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!

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.

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!

Atomic Love, by Jennifer Fields, was the story of Rosalind and her quest for science. Rosalind was once an important physicist assigned a top secret position on the Manhattan Project. In a world full of men and war, Roz meets Weaver, a fellow scientist, and falls in love. Weaver is her first serious relationship, but soon becomes her arch nemesis. Weaver destroyed her life and ambitions by seeing that she lost the position she held so dear.

Enter FBI agent Charlie, many years post war. Charlie is looking to trace Weaver back to the war and the possibility that he may have been supplying the Russians with US war secrets, specifically regarding the A-bomb. Charlie approaches Roz in hopes that she can get close to Weaver and seek out a confession.

Can Roz overcome her anger toward Weaver for betraying her, long enough to trap him, or do lost feelings of love linger? It isn't long before Roz and Charlie, working together closely, also become drawn to one and other. Ultimately, Roz must decide between lost love that ended in betrayal, or follow her newfound relationship and a future with Charlie. Above all else,Roz dreams to re-enter the world of science, her true passion.

Atomic Love is a historical fiction with so much more. It is a book of mystery and espionage, love and betrayal, spying and secrets. Roz is a genius, but playing a man's game when women were expected to stay at home.

My personal opinion of Roz is not that attractive. Her answer to Weaver/Charlie and leading them both along, while involved with each physically and emotionally, is not a trait of a strong female protagonist. As a matter of fact, her actions justify the very stereotype of women in the 1950's. Roz simply led too much with her heart, and other body parts, and did not use her head wisely. I am glad, however, that she did indeed seek her spot in the scientific world once again. In that I am a female chemist and chemical engineer, I feel for her position, even now in the year 2020. What I would have enjoyed is a bit more scientific detail within the writing.

I appreciated Roz's internal strife with the use of the atomic bomb. Was it a scientific wonder, or had she partaken in the devastation of a country and its 200,000 people? Something for all to ponder...

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my personal opinions and review.

#Netgalley #atomiclove

It's 1950 in Chicago, and Rosalind "Roz" Porter is trying to get over the war. She's a genius physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project, and saw the development of the atomic bomb all the way through at multiple locations. Her coworker and lover, a Brit named Thomas Weaver, abruptly broke her heart when the war was over, and that shock combined with guilt over Hiroshima and Nagasaki nearly destroyed her.

When Roz picked up the pieces of her shattered life, she felt that there was no room for science. Then Weaver and the FBI get in touch, and the FBI think Weaver's a Russian spy. FBI agent Charlie Szydlo, who bears his own deep scars from the war, asks Roz to spy on Weaver, which is something she thinks she is incapable of doing. Even for her country.

I was absorbed by the twists and turns of this spy-versus-spy romantic triangle and found the strong emotions of the characters compelling. Roz's character is inspired by the existence a real woman physicist, Leona Woods, who like Rosalind, worked with Enrico Fermi to develop the atomic bomb. While I cheered for Roz to find her way back to a fulfilling life, I was not as enmeshed with any of these characters as I wanted to be. I wanted to really identify with Roz, at least, and perhaps also with Charlie, since the story often switched to Charlie's perspective. Had the author found subtle ways to communicate what a brilliant physicist Roz was without getting the reader confused with scientific terminology, I would have appreciated these details. The ending was very satisfying.

Recommended for readers who like smart historical fiction with romance and intrigue.

A couple of things tempered my enjoyment of the novel.

One, I'm really grossed out when characters bed-hop. That's just icky.

I also really didn't appreciate Charlie's actions at the end of the novel, when Rosalind tells him about her new job. "Well, I guess you don't love me if you want to take a job elsewhere. Guess I'll just die alone." I really liked his character throughout the novel, and wanted to see a happy ending for him. His actions just killed how much I liked him.

Overall the mystery wasn't too bad, but some of the choices the characters made really annoyed me. I might recommend this to the Historical Fiction fan who enjoys novels about espionage.

I was lucky enough to win a digital galley of ATOMIC LOVE through a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thank you again for the early look, any distraction is more than welcome these days!