TJR hits it out of the park yet again. Atmosphere transfixed me with the world building TJR infuses into every story. Although historical fiction, I found myself wondering if Joan was real not unlike Daisy Jones and the Six. TJR fans, get ready. This one will not disappoint.

This was one of my top reads so far this year! I was engrossed by the NASA astronaut angle, and the story was so beautifully told. I honestly did not expect to love this book so much. (Warning, have tissues handy!)

I want to do this book justice—because it’s not one you simply move on from. It’s a treasure that stays with you, nestled deep in your heart. I can’t recall another love story that has touched me this deeply, breaking my heart and gently putting it back together again.

Spanning space and time, the story explores vast, existential questions with such grace. It never feels overdone or clichéd. Instead, it awakened that sense of childhood wonder—the awe of the unknown, the hunger for meaning, and the pursuit of joy.

There’s also a beautiful subplot about Joan’s bond with her sister’s child. Their connection felt both magical and achingly real—another thread in this deeply moving tapestry of love in all its forms.

When I briefly scanned the first few pages, I was initially turned off by the NASA/space stuff. It felt like too much science lingo for me and I put it down. But after a couple of friends were talking about finishing it and sobbing, I gave it a second shot. And wow. I don't know what made me put it down so quickly the first time, I couldn't put it down. The characters with these larger than life aspirations of astronaut, are still flawed and real. And add in a non traditional love story- I am all in. Atmosphere was an incredible book. I, too, was sobbing as I finished it.

This is a wonderful story about the early days of NASA's Space Shuttle program. Joan is a physics and astronomy professor, and her dream has always been to go to space, so she joins. It weaves the stories of the applicants as they work towards the goal of being picked as one of the astronauts that will be able to go on the first shuttles. There are a lot of details about everything the applicants must go through. The author did an amazing job researching and implementing these aspects. As with all of Taylor Jenkins Read books, I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for this ARC! Well, obviously this should be a movie. 'Twas very exciting and right on the money when it comes to family baggage, sibling rivalry and the acceptance of who we really are. It shed light on the changing times of the 80's and where fear and misunderstanding were (and still are) a reality of life. I would definitely recommend this book!

Is it really summer if you're not reading the newest book from Taylor Jenkins Reid? I struggled to get into this book at first. I was immediately intrigued by the current timeline plot happening in space, but it took me longer to get interested in the past timeline. I think part of that was immediately being introduced to so many characters. By 30% of the book, I was invested and couldn't stop reading. TJR really knows how to write an emotional novel and this was no different.

Atmosphere: A Love Story Among the Stars

Set against the backdrop of NASA’s early 1980s space shuttle program, Atmosphere: A Love Story by Taylor Jenkins Reid follows Joan Goodwin, a professor-turned-astronaut, and Vanessa Ford, an aeronautical engineer, as their unexpected romance deepens amid grueling space training and a high-stakes shuttle mission. Reid masterfully balances the tension of mission training with the emotional stakes between Joan and Vanessa, keeping readers captivated throughout.

Reid goes beyond merely hinting at longing—she portrays Joan and Vanessa actively building a partnership, making their connection feel refreshingly authentic and relatable. However, the passion in the intimate scenes is more suggestive than vivid, leaving a desire for a bit more evocative romance. Despite this, the emotional engagement of the story remains intact.

“Day in and day out, the Earth keeps spinning and revolving and sailing through the Milky Way. That is why time never stands still. And that is why, small as they were, Joan’s choices had added up to something magnificent. In the changing of seasons these past four years, Joan had found it all. Something she loved, someone she loved, the parts of her she had hidden within herself.“

Richly Developed Characters and Setting
Every character enriches the narrative. Side characters like Lydia, obliviously arrogant but earnest and invincible; Hank, the charismatic pilot; and Joan’s sister and niece, who bring both tension and warmth to her life, add depth and humanity to the story. These supporting figures anchor the narrative in themes of perseverance and connection.

Reid’s choice of setting is consistently compelling. The early-’80s space environment becomes a character in itself, drawing readers into the world of space exploration. This immersive backdrop enhances the emotional depth and stakes of the story.

A Story Worth Repeating
Ultimately, Atmosphere isn’t just about stars and science—it’s about people reaching for connection, love, and courage, no matter how messy or fragile. It’s a story that resonates deeply and is one readers will want to revisit time and again.

At times I felt this book was slow-going but it definitely picked up once it moved on to the relationship between Joan and Vanessa. Joan was a great main character and her strained relationship with her sister and parental role with her niece was a very compelling side plot. The last few chapters were intensely emotional and did not disappoint.

This was a fantastic, heartfelt read. I enjoy a good LGBTQIA love story, and this really shows the complexities of being a queer person in the 80’s; and also a woman in a male dominated field.

