BOOK OF THE MONTH

The Only Woman in the Room: A Historical Novel of Hedy Lamarr and Her Secret Wartime Invention

She was beautiful. She was a genius. Could the world handle both? A powerful novel based on the incredible true story of the glamour icon and scientist Hedy Lamarr, whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication.

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Published Aug 6, 2019

320 pages

Average rating: 7.33

738 RATINGS

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Riparian

Bottle shop book club in DT Raleigh that reads all sorts of stuff but loves drama, thrillers, mysteries, history, romance, sci-fi, and non-fic.

Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say "The Only Woman in the Room" is an engaging fictional biography that vividly portrays a remarkable woman’s journey through adversity, fame...

Sue Dix
Mar 14, 2026
6/10 stars
I didn’t know what to expect from this book in this genre I rarely read, but it surprised me half way through when we finally learn the identity of the woman in the title. I probably should have tumbled to it sooner, but I honestly didn’t know this woman’s history, or anyway the version of it in this novel. Abuse, intrigue, espionage, escape, stardom, WWII, invention, misogyny. Not a lot has changed, but this book has made me want to learn more.
mhooper
Dec 27, 2023
8/10 stars
A story about the surprising brain behind a movie star.
Hope_LovesReading
Apr 30, 2026
9/10 stars
Im 16 and this was my first ever serious chapter book, and I absolutely loved it so much. It pulled me completely into the world of historical fiction. I would definitely recommend this to anyone, especially young readers who haven’t tried historical fiction yet!
Gayle P
Mar 01, 2026
9/10 stars
Very engaging fictional biography of early 20th century actress Hedy Lamarr. The novel leaned heavily into the true facts of her life: her escape from an abusive marriage ; her flight out of Europe as Hitler was gaining power; her rise to wealth and fame as a movie starlet; her high intelligence and proficiency in creating abd improving technology. This is a book you do not want to miss.
BaRb Mitchelson
Feb 28, 2026
8/10 stars
Loved learning about Heddy Lamar and her life as a woman during WW2. From Britain, to Germany, and finally her life in the USA.

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