Taylor Jenkins Reid's best work yet. Readers will be moved by both the romance and the suspense. To anyone who says all of Reid's books have the same plot, read Atmosphere.

Lady astronauts in love! Joan has always dreamed of space. She becomes an astronomer and is helping her younger sister with Francis, her precocious niece. When her sister calls her to let her know that NASA is recruiting female astronauts, Joan applies until she gets accepted. There she meets Vanessa, a badass civilian pilot. Each of them must discover new things about themselves.

Starting the book with a tragedy in space was an interesting choice, and due to my own time constraints, I kept forgetting about the actual space part because it was chronologically out of order. However, my extreme emotional reaction to the ending of the book, made it clear that I became very attached to all of the characters.

I would have liked a chapter or two after the end of the book to allow the reader to see the aftermath, but leaving it open-ended has given me so much food for thought. I loved the characters and the tone of the whole book. I want to force extremists to read this book to see how love is love is love.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine Books, and Net Galley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

My girl TJR did it again! I was a bit turn off by all the nasa talk but after the first few chapters i was hooked. Oh how i cried!

Like Top Gun meets Apollo 13 in the best way, but make it Sapphic with first wave female astronauts in the 1980s.

I'm a long time Taylor Jenkins Reid fan - pre-Evelyn Hugo, IYKYK - so it's completely unsurprising I loved this book. Something about her writing just speaks to to me in a totally seamless, immersive way.

Atmosphere did not disappoint with fierce female leads, a literally out of this world setting, a touching love story, surprisingly deep rumination on the nature of the universe and our place in it, all wrapped up in a heart=pounding, edge of your seat plot - I truly couldn't turn pages fast enough!

For a story that is set in partly in space, this book is remarkably well grounded in humanity. You can see this as an adventure story or as a love story and I think it holds up quite well either way.

The book is just well researched enough to have the sense of truth, but is not so bogged down in the details as to take you out of what is first and foremost a story of people, not science.

I enjoyed this profile of extraordinary people, pioneers in many different ways.

I think this holds up quite well among author Reid’s other books.

Many thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

TJR kicks off this novel by dropping the reader right into an intense, high stakes situation on a space shuttle. At first, it's very chaotic with many characters and challenging to follow the action (likely by design)- but then we are very quickly pulled back in time to meet the characters and learn of the events preceding this crisis. There is a LOT about this book I loved- some great character development, a swiftly moving plot and it is obvious a lot of research went into the writing of this novel. However for a book with such an high emotional impact there were parts when I felt totally disconnected to the storyline. Also- the ending. No spoilers here but... sigh.

I found this book to be stilted and overwrought--the characters were not well fleshed out. The narrative style did create tension and suspense, but tultimately this book was not successful for me.

Thank you netgalley & publisher for gifting me this advanced reader copy

The gasp I let out when I realized the audiobook was done and that was in fact where TJR ended the book 😭
What a whirlwind of emotions. I know everytime I read one of TJR’s books that it’s going to be amazing and this time was no exception.
The love story was so sweet and I was at the edge of my seat the whole book. Learning about the space programs and so much about space was so intriguing and the love story was to die for. Unfortunately I am sobbing while writing this book and i desperately miss the characters already

4.5⭐️ rounded up

Ahhhh TJR has done it again. This love story set at NASA with found family and family drama is just pitch perfect. I loved it SO much—I laughed and cried and can’t stop thinking about it.

I never wanted this book to end. I wanted to simultaneously devour it and also read it slow, knowing I'd never get to read it again for the first time. TJR has an incredible way of researching and discovering topics that I'd not typically dig into, and she has yet to fail me.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is definitely one of my top reads from TJR. If you were a fan of Evelyn Hugo, this book will be right up your alley. The story focuses on the first women astronauts and the challenges they faced being on the forefront. This is more of an emotional story than a technical description of the space program, but NASA in the background gives some good color.
If you are looking for your next book of the summer I highly recommend this one. Easy to pick up and the pages fly by. 5 stars
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is the master at pulling you into a story, that you constantly feel like you want to live inside of them. When you're introduced to Joan, you begin the emotional journey of following her along for her quest to go up in space. Along the way, you're introduced to other important players both in her personal life and work life. The back and forth timeline of present day, and the events leading up to present day, help engage the reader with the story, where you end up rooting for Joan; she deserves her happy ending.

My heart ached and healed all at once reading Atmosphere. Taylor Jenkins Reid has once again written a story that crawls under your skin and stays there. I was immediately drawn into Joan’s world—her flaws, her doubts, her hope—and watching her evolve felt so personal, like witnessing a friend slowly rediscover herself.

