Wow. I've enjoyed all the Taylor Jenkins Reid books I have read but Atmosphere blew me away. It was the perfect balance of informational (I want to learn everything about astronomy and space exploration now!) with incredible relationship building. From Joan and her fellow astronauts, to Joan and her family, and of course, Joan and Vanessa--all these relationships were so rich and vibrant. I could picture them so clearly and I was sad to reach the end. I even stopped myself from finishing one night so that I could have it for one more day.
Our Library patrons love TJR already so I am excited that I will be able to wholeheartedly recommend this one for them.

I don't even know where to begin. This book started off as a little bit of a slow burn. I was a tad bored in the first 1/3 but I was really interested in where this was going, so I kept reading and whoa! Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again. I told a friend of mine after reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo that TJR is a gifted storyteller and I stand by that. I wasn't really sure if I wanted this novel to be a love story since it was about female astronauts going into space. I was afraid it would take away from the monumental achievement of women in the space program in the 1980's. However, TJR did a phenomenal job of interweaving the two into such a compelling storyline. The character development of the main protagonist Joan was in depth and compelling to see her journey through the space program, while maintaining a stable family member for her neglected niece. The friends she makes that turn into family and the way she blossoms when she finally does fall in love is touching and heartfelt. I should not have tried to finish this book while at work, as I was crying so hard, I hoped no one would see. I normally would only rate a book 4 stars that starts off slow, but this book was honestly so good, I have to give it 5 stars. TJR just doesn't miss. Thank you Taylor Jenkins Reid and Net Galley for the advanced reader copy! 5 well-deserved stars.

First I want to say a huge thank you for being selected to be apart of the atmosphere launch team! It means so much to be apart of something for an author I have adored for years!

Taylor Jenkins Reid always reminds me why I love to read. Something about the way she writes and tells stories has the ability to transport and transfix readers. There has never been a TJR book I did not enjoy, and Atmosphere is no exception.

This was such a powerful story. Following 2 women who are apart of NASA as they embark on new endeavors and include women in that picture for the first time was such an incredible storyline. I truly believed all of the characters were real astronauts and I felt like I was right there with them, being trained and taken into space for the first time.

Joan was such an incredible and dynamic character. Her journey of courage, self discovery, and love was portrayed in an incredible way. I laughed with her, I cried for her, and in the end I just wanted to give her a hug. Not only is Joan an astronaut, but she plays a big part in her niece’s life, acting as a caregiver and role model for her. TJR always writes inspiring and complex female leads, and Joan might be one of my favorites.

Joan and Vanessa’s love story hit me hard. Their connection was so evident. Their love was truly something I could feel off the pages, built on both intimacy and strength. I was their number 1 supporter for the entire story, and wanted nothing more than for them to have happiness in a world that didn’t want them to be together. Seeing them go to the lengths they had to go through to be together was challenging, but truly brought so much perspective into just a small bit of the tribulations women have had to overcome because of their sex, and then on top of that because of their sexual orientation. I cried for them multiple times, and I know their love will be something I continue to think about.

The NASA aspect of this book was also so refreshing and eye opening. TJR throws you right into the deep end with abbreviations and slang and all sorts of space terms, and you can tell how thoughtful she was with her research and planning while crafting this story. I learned so much about stars and space and the behind the scenes work that goes into space exploration and it inspired me to keep learning. Not only did I learn about space, but Joan taught me to be brave, Vanessa taught me overcome and to be authentic, Barbara taught me to care for those around me better, Griff, Hank, Donna, and Lydia taught me about the human spirit and to be kinder, and lastly, all of them taught me to go after my dreams. Even if I never want to go to space, I can choose to set my heart to something and go for it, just as they all did.

