There are so many cliches that I want to say when describing my love for this book: I laughed and I cried, I fell in love with the characters, I didn’t want it to end. But this book deserves so much more than tired book review language. It’s heartwarming, hysterical, thought-provoking, and inspiring. It’s everything I crave in a well-written book that I know will stay with me for a long time.

I almost didn’t give this book a chance based on its cover (it looked like a chick lit book to me, a genre I’m not a huge fan of). But then I kept seeing five-star reviews pop up and I got intrigued. I’m so grateful that I dove in, and now I feel compelled to spread the word about what a treasure this book is.

Garmus has crafted a truly memorable main character in Elizabeth Zott. She’s a brilliant chemist in the 1950s when not many women had positions in the field. She’s brutally honest, driven, and a survivor in every sense of the word. When she meets famous chemist Calvin Evans in her lab, she truly learns a thing or two about chemistry (their connection is undeniable). I won’t go into more of the plot because the best parts were surprises. But Garmus has imagined a whole cast of characters that flew off the page and into my heart. There were several twists I didn’t see coming, and I’ll admit a few parts where I cried real tears (not easy for a book to make me do).

There was so much cleverness in this book and loose ends that got tied up in beautiful knots by the novel’s last chapter. As a writer, I’m astonished that this is Garmus’ debut novel and insanely jealous that someone has this much storytelling talent. I eagerly await what she writes next, but I have a hard time believing anything will touch me as much as this one did. Please, please go read it!

Definitely in the minority for not loving this book. I felt zero connection to the MC or why she did what she did. It looks like a romance, but I have no clue what genre this is. The writing was confusing and I never understood who’s POV we were getting.

I enjoyed this book but think it may have not been for me. The story kept me engaged but I couldn't help but want to skim at times. It may have been a case of the wrong time to pick it up. I'm an extreme mood reader and if I pick a book at the wrong time my rating and feelings will 100% reflect that.

I can see where several of my friends thought it was absolutely charming. I had my moments of soaking up the story! But in the end, the spunky writing style didn't win me over. With a 4.53 rating on Goodreads, I would still highly recommend reading, the people are loving it!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Lessons in Chemistry are out now!

This is one of the most quirky and unusual books I’ve read in a while and while I was hesitant at first, I’m super glad I stuck with it because Elizabeth Zott is a character I won’t forget any time soon.
Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant, highly trained scientist who’s career is stuck in place simply because of her gender. She’s totally overqualified for her current job at the Hastings Institute. In a bizarre twist of fate, she meets Calvin Evans when she demands that he treat her as equal and share his equipment by taking it from him herself. Calvin is a beloved scientist at the Hastings Institute, where he is working despite many offers from major universities because of his work. But Calvin is a devoted rower, and his friend told him that the weather in California was perfect for rowing all year long.
After they fall in love, they face several challenges with their relationship as well as their careers but they move forward and move in together and adopt a stray dog, which they name six-thirty because that’s the time they found him at, and Elizabeth proceeds to use scientific methods to teach the dog over 800 words!
Several years down the line, Elizabeth finds herself a working mom, as a consultant for other scientists who need help with their work. She likes the work, but it’s not enough to support her and her daughter. One day, everything changes when she finds herself the host of a new cooking show that soon takes the nation by storm. Elizabeth is determined to raise her daughter to be strong and independent and she does so by example, not just talking the talk. She does things very differently than most women at that time and I loved her fierce determination and her strong scientific mind that shows the men of the field what’s what. Her talk show is a hit with women all over the country because it’s not a typical cooking show, she uses science to create recipes and to empower the women who watch.
There are some fantastic support characters and lots of science but it is used to relate to life and it’s challenges.
“Sometimes I think”, she said slowly, “that if a man were to spend day day being a woman in America, he wouldn’t make it past noon.”
“Strode to her easel, marker in hand. CHEMISTRY IS CHANGE, she wrote.
"Whenever you start doubting yourself," she said, turning back to the audience,
"whenever you feel afraid, just remember. Courage is the root of change--and change is
what we're chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this
pledge. No more holding yourself back. No more subscribing to others' opinions of what
you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into use-
less categories of sex, race, economic status, and religion. Do not allow your talents to lie
dormant, ladies. Design your own future. When you go home today, ask yourself what
you will change. And then get started."

Thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

What a great read!

I love a book with a good strong female lead and Elizabeth Zott is just that. She is smart, highly capable of pretty much anything, and headstrong. 100% fearless.

