The Women of Oak Ridge

by Michelle Shocklee

In the hills of Tennessee, two women work at a Manhattan Project site during World War II and uncover truths that irrevocably change their lives in this captivating new story from award-winning Southern fiction author Michelle Shocklee.

1944. Maebelle Willett arrives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, eager to begin her new government job and send money home to her impoverished family. She knows little about the work she will be doing, but she’s told it will help America win the war. Not all is what it seems, however. Though Oak Ridge employees are forbidden from discussing their jobs, Mae’s roommate begins sharing disturbing information, then disappears without a trace. Mae desperately attempts to find her but instead comes face-to-face with a life-altering revelation—one that comes at significant cost.

1979. Laurel Willett is a graduate student in Boston when she learns about the history of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where thousands unknowingly worked on the atomic bomb. Intrigued because she knows her Aunt Mae was employed there, Laurel decides to spend the summer with her aunt, hoping to add a family connection to her thesis research. But Mae adamantly refuses to talk about her time in the Secret City. Mae’s friends, however, offer to share their experiences, propelling Laurel on her path to uncovering the truth about a missing woman. As Laurel works to put the pieces together, the hidden pain and guilt Mae has tried so hard to bury comes to light . . . with potentially disastrous consequences.

Standalone Southern historical fiction great for fans of Lisa Wingate, Donna Everhart, and Lynn AustinA compelling dual-timeline novel set during WWII and the 1970s about the weight of secrets and the power of forgivenessIncludes discussion questions for book groups

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Historical, World War II, Christian

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 9, 2025

About the author

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including ALL WE THOUGHT WE KNEW, the 2025 Christy Award Book of the Year; APPALACHIAN SONG, a 2024 Christy Award Finalist; COUNT THE NIGHTS BY STARS, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award in Fiction; and UNDER THE TULIP TREE, a Christy Award & Selah Award finalist.

As a woman of mixed heritage--her father's family is Hispanic and her mother's roots go back to Germany--she has always celebrated diversity and feels it's important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction.

With both her sons grown and happily married, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee.

Click the "Influences" link in Michelle's profile to read more about why the theme of forgiveness is important, even in fiction.

Reviews

[BookLoverAmanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Women of Oak Ridge by Michelle Shocklee
5 Stars
A Favorite Book of 2025
Blog Post: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...

Wow, what can I say? My first Michelle Shocklee book and not my last because WOW - 5 STAR FAV book for me y'all. Michelle truly brought Oak Ridge to life. I grew up near Oak Ridge. I attended community college there. My first job was there. My husband attended Oak Ridge High School. So many memories. As someone so familiar with the history and town, I appreciated the way she told this story. A piece of my heart will always belong to East Tennessee, and I’m grateful Michelle chose to write about it. I can't wait to attend one of her upcoming book tour signings!

The Lord really put this book in my path as someone who primarily reviews Christian Fiction books, this book being a Christian Fiction with a beautiful faith thread, all about a city very close to my hometown, was perfection for me.

This is a Christian Historical Fiction, dual timeline in 1944 and 1979. In 1944, we follow Maebelle Willett, who arrives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to start her new Government job at K-25, one of the major facilities built in Oak Ridge during WWII as part of the Manhattan Project. It was a massive uranium enrichment plant that contributed to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Of course, no one knows this at the time Mae goes to work for K-25. Everyone is told to keep quiet and Oak Ridge isn't even on the map - it was the "secret city" for a reason...We follow Mae's employment at K-25 with her roommate when one day, her roommate Sissy goes missing. Mae starts to investigate when her boyfriend Clive isn't all that he seems....

Then we have 1979 - Mae's niece Laurel Willett, who is a graduate student in Boston and she is writing thesis research on the history of Oak Ridge, hoping to add a family connection to it when she learns her Aunt Mae worked at K-25 during WWII. But Mae doesn't want to discuss her time working in the secret city....She starts putting all the pieces of the puzzle together with the handsome police officer there and gets closer with her Aunt along the way.

The way Michelle tied in the history of Oak Ridge and the city was great. I liked her mentioning actual street names I was familiar with, Big Ed's Pizza (which we all LOVED growing up) and other parts of the history I remember so many talking about over the years. She also told the truth of the hard things that happened - didn't sugar coat it. That is so important in Historical Fiction to me so we can remember and learn from history.

