Book · 2022
Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus
A 1960s chemist gets fired from her lab for being a woman, then ends up hosting a TV cooking show that teaches America chemistry instead of recipes.
What does Reddit think of Lessons in Chemistry?
This is the one book in the batch where Reddit does not equivocate. r/suggestmeabook runs distinctly critical here, not mixed, and the top-upvoted replies back that up specifically rather than vaguely. One reader cringed through the whole thing while a friend "absolutely loved it," confirming the split is real rather than universal. The sharpest complaint zeroes in on tone: a sexual-assault opening chapter sitting next to a marketing pitch of "hilarious," plus a rowing subplot several commenters single out by name as the thing they could not get past. Another comment lumps the book in with Orbital as overhyped, calling the premise, a mid-century woman handed distinctly modern ideas, the part that does not track. "Banal" gets used twice, aimed at both the novel and its TV adaptation in the same breath. Nobody here reads as neutral, and nobody bothers being polite about it either. That consistency of complaint, not the raw volume, is the actual signal.
Community feedback & reader fit
Themes
- · A rare, genuinely negative consensus rather than mixed reviews
- · A premise accused of retrofitting modern ideas onto a 1960s character
- · The gap between 'hilarious' marketing and what's actually on the page
- · The rowing subplot as a specific, repeated target
Common praise
- + One commenter's friend "absolutely loved it," confirming the split is real rather than universal even inside a critical thread.
- + The premise is distinctive enough that people bring it up unprompted just to argue with it, which is more attention than a forgettable book usually gets.
- + It's specific enough a target that critics name individual scenes and subplots rather than dismissing it in the abstract.
Common criticism
- − One reader calls the 'polymath ahead of her time' premise a mismatch, retrofitting modern ideas onto a 1960s character, and lumps the book in with Orbital as overhyped.
- − "Banal" gets used twice in one sentence, aimed at both the novel and the TV adaptation it spawned.
- − The opening sexual-assault chapter, the "quirky" protagonist, and the rowing subplot all get named directly as the parts that do not work, with the marketing's promise of funny called out by name: "Not hilarious, as promised. Not even close."
Who it's for
Skip this one if 'hilarious' marketing copy needs to actually deliver jokes; the sharpest complaint in the sample is that it doesn't. Bothered by a sexual assault opening a book pitched as a fun rowing-and-chemistry romp? Same complaint, named directly. Still curious what the fuss is about? One person's friend loved it unreservedly while they cringed through the whole thing, so don't assume your reaction is settled in advance.
Mentions over time
Top subreddits
Which Reddit comments matter for Lessons in Chemistry?
The most relevant excerpts across the subreddits where this book is mentioned — opinionated, argued takes first, then top-upvoted mentions. Click through to read the full thread.
“I never understood the appeal of Lessons in Chemistry a banal one notebook turned into a banal one note tv series
“Lessons in Chemistry. A sexual assault in the first chapter, a “quirky” main character that’s incredibly annoying and oh my god, the rowing!! So much rowing! Not hilarious, as promised. Not even close.
“Hated Lessons in Chemistry and its smugness
“I feel for her. This cartoon cover trend covering all genres is confusing. I recently read Lessons in Chemistry and was so mad when I found it was the opposite of a romance.
“overrated: Lessons in Chemistry. The “feminist” themes rest solely on stereotypes and play into them rather than challenge them. The science makes no sense in the book and it’s written like a romanticized version of the time period. alternative books: * Rubyfruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown. This au…
“I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't like Lessons in Chemistry. Like I get that she's not like other women of that time but I don't need you to tell me every other paragraph.
“Lessons in Chemistry. It treated fairly traumatic events and systemic problems in sciences as a cartoon caricature. I hated how the main character played into the stereotypical scientist trope as a cold, socially-awkward robot with no self-awareness.
“Lessons in Chemistry is 4.3 against 1.6 million ratings. HOW. The women is 4.6 against 1.2 million ratings. I mean yea it was a great read but REALLY? 4.6???? I've read 4 of Kristin Hannah's books and they're all in the mid 4s and great reads but not THAT good
“I HATED Lessons in Chemistry. I know this is a very unpopular opinion, but it was just so unrealistic, there was zero plot, and it seemed like the main message was that things worked out for Elizabeth because she was a jerk to everyone. It also felt insulting to women in STEM to imply that’s how we …
“Lessons in Chemistry. The protagonist was just so unbelievably perfect while the “bad guys” were cartoon villains.
“Yeah I wasn’t a fan of Lessons in Chemistry. The whole book rested on the protagonist charming the reader. And she just… didn’t.
“I hated Lessons in Chemistry. I would have enjoyed a book solely about the dog and everything else should have been cut from that book. I DNF The Midnight Library. I hated the premise and felt it was cheap to start with suicide and it got worse from there.
“I also loathed Lessons In Chemistry. I can't stand books where things are disproportionately unfair, and that book was just miserable happening after miserable happening, even when things were good they were bad, and the 'pay off' at the end did not redeem it.
“Lessons in Chemistry is one of the worst books I’ve ever encountered in my life. The entire thing reads like the fanfiction of an edgy teen who makes atheism the bulk of their personality. 400 pages of r/im14andthisisdeep insufferability.
“Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. It begins in 1961, female chemist up against sexism in the industry. It's witty and sharp with an engaging protagonist.
Convinced? Pick up Lessons in Chemistry
What else does r/suggestmeabook read?
Other books mentioned in the same sub, ranked. Shared-sub overlap with this title breaks ties.
Lessons in Chemistry — frequently asked
Is Lessons in Chemistry actually funny, like the marketing promises?+
No, according to the harshest reply in the sample: "Not hilarious, as promised. Not even close." That same comment names the opening sexual assault, the protagonist's quirks, and the rowing subplot as the specific parts that undercut the comic pitch.
Is Lessons in Chemistry historically believable as a 1960s story?+
One reader doesn't think so, lumping it in with Orbital as overhyped and calling out the 'polymath ahead of her time' setup as anachronistic, modern sensibilities dressed in period clothing rather than earned by the era.
Does everyone on Reddit dislike Lessons in Chemistry?+
Not quite everyone. One commenter cringed through the book while noting a friend "absolutely loved it," so the backlash visible in this sample is strong but not universal.
Is the Lessons in Chemistry TV adaptation better received than the book?+
No. One reply calls both "banal" in the same sentence, describing the show as a "one-note" version of a book it already considered one-note to begin with.