This is a terrible book, full of many historical and scientific inaccuracies. I was expecting a story about the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, but instead slogged through a horrible love stories about spies.

Chicago, 1950. Rosalind Porter worked as a physicist on the Manhattan Project. And that’s what attracted me to this story. After the war, once men were back, she was no longer needed. On this previous job, she met Thomas Weaver. A man she deeply fell in love with and hasn’t seen him for four years.

With the love for science, she’s trying to find a new science job, but it’s a struggle to find a science job for a woman. At the same time, Charles Szydlo, an FBI agent, approaches her and asks her to spy on Thomas Weaver.

In the first 10% of the story, we learn very little about protagonist and a lot about the FBI agent. I enjoyed reading about his background and his family, but what happened to the protagonist? I was hoping that her dimensions would be developed through the Manhattan Project, instead it dives into her relationships with men.

I didn’t find the protagonist interesting and didn’t connect with her.

The writing is descriptive, which for me makes the pace very slow.

If you like descriptive writing and romance stories, then it might be a story for you.

Atomic Love had all the components of a winner: young, female scientist; two viable options of men who could win her heart; a romantic, post-WWII landscape. As fascinating as the summary was, the novel was hindered by its lack of character development and its decision to have the book take place after the excitement of the Manhattan Project/WWII, when the protagonist is in a slump and no longer doing work that gives her life any meaning. Additionally, she's at the power of two men and has little agency in her own life, which isn't a world that I care to live in. Perfectly fine, but not one that adds much new to the historical fiction genre.

Atomic Love by Jennie Fields is a refreshing change from what has become standard WWII fiction. It is wonderful that this book is set in the post-war United States. Although we are extremely sensitive to the suffering the war wrought, we are seldom reminded of the physical and emotional wreckage that lingered on for many who were injured or displaced. Fields does a wonderful job of breathing life into these struggles. A quest to find a new normal is especially appealing during our current uncertainty. Atomic Love is a must for fellow historical fiction fans.

I really enjoyed the concept and the historical setting of this book. I hadn't read anything similar in the past. The plot was tight and well constructed and I never felt bored. I could have done without the love triangle personally but otherwise enjoyed the story.

Jennie Fields' Atomic Love is, first and foremost, a page-turner. It tells the story of a young woman, Rosalind Porter, a physicist who worked for the Chicago branch of the Manhattan Project under Enrico Fermi but left shortly after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki due to a letter that questioned her mental stability. Year later, she finds herself in a love triangle between the man who wrote the letter and the FBI agent hoping to bring him in for treason. The plot, though sometimes predictable, rolls out seamlessly. It's easy to become invested in the characters--particularly their complex relationships and backgrounds--and that investment overcomes any deficiencies in the plot. The work is clearly well-researched and the atmosphere of Chicago feels real. This is a quick, enjoyable read and I expect it to become a book club favorite.

The next step in historical fiction; the Cold War and the women who played a role. Fields is writing something different for woman's historical fiction and she does it well. Strong, but flawed characters make up the story and quickly moves a long in interesting story. a I feel this book would appeal to readers who both want a character centered historical fiction as well as a good Cold War espionage.

I was given access to an advance electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I appreciated the historical setting and the feminism raised in this book. I believe I would have liked more of that and less of the love triangle, however that being said, Atomic Love was a well paced and plot driven book perfect for a summer read.

Spoiler...

I do not read a lot of romance, but I do not mind a romantic story line. The connection between Rosiland and Weaver was easy to believe and follow. They had history, shared interest and chemistry, that was apparent. I think that's why it was much harder to believe the connection between Charlie and Rosiland. I especially didn't appreciate his insecurity. I get that he was insecure because of his failed engagement and injury, but something about that part of the plot just bored me.

Overall though, I give this a strong 3 stars. If the love triangle was a little more solid I'd have given it 4.

Brilliant, beautiful woman scientist in the 1950’s who worked on the Manhattan project. She wants no more than to harness energy for good. Turns her back on science after she realized the damage done by her work with the atomic bomb. This alone would make for good book but wait – there is more. She is involved with two men. One evil, one good. And now we add in family drama. Her sister and brother in law are having marital problems. Her niece seems to on her way to be another brilliant scientist. And the ending – I will not divulge. But you need to read this book. It would make a good summer, fall, winter or spring read. Loved it!

This book will capture your attention from the very first page.
After that you might as well put your bookmark away and read the day away!
It has an engaging storyline, multilayered characters, intrigue and historical background. Read this one for enjoyment. Read this one to learn more about a critical time in history. Read this one to take you to another time and place.

A complex literary thriller with a beating heart that finds new ways of asking old questions about love and desire? Sign me up! This book is going to be big - trust me on this. Readers who liked the Reese's Bookclub pick "The Secrets We Kept" by Lara Prescott are going to love finding this read-alike that features an unforgettable female protagonist who is true to her times. I loved how Roz was a flawed, fully-realized character who navigates impossible choices that are somehow relatable even though they're taking place in the context of the Cold War/Red Scare Chicago. This is a must-read!

A fascinating story with a strong lead character which brings to life a period in history that is well worth revisiting.