What stood out most to me was Joan’s relationship with Vanessa. Their dynamic felt so raw and real—equal parts tense, tender, and transformative. I loved how their connection wasn’t perfect, but it was honest. Through Vanessa, Joan was pushed to confront her past and ultimately choose who she wanted to become. It wasn’t just about romance—it was about identity, forgiveness, and daring to open your heart again.

I didn’t expect the emotional crescendo of that final chapter. The quiet power in those last few pages hit me like a wave. So much built up over the course of the novel, and suddenly, I found myself in tears—grieving, celebrating, and feeling it all right alongside Joan.

This story reminded me that healing isn’t linear, and love—whether romantic, platonic, or self-love—can be just as messy as it is beautiful. Atmosphere is a deeply human novel, and it left me both gutted and grateful.

Taylor Jenkins Reid books have been hit or miss for me, but this one was very, very good.

The book is set in the 1970's - 80's, a time when women were first being admitted into NASA's astronaut training program. Joan, an astronomer, makes the cut and becomes an astronaut, meeting a cast of characters that quickly become family. Joan makes discoveries about herself, finds love, and faces a harrowing experience that forces the astronauts to make difficult decisions that will ultimately affect all their lives.

I loved the characters in the novel. Joan, the protagonist, is a deeply layered character; she's committed to becoming an astronaut at great personal cost, she's an aunt (and sometimes primary caretaker) of her young niece, she's a lover who doubts her worthiness of love. The other characters are similarly complex, but all of them bring a richness to the story.

The book starts off with a bang (literally!) and the fast pace continues throughout the novel. I couldn't put it down.

4.5 ⭐s from me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy. The book is scheduled to be published on June 3, 2025.

4 stars

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed by the stars since she was a child. When NASA begins accepting women astronauts she is dying for a spot and she is selected in the second round. She and her groups of other astronaut candidates, including three other women working hard to prove that they can excel at the rigorous training, the women strive to show they are the equal of the men.

While working at NASA Joan finds love, something she thinks wasn’t meant for her. Joan continues to excel, both in work and life, until a day in 1984 when the unimaginable occurs.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has produced another great book and a wonderful character in Joan (though maybe a little TOO perfect? I might hate her too, if I were her sister.) I love books about space travel so I would have loved even more about NASA and the actual space journeys and less about Joan’s personal life. I appreciated Reid’s research.

The secondary story about Joan’s niece was well done. I really enjoyed the book, tore through it, and I think Reid’s fans will enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

TJR knocks it out of the park every single time so is anyone surprised? Excuse me while I go cry now.

“Atmosphere“ is a historical fiction book set in the 1980s during the NASA shuttle program. The book is exceptionally well written and well researched. The richly detailed setting and strong character development kept me fully engaged throughout. Fans of historical fiction should add this one to their TBR.
Thank you to NetGallery and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

ATMOSPHERE by Taylor Jenkins Reid Is one of the most heartbreaking yet hopeful stories I’ve read. It was transporting, informative, sad, loving, adventurous and in a word mind-altering.

Last night I was driving home from a friends and on the way I decided to listen to ATMOSPHERE- it was read by my favorite narrator and her voice was just perfect- from the very beginning words I knew I would be a fan of Joan and something told me I wouldn’t be able to stop reading until I knew the outcome of her story.

TJR put her authors note (iykyk this time I didn’t cheat) and in that note she says “I hope thst Joan Goodwin can convince you to go outside tonight and after the stars come out, look up. I hope, with all my heart, Joan can convince you to be open to wonder” With those words I knew that TJR had not only written a fabulous story but one that would open my mind and heart.

Atmosphere is a novel that is part historical fiction, part contemporary and part romance. It is clear that TJR did extensive research into NASA and the brave women who helped change the space program (and the men who against all odds helped them) this novel had fierce competition and female friendships, it had self discovery and belief, it had unconditional love in different forms (family and romantic) it had controversy and characters who burrow their way not only into your heart but your soul.

I loved the dynamic that Vanessa and Joan have, the banter and true love that Joan and Frances share, and how Joan through her own heart and brilliant mind was the glue for it all.

For readers that loved the Martian for the “space talk” and astronauts but also the heart - read this book. For readers that love Elin Hilderbrand for her characters and their relationships- read this book. For fans of TJR- and her other fabulous novels for the strong females and the stories- read this book. For anyone that needs a push to take a chance at love or following their dreams - read this book.

This book made me open my eyes and look at this universe, the sky, the people around in different way. It has filled my head with hopes that I can achieve dreams personally and it has opened my mind and heart.

Taylor- thank you for writing a novel that did All this and more I read until the sun came up this morning!

Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid's best book yet and a new all-time favorite for me. It is both intense, thrilling, emotional, and compassionate. Every character is so real and lovable even when they are not. I could not recommend this book enough, it really blew me away.

Wow! What an incredible read. TJR did a great job of researching NASA during the 80s and threading in a love story! Ive been obsessed with space this summer so it was a hit!