A woman's life is irrevocably altered when her pursuit of love leads her to the heart of the Manhattan Project, forcing her to confront her own deferred dreams. Meridian Wallace, a science-minded woman, sacrifices her aspirations to support her brilliant physicist partner's work on the atomic bomb. As she witnesses other women making similar sacrifices, she begins to feel invisible in her own life, her identity overshadowed by her partner's monumental task. The arrival of a young, complex man—a hippie and Vietnam veteran—introduces her to the freedoms of a new era, sparking a profound indecision about her path forward. Ultimately, Meridian must reclaim herself, integrating the disparate parts of her identity forged over years of personal compromise into a new, meaningful existence.

The Atomic Weight of Love is described as a quiet yet transformative story, drawing parallels between the metamorphosis of a butterfly and the protagonist's personal evolution. Reviewers highlight its fascinating account of Meridian Wallace, a woman whose scientific mind and personal dreams are put on hold for love and a partner's work on the atomic bomb. The narrative is noted for its exploration of the changing roles of women during the mid-20th century, from the 1940s to the 1970s, and its inclusion of intriguing facts about bird behavior and historical anecdotes. Ultimately, Meridian's journey is presented as a powerful reclamation of self, piecing together identities to forge a meaningful life.