Mae's journey was powerful, sad, heartbreaking, but the LORD was all over her story in the end. Oh how I loved the ending. We saw grace. Forgiveness. Mercy. I also love how this book is about an Aunt and her Niece. I have always loved spending time with my Dad's sisters when I could and that adds a layer of connection for me in this story. Seeing Laurel really grow with her family was also important.

Overall, what more can I say? This Tennessee girl approves!! Highly recommend for a great historical fiction. This was my most anticipated release this year and I am so thankful for it.

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers for a complimentary copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*content warning for abusive boyfriend mentioned, no detail shown, death mentioned of someone close to someone, grief mentioned, feeling of shame but Jesus takes it all - nothing explicit in nature in my opinion.

[Joanne Macomber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the premise of this novel, but was confused by Mae’s actions. For a young woman who was a straight arrow, and whose instincts seemed sharp, her actions and inaction did not fit her personality. Without giving anything away, given the time within which this story occurred, it was not unlikely that a person working at Oak Ridge would rather report information than to be sent home. This narrative just didn’t ring true to me. However, I enjoyed learning about life at Oak Ridge, and how amazing the war effort was at that time.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Not every secret needs to be told. Some just need to be forgotten.”

I chose this book because I ‘knew of’ the Manhattan Project, but next to nothing ‘about’ it. The author sent me back in time to the atomic city, Oak Ridge, and educated me on the significance of this small city in East Tennessee. I was fascinated reading about its pivotal role in the development of nuclear weapons and yet flabbergasted that workers only knew information relevant to their specific jobs. How did so few people not know what was going on?

I enjoyed the dual timeline; one with 18-year-old Maebelle ‘Mae’ Willett and her roommate who goes missing and one a few decades later with Mae’s niece, Laurel, who’s studying the ripple effects of the Manhattan Project. Both timelines pulled me in and sustained my interest. The author utilized era-specific events, the mindset of the time, and specific setting details to convince me of the authenticity.

The mystery in the first timeline kept me turning pages, and Mae’s reluctance to share history (her-story) kept me intrigued in the second timeline.

I had previously enjoyed ‘All We Thought We Know’ by this author and continued to be impressed by her skills.

I was gifted this copy by the publisher through NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Sadie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was quite disappointed with this book! During the war, Oak Ridge was a Secret City adjacent to Knoxville, Tennessee where government scientists unknowingly created the first atomic bombs for The Manhattan Project. Thousands of young women were recruited as cubicle workers, warned greatly of spies, and fired if suspected of sharing any details of their work (even to fellow co-workers). My mother-in-law is currently a director at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, so a story highlighting the women of Oak Ridge had my hopes up high! Yes, I was expecting a historical fiction book, but this was just straight up fiction with a backdrop of history.

I found the storylines to be so unbelievable and fabricated — in the past and the present. The romantic storylines took up so much space. I found them to be so cheesy and annoying. The author dropped in chunky blocks of Christian themes that didn’t flow with the rest of the writing. Laurel presumed so much as a distant niece and psychologist instead of reacting how I think any normal human would. I wish she was an investigative journalist; that would have made her attitude and positioning in Oak Ridge (especially with the detective) make any sense.

I could say a lot more, but that would give away spoilers! Overall, I loved the idea of this book way more than I liked the actual stories within.

PS - If you ever get the chance to go to Oak Ridge History Museum, it’s sooooo well done and you’ll learn a lot about such a fascinating time in American history and the young men and women who unknowingly took part in such a destructive part of our past.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The Girls of Atomic City" is a much better book. This one is stilted and preachy.

[Robin Hatcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Intrigue, danger, and guilty secrets fill The Women of Oak Ridge and kept me turning the pages well into the night. There are multiple layers in this novel about one of the ‘secret cities’ that helped develop the bomb that would finally bring an end to WWII and the people, especially the women, who worked there. If you love historical fiction, you don’t want to miss this one.”
— Robin Lee Hatcher, Christy Award winning author of To Capture a Mountain Man and To Marry an English Lord

[JaneReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

full review to come

[Linda Galella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.


“Not every secret needs to be told. Some need to just be forgotten.” (Aunt Mae)

Secrets are the overriding theme to Michelle Shocklee’s new historical fiction, mystery - THE WOMEN OF OAK RIDGE. In fact, the town of Oak Ridge was itself a secret, for the first few years of its existence. The people and industry in this backwoods town contributed to one of the most significant historical events and no one, outside of a few executive level, high clearance politicians, had any idea they existed. Even the people living and working there, for the most part, had no idea what they were involved in. This is their story as told thru the experiences of a few women.

