Atmosphere is a breathtaking story of a found family, late in life queer romance, and the magnificence of humanity. Joan is a professor of astronomy who has spent a lifetime alone and disinterested in romantic relationships sees the stars as proof of existence beyond the anthropocene--but also as a reflection of the best parts: humanity’s desire for meaning and the stories we tell to create it. But, Joan has always had a dream to go to space. Set in the 1980s when the NASA space program begins to admit women into the program, Joan’s life turns upside down. She learns to take up space and exist for herself, not just at the whim of her younger sister who refuses to see beyond herself to the detriment of her daughter and Joan’s niece. Joan’s journey is awe-inspiring. Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book!

TY to Net Galley and Ballantine for the ARC! TJR is my favorite author so no surprise, I loved this book. Was I extremely interested in a book about space travel? Not particularly, but this author can make me interested in any topic she chooses to write about. I was captivated from the first chapter and did thoroughly enjoy the setting, both geographically and historically. The most amazing aspect of this story is neither of those things, however. As always with TJR books, the most amazing element of the book are the characters and there was no exception here. The two main characters along with all of the secondary cast make this a book that you cannot put down.

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and Radom House Publishing Group for the E-Arc</i>
Oh WHAT can I even say? Taylor Jenkins Reid knows how to write a romance! This book was amazing. I was hooked from the beginning and loved Joan. She annoyed me and made decisions that I wouldn't have but she felt so real. I enjoyed getting know know some of the other characters and I enjoyed how she interacted with them. I really liked the romance with Vanessa. Vanessa gave her the time to figure out what Joan wanted and never made her admit it to herself before she was ready. I thought they had a realistic relationship as well! They love each other but they but heads. It was also a harsh reminder of what it was like for lesbians back in the day and unfortunately what we could be headed towards now. I also really lover Francis. She was so cute and added another layer to Joan and really made everything come together in my opinion. I was ready to have my heart broken with that ending. She's done it before and I was ready for her to do it again! It's on of the few books I've tried at because damn if Joan and Vanessa didn't deserve that ending! I will say if you aren't good with dates or forget what's going on you might have a little bit of confusion for a hot minute. Overall this book was fantastic and I can't wait for more people to read it!

I had the opportunity to read Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid as an Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it! As a fan of Reid’s previous book The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I knew I had to dive into Atmosphere, especially with its intriguing space and astronaut storyline—something I’m secretly a bit of a nerd about.

Reid does an excellent job crafting compelling characters and delivering a heartfelt, closed-door romance that’s both sweet and genuine. The chemistry between the protagonists was palpable, and their relationship felt grounded in trust, respect, and emotional connection, which I appreciated. It’s definitely a romance that will appeal to fans of more subtle, slower-burn love stories.

However, my main complaint is that I was really hoping for more space! The story centers on the astronauts in the space program in the early 80s, and the events on a space shuttle, but I felt like the moments they were actually in the shuttle should have been more of the star. I was absolutely fascinated by the premise and excited about the space angle, and while it was incorporated into the story, I found myself wishing there was more details of what was happening on the shuttle, more of that NASA drama. As a space lover, I wanted a deeper dive into that world.

Despite that, the book was still fantastic overall. The writing was as beautiful and engaging as always, and Reid has a talent for creating characters that feel real and relatable. The emotional beats were spot on, and the way she blends personal journeys with larger, life-changing experiences (like space travel) was incredibly well done.

In conclusion, Atmosphere is a captivating read, and even though I would have loved more of the space component, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book. If you’re a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s writing and are intrigued by the space storyline, I definitely recommend giving it a read!

Thank you to NetGalley for access to this eARC!

WOW. All I can say is WOW. This story was so artfully crafted I’ll be thinking about it from now until the end of time. TJR has introduced us to perhaps her best set of characters yet, while simultaneously educating us on space and the importance of love and belonging. The last 100 pages of this book had me sobbing and I highlighted so many things.

Add this to your TBR. Right. Now.

Atmosphere was the engaging and enjoyable story of Joan Goodwin. Joan is selected as one of the first women astronauts during the 1980's Space Shuttle program. Joan's story is largely about her work as an astronaut, about which Taylor Jenkins Reid does a great job describing the social dictums and expectations of women breaking in to what was historically thought of as a "man's world". Joan's personal life, from her childhood challenges through her restricted young adulthood, to a mature woman experiencing deep emotional relationships allow the reader to come to know and understand this character as well as the other people in Joan's life. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Audio for making this ARC available.

I can’t ever put TJR’s books down. Her books are page turners full of all the emotions, and Atmosphere delivered! It was a unique era and topic to read about, life as an astronaut in the 80’s. I really didn’t want to end, especially with how it ended, haha! It left room for so much more for the imagination! Incredible author, incredible book.

I'm absolutely speechless. No words could do this book justice. Taylor Jenkins Reid has a way with words that I could never match, and she has crafted something truly perfect with this book.

I'm infinitely grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with another beautiful and tragic love story unlike any of her previous books. Written with strong female characters and an amazing setting, Atmosphere is set during the 1980s space shuttle program.

The characters are portrayed so realistically. The dynamics between sisters, friends, coworkers and lovers were complex. I was totally invested in each character. The historical detail about NASA and space exploration was fascinating. The high demands and competitive nature of the space program was reflected along with the found family aspect of the trainee astronauts. The thrilling conclusion had me at the edge of my seat. I could not put this book down!

