Lessons In Chemistry Review

STATS~📑

Vibes: Surviving motherhood with found family, women in STEM, great partnerships, feminism, empathetic worldview/narration. 

Notable characteristics: The sense of community in this book was wonderful (found family). The narration/writing style was clever and pleasant. The characters are charming, and I found the story relevant and relatable, despite it being a historical fiction. I truly think it should be a required read for everyone! (Especially women in science). 

Things that made me pause: TWs (moderate/high) SA on page, misogyny & discrimination (addressed), grief, death.

Moon Rating: 4.5/5🌙 Took half a point away because the cover, though I realize its relevance with the #2 pencil (which I think is a beautiful symbol of Elizabeth's grit and resilience that shows up a lot in the book), may give off the vibe of a romance novel, along with its title. I personally did not think so, but as I started recommending this book, I started seeing some confusion. However, it is worth noting the UK cover is different and perhaps a little more indicative of what the book is actually about. 

Either way, I love this book in all its versions and it means so much to me!!

Personal star rating: 5/5⭐ 

Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is a historical fiction book set in the 1950s-60s about a Chemist, Elizabeth Zot, who becomes the host of a cooking show out of necessity, all while navigating motherhood, discrimination and grief. 

As a woman going into the scientific field, I adored this book. But I also think it is a valuable, relevant read, even in today’s society. Though the book is set in the past, our main heroine is not only aware of injustices and bias but also actively rebels against it, making her a social outcast in many ways. I appreciated how Bonnie Garmus showed there have always been exceptions in history; yes, the 50s were a repressive time for women and minorities in many ways, but not everyone was complicit in that. She addresses wage gaps, misogyny and homophobia in a way that feels incredibly modern, and really inverted my expectations of historical fiction. She does this throughout the novel, creating characters that feel human and break stereotypes: a male doctor who supports Elizabeth and clearly respects women, a Christian priest who appreciates science and struggles with faith, a divorced father who tries to give his daughter the best life. Through this novel, Garmus has accomplished something incredibly interesting and necessary: painting history with depth and substance, in 3D. 

Other notable characteristics of this book are its structure and narration. Written in 3rd person omnipotent, Garmus makes room to tell more than just Elizabeth Zot’s story, but also the ensemble around her peculiar yet endearing dog. The reader learns the dreams and motivations of even the heinous characters, which helps make the story even more three-dimensional. In regards to structure, I thought it was interesting to start the novel in the present, leading the reader one way, then backtracking, and from there letting the whole story play out past the beginning. It made the story into a page-turner, which leads me to my next point: the suspense and plot were beautifully done. It felt like I truly spent a decade with Elizabeth; the narrative felt intimate and eventful, more than usually fits in 400 pages. It was a delight, even when I was infuriated, or sobbing.

And finally, what I think truly sets this book apart is the storyline itself. We have a strong-willed scientist and social outcast who navigates love, real love to a man who is her soulmate, while dealing with grief, an unwanted pregnancy and building a found family of misfits and kind humans. The community in this book was lovely. The concerns of success and belonging that Zot raises are relatable and still relevant (I felt myself represented in her). Her partnership with Calvin was pure and complete–Garmus knows how to write a marriage of souls between people without the need to have them marry. And on top of that, somehow, conversations of science vs. religion, right vs. wrong, and critiques and observations of the American school system. (Also, did I mention that the main character was unschooled by her con artist parents and taught herself pretty much everything?!?!?!? And that her partner was an orphan raised in a catholic school?)

If I were to have a critique, it would be that while there was a diverse array of characters and experiences, I would have loved to see greater cultural diversity represented on the page.

That said, I can still appreciate the importance of this story. 

This book felt like a real decade passed, in the best way. It is somehow detailed enough without dragging. It is powerful, empathetic, and inspiring. 

Truly a must read!!!

🧾 If you like this book for the “Women in STEM” rep with a difficult past, you might like…Harley Quinn Reckoning (YA) by Rachael Allen

🧾 If you like this book for the 3rd person omnipotent narrator, you might like…The Sun Is Also a Star (YA) by Nicola Yoon.