This may be one of my favorite books by Taylor Jenkins Reid! You can tell she did her research when it came to space. The details were incredible I almost got lost in them. An unexpected and beautiful love story. I found myself wanting to learn more about this time period and also was infuriated by the injustice of the time.

Beautiful and wrenching and then beautiful again. Perhaps the sweetest and best depiction of new love, straight or gay, I’ve ever read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. While I always enjoy TJR writings, this was not my favorite of her. Not because of her writing but I am just not into rockets, space, or NASA. So while another well written novel, just not my favorite subject.

Thank you netgalley for allowing me early access to this book. This wasn’t what I was expecting at all, a pleasant surprise. Any time a book has me bawling my eyes out, it gets a 5 star

Taylor Jenkins Reid quickly became one of my favorite authors after reading One True Loves and I've devoured her books since then. Atmosphere was another book I just couldn't put down once I read the first page. I love how we're pulled into the time period the book takes place in and it feels like we're really there. It's clear this author really takes her time and does research before writing these books.

Atmosphere starts off with a bang and that first chapter already hit me in all feels and had me kind of afraid for our characters before I even got to know them. I love seeing women following their dreams, so Joan becoming one of the first women to be accepted into NASA's program was a big deal. I don't know much about space, but Taylor Jenkins Reid teaches you things as you go without making it feel like you're at school.

Besides seeing Joan go after what she loves, we jump back and forth in time while she falls in love and deals with family. In this time, two women together wouldn't be tolerated within NASA, but Vanessa and Joan didn't let that stop them. I loved them together and I'm glad we also got Vanessa's POV. Both were amazing characters and I'll be thinking about them often after reading Atmosphere.

We also have the family aspect when it comes to Joan's story. She has a complicated relationship with her sister and plays a big part in her niece's life. There were quite a few moments I got so annoyed with her sister and my heart broke for her niece. This part of the story also had me tearing up quite a few times. And let's not forget the tension we get from the situation the book starts off with. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat and I wasn't expecting for it to end like it did. Atmosphere will definitely be on my favorites list of 2025! I don't think my words can ever do this book justice.

My review will also be posted on https://thebookdutchesses.com on August 28th.

Taylor Jenkins Reid can do no wrong at this point in my opinion! I love her writing and this book was no exception. I really love outerspace so this one especially was a delight. The only thing that I missed about this book was that she didn't include any other characters from her other books! She always does that! But to be fair I might have missed it. Overall though I could not put this book down. I was racing towards the end and loving every minute of it.

If I could, I'd give this 3.5 stars. The first quarter or so of the book, I was sure I was going to give it 4 stars (I rarely give 5), but then it just kept going and going. This was the same issue I had The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It felt unnecessarily long, and by the halfway point of the book, I found myself skimming many of the conversations because they felt repetitive and I was losing interest.

I thought the romance between Joan and Vanessa was really sweet, and I loved the relationship Joan had with her niece—but I could have used a lot less of both of those stories and a lot more space stuff. That's what I found most interesting in the book, and by the end, it was barely part of the story.

While I thought this one was good/enjoyable I didn't see the 'wow' that others did. That is until the last 20 mins, then this book nearly destroyed me but even then I was still hoping for more? Don't get me wrong, this book was beautifully written, the author clearly demonstrated their research of NASA and the stars but there was a lot of telling and not enough showing. I think the showing/telling has to do with the format in which the story was told in how it jumped around a lot. I wasn't as invested in the main relationship because I didn't feel like I spent enough time with them. We were told they would have these crazy insane fights but I wish we were able to witness one first hand. Honestly, this book is labeled a 'love story' and personally, I think that is the love between an aunt and a niece. That's the true relationship I was invested in and the one that broke me the most. Overall, I did enjoy this story but I did find the ending to be a bit predictable.

Thank you so much @prhaudio for my gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I highly recommend listening to this book on audio. Both narrators Kristen DiMercurio & Julia Whelan did such a fantastic job. The emotion they brought to this story was perfect. I truly don't think I would have liked this one as much if I read the physical book.

Thank You to NetGalley for the free digital arc.

My second time reading Taylor Jenkins Reid. My first was Daisy Jones & The Six which I loved. I loved this one just as much. I loved the nostalgic feel of the book and how women were breaking the molds of what women were supposed to do and be. They not only dared to dream about the night sky, but were passionate about it and pursued their dreams at all costs. I loved the information and setting of space, the space center, daily life, friends to lovers, astronauts, and family.

I was on the edge of my seat at key moments such as the ending, where they going to be friends or lovers or both, and what was going to happen. The characters were enjoyable and sent me on an emotional roller coaster.

The book is so well written. I could not put it down. I had to know what was going to happen at very moment. I would re-read this book over and over and enjoy it as an audiobook and movie.

I loved this book. I genuinely thought the ending was going to go a different way, but I was happy with how it wound up. I will definitely continue to read everything this author puts out.