Lessons in Chemistry was so fresh and unique. It was impossible not to fall in love with Elizabeth and six thirty. I was so bummed when I couldn't get the download to work but in a stroke of luck, I received a physical copy in the mail and began reading immediately. This book was unputdownable for me. Lessons in Chemistry has already secured it's place as one of my favourite books of 2022. I loved it!

What a breath of fresh air! This clever, witty, heartfelt novel was everything I needed and more. You will cheer and yes, sadly even today’’s age relate to Elizabeth Zott. And her special family and friends we call family along the way. Such a fresh story and important book that read smoothly. Children, set the table! Your Mother needs a minute to herself. Read! Thank me later.

Thank you to NetGalley and Double Day CA for gifting me a manuscript of this book in exchange for an honest review!

When I started this book, I had no idea what to expect. A couple of pages in, I just knew this was going to be a new favourite, so I bought myself a copy when it came out in libraries.
The fact that this book is a debut novel leaves me feeling incredulous. How does one write such a perfect book on their first try? I loved every single aspect of it: the characters, the whole storyline, the life lessons here and there, the writing and the interesting scientific facts.
How do I even begin describing this? Bonnie Garmus' writing reminds me slightly of Fredrik Backman, but her writing is much wittier. Her writing style is intelligent, funny and full of irony and innuendos which I loved. She even includes chapter titles!! Tell me why authors have stopped doing this.

I am so incredibly happy and grateful to have had the chance to discover this book through NetGalley and Double Day CA because I doubt I would have picked this book up otherwise which would result in huge regret.

Elisabeth Zott is the best main character I have met in a while. She is intelligent, persistent, strong and incredibly stubborn, but who does not love a stubborn female character? Not me anyway. She charmed me as soon as the book started. It was so easy for me to love her and all the other side characters that the reader meets as the story goes on. Six-Thirty is the most interesting canine character I've ever encountered in a book and Bonnie Garmus' writing skills were definitely put in the spotlight through the characterization of this wonderful canine friend.
This book made me laugh out loud, feel anger so deeply at the injustices and moved me to tears. I believe this is a book everyone will enjoy, especially if you are a woman in STEM who also encounters certain struggles Elizabeth is forced to deal with.
I also loved the various discussions about life, religion, food and the role of a woman in this book.
Elizabeth has made me feel important, understood and most important of all has inspired me to be the change because "CHEMISTRY IS CHANGE." (p.360)
Honestly, the only bad thing about this book is that it ended.

I am so excited to read more from this author and I am sure all her future works will be a must-read for me.
A new favourite!!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. Lessons in Chemistry is a story about Elizabeth Zott who is a quirky female chemist working during a time when there weren’t many females in the field. She struggles with relationships and is quite set in her ways, which sometimes works against her. She faced many challenges in both her work and home life and she didn’t let them stop her. I enjoyed this book and would recommend for those who enjoyed The Maid.

Women who want to learn? Women in the science? Women who want to be deemed important without a man?
Zott is breaking the ceiling in the most un-conventional ways, along with her daughter, Madeline (Mad), her dog, her love, Calvin and a few people who do not let her down.
At a time in history when an unmarried, intelligent and beautiful woman is deemed inconsequential, Elizabeth Zott is a force. She accomplishes being seen in controversial ways, and stays true to herself by tackling rowing and teaching science through recipes.
A lovely, charming, easy to read story about Elizabeth Zott as she endures the current thinking in the 60s. #BonnieGarmus offers a mixture of humour and thought-provoking dialogue and insight that will make you re-read sentences to enjoy and appreciate them a second time.
"When one is raised on a steady diet of sorrow, it's hard to imagine that others might have had an even larger serving."
A story of love by accident, of heart-break, and of laugh out loud writing. You will not be disappointed with this look at women’s role in the 60s, the absurd expectations, and the weird and wonderful connection between women.
"Calvin was a brilliant man, but if he had one flaw, it was his ability to hold a grudge." These words alone, set the journey to discovery within its pages.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #PenguinRandomHouseCanada for an advance copy of this truly remarkable book. I hope it provides a nudge to women everywhere to pursue what they believe in for themselves.

Normally I sit and write down my thoughts coherently but I can’t for this one. Simply put, I loved it. Gosh darn, loved it.
To the point that even though I had a gifted eArc, I also bought one for my shelf so one day I can re read it (or shove it in someone else’s hands).

Heartwarming & powerful within these pages. I was hooked from page 1 and finished the novel with a grin on my face.