Oh and Six-Thirty! 😭 Looooooove

This book is one that warms the heart. It makes you laugh, feel, and think. And those are the best kinds of stories.

I loved it.

Wow wow wow! This book was amazing! Elizabeth Zott was such a strong character, and I loved how in the 1960’s she believed in women’s equality even when the world kept holding her down. She faced so many obstacles, but held her head high and overcame them in some clever, non-traditional ways. Elizabeth Zott should be a role model for all women.

I loved the parts of the book when Elizabeth was hosting Supper at Six. She once again stood up for gender equality, but in a unique way, and it was great how she threw in chemistry to all of her cooking lessons. These parts of the book provided some humor while still showing how strong Elizabeth was.

There are so many great secondary characters in this story, my favorite being Elizabeth’s dog, Six-Thirty. I loved his backstory and how he came to be a part of her life. Other notable characters are Mad, Harriet, and Wakely, but I loved how all the characters Elizabeth met along the way interconnected somehow. I loved the found family aspect of this book.

This book is so much more than historical fiction. This is a story about a woman’s survival in a man’s world and how she made other women realize they could break the stereotypes and follow their dreams. I’m so impressed that this was Bonnie Garmus’ debut novel. It’s written wonderfully, and I didn’t want it to end.

Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday Books for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I just don't love characters who are written to be quirky, especially when they are strident. I can't imagine a life where I was always trying to cram my square peg into a round hole-and I don't buy that someone so intelligent couldn't figure out a better way to get what they want from the world.

** thank you NetGalley and Doubleday Publishing for giving me an early copy in exchange for my honest review **

“... she only ever seemed to bring the worst in men, They either wanted to control her, touch her, dominate her, silence her, correct her, or tell her what to do. She didn't understand why they couldn't just treat her as a fellow human being, as a colleague, a friend, an equal…”

There is a lot to say about this book, it was so powerful and impactful. I couldn't put it down. At times I didn't know where it was all going but I feel this book was more about the journey and the struggles of Elizabeth being a woman between the 1950-the 1960s. From her short-lived love life to being a mother, to being a scientist. She wasn't a “normal” woman, because she questioned, analyzed, she challenged everyone around her. What's even better is that she wasn't asking to be noticed as a woman in science but as a Scientist. She wanted to be recognized for her accomplishments alone regardless of her gender. The situations Elizabeth went through, had me aching and burning my core with impotence and with the realization of how much we let go or accommodate as women to fit our “roles”.

“Elizabeth simply refused to accept limits, not just for herself, but for others”

The characters were all magnificent and they all play an important part in Elizabeth’s life, even her dog had a point of view. A story with heart, soul, and logic. The themes explored here are so important, even though it's set in the 50s-60s, a lot is still very retable today. It's definitely a must-read, a story with heart, soul, and logic.

“In short, the reduction of women to something to something less than men, and the elevation of men to something more than women, is not biological: it's simply cultural. And it starts with two words: pink and blue. Everything skyrockets out of control from there.”

Stellar exposé of an academic woman in a “man’s” world. With apologies to Elizabeth who would hate that label.

What a genius story! I laughed, I raged, I cringed, I teared up, I cheered, and I fell in love with Elizabeth Zott, truth seeker and brilliant research chemist at a time when women were given the proverbial pat on the head, or bottom, and sent to make coffee. Leaning towards being somewhat on the spectrum, Elizabeth is so focused on her research that she misses the social cues that if she gave them a thought, would cause her to be less.
I adored her daughter Mad and I can’t even begin to relate how I feel about the family dog Six-Thirty, a failed bomb sniffer canine, who is protective, intelligent and wise.
Elizabeth always expects that people (and animals—are not humans animals? a basic tenant that causes much trouble for Elizabeth) are able to “do” things. That extends to the audience of her unexpected job hosting a TV Cooking show (which Elizabeth translates as chemistry for her own understanding), daughter Mad who by five has read most of Dickens, and Six-Thirty who after training from Elizabeth understands upwards of 900 words. What Elizabeth expects and mostly never gets is fairness and acceptance from her male counterparts at the University research facility, (they feel are threatened and exposed), and her female colleague who feel jealous. Out of left field, Elizabeth finds that acceptance from the unexpected love of her life, the equally as brilliant, and as socially awkward, Calvin Evans, a leading chemist with the Institute. The “who” of Calvin. and their chemistry together, is a radiant, wonderful part of the story.
Discrimination and injustice are all part of the backdrop set in the 1950’s and 60’s world of academic research. That includes the unwanted sexual advances, the hypocrisy involved in the stealing of Elizabeth’s work and research, and the inability of stupid men in power to acknowledge their own limitations, and their wanting to make Elizabeth pay for being a threat to their egos, and the confident self image she represents. Something they resent.
There are so many great moments in this story. I was struck by Elizabeth’s enraged, pertinent observation, her questions as to why women perpetuate cultural stereotypes,
“the reduction of women to something less than men, and the elevation of men to something more than women, is not biological: it’s cultural. And it starts with two words: pink and blue. Everything skyrockets out of control from there.” The ideas underlying this tale are BIG, and haven’t lost any of their impetus for today.
A superb read!

