I very much do not like precious books…

But I liked Lessons in Chemistry, a decidedly quite precious tale of a chemist turned reluctant cooking show host in the early 1960s. BECAUSE while the premise is as twee as can be, the characters have *grit* and depth. It’s also a book that is ultimately about kindness, feminism, and standing up for what is correct and who doesn’t need more of all that in their life?

In an interview, Bonnie Garmus (a debut author in her 60s-more of the good kind of preciousness) even remarks on the chick-lit esque cover, stating that she envisioned something different, implying she desired more of a literary fiction (which this book is) artistic cover approach, but that she was encouraged to go with the final result because it would appeal to a certain audience more, which is all a long way of saying: don’t be fooled by the plot or package-this novel has mass appeal and can melt even the biggest of lit fic purist hearts.

I really wanted to love this book. It was written in a really engaging way, and many of the characters were fun (I really loved Six-thirty's commentary), but I couldn't get past a few glaring mistakes, particularly around science. One of the characters is described as one of the top DNA researchers in 1950, however, DNA wasn't discovered until 1953. Moreover, another character describes paternity testing using DNA and received a result within a few days. DNA paternity testing wasn't available for 20-30 years at this point!

I loved this book, what a great debut! Through well written, entertaining and upsetting series of events Elizabeth Zott teaches her daughter, and all of us, women can be and do anything they want, don't be held back by others beliefs about you or what women are capable of or can be or do. So many thoughts:
- such quirky interesting characters - think Ove, AJ Vikry, Eleanor and even Enzo.
-a great descriptive example of how hard if not impossible it was for women to be taken seriously in business and science, even in recreational sports, in the 60's (and now?).
- fun and funny while expertly woven with dark discussions of workplace rape and sexual assault, suicide, homophobia, unwed mothers, and death.
- an engaging and compelling read, I laughed, I cried, got mad, sad and happy - all the feels.

I’m not sure what I expected when I started reading Lessons in Chemistry, but it certainly wasn’t what I got. In no way is this a science fiction book, but it certainly reminded me of the Martian by Andy Weir. So cleverly written with characters I immediately loved. It was painful, it was inspiring and it was a Lesson in Chemistry. I savored every page like a good casserole. 5 stars

another one of my favorite books from 2022 - i adored this book. Great characters, fantastic storyline - I just really enjoyed this book.

I love strong female characters and Elizabeth Zott is more than I bargained for. She won't let intimidation or adversity get in her way.
A lovely cast of characters add a lot to this story. And the best character is the dog Six-Thirty.

The writing is witty and zingy! An original and I couldn't stop laughing. From beginning to end, an absolute delight. It gave me the feels. A true gem and it deserves the accolades it's receiving.

My favorite book in a long time! I have recommended it to many friends and our book club is reviewing it next month. I love strong women characters, and Elizabeth Zott is definitely unique in every way! The book touches on so many different topics that I think it will make for and excellent discussion.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2023 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2023/01/2023-reading-list-announced-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

Lessons in Chemistry is a well crafted novel. The reader gets to know the characters well, especially Elizabeth Zott who endures many injustices and losses. My favorite character is the dog, Six Thirty. A great read! Excellent for book club discussions.

I absolutely adored the chemist Elizabeth Zott and this story. Taking place in the 60s this book portrays all the misogynistic nonsense women faced and Elizabeth Zott just being one of the strongest most unapologetically herself person against all of it.

To get real though not much portrayed in science and entertainment has changed. The women of the entertainment industry have managed to find a bit more voice but academia still faces similar issues without managing to voice concerns as successfully.

The books tone and story is fun enough for everyone to enjoy and the side stories and side characters are so well written. Six-thirty has my heart.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a review.

What a fabulous story! Do not let the cover fool you into thinking this is purely a rom-com romp. Yes, there are funny bits, but Bonnie Garmus highlights some serious topics such as work place equality, glass ceilings, and harassment. As a bonus, I absolutely adored the character 630.

When I finished this book, my first comment was “wow”!!! On reflection, this an original. It is at once humorous, serious, and terribly sad, but the the protagonist finds acceptance, love, and ultimately happiness.

Very seldom am I at a loss for words on how to review a book but Lessons in Chemistry caught me off guard. One review I read called it quirky and funny. Not quite, I thought. I will say Lessons have two of the most unique characters, Elizabeth and Calvin, These two emotionally battered souls find a way to succeed in love and career in spite of their unique personalities. Set before the Women's Liberation Movement, Lessons reveals a world so misogynistic and suffocating for women in and out of the home. For those of us who grew up in the 50s, 60s, and 70s lived through some of Elizabeth's reality.

Although strikingly beautiful, the main character Elizabeth struggles in a world that refuses to recognize her intelligence and determination. Her dogged refusal to cave to societal expectations creates a hostile world for her. till she meets Calvin, her intellectual equal and the love of her life. These two damaged souls create their own bubble of happiness and success until tragedy shatters their world. Elizabeth is left to struggle with the remains of her life and try to adjust to a society that doesn't understand her. She defies societal norms and challenges the gendered stereotypes of the times, trying to survive after losing everything.

Lessons in Chemistry have some of the most unique characters I have encountered in fiction. Both Elizabeth and Calvin are shaped by their tragic early lives and find unusual coping mechanisms to make their lives worthwhile including adopting their dog SixThirty who Elizabeth is determined to teach him to read. Their daughter Mad grows up in a home full of beakers and test tubes and books. She's allowed to be a free range child not out of neglect but because Elizabeth has faith that her daughter will succeed in making her own path. Luckily for Mad, their very traditional house wife neighbor Harriet becomes the surrogate mom she needs. While the story is steeped in pain, the characters create a world of warmth, humor, and love.

