Our narrator is on the path to what most Chinese immigrant parents call a B+/A- life: pursuing her PhD in chemistry and being proposed to her academically successful boyfriend. But when push comes to shove, our protagonist is cracking under the pressure of experiments and publishing, and she's unsure if marriage is what she seeks. Ultimately, she must decide on her next steps; to continue on the old path or discover something entirely new.

Chemistry is written uniquely and likely won't be for everyone. The sentences are choppy and very character-driven; there's not much plot, and the narrator jumps between the present and the past. The protagonist's voice is also very peculiar and references STEM subjects frequently. Simply put, I love the quirkiness! I can relate so much to the pain and the pressure of getting a PhD, the frequent failures and neglect from thesis advisors, etc. There are enough academic horror stories to compete with Stephen King's work. The writing might turn some away, but if you've been frustrated with grad school, would like to get a glimpse, or are considering pursuing a PhD (gasp!), Chemistry is a great place to start.