From page one you will root for Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant scientist who has to wade through despicable sexism, misogamy, assault, and more to pursue her research goals. Facing unspeakable abuse early in the book, readers journey with Zott as she falls in love, experiences heartbreak, becomes a single mother, and slowly climbs her way to success. The allies and friends she collides with along the way shine in their complex humanity. You will not want this book to end.

I think I got bogged down in the chemistry story line! Sad. The book started off good and the very quickly, I was thrown off. This is a book that contains a great intelligent female character, Elizabeth Zott. She finds herself in a life that she didn't plan. I just didn't connect with the main character. There are very funny parts but I got thrown off early and didn't love it. Thanks to netgalley for the advance copy

Such a cute promise in this book that just didn't deliver. Everyone was saying how this book was entertaining so I really wanted to like it but I just couldn't hold my attention long enough unfortunately.

5 stars! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I loved this book! Written in a slightly quirky style, the love story between Calvin and Elizabeth is wonderful and heartbreaking. Two people who are alone and lost in the world, coming together as a force - this novel and the characters spoke to me, along with the remembrances of life for women in the US 60 years ago - not that long ago, and yet people have forgotten just how difficult it was as a single woman in the 50's, especially those who chose to think and live outside the box. The insights of Six Thirty, the dog, were spot on. I thought the ending was a bit of a surprise, and left me closing the book with a big smile, yet wanting to follow these characters a bit longer. Highly recommended.

Although I loved Lessons In Chemistry, by Bonnie Gamus, don't expect it to be a light-hearted romp, like the novel, Where'd You Go Bernadette, that is referenced in the description on Goodreads. This is a novel about a stubborn, woman who persists in her passion for science, in spite of the crushing misogyny of the 1950's & 60's. There are very funny moments in the book, especially when she takes command of a silly cooking show meant for housewives. She actually turns it into a show about empowerment and self-worth for women doing the thankless job of taking care of children and home. But there are also moments of sexual violence, and degradation that are difficult to read. This is especially true because I just love the character of Elizabeth. Overall, this was a very worthwhile read, and I highly recommend it.

What I Liked:

Characters:

This is a highly character driven book. What I mean by that is that the author created these wonderful (and sometimes infuriating) characters and then put them in situations to see what would happen.

Elizabeth, having no family to speak of, makes her way in the world without the judgement, or guidance, of anyone. So she sees no reason why she shouldn't be able to do things like be a chemistry major in college, or become a scientist. She doesn't have the awareness to understand that what she wants is going to be nearly impossible during the 1950's, when the book begins. Calvin, is similarly clueless. He has grown up in a boys home for orphans, and also doesn't have a family. Both Elizabeth and Calvin are genius-level smart, and look at problems without any social context. But, because Calvin is a man, he is praised for his quirkiness and allowed to do whatever he wants. But when Elizabeth acts the same way, she is told she's a troublemaker, and immediately shut down. I was glad they found each other and had a chance at happiness.

The supporting characters fall into one of two groups: those who perpetuate the status quo, and those who's views are changing. Every boss in this book definitely is a chauvinist, and sees Elizabeth only in terms of her beauty and what she can do for them. But, there are also characters who are showing the beginnings of awareness that what is happening to Elizabeth is wrong. As they get to know her, they rally to support her, creating a kind of alternate family. I loved this.

Themes:

The book is all about facing injustice head on, even when there is a price to pay. Elizabeth doesn't seem aware, at first, that there are virtually no opportunities for intelligent women in the workforce, in 1952. She has a very modern outlook on how things should be. If she is smart enough to do the work, she should be given the opportunity to do so. But society has put women firmly in the role of wife and/or mother. People look at her as unnatural (or even immoral) for not wanting marriage and children. Some of the people who give her the most trouble, are actually women. I think these women feel like, if they had to give up on their dreams, all other women should have to as well. As my mother was in this generation (and also majored in chemistry in college), it gave me a great appreciation for what women faced in this period.

