Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

A YEAR'S TOP LITERARY PICKS: Recognized by The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Entertainment Weekly, and Newsweek.

Elizabeth Zott, a chemist with a unique perspective, challenges the norms of the early 1960s. At Hastings Research Institute, where gender equality is not a scientific priority, Elizabeth stands out among her all-male colleagues. However, there's an exception: Calvin Evans, a brilliant Nobel Prize-nominated scientist with a penchant for holding grudges, falls in love with Elizabeth's intellect, sparking true chemistry.

Life takes an unpredictable turn, and a few years later, Elizabeth finds herself a single mother. Surprisingly, she becomes the reluctant star of the popular cooking show, Supper at Six. Elizabeth's unconventional cooking approach, involving scientific precision ("combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride"), revolutionizes the culinary world. As her fame grows, not everyone is pleased. Elizabeth Zott is not just teaching women to cook; she's challenging them to disrupt the status quo.

In this laugh-out-loud funny, keenly observant narrative, Lessons in Chemistry unfolds with a vibrant cast of supporting characters. The story is as original and dynamic as its protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, making it a compelling and entertaining read.