Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak

by Leslie R. Schover

For fans of Ariel Lawhon and Rhys Bowen, an  Oppenheimer –meets– The Rose Code  World War II novel of a young mother’s self-discovery as she is drawn into a love triangle with an atomic spy in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project.

When nineteen-year-old Doris Friedman marries Rob in 1941 and has a sickly, premature baby, she trades in her dreams of being a concert pianist or a lawyer to become the ideal wife and mother. Within months, Rob is recruited to work on the Manhattan Project, and the young family moves to Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Just like fission splits an atom’s nucleus, Doris’s marriage threatens to break her heart in two as she is left struggling to nurture her daughter while Rob works around the clock. In an effort to find connection, Doris befriends Betty, a Southern debutante. Even though they come from different backgrounds, the two women sustain each other through difficult Betty’s miscarriage, Rob’s radiation exposure, and his subsequent attempt to enlist to fight at the front.

Despite her attempts to make life in Oak Ridge work, Doris falls for an army engineer—only to realize that he may be a Soviet spy. Should she turn him in and risk losing her marriage? As the end of the war nears, Doris must decide what’s most important—and what she’s willing to lose.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published January 27, 2026

Reviews

[Teri M Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fission by Leslie R Schover is a wonderful historical fiction. Although set during WWII, this book takes place completely within the United States as we follow Doris and her husband Rob to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Doris' husband is tapped to work on the Manhattan Project, a top-secret program to create the first atomic bomb.

As a reluctant young mother and bride, Doris first has to decide if she will move to Oak Ridge or continue her education. When she finally moves to Oak Ridge, she has to figure out her place in a world very different from Chicago. Will being Jewish be something to overcome? Will her husband's lack of education stop him from advancing? Will Doris figure out her role as wife and mother? What will she do when romance comes knocking - and not from her husband?

I was excited to learn this story is based loosely on Leslie's parents, which gives an emotional edge to the characters - and you know how I love a good character! This is a must-read book that will give you an insider's look at The Manhattan Project and how it affected not just the scientists, but all who lived and worked in Oak Ridge.

[Bibliophile since birth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally read WW2 book written from the German or Jewish perspective. Reading it from the perspective of Jewish Americans was quite refreshing and educational.

I have never admired and disliked a character as much as Doris Freidman. It feels as if she was constantly complaining throughout the novel - first she cried when she found out that she couldn't have children, and when she found out that she was pregnant, she cried again. She even went as far as asking baby Barbara if she couldn't be more of a blessing. Years later, as Barbara was growing up, she was unhappy that she didn't have a close relationship with Barbara because she favoured other people over her mother. While they were living in Oak Ridge, she saw working women as women with a purpose - isn't motherhood and being a wife a purpose? She fantasized about an affair with Dave Sokol, but after the incident in the woods, she blamed him and felt sorry for herself, worrying about Rob finding out. She constantly looked down on Rob and pestered him about getting his degree, even when it was clear that he wasn't interested.

On the other hand, she basically raised her daughter on her own in very uncertain times. Her husband was barely home while he was working on a secret government project in Oak Ridge. She was very determined about contributing financially to her family's livelihood - she gave piano lessons and even invested her savings by buying stocks, even if it was without her husband's knowledge. Her strength and determination to be successful in a time when women were expected to stay at home with the children is truly admirable. She never allowed other people's opinions to weigh her down and she always stood up for the people she loved.

Rob's character was probably my favourite - despite his absence while working on the government project, he is a loving and hardworking father and husband whose main objective is to care for his family. Him forgiving Doris after her encounter with Dave Sokol shows how much he truly loves her despite being hurt.

I am very happy that Doris and Rob were able to put all their differences and the past behind them in the end of the novel to find true happiness in each other.

[Elaine Schroller · Rating 5 out of 5]

We rarely get a glimpse of what life was really like for the wives of men who worked on top-secret government projects during wartime. Leslie Schover’s Fission remedies that with a tale that delves deep into one woman’s marriage, life, and motherhood in a secret bubble in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. As an educated woman, Doris constantly bumps into lines she should not cross while her husband can’t, won’t, and must not, let her know what he’s working on. Fission is a fascinating portrait of a marriage in a very specific place and time in American history.

[Michelene Esposito · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so thoroughly captivated by Fission. While many of the other stories about the Manhattan Project focus solely on the scientists and the science/political history, Leslie R. Schover has written a deeply moving, domestic/woman/mother/wife perspective that feels incredibly fresh. It’s a "coming-of-age" story wrapped in a high-stakes historical mystery, and it kept me hooked from start to finish.

