The Silent Women

by Tara Lynn Masih

“A beautiful, moving portrait of lives reshaped by war and its aftermath. Tara Lynn Masih is a tremendous talent.” —Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow

An extraordinary novel inspired by the real women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee—the Manhattan Project’s “Secret City”—where thousands kept the deadliest secret of World War II.

Oklahoma, 1935. Black Sunday. From the moment a wall of black dust devours the plains and buries her world, Song Holloway’s life is marked by dislocation and loss. Even in the rural New England town she now calls home, that dark cloud continues to follow her.

Then the army asks her to take up work at a classified facility in the muddy outpost of Oak Ridge, a city that doesn’t appear on any map. Trained to test pipes, Song searches for leaks in a system no one will explain. The work is dangerous. People vanish. Yet it’s here, behind the barbed wire and watchtowers, that she finds what the dust storm stole: a place to belong and women who become her second family. And there is Hol—a gentle soldier who gives her, for the first time, peace.

Until she’s summoned. A small room. Two agents. Men with power she will never have. Song is given a command: spy on the women in your life. In a city built on secrets, keeping quiet used to be enough. Now it makes her complicit. But Song’s choices will haunt her long after she learns what flowed through those pipes.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, War, Historical, American History, American

392 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2026

About the author

Tara's new historical novel, The Silent Women: Inspired by the true story of the Manhattan Project’s secret women, has launched!

My Real Name Is Hanna, Tara's multi-award-winning debut novel for young readers and adults set in WW II Ukraine, was a finalist in the National Jewish Book Awards and received the Julia Ward Howe Award for Young Readers, a Florida Book Award (YA, Gold), a Skipping Stones Honor Award, a Foreword Book of the Year Award (Historical, Gold), and it appeared on Shelf Unbound's 2019 Notable List, Goodreads' 2018 Ultimate Fall YA Reading List, and their Best of the Month Sept. YA list. Hanna also released in Slovakia and Poland, and is forthcoming in Romania in 2026. Her latest story collection, How We Disappear, received a 2022 Florida Book Award (Bronze) for General Fiction, was a Book Marks "Best Reviewed Book," on THE MILLIONS "Most Anticipated" Fall List, nominated for a Clara Johnson Award, and a Readers' Favorite book.

AITL Media selected Tara for an Inspirational Woman in Literature Award. She is also editor of the acclaimed Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction. She founded The Best Small Fictions series.

Tara has been widely anthologized, and her essays have been read on NPR and translated into dance (see under Videos).

Once a regular contributor to The Indian-American and Masala magazines, she's now a member of the Historical Novel Society and serves on the editorial board of the place-based online journal Terrain.org and the advisory board for the Flash Fiction Institute. She lives in the historical town of Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Online you can find her on Facebook @Tara.Masih.1 and Instagram and LinkedIn @TaraLynnMasih

Reviews

[Miranda Reads]

"If this was The End ... she wanted to between both parents. They encircled their arms around her, holding her in their center."

Song Holloway knows what it's like to feel to feel powerless. Hopeless. A tiny speck to be devoured in the vast world.

Black Sunday - one of America's most devastating dust storms in 1935 - was a pivotal moment in her childhood and shaped how Song saw the world forevermore.

"Song, always hope. Always hope for something to the end, even if it's hopeless."

Then the war began and she found herself swept up in the effort - desperate to do what she can to help pull her friends and family from dwelling on their hard times. She found herself making a difference but then her teacher recommends her for a very specific line of work.

There's the interview, the recruitment and suddenly she finds herself working in a top secret facility, unable to even breath a word of what she's doing to her own mother. She doesn't know what to think her task only that it will help the war effort - but what does that mean for her soul?

"A feeling of unease begins to temper her excitement about what lies ahead."

Whew! This was my first book by Tara Lynn Masih but I don't think it'll be my last!

This was a sweeping book - spanning from 1935 to 1946 - and over that decade, we see Song grow from a frightened to a child to a confident woman in her own right. Pivotal moments from history shape her character and lend her strength as she finds her footing in this vastly changing, and often frightening world.

I will say that this book does have a slower pacing than expected. I did like seeing how her family and her character grew with time but sometimes the book did veer into a slice-of-life story rather than having a more directed plot.

That being said, I did like the slow relationship development and how the author portrayed a softer side of love - where the characters find themselves clinging to each other in an ever-changing world and learn how to support each other's needs.

Also, I'm going to geek out a bit about the very last pages of the book now. I loved how the author went through all of the major characters and events and provided her research and historical basis for their inclusion. I had an idea about some of the things discussed but it was awesome to learn just how much overlapped with the real world.

All in all, this was quite the enjoyable read!

"Who knows what else is being worked on in these hidden places?"

With thanks to the author for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Angela M]

The novel is told with historical accuracy, pitch perfect prose, emotional truths and a compassionate understanding of the impact of war on those who serve and those left behind. The writing is meticulous and detailed and beautiful in places that take the reader directly to the farm in Oklahoma where 8 year old Song Holloway and her family endure the horrendous dust storms in particular on April 14, 1935 , Black Sunday. From the first pages I could see the farm. I was in the dust storm and could feel their heartbreak.

The detail continues in this excellent historical fiction as Masih depicts war time at home with rationing, air raid sirens, empty shelves , Victory Gardens, alien citizens sent to detention centers and the fear - reflecting her years of in depth research. It continues throughout when Song is recruited to work at a government facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in top secret work as a “leak detector” examining pipes. So top secret that Song and her coworkers have no idea that they are working on The Manhattan Project, developing the atomic bomb.

So much covered here, the signs of the times - the unfair treatment of “colored people” , the stigma of “unacceptable” behavior such as close relationships between women, PTSD. All the while I was learning so much about the Manhattan Project that I never knew about, especially the role of women behind the scenes. Masih has done a fine job of telling of the time and events through a tough and caring character.

