Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Eine Frage der Chemie

Please please please! Check the content warnings and know that all of them are prevalent in this book, but you think you can handle them PLEASE read this book.

Elizabeth Zott is an amazing character, and a survivor. She is the embodiment of female power and a force to be reckoned with.

The things Zott experiences in the work place are appalling and no one would call her personal life easy. In real life, a woman in Zott’s shoes wouldn’t be faulted for breaking down or giving up. But Zott doesn’t let anything stop her from reaching her goals. She goes on have a wonderful life in spite of the horrendous things she’s had to survive, because she is a survivor.

Parts of this book had me in tears while others had me fill with so much pride I thought I would burst. At its core, this book is about the strength and resilience of women and I can’t recommend it enough. This will be a book I won’t stop thinking about for a very, very long time.

Content Warnings

rmataloni's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

nadia's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Awww, I had such a wonderful time with this book. I went into a bookstore with a friend who said: "In December, I like to just read books I don't know much about that my friends have loved throughout the year, so choose me a book, Nadia!"

I said: "I love this! I want to do this too! You choose me a book!"

And she chose me Lessons in Chemistry. I knew nothing about what this book was about except for the fact that maybe there was some cooking involved because of a marketing stand I saw of it at the London Book Fair.

My friend told me the book was many things and boy was she right!

The humour, the emotion, the shocking moments, the reflective moments, the life lessons. Just brilliant and filled with quirky fun! I had several out-loud chuckles and smiles. Even one gasp. Lots on public transport.

Will definitely be looking out for whatever Bonnie Garmus releases next!

Content Warnings

helena_chris's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

I just really loved this book. Feminist and strong, this book really does paint a very believable alternate history.

Content Warnings

abundance_of_fiction's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I hesitated to start this thinking that it was intended as more of a romance, and my only regret is not starting this book sooner.

Yes there is some romance, but not in the typical sense. In the words of Elizabeth Zott, they are “soul mates”. Not in the cheesy meet-cute fashion but the real-life, messy, laugh and cry sense.

This book was empowering, heartbreaking, and everything in between. I cried so much in the last hundred chapters because I had gone through this journey. I was Elizabeth Zott and I was all the other women. You would think a novel set in the 1950/60s wouldn’t have so many parallels to the modern world but that was the beauty of it. As sad as it is, many of us are still Elizabeth Zott. Maybe not in the most direct sense but in spirit.

Even if you can’t relate to Elizabeth Zott’s story, you know someone who can.

Overall, a 5 star read through and through.

*slight spoilers*
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You will be crying by 30% into the book, so just be Prepared.

Content Warnings

meganpbennett's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.25

Awful and unreadable do not being to describe how bad this book is. It's exceptionally badly written - 50 Shades of Grey was a literary masterpiece compared to this - and the author talks down to her audience, treating them like idiots, or children. Elizabeth Zott is quirky and "not like all the other girls," but she isn't likeable. She sees herself as better than everyone else, and is not a likeable person. The book is not a lighthearted fun romp, but a dark, serious, and godawful run through life. Negative 10 stars.

Content Warnings

celestecurls's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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