In 1944, Mae Willet heeds FDR’s call to serve and answers and add. She leaves her parents two room, Kentucky coal mining, company owned shack, for the promise of a job offering in Tennessee with a salary many times greater than anything she could earn in Kentucky, so she could send money back to her parents and help the country. Here is one of the two timelines and Mae is our bridge. She is also the bearer of secrets. One involves her roommate and the other, herself. Both young women are involved in a dating relationship that ends up being problematic.

Laurel is Mae’s niece. In 1979, she’s looking to connect with her Aunt who still lives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; timeline
two. Laurel is working on her PhD. and interviews with women who worked at the facility in Oak Ridge during the war will be a big part of her research. Mae’s friends and neighbors are very accommodating. Mae refused and actually seems fearful. She has health issues and then experiences an accident, both of which play into Laurel, with the help of an handsome cop, hunting down the reason why Aunt Mae is guarding her secret so tightly. What is she afraid of after all this time?

It’s obvious that Shocklee has done much research for this project. The history is woven into the story very naturally and never feels like the dreaded “info dump”. The character Mae is portrayed as much older than her chronological age, which should be in her mid fifties. When I stopped to really think about it, however, I’m judging her by 2025 standards. Forty-five years ago, my grandmother was OLD, much older than a woman in her mid sixties or seventies is today; so many things have changed, especially our mindsets. All that to say that in retrospect, the characterizations are spot on.

World building is not something I would usually discuss in this type of book but the town of Oak Ridge literally grew up in the middle of nowhere and remained secreted for years. Shocklee had to create a self contained community and culture which was done quite successfully. In fact, the idea of placing sidewalks thru mud gave me an idea for my backyard that worked out quite nicely!

My only quibble with this book is the formatting. It’s told in alternating timelines between Laurel and Mae. Because I read from a rough eCopy, it was very difficult to notice the chapter breaks and I often missed the change in voice for a few paragraphs. I’m hoping the finished volume will be significantly better, perhaps complete page breaks with headers. This is one secret readers could do without!

Shocklee writes inspirational fiction so you won’t find any foul language, sexual content or graphic violence. There are Bible quotes, prayers and conversations about religious beliefs and faith in God without being preachy.

Recommended for readers of historical fiction, cozy mysteries, historical mysteries, southern fiction and friendship fiction with political themes📚

Read and reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks

[Suzanne Mosley (Suzanne Shares) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release date: September 9, 2025

5 ⭐️

I am a huge fan of Michelle Shocklee’s books, so I was excited about her newest book, The Women of Oak Ridge. As a native Tennesseean, I love how Shocklee’s books have helped me understand different historical events set in my great state!

I was eager to read The Women of Oak Ridge because I knew of Oak Ridge’s involvement in the development of the atomic bomb that ended WW2. In my mind, the town of Oak Ridge was like most Tennessee towns—quiet, endearing, and established for at least two centuries. As I read the book, I discovered that the “Secret City” was essentially built overnight to hasten the beginning of its role in creating an atomic bomb for the war. I was flabbergasted; I had no idea!

The dual timeline story follows Maebelle Willet and her niece Laural. Maebelle moves to Tennessee to work at the Manhattan Project site in 1944. Laural, 35 years later, while knee-deep in her graduate studies learns about the work that happened in Oak Ridge, which is the small town where her Aunt Maebelle lives. Laural makes the trip from Boston to Tennessee and to continue her graduate research. As she quizzes her aunt about what was happening in the town during the Manhattan Project year, Aunt Maebelle quickly shuts her down. Laural realizes that Maebelle knows more than she acknowledges and uncovers that her aunt’s story of Oak Ridge is one that she has never shared. There is pain connected to it, and Maebelle refuses to help with Laural’s research. Will Maebelle’s story remain untold?

From beginning to end, this story captivated me! I could not put the book down and read into the wee hours of the morning devouring each twist and turn. I enjoyed the dual time line and especially the detailed account of what life was like in Oak Ridge during 1944. To think that the employees at that time had no idea that the work being done there was connected to an atomic bomb! I am a WW2 historical fition fanatic, and most of the books I read in that genre are set in Europe. With this set in Tennessee, I enjoyed a different perspective on the reach and impact of WW2. This is a must-read-page-turner! I wholeheartedly commend this book!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Women of Oak Ridge. The opinions shared are my own.