Be sure to read her Historical Notes . She does one of the things I always hope for when reading a novel by revealing her inspiration for writing it . We also learn what is real and what is fictional, a plus in finding the story so meaningful. I also recommend My Real Name Is Hanna and How We Disappear: Novella & Stories.

I received a copy of this from the author and Storm publishing through NetGalley.

[Darla]

The Manhattan Project had many facets and the cloak of secrecy surrounding it has been coming off layer by layer over the decades since. When Storm Publishing offered me an ARC via email for this new release, I decided to try it.

Did I like it? Not so much.

First, a few bits I did like:

🌪The narrative begins with Black Sunday in 1935 Oklahoma -- the Dust Bowl does not get much worse than this. Our main character Song Holloway carries the trauma from this day with her into the events of WW II.

🥀Song has a gift for growing things. She is a farmerette in the early days of the war on a strawberry farm and has hopes of getting a degree in Botany. There is also a period where she works in gladiola fields after the war. I think we learned more about these parts of her life than we did the Manhattan Project.

📚Tara Lynn Masih did extensive research to put this story together. I appreciated the real figures from history peppered throughout as well as characters inspired by real people.

👎What became clear to me as I read was that this author is not a good match for me. Her priorities in the story were not what I expected and I found it difficult reading. The book seemed SO long. For those reasons, I am not planning to pick up another title by the author. What I do plan on doing is adding The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II to my TBR.

This was not what I expected from a book that features the Manhattan Project in the title. BTW, is anyone else annoyed by these extended titles slapped onto so many books these days? Too wordy!

And those are my thoughts from Outlier Island.🚣 Be sure to check out other reviews before making a decision on reading this one. Many of my friends are huge fans of this author and/or this title.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Available as of September 9, 2026.

[Karen]

This is the third book that I have read by the talented Tara Lynn Masih.
This story begins in Oklahoma 1935, on Black Sunday when a horrific dust storm comes through and young Song’s family was stuck in the middle of it.. they could have died.
Song’s parents decide to move to Andover, Massachusetts where her mother is from and move in with her Aunt Bea.
Later, as World War II is raging overseas..
everyone is looking for a way to help out in the war effort...
Song joins the CEW, which took her to Tennessee, what they worked on was top secret, Song was a leak tester, a very dangerous job…later they found out they had helped make the Atomic Bomb.
There is Song’s personal story throughout the novel.. her friends, her loves,, and later her marriage.
The novel also shows how men come back from war very damaged by what they had seen.

The author writes at the end of the story about all the research she did to write this novel.

Another great book, beautifully written, Tara!
All three that I have read have been 5-star reads!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the free ebook in exchange for my honest review!

[Tara]

Update 9/10: 8 years after my last novel, The Silent Women has finally launched. And I'm so very grateful once again to the book bloggers and influencers who graciously did advance reviews and took the time to read/post/photograph/get creative all over social media. My finger literally stopped being able to press things on my phone yesterday, it was so worn out!

Don't forget to visit the blog on my website occasionally for behind-the-book stories.

https://www.taramasih.com/blog

Thank you all! You're why I write. XO
__________________________________________________

I began writing this novel almost 7 years ago. It was a very long journey.

First, it was Kate's story, then, it became Song's. I fell in love with Song's spirit and her role at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, one of the secret sites of the Manhattan Project. Song is the daughter of a farmer. She lives and breathes soil, flowers, nature. Then she volunteers in a scientific role. I loved the juxtaposition. I hope you will, too, and learn to care about her and her family and friends as much as I do! My characters become like family to me (one of them really is family, my grandfather), and after 7 years of creating them and watching them take off on their own, this proud mama-author sends them off into the great big world (with the help of the amazing team at Storm). I hope the story will fly!

Thanks to my readers for all your past support, emails, and reviews. They kept me going when I almost gave up. I know it was a loooong wait. I hope y'all will feel it was worth it!

Kindle and audio are available now for preorder, paperback coming soon! On Net Galley July 10.

[PattyMacDotComma]

4.5★
"'You’re welcome to let people know your destination, and that it’s a new job you’re after, but nothing more. Understood?' He held out his hand. She raised her shaking hand and placed it into his tight grip. 'Welcome to the war effort, Song Holloway.'"

Song Holloway is an earnest teenaged high schooler who's watched her classmates go off to fight in WW2. She's been working as a farmerette, helping out on a nearby strawberry farm, and being on-again-off-again romanced there by handsome young Lucas. He goes off to training… and new interests.

She won't be satisfied with "they also serve who only stand and wait" – she's going to volunteer like her Aunt Bea.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Song's story opens with one of the most terrifying 'storms' I've experienced on the page. I've never been in a proper dust storm, but some of the others have been pretty scary. She was a little girl in Oklahoma, having a picnic with her family, who'd been praying desperately for rain, when they looked up and realised the clouds that were rolling in weren't rain.

"APRIL 14, 1935, BLACK SUNDAY
Guymon, Oklahoma
. . .
Something’s coming,' her father replied, tilting back his Stetson and turning his head toward them, hope for rain embedded in every life-crease the sun had baked into his face.

And that was the truth of the day, for in minutes, all sound disappeared from Song’s ears, and her vision focused on the horizon over the distant low hills where a wall of blue-black-gray was growing up to the very heavens, reaching across the entire horizon. It rolled soundlessly toward them, alive, reaching higher and higher into the blue and up to the afternoon sun. Russian thistle blew in advance of it."

Fleeing in their truck, "It was so dark, they could not see in front of them. Blinded. Except for electricity that crackled in the air and sparked from barbed wire cattle fences lining the road, till it looked like they were flying in a cloud of lightning."

The family uproots and moves to her mother's sister's home north of Boston, where they begin a life with Aunt Bea, who is an active volunteer.

