“Whenever you feel afraid, just remember. Courage is the root of change – and change is what we’re chemically designed to do.”
Lessons in Chemistry is a 2022 historical fiction novel by Bonnie Garmus. Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. But, in the setting of the 1960s, her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a wholly unscientific view of equality. Except for Calvin Evans, the brilliant but lonely who falls in love with her mind. Roll forward a few years, and Elizabeth is a single mother and reluctant star of America’s most-beloved cooking show, Supper at Six. But, not everyone is thrilled with the following she is amassing. Because Elizabeth isn’t just teaching women how to cook. She’s inspiring them to change the status quo. Laugh-out-loud funny, shrewdly observant and filled with vibrant characters, join us at What We Reading for the best books like Lessons in Chemistry if you loved Bonnie Garmus’ debut novel!
Remarkably Bright Creatures – Shelby Van Pelt
First up in our list of books like Lessons in Chemistry is Shelby Van Pelt’s 2022 debut novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures. Following the death of her husband, Tova Sullivan picks up a job working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. She spends the nights keeping busy, mopping the floors and tidying up, batting away the memories of her son, Erik, who mysteriously disappeared at sea three decades ago.
Tova becomes acquainted with the grumpy Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone at Sowell Bay Aquarium, but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for anyone. Yet, he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. He is determined to deduce what happened to Tova’s son and soon has to use every trick in his invertebrate body to give her the truth before it is too late.
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The Women – Kristin Hannah
Another one of the most empowering books similar to Lessons in Chemistry comes from serial bestseller Kristin Hannah in her 2024 historical fiction novel, The Women. This popular book club pick follows twenty-year-old nursing student Frances ‘Frankie’ McGrath. In 1965, she leaves her conservative family in California to join the Army Nurse Corps in Vietnam. Overwhelmed by the chaos and carnage of war, she meets – and becomes one of – the lucky, the brave, the broken and the lost.
But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her friends. The real test for them is returning to the United States awash with change, filled with angry protestors and a society keen to forget the Vietnam War. Like Bonnie Garmus’ work, The Women highlights the women who sacrifice and commit for others, but who are far too frequently swept aside by history.
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Hello Beautiful – Ann Napolitano
William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him. Thankfully, his skills on the basketball court earned him a scholarship far away from them. He soon encounters the ambitious and spirited Julia Padavano who, surprisingly, enjoys his quiet steadiness. With Julie come her three sisters: Sylvie is the dreamer, Cecelia is the family artist and Emeline dutifully looks after all of them. Together, they embrace him into the warm, loving, chaotic household.
But then a darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardising not only Julia’s plans with him but all of the sisters’ loyalty to one another. The end result is a catastrophe that causes a rift that shapes all of their lives for generations. Like Lessons in Chemistry, Ann Napololitano’s Hello Beautiful is an intimate picture of family, love, loyalty and ambition.
Cora’s Kitchen – Kimberly Garrett Brown
It is 1928 and Cora James, a thirty-five-year-old Black librarian is working at the 135th Street library in Harlem. Inspired by one of his poems, she sends a letter to Langston Hughes, who encourages her to pursue her dream of becoming a writer and enter a competition sponsored by the National Urban League. The process is a frustrating and painful one for her, however, and she is soon forced to take a job working in the kitchen of the Fitzgerald family.
After comforting Eleanor Fitzgerald following an argument with her husband, the two women strike up an unlikely friendship. But, despite finding time and inspiration in this environment, Cora’s dealings with the white family take her journey of becoming a writer to the brink of losing everything, including her own life. Another one of the best books like Lessons in Chemistry for demonstrating the timeless struggle women with ambitions have faced, Kimberly Garrett Brown’s Cora’s Kitchen is an honest, timely and spellbinding read.
Yellowface – R.F. Kuang
Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be two of the rising stars in the literary world. But, when June witnesses Athena’s death in a sudden accident, she takes the impulsive decision to steal Athena’s just-finished masterpiece about the role of Chinese labourers during World War I.
She edits Athena’s novel, sends it to her agent as her own work and lets her publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song, complete with an ambiguous ethnic author photo. But, as her story smashes the New York Times bestseller charts, June cannot move away from Athena’s shadow. And, as evidence emerges of her stolen success, she begins to realise just how far she is willing to go to keep a hold of the success she believes she is entitled to.
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The Invisible Life Of Euridice Gusmao – Martha Batalha
Another one of the best books like Lessons in Chemistry that delivers a wildly funny look at family and feminism is Martha Batalha’s The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao. Euridice is young, beautiful and ambitious. But, after choosing to settle with her husband, a feeling of restlessness comes over her. She embarks on a series of secret projects, which range from writing recipe books to becoming the most in-demand seamstress in town.
But her tradition-loving husband isn’t interested in having an independent wife. Then one day her far freer sister, Guida, appears at the door with her son and a terrible story. Inventive and strikingly observant, The Invisible Life of Euridice Gusmao is the story of two sisters courageously attempting to carve their own path in 1940s Rio de Janeiro.
The Surgeon’s Daughter (Nora Beady #2) – Audrey Blake
Nora Beady, the only female student at an acclaimed medical school in Bologna is an oddity. In the nineteenth century, women are expected to stay at home and raise children, so her mere presence is already an annoyance to her male counterparts. Under constant scrutiny, her successes are underplayed and taken for granted, whilst her failures are used as evidence that women aren’t suited to the field. Things begin to change for Nora when she partners with Magdalena Morenco, the only female doctor on staff.
Together, the pair develop innovative techniques to improve a new groundbreaking surgery: the Cesarean section. The procedure is dangerous, the research is gruelling and both women face intense resistance from the men around them. But, when a patient is presented to them who will die without it, Nora is forced to put her career and the role women are allowed to play in the medical field on the line.
Carrie Soto Is Back – Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rounding out our collection of books similar to Lessons in Chemistry is Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling 2022 historical fiction novel, Carrie Soto Is Back. By the time Carrie retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever witnessed. Winning twenty Slam titles, she has smashed every record put before her. But, six years on from her retirement, she finds herself sitting in the stands at the 1994 US Open, watching her record being snatched away by a brilliant new player named Nicki Chan.
Aged thirty-seven, Carries makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement. Even if the media claim to have never liked the ‘Battle-Axe’ anyway. Her body doesn’t move like it used to, and she is forced to train with the one man she almost gave her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Nevertheless, in this spirited and riveting novel, Carrie is determined to make her final comeback a success, no matter the cost.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