[Jill Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical fiction book is based on some interesting history. It goes back and forth in time. I don't usually write reviews but I found the main character, May, so frustrating and stupid, I wanted to scream. Her character's actions were not of a woman with common sense. I found it annoying but I finished it to find out what happened. I wanted to skip ahead since May did so many dumb things. So-interesting story line if you can take the stupidity of the main character.

[Pat Haber · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoiler Alert in this review.

this book started out quite interesting. it takes place over 2 time periods, 1944, during the war, in Oak Ridge Tennessee which was a town built by the government to mine uranium for the atomic bomb. It was all secretive, no one even knew about town, and the employees who worked there, many young women, were not allowed to talk to anyone about it. One of the main characters, Mae, is one of those women. The other time period is 1979, after the facts of Oak Ridge are made public, and Mae's niece comes to visit to write her dissertation about it.
i knew very little about Oak Ridge, so i found it interesting to learn about that and the author did a very good job with the facts about it and her descriptions of working and living there.
so i was gobsmacked when it got so stupid i just sped read the rest of it. Mae's roommate and friend disappears after she goes on a date with her boyfriend, a man that Mae has a bad sense about. and she never returns. And Mae doesn't tell anybody, b/c she is afraid she'll get Sissie in trouble! then, assumes she has gone back to her family, but NEVER WRITES THEM TO FIND OUT OR TELL THEM THEIR DAUGHTER IS MISSING! and no one even notices or says anything.
but wait, it gets worse. Mae decides to break into the boyfriend's trailer to see if she can find out anything. and never tells anybody why or what she is doing, or report her suspicions. and of course, when she finally realizes the BF killed her, she can't tell anybody b/c by then she is too involved in stealing documents for him to pass on to the Russians b/c he found out she broke into his trailer.
it just goes on and on and gets worse and worse! to add to this, when the truth finally comes out, in 1979, thanks to the visiting niece and the guy she found there who just happens to be a policeman, she is redeemed by Jesus's words. I am not kidding.
and in the end, she is not prosecuted b/c , well, i'm not sure why.
ok,

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Women of Oak Ridge, Michelle Shocklee has written a masterpiece that combines history, mystery, and a touch of romance.

This novel brings to life one of America’s best kept secrets during WWII. Oak Ridge, TN, was built for the sole purpose of enriching Uranium to be used in developing the atomic bomb. Mae Willet came to Oak Ridge from a small coal mining town in Kentucky. She finds her self caught in a trap she can’t escape. For years she’s kept the secret buried and lived with immense guilt. With the help of family and friends she learns to let go of the guilt and walk in the freedom that God’s forgiveness gives us.

I love the theme of forgiveness in the book. Michelle simply and beautifully illustrated God’s love for us when he shed His blood on the cross to forgive our sins. It’s that forgiveness that makes us free from guilt.

I loved all the history woven into the book as well. I had never heard of Oak Ridge. I was blown away by the fact that the K-25 plant alone cost five hundred million dollars to build in the 1940s.

Over all this book is amazing and definitely making my top favorites list for 2025!

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of this incredible book. All thoughts and opinions are my own given in exchange for this advanced reader copy.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The topic is interesting, but this book is written poorly. It is flat, the characters aren’t interesting, and the location lacks detail. Based on the description of Aunt Mae, you’d assume she’s 100, but later you learn she’s 56!? I don’t know any 56 year old who acts or speaks this way. The whole book, from the way Mae responds to the medical atmosphere is out of touch.

I’d love to learn more about this topic, but would skip this book.

[Blessing Bloodworth (naptimereaders) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love learning about little-known history, especially when it comes to World War 2, you need to check out the newest release from Michelle Shocklee. You’ll get to meet Mae, a young lady who left her family behind because she was inspired to make a difference for the war effort. As she stepped away from her Kentucky coal mining town, she stepped into a totally different and entirely-secret Tennessee town. Namely, the town of Oak Ridge, where uranium was covertly enriched for use in the production of the deadliest weapon. Within the walls of that undercover city, Mae is faced with impossible choices - can she protect the ones she loved, but at potential great risk to herself?