A Doubleday ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This is a book I didn’t know that I would love!
I absolutely adore Elizabeth Zott, a strong, smart, scientist and the main character in this book.

California, early 1960’s, Elizabeth is working as a Chemist at a research institute. She is constantly undermined, treated poorly and not recognized for her skills and intelligence.

As time goes on she ends up being a tv host for a cooking show at 4:30 and just blossoms! She empowers the women watchers with all the little scientific facts about cooking and baking and why doing it a certain way or temperature you get the best results. Women watchers love the learning and being treated like they are smart!

The story builds Elizabeth Zotts life with it’s past events that have gotten her to where she is. We meet the fall in love with the people close to her in her life, even the dog named six-thirty, who narrates at times!

This book is intelligent, heartwarming, motivating, emotional, empowering, and gives hope. To all the powerful women out there in the world today, so grateful for you and your voices!

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the advance e-copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Set in a time where women are considered the weaker sex and are supposed to be homemakers, Elizabeth Zott pushes back against all these expectations.

Elizabeth is a chemist who is up against a myriad of issues in a make-dominated workplace and society. As a woman in academics, she’s looked down on and not taken seriously; her co-workers steal her work and, even fellow women believe she’s riding the coattails of her brilliant lover, Calvin Evans.

Unexpectedly alone and pregnant, Elizabeth has to make some tough choices while still holding on to who she is. Elizabeth is a brilliant, quirky, and fierce feminist. I loved how she bucked the system and never backed down from her fight against the patriarch.

While the story is set in the late 50’s/early 60’s, there are still parallels between women, particularly those in STEM, from then to now. It’s a whip-smart account of how strong women can be and what can happen when pushed too far.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy!

"𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯, 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧."

When my friend Liz raves about a book, I know I'm in for a treat and 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗬, the story of a chemist who becomes a reluctant star as the host of a cooking show, was everything she said it was and more.

"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬... 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮."

There are so many things about this book that shouldn't work. It's filled with extremely quirky characters. The timeline bounces around in unusual ways. The POV shifts from one person to another to a dog and back. Oh, and there's a lot of science talk. But Bonnie Garmus's writing is just so sublime that it all comes together in an unexpectedly entertaining, charming and moving way.

"𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘜𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘰."

I have no doubt this will be one of my top 10 books this year. And as an aspiring novelist myself, I find the author as inspiring as her trailblazing heroine - she published this debut at 65 and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

Thanks to Doubleday books and NetGalley for a copy to review.

Walt Disney World features some of the longest waits for rides — but I truly didn’t mind waiting because it meant I got to read this book. LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY was unlike any other book I’ve read before and it will go down as one of my favorites of the year even though it’s only April! LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY is set in the 1960s, and follows scientist Elizabeth Zott — whose career takes a detour when she becomes the star of a TV cooking show.

Read this if you love:
❤️books set in the 50s-60s
🧡Women in Stem 🔬
💛lovable, quirky characters & dogs
💚found family

My quick thoughts:
- If you’re a fan of character driven novels, don’t skip this one!
- I went into this almost completely blind, which really aided to my experience of the novel. I recommend you skip out on reading spoiler-y reviews and just go read it!
- This book had a lot of dry humor that actually had me laughing out loud
- Everyone deserves an animal companion like Six Thirty. I loved imagining what my cats are saying to each other about me
- I thought the pacing was fantastic— but if this one doesn’t grip you from the beginning I say stick with it! This one only gets better as it goes on.

Book: Lessons in Chemistry
Author: Bonnie Garmus

Synopsis:
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.

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.

