#39 in Historical fiction
Lessons in Chemistry
- 464
- Pages
- about 9 h
- Reading time
- NYT bestseller · 64 weeks on the list, peaked at #2
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About the book
Lessons in Chemistry is a novel by Bonnie Garmus. Published by Doubleday in April 2022, it is Garmus's debut novel. It tells the story of Elizabeth Zott, who becomes a beloved cooking show host in 1960s Southern California after being fired as a chemist four years earlier. It was adapted into an Apple TV+ miniseries that debuted on October 13, 2023.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.2 across 1,254 ratings. With that many, the reader vote carries 89% of the weight and the score stays at 8.2 — the Historical fiction average of 8.0 barely moves it.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 8.0 | 9 | 1% |
| Hardcover | 8.2 | 1.2K | 99% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“Oh man this one deserves the popularity! It was vivid and immersive. It toed the line wonderfully between heavy and comedic. The characters were so well-rounded. They were perfect for the story but also believable. I especially liked how Garmus wrote Six-Thirty to have an entire mental life as a complete character.”
“I was in tears. I couldn't put it down. I watched the TV show and it didn't remotely convey HALF of what this book was carrying. I'm devastated. There are so many things to love about fiction; this novel reminded me of my favorite one…”
Frequently asked
How long is Lessons in Chemistry?
It has 464 pages — longer than 57% of the ranked books in Historical fiction.
In this book
Themes this book shares with others — each leads to the best books on it.
If you liked this
The same shelf — Historical fiction — and a score of 8.2, the closest to this book.