Fast forward, almost 40 years and Mae’s niece, Laurel, visits the very town of Oak Ridge which has now become a thriving small time with a unique history. Wanting to study the psychological effects of wartime work and the personal feelings of those who unknowingly took part in building that devastating weapon, Laurel begins to uncover secrets - secrets her Aunt Mae is desperate to keep hidden.

I absolutely loved how beautifully and how clearly the gospel was presented at the end of the story, but I did expect a bit more strong faith themes woven throughout the story and not held for the end. Compared to the richness of her others books, this was on the lighter side when it comes to spiritual matters. It also was very detail heavy and leaned more on the "tell" than the "show" side. A little more dry and less emotional than other books of hers. Considering the subject matter, I am sure this work took a great deal of research and I commend her for that - it shone in the sheer amount of historical detail in the story.

Before picking up this book, I was completely unaware of the history of this off-the-map southern town that was connected to the Manhattan Project. But now my curiosity has been duly piqued and I am antsy to get my hands on resources to learn more!

Thank you to Tyndale publishers for the complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is my favorite Michelle Shocklee book I've read so far. Dual timeline, historical fiction, with light faith based threads. I actually found myself enjoying both time lines equally, which is rare for me. I often avoid dual timelines because I tend to enjoy one much more than the other. The book follows Mae, during her time working a secret mission at a place called Oak Ridge, during the war in 1944. The book also follows her niece Laurel, in present day. Laurel sets out to do research on what transpired at Oak Ridge, and how it impacted the people who worked there. Since her Aunt Mae worked there, Laurel thinks Mae will be the perfect person to give her information and share memories. Laurel is not prepared for Mae's secrecy and reluctance to talk about her time working at Oak Ridge, and Mae is not prepared for her world to unravel when Laurel shows up asking questions, bringing to the surface the things that have haunted Mae despite her trying to bury them all these years.

While a bit of the book felt heavy and there was a sense of Mae being haunted by her past, I very much enjoyed this one. I was just a bit disappointed that the mystery ended up concluding how it did, but I still enjoyed the book.

[Jeni | StoryTimeReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tore through this dual-timeline historical by Michelle Shocklee like it was top-secret intel. Equal parts gripping mystery, wartime history, and soul-stirring redemption tale, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙊𝙖𝙠 𝙍𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚 is the kind of book that haunts you—in the best way.

Set in a town that technically “didn’t exist” during WWII, the novel follows Maebelle Willett, a coal miner’s daughter with grit, guts, and secrets that could rattle the atomic core. Jump forward to 1979, and her niece Laurel is trying to pull those secrets out with tweezers, a thesis project, and maybe a little bit of stubborn Willet DNA.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗
🕵️‍♀️ A slow-burning mystery with missing persons, classified documents, and one stubborn aunt
👩‍🔬 Fascinating historical backdrop—you will absolutely Google Oak Ridge halfway through
🧨 Faith, forgiveness, and atomic secrets—a cocktail you didn’t know you needed
🧓🏽 A refreshingly non-romanticized portrayal of aging, regret, and reconciliation
📚 A niece-aunt relationship that feels like a gentle unraveling of heartstrings

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗙𝗢𝗥 (𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲) 👀
• A missing roommate who vanishes like smoke—literally no one’s talking
• A bicycle and a badge that might just solve everything
• The best fictional use of a thesis project since Elle Woods’ Harvard entrance
• One very unamused rooster 🐓 (okay not really, but it felt like he was judging me)

𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦
💭 The real genius of this book? It doesn’t just tell a story—it asks questions. How much should we sacrifice for our country? For our family? What if the truth could destroy someone—or set them free?

💭 Michelle Shocklee doesn’t just write books—she writes truths wrapped in fiction. This one’s layered like an onion in a top-secret lunchbox. A must-read for fans of Lisa Wingate or anyone who’s ever wondered what it means to carry the weight of history—and how we let it go.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦
🤬 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲: No profanity, no crude language
🛁 𝗦𝗲𝘅𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: None (clean, no open-door or fade-to-black scenes)
🥊 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: One off-page death/disappearance (not graphic); mild references to danger/tension.
⚠️ 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: References to racial injustice and segregation, war-related guilt and trauma, grief/loss, secrecy, spiritual wrestling with past choices.
🎦 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲/𝗧𝗩 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁: PG / TV-PG


⭐ 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 4.5/5 (rounded up)- Gripping, clean, and deeply moving. Only reason for docking half a star—Mae’s age portrayal in 1979 felt 20 years too old, and the romantic subplot could’ve used just a smidge more tension/emotion. But honestly? Still top-shelf fiction.

