Bonnie Garmus

Bonnie Garmus

Bonnie Garmus published her debut novel, Lessons in Chemistry, in 2022 to wide acclaim, and it became a bestseller worldwide. The book was named Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Oprah Daily, and many other media outlets. She won the British Book Awards Author of the Year 2023, Waterstones Author of the Year 2022, and the Paul Torday Memorial Prize for a first novel by an author over sixty. The book was also shortlisted for the 2023 Royal Society of Literature Christopher Bland Prize.

On why her book has resonated around the globe, Bonnie told The Guardian, “Readers identify with Elizabeth Zott. There are so few of us who haven’t been put down, pushed aside, maligned, passed over, rejected, ripped off, lied to, or treated badly simply because we’re women, people of color, gender-diverse, neuro-diverse, too fat, too thin, too short, too tall – you name it. But Elizabeth is a rationalist; she doesn’t confuse societal prejudice with facts, nor does she accept direction from those who do. It’s fun to write a character like that.”

Bonnie was born in California and received her bachelor’s degree in creative writing/aesthetic studies from UC Santa Cruz. She worked as a copywriter and creative director in the fields of technology, medicine, and education.

Bonnie says she’s wanted to be an author since she was five years old. She wrote several novels that didn’t go anywhere prior to Lessons in Chemistry, but one had Elizabeth Zott as a very minor character.

Bonnie enjoys open water swimming and has rowed competitively. She has lived in Seattle, Switzerland, Colombia, and currently lives in London with her husband and her dog named 99.

Recommendations For Bonnie Garmus

Recommended by Gemma Nelson

Lessons in Chemistry is a wonderful read. It doesn’t shy away from showing how prejudices can negati

Share Your Recommendations

Books By Bonnie Garmus

Recommendations From Bonnie’s Fans

Liane Moriarty

Recommended by Katherine James

I’m a big fan of Liane Moriarty and have read all her books. I really enjoyed Apples Never Fall. The

Lynda Rutledge

Recommended by Harriett Flores

West With Giraffes is a terrific book. It’s really different and tells an amazing story which is bas

Diana Gabaldon

Recommended by Harley Parker

I’m a big Outlander fan and found out about Louise Penny through a list of authors Diana Gabaldon su

James Bowen

Recommended by Luna Wilson

Pets can make all the difference in the world and Bob and James’ story proves it. The book is so goo

Barbara Kingsolver

Recommended by Violet Lee

Barbara Kingsolver is one of the best. Prodigal Summer is one of my all time favorite books, but all

Fredrik Backman

Recommended by Juliana Brooks

Beartown is excellent. You don’t need to know or even like hockey to enjoy it. I also really liked U

Annie Barrows

Recommended by Hannah Carter

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is an excellent, enjoyable and informative epistol

Share Your Recommendations

Recommended Books From Bonnie Garmus Fans

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

The Boy Who Taught the Beekeeper to Read: and Other Stories

Esther's Gift: A Mitford Christmas Story

Pianos and Flowers: Brief Encounters of the Romantic Kind

Home Is the Sailor: An Irish Country Doctor Story

The Wily O'Reilly: Irish Country Stories

My Italian Bulldozer: A Paul Stuart Novel

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

Jan Karons Mitford Years: The First Five Novels

The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse

A History of the African-American People (Proposed) by Strom Thurmond

Only Wounded: Stories of the Irish Troubles

Jan Karons Mitford Years: Novels Six Through Nine; Plus a Father Tim Novel

The Private Life of Spies and The Exquisite Art of Getting Even

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

Chance Developments: Unexpected Love Stories

The Second-Worst Restaurant in France: A Paul Stuart Novel

“Whenever you feel afraid, just remember. Courage is the root of change – and change is what we’re chemically designed to do. So when you wake up tomorrow, make this pledge. No more holding yourself back.”

Bonnie Garmus, Lessons in Chemistry

Tania Surk

“I think many women of a certain generation, and probably many generations, have experienced some of what Elizabeth Zott goes through in one shape or another. And not just women. But as sombre as the subject matter sometimes is the story is funny and touching and ultimately life affirming.”

How can I share my favourite quotes?

See More From Book Club Friends

Sign up and log in to post, comment and join the conversation.