Bonnie Garmus at a Glance

Full Name: Bonnie Jean Garmus

How to Pronounce: BAH-nee GAR-muss

Born: April 18, 1957

Nationality: United States

Education:

• University of California in Santa Cruz (BA, Creative Writing)

Genres:

• Adult fiction

Biography & Background

Bonnie Garmus Biography

Bonnie Garmus burst onto the literary scene with her debut novel, Lessons in Chemistry, in 2022. She was born in California and earned her bachelor’s degree in creative writing from University of California, Santa Cruz, although she considers Seattle her home. A copywriter and creative director, Garmus was inspired to write Lessons in Chemistry after a particularly frustrating meeting in which a man took credit for her ideas. She relates the story in her interview with the Los Angeles Times: “It was a really great thing in a way because I was in such a bad mood, that instead of working on the deadline I was supposed to be working on, I sat down that day, and I wrote the first chapter of Lessons in Chemistry” (Villarreal, Yvonne. “Bonnie Garmus.” Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023). She sees the experience as a lesson in “constructive anger.”

Lessons in Chemistry wasn’t the first book Garmus wrote, however; she submitted an earlier novel to publishers, and it was rejected 98 times before she turned her attention to her next work. Lessons in Chemistry was an immediate success upon publication and spent 85 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Just a year after publication, it was adapted into a miniseries starring Brie Larsen. Garmus, who now lives with her family in London, has reported that she is working on a new novel.

Fun Facts About Bonnie Garmus

• Garmus is an open-water swimmer and has rowed competitively throughout her life.
• Garmus’s husband, David Erb, is a three-time Jeopardy! champion.
• Garmus’s dog is named “99,” a reference to a 1960s television show Get Smart.

Bonnie Garmus’s Awards & Honors

• 2023 — British Book Awards Author of the Year
• 2023 — Paul Torday Memorial Prize for Best First Novel by an Author Over 60 (Lessons in Chemistry)
• 2023 — International Book of the Year, Australian Book Industry Awards (Lessons in Chemistry)
• 2022 — Barnes & Noble Book of the Year (Lessons in Chemistry)
• 2022 — Waterstones Author of the Year

Interviews & Podcasts

Hear from Bonnie Garmus in her own words.

Interviews with Bonnie Garmus

_{THE GUARDIAN}

“It Was Smart to Write When I Was So Angry”: Bonnie Garmus on the Winning Formula Behind Lessons in Chemistry (December 16, 2023)

Garmus discusses how frustration and anger sparked the creation of Lessons in Chemistry and how the character of Elizabeth Zott became a vehicle for reimagining female agency in the 1950s. This interview is especially insightful for readers interested in the emotional origins of Garmus’s fiction.

_{PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE}

Bonnie Garmus Interview: “I Had to Teach Myself Chemistry from a 1950s Textbook” (March 29, 2022)

Garmus explains the challenge of researching chemistry and mid-century science culture to develop the world of her novel. Her dedication to accuracy and storytelling makes this a must-read for fans interested in her process.

Podcasts with Bonnie Garmus

_{ABC AUSTRALIA}

Bonnie Garmus: Lessons in Chemistry (June 11, 2024)

In this thoughtful and personal reflection on her breakout success, Garmus talks about her career path, the impact of Lessons in Chemistry, and the cultural resonance of Elizabeth Zott.

_{POLITICS AND PROSE}

Bonnie Garmus with Dr. Carla Hayden at Sixth & I (May 18, 2023)

Garmus joins Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden for a conversation about feminism, historical erasure, and her journey to publication. Their conversation offers powerful commentary on writing, resilience, and representation.

Bonnie Garmus Quotes

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. No more subscribing to others’ opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. And no more allowing anyone to pigeonhole you into useless categories of sex, race, economic status, and religion. Do not allow your talents to lie dormant, ladies. Design your own future. When you go home today, ask yourself what YOU will change. And then get started.

— Lessons in Chemistry (2022)

Too many brilliant minds are kept from scientific research thanks to ignorant biases like gender and race. It infuriates me and it should infuriate you. Science has big problems to solve: famine, disease, extinction. And those who purposefully close the door to others using self-serving, outdated cultural notions are not only dishonest, they’re knowingly lazy.

— Lessons in Chemistry (2022)

Some things need to stay in the past because the past was the only place they made sense.

— Lessons in Chemistry (2022)

Having a baby, Elizabeth realized, was a little like living with a visitor from a distant planet. There was a certain amount of give and take as the visitor learned your ways and you learned theirs, but gradually their ways faded and your ways stuck. Which she found regrettable. Because unlike adults, her visitor never tired of even the smallest discovery; always saw the magic in the extraordinary.

— Lessons in Chemistry (2022)

Unlike ink, graphite is erasable. People make mistakes, Mr. Roth. Pencil allows one to clear the mistake and move on. Scientists expect mistakes and, because of it, we embrace failure.

— Lessons in Chemistry (2022)

Notable Works by Bonnie Garmus

Bonnie Garmus has only published one book as of 2025. However, she has contributed articles to several publications, including the two highlighted below.

_{GOOD HOUSEKEEPING}

Lessons from Friday: How Adopting a Dog Taught Us to Trust Our Kids (2022)

In this personal essay, Garmus reflects on her family’s experience adopting their rescue dog, Friday. The story is about more than pet ownership—it’s a meditation on trust, independence, and letting go as a parent. The piece captures the emotional nuance found in her fiction.

_{BON APPETIT}

It Was Quite Possibly the Worst First Date Ever. Then I Ordered the Scallops (2022)

This humorous, candid essay recounts a disastrous first date that takes a surprising turn thanks to a perfectly prepared plate of scallops. Garmus weaves humor with insight, delivering a story of unexpected delight and culinary redemption.

Authors Like Bonnie Garmus

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Recommended Read: The Personal Librarian (2021)

This historical novel tells the story of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, who hid her racial identity to move through elite circles in early 20th-century America. Like Garmus, the authors spotlight a trailblazing woman whose brilliance was constrained by systemic injustice.

Want to learn more? Dive into SuperSummary’s study guide.

Marie Semple

Recommended Read: Where’d You Go, Bernadette (2012)

Semple’s novel follows eccentric architect Bernadette Fox, whose sudden disappearance sparks a daughter’s quest for answers. With satirical flair and a strong, complex heroine, the book channels the same sharp commentary and heart found in Garmus’s fiction.

Uncover more about this novel with SuperSummary’s study guide.

Jennifer Ryan

Recommended Read: The Kitchen Front (2021)

Set during World War II, The Kitchen Front centers on four women who compete in a wartime cooking contest. As they navigate personal hardships, they form unlikely bonds and discover their own strength. Readers who admire Elizabeth Zott’s subversive confidence will find similar themes of empowerment here.

Ready to dig in? Check out SuperSummary’s study guide.

Follow Bonnie Garmus

Connect with Bonnie Garmus on the following platforms:

• Website: BonnieGarmus.com
• Instagram: @bonnie_garmus_author
• Threads: @bonnie_garmus_author