Literary · Historical
Lessons in Chemistry
In the early 1960s, a brilliant chemist is pushed out of the laboratory world and ends up hosting a television cooking show. She treats cooking as science and her audience as capable adults.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2022
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 400
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want a warm, funny story about stubborn competence, sexism and a very good dog.
Skip this if you want a subtle book; the villains are plain and the message is delivered loudly.
The feel
Content warnings
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Quick answers about Lessons in Chemistry
- What is Lessons in Chemistry about?
- In the early 1960s, a brilliant chemist is pushed out of the laboratory world and ends up hosting a television cooking show. She treats cooking as science and her audience as capable adults.
- Who should read Lessons in Chemistry?
- Read it if you want a warm, funny story about stubborn competence, sexism and a very good dog. Skip it if you want a subtle book; the villains are plain and the message is delivered loudly.
- How long and how fast is Lessons in Chemistry?
- It is a medium-paced, medium read of about 400 pages, first published in 2022.
- Does Lessons in Chemistry have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Sexual assault, Death, Grief.
- Can I borrow Lessons in Chemistry for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Lessons in Chemistry; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Lessons in Chemistry?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Remarkably Bright Creatures, A Gentleman in Moscow, The Giver of Stars.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
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| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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If you loved Lessons in Chemistry
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Remarkably Bright Creatures Another cosy, bittersweet novel with a deeply odd animal sidekick and a lonely, capable heroine.
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A Gentleman in Moscow Shares the polite wit and the sense of people building a life with dignity in difficult conditions.
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The Giver of Stars Another story of women pushing against narrow expectations in a mid-century setting, and finding each other.
Literary