While the ending did make me sob, and while I did feel so much frustration at certain times in this book, there is not a single thing I would change. I waited almost 3 years for TJR to write another novel after Carrie Soto, and Atmosphere did not disappoint at all. Im so blessed that I go to read it when I did, and I could not recommend it enough to anyone when it is officially out.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has written another best seller! Joan is obsessed with the stars and gets the chance to become an astronaut. She is thrilled when she is chosen for NASA's program to include more women scientists. As Joan begins training she quickly becomes close friends with several in her group. Joan and Vanessa especially become close and Joan realizes she is questioning everything she thought she knew about herself. The story goes back and forth between two time periods as it leads up to events in which Joan is at mission control and her friends are up in space.

Atmosphere is a very emotional, intense novel. There are rocky family relationships, strong friendships, and characters with a variety of personalities. While there are lighthearted moments, much of the novel deals with intense, and sometimes tragic, issues. One particular relationship sort of takes over the book about halfway through. Overall I enjoyed the book, but it was not my favorite by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of TJR and enjoyed this historical fiction love story. I enjoyed the novel, but I wanted a more historical depiction of NASA and their missions. The beginning was exactly what I was hoping for the entire length of the book but it mostly focused on Joan and Vanessa and their relationship. Yes, I know the cover literally says love story and as far as romance novels go, this was a good one. I have some personal issues with a few things but not enough to give it a bad review but some of Joan's story didn't seem accurate, even for a fictional character. Frances is by far my favorite character and if TJR decided to write another about her in space I'm all in.

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember and is a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. That's all Joan has ever wanted. She gets selected in the summer of 1980, and begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, mission specialist Lydia Danes, Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.

As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back and better than ever. Atmosphere is her first book in a while that breaks away from the 'Mick Riva Universe,' but in no way does this latest novel disappoint.

Set during the post-Cold War age of space exploration, our main character Joan seeks to be part of the first class of female astronauts at NASA, and while she isn't chosen for the first class, she is chosen for the second. Suddenly Joan is moving to Houston and living amongst her fellow prospective astronauts, the only downside being the new distance between her and her beloved niece, Frances. As Joan befriends her coworkers she becomes especially close with Vanessa, a spunky mechanic and pilot who opens Joan's eyes to a whole new world--in the sky and on the ground.

This is Reid's best work since The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, in my opinion. Filled with intense yearning, compelling relationships, and a beautiful demonstration of what it truly means to be a mother, regardless of biology. I especially loved the friendships created between the class of astronauts, and felt connected to each individual character. Reid also always does a brilliant job with dual-timeline storytelling, and by establishing the thrilling element of survival within the first pages, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire novel.

I'm so glad to see Reid back with such a vengeance following her amazing Mick Riva series, and I can't wait to see what she does next (although I am a little salty that the US edition doesn't have the beautiful UK sprayed edges.)

While I enjoyed this book and had no problem finishing it, I was conflicted about what I thought. The beginning of the book seemed a little flat, and I didn’t think I would connect to the story. I also felt like I was reading more than one book. The past and the present didn’t seem to jibe well. That being said, I did enjoy the relationships in the book and reading about NASA. Parts of the story were thrilling, and I found myself speed reading to get back to them. I would never ever want to go up in space, I am too claustrophobic, and I really felt that, reading about how the astronauts had to remain calm and focused on one task at a time while catastrophe occurred. As a whole, I would recommend this book. I love Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books, and I was excited to read an early copy. Thank you Netgalley!

Thank you to the Author, Publisher, and the Atmosphere LAUNCH giveaway team for the digital advanced reader copy.

This book was good, but much cheesier and more predictable than TJR's previous books.
Joan does feel like a typical femme character of other romances-- some internal turmoil related to her sexuality, uncertainty about her future and career, self-doubt, etc., which seems to mostly disappear after she meets her love interest. This didn't feel particularly feminist, unique, or intriguing to read, but the book is written at a fast enough pace and engaging manner that encourages the reader to continue. I wish Joan had more close friends that she could interact with to see more diverse perspectives of queer women and women in early stages of STEM/Aerospace, including computer scientists and engineers who were increasingly more important in more advanced calculations.