Song becomes a plane spotter, spending nights on a high platform in the dark with an old fellow who is now blind… but does he ever know plane engines and the stars. He asks her to describe what she sees, and then he tells her about the constellations and their stories.

She's identified as a bright young woman and is tapped on the shoulder to do more for the war effort… see the opening quotation. She is sent to work in secret at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, testing pipes for leaks. We know, but she doesn't, that she and her new friends are working on the soon-to-be-built atom bomb.

The author's extensive research is obvious, and she explains in the Historical Notes at the end how much of Song's story is based on actual people and incidents - an amazing amount, as it turns out.

It's hard to believe that such a big city – and a city it became – could remain virtually hidden from the public. It's known as the CEW, Clinton Engineer Works, and like most secret projects it seems to me, general terms like "engineering " or "research" do a lot of heavy lifting for workers needing to answer the "What do you do?" questions we all ask each other.

Song works so hard that exhaustion overcomes her dust storm nightmares, and when she later finds herself helping care for the victims of a catastrophic train crash, she gets a firsthand look at what it must be like in active war zones.

"She looks to the chart hanging over his head and sees that her young man is George O’Malley, from Raleigh, North Carolina. She pulls her chair closer to him.

Near the end, he turns suddenly to look at her, his eyes somehow even wider. His grip stronger.

She pulls down her mask so he can see her full face. His eyes bore into hers, looking for something. She sits up straight at attention, and clasps his hand with her other hand, so his is cupped with both of hers.

'George,' she whispers. 'I’m here.' Maybe he will confuse her with his mother or with a high school sweetheart.

But it’s not enough to hold him there. A large breath exits his body, his brown eyes glaze over. She feels life, whatever that is made up of, move on.
. . .
George had not even left the shores of the United States. The brutal war had still found a way to take his life."

The war found a way to touch everyone's lives, and Masih has illustrated that with everything from the old Bendix washing machines to the lipsticks and perfumes that were shared with whichever girl had a date.

I could see this as an excellent mini-series. There are so many stories within stories and Song moves through so many 'lives', that it would take more than a film to do it justice.

Song is well-named to represent the unsung heroines (as they would have been called then) who helped bring a deadly end to a horrific war.

Thanks to the author and #NetGalley and Storm Publishing for a copy for review.

[Debra]

Another outstanding book by Tara Lynn Masih! This is the fourth book which I have read by this author, and they have all been 5 star reads! I love books which are inspired by real people and events, teach me something new, and cause me to feel. The Silent Women did all those things. I was instantly gripped by the plot which was inspired by the real women who worked at the Manhattan Project’s “Secret City” in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This was a top location where the deadly secrets of WWII were kept!

Song has been recommended by one of her teachers to work in a highly classified facility in Oak Ridge to test pipes and search for leaks. That is not the only thing she is asked to do there; she is asked to spy on her fellow workers as well. Her work is secret and she cannot tell anyone what she does for the war effort. There she makes friends and catches the eye of Hol, a soldier who has his own set or orders.

I had a hard time putting this book down! I loved the atmosphere, the vivid descriptions of the setting, the characters, the friendships, the hardships, and the stressors of war. If you have read the author's previous book, My Real Name Is Hanna, you know she does an excellent job depicting time and place. She shows characters having to navigate the world in which they live. She shows the hardships of rationing, men going off to war, and women having to take on roles and responsibilities to care for their families. I thought Tara Lynn Masih did a brilliant job of depicting PTSD, trauma, anxiety, hope, love, loss, relationships, and determination in The Silent Women.

I found the title of this book to be very apt. I also loved the beautiful writing, the well-thought-out plot, and the cast of characters. I also encourage all readers to read the author's notes as well.

Highly Recommend!

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Angela]

The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih

Synopsis /

Oklahoma, 1935. Black Sunday. From the moment a wall of black dust devours the plains and buries her world, Song Holloway’s life is marked by dislocation and loss. Even in the rural New England town she now calls home, that dark cloud continues to follow her.

Then the army asks her to take up work at a classified facility in the muddy outpost of Oak Ridge, a city that doesn’t appear on any map. Trained to test pipes, Song searches for leaks in a system no one will explain. The work is dangerous. People vanish. Yet it’s here, behind the barbed wire and watchtowers, that she finds what the dust storm stole: a place to belong and women who become her second family. And there is Hol—a gentle soldier who gives her, for the first time, peace.

Until she’s summoned. A small room. Two agents. Men with power she will never have. Song is given a command: spy on the women in your life. In a city built on secrets, keeping quiet used to be enough. Now it makes her complicit. But Song’s choices will haunt her long after she learns what flowed through those pipes


My Thoughts /

3.5 rounded up

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Tara Lynn Masih for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

"We waited until the blast had passed, walked out of the shelter and then it was entirely solemn. We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent."
— J. Robert Oppenheimer (immediately following the Trinity Test—the world's first nuclear weapon detonation on July 16, 1945, in the New Mexico desert.)

With thousands of men serving overseas during World War II, women filled jobs in record numbers on the home front, including at the Manhattan Project. Women worked as nurses, teachers, librarians, food-service workers, and secretaries. They also worked in traditionally male-dominated industries such as welding and on the assembly lines building war equipment. A limited number of women worked as scientists and technicians across bigger and smaller Manhattan Project sites.

This is my first book by this author, and it had many things going for it. Although this reader thought the story very slow-going (there isn't really much in the way of 'action'), the great atmosphere and setting brought up the slack and the author's world-building is impressive.

…in the tilled earth that mixes with the faint smell of ever-bearing strawberry flowers and the bitter scene of centipedes. Warm air fills with the gentle hum of worker bees.

A novel inspired by the real women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee — the Manhattan Project’s “Secret City”—where thousands kept the deadliest secret of World War II.

