An intimate and devastatingly real love story for the ages. Atmosphere took my breath away. This book captures so much love and so much pain. Between mother and daughter, niece and aunt, colleagues, women, astronauts and the stars. Taylor Jenkins Reid does such masterfully painful job of weaving timelines to induce maximum shock and agony in her readers with this one. She really does an incredible job of encompassing all that is good in the world, and taking readers through the visceral experience of feeling what it’s like to lose it all. Atmosphere is for the space lovers, the word lovers, the love lovers, and everybody in between. This book is one that will stick with you for long after you read it, and leave you in absolute SHAMBLES while you’re doing so. It captures the devastation of prejudice and what homophobia and othering our neighbors and colleagues and family can do. “Happiness is so hard to come by. I don’t understand why anyone would begrudge anyone else for managing to find some of it.” Compassionate and powerful reads such as this one are so important in times like the ones that we are living in now, as this finding its way into the right hands has the power to quietly change minds and hearts.

I am amazed at how much research must have gone into the writing of this book. Of course, I’m not an astronaut, so I don’t know whether all the details are correct, but it sure seemed like it. The book starts with a tragic incident, and I was eager to find out how it would be resolved. But in order for that to happen, the story goes through the process of what it takes to become an astronaut, which was fascinating. There is also a love story, which added another layer. Overall, this feels like another hit from Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Another great read by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I’ll admit, I struggled a bit at the beginning with all the space talk, technical jargon, and the long chapters—it made it hard to get into at first. But once the story found its rhythm, it really picked up, and I found myself fully invested.

As always, Reid’s character development is top-notch. She has a real gift for creating layered, emotionally complex characters that stay with you long after the last page.

My biggest complaint is the ending—it felt a bit too abrupt for me. After all the build-up and emotional investment, I was hoping for a little more closure.

Still, a strong and compelling read overall. Fans of Reid’s work and character-driven stories will definitely find a lot to appreciate here.

The way TJR writes such dimensional, deep female characters never fails to disappoint. While I may be completely terrified of space, the writing put me so intimately in Joan's head that I felt like her passion for astronomy was my own. I fell completely in love with every character, even side ones like Lydia, were crafted with such detail that their motivations and actions always felt so true and real to who they are. Joan and Vanessa’s love story wrecked me in the best way possible, and I would read a ten-part series only following their most banal days. Only TJR can make experiencing orbiting the Earth as one of the first women in space and a first kiss between lovers equally thrilling.

It took everything in me to not bawl my eyes out when reading this book. I got very attached to the characters, which I know I shouldn't do but I can't help it.

This book just has so many different facets, but they all fit together so well. The romance, her basically being a mother to her niece, finding your identity, achieving your dreams, and learning about space and astronomy.

The only thing I wanted that wasn't in the book was the epilogue. I want to know what happened to them after the final chapter. I have so many questions I want answers too, but I know I will probably never get them. I feel like she didn't include one on purpose though; maybe that we could come up with our own conclusions on what happened, or because the ending we got would have been enough closure.

This book was just so emotional for me (in a good and bad way) and it really makes you think a lot about space and our place in the galaxy. It makes me want to go look at the stars and find all the constellations.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! Such masterful writing with beautiful one-liners, complex characters and an enticing, and at times exciting, plot. I particularly loved seeing the romance blossom between Joan and the main love interest, especially considering the context and the time period, I think it was so tender and wonderfully done. I also appreciated Joan's complexities; she also read as neurodivergent which I appreciated as it was written quite naturally and made sense for the character. My only pause in the book was in the first few chapters, with the terminology and spatial explanations of the compartments of the spacecraft, as the knowledge was not yet fully established, and the quick jumps between such specific terms/locations at times became a bit disorienting. Otherwise, easily a new TJR favorite!

