In 1960s California, Elizabeth Zott, a scientist whose career takes a detour when she becomes the star of a beloved TV cooking show, teaches women the chemistry involved in cooking and encourages them to step outside their comfort zone. Opinionated, quirky, and smart it is so good.

There is little new left to be said about this wonderful book. Bonnie Garmus captures better than most authors writing on the same topic what is really was like to be an intelligent woman in the 1950 and 1960s. Most of us who battled through those years did not have the courage of Elizabeth Zott, but enough woman - in particular women in science - had enough courage to pave the way for the many who continue to follow behind them. Not all paths are clear and to this day woman continue to fight against stereotypes and expectations that can tamp down their ability to realize their deepest dreams. This is a book for people of all ages to read and ponder. The novel is both entertaining and thought-provoking, and what reader could ask for more?

Such an enjoyable reading experience (even though I’m usually a mystery and suspense reader and this was women’s fiction)! Of course, the concept of an independent-thinking woman scientist striving to be accepted in the boys’ club climate of the late 1950’s/early 60’s is irresistible. In her debut novel, Bonnie Garmus has created a protagonist to cheer for, engaging supporting characters (even those with slightly unbelievable characteristics or backstories), a multi-faceted plot, and a happy ending. I’d say that’s a success!

I really loved this book, it came recommended by a friend and I will recommend it to many more friends (…not that it needs any help)

This book did a good job balancing a recent historical setting with a modern tone. It was well written and brought up timely social issues.

I should start by saying that the cartoon cover does this book a disservice. Even when reading tags about the book—women in STEM, historical timeframe—I still think some part of me was expecting something along the lines of The Love Hypothesis, a la Ali Hazelwood.

That being said, I don't think my lowered expectations are causing any artificial inflation in my review. The conversations in this book were so nuanced, the writing was so clean and impactful, and I truly have not stopped thinking about it since I finished reading it earlier this year. I've also recommended this book to so many of the women in my life—women who grew up in that era, in fields adjacent to Elizabeth's—and their praise has been equally as loud.

It's clear that her research was done thoroughly, and I so appreciate Bonnie Garmus bringing the story to the table.

This book is epic - a female chemist who gives no fucks about societal norms. The back story of the characters unfolds in a way to keep the pages turning & it will give you ALL the feels. This is one of those rare books that made me laugh and ugly cry and feel enraged, but ultimately I enjoyed it immensely. I highly recommend for anyone looking for an excellent well rounded book set in a time where female chemists and breaking societies norms were not common- Elizabeth Zott is an inspiration.

What a great story. It was nothing like I expected the story to be. A very good story of women and how unfair things were and sometimes they still are unfair. A great read.

Fun at first but the story felt more and more preposterous and unbelievable. The pacing was also odd, the first third of the book seemed very rushed. I loved the dog though.

What a fun unique ready. I loved this book and thought she was such a new voice in books. Thank you!

Glad to see this title is getting so much buzz. It's smart and sharp, but I wasn't crazy about the anthropomorphic commentary from the dog.

I loved this book!! It is a great story of feminism and independence. It is a love story and there are two objects of affection – chemistry and Calvin Evans. I found myself so mad at the male chauvinism in the 1960s (and now) but it just made me love the story more. Must read!!

Rating: 4/5

Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for access to this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loved the concept, great story telling and a STEM heroine in a time of life where science was professionally male dominated. I saw some similarity to Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Mad Men. I can say the story dragged at times and I was a little bored. While the story highlighted a lot of issues in the workplace as a woman, it never discussed women or person of color. A bit of white feminist for me. However, Elizabeth had very modern views for her time, he had grit and determination, she owned who she was, and she was devoted to her loved ones.

What a fun book about some heavy subjects! Elizabeth Zott is a scientist in the 60s who ends up with a cooking/chemistry show as she deals with grief, guilt, and raising a child. Along the way, she encounters toxic masculinity (though that wasn't a term used at the time), gender discrimination , societal expectations, and more. She soldiers on through the gauntlet of abuse, bringing up her daughter to take no prisoners. As Zott deals with all that society throws at her, she manages to empower other women through her shear determination. There are some fabulous characters in this book, all brought to life adeptly by Garmus, including a very special dog. Although the topics dealt with are very serious, Garmus presents them with a light hand and a great deal of humor. This is an excellent choice for a book club, as is evident by the fact that no fewer than four of my book clubs are reading it this month.

verything I love in a book—smart women, great dog, found family. Excellent read.

I adored chemist Elizabeth Zott. She's trying to exist in the "good old boys" world of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Where the woman's place is in the home, remaining silent, and following along with what the men say. Yet Elizabeth isn't wired that way, and the journey of this book shows her humor, warmth, and intelligence in a way that baffles the status quo.

