When I first read a summary of this book, my interest was immediately piqued. A female chemist who ends up hosting a cooking show on TV in the 1960’s - such an unusual plot/storyline! I was hooked from the very first page! Hard to believe this is the author’s debut novel - it was so well written!
The main character, Elizabeth Zott, is a brilliant female chemist working in a male dominated field in an era where women’s contributions in the workforce were not valued or given recognition. Fast forward a few years, she finds herself a single mom who is now unemployed and offered a job as the host of a cooking show. And in true fashion, Elizabeth approaches it in an unusual, no nonsense way, imparting her knowledge as a chemist to her audience who love it!
The author’s writing style is superb - a blend of dry humor and wittiness while being sentimental as well. The characters are well developed and an integral part of the story - especially the dog! This is definitely one of my top five favorite books that I read this year!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free electronic advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

A great debut written about women in the workforce in the early sixties. Sexism and morals are on full display here as Elizabeth Zott, an unmarried mother and chemist, must fight for her rightful place in society. The author’s writing style gives us many humorous episodes as even the dog’s thoughts are revealed. Accurately portraying the sixties with many laughable moments made this a very enjoyable read! #LessonsInChemistry #BonnieGamus
#NetGalley

Elizabeth Zott is a captivating literary character readers need to know. In Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, Elizabeth is a no-nonsense chemist, mother, and cooking show star in spite of the men who try to hold her back in this captivating novel set in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Women of all ages need to read this novel to be reminded “design their own future”. Elizabeth Zott also deserves a fan club with tee-shirts and bumper stickers. Lessons in Chemistry is a grand novel.

I loved this book. Elizabeth is a scientist in the early 1960’s. A time when women were plagued by inequality. She is insulted and abused by teachers, coworkers but does not allow that to stop her. The one man who understands and appreciates is a fellow chemist. Like true chemistry, they bond, living together in love. Then a tragic accident takes Calvin away leaving Elisabeth unmarried, pregnant and grieving. She does not let this stop her either and becomes a television celebrity hosting a cooking/chemistry show. As she often says, “Cooking is chemistry.”
The plot is interesting peppered with odd coincidences and challenges. The writing is wonderful somehow portraying the struggles without being angry, in fact, it is light and humorous. The characters story and personality pull you in immediately. It also features a brilliant dog who occasionally “speaks.” I am sucker for thinking animals in books. I will recommend this book to my book club and anyone who enjoys a look at history and love.
Thank you Netgalley and Doubleday Books.

Unusual characters! This includes the dog. Great plot!

Basically: “Women cannot be scientists. They are better as secretaries.” Elizabeth Zott copes with the mindset of those around her. This is in the mid-1950’s-1960’s.

To say more would do an injustice to you. Better you read and discover the events yourself. I hope this is made into a film or tv series.

Ten stars! Thanks a million to Netgalley and Doubleday Books.

Holy cow, I cannot say enough about this book. I stayed up too late finishing this. In my top 5 of 2021 for sure.

It's 1961 and woman chemist Elizabeth Zott is just trying to host a cooking show and take care of her daughter, Mad Zott. Going through the story of her life, and the issues women did face and still do in life.

This story will make you happy, sad, angry, hopeful and whole gambit of emotions.

Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel
Bonnie Garmus

It’s the very early 1960s & Elizabeth Zott is brilliant chemist who constantly finds herself battling sexism and the glass ceiling. She finds her soul mate in Calvin Evans who decides there is room for both rowing (his passion) and Elizabeth in his life. He dies in a tragic comedic accident leaving Elizabeth both pregnant, unmarried & unemployed. Elizabeth gives birth to a daughter, Mad and after a few permutations finds herself hosting a cooking show. She uses the shows as a vehicle to combine cooking and empower women. Of course, she’s a hit (think Julia Child with degree in Chemistry), decides she doesn’t want to be a public figure and through the help of an eccentric heiress ends up running the chemistry lab that fired her.