I received an advanced readers copy by NetGalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Nikki Akerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michelle never lets me down. This book is a page turner full of mystery and suspense. I never knew that Oak Ridge was a secret city made to develop a nuclear bomb. The story is wild. It had me on the edge of my seat. It did not go as I would suspect but it ended up better than I hoped.

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this #gifted book!*

Title: The Women of Oak Ridge
Author: Michelle Shocklee
Genre: Historical Fiction
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Synopsis: When the opportunity to work in Oak Ridge appears, Mae is eager to help with the war efforts even though she doesn’t understand how it is she’s helping. All she knows is that she’s not to talk about what she’s doing with anyone. But when her roommate starts revealing information from her boyfriend, the secrets start to pile up, and then her roommate disappears. Thirty years later, Mae’s niece Laurel arrives to stay with her aunt as she works on her dissertation the history of Oak Ridge’s history and its employees. What was it like to discover they had a part in creating the atomic bomb? And how did they manage to live with the secrets after they were revealed? As Laurel dives into the past, Mae finds herself reliving those days too. Is it possible to find the truth and closure after all these secrets?

Analysis: One of the things I love about Michelle Shocklee is how she dives into little known history right here in the US. This book dives into the secret city of Oak Ridge during WW2 and the role the employees had in creating the atomic bomb. There are spies, secrets, and a touch of romance in this uniquely set historical fiction novel. The writing felt a little detailed at some points, but I learned so much! When it comes to faith, I always love seeing how Michelle portrays the beauty of the gospel. If you’re looking to learn something new and see the hope we have in Christ, definitely add the Women of Oak Ridge to your reading list!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Jessi Blunier · Rating 2 out of 5]

This took me awhile to finish, because I wasn’t very invested. I listened to the audiobook version and like a few other reviews say on here, was pretty much rolling my eyes and annoyed at Mae and her actions the whole time. (And honestly Laurel too) Almost DNFed it but decided to push through.

It felt like the story dragged on but there really wasn’t anything that happened?? The entire book, you’re pretty much trying to figure out what happened to Sissy. And there is lots of laurel saying things like “There must have been something in Aunt Mae’s past!” “There must be a reason she acts the way she does!” … it felt like those were some pretty “hi I’m missing what’s right in front of me” statements coming from someone who is literally a psychology major? (Or whatever her degree was) Like yes obviously something happened. Pretty much laurel’s entire story was just visiting aunt Mae. I also saw another review that said they were acting like Mae was 80 and I agree with that statement. She was literally in her 50s, not some decrepit person that could barely get around, but you wouldn’t know it from the way Laurel talked about her.

Mae felt like a lot of her actions and things she did could have been prevented? I thought she acted very carelessly in some ways and then in other ways was so cautious and paranoid when she literally should have just told authorities right away and the whole book could have been prevented.

It was interesting to learn about the uranium plant, but at the same time it felt like we didn’t actually learn a whole lot about what they did there, it was more of a backdrop/background element for the story to live in.

[Kenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

I appreciated the chance to learn more about the atomic bomb aspect of WW2. Shocklee does an excellent job of displaying varying viewpoints on historical events in her writing!

While I enjoyed the 1940s timeline in this book more, I found the 1970s timeline helpful in my anticipation of the climax.

I’m eager for my next Michelle Shocklee book!

[Lauri Gentry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dual time line involving WWII and the women who worked towards the war effort. A woman in a more recent time line investigating to secrets of what went on in Oak Ridge. Intriguing. Kept my interest throughout.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

1944 and 1979 Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Who knew 75,000 people in a small Tennessee town worked on creating an atomic bomb during WWII? The details about what life and work was like for the employees was fascinating. The fictional characters in both storylines were compelling.

[Rebecca Saguin · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book pissed me off. The lady is an idiot and ignorant her entire life and has victim mentality. Hard pass.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.7 stars (5/10 hearts). It took me a while to get into this, but that was because I was struggling with a lot of anxiety—I enjoyed the story when I buckled down and read it. I haven't read many books set in the 1970s, nor had I heard about Oak Ridge and the people who helped create the atom bomb, so both sides of the story interested me equally.

