daughter Mad much cuteness!

Speaking of Six Thirty's POV, I liked how the book was written in general. It jumped around across many perspectives and timelines, bAut never got confusing. It actually made for a delightful literary experience as well.

Despite the heavier topics covered in the book, overall I found this to be an inspiring, encouraging, heartwarming and hopeful book.

Thank you so much to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the eARC of this wholly amazing read.

Set in CA in the early 1960s Elizabeth Zott is brilliant research chemist working at the Hastings Institute. As the only female scientist in her work group, she has to fight harder to prove herself and to be taken seriously. Why should be expected to make copies and fetch coffee for the men she works with? The only male who seems to recognize her brilliance is her fellow coworker - Calvin Evans, who has been nominated for the Nobel prize for his work. Together there is "chemistry" beyond the lab.

When several years later Elizabeth finds herself unemployed and a single mother of a daughter, her friends Harriet and Walter help her out. She finds herself in a new job, a cooking show called Supper at Six, with a live audience - because cooking is chemistry. While her wing-it style infuriates the producer and sponsors, the show becomes an instant success, not just because of her cooking tips but, because she also challenges her female viewers to question the way things have always been done and the importance of taking time for themselves and the things that they want out of life.

This book spoke to me in many ways, I loved the time period. Elizabeth was a wonderful, strong, quirky heroine and a champion for women. Her no nonsense style and her matter-of-fact way made the men who hoped she would fail step back and take notice. Thanks to her mother, her daughter Mad (Madeline) was wise beyond her years and not afraid to question adults when things don't seem quite right. There was also a stray dog named Six-Thirty who joined the family, the dog, a keen observer of character understood hundreds of words despite having flunked out of his bomb sniffing training. The story is heartwarming and infused with much dry wit. Readers who enjoy strong women characters will likely enjoy the debut gem. I can't wait to see what this talented new author will write next. DON'T MISS IT!

https://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2022/04/book-review-lessons-in-chemistry-bonnie.html

I loved Lessons in Chemistry! Elizabeth Zott is the kind of character who comes to life so fully that I know I’ll find myself thinking of her for a long time. Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in the 1960s who ends up becoming the star of a cooking show. But Elizabeth’s story is more than her career or her relationships - it’s about being a woman in the world and not compromising on what she wants. Highly recommend! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

Set in late 1950s and early 1960s California, Elizabeth Zott is a chemist during the era when women’s work outside the home was typically as secretaries or teachers. The daughter of vagabond charlatans, she is truly on her own most of her life. Armed with a master’s degree in chemistry, she never smiles or “plays games” to get ahead; unfortunately, this approach has her serious research attempts thwarted at every turn. Unexpectedly, she meets a soulmate, who is also a brilliant scientist. Together – they have chemistry (double entendre intended) and work with chemistry! But there’s a turn of events and a reaction.
Soon Zott has a home, a dog, a rowing team, and a daughter to support. She finds herself the unlikely host of an afternoon cooking show on television. Not content to merely make casseroles with cans of soup, she teaches women chemistry and independence and she still yearns to do serious research. Her antics on set of “Dinner at Six” cause chaos. All of this is entertaining, but the minor characters are the charm of this novel. The dog has his own story, and he’s got the best inner monologue of all, providing hilarious narration with his unique point of view. The daughter is funny too, although her precocity stretches plausibility.
Aptly called “irresistible” by The New York Times, Lessons in Chemistry was the “April Good Morning America” book club pick, quite an accomplishment for a debut novel. Garmus is a copywriter and creative director who rows and swims in open water. She currently lives in London.

This book about a female scientist in the 1960's who ends up hosting a TV cooking show was such an entertaining historical fiction book. The main character, Elizabeth Zott, is amongst my favorite book characters ever. Elizabeth won't change for anyone and the world is a better place because of it. The whole time I was reading this book I kept thinking that this needs to be made into a TV series and I'm happy to see that is in the works. I can't wait to see this book come to life!

The writing in this book is brilliant and she is clearly an amazing author but I just can’t get past the fact that it seems to really put down people who are religious. I understand there are people who use religion for negative things but it makes it seem like everyone who is religious is a bad person. The underlying continuous theme is that atheism is good and religion is evil and I can’t get past that personally.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Elizabeth Zott is a chemist, living in the 50s/60s, and fighting for her space among the men in her field. She is quirky, intelligent, and independent…a true feminist who isn’t afraid to speak her mind to the men surrounding her.

There were some parts of the story that seemed to drag, but overall this heartwarming story was enjoyable!

It is rare for me to give a book only one star. But that was all I could bring myself to do. The synopsis made the book sound like something I would really enjoy reading. Unfortunately, there were many aspects that made me dislike the book so much. Too many points of view within a chapter was distracting. And since when has a book described as “laugh out loud funny” have a rape occur at the beginning. As someone who worked in academia for more than 38 years, the description of Elizabeth’s experience in college and working at a research institute was appalling. Yes, things were different in the 1960s, but the description of what she endured was nothing short of disturbing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Elizabeth Zott and Calvin Evans are both brilliant scientists with troubled pasts. But in 1961, that means Calvin earns a PhD and gets a high level research job, while Elizabeth gets raped by her advisor and works at low-level job where less-qualified men take credit for her research. Elizabeth and Calvin find each other and after a few missteps, fall in love. Unfortunately, a tragedy leaves Elizabeth alone with their unborn child and uncannily intelligent dog.

Elizabeth navigates the challenges of this life without ever backing down. She finds accidental success with a cooking show incorporating chemistry and feminism into dinner preparation. Her brilliant daughter, Mad, struggles through kindergarten with a deeply conventional and cruel teacher, while befriending a minister who helps her solve some of the mysteries of her life.

This is a brilliant book. Heartbreaking, hilarious, inspiring, and infuriating. #LessonsinChemistry #NetGalley

𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐘 by Bonnie Garmus was both more and less than I expected it to be. On the more side: I loved the main character, Elizabeth, a chemist living in the 60’s and wanting far more from her career than the patriarchy sees fit to grant a woman. She was quirky, no nonsense, and completely confident in her own abilities, but those very qualities made her vulnerable to the fragility of men’s egos. Elizabeth finds herself the star of an early TV cooking show called Super at Six. This is not a role she’s proud of, but it puts food on the table for herself and her daughter, Mad. Elizabeth, doing as much teaching as cooking, quickly becomes a sensation with women everywhere, spurring them on to be and do more. The book is also full of wonderful side characters, all designed to either be loved or hated. Relationships (of all sorts) played a big role and added quirk to the story.⁣⁣
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I flew through the book, thoroughly enjoying it until about the last 20%, when I began to feel like things were going a bit off the rails. Characters that had been fun and cute, began to annoy just a tad. I know many felt differently, but my enamor slowed. As the book neared its end, A LOT of loose ends were resolved in ways that felt like a reach, making the ending just a little neat and tidy for my tastes. That being said, I liked much more about 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 than I disliked. It’s a book I’ll definitely be recommending because I think it’s one many, many will enjoy. Without a doubt, it will be tucked in many beach bags this year.
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Thanks to @doubledaybooks for an electronic copy of #LessonsInChemistry.

What a refreshing, brilliant book. The character, Elizabeth Zott, is a chemist but not your average chemist. The author has blended humor, science and feminism in such a unique way that contributes to the success of this novel.
The plot is so cleverly woven and takes you to places that you could never imagine. The role of women is explored and recognized for all that they accomplish against sometimes, insurmountable odds. This is a book that, once started, I couldn't stop reading. Pure pleasure!