Strong, female lead stories are the way forward and Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus is one of those books that you can’t put down.
Because we live in a world where money is needed to survive, Latte Lindsay runs a number of affiliate programmes and offers contributed or partnered content. If you choose to click the links and read the posts, the site may earn a commission or receive a payment. All of the opinions are my own. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any partner brands/company(s), beauty & lifestyle brands, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities unless specified.
The Plot
Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, she would be the first person to point this fact out. After being sexually assaulted and refusing to apologise for stabbing her rapist, Elizabeth Zott is expelled from her doctoral program. She then gets a job at Hastings Research Institute, working as a Lab Technician in a chemistry laboratory. She meets fellow Hastings researcher Calvin Evans while taking surplus Ribose chemical from his lab. After a rocky start, Evans spots Zott’s potential and invites her to work in his lab. As time goes on, their working relationship evolves into friendship, and then romance. But it isn’t smooth sailing for the couple. Death, unexpected arrivals, and sexist attitudes a set Elizabeth on a journey that makes her realise that being a woman was never about being average.
Thoughts on the book
When I got the book, I kind of knew what was happening with the plot as I had watched the TV show on Apple TV. I blame TikTok for all of the little clips that it showed me. However, the book is a bit different from the TV show and you should read the book first. The story is beautifully laid out and keeps moving at a good pace. The descriptions of the time and the people had depth and colour. Lessons in Chemistry is a number one global bestseller for a reason. As a woman, I try to remind myself that when things get tough, there are other women out there who are toughing it out with me. Lessons in Chemistry might be set in the 1950’s and 1960’s, but the issues that Elizabeth faces are just as demanding and relatable as the ones we face today.
Thoughts on the author
Bonnie Garmus has had her first book published a few days before she turned 65 years old in 2022. Drawing on her years of experience as a copywriter, it warms my heart to think that she achieved this success. Ok, this was not the first book she has written but this is her debut novel and it says a lot about her skills as a writer. I’m not sure if she has any more books in the works, but if this is the only one that she publishes, it will still be a bestselling author.
Overall
If there is one book to read this year, it is Lessons in Chemistry. It is funny and warm, yet sad and tragic. Just what we all face in our daily lives. Pandora Sykes called it “A timeless novel”, and once you start reading, you will discover why.