This book had a killer hook, but for this reader, the actual story completely failed to deliver. Yes, it was a pleasant and (as mentioned earlier) atmospheric read, but it ultimately offered absolutely nothing new or groundbreaking – other than a well written character-centred period story. As a reader who loves character-driven novels, good character writing is still not enough on its own. A character-driven story must still have a compelling, substantial plot behind it to succeed.

At 422 pages (it's a little too long) the reader follows the decade long story of Song Holloway, beginning in 1935 during the devastating Dust Bowl crisis in Oklahoma; then moving to New England, Oak Ridge where Song is put to work as a leak tester, testing pipes for the Manhattan Project (unbeknown to her); and then eventually concluding at the end of WWII in 1945 when Song re-settles in Florida with her husband, Hol. I'm not sure we needed such a sprawling timeline; or, to devote 'so many pages' to Song's life before and after working at Oak Ridge. If you're going to use the Manhattan Project as a 'hook' to entice readers, that's what I'm going to look for. The background detail and page count were as empty as the actual secrecy surrounding the project, and left this reader wanting.

While the novel’s deeply human focus shines a compelling light on the resilient women of Oak Ridge, the overarching plot unfortunately struggles to match the strength of its characters. Readers seeking a tightly wound historical thriller may find that the narrative momentum frequently stalls, as the high-stakes tension of the Manhattan Project takes a back seat to daily routines and interpersonal dynamics. Ultimately, the story's dramatic peaks and espionage elements feel somewhat understated, leaving the central conflict feeling less like a gripping historical mystery and more like a quiet, character-driven slice of life.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to one of my favourite publishers, Storm Publishing 💗 for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for September 9, 2026.

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile]

4.5 🌟

“Everyone knows the truth of this: It’s always hard to leave a home, a country, a partner, a way of life. But it’s also true that a homecoming can be a more perilous journey.”

Meticulously researched, informative and inspiring, The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih  is an engaging work of historical fiction that highlights the contribution of women to the WWII effort back home and in the jobs left vacant by men fighting on the front lines. The author particularly highlights the lives and work of those employed at  Oak Ridge, Tennessee—the Manhattan Project’s “Secret City” as experienced and observed through the eyes of our protagonist, Song Holloway.

We meet Song as an eight-year-old  in Oklahoma 1935 and follow her journey over the next decade from the dust storms of Oklahoma to rural life in Andover , Massachusetts to her experiences in Oak Ridge, Tennessee  where she works at a secret research facility as leak tester on a project the details of which are even kept from those like herself are not completely divulged to life post WWII. Interwoven throughout Song’s story is a picture of life during the times – the social norms that define the lives of men and women ( including attitudes towards Native Americans and Blacks,  the taboo on  same-sex relationships and so much more), the impact of natural calamities, personal loss, and the devastating impact of war on the lives of those not only fighting on the frontlines but also those contributing to the war effort back home.  The physical and emotional toll of war on those who have lived through it is sensitively touched upon by the author, as seen in how Song and her husband struggle to adjust to normal life after the war ends, each of whom are dealing with their own post-war trauma.

 “She can’t name what’s inside her. Not yet. She possesses many inner pockets where she has pushed down memories and dreams, and even deeper within those pockets, in the corners, in the detritus, lie the secret pieces of who she is.”

 The strength of this novel lies in its impeccable historical research and the strongly defined female characters. As the narrative progresses, we bear witness to how Song’s journey  and her personal growth from a child to a young adult are definitively influenced by the strong bonds forged with the women in her life, both at home ( her mother, friends and her Aunt Bea) and in the family she finds in Oak Ridge - women who have come together in various roles for the war effort. This is a story of loss, strength, love and family, friendship, community and resilience written in beautiful prose and vivid detail. The pacing of the novel is on the slower side, but suits the nature of the story. Do read the beautifully penned  Historical Notes, where the author shares her inspiration for the story and its characters.

 
“Fate, as the fortune teller had emphasized, could be full of twists and turns, both tragic and celebratory, but by its very definition it remained a predestined force that couldn’t be altered.”

 
Many thanks to Storm Publishing for the digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Expected date of Publication: September 9, 2026

 

Connect with me! ✏ Instagram  ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph

 

[Lisa Vegan]

ETA: Wonderful interview with the author (despite some technical difficulties it's worth watching!):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-Yhb...


I received a copy of the book from the author on 9/2.
I read it from 9/2-9/14; I didn’t have much time to read during the first week.
I posted a review on 9/15.
The book’s publication date was 9/9.

4-1/2 stars

All the way through this felt like a 4-1/2 star book. I thought a lot about whether up uprate or downrate. I remember loving another book by this author, My Real Name is Hanna, also a 4-1/2 star book and I can’t remember why I would have given it 4 vs. 5 stars since I remember loving it. I remember a lot about Hanna and the story but not enough to know why I did that. I gave another of the author’s books 4 stars too. Sometimes I think if I’m acquainted with an author or if I win or am given a book I’ve bent over backwards to not rate it too highly, which maybe means I’ve actually been unfair to some books while trying hard to be fair. With this book I have decided to give it 5 stars. When I thought about giving it 4 stars (as with the Hanna book) it was because I was often feeling melancholy while reading it. A lot that happened was painful to read. That is not the book’s fault and I also don’t think its intent was to be depressing, not at all. Life is painful and these characters undergo many hardships and do suffer in various ways. However; the characters are strong, have grit and are determined and resilient. I don’t think most readers will find it as emotionally difficult a read as I did even though it’s not always an easy read. I think it’s meant to be uplifting and in some ways it is. Given how closely it’s based on real events, it’s fitting that it read the way it did.

It has everything I want in a historical fiction book.

