15 of the Best Books Like Lessons in Chemistry

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

April 2022 GMA Book Club Pick

I don’t even know where to begin with this unique contemporary fiction story. Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in the 50s when women were expected to know their place in society — their place being the kitchen and the home.

Elizabeth struggles to be taken seriously in her field and as a single mother, in this amazing book. So when an offer to host a cooking show for women is put in her path, she reluctantly takes it.

She uses her no-nonsense attitude and chemistry principles to teach the women in America to not only cook but to follow their dreams outside of the home.

Zott is a quirky character with a charming daughter and a dog whose inner monologue is as quirky as hers. This is an absolutely wonderful book which is why we wanted to make a list of books like Lessons in Chemistry.

The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict

The story of Mileva Maric is an absolutely fascinating one that has not been told. This book gives a glimpse into the life of Albert Einstein’s wife who was a brilliant physicist that contributed to the special theory of relativity. How much of a role she actually played has been debated for years.

It is clear from the letters that Albert Einstein wrote, he was a horrible husband and this book brings him into a new light. It is a shame that his first wife, Mileva, a brilliant scientist herself is a mere footnote in history. I like the way the story was written and it will certainly bring about a lively discussion as a book club book. If you are looking for books like Lessons in Chemistry, this one is a must-read.

Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini

I’ve been reading WWI books non-stop because I’m fascinated by the way modern warfare met traditional tactics in the Great War. I’m particularly interested in the role women played in helping the Allies.

Chiaverini brought the Switchboard soldiers (the women who operated the telephone lines) to life in the most interesting way. I loved their bonds of sisterhood, how they stayed cool under pressure, and learning just how crucial they were to the war effort.

If you are looking for book club books, this historical fiction is a perfect choice. It is also a perfect choice for our list of books like Lessons in Chemistry.

Whisper Network by Chandler Baker

July 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

Sloane, Ardie, Grace, and Rosalita have worked at Truviv, Inc. for years. The sudden death of Truviv’s CEO means their boss, Ames, will likely take over the entire company. Each of the women has a different relationship with Ames, who has always been surrounded by whispers about how he treats women. Those whispers have been ignored, swept under the rug, and hidden away by those in charge.

But the world has changed, and women are watching this promotion differently. This time, when they find out Ames is making an inappropriate move on a colleague, they aren’t willing to let it go. This time, they’ve decided enough is enough.

This contemporary fiction pick is perfect for our list of books similar to Lessons in Chemistry and is also on our list of best books for book clubs.

A Woman of Intelligence by Karin Tanabe

I was interested to read this book about a housewife turned female informant for the FBI. I went in interested to learn about the government’s efforts to root out Communism in the 50s but stayed to understand Katharina’s story.

I can’t imagine being a wife in the 50s. The ideals that society put on women were just too much. Too many constraints, too many rules, and far too much judgement. If you are looking for books like Lessons in Chemistry, this is the choice for you.

I loved seeing Katharina find herself through her undercover work, but sometimes those scenes of her life at home were hard to read about because I came to despise her husband.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my review copy. All opinions are my own.

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney

This book could be an amazing movie.  It is not the type of book that you “can’t put down” because it takes place on New Year’s Eve 1984 with flashbacks from the Jazz Age all the way to the AIDS epidemic. But, it is an incredibly interesting and very well-written New Year’s Eve book.

Lillian Boxfish takes the reader with her through a look at New York City through the ages. She starts off writing copy for R.H Macy’s and becomes one of the highest-paid advertising women in the country.

Now, at 85 years old, she is still as savvy as she ever was and is determined to make the most of her time. Breaking the boundaries of what was expected of a woman was Lillian’s thing and makes this book perfect for anyone looking for books like Lessons in Chemistry.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this contemporary fiction book initially.  Eleanor bugged me in a way that I could not identify.  She is not supposed to be likable initially which is why I persevered and I ended up loving the book and Eleanor. 

As we get to know Eleanor and understand her profound loneliness, it made me think about what initial judgments I make in other areas. Eleanor is able to find herself and understand herself in this wonderful, feel-good book. If you are looking for books similar to lessons in chemistry, this book is a 5-star pick.

Eleanor has difficulty with social skills and is used to being alone until one day, she saves an elderly man who has fallen with the help of Raymond from her work. The three develop a friendship that is able to help heal Eleanor.

If you loved this book, check out our list of Books Like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine or Books Like A Man Called Ove. We are also so happy to include this on our list of books about Scotland.

The Maid by Nita Prose

January 2022 Good Morning America Pick

Molly Gray works as a maid in a grand hotel and gets joy from leaving things orderly and pristine. Molly struggles with reading social cues and has had even more trouble since her gran can no longer help.

When Molly finds a dead body in a room at the hotel, she becomes a prime suspect and will need all her friends to help her.