Vanessa is much more flamboyant, open, and fun character. She felt more interesting, fleshed out, and dynamic, including her past trauma. I liked her character a lot; she was much more ambitious, driven, focussed, and was constantly rooting for her-- more so than the main character.

Some of the fights/arguments between Joan and Vanessa felt a bit overkill and unrealistic. The spicy scenes were at the level of crushed red pepper flakes at best. I think there were higher quality scenes in 7 Husbands, which felt like red chillies.

The sister character is written well and unlikeable because she continuously thrusts the responsibility of her child onto Joan. All other characters felt like a plot device and were simply there for convenience. They weren't fleshed out at all.

I think TJR did a better job representing sapphic romances in Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, because it implicitly and explicitly described the nuanced complications of women (especially public figures) being openly queer in 1950s/60s America. This book, rightfully, assumes the reader understands that it is difficult for women to be queer in the 1970s/80s, but I wish it discussed more nuance in this. I also wish it showcased the queer community that persisted during those times.

Instead of having internalized homophobia and being regressive towards herself, I wish Joan was a bit more mature and confident in her sexuality and had a queer friend group. The diverse backgrounds and perspectives of this friend group could outline more nuance in the lived experiences of queer women during conservative times. Life was tough and they had to suffer a lot, but the entirety of their existence wasn't shielded from public view, hidden in shame, or "scary." A lot of these women lived part of their lives in secret, but also had a community and space that was bright, vibrant, and necessary for the progress that we see today. Lesbian and queer bars were at the peak of their popularity and locale during the decades this novel takes place, and it is a shame the book overlooked this.

The first 100 pages are quite slow and uninteresting. The last 50 pages of the book were packed with the majority of the plot, so pacing throughout the book is inconsistent. That said, the last few chapters had me totally hooked, rooting for the characters, reading as fast as I can to see what would happen. The last few chapters bumped this up from a 3.5 to a 4 for me.

TLDR: This book won't make nearly as big a splash as Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It was still an entertaining and fun read, but is ultimately really forgettable compared to a lot of other TJR books. It's slow and might feel like a drag, but the last few chapters might be worth it. If you want a romance with a twist, this is a good pick, but lacks sufficient nuance, plot, and background.

My TJR book rankings, for context:
- 7 Husbands
- Malibu Rising
- Daisy Jones
- Atmosphere
- Carrie Soto

I’d like to begin by saying that this is my first time writing a book review. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Atmosphere, and I honestly don’t have the words to describe how much I loved it. I would eagerly read anything written by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and this book only solidifies that sentiment.

Told through a compelling dual timeline, the story pulls you in from the very first chapter. It’s a beautifully crafted narrative about love, family, and the strength of women navigating the challenges of life in the 1980s. The backdrop of NASA and space exploration adds a unique and compelling layer to the story.

Atmosphere completely wrecked me in the best way, and I already know I’ll be rereading it. I promise you, this book is 100% worth the wait.

Atmosphere is a soaring stellar read for everyone. Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again!

First, I learned so much about Space, our stars and images in the night sky, and women in our Space and NASA history.

Joan Goodwin is a physics and astronomer professor at Rice University. Lately, she's been thinking about her future and possible next steps. Joan is brilliant, very conservative and friendly to all. She adores her niece, Frances, daughter to her sister Barbara. Barbara finds an ad that NASA is looking for female applicants for their Space program. NASA finally decide to allow women in the program in the early 80's.

Joan applies and finally gets chosen to join the program which means rigorous training. She's ready for it. She lives in small community of other astronaut trainees and makes friend with male and female alike. As she endures the training she meets Vanessa, another trainee and pilot. (NASA wouldn't allow female pilots to fly or land the planes they were training on because they weren't military pilots. It was a Catch-22.)

Vanessa is also smart and could take apart a plane and put it back together all by herself. She and Joan become close friends.

The Missions they each go on are thrilling but Vanessa's is more than challenging because of the events that occur during their time in Space.
I could not put this book down. Suspenseful, exciting and edge-of-your-seat adventure.

Do not miss this thrilling book. Thank you Netgalley and Ballentine Books.

