The Atmosphere is a powerful and emotional journey that follows a woman determined to reach the stars—literally. When NASA finally opens its space program to women, the main character seizes her chance, but the path isn't easy. Alongside the physical challenges of space training, she confronts deep personal struggles: family expectations, identity, and what it truly means to chase your dream.

This story stirred up a whole range of emotions—joy, frustration, even tears. It’s a beautifully written reflection on resilience, sacrifice, and self-discovery. If you love stories about strong women pushing boundaries and finding their place in the universe, The Atmosphere belongs on your shelf.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Atmosphere.

Once again, Taylor Jenkins Reid has created a beautiful story and completely sucked me in. We start in December 1984, where disaster quickly happens, and then spend the rest of the novel rewound in time, learning how Joan, Vanessa, and the rest of the team come to this tragic moment.

Atmosphere was full of beautiful and heartbreaking moments and I loved seeing Joan's relationships develop over time and watching this group of strangers become family. Her love of Frances, her niece, was especially touching to me, as I have a similar relationship to mine. I spent the last few chapters in tears and flew through the ending, breathless and terrified, hoping for the impossible but expecting the worst. TJR has an amazing ability to create a story about something I'm not particularly interested in (space, tennis, etc) and immediately making me love it. I will forever read anything she writes and be a better person for it. Read this. Laugh, cry, hope. And then go outside and look up at the stars.

This book stressed me TF out, but in a good way. I've always been obsessed with astronauts, so this really scratched that itch.

3.2.1... Blast off to your next summer read!!! This book had everything! A love story, multiple POVs, and adventure!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this title to review!

I was not prepared to cry over this book when I picked it up! This was my first Taylor Jenkins Reid novel, and I was so excited to read it after hearing her speak at the Texas Library Association’s 2025 Annual Conference. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect going in—other than the fact that I loved the author’s personality, and the way she spoke about this novel really intrigued me.

I’m so glad I gave it a chance, because it’s easily one of my top reads of the year. I connected so deeply with the characters that I still think about them daily, nearly two weeks after finishing the book. I also loved the setting and the incredible world-building—women making a name for themselves at the Houston Space Center in the 80s? Yes, please!

This was such an immersive, compelling read. While I’m sad it’s over, the ending felt completely satisfying. I’m already looking forward to rereading it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
5⭐️
Taylor Jenkins Reid takes readers to new heights—literally and emotionally—with Atmosphere, an ambitious and unforgettable novel set during NASA’s Space Shuttle program in the 1980s. Known for her intimate character work set against iconic backdrops, Reid once again delivers, this time blending rigorous spaceflight detail with deeply human stories of love, ambition, and sacrifice.

At the heart of the novel is Joan Goodwin, a reserved astronomy professor whose application to NASA opens the door to unexpected friendships, profound personal revelations, and a slow-burning romance that’s both tender and transformative. Reid’s character work is exquisite, from Joan’s evolving relationship with fellow candidate Vanessa Ford to her touching bond with her niece Frances.

What sets Atmosphere apart is its perfect balance of technical authenticity and emotional resonance. Reid’s research into astronaut training, space missions, and the challenges faced by women in STEM grounds the story in realism while never losing sight of the personal journeys at its core. The supporting cast—especially Lydia and Frances—bring added richness to the narrative, and the alternating timelines build tension masterfully.

Themes of identity, chosen family, personal fulfillment, and what we’re willing to risk for love are explored with nuance and heart. Even as the vastness of space looms large, the novel’s most powerful moments come from the small, intimate ones—moments of connection, courage, and quiet strength.

This is Reid at her most expansive and daring. Atmosphere is a deeply moving, beautifully crafted novel that will resonate with fans of character-driven fiction, space exploration, and stories that celebrate the resilience of the human spirit.

Such an incredible book! Have yet to read a book by her that isn’t amazing! So happy to have gotten an arc of this!

Really 3.5. A bit of a miss for TJR. It took a while for this book to get going & I enjoyed the second half much more than the first. The characters seemed much flatter & one-note than in other TJR books. I felt like I never got to know any of them (except for maybe Joan) beyond a basic one sentence description.

This is probably the most enjoyable book I’ve read so far in 2025. I was young during the space program and to read about it through the eyes of young women who were trying to prove themselves as valuable members of the space program. I recommend this book to everyone!

This is one of the best books I have read this year. It read like it was about real people and I learned a lot.

I still cannot believe that I was able to get an early copy of this book. Literally crazy.

I absolutely LOVED this book and it completed ripped my heart out. I love TJR as an author and I love the stories she creates. I loved all the space/NASA elements, I loved the depiction of being a woman in a male dominated field, and I loved the characters/love story. The conversations about how the universe and exploration make us feel and the connection to god was an element that I found I loved reading and thinking more about. I have 91 highlighted passages/quotes. I cried multiple times throughout the book but I full body sobbed for the last 20%. I will be re-reading this book many many times.

That being said, I don't think this will be the type of book that I would recommend to everyone. I am expecting that a lot of people will complain that there's too much space/science/stars/NASA talk in it (kinda like Carrie Soto is back and tennis) but I love reading and learning about that topic so I didn't mind it at all. The love story is also not what I expected but I absolutely fell in love with the characters and seeing the mundane elements of their relationship and the trials they faced was one of my favorite parts of the book (being kinda vague here bc I don't want to spoil). But I could see people being surprised by the love story and hating on the book because of it (I am in no way saying I agree with those people, just that I expect those people to exist).

Overall, this is definitely one of my new absolute favorite books. 6/5 stars.