Story:

I can't go into the story much without giving too much away. I will say that I loved that there were several little mysteries that we hear about that are resolved by the end of the book. The story also shows how unpredictable life can be. Even when we find a safe harbor, it may not last. Sometimes life changes on a dime, and then we have to pick up the pieces.

The Dog:

I loved, loved, loved the character of Elizabeth's dog, Six-Thirty. He has thoughts, dreams, and an immense love of Elizabeth and those around her. Whenever Six-Thirty was in a scene, I immediately wanted to know what he was thinking. This is just a wonderful aspect of this book.

Trigger Warning:

This book does include scenes of sexual violence that may be triggering to some readers.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is my favorite book so far this year and, I dare say, one of my top 20 reads of all time. It has everything I could ever ask for in a book and more. It's timely, poignant, witty, and empowering. I could easily read it repeatedly and find small nuances that make it even more special.

The story's first half puts the book in time and place, explaining a point in our recent history that most of us were not around to remember. It paints a 1950's world that is incredibly misogynistic, where women were made to feel like inferiors in every way. But along comes Elizabeth Zott, who does not buy into the social norms. Her journey to becoming a chemist is so poignant and horrifying it moved me in ways I can't even begin to explain. Reading the first half, I couldn't believe that people called this story funny because I was not laughing. I was angry for Elizabeth and had a low opinion of every male in the story except for Calvin. Calvin was the one man who respected and encouraged Elizabeth at every turn. Even when he didn't understand things like her reluctance to marry, he accepted her and her thoughts and feelings unconditionally, being happy just to be with her. Their story brought me to tears more than once.

Then along comes the second half of the book, where the wit and wisdom had me chuckling my way through to the end. Happenstance leads Elizabeth and her daughter, Mad, on a journey that still empowers me when I reflect on it. Elizabeth became a tv personality, a chef who used cooking to teach chemistry to women everywhere. And, by sticking to what she believed in - by not giving in to the powers that be that wanted her to bend to the social norms - she not only taught women who had been told they were not intelligent enough to understand such complex topics as science, but she empowered them to follow their dreams, and they did! Her power as a tv personality brought about changes that made me smile, and the way she did it tickled my funny bone. The ending was not that big of a surprise, but I loved it, nonetheless. It is the perfect ending to an imperfect tale full of hardship, degradation, and a voice that needs to be heard.

Technically, the story keeps a reasonably fast pace and immerses the reader from the very first page. It stays focused most of the time, only straying when a back story needs to be told, as is narrated from a third-person perspective. Elizabeth is my favorite character, followed closely by her dog, Six-Thirty, and daughter Mad. Six-Thirty stole my heart on more than one occasion. He's the dog everyone would love to have, but nobody does. All of the characters are so well-developed that even if you can't relate to them, you can feel emotions because of them.

If you are looking for a poignant and witty reflection on what it means to be a woman, Lessons in Chemistry will give you that and more.

This is a different kind of book and I loved it. It is quirky, amusing, and painfully honest.

Elizabeth is a brilliant scientist with a distinctive personality. She encounters obstacles and makes waves wherever she goes. The story is set the early 50s through the early 60s and reflects the reality of that time for so many women (and, unfortunately, some of the reality that continues today).

Character development is entertaining with very unique players here….some charming, some hateful. Dealing with them all, the indomitable Elizabeth forges ahead, no matter the challenges she meets.

Read this book just to find out why she always wears a number 2 pencil in her hair…but also to enjoy a delightful and perceptive story.

Thanks to #netgalley and #Doubleday for the DRC.

One of the best books I've read this year. Lessons in Chemistry is a story full of hope, faith, and smiles. I spend the majority of the time laughing so much, it is not a comedy book but the story is more of a comedy-drama at least that's how it felt for me.

Lessons in Chemistry is the story of all women, especially women who lived in an era they were constantly mocked and ridiculed. if they ever felt like voicing out their dreams, aspirations, and needs society didn't see that right.