Why I loved this book:

Doris is a Fantastic Protagonist: Seeing the 1940s through the eyes of a young mother whose dreams of being a concert pianist were derailed by the war and a surprise pregnancy was so relatable. How many of us have had to say "good-bye" to a youthful dream only to then find ourselves on a fascinating new path? Her "dogged determination" to find her own identity in the secret city of Oak Ridge makes her a heroine you can't help but root for.

Atmospheric and Richly Detailed: The author does a brilliant job of bringing the "secret city" of Oak Ridge to life—the unpaved streets, the wooden sidewalks, and the pervasive sense of secrecy.

Moral Complexity: I won't give any spoilers, but there is a subplot involving a potential Soviet spy. Enough said...

If you are a fan of The Rose Code or Oppenheimer, but want a story that focuses on the women who lived in the shadow of their men and the bomb, this is a must-read. It’s an evocative, beautifully written debut that will stay with you long after the final page!

[Kisane Slaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is based upon a pre-publication copy of the novel

Fission is set in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, from 1942 until the end of WWII. Drawing upon her own family history, the author skilfully combines the story of Doris, a young, talented woman struggling to be recognised as more than a stereotypical 1940s housewife and mother, and the horrifying tale of the creation and eventual deployment of the atomic bomb. Feeling frustrated and neglected by her husband, who is working around the clock on the top-secret project, Doris falls for the seductive advances of a radiation safety officer. She later suspects that he is a Russian spy. But to disclose her suspicions would also necessitate disclosing her affair, which would quite possibly mean the end of her marriage. This weaving together of the political pressures to produce a means to end the war, and the impact upon the personal lives of those involved, makes for fascinating reading that holds the reader to the end.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
📕 enjoy historical fiction
🎞️ loved the movie Oppenheimer
💍 can relate to a marriage that is falling apart
🥱 grow bored easily

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

When nineteen-year-old Doris Friedman marries Rob in 1941 and has a sickly, premature baby, she trades in her dreams of being a concert pianist or a lawyer to become the ideal wife and mother. Within months, Rob is recruited to work on the Manhattan Project, and the young family moves to Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Just like fission splits an atom’s nucleus, Doris’s marriage threatens to break her heart in two as she is left struggling to nurture her daughter while Rob works around the clock. In an effort to find connection, Doris befriends Betty, a Southern debutante. Even though they come from different backgrounds, the two women sustain each other through difficult moments: Betty’s miscarriage, Rob’s radiation exposure, and his subsequent attempt to enlist to fight at the front.

Despite her attempts to make life in Oak Ridge work, Doris falls for an army engineer—only to realize that he may be a Soviet spy. Should she turn him in and risk losing her marriage? As the end of the war nears, Doris must decide what’s most important—and what she’s willing to lose.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was an interesting read that reminded me a lot of the movie Oppenheimer because it essentially revolves around the same time and place. I liked reading about Doris becoming a mother and how she was losing her sense of self. I felt like I could relate to her well, since I have 3 kids and have felt that way after each of them. It takes a long time to get back to feeling like your own person again. While some of the story wasn’t quite believable (low level employees having clearance to high level information) I felt like that was okay. The story is more about Doris and her relationships while living in this new place, trying to adjust to her new life. I appreciate that this was based on true stories too! Definitely recommend for fans of historical fiction!

[ecastell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fission had all the elements of an engaging story—historical reference, romance, relationship drama, intrigue, even a bit of spice—yet it ultimately missed the mark for me. I found the characters to be vapid, and the drama underdeveloped.

The story follows Doris, a young Jewish girl growing up in Chicago in the 1930s. There, she meets and falls in love with Rob, an intelligent yet underachieving electrician. Shortly after their marriage, Doris gives birth prematurely and suffers from postpartum depression and deep feelings of inadequacy, mourning the future she had once envisioned for herself.

Around this time, Rob is recruited to work on the Manhattan Project, and the young family is relocated to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where engineers worked frantically to produce the enriched uranium required for an atomic bomb. I struggled with the implausibility of how or why Rob was selected to work alongside highly educated chemists and engineers, as well as the decision of his supervisor to reveal the mission’s secrets to two people barely out of their teens.

The novel focuses heavily on interpersonal relationships while delivering little insight into the significance or gravity of the Manhattan Project itself. We learn of long work hours, a minor radiation exposure, and ample social drama, but the reader is left to fill in the historical gaps with commonly known facts about this world-altering achievement.

Fans of Oppenheimer will likely be disappointed. Those looking for a light, relationship-driven historical novel may find it an easy, if unremarkable, read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lainey Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

We know the United States developed the atomic bomb in the 1940s during World War II and ultimately dropped it on Hiroshima. But what was life like for those who worked on the project? And how much did they know about their mission?

Based on the true story of the secret city of Oak Ridge, which contributed along with Los Alamos to the development of the atom bomb, Leslie R. Schover imagines what life was like for those who worked on the Manhattan Project through the deeply human lens of Doris, one of the engineer's wives.

Doris is an interesting character, of Jewish heritage, and in many ways ahead of her time. She has a toddler, but she craves the fulfillment of work outside the home and wants to finish the college education she left behind when she married and became pregnant. Unfortunately, her husband Rob is not terribly supportive of her needs. He believes that providing financially for the family is purely a man's role, and he's increasingly neglecting her as he becomes more absorbed in his work at Oak Ridge.

The story of an ordinary couple in extraordinary times. Fission is a novel full of fascinating history and insights into life in a specially constructed secret city that would ultimately contribute to building the first atom bomb.

Schover beautifully captures the role of friendships in helping us through the hard times and our own mistakes, as Doris navigates isolation, unfulfilled dreams, and impossible choices during one of history's most consequential moments.

A novel for those who appreciate learning about untold history, Fission brings to life an extraordinary chapter of American history through a deeply human story.

[Roselyn Teukolsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt story of a troubled marriage. Review by Roselyn Teukolsky

This review is based on my reading an advance reader copy, provided by the author in return for an honest review (the only kind I provide).

Fission, by Leslie Schover, is an intimate and erudite portrait of a Jewish American woman caught up in the turmoil of the Manhattan Project during WWII.

Doris Friedman, a brilliant young woman and talented pianist, dreams of a life of intellectual achievement and fulfillment, when her equally young husband Rob is called on to help with the top-secret production of a tiny quantity of plutonium.

Doris finds herself at Oak Ridge, cloistered in a community of wives, in a stifling life of housework and child care, while the husbands, dedicated to the cause, work late into the night to achieve their lethal goals.

The women fill the hours with food, bridge, and gossiping, an insufferable life for Doris, who also endures flirtation with a man who means nothing to her. Consequences, both large and small, of Doris's actions reverberate throughout the novel, as Doris strives to right the ship of her troubled marriage.

The author is skillful in showing how lives are buffeted by history. Schover's knowledge shines through her characters and their dramas.

Also, Leslie Schover has a smooth and beguiling writing style that draws the reader into this engrossing story and keeps you reading until the tale is done.

[Cassidee Kuehner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fission follows the story of a young Jewish girl from Chicago. Doris sets aside her dreams to finish college and follows her husband Rob to Oak Ridge. Doris is one of the few wives that knows the truth behind what is happening day to day in the labs.

Doris is challenged by missing home, breaking the ice with new people, and being a young mom with little help from her husband. Rob ultimately becomes absent to her and over whelmed by his duty to work and create the bomb before time runs out.

She ultimately finds a way to make a living and find a sense of a purpose in a place that feels desolate at times. Doris also finds herself in situations she never would have imagined.

Overall the book was entertaining and a quick read. It felt like a page turner but at times I wanted more depth to the plot. I felt like the biggest climax in the plot was underwhelming and rushed. Some of the characters lacked development. I enjoyed the nods to the controversies of the atomic bomb but I felt that could have been developed further in the story. The author does have personal connections to the story with having parents that lived through this and so I acknowledge her understanding may be deeper than mine. I am grateful for her putting herself out there in her first novel.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book (via LibraryThing) in exchange for an honest review.

This novel felt episodic. It jumps from scene to scene, sometimes never really resolving the major issue of the previous chapter. Major conflicts are quickly resolved and barely spoken of again.

After our main character's introduction to the world of Oak Ridge, the novel loses all sense of place. While the characters talk about Oak Ridge and the work going on there, the book could have been set anywhere. There's nothing descriptive that tells the reader they're in Oak Ridge. The history of what happened at Oak Ridge is fascinating, and I had hoped to see more of that in the novel, instead of mentioned in character's conversations.

I appreciate that this novel is inspired by real people, including the author's own parents.

Despite her ambitions, I don't feel like Doris has set herself up to pursue them by the end of the novel. I feel like if we visit Doris 20 years later, she'll have a profile in Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You may be familiar with the Manhattan Project during WWII (to develop the first atomic bomb), but in 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, Schover highlights how it profoundly impacted the personal lives and marriages of those involved, inviting you to connect emotionally.

Doris is a young Jewish woman, already a wife and mother when her husband is recruited for a top-secret project, the Manhattan Project, at the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, site.

The story seamlessly blends historical facts about the project with daily life, giving it a domestic drama feel as well as a historical fiction one. This allows you to feel the personal side of history. Doris cares for her daughter, teaches piano, plays bridge with the ladies, but ultimately grows bored, and the results are fractures in her marriage. A little intrigue, mixed with a woman’s strong determination, makes this a unique WWII love story.

The author shares in the Author’s Note that the novel is loosely based on her parents’ time in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project. Here she adds more insight and facts, for enhanced reading and research.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @leslieschover for this gifted book.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from a Library Thing Early Reviewers giveaway. I was excited to read it because I’ve read and enjoyed other books about the Manhattan Project at Oak Ridge. Unfortunately, I didn’t love this book the way I’d hoped I would. I think my expectations may have been too high. The other books I’d read had a lot more detail about the project itself and what it entailed, and I found that part of the stories fascinating. This book just skimmed the surface of the project. I also felt that the characters were not well-developed.The cover bills the book as ‘A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak’ but I did not feel the heartbreak. I also knew from the synopsis that the main character was going to make some bad choices, but when she did, I did not feel WHY she made the choices. And I thought the repercussions from her choices were resolved too easily. It all felt superficial. The story could have ended a few chapters earlier. The last few chapters didn’t really add anything to the story. This is not a terrible book. It was a quick, easy read. It just didn’t grab me that way I expected. Maybe your experience with the book will be different.

[Emily Harp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak by Leslie R. Schover was exactly just that, a novel set during one of the most heartbreaking times in world history chronicling the creation of the atomic bomb. WWII historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this was such a unique perspective set in America and focusing in on an event of the war that is usually just a chapter in the story. Schover took on the morally conflicting emotions of destruction against a backdrop of naivety in what exactly was being created. I loved the intimate look into the lives of the families, their shared triumphs and private pain. The struggles of motherhood, marriage and woman’s rights and independence were accurate for the time, but so very relatable. The Author’s Note is a must read and provided historical insight and context and her personal connections to the story. This novel is for all WWII fiction lovers!

Thank you BookSirens and She Writes Press for the advanced ebook!
All of these thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a historical fiction novel that captures the set-up and workings of Oak Ridge National Laboratory during the 1940s. The story follows Doris, the main character, as she picks up her life and moves to Oak Ridge. While there, we see Doris as she struggles with the changes from the life she thought she would have to a life dedicated to the support of a war effort, which I imagine many experienced during the 1940s. We learn of the author's family connection to the time and location of the effort and how she used her experiences to lend authenticity to the story. While the book recreated the atmosphere of an emerging war effort, and provided some high level details of the work, those interested in some of the historical details may find "The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II" by Denise Kiernan a great companion book.

[Leah Steinberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a daughter of Manhattan Project scientists and knowing much of the history as well as having done research on the project for my own non-fiction book, I really appreciated how Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak wove the facts into an engaging historical fiction novel that was based on the author's family history. Some of the names of the real scientists such as Louis Slotin and his carelessness that led to his death and other accidents that lead to radiation poisoning and some of the names that were changed such as those that were spies for Russia gave a true picture of the times, the struggles, and legacy. All woven around a young woman and her husband, who sacrificed in different ways during this time in history. I also enjoyed the Jewish storyline and the yiddish that reminded me of my growing up years. A great read; engaging, enjoyable, and factual.

[Marilyn Goncalves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fission is one of those stories that works on a couple of emotional levels, and I loved how naturally it all came together. It’s set in Oak Ridge, Tennessee during the Manhattan Project, so you get this fascinating glimpse into life behind the scenes of WWII full of uncertainty.
Doris Friedman completely makes this book. She’s a young mom trying to figure out who she’s supposed to be versus who she actually wants to be. The story is very charged, with tough choices, and emotions that sneak up on you.
Thoughtful and moving, this is a great pick if you like historical fiction that focuses on women’s lives and the choices they’re forced to make.

[Kim Wilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fission is a smart, engaging look at life inside the secretive world of the Manhattan Project, with a strong focus on the women expected to sacrifice their dreams for their husbands’ careers. Following a young wife uprooted from Chicago to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the story captures the loneliness, silence, and frustration of starting over in a town full of secrets.

