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Peck & Peck

by Bonnie Garmus
Book cover of Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus - book review, summary, and book club discussion guide

Praise For This Book


"Tender-hearted... [Garmus] packs the novel with the antic humor and colorful characterizations that drew readers to her debut. There's much to cherish in this charming tale." -Publishers Weekly

"[People are] hungry for another Bonnie Garmus hit. Thankfully Peck & Peck is here to feed those gaping mouths... With the trappings of the literary world, and the heart of a bildungsroman, Peck & Peck vows to fill the void in all our hearts with a needed dash of wit and poignancy." -Literary Hub, Most Anticipated Books of 2026, Part Two

"Garmus applies her unique comic sensibility to the story of Batter Gray... charming... with some really lovely things to say about poetry." -Kirkus

"Magnificent. Captivating, funny, wise and wonderful. Peck and Peck is the book the literary world has been waiting for, and it delivers on every level. I couldn't love it more." -Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark

"I'm absolutely over the moon about Bonnie Garmus' new novel. It is EXACTLY what I needed to read right now. Charming, uplifting, soulful, and original, this is the perfect successor to Lessons in Chemistry. If you loved Elizabeth Zott, you will adore Batter Gray. Book clubs will adore this novel. I loved it." -Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Women

"An absolute triumph of storytelling, writing and characterisation... This is a glorious celebration of, and plea for, the creative arts, with a cast of truly unforgettable characters, from the eponymous Peck & Peck to the excellently named narrator Batter Gray. I won't forget this book. Ever." -Jennie Godfrey, Sunday Times bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things

"It was an absolute delight to escape into Bonnie Garmus's world of delinquent poets, demented publishers and recherché fonts. Her exuberant comedy and freewheeling imagination reminded me of John Irving in his prime. Many congratulations - no 'difficult second album' for Bonnie Garmus - I thought it was even better than her first." -Clare Chambers, bestselling author of Small Pleasures

"This novel is everything: a love story, a literary thriller, a brilliant satire that's full of humor and heart. Only Bonnie Garmus can write like this." -Meg Mason, internationally bestselling author of You Be Mother and Sorrow and Bliss "One of the best books I've ever read. Genius level clever. A superbly crafted, intricate story about life, love and standing up for what you believe in. I absolutely loved it." -Donna Ashworth, bestselling poet and author of To the Women


Selected Praise for Lessons In Chemistry

GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD WINNER

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

"Full of charm, energy and hope-and featuring a really great dog-it's one to savor." -People Magazine

"The most delightful novel I read this year-fresh and surprising-was Lessons in Chemistry: a fish-out-of-water story about a feminist hero who never stops pushing for what's right. (I laughed out loud!)" -Philip Galanes, The New York Times

"Darkly funny and poignant...Irresistible, a gorgeous tribute to resilience and the many types of love that sustain us." -Leigh Haber, Oprah Daily

"Lessons in Chemistry will make you wonder about all the real-life women born ahead of their time-women who were sidelined, ignored and worse because they weren't as resourceful, determined and lucky as Elizabeth Zott." -Elizabeth Egan, New York Times Book Review

"It's the world versus Elizabeth Zott, an extraordinary woman determined to live on her own terms, and I had no trouble choosing a side. Lessons in Chemistry is a page-turning and highly satisfying tale: zippy, zesty, and Zotty." -Maggie Shipstead, author of Great Circle

"A breath of fresh air-a witty, propulsive, and refreshingly hopeful novel populated with singular characters. This book is an utter delight-wry, warm, and compulsively readable." -Claire Lombardo, author of The Most Fun We Ever Had

"Elizabeth Zott swept me away with her intellect, honesty, and unapologetic selfhood...[A] story for all the smart girls who refuse to dumb themselves down despite a culture that demands otherwise. Though a creation of the 50s & 60s, Zott is a feminist icon for our time." -Rachel Yoder, author of Nightbitch




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