Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn’t change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you loved Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, try Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple and A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.
Lessons in Chemistry became a bestseller and an Apple TV+ series, and readers loved its whip-smart heroine and dry humor. The books below share its quirky characters, women in science, 1950s and 1960s settings and heartfelt comedy. Most are gentle reads with some serious moments, perfect for book clubs.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Lessons in Chemistry
Lessons in Chemistry wins readers over with Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist in the 1960s who refuses to be underestimated, and with its sharp, funny voice. Bonnie Garmus mixes workplace sexism, romance, grief and a cooking show called Supper at Six, plus an unforgettable dog named Six-Thirty. It’s both a comedy and a quiet rallying cry. If you loved the witty heroine, the period setting or the found family, these books deliver.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Lessons in Chemistry: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt | Literary fiction | Quirky animal companions |
| Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine | Gail Honeyman | Literary fiction | Unusual heroines |
| The Rosie Project | Graeme Simsion | Romantic comedy | Scientific minds |
| Hidden Figures | Margot Lee Shetterly | History | Real women in science |
| Where’d You Go, Bernadette | Maria Semple | Comic fiction | Brilliant, frustrated women |
| A Man Called Ove | Fredrik Backman | Literary fiction | Grumpy hearts of gold |
| The Housekeeper and the Professor | Yoko Ogawa | Literary fiction | Love of science and math |
| The Signature of All Things | Elizabeth Gilbert | Historical fiction | 19th-century women scientists |
| Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris | Paul Gallico | Classic novella | Determined women |
| The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman | Cozy mystery | Witty, clever characters |
| Lab Girl | Hope Jahren | Memoir | Real-life Elizabeth Zotts |
| The Woman in the Library | Sulari Gentill | Mystery | Clever storytelling |
| Anxious People | Fredrik Backman | Literary fiction | Funny and heartfelt |
| Atomic Women | Roseanne Montillo | History | Women scientists in history |
| Hello Beautiful | Ann Napolitano | Literary fiction | Family and love |
1. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
A widow befriends a grumpy, brilliant octopus at the aquarium where she works. Like Six-Thirty, Marcellus the octopus steals the show.
2. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
A socially awkward office worker’s life changes when she starts to let people in. It’s funny and moving.
3. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
A genetics professor designs a questionnaire to find a wife and meets the least suitable candidate.
4. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
The true story of the Black women mathematicians who helped NASA reach space.
5. Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
A once-famous architect disappears, and her daughter pieces together why. It’s hilarious.
6. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
A cranky widower’s plans are interrupted by noisy new neighbors. It’s warm and funny.
7. The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
A housekeeper cares for a math genius whose memory lasts only 80 minutes. It’s gentle and beautiful.
8. The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
A brilliant botanist explores the natural world and love in the 1800s.
9. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico
A London cleaning lady saves up to buy a Dior dress. It’s charming and short.
10. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Four retirees solve murders in their village. It’s funny and warm.
11. Lab Girl by Hope Jahren
A geobiologist writes about trees, science and her life as a woman in the lab.
12. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
Four strangers in a library hear a scream and become friends and suspects.
13. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
A bungled bank robbery turns into a hostage situation at an apartment viewing.
14. Atomic Women by Roseanne Montillo
The stories of women physicists and chemists who worked on the atomic bomb.
15. Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Four sisters and the man who joins their family share love and loss over decades.
How to Pick Your Next Read After Lessons in Chemistry
- Want another quirky heroine? Eleanor Oliphant and Bernadette.
- Want a lovable animal? Remarkably Bright Creatures.
- Love women in science? Hidden Figures and Lab Girl.
- Want cozy humor? The Thursday Murder Club.
- Book club pick? A Man Called Ove sparks warm discussions.
- Watch the series. The Apple TV+ adaptation pairs well with the book.
Related: Lessons in Chemistry book club discussion questions and Remarkably Bright Creatures book club discussion questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after Lessons in Chemistry?
Try Remarkably Bright Creatures, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, The Rosie Project or Hidden Figures.
Is there a nonfiction book like Lessons in Chemistry?
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly and Lab Girl by Hope Jahren tell real stories of women in science.
What book has a dog like Six-Thirty?
Remarkably Bright Creatures has a similarly memorable animal: Marcellus the octopus.