It’s meticulously researched. I could tell that even before reading the sections at the end: the historical notes, letter from the author (which includes all sorts of contact information as a way to follow and/or keep in touch with the author) and the acknowledgments. I often uprate a book due to the extra content at the end. For this book I’d already decided to do that before I read the end material. I’m grateful the author included everything at the end though as it showed how well researched the book was and I was interested to read about the change of course the author took and appreciated knowing what was real history vs. based on history; I always want to know that when reading historical fiction books.

During the entire story I felt as though I was there. That is always a huge plus for me when reading books.

The characters are compelling. I loved Song and King and also many of the other characters. I appreciated the diversity of the characters.

I learned a lot even though I had thought I already knew a lot. I have read many, many WWII books and some Great Depression era books, nonfiction and historical fiction, yet I learned a tremendous amount from this book. I’d known nothing about Black Sunday, the roles played by the women (and men) in Oak Ridge in Tennessee, the Ghost Army, using blind people as plane spotters, Quonset huts, and more. I enjoyed learning about all of it.

The writing is superb and is naturally poetic especially when describing the natural world, gardening and farming. As with the Hanna book these characters are so attuned to the natural world. I loved reading about Song’s interest in botany and her gardening and farm/picking work, and the astronomy parts too.

There were many quotable passages and great quotes. My favorite was “Trust is gained in drops, lost in buckets.”

This book follows Song and her family members, workmates, neighbors and friends from the time Song is eight years old until she is a young woman. Most of the story takes place when she is in high school and then as an almost grown and then grown woman. So much happens that it feels like an epic.

This is a story about secrets, both imposed and self-imposed. It’s a story about family and friendship and dedication and commitment and loyalty. It’s about trauma too.

I can’t stress enough how I appreciated (as someone who is not a romance reader) that the main love story is unconventional, not typical and not idealized. In some ways that is true of many of the friendships and familial relationships too; they’re bittersweet. For me, that makes the people and their interactions believable.

Some of my status updates, in spoiler tags only to make the review less unwieldy:


I started it before bed. I didn’t have time to read more than the prologue, partly because I spent a lot of time looking up 1935’s Black Sunday. I love historical fiction stories that inspire me to look up historical information. Great descriptions that had me feeling as though I was there.

I couldn't wait for what I assume will be an author's note at the end. I had to look up Oak Ridge. I like Song and I'm enjoying this book.

The history is fascinating. Often with historical fiction stories the fictional characters bother me and I’d prefer a straight history book but at least so far with this book I’m enjoying the characters a lot.

I've read a lot about this but somehow up until now I'd missed how Oak Ridge, Tennessee played such a huge role in it.

The end of a war is not the end of a war.

How had I never heard of the Ghost Army?

All the way through I've been eager to read any included notes at the end (and was tempted to read them before I finished the book) and yet now I've finished the book proper but I'm going to have to wait until tomorrow to read the rest and I might not have time to write a review until at least Tuesday. Impactful story and I want to reflect about my feelings & thoughts.

[jv poore]

I cannot wait for this one!!

[Mary]

Book Title: The Silent Women
Author: Tara Lynn Masih
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Out Now? Y
Dates Listened: September 13, 2026 – September 14, 2026

🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: Reading this couldn’t have come at a better time. My husband and I have been talking about how we need to watch Oppenheimer, and then lo and behold, I read a book about the women of the Manhattan Project. This was a very informative read, which is just one of the many things I love about historical fiction. I was fairly engrossed in Song’s story, and I especially loved reading the author’s historical notes at the back of the book. I didn’t feel the tension I expected, but it still got me in my emotions, and I think this was the perfect complement for when we watch the movie. I could tell that Tara Lynn Masih put a lot of effort into her research, and the book was very powerful. If you are a fan of historical fiction and want the women's side of the story, I highly recommend The Silent Women.

🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: I thought Amelia Sciandra did a wonderful job with her narration, and she was perfect as the voice of Song. From a dust storm to spying on your peers, Sciandra delivered each emotion with precision, and her tone was spot on. You can’t go wrong with any method in which you choose to read this book!

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐:  🚫

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Annette]

The Silent Women is based on the true story of the Oak Ridge secret project which was one of the secret sites of the Manhattan project during WWII.

Song Holloway, as a young girl, experiences the dust bowl days in 1930s Oklahoma, including the Black Sunday which holds a traumatic imprint on her.

Her family moves to Massachusetts in 1942, leaving behind the extreme dust and economic devastation. They were among many families who left the American Great Plains.

In Massachusetts, she attends school where nothing interests her except biology. Thus, she hopes to go on to study botany. She extends her love for botany by helping out with tending their small garden.

She also helps out in war efforts in any possible way. During the day, she helps out at a strawberry farm, and during night, she observes plains, but she feels she wants to do even more.

As one of the best students, the opportunity presents when she is asked to join a top-secret operation that is crucial to winning the war. She doesn’t hesitate.

This new journey in her life takes her to Oak Ridge in Tennessee. It’s a desolate area, bare and dusty, reminding her of the dust bowl days and causing nightmares. Despite this harsh isolated area and strictly surveyed, she finds something that gives her solace. It’s the comradery of other women. It gets even more hopeful when on a field trip, she meets a corporal in the army serving in Europe, leading to a long distance relationship. She finds peace inside herself despite the dangerous work she performs.

But when the secret is out when the bomb is dropped on Japan, Song doesn’t feel jubilant. Taking the lives of others doesn’t make sense. She goes through another emotional process, which shortly after is followed by another shaky situation in her life.

After the war, and newly married, they arrive in Florida. She quickly sees that his words on paper differ from his actions. It’s the actions that show you the true character, not words.

This historical fiction pays tribute to all the women who played an important part in the war effort and were never acknowledged. Through Song’s story we also experience self-progression from adolescence to adulthood, showing innocence and how it is shaped through life’s lessons. There is also a beautiful connection to mother earth. Even though she didn’t end up studying botany, she continued to appreciate the value of good soil and what it provides, which is much needed these days.

The Silent Women is based on meticulous research presented with conviction and exploring many themes, including PTSD, discrimination, and stigma.

Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Literary Redhead]

From that gorgeous cover to the exquisitely written story of the Manhattan Project's "secret women," I was swept away by this meticulously researched histfic tale unlike any other.

Superb character development, especially of the MFC named Song, and a cinematic narrative kept me reading addictively past the midnight hour, my husband and two kittens snoring beside me.

The author details her incredible research behind this splendid book in her must-read "Historical Notes" section, which I found as fascinating as the beautifully written tale.

A historical fiction masterpiece, highly recommended for readers who love character-driven stories about courageous women who "silently" change the world.

[Luisa Jones]

“Women are called to step up and clean up the broken pieces, even if they themselves are broken.”
The Silent Women gives long-overdue recognition to the vital role played by women on the American home front in WW2. It presents a fascinating and evocative account of one fictional woman through the Dust Bowl and, later, the preparations for possible invasion, until she’s called to serve her country by working on a mysterious project. It highlights the terrible impact of war on individuals and communities: on the men and women who serve, and on those from different social backgrounds.
Impressively researched and beautifully written, in this book Tara Lynn Masih has given a voice to those who are rarely listened to: the young female school-leaver looking for a way to be useful; the gay couples forced to live in the closet; the black and Native American workers doing dangerous work in dreadful conditions; the soldiers and civilians fighting on fronts so secret they can confide in no one, made to spy on one another and navigate an environment filled with uncertainty and mistrust. Finally, we are reminded of the many victims of war, the terrible lengths to which humans will go in order to achieve their ends, and the trauma this imposes on those who are caught up in it on all sides.
It’s also a book about the possibility of healing, and the strength people have when they pull together.
Recommended reading for any fans of literary historical fiction.

[Jenée]

I always learn something new in a well written historical fiction. Thank you NetGalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Set during WWI, the book tells the story of women determined to serve their country in any way they can by taking in traditional male jobs, running a household, and maintaining what sense of normalcy they can. This story plays out like a movie. The characters have depth and grow. In the midst of trudged and hard times a love story blossoms and steals your heart.

[Angelie]

The Silent Women was a beautifully written historical fiction story inspired by true stories about women and their critical involvement with the Manhattan Project. Wonderfully researched and intricately woven through the years of pre and post WWII.

The story is so full of great history, and Song is such a wonderfully crafted character, so the story flows well and is easy to stay connected. You could truly feel how much love was put into creating Song for this story.

The atmospheric descriptions of the land, the farming, Black Sunday in Oklahoma, the stargazing in Andover, the heavy heat and red muddy dirt in TN, and the home in FL, are so well done, you can feel the places as if you are there in the moment with Song.

It’s full of heart, grief, longing, and character depth. I will remember this story. So why 4 stars instead of 5. The main reason for that is that this read like two stories. The 70% mark is when the post war experiences takes hold, and it felt like that was it’s own story. While it’s connected, there is certainly enough here for two solid books with two solid themes. So, that is to say I will read more by this author!


Huge thanks to Tara Lynn Masih, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

[Erik]

An incredible, emotional read. I loved the historical parts coupled with deep family stories and connections. The characters all feel so real exploring so many themes of humanity. Highly recommended! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Patsy]

I love anything that is based on a true story. This book was very well written and really gave you a good insight into the mindset, he community and just the world that was being lived in during the World War II era.

The story is told from the perspective of one female whose family relocated, and she ended up serving her country in a way that she never expected. This tells of the resilience of the women who were serving their country during this time, often doing jobs designed for men. Not to mention, often doing things that they never imagined that they'd be doing. Things that had to be kept secret

You can tell that the author really did her research in writing this book because it felt so authentic and real to the time period.

This was more than I expected, and I loved it so much. It is one hundred percent, a five star read for me. Everyone needs to read this book.

[Lisa A.]

What a wonderful way to learn some US history! I've read little about the devastating effects of the dust storms of the 1930s, including Black Sunday, and have little knowledge of life in the US during WWII, with foreigners being sent to internment camps and communities holding mock raids in preparation for possible invasion. I also enjoyed Song's introduction to Oak Ridge and learning more about life there. The post-war storyline was also informative, and I was fascinated to learn about the Ghost Army. It took me a while to start another book after finishing this one as I just needed to sit with it and digest everything.

This is an insightful, informative, thought-provoking, atmospheric and emotional novel. It's well-paced with great character development, and it piqued my interest in these events. It will stay with me for many years to come and I will definitely re-read it one day.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. My review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

[Catherine Norselli]

Inspired by the true story of the women of the Manhattan Project, this follows the women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, “the Secret City,” who unknowingly helped build one of the deadliest weapons in history, having been told almost nothing about what they were actually doing.

What I loved is that it doesn’t stop when the war ends. It follows the aftermath too, veterans coming home and dealing with what we’d now call PTSD, and these women carrying their own invisible weight from what they’d been part of.

And the research is incredible. You can feel it on every page. It’s one of those books that shows you a piece of WWII history you probably never thought about, which is exactly why I love historical fiction like this

[Jennifer Denise]

The Silent Women shines a light on a fascinating and often overlooked piece of history, bringing the women of the Manhattan Project out of the shadows and giving them the recognition they deserve. Knowing that the story is inspired by real events made every chapter feel even more impactful, and I found myself wanting to learn more about the incredible women whose contributions were kept secret for so long. Tara Lynn Masih does a wonderful job capturing the uncertainty, sacrifice, and emotional weight of living with secrets that could change the world. I especially appreciated how the novel balanced the historical significance with the personal stories of the women behind the science, reminding readers that history isn't just made by famous names—it's also shaped by ordinary people doing extraordinary things. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, there were moments where the pacing slowed, particularly in the middle, and I found myself wishing for a little more emotional depth with some of the characters. I connected with the history more than I connected with every individual storyline, which kept this from being a full five-star read for me. Even so, this is a compelling and educational historical novel that left me thinking long after I finished it. If you enjoy stories that uncover hidden history, celebrate resilient women, and blend fact with fiction, The Silent Women is absolutely worth picking up.

[C.R. Comacchio]

The cover of Tara Lynn Masih’s latest historical novel explains that it is ‘inspired by the true story of the Manhattan Project’s secret women.’ Most readers know that the Manhattan Project, the biggest, most dangerous and probably most secret of all Second World War related Allied projects, was intended to produce bombs that would eventually be capable of ending life on earth. The first of these was intended to be dropped on Hiroshima to compel Japan to surrender, thereby ending the Pacific War. Initiated by President Roosevelt, who died shortly before the war in Europe ended in May 1945, the final order was given by his successor President Truman. When the Japanese Emperor failed to meet the American deadline, a second bomb pounded Nagasaki into the ground.

What this book does beautifully is to show that women’s labour was vital at every level of the project’s development, that their secrecy was considered as crucial as their participation because Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union were working on similar weapons, and that the isolation of the quickly thrown together facilities at Knoxville, Tennessee—the largest military production complex in history—caused nervous stress and strain and left significant numbers of women workers damaged health in both body and mind.

The characters, especially the female lead, the poetically-named Song Holloway, and her circle of friends in the North Carolina farm town where she grows up, are beautifully drawn, each made real thanks to Masih’s masterful writing. The town is where her mother, widowed during the Great Depression, found sanctuary at her childhood home, shared with her unconventional unmarried sister and the sister’s close female friend. This part of the narrative, which goes back and forth in time, starting with the terrible dirt storm of 1935 that broke her parents’ resolve to hold on to their farm, also demonstrates how stoic women of all races, ages, and class backgrounds, single and married, sometimes working for wages but mostly for barter or an exchange of skills and labour, kept families going during those tragic years. Their men were often absent, travelling across the country to find scarce work, too disillusioned to do more than abandon their families, or, eventually, signing up for service just to get paid. It’s hard not to weep over the conditions that these wives and mothers, who could never earn enough to support families on their own, had to endure to survive and provide. This entire part of the story is long and detailed, and I was wondering when the Manhattan Project would come up. Not until around the novel’s midpoint, it turned out.

This is ultimately a story about trauma, present and remembered, suppressed but never gone. Masih traces its impact on individuals, families and communities. She demonstrates how men experienced destitution and war differently than women. And she also shows how secrets, from tiny to epoch-making, are destructive, even soul-destroying, on multiple levels.

This novel’s emotional intensity drew me in and kept me reading, even though there were so many characters, I sometimes lost track of their interactions and how they related to each other. Song grows to adolescence with her childhood friends, but there isn’t much connection between her pre-Knoxville world and her time in Knoxville, where she makes a whole new set of deep female friendships. The mechanics of production and the maintenance of total secrecy are absolutely astounding, but I don’t think that much detail is necessary in a story that is really about the relationships of humans with each other and other living things (she does a lovely job with the often-ignored environmental impacts). She doesn’t even truly know the man she hastily marries, though her faith in being able to help him through his PTSD, brought on by active duty, is really touching. This is an amazing story that really does put the women behind the men behind the war, as they were often called, where they belong, at the story’s centre. And I don’t think I’ve ever read such a sensitive treatment of the personal effects on those who built the bomb—that its creator came to think of as death itself—once they discovered what they had done without knowing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC of this book.

[Laura]

Happy #bookbirthday to The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih! What is the job of the main character in your current read?

Song Holloway’s life is defined by hardship. Her family survived Black Sunday in the dust bowl in 1935, but they had to leave their farm to travel east to live with her aunt. Her father died working for the CCC and as a highschooler, she works on a farm and watches the skies for plans to help in the WWII effort. When she graduates high school, her science teacher recommends her to work on a top-secret project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Song meets many new people, learns new skills, and wonders what exact top-secret project she is working on. When she is asked to spy on her friends, what will she do? Will the new GI she met turn into more than a fleeting romance?

My thoughts on this novel:
• I liked the look at a life from the dust bowl as a little girl through WWII as a teenager and young adult, and then early married life after the war. It was a good cross section of a life and showed how the greatest generation had to live through a lot of tough times.

• I liked the family, friend, and acquaintance that Song met along the way. She was able to make some deep connections with a lot of interesting people.

• There is a great authors notes at the end of the novel on author Tara Lynn Masih’s inspirations for this book. She did a lot of great research to put this together.

• I loved learning about the atomic city, Oak Ridge Tennessee and the unique life that the inhabitants lived. Song’s job inspecting pipes for leaks is based on real job there.

• Black Sunday during the dust bowl is vividly described. One of my favorite quotes, “Song watched the blackening wall, like ballooning mountains, descend on them. Mesmerized. It was almost beautiful, with balls of dust in the curtain of what was now all fluffy black.”

• I loved the theme of being able to heal and move on with life. Scarred, but moving forward.

• I enjoyed that it wasn’t just a happily ever after story but was realistic look at what returning GIs had to face as well as women who had to leave their important war time jobs. I would love to read more of Song’s story.

• This would make a great movie!

Overall, The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih is a fascinating historical fiction novel with great characters.

Book Source: Thank-you Storm Publishing, Tara Lynn Masih, and Get Red PR for the review copy of this book!

This review was posted on my blog at: https://lauragerold.blogspot.com/2026...