This novel is uplifting, at times infuriating, and still every time heartwarming and encouraging. We all could use a bit of Elizabeth Zott in our lives (and a smart wonderful dog like Six-Thirty)

Highly recommended.

One of my favorite books this year! A really great marriage of wit and romance - I'm so glad there's a movie adaptation in the works. Loved the protagonist and can't wait to recommend it to friends. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

There were so many things to love about this book. I adored Calvin, grudges and all, and Bonnie Gamus made me fall in love with Six Thirty -- and I'm not even a dog person! It took me a little longer to warm up to Elizabeth, but the minute I did I wanted to be her friend. We all need more women in our lives willing to take us seriously and not put up with the crap people give us. Yet we also need women like Harriet who step in to help us when it's obvious we can't handle absolutely everything ourselves.

I gave the book four stars instead of five, though, because somewhere in the last 50 pages or so, I felt like it lost a little bit of focus. Once Elizabeth starts working on the TV show, the novel felt like it was treading water until the end. That letdown was disappointing. Also, I think Ms. Frask's character was a little too conflicted early on for me to buy into the redemption she found later. Also, despite the repeated assertions that Mad is super smart like her parents and a voracious reader, I just had a really hard time buying into the idea that she was only 4 years old. I would have definitely bought into her being 6. But 4 just didn't feel quite right somehow.

I also think the nonlinear timeline didn't do anything for the book; I would have been perfectly happy reading it in a linear format with a chronological timeline.

Regardless, even though I'm not giving it five stars, I do think I'd want to read this book again and spend more time with Elizabeth.

This book is very unusual but also provides an insight albeit small to the way women have had to continue to work so hard to improve their status in society. Elizabeth Zott is not your average person. She’s a brilliant, highly trained scientist who hasn’t gotten farther along in the world of chemistry simply because she’s a woman. She is working at the Hastings Institute performing a job that she is completely over qualified. Through some crazy, at times hilarious encounter, she meets Calvin Evans. He is a gangly sort of guy but also a brilliant scientist and well-known at the Hastings Institute. Calvin had an intense love for rowing, that’s why he accepted the job at this lowly Institute when he could have been doing research at any number of universities. He came to California for the nice weather and the ability to row all year long. However, Elizabeth is no ordinary woman, she refuses to pander to fragile male egos, it worries her not one whit that she doesn't fit in at the patriarchal Hastings Institute, she accepts no limitations for herself, nor for anyone else. The chemistry between her and the star scientist, Calvin Evans, another man who does not fit either, leads to love, the two of them living together, Zott does not believe in marriage, and their religion is science. Circumstances result in Zott becoming a single mother to the precociously bright 4 year old, Mad, an early reader, voraciously consuming the likes of Norman Mailer and Charles Dickens. The challenges Zott faces, such as being fired for being pregnant and her dire financial circumstances has her becoming an unlikely, reluctant and uncompromising star, dressed in a lab coat, with her popular TV cooking show, Supper at Six, focusing on the chemistry of ingredients and recipes, carrying her subversive and radical agenda of making women question and challenge the cultural misogyny and the limitations placed on their lives. Needless to say, this makes her some implacable enemies. What makes the strong and independent Zott able to face the unrelenting harsh pressures and problems that come her way are her close knit and growing family, at the center of which is their protective genius dog no-one will be able to resist, Six-thirty, familiar with more than 600 words, neighbor Harriet Sloane, rower Dr Mason, her TV producer, Walter Pine, and the Reverend Wakely, perhaps we can include Miss Frask too. The characters are likeable or hateable depending upon the interaction but this will definitely have the reader engaged.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and especially huge thanks to Random House.

I loved this book! It is definitely a five star rating from me, and I can't wait for the series to come out on Apple Tv+.

Here is who will like this book:
1) You cheer on strong female leads
2) You're a parent of a gifted child
3) You like romance
4) You have a pet in your life that is part of the family
5) You are a foodie and/or you like cooking
6) You like the books I recommend. Ha

Lessons in Chemistry is a fictional book, but I felt like I knew the character in my own life. Here is the short summary: Elizabeth is an underpaid chemist who tries to make it in a man's profession. She meets Calvin, who is on the cover of different chemist's magazines. Without giving anything away, Elizabeth starts her own tv cooking show and is raising a very gifted daughter. On her cooking show, she treats her women viewers like intelligent human beings by sharing WHY ingredients work and uses scientific terms. Since this story takes place in the 1950s, the women loved it because they weren't used to being treated this way.

This book made me laugh out loud, and I was excited each time I sat down to read it.

The cons of the book:
1) There were times when the characters and timelines were a little confusing.
2) I don't like the cover

I was given this book for my honest review, and I would recommend it to my friends.

I know a lot of readers loved this book, but I thought it was kind of snarky. Frankly, I only got about halfway through and then decided it just wasn’t the right book for me.