Atmosphere follows Joan Goodwin, a reserved astronomy professor who, upon seeing an advertisement for NASA's Space Shuttle program in the 1980s, decides to pursue her dream of becoming an astronaut. As she trains at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, Joan forms deep connections with fellow candidates, including the enigmatic Vanessa Ford, leading to unexpected personal revelations and challenges.

Reid masterfully intertwines the intricacies of space exploration with profound emotional narratives. Her detailed descriptions of astronaut training and NASA operations are complemented by intimate character moments, ensuring that the technical aspects enhance rather than overshadow the human stories at the novel's core.

The novel delves into themes of ambition, identity, and love. It explores the challenges faced by women in STEM during the 1980s, the complexities of personal relationships, and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of dreams. The evolving relationship between Joan and Vanessa adds depth, highlighting issues of self-discovery and societal expectations.

While Atmosphere excels in many areas, some readers might find the pacing uneven, particularly during the training sequences. Additionally, certain secondary characters and plotlines could have been more fully developed to enhance the overall narrative.

Initially, I didn't think I'd like this book as much as her others. The space science is pretty detailed to give the full scope of the astronaut training. Joan is very standoffish at first, but about 30% into the book, she blossoms as a character. Her devotion to her niece, Frances, is evident; her sister, Frances's mother, is terrible. That said, it is her interactions and later relationship with Vanessa, a fellow astronaut, that help develop Joan as a character. While I wasn't fully anticipating this romance (honestly, I thought Joan was asexual), it is the love and emotion of this relationship that begins to drive the plot forward. Joan and Vanessa cannot be out, certainly not as members of the astronaut corps. When disaster strikes, reading how they speak to each other is heart-wrenching. Truly another stunning and emotional read by TJR!

So it's a good thing I finished this book four hours before bed. If I went to sleep right after, I wouldn't be able to open up my swollen eyes in the morning. This love story just destroyed and uplifted me, the astronauts fascinated and awed me, the family dynamics, the one born with and the one built, broke my heart and filled it up again. This book is informative if you are interested in the stars and space. The discussions of God between the two main characters were interesting though a little long. But I hope there's a sequel.

Many thanks to Taylor Jenkins Reid, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for the eARC. I'm absolutely thrilled to be on the Atmosphere Launch Team!

Taylor Jenkins Reid has been a favorite since I read Daisy Jones & The Six for the first time in 2020. I preordered Atmosphere from a local indie last November and I'm so grateful that I got to read it early. I love this book! The dual timeline and characters made the story captivating from the start and hard to put down. I really enjoyed reading about Joan, her outlook on life and the universe, and her relationships with Frances, Vanessa, Griff, Hank, Donna, and Lydia. The book is clearly well researched, too! Though there were many acronyms to keep track of, I liked learning details about NASA space training, mission control, and astronomy while reading this book.

Set in the 1980s, Atmosphere is an exciting and thought-provoking read about Joan's journey to space, love, found family, and self-discovery. 5 stars.

I look forward to picking up my physical copy on June 3rd!

This book is a must read! Women in the 80's attempting to prove their place at NASA because they are just as good as men? You had me sold, Taylor! Add in complicated family dynamics, friendship, love stories (including sapphic), and contemplating the universe and life? 1000/10. This book is incredible and I hope you all take the time to read it when it comes out! (and I will be reminding you all 😂)

Thank you so much to Random House Books and Taylor Jenkins Reid for the opportunity to read this early however these opinions are completely my own!

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this title as an ARC, TJR is always an automatic read and I was thrilled to have this as an advanced copy. I could honestly not put this title down. This story was unique and captivating and overall I really enjoyed Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. 5 stars would recommend!!!

Taylor Jenkins Reid is bringing back her classic sapphic longing and I am so happy. (even though the ending made me feel like Taylor had personally ripped my heart out and stomped on it. in a good way).

This was another great book from this author, although I didn't actually expect any different. While there were definitely a few times I was a little bored, I really enjoyed getting to know and love the characters. The main romance is so beautiful and there were so many great passages that I highlighted on my kindle. This is a sapphic story in the 80s, so it's definitely got some homophobia and a lot of comments about how people had to hide who they were. I'm keeping this spoiler free, but I loved the commentary that it made.

Taylor definitely did a lot of research about NASA and space because I had no idea what was being said sometimes. It went into a lot of science jargon that kind of took me out of the story a bit, but that's just because I'm dumb and don't understand this stuff. If you have any interest in science, I think you will really enjoy those parts.

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books are always a must-read for me. However, when I started Atmosphere, I didn’t immediately connect with the NASA/Space setting and was worried that this book would be a letdown for me. By the time I reached the end, however, I was so invested in the characters and the story that I couldn’t put the book down. The meticulously researched details and well-developed characters make this yet another slam dunk for TJR. Oh, and have your tissue box handy! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Absolutely loved this book, as I knew I would. I feel so lucky to be a part of the launch team and have read this e-copy early!

TJR has a way of connecting you to her characters in a way that makes you feel what they’re going through, and Joan Goodwin is no different. Joan and her female colleagues Vanessa, Lydia, and Donna experienced the struggles of being a woman in the male dominated space industry during the early 1980s, yet they were determined to pave the way and hold the door open for future female astronauts.

I loved the concurrent timelines of the current mission and their time in training. There were so many standout side characters that I loved, Vanessa, Griff, and Frances just to name a few! It’s also clear that this book was incredibly well researched and I felt like I learned so much about the stars and Mission Control while reading.

This will be a timeless book for me, one I will continue to go back and reread. This story gripped me from the first chapter and I just loved learning more and more about the characters. I highly recommend this book, it will most certainly be a top read of the year for me!