Around the '40s and 50s, women were considered inferior, they couldn't verbalize their problems, and if they were suffering from domestic violence they didn't have the right to even ask for help, somehow in many ways this was the same for Elizabeth, she couldn't work wherever she wanted, she had to lie about her upbringing and also her marital status in order to survive the constant harassment and bullying she received amount her co-workers and boss.

This is the story of Elizabeth Zott a woman who fought so hard to survive in a men's world, she was a very intelligent scientist in a world where only men were considered for such a career or position, men around her knew her capacity and that made them feel small always trying to sabotage her work and her life in general, until the point her boss lie and steal many of her hard work and research. This was one of the parts of the book that really made me really angry to read how Donatti and Frask were talking about Elizabeth as if she was an object or something without a soul and heart. what they said about Madeline was just terrible. Donatti is one of the most disgusting characters I've ever read.

Until the time came when finally Elizabeth was able to meet the love of her life, Calvin a famous scientist/chemist who among his peers was very respected and even feared. People thought Elizabeth was seeking something more than only his love, they assume she was a gold digger, only looking for an easy life and escape, they never believe she was capable and intelligent, they all thought it was only a lie, but Calving knew the truth.

Terrible things happened in Elizabeth's life, she felt lost, she had lost everything she had worked for so hard, only Mad and Harriet were there to support her and make her feel normal.

There were several characters that I really didn't like because not only they were making Elizabeth's life terrible hard but also because they talk and ridiculed women as if they were objects to be disposed of such as Donatti, Lebensmal, Meyers, Mrs. Mudford, who thought women belong in the home.

My favorite Character, Madeline was funny, intelligent, and also lovable, and very irreverent in a good way, Six-Thirty was another great character that I love, he made me laugh so much and the fact that he "talked" was hilarious.

Many other great characters that made this book amazing Harriet, Wakely, and more but definitely the message that I got was that we all are unique, that we don't have to fit the same mold as society wants to impose over us, that all of us women have been fighting for a place in this world already long enough and that there are good souls looking to grow, to learn, to teach and to spread love.

Lessons in Chemistry is a book that I will read over and over again.

Thank you NetGalley and Doubleday Books, for the advanced copy of Lessons In Chemistry in exchange for my honest review

I don't know what to say about this fantastic debut novel except WOW!

This is a must-read for BabyBoomers and Millenials alike. This book shows that as difficult it is to be a woman with a career now, you don't have anything over the women who were cracking the doors open for you. However, this is not an easy read and may set off some triggers.

At times this book is funny; at times, it is downright tragic and almost always ends up with you as a woman reader being frustrated. Unfortunately, things like this are still occurring even at the mid-turn of the century.

This book takes place in the late 1950s, then moves on to the early 1960s, when women were just starting to realize their worth as more than just homemakers and mothers. Actually, a lot of this ideology started during WWII, but that is not important to this novel.

But more than a books book about the unfairness to women searching for something different, this is a love story, a mystery, a chic-lit novel, as it were.

This was one of the most fabulous books I have read so far this year. I found myself laughing, crying, frustrated and jumping with joy. I just wish it had been longer.

I highly recommend this book to all readers.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher, Doubleday Books, NetGalley, and the author. Many thanks.

Fun, interesting.. definitely quirky.. and I loved the 1950-60’s setting!

This is about Elizabeth Zott’s life; -her romance with a Pulitzer Prize nominated chemist, navigating motherhood, single and alone, with her lovable, intelligent mutt Six-Thirty, and how her career choice as a chemist wasn’t accepted by her peers back in that day and time. Due to the fact she’s a woman, Elizabeth is mistreated, and faced challenges daily.

Will she ever be recognized for her brains.. and be credited for her work?

This is her personal journey to finding acceptance and the credit she so well deserves as a talented chemist. When that’s taken away, she becomes a superstar TV chef.. and along the way empowers women to change their lives and their world. It’s a beautiful book about life’s lessons.. the challenges women face in a man’s world, and learning to make it their own. What a treat to read!

*Thanks to Doubleday Books via NetGalley for kindly providing an arc for an unbiased review.