Review: This was written/edited beautifully. It made me laugh and think all at the same time. If you enjoy historical fiction books that deals with feminist issues, and has quirky characters, I recommend this book.

This is a Historical Fiction book. I had so many different feelings about this book. I really did not like Elizabeth's character in this book. I did not like that Elizabeth was so smart, but she was so dumb at the same time. I hate that she did not see people walking all over her. I also did not think she really put a fight for women rights. I just felt she did everything to make things hard on herself. I really wanted to love this book, but I just did not. I hated the first half of this book, and the second half of this book I liked not loved. I also did not understand the dog stuff, and I felt all the dog stuff was weird. I found parts of this book funny. The ending was good, but I saw it coming. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Doubleday Books) or author (Bonnie Garmus) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

It's hard to describe this book, because it's a story with lots of interconnecting characters and plots, but revealing any of those connections would ruin the pleasure of coming across them as you're reading. A great book with a feminist message and engrossing characters.

I received this book as an ARC through Net Galley and this is my unbiased opinion.

I loved this book so much! So funny, poignant and heartbreaking all at the same time.

I think this would make an excellent book club read because of the depth of issues that are addressed in this novel. The book exposes, from a historical perspective, the attitudes toward women in science to begin with but then slowly critiques every aspect of society. Although set in the early 1960's, the book is not necessarily constrained by the time as it addresses issues that still confront society today. Namely, our predisposition to stereotypes and not having the courage to break free.

The use of chemistry to frame Elizabeth's struggles to be herself is nicely done and not too technical. The book has a dog, who figures prominently, and is super lovable and wise. What is not to love about this one.

3.75⭐
G for a closed door historical fiction book

Chemistry and historical fiction focused on a woman conquering gender biases in science and cooking? I could not pass up a book featuring so many of my favorite things and was very thankful to receive this ARC.

Lessons in Chemistry follows the life of Elizabeth Zott in the 1960s as a research chemist who falls for another scientist, a twist life takes as Elizabeth becomes a jobless single mother and her sudden success as a TV cooking show host. I loved how Elizabeth used science in her cooking show and empowered women to go beyond 1960s standards. Elizabeth was insistent that women, including herself, deserved more both at home and professionally which really resonated with me.

The points made in this book and the nerdy science bits were so fun, but I did find this book to be extremely dry. Readers were informed of Elizabeth's decisions and how it impacts others but I never felt like I had a full view into her mind which made it hard to get attached to her. This overall made some of the pacing in this book challenging.

I thought Bonnie did an excellent job taking different threads of this book and weaving them together to create a satisfying ending. If you enjoy science and historical fiction and the direct style of British storytelling, I think this book would be a good one to add to your TBR.

First, let me start by saying that I am a young woman in STEM, specifically, the field of food science, and I’ve never related to a work of fiction so strongly. For me, this book is everything because not only does it celebrate women in STEM, but it also connects cooking to chemistry. Second, this book FLAWLESSLY captures the struggles of women pursuing careers in male dominated fields while also balancing the expectations that come with being a mother and a wife.

This author does an excellent job making the reader feel Elizabeth’s pain and frustration with constant demeaning attitudes of men and their unearned self-confidence. I love how this book celebrated the flaws of each character but also highlighted their redeeming qualities. I loved all the characters, but Six-Thirty’s perspective was my favorite.

My one qualm with this book is the reference to processed food being bad because a lot of processed food isn’t bad and those chemicals make the food more shelf stable and thus, more accessible for people in food deserts! Overall, loved this book

Lessons in Chemistry was just a joy to read. The pacing is fantastic, and although there are plenty of sad moments, it has a delightfully comedic tone that I loved. The main character, Elizabeth Zott, commands attention, and her way of looking at the world keeps the reader turning the page. This story is expertly layered, with chemistry and television cooking somehow blending easily with crew rowing and child-rearing. It is an intelligent, witty, thoughtful, and sad look at life, with bits of humor mixed in. It brings home the importance of how you treat others and the way that each individual’s actions greatly affect another, good or bad.

The treatment of women in the workplace in the 1960s was shown in shocking detail, as was the way that society looked down on single mothers and their children at that time. The characters were unique and fresh, from the determined Elizabeth to the brilliant Calvin, and the precocious child Madeline. Even their dog, Six-thirty, was a fresh, unique, and insightful character in this story. Everything in this book stands out, from the phrasing to the quirky characters. It is a book I will recall often and will read again. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read a well-crafted novel.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.