I loved the description of this book and I hoped it would live up to my expectations. It did that and more. I loved every minute of this feel-good book from the ultimate list of mystery books and closed the last page smiling. Definitely add this one to books for book clubs to read. If you are looking for The Maid Book Club Questions, we have you covered. It is also a perfect mystery book for books like Lessons in Chemistry.

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Woman Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

This true and amazing story of the Black female mathematicians and their role in the space race is one of the nonfiction books that read like fiction. If you are looking for the best nonfiction books for beginners, this should be at the top of your list.

So many people know this story because of the movie but, the book gives so many more details- as is usually the case with adaptations. These women, who were originally sent to teach math in the South’s segregated schools, were called into service during WWII.

They were some of the most brilliant minds of their generation. They eventually helped in the race to space during the Cold War. This non-fiction pick from books like Lessons in Chemistry was captivating from start to finish.

Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy

I’m not generally a huge non-fiction reader unless the topic is of particular interest to me. Having seen the Imitation Game and read quite a few non-fiction books about coding in war times, I thought this one would be interesting and it did not disappoint.

This is such an amazing feel-good nonfiction book. It was a truly fascinating read of all the books about WWII! I loved finding out about the trials and tribulations of the real-life heroes of the war that we rarely hear about. This is a perfect non-fiction pick in books like Lessons in Chemistry.

The Queens of Animation by Nathalia Holt

This nonfiction old Hollywood book sheds light on the talent of Disney’s pioneering female animators and the struggles they faced in a male-dominated field. I loved learning about these incredible women – like Mary Blair who created the art for the “It’s a Small World” ride. ⁣

I was appalled by the disparate treatment female in the animation field received, but I was also impressed by their gumption. The author does a tremendous job of showing their struggles but also how these women shaped animation as we know it. If you are looking for non-fiction books like Lessons in Chemistry, this is a fantastic pick.

I was heartened to see just how far they have come. The book ends with Frozen and you can clearly see the studio’s growth.⁣ This is an amazing, feel-good nonfiction book about art.

Her Honor by LaDoris Hazzard Cordell

While I’m always interested in the justice system, I often find non-fiction books about the topic to be dry, too technical, or just plain confusing.

But not Judge Cordell’s book which has a perfect balance of example-based stories and explanations of legal issues without the legalese that can be confusing to those outside the justice system.

Her detailed antidotes about her life on the bench were compelling and troubling, drawing me in, and forcing me to see that our legal system needs work across ALL divisions.

I spent most of my time listening to this book, which is narrated by Judge Cordell, and I couldn’t pause it. I finished it in one day while ignoring life around me.

Judge Cordell is the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court of northern California and is the definition of female innovator. We could not leave this pick off of our list of books similar to Lessons in Chemistry.

Finding Freedom: A Cook’s Story by Erin French

My first celebrity chef memoir was not at all what I was expecting and I loved it! ⁣I found myself thinking of Erin as a friend while reading this story. I rooted for her, cried with her, and had so many food cravings it bordered on ridiculous. How can you not want to eat the delicious concoctions described on the page?⁣
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I was not anticipating that this would be a story about redemption, finding inner strength, and perseverance, but that’s what it was. Erin clawed her way to the top of the restaurant game only to find herself at rock bottom. Then, she did it again. ⁣

It’s a story of a mother’s love, a woman overcoming addiction, and a damn good cook who finds herself planting roots where she least expected it.⁣
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I hope someday that I will be able to eat in her famed kitchen if just to have wine recommended by her mom and see her surrounded by the love of her kitchen family. I could not think of a better book for our list of books similar to Lessons in Chemistry.⁣

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

May 2022 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

I haven’t read a novel with as much heart as this one in quite some time. If you are looking for books like Lessons in Chemistry, this is a five-star pick.

Elderly, recently widowed Tova loves her job cleaning the aquarium in town in the quiet of the night, especially because of her fondness for Marcellus, the octopus. She finds solace in the aquarium as it makes her feel closer to her son, Erik – a marine life lover – who disappeared on a boat when he was 18.

But when she hurts herself and is unable to return to work at full capacity, she grows close with her replacement, Cameron, a young man who newly arrived in town looking for his birth mother.

Meanwhile, Marcellus knows what happened to Erik and he wants to help Tova find the closure she needs. His narration is interspersed with Tova and Cameron’s for a story that is compelling, heartwarming, and utterly unique.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

March 2019 Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

I read and absolutely loved this pick from books like Lessons in Chemistry. I expect it to sweep the Audies this year for sure because full-cast audiobooks can really take the story to the next level. The book is laid out in chronological order about the making of a band in the 70s, but the story is told in interview style from a dozen sources.

The audio version has a different narrator for each character and the performances the actors give are stupendous. I was overcome with emotion numerous times while I was listening.

This celebrity fiction story about the rise and fall of one of the hottest bands was so utterly fabulous – it’s pure sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll in all the best ways. Like Elizabeth Zott, Daisy did not allow others to dictate her life which is why we wanted to include it in our list of books similar to Lessons in Chemistry.