A review by elsecallerreads
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

emotional funny fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I enjoyed this a lot. I think Elizabeth Zott is an utterly endearing character. I laughed out loud, I felt rage for her, I teared up at the end. 
Do I think this book is very realistic? No, it's exaggerated a lot at times and a lot of things that happen I don't think could have happened in the sixties. Could it stand to be a bit more intersectional? Absolutely. But much like the Barbie movie this book feels a little like feminism 101 which is unfortunately still very needed today. 
What I liked most about this story though is how it focused on family. The clearly autistic woman taking on misogyny via a cooking show was great but what really stuck out to me was the way the book kept coming back to family. What makes a family? That's really what this book is about.