If You Liked Lessons in Chemistry

I’ll be honest and say that when I picked up Lessons in Chemistry, I wasn’t too sure if I would like it. However, it ended up being one of those books I couldn’t put down. I loved it! It was by far one of my favorite books of 2022. If you loved it just as much as I did, here are some books I think you’d enjoy just as much.

If you enjoyed reading about Elizabeth Zott’s journey as a woman in STEM during the 1960s, then you will love reading Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict. This book is a work of fiction that follows the real life of Dr. Rosalind Franklin, a famous chemist known for her discovery of the double helix structure of DNA.

Another fantastic novel that tells the story of a real-life scientist is The Woman With the Cure by Lynn Cullen. This book tells the story of Dorothy Horstmann, virologist and epidemiologist whose research into the polio virus led to the development of the vaccine we have today. Not only did she lead the research during this epidemic, but she also became the first woman to be appointed as Professor for the Yale School of Medicine in 1961—shattering glass ceilings along the way much like Elizabeth Zott.

If you enjoyed Zott’s Supper at Six cooking show, then you will probably enjoy Laura Dave’s Hello, Sunshine. This book takes you into the world of Sunshine Mackenzie and her YouTube cooking show with millions of followers. As she gains notoriety through her professional endeavors, she gets hacked, and the truth about her quickly unravels.

If you’re looking for a lighter read with a leading lady in STEM, then read Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood. Elsie Hannaway is a theoretical physicist looking to finally land tenure professorship. She makes ends meet by being a girlfriend for hire, but what happens when she lands an interview with one of her fake date’s brothers? This is a very cute and very nerdy romcom. If you end up loving this one, then be sure to check out Hazelwood’s other STEM novels The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain.

Recipe for A Perfect Wife by Karma Brown is an excellent choice if you enjoyed the historical aspect of Lessons in Chemistry. This book is written in dual timelines going back and forth between the 1950s and present day. When Alice Hale leaves her glamorous PR job in Manhattan to move into her new home in the suburbs with her husband, she is faced with the reality of this drastic change. She discovers an old cookbook in the basement of her new home which belonged to its previous owner, a 1950s housewife. As she cooks her way through the book, she discovers notes in the pages detailing the housewife’s life and experiences. Alice soon realizes they might have more in common than she assumed.

What other books would you recommend for fans of Lessons in Chemistry? Please share them in the comments below.