Lessons in Chemistry reminded me of Where’d You Go Bernadette. The book has the obligatory cast of characters one finds in a Rom-Com. There is a strong, quirky woman who triumphs over the patriarchy, precocious child, protective dog with superpowers, helpful neighbors, grumpy neighbors and a “fairy Godmother” in the form of the eccentric heiress. During my reading I kept thinking “this is going to be a movie” – and I’ve since read Apple TV has an option on the book. The book was a fun read though I honestly felt the author wrote the book with the eventual goal of selling it to television. It’s a perfect book for whiling away the time in an airport or waiting room or anytime you’re in the mood for a fun, frothy novel.


Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

I absolutely loved this book. Don't let the word "chemist' or 'chemistry' scare you. I worked in a pharmaceutical company where we always heard someone utter the phrase "Better Living Through Chemistry". If you truly think about this, it's true. The entire planet is about chemistry. But I digress.

You will be enraged, engaged, laugh, curse, feel like you want to kill most of the secondary characters, because we've all faced discrimination, back-biting co-workers, colleagues that speak over us and take credit for the ideas or the work. Sexual assault, no access to meaningful work or abortion. We're STILL living this in the 2020's, more than seventy years from when the novel is set.

BUT - there's also romance, friendship, acceptance, and love. And a great animal companion who is not only a guard dog, roll-around and play on the floor, dog, but also smart. He knows the actual meaning of 968 (or so) words, has favorite novels, but can also participate in chemical experiments (wearing goggles).

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus will take you through a lot of feelings. Pride, dismay, sadness, laughter and hopefully some self-reflection. I loved this book, which I don't get to say often enough for as much as I read.
Set in decades past, the story unravels the live of an aspiring chemist. Not shockingly, she faces degradation and abuse from the men in her life. She still perseveres, pushing all the dismay, rejection and horror she has felt to keep moving forward. Then, by a happy accident, she ends up meeting the one man who believes in her and her work.

I really enjoyed LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, which is delightful and charming but also gripping. The characters are well-rendered and multi-layered and the story is both funny and sad, a combination which works wonders to bring the reader into the story world.

My only criticism is that the narrative could have been edited/shortened a bit to make it flow better. For example, I found some of the rowing scenes to become slightly tiresome.

However, overall, I was really immersed in the narrative and found myself eager to return as I went about my day. I will look forward to reading other novels by this author.

I heartily recommend this book for fans of Fredrik Backman and Maria Semple

4.5 stars!!!! This book was wonderful - I’m always a fan of books with women in STEM. I’m an even bigger fan of books written to be like the MCs rambling mind (bc that’s also how mine works). A beautiful take on chemistry and life.

It was so uniquely written with multiple povs… we even get a dogs POV (which I loved)

The writing a little but remind me of seven husbands.. anyways I would recommend this book to any woman it will make you feel POWERFUL

5 stars to this beautifully written novel.A book women will devour will pass from friend to friend.Elizabeth Zott a chemist a strong independent woman whose life is not easy.This is a story that will have you laugh out loud ,feel an emotional connection and cheer her on.Each character is unique comes alive.A book I will be recommending perfect for book club discussions a book that will stay with me.#netgalley #doubledaybooks

This was the most entertaining book I have read in a long time! I loved the humor, the science, the love story. This book has it all, and I hope Bonnie Garmus keeps writing more books!

With Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus has written a witty, intelligent, and beautiful book that unflinchingly examines the experiences of a female scientist and chemist in the 1960s. I was riveted. Elizabeth Zott is one of the most courageous and unforgettable characters I've come across. No spoilers, but this brilliant, non-conformist, and self-assured woman endures so much and is a trail-blazer. This book had me laughing, heartbroken, angry, proud, etc. The clever plot wove in chemistry in such a way that even though I'm not well versed in it, I felt connected to what Elizabeth's viewers must've felt from watching her show. The writing is crisp, the dialogue sharp, with fascinating characters, a multi-layered plot, and strong statements on society. Even the dog, Six Thirty, is remarkable! Just like its heroine, this book is truly extraordinary. Hands down, one of the best books I've read this year.
Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Awesomely intelligent, witty, and sarcastic (in a most entertaining way), Lessons in Chemistry is a book I'll remember for a long while. Elizabeth Zott is refreshing and slightly frustrating at the same time. You'll wish she'd compromise just once, but also cheer on her independence and determination in the not-so-woman-friendly late 50s and early 60s. Daughter Mad Zott is a precocious delight, neighbor Harriet never fails to tell it like it is, and canine family member, Six-Thirty, wise and protective, is one of the best dogs EVER in fiction. Each character deals (or doesn't) with tragedy and trauma, including Elizabeth's scientific soulmate, Calvin Evans, and latest boss, Walter Pine.
Never a dull moment, be prepared to fall thoroughly into this book.