TJR always does a phenomenally impressive job of capturing minute universal human experiences in her book and this was no different. The book explored a full range of emotions, both for the characters and for me as a reader. There was quite a few characters but they all felt unique and realistic, and Joan and Vanessa were both beautifully written and complex. As always, the author made them feel like such real people.

The framework of the book was such a great, emotional choice — starting the story knowing these characters would die then spending hundreds of pages going back and getting to know them made for the ultimate bittersweet gut punch. I have huge expectations when I read a TJR book and this lived up to them and then some.

This is truly my favorite TJR book so far. I went through every emotion fathomable, and I fell in love with each and every single one of the characters. It has been a long time since I’ve read a book that I truly didn’t want to end, but I could’ve read 500 more pages of this story and it still wouldn’t have been enough. Atmosphere was so so so beautifully written and tugged at my heartstrings so hard. It was so, so much more than a story about space. I sincerely hope Vanessa and Joan are happily married and stay together and happy forever and ever and ever.

This was great! I loved it so much. Strong story telling. Loved the time period and NASA info. The love story was great... first book that has made me cry in a while! Will be a strong option for book clubs.

TJR is and will always be one of my favorite authors and now I am reminded of why. No matter the topic her research shines through in the technical jargon while staying true to her well-rounded & complex characters, beautiful love stories, complicated families, and endings that leave you with a tear rolling down your face. Women in space, friends that become family, love that triumphs diversity and a perfect ending, she’s done it again!

4.5 stars. I really liked the development of the romance in the book. The development of friendship to romance was very compelling and I haven't found myself rooting for two people to make it together in a while. I liked the flashbacks from the past to the current situation as well. I felt like the side characters were all really well developed, and I especially appreciated the relationship with her sister even though it wasn't a positive one. I do feel like the ending wrapped up very suddenly. I wish there was a bit more to the story at the end but I suppose that means that the story was so good I just wanted more.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is a wonderful author and as such, an auto buy and auto download author. Doesn’t matter what it is, no matter what she writes, I will devour her stories. Our main character Joan was a joy to follow along. As a physics nerd and someone that loved going to her classes that focused on space during the semester, this book was in some form, written for me. The main stand out point though, was that we saw a female in the 80’s in a predominantly male field. Of course, it wasn’t the norm back then to see a woman flight through space, and this shows as such. Space junkie aside, there was a beautifully written and interwoven queer romance that had me hooked from the get go. While this feels like a warm hug to my young self and a love letter to everything I used to love, it’s also an important story, focused on women, queer love and so much character development. As always, Reid has blown me away with her intelligence and her writing and her incredible characters. I can’t wait for the world to witness the new Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.com.

I need a bumper sticker that says "Will read anything Taylor Jenkins Reid" writes. Her characters are brilliant. I feel like this novel was a blend of her early love stories with her more recent interwoven semi-factual books. It was absolutely fantastic. No spoilers, but the end got me...it got me good. Tears running down my cheeks. Content notice: PG-13 LGBTQ romance.

Wow! What an amazing read! I think, this is Taylor’s best yet. I could not put it down! Very informative about the process to become an astronaut. Loved the main character, Joan, and her growth and quest for what is most important. I was rooting for what is right and hoping she would get what she was fighting for. No spoilers.

taylor jenkins reid has done it again. this book is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. even the fact that the moment i realized that the full title was ATMOSPHERE: A LOVE STORY meant something, lets you know the kind of author this woman is. i knew i would be devastated by this book and i was, in the best way possible. space has always been something that scared me, the idea of this big, open plane that we still don’t have full knowledge about. and yet, reading this book made me look at space with wonder instead of fear.

joan is one of those main characters that stick with you long after you’ve read the book. she is defiant, courageous, but most importantly, she is true to herself. and that is what makes her so successful. she brought me to tears on multiple occasions, the admiration she has for space and the exploration of universe made me start to look at my fear of space differently. i’m so grateful that taylor jenkins reid has brought her to us.