"Lessons in Chemistry," by Bonnie Garmus

“Lessons in Chemistry” (Doubleday, 2022), by Bonnie Garmus, caught me by surprise, in a delightful way. It is an extremely feminist novel, not didactic at all, but makes its points in a biting but also humorous way. The main character, Elizabeth Zott, is a chemist in a time (the early 1960s) when the world of science was still not ready for women in science, at least not in positions other than menial ones, serving male scientists. Zott, though, never takes no for an answer, and through persistence, ingenuity, and belief in herself, is able to succeed. The novel is about more than this point, though, as it shows Elizabeth engaging with the world, with men, with what love (another kind of "chemistry") is or isn’t, and much more. This novel made me angry (but not surprised) on Zott’s behalf, and at the same time I was thoroughly engaged and even entertained. It is a unique, quirky, meaningful novel that I highly recommend.

"The Latecomer," by Jean Hanff Korelitz

I highly recommend “The Latecomer” (Celadon, 2022), by Jean Hanff Korelitz (author of the also highly recommended “The Plot”), which is the type of engrossing, entertaining, very original novel that I revel in. It focuses on a family with triplets (through an IVF process) who don’t much like each other, and manage to mostly avoid each other, although -- as a concession to their parents -- pretending to like each other more than they do. The birth of a fourth child when the first three are in college changes many things, and it all comes to a head when that child becomes a late adolescent and works to change the family dynamic positively. A lovely, tangled, complex, sweet and sour, no-holds-barred portrait of an unusual family, one which is somehow, despite everything, very relatable and at times even moving.

"Love Marriage," by Monica Ali

Monica Ali’s new novel, “Love Marriage” (Scribner, 2022), is as good as her wonderful earlier novel, “Brick Lane.” The setting is England, and many of the main characters are of Indian heritage. The theme is whether arranged marriages or “love marriages” are better. But that sentence is reductive, as this novel is bursting with vivid characters, many plot points, much talk, family life, social and cultural themes, and yes, love, as well as various infidelities and other complications. In other words, the novel is bursting with life. The writing is excellent and generous, the novel is thought-provoking but at the same time great fun to read.