Now, there are hard moments like a rape, attempted rape and the obvious patriarchy society put-downs that the 60’s had rampant but dig deeper and you’ll see it’s about women finding their space in the world.

With kids. Without.
Job within the home. Job outside.
Science. Or secretary.

There is love, there is loss. There’s motherhood. There’s postpartum depression.

But there’s also family. And hope. And women using their voices. And not by dragging others down to put themselves first, but to collectively bring each other up by the end.

It started with the feeling of the Big Bang Theory (which I loved) and ended with that same feeling I had with Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett. I loved it.

This is a book that readers of all levels can pick up. Adore when that happens. And can we mention that this is a debut author 😳🥳 BRAVO!

I really enjoyed this book.. I like the characters who felt very real, even though they were quirky and not totally relatable. It was a fun ride of a book that dealt with really important topics, but it was not heavy or dragging. It is a book that will have wide appeal. It will make a great beach or pool side read this summer.

I did enjoy this book although I found the characters of Elizabeth and Mad annoying at times. The majority of the women were portrayed poorly in this book and I am sure women during the 50’s and 60’s were not all like this.Like today women struggled with education , work equality, acceptance, various forms of abuse from men and women, and child rearing. One must realize many women were trail blazers and had a no nonsense approach to men and petty women. The scientific terminology associated with cooking and life was a tad overload at times but all in all the book was a delightful , and quirky read about life with its many highs and lows.

What an enjoyable, original read Lessons in Chemistry was! Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant research chemist at Hastings Institute in California working on leading edge research on abiogenesis in 1952 when she meets and falls in love with her co-worker, Calvin, an equally brilliant scientist who loves Elizabeth for her mind. Fast forward a few years and Elizabeth is a single mom who takes a job hosting a television cooking show where she teaches in her rather unorthodox style that cooking is chemistry and chemistry is life. The show is a huge hit because women appreciate that they are being taken seriously by Elizabeth who dispenses her unique blend of cooking tips and life lessons. Elizabeth encourages women to believe in themselves and their abilities - something which was almost unheard of at the time and didn't always go over well with the male establishment.

The novel which takes place in the late 1950s/early 1960s has a delightful cast of well-written characters. I loved Elizabeth - a smart, courageous, ambitious, self-assured feminist - and her quirky supporting characters especially her 4 year-old daughter, Mad, who is a prolific reader and wise beyond her years, her loyal dog, Six-Thirty, who knows hundreds of words and her neighbour, Harriet, who is stuck in a loveless marriage and becomes family to Elizabeth and Mad.

Though the overall tone of the book is lighthearted (and occasionally a tad absurd - it is partially narrated by a dog after all), there are some sad and touching plot points as well as an underlying thread of social commentary on issues of the time including casual sexism/misogyny, physical and sexual violence against women and the frustration experienced by women who wanted careers. While reading, I laughed out loud and I shed a few tears but I also found myself a bit angry to think of how many women were forced to give up their dreams because of social expectations. Imagine what they might have accomplished if society hadn't held them back!

Lessons in Chemistry is a gem - a charming, well-written novel of female empowerment with an unforgettable heroine, witty dialogue, quirky characters and an uplifting story that also serves as a reminder that as far as we have come as women since the 1960s that there is still a long way to go before true equality exists.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC and Random House Canada/Doubleday Canada for the review copy of Lessons in Chemistry.

Elizabeth Zott was born into a world that thought it wasn't ready for her. A born scientist, she met hurdles at every turn as she negotiated the misogynistic culture of the 1950s and 1960s. Unmarried, alone, and with a small brilliant child (and a large brilliant dog), Zott made her own path, ignored the rules, and inspired women, no matter what men said she could or couldn't do. Zott is an inspiration to anyone who feels like they can't or shouldn't.

Loved the women in STEM/strong female character vibes. This was a delight, including a very special pup as a supporting character. Kudos to Garmus for writing a relatable, enjoyable historical fiction around the unlikely topics of science and chemistry!

I loved this book. It was the perfect combination of thought provoking combined with humour. Although there was some characters and instances that I hated, other characters made up for that by being lovable my favorite being Six-Thirty.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC of Lessons in Chemistry! I'd like to first say - unfortunately it didn't have a Kindle download available, and reading using the NetGalley app was challenging because you can't change font to fill the screen, etc - SO it sat at 10% complete digitally, I just couldn't do it. Once I saw it was available to purchase in my local Costco, I scooped it right up and read it quickly. Absolutely LOVE Women in Stem focused books! I do think the character development falls a bit flat, but the storyline (albeit long) was great. Feminist, stem woman in the 50s and 60s that is absolutely still relevant to what we face today.
"Children set the table. Your mother needs a moment to herself." Is right on the money.

