Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Book Guide

Have you ever bought a book and then felt scared to read it in case it’s not as good as you hoped it would be? I honestly hadn’t seen a negative Lessons in Chemistry book review and it actually made me nervous!

There was SO much hype surrounding this book. Everyone was raving about it including when it was featured on Between The Covers with Sara Cox.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus was released in 2022 and was a New York Times bestseller.

I bought it on the day of its release but I’ve only just read it as I finally decided to see for myself whether it lived up to all that hype.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: Plot

In the early 1960s, chemist Elizabeth Zott is the only female scientist working at Hastings Research Institute. In a workplace full of men, Elizabeth is constantly belittled, despite being brilliant at her job.

Nobody seems to realise what she is really capable of until she meets fellow chemist, Calvin Evans. Calvin is brilliant, his work has been nominated for a Noble prize, and he falls head over heels for Elizabeth. He doesn’t just see her as a pretty face as all his peers do, he falls in love with her mind.

However, a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself a single mother. Without Calvin’s protection, her career is in jeopardy. She reluctantly accepts a job as host of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six and instantly becomes a star. She has an unusual approach to cooking with a heavy focus on chemistry (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”), and her revolutionary ideas win her fans across the country.

However, not everyone is a fan, as Elizabeth not only encourages women to cook healthy meals – she’s also encouraging them to challenge the status quo.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus: My Opinion

So, did it live up to the hype? A massive, resounding, YES! I loved this book.

Elizabeth Zott is one of those characters that will stay with me. What a woman! She was a 20th century feminist icon and I just loved her. She was strong and capable and always stood up for what she believed in, and yet the author still allowed us to see her vulnerable side.

It was funny and joyful and yet really touching and sad in others. It was so inspiring and had me seething at the men who had treated Elizabeth, and those like her, so appallingly.

Six Thirty, the dog, was a fantastic addition to the story. I loved him just as much as I loved Elizabeth. His insights were brilliant and I loved how seriously he took his role as protector.

I loved the relationship between Elizabeth and her daughter, Mad, and particularly enjoyed how the author showed Elizabeth’s struggle to adjust to motherhood. I found it was a realistic portrayal of those early days with a newborn and how important it is to accept help. Even strong women need to admit they are struggling. Perhaps that’s what makes them so strong.

There are a couple of unlikely coincidences and I did find I had to suspend belief at times but I can completely overlook that when I love the story so much.

FAQs

How many pages does Lessons in Chemistry have?

Lessons in Chemistry has 392 pages.

When was Lessons in Chemistry released?

Lessons in Chemistry was published on 5th April 2022.

What books are like Lessons in Chemistry?

If enjoy historical fiction with strong female characters, you may also be interested in:

Has Bonnie Garmus written any other novels?

Lessons in Chemistry was Bonnie Garmus’ debut novel. At the time of writing, she hasn’t yet written any additional books.

Is there a Lessons in Chemistry tv show?

There certainly is! The book has been made into an Apple TV show starring Brie Larson. Be warned that the show does take liberties with the original story and there are some pretty major changes. However I still really enjoyed the show, just not as much as the book!

Summary

It’s so hard to believe this book is Bonnie Garmus’ debut novel because, honestly, it was just brilliant. This is a beautifully written novel with characters you can really care about.

I absolutely loved it.