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.

Wow. What can I say. TJR has done it again. Atmosphere is a powerful, character driven, love story. Throw in all the fun about being an astronaut and space exploration and we’ve got ourselves another masterpiece from the Master herself, Taylor Jenkins Reid.

I was thrilled to receive an early release to help launch the newest book from my favorite author. It did not disappoint. I laughed, I got mad, I cried, I was captivated from the start. TJR has such a talent when it comes to building her characters and giving them a life that makes them feel real and important to me. Being a space crazed child of the 80s who thought she’d someday become an astronomer made this book feel meant for me, personally. I’ve remained solidly on the ground, but my love of the stars and what’s out there didn’t go away. This book brought all that flooding back. Joan and Vanessa‘s love story was written in the stars and will stay with me for a very long time.

Needless to say, Atmosphere might be my favorite book by TJR now. This is going to be added to my favorite book list that get gifted to every reader I am close to.

I absolutely LOVED this book. The tension between Joan and Vanessa was beautiful to read,. Getting to know all these characters even when you already know the tragedy that awaits them, is heartbreaking but inevitable. I was especially engaged with the storyline with Joan and her sister, Barbra. Joan cares so deeply for her niece and can't understand why Barbra acts the way she does which makes it all the more satisfying when Joan finally puts her foot down.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Penguin Random House, and Taylor Jenkins Reid for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I don’t quite know where to begin!! I finished this book in January, and it remains (in April) my top read of the year. This is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her finest. I struggled a bit with her last 2 books, but this one made me feel like when I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for the first time.

Atmosphere takes place in the 80s and follows Joan Goodwin as she leaves the safety of her professorship in academia and shoots for the stars by being accepted as an astronaut at NASA. This story is told on a slight dual timeline, which really added to the suspense of the novel for me. I couldn’t put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen! Joan grows so much throughout the story, and I think that was something that kept me extremely engaged as well. I should note that while this story has a beautiful romance, it is not the sole plot. Everything weaves together beautifully.

I’ve never been much a space person. The vastness of it all kind of freaks me out. However, this story really piqued my interest in terms of learning about space and what it takes to become one of the elite few that are able to travel off or our planet. This story is extremely immersive in that aspect.

Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this novel, and I sincerely cannot wait until it releases so I have more people to talk about it with! I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to read an early TJR novel, and this one especially does not disappoint!

Thank you Random House, Netgalley, and the Atmosphere Launch Team for the early copy!


I’ll read anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I was excited when this book was announced and it did not disappoint! I was hooked from the first chapter. Dual timeline, great character development, and a strong female lead. Most of the characters were relatable while some were unlikable, just like real life. Some of the space stuff went over my head but I can tell that TJR did her research. I loved this book and wasn’t ready for it to end. Please give us more Joan, Vanessa, and Frances!

This book was really interesting if you are into the history of NASA and topics surrounding that but past that I did not really enjoy the book. It was very slow going and the characters were flat.

This book gets ALL.THE.STARS!!!
I was desperate to get an advance copy of Atmosphere but had accepted that I’d have to wait for release day. I cannot express how excited I was to get that “read now” email this week!! I already knew going in that it was going to be a five star read. As the book progressed, I realized that it might just wind up being my favorite book released in the past few years. When I was done, I tearfully acknowledged that it’s likely my favorite book ever.
I read Atmosphere in one day, with my eyes leaking the entire time. The layers of this story are 🤌. I was on edge trying to find out what would happen to the astronauts, facing unexpected tragedy in space. I was drawn in by the struggles of these women trying to represent as the best of the best under circumstances stacked against them across the board. The smartest women in the world always know that they rank among the most middling of men in many/most spaces. This story showed how hard women had to work to be accepted as astronauts and serve as examples for the hopes and dreams of every woman to come after them. The stakes were existential for the first female astronauts. On top of that, we have female protagonists who also want to live their lives on their own terms, loving who they love, being able to experience the same things everyone else takes for granted. And we had our central character, an astronomer in love with the cosmos who also wanted to do right by her niece, who drew the short straw having her narcissist sister as a single parent.
I could not have rooted for these characters more. And I could not have loved this story more than I did.
Thank you for bringing this into the world, Taylor. The only thing else I could ask for is Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brien to headline together again when the movie is made. 🙏
*Thank you to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley

Netgalley Reviews

5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Joan Goodwin, a quiet astronomy professor, jumps at the chance to become one of NASA’s first female astronauts, leaving behind her routine life for the intense training of the space shuttle program. As she bonds with a diverse group of fellow trainees and discovers unexpected love, Joan's world expands beyond science and into deeper self-discovery. But everything shifts dramatically during a space mission in 1984, altering her life forever.

I think this might be Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best work yet. The dual timeline is both powerful and heartbreaking, allowing us to fall in love and grieve almost simultaneously. The relationship between Joan and Vanessa is deeply convincing—a poignant reminder of how painful it can be to have to hide your love from the world. I was completely invested in every character from beginning to end. I don’t cry over books often, but I’ll admit I was full-on ugly sobbing by the final pages. I can’t wait for everyone to read this and fall in love with it just as much as I did.