There are many books that I have read that I have liked. Some of them, I have liked a lot. There are few that I have loved. Lessons in Chemistry has joined that august select few. It started in a way that gave no warning of how it would clutch my soul. Calvin, the penultimate square peg, awkward, brilliant and aloof meets Elizabeth, an equally square peg. They are in a research facility that is filled with mediocrity and prejudice and jealousy of the only two bright minds in the facility. Calvin, whose intelligence is known world wide has his own lab. Elizabeth, unconcerned about his status, “borrows” beakers she requires for experiments which irritates the great man.

It is not until they meet again under unfortunate circumstances that they communicate and find, shocking them both, that they were made for each other. Elizabeth, who has always been dismissed because of her beauty and brains, is given a chance to prove her worth. But the misogynistic head of research shatters her life when Calvin dies and she is left carrying his child.

The book breaks ground in so many areas of life for a woman in the 1950s and 60s. Relegated to only a few roles, chosen by men, and demeaned and abused by them, woman who challenged the status quo were beaten into submission. But Elizabeth refuses to give up. Fired for being an unwed mother, she reinvents herself many times and in the process she helps other women shuck off the chains and strive to accomplish their dreams.

She, Calvin and their daughter Mad all have suffered many wounds inflicted on them by the world and small petty cruel minds. Yet, ultimately all of them prevail. As much as I wanted to scream at the things they were forced to endure, they proved time and again that there is always hope. And when the right chemistry comes together, what it can create is beautiful. It is uplifting and moving. Five purrs and two paws up.

I struggled with this book so much. The idea of it was great when it is boiled down to a synopsis, but the lengthier version just didn’t deliver. I found the characters torturous - not unlikable, just obnoxious. It was also far longer than necessary. Finally, I resent the comparison to Where’d You Go, Bernadette. These books and characters are nothing alike.

Unfortunately, I am unable to access this title as Kindle viewing is not currently available. My five star rating reflects the positive feedback and overall buzz that Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus has generated as a standout debut, and I very much look forward to reading and reviewing it in the near future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for approving my request for an ARC of this title.

What a fun read! Quirky and unique you won’t want to miss this one. This one is a deliciously bingeable and you’ll finish it in one weekend. I would consider this worth adding to your beach read list for summer 2022.

I think the word "charming" completely defines this book. Elizabeth is a very strong, feminist character in an era when that wasn't an easy road to take. Her opinions, never lightly stated, are wise as well as funny. It adds up to a warm, funny, entertaining read.

This feminist historical fiction debut was utterly AMAZING!!! If you want to read about a smart, funny, strong-willed resilient woman look no further. The tag line alone had me hooked from the start: "Children set the table. Your mother needs a moment to herself."

Set in the early 1960s this book features Elizabeth Zott, a chemist turned home cooking show tv host who is also a single mother dedicated to making sure her daughter always has a nutritious lunch. Over the course of the book we get to know how Elizabeth came to be the hugely popular host of "Supper at Six." From her experiences with sexism in the workplace to falling in love and then losing that love and learning how to be a single parent.

Elizabeth Zott is an unforgettable character and this story has such parallels that are still very relevant today. Women in STEM still experience a great deal of sexism and misogyny. Women have to fight for their places and respect. I loved how Elizabeth encouraged women to take chances and fight against the patriarchy (something 1960s women did not hear a lot at the time!).

This book ranks right up there with The maid and Eleanor Oliphant as far as strong female characters that will stick with you long after you finish reading. Much thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for my advance review copy. This was also great on audio narrated by Miranda Raison and included an author interview at the end that was very insightful and enjoyable. All the stars for this incredible debut, I cannot recommend it enough!!

I absolutely adored this book!! It is the second book I have read recently with a totally quirky main character who I grew to love throughout the story, and who made the story so refreshing. The other book I refer to is The Maid by Nita Prose, and I am certain that if Elizabeth Zott and Molly Gray could meet, they would get along famously. On the one hand, Lessons in Chemistry made me angry because it reminded of the inequality with regards to women in the 50’s and 60’s, that to this day has still not been fully rectified, but on the other hand I laughed out loud, I cheered for Elizabeth, and I turned the last page feeling positive. There’s not a lot in our world today that can do that!! Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Canada for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend it!!