Lessons in Chemistry

Genre: Historical Fiction / Feminist Lit
Tropes: Woman in STEM, single motherhood, underdog heroine, found family
Rating: ★★★★½

⚗️ The Setup

Set in the 1960s, Lessons in Chemistry follows Elizabeth Zott, a fiercely intelligent chemist who refuses to let a patriarchal system dim her brilliance. After being pushed out of her lab and grieving a personal loss, Elizabeth unexpectedly becomes the host of a cooking show but only she’s not teaching housewives how to make pot roast. She’s teaching them chemistry. And independence. And how to question everything.

💡 What Makes It Stand Out

Bonnie Garmus has crafted a story that manages to be sharp, witty, heartbreaking, and deeply empowering  often all in the same chapter. Elizabeth isn’t a quirky, lovable heroine. She’s often misunderstood, intimidating, and boldly unwilling to shrink herself for anyone’s comfort.

Her journey isn’t about becoming likable , it’s about becoming undeniable.

The book is a love letter to women who had to hide their genius, to ambition in the face of resistance, and to the quiet revolutions that happen when someone finally dares to say no more.

📺 More Than a Period Piece

While it’s set in the 60s, the themes feel eerily current, gender bias, unequal pay, dismissal of women’s intellect, and the boxes society tries to shove women into.

At its core, Lessons in Chemistry isn’t just about science, it’s about agency. It’s about a woman taking up space where she wasn’t invited, and changing everything just by being exactly who she is.

Also… can we talk about Six-Thirty, the dog with a vocabulary and a moral compass? Easily one of the best animal characters I’ve ever read.

🔬 A Few Things to Note

• The pacing in the middle lags a little, and some secondary characters feel less developed than Elizabeth’s powerful arc.

• The tone shifts at times satirical, then emotional, then quietly revolutionary which may not suit everyone.

• But if you like books that challenge and charm, this one delivers both.

❤️ Final Verdict

Lessons in Chemistry is smart without being snobby, emotional without being sentimental, and feminist without being preachy. It reminds you that cooking is chemistry, science is for everyone, and a single woman can change the world even if the world isn’t ready for her.

This is one of those rare books that makes you want to stand taller, speak louder, and question more. An empowering read with unexpected warmth and grit.

👩‍🔬 Recommended If You Love:

• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

• Feminist historical fiction with bite

• Intelligent, dry humor

• Stories that reclaim underestimated women

📚 Have you read Lessons in Chemistry? What did you think of Elizabeth’s story?

Let’s chat in the comments or join my Instagram for more slow burns, strong heroines, and soul-sparking stories and book recommendations.