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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-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:
No
3.5
Lessons in Chemistry is smart, witty, and full of heart—but it didn’t fully land for me the way I expected. I absolutely adored Elizabeth Zott as a character: she’s sharp, stubborn, and refuses to shrink herself to fit into the sexist world around her. Her journey from overlooked scientist to unexpected TV cooking star is both absurd and inspiring, and Garmus weaves in some wonderful commentary about gender roles, ambition, and identity.
The writing is clever and often laugh-out-loud funny, and I appreciated how much heart there was beneath the surface. Six-Thirty the dog was unexpectedly one of my favourite characters—yes, really.
That said, the tone sometimes felt uneven, swinging between quirky satire and deeply emotional moments in a way that didn’t always feel cohesive. Some of the supporting characters were more like caricatures than fully fleshed-out people, and the plot lost me a little in the second half.
Still, I can see why this book has resonated with so many readers. It’s empowering and deeply original, and even though I didn’t love it, I’m glad I read it. A strong debut and a character I won’t soon forget.
Pre- review- Smart, sharp, and surprisingly funny in places—but the tone shifts were jarring and I couldn’t fully connect with the characters the way I wanted to.
Lessons in Chemistry is smart, witty, and full of heart—but it didn’t fully land for me the way I expected. I absolutely adored Elizabeth Zott as a character: she’s sharp, stubborn, and refuses to shrink herself to fit into the sexist world around her. Her journey from overlooked scientist to unexpected TV cooking star is both absurd and inspiring, and Garmus weaves in some wonderful commentary about gender roles, ambition, and identity.
The writing is clever and often laugh-out-loud funny, and I appreciated how much heart there was beneath the surface. Six-Thirty the dog was unexpectedly one of my favourite characters—yes, really.
That said, the tone sometimes felt uneven, swinging between quirky satire and deeply emotional moments in a way that didn’t always feel cohesive. Some of the supporting characters were more like caricatures than fully fleshed-out people, and the plot lost me a little in the second half.
Still, I can see why this book has resonated with so many readers. It’s empowering and deeply original, and even though I didn’t love it, I’m glad I read it. A strong debut and a character I won’t soon forget.
Pre- review- Smart, sharp, and surprisingly funny in places—but the tone shifts were jarring and I couldn’t fully connect with the characters the way I wanted to.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
This book was just ok. I was just slightly disappointed that it wasn’t as good to me as everyone said it was. BUT if I ever get a dog, I’m naming him a number
Don’t let the bright book jacket fool you, this novel is a lot deeper than its superficial “rom com” label may lead you to think. A feminist look at being a woman in the 60s, with tears, chemistry, and a very good dog. I didn’t expect to be moved so much by what at first glance looks like a fluffy romance novel but this one was a winner.
slow-paced
dark
funny
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated