Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ All the Stars-

This will be in my top favorites of the year.

“𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰”

STOP EVERYTHING! If you don’t have this book already, you need to RUN and get a copy now!

Did I read this book in one sitting, yes I did! I started it yesterday evening and finished it before bedtime! I did a combo read/listen. Thank you @prhaudio as I transitioned to audiobook seamlessly while at carpool and cooking to ensure my family would have ‘Supper at Six’!

The narrator, Miranda Raison, gave one heck of phenomenal performance bringing Elizabeth Zott’s character to life!
The end of the audiobook also includes a Q & A with the author, be sure not to skip that part.

In the late 50’s and early 60’s life for women determined to lead an educated career driven path, was often deterred from society.

Elizabeth Zott was a scientist in a man’s world. She was determined to make a name for herself as a woman. Even deciding to “live in sin” with the man she loved, instead of marrying him, so her work wouldn’t be automatically assumed it was completed by him.

Powerful, Moving, Rejoicing, Heartbreaking, Commanding, Teaching, Mystifying, Intriguing, Loving, Courageous and Pure Joy

“Cooking is chemistry,” she was saying. “And chemistry is life. Your ability to change everything—including yourself—starts here.”

LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY was an utter delight from start to finish! I loved how @bonnie_garmus_author brought so much—chemistry, family, cooking, sexism, motherhood, grief, faith—together in one story with an interesting setting of the 1960s and characters I really fell in love with. It was propulsive and funny, and the writing was smart. I love a book that is fun to read yet has depth and tackles interesting themes, and this one has all of that and more. Loved this one! A favorite of the year so far!

Set in California in the 50s, chemist Elizabeth Zott deals with workplace discrimination and sexual harassment. She's smarter than almost any of her fellow chemists yet is treated like a glorified secretary. Then she falls in love and gasp! gets pregnant! How to support herself once she gets fired for moral turpitude? How about a tv show where she demonstrates the chemistry of cooking?

This is a character-driven novel dealing with several feminist issues. Garmin keeps it humorous and ironic. I enjoyed meeting these characters but felt the pace of the novel plodded along. No big surprises in the plot.

I received an arc of this new novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

Elizabeth Zott is a woman before her time. It is the 1960s and she is upended from her career as a chemist to become the unsuspecting star of a cooking show. She is adamant about teaching women the science behind cooking, much to the networks dismay, but she doesn't realize that she is teaching women so much more -- how to be so much more than they ever thought possible.

I will admit, I was only interested in this book because it was compared to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel & Where'd You Go Bernadette (and the cover is super freaking cute). I hate science. Let me rephrase -- I believe in science, I support science, I love people who love science, but I just can't do science. But let me tell you what...I was impressed. I enjoyed reading about all of the things I don't understand. I even enjoyed, related to, and envied Elizabeth & Calvin's romance (all at the same time). I fell in love with the characters. Most of all, I was impressed by how many major issues this book tackled seemingly effortlessly.

It is also worth noting that I love that Six-Thirty had his own voice.

Highly, highly recommend.

“Science has big problems to solve: famine, disease, extinction. And those who purposefully close the door to others using self-serving, outdating cultural notions are not only dishonest, they’re knowingly lazy.”

🧪Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Pub Date: Today! April 5, 2022
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫/5

Elizabeth Zott is a chemist, despite what all the men she works with think. Set in the 1950s, a time when a woman having career aspirations with no desire to get married and have children is essentially taboo. Elizabeth does not have the opportunity to study for a PhD and as such is stuck as a research assistant. When her life is turned upside down, her funding and work are stolen, she’s offered a TV cooking show (cooking is chemistry!) to teach housewives to cook. She teaches them chemistry and that they are capable of amazing things.