[Amanda (TheBookwormAdventures)]

There are so many facets of the war effort during WWII that I have had no clue about until I’ve read a historical fiction book that featured it. It’s particularly interesting to read stories about things that took place in the United States, as it often seems so far removed physically from the war.

The Silent Women is one such book, focusing on the life of Song Holloway, who finds herself working in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, at the site of the super secret Manhattan Project.

But rather than starting with Song’s contribution to the war effort, the novel begins with her life much earlier, as she and her family flee Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl. Song’s life feels marred by tragedy and loss, and she seems to continually search for a purpose in the world.

Eventually, she is recommended for a secret government job and finds herself traveling to Tennessee. Her job is just a small part of what is going on there and almost nobody has the full picture. After the war is won, it is revealed that she helped to make the atomic bomb possible, something that she struggles with, as do many who unknowingly took part.

Interwoven throughout the story are the themes of female friendships, loyalty, and also, romantic love. The romantic theme definitely took a back seat, with everything happening towards the last part of the novel, and then very quickly. I found myself feeling like parts of this book were disjointed - there was a lot of before she went to Oak Ridge, and then too much “after the war” was squeezed into a short amount of pages. I would’ve liked to see more of Song and her husband on the pages, working through their traumas.

Overall, it was a fascinating look at a part of WWII that I knew next to nothing about, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction centered in that era.

[Megan Deemer]

I appreciated learning more about the secret roles of the men and women recruited by the military to help develop weapons during the war. It honestly never dawned on me how deeply this could have affected the people involved—especially knowing they had no idea what they were actually making or how their work would ultimately contribute to the mass casualties caused by the atomic bomb.

That said, there was almost too much going on in this book—from the Dust Bowl to POW runaways, PTSD, the war effort, and everything in between. Some parts of the story felt much more elaborate than necessary, while others were glossed over so quickly that I found myself turning back a page to make sure I hadn’t missed something.

I enjoyed the female camaraderie throughout Song’s time at the secret military base in Oak Ridge. Those relationships were some of my favorite parts of the story. And I loved Song’s relationship with King, who helped her discover that there was more to life than simply mapping the stars.

My favorite quote from the book:
“Even if humans snuff out their lights and each other, she thinks, stars will still shine brightly out of the darkness, and the moon will continue to reshape itself each month in its predictable position as the Lord of the night sky.”

Overall, I found the historical aspects fascinating and definitely walked away with a greater appreciation for the people who unknowingly played a role in one of the most devastating moments in history. I just wish the story had been a little more focused and evenly paced.

Thank you #NetGalley & #StormPublishing for the opportunity to read this ARC- #TheSilentWomen
Published 9/9/26.

[Christina Egan]

📚 Book Review 📚- The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih
Happy Release Day to Tara Lynn Masih on the release of The Silent Women!
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book but I really enjoyed this historical fiction!!
This book is inspired by the Manhattan Project and follows Song Holloway and the rest of the women who worked at a classified facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The women at this secret facility become her second family and when she is summoned to spy on the women she works with, she must find the moral courage and what is costs to live with the truth. I am not very family with the Manhattan Project, so I am looking forward to reading this book!
I loved how the book started with Song as a young child and followed her teen years in Massachusetts and then to Tennessee where she spent several years participating in the war effort and developed special bonds with a small group of women.
While the book focused on her time in Oak Ridge, after she moved to Florida with her husband, she also experienced great hardship dealing with the PTSD that her husband experienced during the war. This was an interesting and emotional look at the impact of WWII on the soldiers and their families.
The book is based on the true story of the women who were called to help during the war effort and the aftereffects of the war. It was really a fascinating read.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Thank you Get Red PR for a gifted copy of The Silent Women by Tara Lynn Masih.

This book is being released today September 9, 2026.

[Jess Reads]

Thank you to Get Red PR for the advanced reader copy of this WWII historical fiction.

Unfortunately I think the marketing for this has set it up for failure. The cover leads you to believe this book is about the women involved in the Manhatten Project. While there is a small portion of this book in which the main character does work on this project the majority of this story revolves around PTSD and its generational effects.

The first third of this book is a coming of age story. The main character does not graduate high-school prior to around page 100. While I appreciated the parallels drawn between the dust bowl and the atomic bomb and the trauma surrounding both, I feel this entire section should have been a chapter or two instead of 100 pages.

Similarly, the last third of the book is after the end of the war and focuses on the repercussions of the character's actions. While this section was more compelling than the first third, it was not the story I thought I would be getting from this book.

There was a story worth hearing hidden within, but I fear it fell victim to an author falling in love with a charcter instead of a story. If you are looking for a charcter driven story about surviving ptsd, war and other traumas from a under 20 female main character's perspective you may enjoy this, but it definitely fell way short of the mark for me.

[Melissa Mejia]

I had the pleasure of receiving this as an ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review! Wow this was such an emotional read! I was never a history buff but man this story was phenomenal!! Song was a strong independent lady who went through some rough times and prevailed!! I don’t think i would have made it in those times!! Those were rough times back in those days you did have choices you did what the government told you to do!! This was absolutely phenomenally written!! Thank you giving me this chance to read this book!! Chefs kiss and I can’t wait to read more by this Author!! This will forever live in my head!! It was beautifully written and was very moving!!

“An extraordinary novel inspired by the real women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee—the Manhattan Project’s “Secret City”—where thousands kept the deadliest secret of World War II.”

[callistoscalling]

📖 Book Review 📖 As the United States battled through the Great Depression and globe was on the brink of a Second World War, Song Holloway unknowingly was preparing to develop a new advanced, and ethically controversial, type of warfare. While the history of The Manhattan Project is well-documented, the role of the women in the advancement of this top-secret government program is not. Tara Lynn Masih shares a riveting tale of this too often forgotten piece of the past. The Silent Women truly brings these experiences to the present, in an evocative story that conveys humanity’s struggles in harrowing time.