Inspired by the author’s parents, the research is fascinating and accessible, while hints of dangerous science and possible Russian spies add tension. Thought-provoking and easy to discuss, this is a great pick for book clubs and fans of historical fiction with depth.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leslie Schover wrote Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak.” I very much enjoyed it for two reasons. First, it’s set on the homefront during WWII, a combination which I’m particularly interested in. Second, it’s a propulsive novel about a woman yearning to live the live she desires. The book more than satisfies the reader’s expectations on the main theme; and goes beyond. In a fascinating, close-up-way, it reveals little-known information about plutonium production in Oak Ridge, TN. Fundamentally, it’s a great read for lovers of women’s fiction. And just as much, it will more than satisfy readers who seek to learn from historical fiction.

[Pam Papworth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC of this book. The premise sounded great! I live 1.5 hours from Oak Ridge, TN and have read a couple of other books centered around the women living there during WWII. Unfortunately, the characters in this novel are totally unlikeable...even the children! I almost stopped reading it several times because of this but did actually finish the book because I wanted to learn more about the history.

I don't like to give bad reviews, because I don't like to hurt the author's feelings, but I feel that it is important for other potential readers to know the truth (as I see it). I will not be recommending this novel to my book club.

[Julie Coryell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is based on a prepublication copy of the novel.

The legacy of parents working at Oak Ridge on the pressured research and production of atomic bombs is complicated for descendants. Perilous, principled, secret, what can we know today? The Cold War arms race magnified the terror and risk. Leslie Shover has absorbed the stories and emotions of her family, particularly her mother, and the findings in the last decade about spies into a sensitive recreation of their circumstances and marriage. She spins a tender believable tale while weaving truth and possibility.

[Tracy Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of Fission by Leslie R. Schover last month and read it from cover to cover with relish. What a page-turner!

I especially loved how Schover portrayed the trials of a young mother and wife within the backdrop of her husband's involvement in the advancement of the atom bomb, while also capturing the country's existential dread, which colored both her life choices and relationships.

A story that covers themes of women's liberation, complicated family dynamics, and the ultimate power of forgiveness, Fission is a powerful novel. I highly recommend it!

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dual faceted book.

It’s set for the most part from in Oak Ridge, Tennessee from 1943-1945.

We get a look into the area and what’s happening with that part of the Manhattan Project which gives the book a real historical fiction feel.

The second facet is the main character, Doris Friedman. We see her aspirations, her disappointments, her struggle to be what’s the norm vs what she wants to accomplish. It’s a great character study into this time period for women.

It’s a fast moving book that has family significance to the author.

[Danielle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

FISSION is a historical fiction story that takes place in WWII era Tennessee. I have read many WWII historical fiction books, but I cannot recall one that centered around the Manhattan project like this one did. This content made it unique for me and I really enjoyed it. The author did a great job with the characters and made them come to life for me!

Many thanks to Leslie R. Schover for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.

[Darlene Golbitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am grateful to Goodreads for winning a Kindle copy of this WWII historical novel. Set in Oak Ridge, Tennessee with the Manhattan Project, this story is based on the author's parents and their role in developing nuclear fission leading to the atomic bomb. Covering the emotional impact and isolation of these young married people, along with creating friendships in their community, is fundamental to the story arc. Regrets, missed opportunities, secrets, and spies! Highly recommend as an addition to WWII history!

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked from start to finish and enjoyed getting into the character development and how it was used in the World War 2 element to tell the story and how good the story was. The characters worked well in the time-period and was invested in what was happening with the characters in this book. Leslie Schover was able to create a beautifully done historical fiction book and glad I was able to read this.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Linda Rosen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drawn from her parents’ stories, Schover brings us an engaging novel. She immerses us in the lives of the men and women living and working in the “secret” town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee during the Manhattan Project. From her extensive research, she brings us into the labs creating the atomic bomb and through her well-developed characters we not only feel its reverberations, we live the lives of wives and mothers and the expectations forced upon women in the 1940s.

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting mix of historical fiction, emotional depth, and a touch of suspense.

Set in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project, the story follows Doris, a young mother and one of the many women living behind the scenes of WWII.

This is a character-driven historical fiction with moral dilemmas, complicated relationships, and a strong sense of place, this one is worth picking up.

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fascinating historical fiction for me. I didn’t know much about the efforts in Oak Ridge in the 1940s, and I devoured the story. The writing was super descriptive, so I could clearly picture everything. Doris was such a great character. I loved her spirited personality and her determination. I really appreciated the author’s note, which explained her family’s connection to Oak Ridge.

[Jude Berman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written from a perspective where fiction and memoir (as revealed in the author’s note) intersect, Fission is a fascinating, impeccably researched story about an important but oft-overlooked historical moment. The authenticity of Schover’s characters, along with many intriguing twists and turns of plot, make this a gripping and unforgettable read.