Thank you to Ballatine publishers, netgalley, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for allowing me to read her newest book. I am a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid and look forward to everything she writes. This book accomplished a new setting full of family, space, and relationships. I cannot wait to tell my friends and this book and to immediately put it on their tbr pile. Thank you for allowing me to read a great book. I rarely reread books but, this one I will reread.

Taylor Jenkins Reid for me is an author I either love their books or am disappointed. Atmosphere falls in the really enjoyed category would absolutely recommend. She has a way of writing characters you can easily connect with and understand what they are feeling even if you really don't have anything in common with them. I loved the time setting of the story and the early days of NASA and space exploration. Giving this 4 stars I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

The new TJR book- so many thoughts.
I am trying to be a TJR completist, so of course I highly anticipated this one. Her new book is a departure for her- it's set in the 80's, following Joan who is one of the first women to enter the astronaut training program. She has never fit in with her family- her spoiled sister has her helping raise her niece- but in the program, she makes friends and finds her dreams of space to give her lots in common with her coworkers. Even though it is a male dominated field, she and her fellow female candidates are making strides and proving their worth. When she starts a secret relationship with a peer, Joan finds another thing that was missing in her life.

This is a women in STEM/workplace/space drama with lots of romance and talk about space craft and stars and some scattered action scenes. I want to be interested in space and astronauts, but I'm really not. I've watched and tried to like movies like Contact and Gravity, but I just don't connect with them. So, this book was going to be a struggle for me. Of course, the writing itself is really good and has lots of classic TJR scenes and relationships (and a character to really hate) but I found the main love story detached and kind of flat (probably because it was being kept a secret). I strongly disliked Joan's sister but wondered why their parents were only briefly in the book. I loved the secondary characters and the spots of humor but wanted more of those.

So, I liked this book, but it didn't blow me away and I'm not sure my book club will like it at all. It is certainly a different one for TJR and I'm interested to see where everyone else lands on it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Ok I’m so excited for this release in 2 weeks so I can tell everyone how AMAZING and ADDICTIVE this book is! It’s the kind of book that booksellers get excited to share with customers and one another. This is a page-turner that will have you staying up until 2 in the morning even though you work the next morning! It has an Evelyn Hugo/women in STEM/ Apollo 13 (please make an edge of your seat blockbuster movie asap) vibe -and you will be thinking about it long after you finish.
#joangoodwin4president

One of my most anticipated reads of the summer! Love the title, love the cover, love the concept of women in the space shuttle program in the 80's, and I've enjoyed Reid's previous books. All of this said, I didn't love this one like I had hoped.

Without spoilers, let me share a few things. It was heavy on the dialogue, relationships between characters, but I really only felt connected to our main POV. It starts off strong with a very intriguing plot point, but then drags us through the previous history leading up to it that it lost a lot of steam. By the end of the book. I kind of didn't care how it was going to settle out.

I really would have loved more science/space talk. More info about the shuttle program, etc. But what I got was how people felt about each other, their interactions with their family members, and of course some unfair chauvinist ideals that were prevalent at the time.

I didn't feel any passion for the job, I didn't feel connected to anyone. The plot was slow and by the time I was finally given the resolution, I was over it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the gifted e-ARC of this book.

Y'all I cried by the time I was finishing this book holy moly. It was so moving and compelling. It gave nostalgia for the 70's while also making social commentary on life as a woman in STEM during that period of time. I really enjoyed this!

This book was incredible. Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! I loved the characters and the relationships between them. There was so much love for NASA and space which was so nice. If you love space and queer relationships you'll love this!

INCREDIBLE. Just incredible. I was drawn in because of the space/NASA/queer love themes, and this tops Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones for me. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC - I'll be ranting and raving over this one for a while.

We get to follow Joan, an astronomy professor who loves the stars in the sky just as much as she loves her niece, Frances. Her intelligence and determination land her a spot on the mission of her dreams - to see the Earth from above. While training long hours and gruesome trials for this departure from Earth, she's grappling not only the love she has for her niece and the safe haven she wants to provide her, but she's learning the realms of her own sexuality as well. This is set during the 1980's, when women are finally given a shot at proving they can be 'one of the guys' in more ways than cracking sexist jokes in the workplace. Joan has to find it in herself to face her sister as she's caught up in the life she dreams of for herself and not her daughter - her sister is constantly feeling upstaged by Joan though it's clear the path set for her sister was an ending of the choices she's made for herself. This was the peak source of emotional impact for me. It was heartbreaking. Loving someone so small and vulnerable, teaching them the complexity of beyond while also keeping them close and loved and SAFE - all while trying to keep your own image safe in the eyes of a government entity that is being watched world wide. Being the caretaker of someone who just wants their mom to love them, watching her push her away and what feels like abandoning her for her own love interest. I look at my son and think of the world I want to give him, and a fictional book made me cry more than once, wanting to shake this woman for not seeing that her daughter just needed her. But that's where Joan steps in and gives her the love and support a little girl needs, introducing her to the woman she secretly loves, the woman she's come to share her life with behind closed doors.

