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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
Elizabeth is sexually assaulted early in the novel — depicted clearly though not graphically
Language
Some
Adult language appropriate to the sardonic comedic voice
Sexual Content
A lot
Elizabeth's sexual assault is clearly depicted
Substance Use
Barely any
Social drinking in the 1960s context
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Elizabeth's fierce resistance to a world that keeps trying to make her smaller, her grief for her partner, and her determination to raise her daughter differently are the novel's emotional engines
What this book is about
Elizabeth Zott is a chemist in 1960s California in a world determined not to take her seriously. When an unexpected pregnancy ends her research career, she ends up hosting a cooking show — and teaches her audience actual chemistry while demanding they take their lives seriously. Garmus's novel is funny, angry, and deeply warm.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Sexual assault — depicted clearly in backstory
Death of a beloved partner — sudden and significant
Institutional sexism and professional theft
Raising a child alone with limited support
Reader Verification
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