Looking for an unforgettable collection of books you’ll devour if you liked Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus? As an award-winning author and longtime blogger of YA fiction, I know how powerful stories can open conversations about difficult topics, such as the difficulties women face in STEM careers. Here are my top three recommendations:
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood - A young women in graduate school finds herself in a humorous and sweet “fake dating” situation that leads to a serious incident of sexual harassment from a male colleague.
The Future Unborn by Khristina Chess - A brilliant teen with a talent for robotics and a future at MIT must choose between ambition and an unplanned pregnancy.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon - A midwife in colonial America finds herself at the center of a murder and sexual assault investigation, and in this patriarchal society, she struggles to make her voice be heard.
You’ll find detailed reviews of these and many other favorites below.
So which books similar to Lessons in Chemistry should you read next? Discover your next great read for National Reading Month in this roundup. All of these novels portray strong female characters like Elizabeth Zott who are pursuing futures in science and technology. I know you’ll find something new to love.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
Why You’ll Love It - Enemies-to-lovers tension with comical dialog
“Everyone likes tall, broody, sullen hunks with genius IQs.” ― Ali Hazelwood, quote from The Love Hypothesis
Eleven stars! I laughed out loud, so many times, reading this STEM romance book. (In fact, I’ve read it twice.) The voice of the main character, Olive Smith, was so much fun. The scenarios that she finds herself in during her fake-dating relationship are hilarious.
I loved Adam, too, and how he was bemused by the situation and played along with all the shenanigans.
In the end, there is real depth here. Olive faces serious professional issues in the academic workplace, including sexual harassment. Adam is articulate and direct about what it means to be a good professional mentor and why he strives to do so.
If you loved Lessons in Chemistry and are interested in another novel with smart, witty women protagonists, you will love this one. I promise! Ali Hazelwood inspires women in the technology field. Her other novels are great, too, but start with The Love Hypothesis.
The Future Unborn by Khristina Chess
Why You’ll Love It - Sweet romance, witty dialog
“There is no place for the word twerking anywhere on your college application. Ever.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from The Future Unborn
What if helping someone you love means giving up all of your dreams?
Ignore the cover. Trust the story. The Future Unborn is an unexpected novel that balances humor, STEM, love, high-stakes ambition, and a pregnancy test in a deeply compelling narrative.
Kansas Jones has it all: class president, varsity swim team, straight-A student, a future at MIT.
Then one misstep results in an unplanned pregnancy—threatening all her hopes and dreams.
Kansas thinks twelve weeks is plenty of time to act, but with finals, college applications, and the R2-RoboCon competition piling up, the clock is ticking faster than she ever imagined.
When a family tragedy shifts her perspective, she finds herself facing a tough choice that no blueprint can solve.
What makes The Future Unborn so special is the blend of lighthearted banter, robotics team collaboration, a sweet romance, and the a gut-wrenching decision that’s as hopeful as it is heartbreaking. If Lessons in Chemistry left your breathless, you won’t want to miss this YA book about young women in STEM. Think Juno meets The Love Hypothesis.
Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson
Why You’ll Love It - Heartfelt
“A teacher (a good teacher) is composed of molecules of education and intelligence, bonded together by patience and passion.” ― Laurie Halse Anderson, quote from Catalyst
Kate Malone is another hopeful MIT applicant. A smart math and science nerd, she is regimented about organizing all aspects of her life. In fact, she is so confident that MIT will accept her that she has not applied to any other colleges.
Things don’t go as planned. Worse, things change at home that force Kate to adapt in ways she never expected.
While Catalyst wasn’t my favorite Laurie Halse Anderson novel, it does fit this list for books like Lessons in Chemistry because Kate is a young woman in STEM, dealing with all the issues that entails. Check it out!
Laurie Halse Anderson is another author on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited.
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Why You’ll Love It - layered, historical
“It’s an unimaginative accusation and one that I am frankly tired of hearing. Witchcraft. As though there is no other explanation for a woman who excels at her work.”― Ariel Lawhon, quote from The Frozen River
What a wonderful book! Historical fiction isn't my usual genre, but the cover and the accolades for The Frozen River made me give it a try.
On a high level, this mystery is about a midwife named Martha Ballard. The body of an accused rapist is found frozen in the river, and after examination, Martha says that the victim was murdered. She becomes a key witness in a trial for the woman who was raped because she treated the woman's wounds after the assault. The other accused man is a judge.
This novel has many layers. Beyond the mystery, there is the social commentary on women, family, sexual assault, and society during early days of America in New England. Paul Revere is mentioned as a friend of the family. The author depicts a rich setting of cold winter, warm homes and hearts, young love and pre-marital relationships, and the early court system. I couldn't put it down.
I will definitely read other novels by Ariel Lawhon! If you loved the strong, historical women in Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Gamus, you will definitely devour The Frozen River.
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Why You’ll Love It - dreamy
“I just can’t believe that life would give us to each other,” he said, “and then take it back.”
“I can,” she said. “Life’s a bastard.” ― Rainbow Rowell, quote from Eleanor and Park
It's been a long time since I've encountered a novel that I literally couldn't put down. Eleanor & Park was one of those books. I loved every minute. I sat on the porch, on the couch, on the floor by the window... and devoured this book. It was a wonderful reading experience about first love. Sweet and heartbreaking and everything I wanted. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good, romantic young love story.
The story unfolds from alternating points of view, both Eleanor and Park, as they fall in love over the course of one year. The dialog is witty, snappy, and fun.
As a super-dreamy book about about young love, it will give you all the feels. If you devoured Lessons in Chemistry, you won’t want to miss this.
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Why You’ll Love It - First love
“His bed’s really comfortable. And he never pees in it.” ― Huntley Fitzpatrick, quote from My Life Next Door
This adorable YA love story is compelling and has an unexpected ending. Everything about the messy Garrett house draws Samantha into it, but especially the good-looking son, Jase. He’s one of several children in the house. His little brother, George, has some of the best lines. I laughed out loud. The sneaking around teen love stuff was pretty wonderful. Samantha’s best friend is a jerk, and her sister is too. No wonder she’s so drawn to the loving family next door.
Samantha is keeping this relationship with Jase a secret from her mom and everyone else in her life, but eventually that blows up in her face. In the process, she learns some lessons about who she is and who she wants to be.
If you liked Lessons in Chemistry, this dreamy YA book will leave you smiling for days. It evokes all those light feelings of happiness, joy, and romantic love. You just can’t help sighing about that first kiss. You can’t wait for Samantha and Jase to take their relationship to the next level, and your heart breaks when things get rocky. This is such a sweet story. So cute!
Other Books like Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
If you are looking for other books like Lessons in Chemistry, check out the Readers Who Enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry list on Goodreads. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which lists other reviews of Binge-Worthy YA Books So Addicting You Can’t Stop Reading.
Khristina Chess is an award-winning author of a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Hollow Beauty, her book about eating disorders, was named a finalist in the Next Generation India Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, and adventure.