Wow, did I become so invested in this book. It started out a bit slow for me but then I could not put it down and I was all in.
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A unique look at a woman in STEM in the 60’s before a woman in STEM was a thing. Elizabeth Zott was a trailblazer. No one respected a woman chemist, except for Calvin, a noble prize nominated scientist. He’s the only one who truly gets her and they simply have….wait for it….chemistry.
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However, all the chemistry in the world doesn’t change their fate and Elizabeth is soon without a job as a single mother, trying to survive on her own. She falls into a job hosting a tv show that becomes America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six.
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Elizabeth revolutionized dinner, and was a leader of change for women. I just loved this and I most certainly teared up at times over her bravery and let me tell you her sign off after her last show totally got me.
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Thank you so much #doubleday #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. This book made me feel so many feelings. It was infuriating, heartbreaking, humorous, and heartwarming all within this book. Be aware of the trigger warnings: SA, sexism, misogyny, death and grief.

Thank you Doubleday Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

4.25/5⭐️

A hard one to rate but definitely an original. And one thing it’s NOT is a rom-com so don’t let the cover fool you.

This is one of the funniest (and most unusual) books I’ve read in awhile. It tackles lots of social issues of the time (early 1960s), and I’ll include here that there is a trigger warning (involving sexual violence and rape). While personally I didn’t agree with her characters’ religious views (at all), and felt some of the social issues were a bit overdone (as well as the length of the book), I appreciated the humor, the amazing character depth (truly so engaging) and the surprisingly poignant parts.

Elizabeth Zott is a marvel and is surrounded by other characters of the same caliber. She’s brilliant, unflinching in her beliefs as she stands for them and a character that I won’t soon forget.

Entertaining and yes again, original.

My sincere thanks to #NetGalley and #Doubleday for providing me the early arc of #LessonsinChemistry for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

I'll be honest. I got this book because of the cover. Yes, I judged the book on its cover, and I thought it would be a happy go lucky rom-com for some reason. When I discovered it was historical fiction, I came super close to not reading it (I'm not a big fan of historical anything). Let me tell you, I was hooked from the first chapter!

I read this all in one day, ignoring my children, my house, and all this dumb stuff I had to do that day. I think Elizabeth Zott would have been proud of me for that! In a time when women weren't expected to amount to much outside the home, Elizabeth Zott was a pioneer. Her attitude in the face of adversity made me proud to be a woman, while also feeling saddened that the world was ever like this, and that we still have so far to go.

I don't think I can say anything about this book that will express how much I enjoyed it. It has been the best thing I've read yet this year!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and to Doubleday Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Every once in a while, a book comes around that just stuns me. I can’t even put into words how much I loved Lessons in Chemistry. It is refreshingly different, historical, and highlights the struggles of women scientists in the late 1950s.

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is a very unusual woman, even by today’s standards, but back in the late 1950s, she was even more unusual. A brilliant scientist who was ahead of her time, she eschewed conformity and lived her life by her rules as much as she could.

Elizabeth falls in love with fellow scientist Calvin Evans, and they share a love of their work at the Hastings Research Institute. Calvin is the only man at the institute who believes she is as intelligent as the men, and he helps her navigate the male-dominated workplace.

All too soon, Elizabeth finds herself a single mother, and out of her job at the institute. She finds an opportunity to host a cooking show named Supper at Six. After all, cooking is nothing more than chemistry. Her oddball approach to hosting the show angers the producers and sponsors, but charms the housewives of Los Angeles and eventually the housewives of the country.

I just loved this story. It was not what I was expecting, and instead, I found quirky characters, a fascinating premise, and a history lesson. I was both infuriated and entertained as Elizabeth navigated the world around her, in her own, unconventional way. Intelligent, stubborn, and extremely self-sufficient, Elizabeth lives by her own rules and doesn’t care about the world around her. I loved her, but my favorite character was Six-Thirty, a very large, ugly mutt, who was trained by Elizabeth and Calvin and is an extremely intelligent dog.