This book is one of my favorites of the year. I loved the whip smart scientist women in this story. Yay for women in STEAM!

ARC was sent to me - sounded like a breath of fresh air, so started reading

Dare to be different - to stand out - not to be average

Watch show - "Supper at Six"
because there is nothing average about a homemaker (work and sacrifice of being a wife, mother, a woman)
Why do she say, "run to the store" - why not 'walk' or 'ride'

This book was different than I thought, the characters were unique and the dog was superb!
It has potential to really get you thinking!

Elizabeth Zott experiences chauvinists everywhere until she meets her soulmate Calvin Evans, a brilliant chemist. Calvin dies young leaving Elizabeth unmarried, pregnant, and fired from her job. Undeterred, she is offered a job as hostess for an afternoon cooking show. The book is powerful and educational with many laugh out loud moments. A must read for all women, especially those raising children at home.

Lessons in Chemistry by debut author Bonnie Garmus will go on my list of “best of the year” reads for its stunningly original plot, extraordinary characters, wry dialogue, and compelling writing style.

The centerpiece, Elizabeth Zott, describes herself as someone who has “never fit in.” A brilliant chemist, she is treated poorly at Hastings Research Institute because she is a woman. But she is one of the few who isn’t intimidated by wunderkind Calvin Evans who, in his twenties, has his own lab, has already graced scientific magazine covers, and has been nominated for a Nobel Prize. They meet when she boldly steals beakers from his lab, and Calvin—who has never had much luck with dating—falls hard.

Both Elizabeth and Calvin have had challenging childhoods, with dysfunctional families affected by premature deaths and incarceration. They understand and support each other, accompanied by an adopted stray dog they name Six-Thirty. The dog is remarkable, dedicated to protecting Elizabeth and the pair’s uber-precocious daughter, Madeline (Mad), and learning to understand hundreds of words they have taught him. Just one of the book’s “elements of impossibility.”

Set in the 1950s and 1960s, the book tackles what Elizabeth calls “a patriarchal society founded in the idea that women were less.” When they wanted more than their traditional role, they were often rebuffed, ridiculed and disrespected. But the book uses droll humor to address sexual inequality and discrimination. When Elizabeth leaves the lab, she suddenly finds herself the host of “Supper at Six,” an afternoon TV show. To the dismay of management, she presents cooking as chemistry, never talking down to her homemaker audience and encouraging them to go for their dreams.

Elizabeth, Calvin, Mad, and Six-Thirty are characters you will root for and remember. The plot moves in unexpected directions and will keep you enthralled. I hope Bonnie Garmus is working on her next novel!

My thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for allowing me to read and review this book.

This was a great read. I laughed out loud so many times. The writing style was unique and refreshing, and the characters were instantly recognizable in people I know.

I loved the dog and his thoughts, and the matter-of-fact way the MC got through life.

Set in the Middle Ages for women, otherwise known as the '60s, there's lots to cheer for - women's intelligence and value recognized, men getting their comeuppance, compassion for how horrendous it can be to raise a child and keep house alone, let alone married. Christians might be put off by the numerous vouches for atheism, but how can one possibly gain perspective and understanding in how others think and make decisions if you can't live in their lives for a few minutes, albeit in fiction?

I do wonder how you can follow a book like this when it's sure to be a massive hit, but whatever Garmus writes next, it will be witty, guaranteed.