Equally compelling and emotional, this is a story that stays with you long after the last page. TJR is an expert at making us fall in love and breaking our hearts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the ARC.

I absolutely loved this. Each character felt so real to me, especially Joan, Barbara, and Frances. Their dynamic was familiar and complex, and I was deeply invested in the relationship between the three of them. I was also especially invested in the relationship between Joan and Vanessa, which felt so important to the story and added so much heart. As usual, Taylor Jenkins Reid has a such a compelling and accessible writing style, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again! She always finds a way to craft this story to make these people feel so real. The way that this book is not about a real person is actually ridiculous. This is going to be one of those books that goes down in history with her Hollywood Series.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has never and will never steer me wrong. This was so different, yet reminded me so much of her previous works that I adore so much: strong female characters, a captivating setting, and the most beautiful yet tragic love story. One thing in particular I always admire about TJR is her ability to create fictional characters that feel *real*. This book reminds me so much of Evelyn Hugo beacuase of that; I actually had to look up if Joan Goodwin was real, or if she was just inspired by people who were.

I absolutely loved the setting and story of this book as well. Every time I read a story about space, I am in awe of how well the authors manage to turn high-level concepts into something palatable for the average consumer. Joan's outlook on space and her place in the world resonated so deeply with me and I found myself highlighting so many passages.

This book also has so many different love stories woven into it: the one between Joan and Vanessa, Joan and Frances, and, of course, Joan and space. In typical TJR fashion, I was sobbing through most of this (especially the final 20 pages), and wanted to savor every last page because I didn't want it to end.

These are characters and a story that will last with me forever.

I haven’t loved any of Jenkins Reid’s books beside Evelyn Hugo which is why I had low expectations for this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Atmosphere felt well researched and there were some interesting storylines and themes. It did feel a bit dense (slow) in the middle but I wanted to read on to see what happened.

Thanks netgalley

This Book Destroyed Me!

“Day in and day out, the Earth keeps spinning and revolving and sailing through the Milky Way. That is why time never stands still."

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! After writing some of my all-time favorites—Daisy Jones & The Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and Forever, Interrupted-she delivers Atmosphere, a breathtaking, gut-wrenching, and utterly unforgettable novel.

This book destroyed me. I haven’t cried this much since The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros. From the moment Joan Goodwin steps into the NASA astronaut training program, I was hooked. The 1980s space shuttle setting, the brilliant cast of characters, and the relentless pursuit of something bigger than yourself—it’s all here. Vanessa Ford absolutely stole my heart, and Barbara? The ultimate villain. The way this story unfolds is nothing short of cinematic, with twists that left me breathless and moments of pure devastation that will stay with me forever.

If you love NASA, science, and deeply emotional storytelling, this is a *must-read*. Taylor Jenkins Reid has mastered the art of making us fall in love with her characters, only to break our hearts in the most beautiful way.

I have never met a TJR book I didn't absolutely love, so when I started Atmosphere I was a tiny bit worried when I wasn't immediately drawn into the world of NASA. That's on me. Not TJR. And I'm sharing this because by the end of the book, I had fallen so deeply in love with this story and the characters that I had to go back to the beginning and reread the earlier chapters. Every detail. All the research. It was there, and it shaped this story, making it incredibly rich. I'm envious of those who get to experience this book for the first time. TJR proves, once again, that she's the brightest star in the room. Atmosphere will break you apart and put you back together in one single sitting. Highly recommend.

Atmosphere gives us the same niche sense of science, intensity, and high stakes as The Martian or the movie Gravity, but with the relationships and depth only TJR can bring. I related so deeply to Joan Goodwin, who’s committed to her work, a late bloomer in the area of love, and an aunt over everything else. Joan is our protagonist, but we become deeply attached to all of the NASA Group 9 ASCANs (astronaut candidates) - this connectedness makes sense, because Joan is the steady connector amongst this otherwise competitive cast of characters. It is through her colleagues’ eyes that she learns how much more she brings to the table than her intelligence. The story flashes between their years of training and one thrilling mission into space. During STS-LR9, both the astronauts on earth and in space must think and act both quickly and wisely as things go awry and the lives of the astronauts we love hang in the balance. I cried earlier in this book than I think I ever have, because of how dear the characters became and how very visceral and gripping the crisis at hand felt. I found myself whispering the ending to myself as I read it, hanging on to every word with my eyes flying to find out what happened next. Fascinating, inspiring, enthralling. This releases June 3 and is sure to be a hit this summer! I have no doubt it’s already in my top 5 for the year, and a book l’ll never forget.

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have read this - it has cemented Taylor Jenkins Reid as one of my very favorite authors.

This book gutted me in the best possible way. I never wanted it to end, but I also couldn’t put it down. Another home run for Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I was really looking forward to enjoying this book due to its historical fiction elements about women working at NASA. Unfortunately, it felt more like a tedious history textbook, making it hard for me to engage with the story. I usually love Taylor Jenkins Reid's work, but this one didn't resonate with me.

An amazing depiction of true love. The pacing was great; never a dull moment. I love the tension throughout the book.

Everything Taylor Jenkins Reid writes is lovely--this is no exception. True love, found family, and the space shuttle. What more could you want?