Absolutely loved Taylor Jenkins Reid's newest novel. I can absolutely see this becoming a hit movie. The timeline that takes place in space reminds me of an Andy Weir novel - fascinating and fast-paced. The main timeline is a brilliant glimpse at what it was like to be a woman in the 80s. The ending was epically well crafted.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

This book was everything and more. I had high expectations for this book given the author, and still I was blown away. The amount of research this book must have required is astounding and TJR did an excellent job. The exploration of how deep a love can go against the backdrop of what life was like for women in the 80’s in a male dominated field was so well done. I loved the strong female mc, character development, and found family aspect. Thank you Random House for the early copy via Netgalley!

This was incredible. I expected to love it and grew more confident in that feeling after I read the first few pages, but I was not expecting to love it as much as I did.

This story is as thrilling as it is emotional. These characters and their stories were phenomenal and so beautifully written.

The dual timelines alternating between the past and the present made this story so much more emotional in my opinion. We got to see why these characters became so important to each other during the flashbacks to the past.

There is a lot of space talk in this book, but this book is also so much more than space. It’s strong female characters, family struggles, finding and discovering yourself, and love. The emotion and depth in this book hit me so hard in the best way. I was sobbing by the end, and that last paragraph absolutely ruined me.

I wanted to binge this book in one sitting, but I also wanted to savor every second. This isn’t just a love story between two people—it’s a love letter to the universe.

I absolutely loved this book, I type with tears running down my face and up way past my bedtime.

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s beautiful, poetic like prose captured me from the beginning. Then her ability to create a character who is so unlike myself but yet I connected with on such a deep level is truly a talent. And to create a character I loathe with every part of my body. Barbra, I mean you. I want more. I want a sequel. I’m calling it now. Please TJR give us a sequel. This book will tear your heart out and put it back together. This book is a testament to human nature, to what it means to be human, and to what it means to truly love. This is definitely one of my top TJR books and probably my top book of 2025.

A story of finding yourself, breaking the mold, and an out-of-this-world love.

Joan Goodwin has always been obsessed with space. She proves herself time and time again, and finds herself chosen to be one of the first women invited by NASA to board a space shuttle and see the stars for herself, up close and personal. It’s a dream come true! In the program, she meets quite the array of both men and women who are on a similar journey with similar goals. One of those people is Vanessa, who she is instantly drawn to, but she doesn’t necessarily understand why. Is it her magnetic personality, her brilliant mind, or something else…something new?

The story is told in alternating timelines between Joan’s time coming up into NASA and her time as she navigates through a suspenseful and emotional space mission.

Atmosphere is a well-paced and engaging story that shows off Taylor Jenkins Reid’s signature talent for writing driven, complex women. Joan Goodwin is a compelling protagonist, and I really enjoyed following her journey into NASA's space program during the 1980s—a setting that feels fresh and under explored in fiction.

That said, while I appreciated the historical context and Joan’s personal arc, I found the book leaned a little too heavily into NASA technical lingo and procedural details. At times, it pulled focus away from the emotional and social weight of what it meant to be a woman—especially a queer woman—trying to make it in such a male-dominated, high-pressure field during that era. I know this isn't the complete focus, and there are references, but it felt like a missing component.

I was hoping for more exploration of the specific barriers female astronauts faced, and a deeper look at Joan’s internal experience navigating sexism and systemic exclusion. The relationship between Joan and Vanessa was a highlight, adding warmth and personal tension to the broader narrative.

Overall, Atmosphere is a strong, original read with great characters and an intriguing setting—I just wish it had delved a bit further beneath the surface of its powerful premise.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy, and I give my review freely

Joan Goodwin has always felt a little different, which she attributes to her love of space and science. When NASA unexpectedly opens its program up to women, she finds the place where she can finally thrive. The story moves back and forth between a disastrous and suspenseful shuttle flight in 1984 and the years leading up to it, during which Joan forms relationships with the other astronauts while also dealing with her flaky sister and her beloved niece.