I adored this book. The depiction of being a woman in science is phenomenal, while this is set a couple generations ago and we’ve come a long way, there is still sex discrimination in science. I am fortunate to have a partner who is supportive of my career and I love that Elizabeth had that too. This book is also a demonstration of the community of mothers (parents of any kind) and how when we work together we can change the world. I loved these characters, especially six-thirty 🐶❤️

I would like to thank NetGalley and Doubleday Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

TW: rape, abandonment, child abuse

the best way to describe this book is whip smart. on its surface, you might not think that a book about a chemist, single mom, and TV chef in the 50s and 60s is for you. but told from the perspective of everyone from Elizabeth Zott herself to the family dog, you're in for a rich story full of humor, hope, and righteous anger.

this is a story about a woman in the scientific world who's consistently denied the opportunities she deserves. but it's also about motherhood and feminism and tenacity and resilience and found family. it's about the fact that odds can be defied and that sticking to your principle is more important than playing the game. maybe this plot is too idealistic by the end (after all, we all know that prejudices haven't vanished and you can't persevere your way through people's biases and hatred) but it's the reality I wish we had and it's a world I know I'll be revisiting in the future.

all I can tell you is that I want to be Elizabeth Zott when I grow up.

Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in the 1960s. The problem is, she is the only one who views herself that way. Her male colleagues treat her no better than a secretary, and she is effectively barred from her profession. Her personal life is not going much better. She suffers from bouts of depression, her daughter is keeping her on her toes, her neighbor is judgmental and jealous, and her boss is on her case.

Lessons in Chemistry is an original and creative story, with sharp writing, original main characters, a cast of terrific supporting characters, quirky and humorous dialogue, and is overall a sincere and heartwarming tale. This book is definitely a must read. You won't be sorry you did.

This was a truly wonderful book. Elizabeth Zott is a woman chemist, living in the mid-1950s, and early 1960's; a time when women were expected to be housewives and men made all the rules. Her life was hard; her father was a televangelist, her mother abandoned the family; her brother committed suicide. When she meets Calvin Evans, golden boy of chemistry she knows that he is just another man who will belittle her because she is a woman. Unexpectedly she discovers there is much more to Calvin. Until he dies and she feels the brunt of his death.

Full of unexpected characters and descriptions of the plight of women who dared back in a time when men called all the shots, this book is a book about grit, character, and determination. The characters are edgy, yet likeable, and I found myself enthralled with the play of human actions and emotions. A book very much worth reading to the end.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

I am awestruck!

So what do you think is the most important factor in reading aside from the very act itself of being able to “read”?

It is TIME.

Because so many books and so little time that I do not have enough to have read this sooner.

Also, TIME is what Elizabeth Zott doesn’t have with someone whom she realized she did not know long enough.

Excuse me and forgive me for cussing. But , Chapter 9, last line of page 91- What the actual f*ck?!

🧪Yes , I have the egalley courtesy of DoubleDay Books via Netgalley. I was so excited when that widget appeared on my email.

🧪Yes, I am also gifted by @prhaudio for the audiobook file because they are just awesome like that. So, friendly tip, listen to audio while reading this book because it is phenomenal. Narration by Miranda Raison, Pandora Sykes and Bonnie Garmus herself was outstanding. Just the right vibe and nerdy tone!

🧪Yes- I also pick Lessons in Chemistry as an add on BOTM because one can never have too many copies when you love the book you are reading! I believe my blue box will be arriving tomorrow and will grace my upcoming review in bookstagram to follow with it’s picture.

Still not convinced to pick this up and start reading it? Or better yet, add to your TBR to say the least?

Here is another benefit of this book,- it makes you incredulously smarter. For real. Abiogenesis has never been more appealing ever. I am at 80% of this book and I strongly feel that I am also 80% smarter at this point.😉 Just imagine how much more when I finally finish it! 😃 Besides, I am also a scientist,(check my bio) maybe not the breakthrough, genius kind. But still, it makes me and Elizabeth Zott kinda alike and rubbing elbows for that matter.😂

Regardless, this book has a strong girl power semblance and aspect that I am literally rallying in cheer! Beautiful writing all over from page one to last. Such a huge empowerment for women in every shape and form and I love it very much!


