Reviews with content warning for Grief - Lessons in Chemistry

I am a woman in chemistry, so I assume that’s why this book was recommended to me. Although I finished the book, I found it deeply unsatisfying - it not enjoyable and I don’t think it was well written. I read parts and listened to parts. It didn’t help. Whoever the author consulted with is not a chemist working in the life sciences - guess what, there are many subdisciplines within the field of chemistry! The audiobook narrator should have worked with a scientist to learn how to properly pronounce scientific terminology.

The idea of the plot is fine, but the novel would benefit from additional polishing. I also want to add that simply throwing in a mention of Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights movement felt like a cheap ploy to pretend to introduce the issue of race.

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erinreadsbooks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring sad tense slow-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

4.75

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jenteague's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is easily one of my favorite books read this year. I loved every character and the writing style made every plot point interesting. Looking forward to rereading this one.

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cepbreed's review

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.5

I had doubts, but Lessons in Chemistry turned out to be completely worth the hype. An intriguing premise, a powerful female lead, and a heartfelt exploration of family. All of these factors and more had me hooked from the start. Elizabeth Zott is a character that just feels so full of life. I shut this book and immediately felt like I had just heard a friend's life story told to me in person. Her struggles and triumphs are so endearing that despite being set in a fictional past, every lesson is relevant to my life today. No amount of genre bias could keep me from loving this book.

Spoiler

The shock that came with Calvin's death is unparalleled. This book is historical fiction, but the shock factor had me feeling even more anxiety than the like of Game of Thrones.

I learned to love Calvin alongside Elizabeth. That has never happened to me with a character like him. On the surface, he isn't likable, far from it even, but the way he acts and his relationship with Elizabeth charmed me. All a man has to do is take women seriously, that's all. You would think this very basic concept would be intrinsic, but I find out every day that it is not.

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