My enjoyment of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s novels tends to be hit or miss; I loved The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, liked Daisy Jones & the Six, and didn’t really care for Carrie Soto is Back. This one falls somewhere between Daisy Jones and Carrie Soto. I didn’t really need all the exhaustive tennis details in Carrie Soto, and I didn’t need all the space details here. There was also more telling than showing in certain parts, especially when it came to the limitations and prejudices that Joan and the other female astronauts faced. But Reid does tell a great love story, and this one was no exception. While the action dragged a bit, by the end I was deeply invested in the characters and gripped by the suspense. And while I didn’t love the whole book, I expect it to be a very popular summer read and can see that it will have wide appeal so if you’re on the fence I’d go for it!

Read this if: you are a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid and/or enjoy historical fiction focused on women.

Skip this if: you are in the mood for something more dense and literary, and/or you think Orbital was the perfect space novel.

Well this bumped me out of a reading slump! It felt very different than Reid's other books. That last chapter was really something - can't say more here!

What if you could be one of the first women to go to space? How much would you risk? Your family, true love, your life?
“Atmosphere” chronicles Joan Goodwin’s adult life as she embarks being one of the first women to travel to space. However, with great reward, comes great risks.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with another highly anticipated historical romance. It is set in the 1980s and immediately starts with the main character Joan trying to instruct an engineer in the middle of a crisis situation while being on a space shuttle. Several members of the crew have already died and it does not look good. Then the story travels back in time to the beginnings of when Joan, an intelligent professor signs up to be in a competitive NASA program and meets the ambitious engineer, Vanessa. Joan discovers more than knowledge about the stars. She learns more about herself and what it takes to be yourself in all aspects of life.

I admit that I didn’t know much about space while reading this but Reid weaves it expertly into a fascinating tale with passion. There were themes of homophobia and sexism that reminded me that even though their falling in love was easy, Joan & Vanessa had a lot of odds against them in terms of both of their relationships, careers, and family. Also, I loved the relationship that Joan had with her young niece, Frances and. This book was fast paced for me and it would be the perfect beach read. Emotional and inspiring, I’m sure many people will find this book as one of their new favorites

Wow! Reid continues her streak with this book. I adored our main character - I saw the "twist" coming and couldn't have been happier when our main character figured it out too! I'm not a big fan of ou\ter space or science-y material, but I really enjoyed the subject specific information shared through Joan's story. As a mom, this book tore me up in all the right ways that I've come to expect from Reid's work. This is her first book where being an involved caretaker of a young child is a main story line and she conveys those complicated emotions perfectly. I love, love, love this author.

Taylor Jenkins Reid shines in her 2025 release about two women in love with space travel and one another. I found this to be different from Reid's usual fare and more literary suspense. I could not put it down and will be recommending to everyone I talk to.

For those who get emotionally involved in a story and shed a tear or two, be forewarned: don’t read the last chapter in public. And have a box of tissue close by.

NASA’s first crews to work with the space station in the 1980s were also the first to be integrated by gender and race. This amazing story takes the reader through a would-be astronaut’s first days at the Houston Space Center, many aspects of the training they go through, the social ties they develop with each other, through the first flights into space they take. Interspersed are the background stories focusing primarily on a couple of the female trainees.

The characters in this novel feel and act authentically. The tension spread throughout the book is of the highest level. A few of the descriptions are unique and interesting: the view of earth from space is one and another is a discussion of man’s place on earth. This story would make a great movie!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC to read and review.

This novel speaks to the importance of women’s ambitions, outside of motherhood or traditional homemaking. It speaks to the importance of women’s relationships outside of men. and Women’s willing and unwilling participation in their own subjugation within patriarchy. This story highlights that women have an existence, an importance, and a relevance that has nothing to do with men. Without denying the fact that women who are mothers , wives and homemakers are important too, but that those attributes are not their limits. It is also a story about love. which is no small thing. These themes are composed brilliantly with Taylor Jenkins Reids undeniable ability as an author. Also this is absolutely a romance !!! and denying that makes you a perpetrator of exactly what this novel argues against!!