#netgalley #prhaudioinfluencer #advancereaderscopy #advancelisteningcopy #bookreviewer #bookstagram #bookstagramphilippines #bookworm

I truly was entertained by this story full of quirky, clever characters. Elizabeth Zott is a woman ahead of her time, a chemist in the 1950s. She gets herself in all kinds of situations and manages to give lessons in chemistry, and lessons in life. A funny and touching story. Pass the NaCl!

I didn't know what to expect with this book. The heroine is very much somebody who would never describe herself that way. Elizabeth Zott was just being herself. She knows her mind and has clear career goals. Unfortunately, academia and the workplaces of the 1950's have other ideas. Elizabeth faces many roadblocks in this story. I admired her so much for her determination to continue her scientific work and be recognized for it. Elizabeth is a flawed human but is able to hold her life together with the help of some unlikely companions.

Love this book. OK, there were a lot of times you just had to go with it and a lot of times you just got angry with the characters, but that’s part of the reading experience. If you care enough to get emotional, the author did something right.

Elizabeth Zott would have been a lot of us if we were born in a different time. She is a scientist who just wants to be allowed to be a scientist. Instead the world constantly tries to define her TO her. I was constantly reminded of the running joke in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel “Why are you a comedian?” “Because I can’t sing.” Everyone wants her to be one thing (even if she can’t be that thing) and she wants to be another. She didn’t want to be a single mother in the 60s but it is what she ended up being. She didn’t want to host a cooking show, but no one would let her be a scientist on her terms.

The relationships really make this book. Calvin and Elizabeth have a relationship that is the envy of everyone else in the book. Elizabeth and Harriet have the kind of relationship that you cannot look for. It just has to happen. Elizabeth and Mad have a relationship most parents and children cannot have until the child is an adult. And you hope to get there even then.

Elizabeth’s unusual path is a study in sexism. I sincerely wish that every young woman who claims to not be a feminist would realize what those before them had to go through in order to allow them the privilege to think feminism is unnecessary. This should be read by them. And everyone. You think you have it hard? There was a time that almost every hand went up in a room if you asked who had been the victim of sexism or sexual assault. Don’t get me wrong, still way too many hands go up now. But others have worked damn hard to make those small gains.

Elizabeth is also an atheist, which doesn’t go over too well, either. Her daughter has the best lines in the book when she says, “Religion is based on faith. Faith isn’t based on religion.” You don’t know how wonderful those word were to hear to an atheist named Faith. I can’t even express how perfect they are.

Thankfully, Elizabeth isn’t the only character we really get to know. We know the thoughts of almost all of the characters introduces. I especially love the insight into the mind of Six Thirty. A little bit of Chet in that dog.

Come for the characters, stick around for the social commentary. Absolutely loved this book. Every single person should read it. If any parts make you uncomfortable-good.

I want to start off this review by saying I went into Lessons in Chemistry largely blind, and requested it from @netgalley solely on the recommendation of @thankstomylocallibrary who said “Meg I’d think you’d like this” and that was enough for me. Guldren, thanks for the rec, because this was wild and I loved it.

Second, this isn’t a romance novel, which I say because the cartoony cover may lead you to believe that. There is true love, though. It’s important to note at the outset there are strong content warnings for on-page sexual assault and rampant 1960s-style misogyny, that you’ll see echoed in contemporary society. And yet there is a matter-of-factness of the main character Elizabeth Zott, who makes all attempts to brush off the negative and move on, because it simply won’t get you anywhere to dwell.