Getting to see Joan and Vanessa's relationship blossom and weave in and out of the troubles that queer couples faced at this time (and still to present day) was gut wrenching and oh, so beautiful. If you're looking for what is known as "spice" you won't find it here, but you'll find such a precious tale of romance. By 55% of this book I was just rushing through the pages to see what was to come. Not only was the relationship plot point touching, but the friendships made along the way were so special - by the end I was so hurt, but in a good way.

I think the kicker for me was the historical aspect, which, of course TJR is going to go above and beyond for a new story. Having a small amount of knowledge but a huge interest in the aspect of NASA from the 70's - 90's, I was SO excited to see all of these events I learned about be explored but also creating this character and having this story come to life of women in the program, not only just in a nostalgic way but in a way that feels like you know these people. You've seen them on TV and now you're getting to know them in what feels like real life, present day. Just incredible. I was rooting for them the entire time.

I could go on and on, but truly this was an outstanding piece of work. I would say it should be turned into a show or movie but I'd hate to see it downplayed from the writing. Between the relationships, the family trauma and chosen family versus bio family struggle, the idea that you don't want to risk your career but you want to love out loud because someone is worth it, all down to the last chunk of the book that had me knees to chin in tears - this is the one. Loved it. Will be buying a physical copy. Will be supporting the hype.

There’s something extraordinary about the way Taylor Jenkins Reid builds a world around one woman’s inner transformation—Atmosphere is no exception. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s NASA shuttle program, it’s not just a story about space; it’s about grief, purpose, and rediscovering the will to reach for something more.

Joan is not the typical heroine. She’s quiet, self-contained, and perfectly content staying grounded—until she isn’t. Watching her navigate the complexities of astronaut training, friendship, and long-buried pain felt personal in a way I wasn’t expecting. The stakes feel both vast and intimate, and Jenkins Reid somehow balances technical accuracy with the emotional weight of a woman who’s learning how to live again.

The relationships in this book shine—especially the camaraderie between the women. It’s hopeful without being naive, and inspiring without glossing over the cost of ambition. Every page pulses with heart.

Atmosphere is powerful, reflective, and quietly thrilling. I didn’t just read it—I felt it.

Rating: ★★★★★

It took me a minute to really get into ATMOSPHERE. But let me tell you, the last 1/3 had me reading quickly so I could see what’s next.

I love the bond Joan had with her niece, Frances. I liked the character development.

I also liked and appreciated all the research that went into the book. I could really tell how deeply TJR researched NASA and astronomy, and she does a good job immersing readers into that world (or should I say “out of this world?” ;))

Read if you like: Strong female characters surviving and thriving in a male-dominated field. Family themes. Dual timelines. Lots of character development (with pockets of action sprinkled throughout). NASA in the 80s. Found family.

I think others will like it a lot (especially if they’re a TJR fan).

I had a hard time getting into this, and ultimately decided it's not for me. I've read everything else by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and she seems to be a pretty hit or miss author for me, and unfortunately, this one was a miss. I will still continue to give everything else she writes a chance, and will recommend this to people who I think would enjoy it, but it just wasn't for me, and that's okay. I still think she's a great writer and has unique premises to her books.

A little too different for me. I’m a huge TJR fan,I have read all of her other books and really looked forward to Atmosphere, but this isn’t for me. Thank you for an ARC.

TJR does it again and this time doesn’t just knock it out of the park but into space. Her ability to right morally gray characters that you fall in love with is unmatched. Already dying for her next one.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors ever and I always love her books and writing. I really enjoyed Atmosphere but the style, subject and character development didn’t seem as cohesive as normal. I really didn’t enjoy how long the chapters were. I also didn’t feel connected to the subject unlike other novels of hers so that may be why I didn’t love it as much as others. Overall though it is still a great representation of a time period through suspenseful, reflective prose.

Thank you so much to NetGally for providing me with an early release of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere!

Taylor Jenkins Reid has undoubtedly done it again! Atmosphere has already secured itself as one of my favorite books of the year! Reid never fails to take a topic I have previously had no interest in reading such as Tennis or Space and made it so I physically could not put the book down! I finished this 48 hours after starting it and not a minute went by that I wasn’t thinking about this book!