It's 1950 and Rosalind is recovering along with the rest of the country. She is unique, however, because she was the lone woman on a team of scientists who developed the atom bombs that were dropped on Japan. Not only does she feel enormous guilt over that, but she was also abruptly fired when her lover and fellow scientist jilted and betrayed her. Now she works at a department store in Chicago, and is caught unawares when she is approached by the FBI to help them investigate her former lover who is suspected of treason. The plot thickens when she and the FBI agent develop feelings for each other at the same time that Rosalind finds herself still infatuated with her former lover. The outcomes in this spy novel were fairly predictable, and I found the love scenes overdone. At the same time, the story of a woman scientist working in the 40's was interesting, and the ending was satisfying.

This intriguing book has much promise, with its subject matter being the spys in the atomic development scene, passing secrets off to the Soviet Union. However, it dips into explicit sex quite often, and it is disappointing to have the main character, a brilliant female physicist, used primarily as a sexual spy. On the plus side, it is well written and certainly highlights the difficulty that serious women had in making a career once WWII was over and the men came home. The Cold War spying community in the early 1950's through the 1960's was eventually exposed and is a fascinating subject. This story was based on several real-life characters from that era.

Writing: 2/5 Plot: 3/5 Characters: 3/5

Historical fiction in the post WWII era — espionage, a love triangle, a strong and imtelligent female lead. The author endorsements are impressive — Ann Patchett, Delia Owens, Rebecca Wells, B.A. Shapiro … I was drawn in because our heroine — Rosalind Porter — is a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project with Enrico Fermi himself.

In truth, this book is a Romance. The characters are tropes — strong powerful tropes that appeal to a lot of people — but with no fresh insights or depth. A strong, capable, heroine who has doubts about her capabilities because she has been betrayed by the man she loved, torn between the now contrite betrayer and another man who is damaged both physically and emotionally by his war experiences and yet who is capable of a great love that only she can supply. Add in a national emergency and evil Russians. Stir. It’s exciting but not new.

I found the writing to be heavy handed and a little trashy. The male / female stereotypes annoyed me. This is one of those historical fiction novels where the characters — especially the women — have modern sensibilities even while struggling with historical problems. And Rosalind’s constant “love of science” doesn’t actually get a lot of airplay — we don’t hear much about her previous work or what scientific puzzle is appealing to her now.

If you love romantic historical thrillers, this book is for you! If you are looking for in-depth characters and some insightful commentary about strong women who were able to achieve something in a difficult time — meh.

4 stars Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC Publishes August 18, 2020

I am not one who likes to read books dealing with sabotage or espionage - the mystery in that just does not appeal to me. This book however does deal with espionage, and although a major issue in the book, it actually takes a backseat to the characters. In addition, I am not a great romance reader, either. This book does have romance, but is built into the plot in a way that it is not glaring or even the main action.

Rosalind Porter is a scientist and worked as the only woman among men in the building of the atom bomb, the Manhattan Project. She saw the A-bomb as only a good product, until it was dropped on Japan. Her boyfriend Tom Weaver was a co-worker, until the day she not only lost her job, but he ended their relationship.

Years later an FBI agent, Charles Szydlo, enters her life and changes everything she thought she knew about not only her own past, the disappearance of Tom Weaver, but also about love.

This was my first experience with Jennie Fields. This novel has appeal to both genders. I find her writing to be easy to digest, a good solid interpretation of the era and characters that are both true to life and easy to relate to. It is time for me to back track and read some of the books that I have already missed by this talented author.

3 1/2 stars
The only female scientist on the team working on the atomic bomb in Chicago, Rosalind was devastated after the bombs dropped. She lost her job and lost the love of her life. Now, working at a department store she is leading a very different life. Her old boyfriend suddenly reappears and an FBI agent wants Rosalind to get the dirt on him so he can turn him in as a Russian spy. She finds herself caught between the man she loved and thought she knew and a new man who seems to be everything she needs. This is a solid romantic spy story based on true events that will appeal more to romance lovers than those looking for a spy thriller. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Enjoyed the setting and background of this book. Also appreciated the focus on a female scientist involved with the Manhattan Project. I expected a couple more twists in the plot and thought the antagonists got off easy.

What a big, juicy novel. It's the story of Rosalind Porter, a brilliant female scientist on the Manhattan Project, now working behind a jewelry counter in Chicago's Marshall Field's department store. There's a love triangle involving a former co-worker of Rosalind's who reappears four years after breaking her heart, and the gentle-souled FBI agent she's drawn to, who's emotionally (and physically) damaged from his years as a Japanese prisoner of war. (And, yes, there are several fervent lovemaking scenes.) The time setting is evoked with the most heart-racing big elements - Russian agents! - down to the smallest, vivid details - like 1950's fashion dictates requiring ladies to wear gloves in Chicago's grueling summer heat. The entire ride is pure pleasure all the way, managing to be both page-turning while pulling you in deep.

I loved this book! Even though it is similar in many ways to THE ATOMIC WEIGHT OF LOVE by Elizabeth Church, this ATOMIC LOVE is well written, has great pacing, truly endearing protagonists, and a beautiful love story. Basically everything I look for in a novel!