Elizabeth Zott is a chemist. Brilliant and preserving, in a world dominated by men, Zott is firm in her ideals and utterly practical. Even when she falls in love with an equally smart and very famous chemist, Calvin Evans, her adamant and very forward-thinking feminist ideals keep her on her own determined path. But life has a way providing surprises, and Elizbeth finds herself fired from the lab and instead as the star of an afternoon TV show called Supper at Six, because cooking is chemistry and her unshaking beliefs lead her to prove to the world that she and her audience of housewives are intelligent women who deserve to be treated as such.

The tone of this book mimics Elizabeth’s personality: forceful, abrasive, and yet utterly compelling. It’s wild and zany, and yet it’s also the story of every woman looking for her place in a society that tells us no. All of the side characters are wonderfully developed, and I would be remiss in not mentioning that the dog, Six-thirty, is a total show-stealer in more ways than one. I’m excited this was a BOTM pick, and can’t wait to see what more people think of this one.

It's laugh-out-loud, unattractive-snort-chortle, read-bits-aloud-to-whoever-will-listen funny. It's twisty, time-skippy, well-plotted, inventive and full of great touches. It's achingly, sadly familiar—in my career I've personally been harassed and belittled and witness to plenty of sexism —but also optimistic, because things have improved a lot since the 1960s and we can work to continue that improvement. It's also familiar in the plain old déjà vu sense—I live in Cambridge next to several boathouses and see the rowers at their boats and ergs whenever I go for a walk, and I work at a medical science research institute with a lot of lineage in the study of DNA. So, in all honesty, it's possible there was no way I wouldn't like this book.

The writing leans toward bon mots and a large cast of quickly sketched personalities, rather than deep characterization, which might not be everyone's preference—and it does have a LOT of sexism, and in fact has violent sexual assault in the very early pages, so some might want to avoid it, or take frequent breaks. But it's funny, engaging, and has some real soap-level reveals and twists and turns! It can teach you a bit about cooking, including some 🤔 <em>possibly</em> useful facts about poisons, and a lot about rowing—I thought it was hilarious that the very first mention of rowing is "Worst of all, he was a rower. As any non-rower can tell you, rowers are not fun. This is because rowers only ever want to talk about rowing.", and then Garmus spent the entire rest of the book taking <em>every</em> excuse to write about rowing. She warned us up front! Comedy!

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Happy Pub Day!
5 stars

“...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 useless 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.”

I am in love with this five star debut by Bonnie Garmus. With a quote like that, how could I not be? This is everything I love in a book! I laughed, I cried, I was furious and I cheered out loud at times. I fell in love with this quirky cast of characters and I’m so thankful to NetGalley and Doubleday books for the ARC to read and review.

Elizabeth Zott is a scientist in 1960’s California. As a woman in a male dominated field she suffers many injustices, but mostly she is at the whim of mediocre white men without even half of her brilliance. She endures sexism, spite and violence and eventually finds herself without a job in her beloved field. By some stroke of fate, she finds herself the host of a daytime cooking show. She uses this platform to not only teach housewives to cook, but to follow their dreams, challenge social norms and best of all, she teaches them chemistry.

With sharp writing and thoughtful prose, Garmus delivers a story that is heartbreaking and triumphant, uplifting and intelligent. Zott is a trailblazer who is unequivocally herself and never pretends otherwise. Through integrity, heart and perseverance, she changes the lives of anyone who meets her.

I love a book with humor and heart and this book had me laughing out loud and tearing up a time or two. The side characters are so endearing and I especially loved Harriette, Mad and six thirty. Seeing the story through their POVs only enhanced an already powerful story.

Perfect for fans of Where’d You Go Bernadette, this has easily become one of the best books I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to see what else Garmus has in store for us in the future.


My review will be posted on 4/5 on Amazon, Bookbub, Goodreads and Instagram.

Thank you Netgalley and Doubleday for access to this arc.

As I headed down the backstretch of reading “Lessons in Chemistry,” I kept thinking “Don’t lose me right at the end. It’s been so good up until now. Please, please don’t fuck this up!” When I read the final page, I sighed with relief. YES. It stayed excellent, and darkly humorous, and it gets my recommendation for readers to go read this book.

