8 Books Like Lessons in Chemistry That You'll Want to Read in 2026

If you loved Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, you probably aren't looking for just another historical novel. You want a book with the same irresistible combination of smart women, sharp humor, social commentary, unexpected romance, resilience, and characters who refuse to accept the rules they're given.

Below is a list of 8 books like Lessons in Chemistry that you'll want to read in 2026.

1. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

The Giver of Stars is a wonderful historical fiction choice for readers who loved the combination of strong women and social change in Lessons in Chemistry. Set during the Great Depression, the novel follows women who participate in a traveling library program, delivering books to isolated communities in Kentucky. Their work gives them independence, purpose, and a sense of belonging, while also challenging the expectations placed upon them. Like Elizabeth Zott, these women discover that knowledge can be transformative. Jojo Moyes also places considerable emphasis on friendship, courage, romance, and personal freedom. The result is an inspiring story about women creating their own paths.

2. Chemistry by Weike Wang

Chemistry may be the most obvious recommendation for readers searching specifically for something connected to the scientific world of Lessons in Chemistry. Weike Wang follows an unnamed woman completing a chemistry Ph.D. who begins questioning whether the career she is pursuing is actually the life she wants. Unlike Elizabeth Zott, whose passion for science remains central to her identity, this protagonist struggles with the pressure surrounding academic success and expectations from family and society.

3. The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

The Dictionary of Lost Words is perfect for readers who enjoyed the intellectual curiosity and historical atmosphere of Lessons in Chemistry. The story follows Esme Nicoll, a young woman connected to the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary. As she grows older, she becomes increasingly fascinated by words that have been overlooked or excluded from the official record. Like Elizabeth Zott, Esme discovers that knowledge can become a form of independence. The novel explores language, women's voices, class, education, and whose experiences deserve to be remembered.

4. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

The Alice Network combines historical fiction, suspense, friendship, and remarkably courageous women. Kate Quinn tells a story across two timelines, connecting a woman searching for answers after World War II with a former spy who worked for a real-life female intelligence network during World War I. Readers who enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry will appreciate the novel's emphasis on female intelligence, courage, independence, and resilience. These women aren't passive observers of history; they become active participants despite the limitations imposed upon them. The tone is more suspenseful and dramatic than Garmus's novel, making it a strong choice when you want similar feminist themes with greater mystery.

5. The Women by Kristin Hannah

The Women offers a much more emotionally intense reading experience, but it shares an important quality with Lessons in Chemistry: it tells a story about women whose contributions and experiences have been overlooked. Kristin Hannah follows women serving during the Vietnam War and examines what happens when they return home to a society unwilling to fully recognize what they endured. The novel explores friendship, courage, trauma, identity, patriotism, and women's independence. If Elizabeth Zott's determination to be taken seriously resonated with you, this novel provides another powerful example of women fighting to have their voices heard. It's moving, serious, and deeply character-driven.

6. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures is an ideal choice when you want something warmer and more uplifting after Lessons in Chemistry. The story centers on Tova Sullivan, a widow working at an aquarium, whose life becomes unexpectedly connected with several lonely and complicated characters—including a remarkably intelligent giant Pacific octopus. Although the premise is very different from Bonnie Garmus's novel, both books combine humor, sadness, unusual characters, and emotional resilience. Tova's journey explores grief, friendship, family, loneliness, and the possibility of starting again. It's a gentler novel, but it has the same ability to make readers care deeply about characters who don't fit conventional expectations.

7. The Change by Kirsten Miller

The Change takes the feminist themes found in Lessons in Chemistry and gives them a darker, more fantastical twist. The novel follows three middle-aged women who discover that the changes associated with aging have unlocked unexpected strengths and abilities. Rather than treating these women as invisible, powerless, or past their prime, Kirsten Miller asks what might happen if they finally embraced everything society had taught them to suppress. The book combines mystery, humor, feminism, anger, friendship, and empowerment. Readers who admired Elizabeth Zott's refusal to behave according to society's expectations will likely appreciate these equally unconventional women who stop apologizing for who they are.

8. The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

The Rose Code takes readers into Bletchley Park during World War II, where brilliant women work as codebreakers while contributing to the Allied war effort. The novel is an especially strong recommendation for readers who enjoyed Elizabeth Zott's intelligence and determination. Like Lessons in Chemistry, it shows women possessing exceptional abilities while working within systems where their contributions aren't always fully recognized. Kate Quinn combines historical detail, friendship, rivalry, romance, secrecy, and suspense, creating a story that is both entertaining and emotionally engaging. If you enjoyed seeing highly intelligent women challenge traditional gender roles, The Rose Code offers another fascinating perspective.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the best book to read after Lessons in Chemistry is the one that recreates the feeling you loved most—whether that's discovering an unforgettable woman, challenging outdated expectations, or simply getting lost in a story that makes us laugh, think, and feel. Choose the book that speaks to you, turn the page, and let the next remarkable story begin.