If you’re looking for something a little bit different, that will charm and entice you, Lessons in Chemistry is the book for you. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I almost put this book aside at the beginning. The writing style took a minute to get used to, and fhe way the information was presented was so unique. I'm so glad I kept going. Once I was invested in these characters I was hooked and couldn't put it down. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. If you like a strong female lead, this is for you.

Elizabeth Zott is a scientist in a time when women were not scientists (the 1960's). This historical fiction/rom com/women's lit book follows Elizabeth as she proves to others (and herself) that she really can be a scientist, even if it takes her down unconventional paths- like hosting a cooking show. I loved Elizabeth's work ethic, dry sense of humor, relationships, hobbies, and dog (best dog in all of fiction!)

This book is both heartwarming and tackles real topics. I loved seeing Elizabeth's struggles and determination and how cleverly plotted this book is. This one is a big winner and a very impressive debut novel. I cannot wait to read more by Bonnie Garmus. Lessons in Chemistry is making my top 10 of the year for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance readers copy for review.

I love this book. I'd give it 6 stars if I could. Set in the early 1960's, Elizabeth Zott is working as a chemist at Hastings, a research institute in Commons, California. She is the only woman scientist on staff, and has to deal with sexism and sexual harassment (and worse) from her male coworkers on a daily basis, as well as jealousy and resentment from the (non-scientist) women who work there. Elizabeth first meets the institute superstar, Calvin Evans, when she goes to his lab in search of some beakers and he mistakes her for a secretary. Despite this rocky start, they soon realize that they have chemistry; in fact, they are soulmates. Unfortunately, life, like chemistry, is about change and change isn't always good. Elizabeth finds herself a single mother, fired from Hastings and looking for a way to continue being a chemist. She ends up being hired to host an afternoon cooking show on TV, where she defies management by turning cooking into chemistry lessons for housewives, boosting their self-confidence and introducing them to feminist ideas. Even though Garmus deals with the pervasive discrimination against and harassment of women with humor, this book makes me realize how very fortunate I am to belong to my generation and not Elizabeth Zott's. The characters are vibrant and wonderfully quirky. I found the book almost impossible to put down; the writing is fluid and there are no dull moments from start to end.

Unfortunately I was very disappointed in this book. The gratuitous anti-Catholic rhetoric was not necessary and did not add to the story in anyway. I'm sure there are some people who won't mind it, but with 1.7 billion Catholics in the world, why alienate your readers? The book didn't even start out that way but the end took a turn that was just not needed and I'm not sure what this author's vendetta against the Catholic church is.

That being said, I thought the book had promise at first. I liked the time period and setting and the characters. But then Elizabeth Zott got increasingly annoying and the book dragged on and on. I wouldn't have finished it had I known the last 70 pages or so would just be a treatise against Catholics.

Do not recommend.

Special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book I thought might be a hit or miss. I started reading it and quickly found out that it was a total hit. Elizabeth is a stunning woman who knows who she is and doesn't want the worlds gender standards to hold her back. Yet it is the mid 1900's so women are expected to be house wives and cook and clean no questions asked. They really can't be a chemist. That is what Elizabeth is though a chemist who is so passionate about her research that she will do anything to be considered a scientist even to the point of taking a job she knows is way below her abilities. The world though is not ready for such a bright and stunning female and the fact that she is pretty and a scientist, well that must mean that she is only out to find a man. That statement could not be further from the truth, yet she does meet a man, Calvin Evans. When their two worlds collide it is not love at first sight. Yet further interactions show that Calvin and Elizabeth are more alike then expected. When life starts to throw Elizabeth some big curve balls, she has to find a way to survive. Can she continue to be the proud chemist that she knows she is? Will she have to end up becoming that dreaded housewife everyone expects of women? Or can Elizabeth take all her spunk and creativity and create something new from the ashes?

This book is just so quirky and funny in all the right places. Elizabeth is such a strong character. I love her interaction with others and just how she views the world as a whole. She is a true driving force that will just speak to women everywhere. I have already started to recommend this book to my fellow librarians, and can't wait to do the same with our patrons. Please give this book a chance. You will not regret it.

Thank you so very much to Doubleday Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.