Wow, I almost don’t know where to start. I guess I should first mention that I’m sure a lot of readers will hate this book. It has omniscient voice – thus allowing us to know Six-Thirty’s thoughts among others, a non-linear timeline, it has a strong female character (YAY) who endures terrible misogyny up to and including forced penetration on page (only once as Elizabeth always carries her secret weapon and used it), domestic violence to another female character, loss of a loved one, and the sad history of another young woman done wrong. Plus there are the thwarted dreams and goals of women of the 1950s and 1960s. There are some heartbreaking things that happen in this book. Some people might also view the positive things that happen as wish fulfillment. To that I say – I loved it. Young women of today – this is what your mothers and grandmothers and great-grandmothers had to fight against. This is what they triumphed over to give me and you our chances.

“Lessons in Chemistry” is more of a women’s fiction book but it does have a strong romance in it. As the book opens, we see Elizabeth Zott carefully preparing her daughter’s lunch and writing inspirational notes to put in Madeline, aka “Mad’s,” lunchbox. Elizabeth doesn’t include sappy stuff like “Be Good,” or “Hang in There.” Oh, no. This is the kind of thing that goes in – “Play sports at recess but do not automatically let the boys win.” Madeline listens to her mother but she also tries to fit in at school because she’s seen what her mother – who has never fit in – has to deal with.

Brilliant Elizabeth first meets the love of her life when she (a lowly, underpaid chemist at the only place that would hire her) arrives at the enormous and well stocked lab of the famous Calvin Evans (who is on the cover of chemistry magazines) and steals a box of his beakers. Another not-so-meet-cute later and he’s in love (with her brains as well as her body) but can’t get her to look at him twice. Until she also begins to fall for him although she won’t marry him because if she does, all her research would be thought to be his and all her possible discoveries would be presumed to be his. She would lose her identity and become merely Mrs. Calvin Evans. To every argument of his, she has a zippy rejoinder (and continues to zap men’s silly statements for the rest of the book). She’ll live in sin with him and be deliriously happy doing so (gasp! in the early 1950s!) but she is her own person and will not be subsumed.

All too soon though, she is on her own, facing being a single mother with no support structure. How she stands up, maintains her poise, and meets every battle head on while inspiring first a child and then a city, and then a nation of women who are usually dismissed as just housewives made me almost cry with delight. No, it isn’t an easy row to hoe. Yes, Elizabeth faces constant belittlement from her male peers, demands to wear tight dresses on camera before mixing a cocktail at the end of her show, as well as threats for speaking her truth and never backing down. But Elizabeth is a force of nature and will not hide who she is. She is a boxer who just won’t stay down. At times while I was reading, Helen Reddy’s “I am Woman” played on a repeat loop in my mind.

Elizabeth isn’t the only fantastic character. There is Mad, her daughter who has been raised to ask questions, demand the truth, and who learns resilience from her mother. Okay so Mad might be a little bit precocious but given the brilliance of her parents and her mother’s self confidence and determination, I was on board. Harriet, the tough and practical neighbor across the street, finds her own strength and willingness to voice her thoughts on more than children. Walter Pine, the producer of Elizabeth’s cooking – sorry, chemistry – show discovers a backbone and how to be a better person, the staff and crew of “Supper at Six” have far better working lives after Elizabeth manages (oh, the scene was brilliant) to send off the asshat producer who misjudged her, a conflicted minister helps right a wrong, and a family tree is finally filled out. And there’s a dog who failed in one duty but found his family at Six-Thirty one evening whose thoughts we are privy to. Don’t mock this. Six-Thirty has some important things to think about and flawless judgement of character.