One thing that struck me off the bat about this story was the amount of research Reid put into this book. It feels as if we live in an age currently where authors are producing a book a year and not spending the proper time to learn the subject they are writing about. This was not the case with this story at all! It is beyond obvious the amount of time and research Reid put into the science and career behind being an astronaut and she manages to convey that information in an engaging and entertaining way!

Sometimes it’s hard to realize how long it has been since you read a book with amazing writing, and this book made me realize this. Honestly Atmosphere stands out amongst all the other books I have read this year as a truly remarkable story. Thea magic of space, the endless history of sexism, and the human experience were encapsulated so well in this novel!

This was so powerful. I wasn't sure if Atmosphere would be a good fit for me - I have little to no interest in space - but the more I read, the more Jenkins Reid changed my mind. Set during the 80s, Joan becomes one of the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. The inciting incident in the prologue sets the stage for an emotional and suspenseful journey. Told in dual-timelines, we gain appreciation for Joan's quite strength, resilience, and courage. There is a beautiful love story and familial struggles all while Joan navigates the sexism and politics of NASA, Joan's relationship with her niece Frances was so touching. I was on pins and needles to discover how the story would end, and yet the writing was so gorgeous that I couldn't help but take my time to savor the thoughtful moments when Joan would muse about the stars and the nature of a higher power. This book had me in tears multiple times. Highly recommend.

A look at civilian astronauts in training, particularly the challenges the female candidates faced. Heart stopping, thrilling action and deeply moving relationship building. A tremendous amount of research must have gone into this book and it doesn't go unnoticed. A pleasure to read!

I really wanted to be eloquent with my review for such a lovely book, but all I can manage is a series of ugggggghhhhs. This book is a lot of things. It’s an exploration of a pivotal time in space travel when women joined NASA as astronauts and made their first flights into space. It’s a spotlight on families made up of very different characters and the dysfunction and heartbreak it can create. And, most memorably to me, it is a slow burn romance (which I’m seeing surprised a lot of other readers but why? The title literally has "a love story" in it. Plus, all of TJR’s books include a romance of some sort and the synopsis hints at it heavily. Would you call just your gal friend “magnetic?” The gay panic is all over that synopsis.)

That was one of the single most beautiful romances I’ve read in a long time. What makes it so brilliant is that that the qualities within the relationship are also what make it work in the time period this book is set in. It’s a love that has no other choice but to be full of patience, yearning, steadfastness, and compassion. It exemplifies exactly how loving someone can make you whole and rip you apart simultaneously. It was heartbreaking and lovely and I bawled throughout the last quarter of the book.

There is definitely room for critique. There was a large cast of characters that didn’t get a lot of attention but things happen to them that is supposed to impact the audience. Sometimes it works despite not knowing the characters very well, which is a testament to how incredible TJR can be at crafting heartbreaking situations, but sometimes it falls flat. It doesn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book, but if you don’t find the main story to be as engaging as I did, then it probably will for you. Also, if you don’t enjoy reading about space things, this book probably won’t be for you. TJR made me care about tennis for Carrie, but with how relentless the science can be in this book, she may not be able to make you care about space if you don’t already like it.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. This is a wow of a book. It takes places in the early 80's, and is centered around the Space Shuttle Flights. Joan Goodwin wants to be an astronaut. She is a bright, quiet astrophysicist.She doesn't date, she teaches at a college and she spends her free time helping her sister Barbara( a single mother) take care of her daughter, Frances. She applies for the program and is accepted.This is her story, as she navigates the program, the work, the sexism of the male astronauts, and the needs of her sister and niece. She meets Vanessa, who is also in the program. They become friends, and slowly Joan is drawn to Vanessa, in a way she never thought possible. The story starts in 1984, with a problem on a space mission. Vanessa is in space, and Joan is working Mission Control. The book shifts between the 1984 date and the back story of how Joan and Vanessa meet, and get to know each other in the world of NASA.It is a layered, and intense story. The relationship of Joan and Vanessa plays out against the back drop of the Space Shuttle and the need to focus on nothing but the mission.The secondary story of Joan's sister and niece at first seemed liked a bit of an intrusion, but it became more and more integral to who Joan was, and how she lived. I just finished and I am sitting here shaking. I am so glad that I read this book.

COULDN’T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! Taylor Jenkins Reid has woven together a beautiful love story and a masterfully researched historical fiction into one. This will be an easy handsell to anyone who grew up during the space shuttle era, anyone who loves space, or anyone who has felt their life pushes the boundaries of societal acceptance. It’s certainly a story that will stay with me for a long time.