Laurel was sweet, and I enjoyed her detective work (and of course I loved the romance with J.—plus it was cool to see Laurel's perception of him as a police officer, in that era). Maebelle was my favourite though. I related to her anxiety and most of the steps she took as she tried to hold all her secrets and worried over who to trust. The villain I hated so much but G. was awesome and the ending gave me hope. 😉 I also really loved Velvet, her husband, and Harris, all of whom were great side characters.

The whole Sissy mystery, as well as the thread of espionage and the general secrecy of Oak Ridge, added a great element of suspense that except for one or two times didn't overwhelm me with anxiety. I really appreciated the ending and how the author didn't let Maebelle get out before she got implicated, but had her face the consequences of having helped. I was also struck by the long-term results of her work with uranium (her physical deterioration) and the long-term results of her time spent in secrecy (her lifelong anxiety and guilt).

The message at the end was lovely, and overall I really appreciated the story and would love to read more by this author!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

[Heidi McGill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Women of Oak Ridge by Michelle Shocklee is a beautifully written, deeply immersive story. The writing itself is exceptional. Michelle's writing is rich without being heavy and intentional without drawing attention to its craft. As an author, it is often difficult for me to stay engrossed in a story, but not when it is written by Michelle.

But what truly sets this novel apart is its mesmerizing storyline. Michelle transports the reader to a time and place many of us know only in passing, opening a window into an era defined by secrecy, sacrifice, and quiet courage. I found myself completely absorbed, not just in what was happening, but in how it FELT to live in those moments of uncertainty and resolve.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is how seamlessly faith is woven into the story. The spiritual thread never feels forced or uncomfortable; instead, it unfolds naturally through the characters’ lives and choices. The plan of salvation is shared clearly and simply, in language that feels organic to the story and accessible to the reader. It is a rare balance for truth to be spoken plainly, yet gently. Michelle handled this with grace and confidence. This is faith-based storytelling at its finest.

As I read, one question kept surfacing in my mind: Would we respond the same way today? The patriotism, the willingness to serve quietly, even anonymously—becoming, in essence, soldiers in plain clothes—was both compelling and humbling. Without drawing comparisons or commentary, the story naturally invites reflection on how much our world has changed. And yet, beneath those changes, one truth remains constant. God’s Word does not shift with time, culture, or circumstance. The same faith that sustained people then still sustains hearts now. That quiet reminder is what stayed with me most.

[☮Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
An extra .5 star for teaching me about a time and place I knew little of. Not quite a 4 star due to some plot points that bothered me. Mae was dumb as rocks when dealing with Clive and what he was up to and then doing nothing about it. I wish the author had given her more gumption.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great historical fiction book with strong female characters. A 4.5⭐️ book!

[PhyllisRBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love learning history through the lens of Michelle Shocklee’s imagination. This dual-time, Christian historical fiction novel brings to life the secrecy of the facilities at Oak Ridge and its part in the Manhattan Project. A younger and older Mae weaves the story together through suspense and memory, regret and redemption-with some unexpected twists along the way. A well-written, well-told story with spiritual and historical depth.

Caroline Hewitt is stellar when it comes to southern stories. Her portrayal of these characters is no exception. Well done!

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review. I also purchased the audiobook.

[Karen Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read other books about the atomic girls and the atomic secret cities. And it was very interesting but there were a lot of things in this book that really bothered me

Spoiler alert

I don’t understand how a young girl could just disappear and not come back and leave all of her things in her dorm room and nobody ever asked questions. Her parents don’t follow up to find out what happened. Mae her boss about what she suspects, but yet she’ll break into who she thinks is a Russian spies ‘s house.

Mae is willing to put an ad in the paper yet she won’t go to the police and report the girl missing or the MP’s or the dorm mother…

This just didn’t sit well with me and it kind of put a shadow over the whole book

[Rachel Trout · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an East TN local, I was excited to read this book. Almost everyone in this area knows or is related to someone who works at "the national lab". I enjoyed reading about what took place in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project, and what it really meant to be in a Secret City. The local history and familiar places (Big Ed's Pizza for one) kept me turning the pages to finish. The story itself was lacking dimension. It was written from two different POVs and alternating timelines: one in WW2 and the other years later. The WW2 timeline was slightly suspenseful with better overall development and more a more interesting plot; however, the later timeline lacked the suspense and character development needed to keep me interested, and finishing required determination. The ending did resolve nicely with a redemption in the end. (I think it would have been nice to see that developed better throughout the book).

I do still recommend this book, especially for East TN natives as it was fun to read about our local history.

I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.