The plotting of the novel is precise and careful in ways that don’t have events or statements highlighted in a “This Is An Important Moment/Clue!” way. The reader must trust that it is all important and will eventually make sense as it all beautifully comes together. Is the ending and justice meted out almost too good to be true or are things perhaps a little too convenient for real life? Yeah, I’ll admit that perhaps a few are but it’s not an easy journey and it’s all so good I didn’t care. The story swept me along and despite the heartache and loss, I ended it in a happy place. It’s a bit like a fairy tale but not a Disneyfied one. The characters have to endure, at times, but come through stronger, better, forged through fire. Elizabeth ends, battle tested but still standing, having held out for what she, and all women, deserve – an equal chance and respect for their accomplishments. A

You know how sometimes you come across a book that bowls you over so completely? Lessons In Chemistry was like that for me. What an absolute gem!

This book was funny, dark and emotional all at once. I fell in love with it right from page one and didn't want it to end! The first night of starting it, I was kept reading until 4am. Some scenes made me chuckle while others had me tearing up.

I feel like no words will do this wonderful debut justice. It's so well-written, from the clever concept to the exquisite prose to the delightful characters. Elizabeth is one of the best and most unforgettable protagonists I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. I loved her and her 'family' so much! ❤️

Although the ending felt a bit lacklustre to me (maybe because the first 98% is simply too remarkable), I would still say it totally lives up to the buzz and is no doubt going to be one of my most memorable reads of the year. Don't miss it!

"Lessons in Chemistry," by Bonnie Garmus, is a seriocomic novel about two scientists who fall madly in love. The book opens in 1961, but flashes back to the fifties. Thirty-year-old Elizabeth Zott is a chemist and single parent, whose brilliant and blunt daughter, five-year-old Madeline (Mad), is bullied by her teacher and peers. The feminist movement had yet to become a force in America, so Elizabeth's refusal to defer to her male colleagues makes her an outlier.

After being blackballed from working in a laboratory, Elizabeth is reduced to hosting a cooking show on television. However, in defiance of her producer, she turns her program into a combination chemistry lecture and food demonstration. She makes delicious dishes while discussing molecules, bonds, heat, and nutrition. Furthermore, she balks at wearing makeup or snug dresses; trashes her sponsor's product; and makes up her own lines. Her superiors threaten to fire her but, much to everyone's shock, "Supper at Six" becomes a surprise hit.

Garmus maintains a farcical tone throughout, with exaggerated characters that include lecherous bosses, a snotty early childhood teacher, and a lazy and avaricious bishop who lies to attract funding. The book initially centers around Elizabeth's love affair with her soul mate, Calvin Evans, and her struggle to make it in a man's world. Elizabeth is uncompromising, businesslike, and intent on encouraging Madeline to be true to herself. The Zotts have a marvelous dog named "six-thirty," who knows the meaning of hundreds of words and works behind the scenes to help his owners. "Lessons in Chemistry" is amusing, quirky, silly, and touching. The author gives us a taste of what society was like before women stood up for themselves. It also foreshadows a time when little girls could realistically dream of becoming politicians, astronauts, surgeons, and pilots, in addition to being wives and mothers.

This book was amazing! I do have to say with everything Elizabeth has been through it was tough to get through the first half of the book. After 54% WOW, the second half made up for all of it and more. This was inspiring and uplifting. All you want to do is cheer Elizabeth and Madeline on! I loved Madeline, she’s my favorite character in the whole book.

⚠️ Rape, sexual assault, suicide, death, sexism

Thank you Netgalley for this inspirational read, in exchange for my honest review

Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist, and gorgeous to boot. Unfortunately, since she lives in the 1950s, her intelligence is ignored and her face gets her the kind of attention she has to fend off with a sharpened #2 pencil. The story of how she goes from disrespected junior scientist to star of a cooking show that's quietly fomenting rebellion among America's housewives is riveting. Along the way she finds true love, has an amazing daughter, and acquires the Very Good Boy Six-Thirty. Elizabeth is a quirky, loving, and iron-willed protagonist.