And why the title "Lessons in Chemistry?" Without giving away the plot, this is Elizabeth's way of teaching women to cook. Her lessons throw out the traditional recipe books and magazine articles of the 50s and chanllenge women to think in a new way. Her insolence at her boss and refusal to stick to preconceived ideals of womanhood drive everyone mad. Yet Elizabeth becomes a liberating hero to her female fans Lessons also exposes the dark ugly side for women not so long ago. Sexual harrassment, poverty, rape, domestic violence, discrimination, misogyny and sexism were so ingrained into women's lives, it was the norm. These are the realities of women's lives and Elizabeth fights so hard and often alone to challenge all the handicaps in a woman's world.

So much of the story rang true for me as I was an engineering student in the late 70s at a university that made it clear that women weren't wanted in their program. I remember the sexual harassment, the inappropriate advances, the veiled and unveiled threats not only in school but at work. I felt Elizabeth's frustration and pain and championed her fight. So many of the issues presented in Lessons were the norm not the exception at the time. For young women today, they might not realize how difficult it was to be a smart woman who bucked gendered norms at the time. Even the story of Calvin and his life in the orphange was a reality when I was a kid. Orphanages still existed and the kids in them lived on society's fringes and without the love of family. Illegitimacy carried its own badge of dishonor and disgrace. It's hard to remember that at one time having an illegitimate child was considered a great shame and women/girls were shamed and "went away."

My daughter-in-law recommeded this book to me and then I realized it was on My Net Galley Shelf. I had started it long ago and set it aside in the first few pages. Having lost my father when I was 9 makes me sensitive to stories that start with parental loss. I put it down after the first couple of chapters due to the death of Calvin's parents. The opening of Lessons sets a dreary tone but an important one. Gamus establishes the parameters of the emotional quagmire of her two main characters from their shattered childhoods. She created a unique world where pain and suffering as a child truly shapes who we become as adults. Elizabeth and Calvin carry their painful inner child with them always yet find a way to succeed in spite of it. Lessons in Chemisty provide lessons in life and how to cope in a world that tries to stiffle the inner child in all of us.

Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist, but unfortunately she is also a woman in the 1950s whose worth in the work place is under valued and dismissed by misogynistic and abusive males. She meets her soul mate, Calvin, who is another brilliant chemist and still stands firm with her convictions that a woman should not have to ride on a male's coattails to find success. After tragedy rocks Elizabeth's world, she stumbles into a TV cooking show where she applies her knowledge of chemistry and beliefs of female capabilities to audiences across the country - much to the chagrin and horror of all the males who are "in charge" of her.

There is so much to love about this book: 1). brilliant female protagonist, 2). strong female character who isn't afraid to stand her ground, 3). beautiful love story, 4) precocious child, 5). humor, and 6) a just "right" ending that brings a casts of characters all connected to Calvin together to form the new family each of them needed.

Based on the cover I really thought this book was going to be a romcom, but this was much more than that. This was part historical fiction, part women-in-STEM, and part romance. I really loved Elizabeth's character; her strength was unmatched. I think this was a very well written debut and I'm not surprised to see it on so many top lists.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I know this book is beloved, but I could not get through it. I didn’t like any of the characters and found it really jarring when there was a rape that was not treated as traumatic in any sense of the word.

5 stars. Very well written and extremely entertaining, loved the characters.

Thank you to the publisher and author for a copy of this book. My options are my own

I’ve been a sucker for historical fiction/romance since outlander, so when LIC dropped into my inbox I couldn’t wait to get into this one. Gramus is amazing, and will be needing more from her in the future

I’m a chemical engineer, and I was initially drawn to this book because of the title. Chemistry lessons? 1950s setting? A cooking show? A female researcher? It sounded like an interesting read. I was also impressed with both the rating and number of reviews, which I found a little surprising as I feel like this 2022 release had very little press/marketing (I’m a US consumer).

Our main female lead, Elizabeth Zott, is a chemist at a fictitious Southern California research institute, and has to deal with ALL the sexism one could imagine. We follow her romantic relationship, her personal losses, friendships, motherhood, and experiences as a famous TV host for a science-based cooking show. Zott’s character is the heart of this story. And unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of her.

Firstly, I felt like she had the beliefs of a 21st century feminist right from the start. Do I agree with all the things she stands for? Yeah. But for a character living ~75 years ago, I think it would have been more interesting to see her beliefs (so contrary from her society’s norms) develop and solidify throughout the plot, rather than be such strongly held convictions from the start.

Secondly, why does she have to be so emotionless? The stereotype of a cold, distant female scientist is already prevalent. Garmus did nothing to turn subvert this.

Lastly, I wasn’t a fan of 630 and his POV chapters. They just felt silly.

All this being said, <I>Lessons in Chemistry</I> was compulsively readable. I enjoyed all the cooking show scenes, and the producer was one of my favorite side characters. I think the TV adaptation could be really good, and I’ll definitely check it out.

I voluntarily obtained a digital version of this book free from Netgalley and Doubleday Books in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Honestly, the cover threw off my interest and I put off reading for far too long. I am so glad I finally picked it up because this book is one that truly can’t be judged by its cover!

Such a brilliant idea to literally create a novel composed of lessons in chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed the quirky characters and became highly interested in their challenges.

4.5 out of 5 stars and my deepest respect to the author.