Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - Lessons in Chemistry

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.

Content Warnings

sandysmith's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective 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

4.5

A really enjoyable historical fiction of woman scientist Elizabeth Zott who faces misogyny in the 1950's/1960's. A scientist who does not want to be married or have children falls in love with Calvin who dies leaving her single and pregnant. She had her research stolen and is fired from her scientist job, but lands herself a TV Cooking show that empowers women. I particularly liked the multiple points of view, especially the dog six thirty Great stuff

Content Warnings

tiffanysmith's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

I wanted to like this, but I have to admit, this one fell flat for me for a few reasons. The read was quite tedious at times and I think the author was trying extend a sense of female empowerment, but it didn’t feel authentic. There was little depth to the story—no true plot or character growth to captivate the reader. The characters were stiff and the feminist morality was not relatable.

I think it would have benefited the story to truly allow the characters to exist in their space. I kept forgetting that the storyline takes place in the 1950s, only to be reminded by Elizabeth saying something completely absurd. I want to be immersed in the time era and I want characters with complexity, faults, and things that make them grow.

There was very little world-building and I felt a big disconnect with the characters—a beautiful chemist who makes chemistry a successful cooking show, a pre-schooler who acts like a 35 year genius, and the dog POV was a little strange. The nerd stereotype was over utilized and it was challenging to emphasize with the characters.

The love story between them didn’t seem very genuine. They met and they fell in love. It didn’t seem to go much deeper than that.

Also, the religious element threw me off. It was very emphasized, but it didn’t do anything to propel the plot line or character growth. It just felt uncomfortable.

There was some good parts of the book, but I did not laugh at the wittiness and I was unable to relate to the characters.

Content Warnings

nitar8's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Content Warnings

kimmy0__0's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I loved this book and loved the character Elizabeth Zott. This is a great representation of what women during that time frame and continue to struggle with in the world (certainty not to the same extent). There are great characters who steal your heart and you can't help but root for as they struggle through the ups and downs of life. I ADORED the chapters/insights from 6:30's perspective ❤️

Content Warnings

kalla's review

Go to review page

emotional funny inspiring sad fast-paced

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

Content Warnings

lilawsahar's review

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring relaxing sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I loved that I got a web a stories that combined into one big story about Elizabeth Zott. I liked that each character got a point of view. I liked that the main character questioned the world around her and inspired others to do the same. Every character that she befriended was marked by her and it made me so happy. I also love how the ending was about finding family not a romantic love story.

I hope I read this again.

Content Warnings

eudaimonia's review

Go to review page

emotional 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? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

More...