Here are 2 books that The Bookshop Detectives fans have personally recommended if you like The Bookshop Detectives. Book DNA is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Lessons in Chemistry

Lisa Brandt Author Of Little Voices

From my list on women overcoming personal obstacles.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always been interested in what drives people, their passions, and whether or not they’ve gone after them. I love it when something inspires them to emerge from a dormant state and give it their all. Show me a person who graduates from college at 85 or skydives at 99. Those people are inspiring! People go through the most incredible situations and use them as fuel for their lives. I funneled all of this into my latest novel. It’s a universal story that’s singular only to the person going through it. We can all take something positive away from this type of story.

Lisa's book list on women overcoming personal obstacles

Lisa Brandt Why Lisa loves this book

I can probably find a way to put this novel into every book category there is – I love it that much!

Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant chemist in the 1960s, a time when society accepted that only men could be brilliant or chemists. But through a series of opportunities and her defiance in the face of attempts to marginalize her, Elizabeth becomes a de facto leader of a small but mighty group of women who change their circumstances and thereby begin to change the world. 

By Bonnie Garmus ,

Why should I read it?

97 authors picked Lessons in Chemistry as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • Meet Elizabeth Zott: a “formidable, unapologetic and inspiring” (PARADE) scientist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show in this novel that is “irresistible, satisfying and full of fuel. It reminds you that change takes time and always requires heat” (The New York Times Book Review).

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Newsweek, GoodReads

"A unique heroine ... you'll find yourself wishing she wasn’t fictional." —Seattle Times


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Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Book cover of Mad Mabel

Teena Raffa-Mulligan Author Of After Goodbye

From Teena's 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author

Teena's 3 favorite reads in 2025

Teena Raffa-Mulligan Why Teena loves this book

There is so much to love about this book by one of my favourite Australian authors: the vividly drawn characters, the masterly story telling, the originality of the plot, the touches of humour that had me giggling aloud. It was a delight to read and I especially enjoyed the interactions between Mad Mabel of the title and her precocious young neighbour Persephone.

By Sally Hepworth ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Mad Mabel as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of Lessons in Chemistry
Book cover of Mad Mabel

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