Book Review: “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus

Apr 26

Håfa adai! March is Women’s History Month in the United States, a celebration of the many accomplishments, contributions, and acts of resilience by women from different walks of life. To honor Women’s History Month 2026, I share my review of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

This book review consists of two parts: a spoiler-free plot summary and my thoughts on the story. In the second part, I give my personal rating and break down the setting and worldbuilding, storytelling, cast of characters, and themes. There may be some lightweight spoilers—such as how characters interact with each other and the world around them—but I will not give away any major plot twists or endings. I want to share my opinions of the book and maybe encourage you to purchase a copy of your own.

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Spoiler-Free Plot Summary

Even in the most sterile and controlled environments, things can go in an unexpected direction. Unfortunately for Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant up-and-coming chemist, the systemic sexism, homophobia, racism, and other forms of bigotry are not an unexpected part of her life in 1960s America. Unfortunately for those perpetuating such forms of bigotry, Elizabeth Zott will not accept such rigid terms and conditions to determine what she can accomplish.

What Elizabeth did not anticipate was to fall in love with Calvin Evans, a Nobel prize-nominated chemist and her colleague at Hastings Research Institute. What she could not expect was the way he would one day no longer be in her life. And what she absolutely did not plan for was becoming a single mother in need of a job. But when she is made the offer to be the host of Supper at Six, a science themed cooking show marketed towards housewives, she begins to teach others that maybe they should not accept such terms and conditions either.

Important Trigger Warning for Lessons in Chemistry

Lessons in Chemistry includes scenes that may be triggering to some readers and listeners, including sexual assault, physical violence, sexism, homophobia, racism, religious exploitation and trauma, and more. Chapter 3 depicts an act of sexual assault, Chapter 5 describes a death by suicide, Chapter 30 portrays an attempted sexual assault, and Chapter 43 discusses stillbirth. These themes and scenes are essential to the plot. If these would cause you stress or distress in any way, then please take the necessary steps to prepare and protect yourself before and after experiencing this book.

My Thoughts on Lessons in Chemistry: 4.5 stars

Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons in Chemistry had been on my To-Read list since it first hit the shelves! And I am glad I finally had the chance to experience it. Bonnie Garmus’ writing is immersive, vivid, emotional, and so much funnier than I anticipated! I have not yet seen the 2023 mini-series adaptation of this story, so this review will not include any comparisons between the book and the show.

The chapters throughout Lessons in Chemistry move across various character perspectives, as well as back and forth between two different timelines, but the story primarily centers the experiences of Elizabeth Zott. Elizabeth is a straightforward, strong-willed, assertive, and uncompromising figure. Considering the time and place in which she lives, this is both a good thing and a complicating thing. But it is never a bad thing!

Through her professional and personal journey over the years, Elizabeth Zott’s story conveys three significant themes within Lessons in Chemistry: (1) ignorant expectations can shape reality, (2) who gets to have privacy and who gets to maintain secrecy, and (3) the importance of found family. The first theme is one that is predictable given the time period this story occurs. Nearly all of Elizabeth’s experiences in her professional life have been affected by the way everyone else has been socialized to treat women, minorities, those who are not heterosexual, and those who exist in any intersection of those identities. And this is not limited to the “educated” White men around her but includes other women who mistakenly believe that going along with this dysfunctional status quo will somehow raise them to the status of equal to those who directly benefit from it.

The second theme I took away from the story is the difference between privacy and secrecy, and who is allowed to maintain either. Much of Elizabeth Zott’s personal life is held against her, treated with malicious suspicion by those around her, as if her right to privacy should be forfeited in order to satisfy their entitled assumptions about what she does with her own time. For Calvin Evans, a well-educated White man and highly praised contributor to the scientific community, he is given the grace to hold incredible secrets from everyone around him. So, while others assume they should be granted full access to Elizabeth’s privacy, they do not think to question the extent of Calvin’s secrecy.

Thirdly and most importantly to me is the theme of found family. For both Elizabeth Zott and Calvin Evans, the individuals who should have been relied upon to establish community in the most significant chapters of their lives were simply not present or were outright abusive. This would repeat in both of their lives until they find each other. And the unexpected connection they share then intentionally build over time makes the events that follow all the more devastating.

My overall rating for Lessons in Chemistry is 4.5 out of 5 stars. Lessons in Chemistry is a story of frustration, heartbreak, disappointment, and what it takes to persevere in a society that refuses to acknowledge or respect the value of a certain demographic. There were times when I rolled my eyes at Elizabeth Zott, but those scenes were true to her character and emphasized her overall growth. The depictions of Elizabeth’s traumatizing experiences feel terrifyingly real. The romance between her and Calvin Evans is believable and devastating. And Bonnie Garmus’ writing is emotional, witty, funny, and poignant without ever coming across as preachy. I highly recommend Lessons in Chemistry!

Dångkulo' na' saina ma'åse'! Thank you so much for reading my review of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.

Rating Cheat Sheet

4.75 - 5.00 stars: As many people as possible should read this book!
4.00 - 4.50 stars: I appreciated many aspects of this book. I recommend it!
3.00 - 3.75 stars: I liked some aspects of this book. I will not revisit it, but someone else might really like it.
2.00 - 2.75 stars: There were some things I appreciated about this book, but I do not recommend it.
0.25 - 1.75 stars: I do not recommend this book! I did not enjoy or appreciate the experience of it!