Lessons in Chemistry: The modern classic multi-million-copy bestseller

· Random House
4.6
254 reviews
Ebook
400
Pages
Eligible
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About this ebook

THE FUNNY AND INSPIRING, MULTI-AWARD-WINNING BESTSELLER WITH MORE THAN 8 MILLION COPIES SOLD, now a major Apple TV+ series starring Brie Larson

A Book of the Year for: Guardian, Times, Sunday Times, New York Times, Good House Keeping, Woman & Home, Stylist, TLS Oprah Daily, Newsweek, Mail on Sunday, NPR, India Knight, Hay Festival, Waterstones, Amazon, Books Are My Bag, and many more!

'The most charming, life-enhancing novel’ Sunday Times
'Funny, thought-provoking and stylish' Guardian
‘The best book I've read recently. I loved it’ - SARA COX, BBC 2 Between the Covers
‘Everyone needs to read this’ 5-star reader review
___________

A woman ahead of her time.
But exactly right for ours


Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, she would be the first to point out that there is no such thing.

But it's the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute take a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans, the lonely, brilliant, Nobel-Prize-nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with - of all things - her mind.

Like science, life is unpredictable. Forced to leave her job at the institute, Elizabeth Zott soon finds herself the reluctant star of America's most beloved cooking show, Supper at Six. Elizabeth's unusual approach to cooking ('Combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride') proves revolutionary.

But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn't just teaching women to cook.

She's daring them to change the status quo. One molecule at a time.
__________

A New York Times ‘Top 100 Best Books of the 21st Century’ Reader's Pick

Author of the Year at the British Book Awards
Author of the Year, Waterstones
Winner of the Goodreads Choice Best Debut Novel Award
Winner of the Books are My Bag Reader's Choice Award
Winner of the Books are My Bag Breakthrough Author Award
Shortlisted for the HWA Crown Award


PRAISE FOR LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY:

'Laugh-out-loud funny and brimming with life, generosity and courage' Rachel Joyce, bestselling author of The Homemade God

‘Full of humour, heartbreak and characters who feel like real people’ Red Magazine

Page-turning and highly satisfying’ – Maggie Shipstead, bestselling author of Great Circle

'I loved Lessons in Chemistry and am devastated to have finished it!' Nigella Lawson

'A novel that sparks joy with every page' Elizabeth Day, bestselling author of Magpie

'Witty and sometimes hilarious ... the Catch-22 of early feminism' Stephen King

‘A beautiful, sharp, funny and dark modern classic. I adored it' Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of All the Colours of the Dark

‘The best book that I have read this year – a funny, warm, unique book’ 5-star reader review

Witty, poignant, clever, brilliantly plotted...believe the hype’ 5-star reader review

Funny, honest and heart-wrenching this book had me hooked until the end.’ 5-star reader review


Lessons in Chemistry has sold over 8 million copies worldwide across all formats, People, January 2025

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Ratings and reviews

4.6
254 reviews
Laura Castelijn
December 15, 2023
I found this book frustrating because of the lack of growth of the main female lead, overall unbalanced character strengths, and absence of diversity in perspectives. She is never wrong, always knows the truth about life, is excellent at everything, and, of course, attractive. Although I love how the author has characters relating to each other for each scene, other than 1 or 2 characters, there seems to be little personal rather than just philosophical or perhaps scientific growth, depending on your point of view. Her cooking show has her being super respectful towards homemakers, but that doesn't make sense for her character, who doesn't understand women who are housewives. I found the book's representation of children and bullying frustrating
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Mike Ramseyer
October 9, 2023
What a wonderful book. Loved the characters including six thirty of course, and the story, and was delighted that the baddies (most of them) got their comuppance. Laughed out loud at times and was even tearful at the end and sad that the story had to finish. Good ending though. On my list as one of the best ever books.
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Lorraine See
April 22, 2024
DNF this book, I stopped at the first few chapters. While I empathise with the sexism. that she faced in the STEM field, the protagonist Elizabeth is an incredibly annoying know-it-all and unlikeable person. Calvin is no better. I don't know if it's deliberate for the sake of character development or not.
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About the author

BONNIE GARMUS is a copywriter and creative director who has worked widely in the fields of technology, medicine, and education. She is an open-water swimmer, a rower, and mother to two wonderful daughters. Born in California and most recently from Seattle, she currently lives in London with her husband and her dog, 99. Her first novel, LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY is a No.1 Sunday Times, New York Times and international bestseller, translated into thirty-eight languages. It is being adapted as an Apple TV series starring Brie Larson.

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