I was really looking forward to enjoying this book due to its historical fiction elements about women working at NASA. Unfortunately, it felt more like a tedious history textbook, making it hard for me to engage with the story. I usually love Taylor Jenkins Reid's work, but this one didn't resonate with me.

An amazing depiction of true love. The pacing was great; never a dull moment. I love the tension throughout the book.

Everything Taylor Jenkins Reid writes is lovely--this is no exception. True love, found family, and the space shuttle. What more could you want?

Atmosphere follows Joan Goodwin, an astronomy professor whose lifelong fascination with the stars leads her to apply for NASA's Space Shuttle program as they begin accepting women candidates. Through Joan's eyes, we experience the rigorous training, the forging of unlikely friendships, and most significantly, an unexpected romance with fellow astronaut candidate Vanessa Ford that challenges everything Joan thought she knew about herself and her place in the universe.
The technical language of NASA and vivid description of spaceflight is seamlessly integrated into the narrative, and the author's descriptions of space itself are often breathtaking. The structure, alternating between the main timeline and the crucial mission in 1984, builds tension effectively as the reader develops a connection to each member of the crew on the shuttle, and those on the ground.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
I love everything Taylor Jenkins Reid writes, and this book was no exception. I love how Reid creates each new book to be so different from her others. It is a great writer who can take on such unique topics and do it so well. Atmosphere begins with a catastrophe and alternates timelines to connect the reader to the characters and the situation that they are in. Well researched, Reid is able to inform the reader about the space program giving context to the characters. This book will be one of my top reads for the year!

Honestly I didn’t understand the way the timeline laid out for 80% of the book. So much of the story is revealed in the very beginning and it made it hard to want to invest. OBVIOUSLY I understand now and once again, TJR nailed it. I enjoyed a book with a different type of setting than I’m used to.. Revolved around space & NASA and badass females who helped shine light on a female taking on a societal ‘male role’. It had me so interested and googled an infinity (lol space) amount of every space/shuttle term. I feel like I learned so much and got a worldly perspective. Went to space & didn’t leave the couch lol.. TJR, you did that! Thank you for the ARC copy & thank you Joan, for being a female real one 🖤

Taylor Jenkins Reid does it again and this is easily the most anticipated book of 2025! A book that was so worth the wait and in a similar vein of TJR's other books.

2.5 rounded up for the second half. The first half was cheesy, very corny, the writing was weird, like maybe she wanted to give it an older feel, but it was only the 80s so why? Second half felt better but still kind of boring and I didn’t really care about anyone. I was really disappointed because I love everything by TJR (until now)

This book is *chef's kiss*. Writing about space, it's hard to convey the majesty of it, the wild of it, the unknown of it, and I felt like TJR managed to do just that. This novel is the one I am most looking forward to recommending upon publication.

I really really really wanted to like this book due to the historical fiction aspects of women working in NASA, but there were some parts I could just not get through.

This was a great 5 star read. I loved everything from the space setting to the family drama. SO GOOD.

Wow this was so so so good (dare I say one of the best books I’ve read in years)!!! I am unwell!!! This was so beautifully-written, thought-provoking, thrilling, heartbreaking, and beautiful. I know this book will stick with me for years to come. Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again!!!

I am a HUGE TJR fan. I’ve been anticipating a new release since I’ve read all of her other books. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is my favorite book ever so I was coming into this book with high expectations. I never could’ve imagined I would’ve found a book I loved so much that it would be battling Evelyn Hugo for my top spot. This book deserves any award it could possibly receive. As a bisexual woman I caught on very quickly where the romance of this book was heading, but it was done so eloquently. The books ending was very suspenseful and I wish I could know more about Vanessa & Joan, but the story also felt complete.

Atmosphere is a historical fiction, set in the 1980's, as the first female astronauts were joining NASA and being sent into space. The story follows our main character, Joan Goodwin as she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming an astronaut, while discovering new, equally important dreams and desires she never knew she had.
Atmosphere is a great book about the early space program and the challenges women faced to be a part of it, but it is so much more than that. It is really a story about self discovery, living one's truth, and family. It shows that family isn't always about blood, but about whom one chooses to love and share one's life with. It really made me reflect on my priorities and my place in the universe. I would definitively recommend this book!

Heavy on the space but equally heavy on the drama. A read you won’t want to put down. A beautifully written rollercoaster of emotions.

eARC Netgalley

Taylor Jenkins Reid hit it out of the park again with her newest novel, Atmosphere! This is a queer romance that takes place in the 1980s, following main character Joan Goodwin as she embarks on a life-altering journey to become one of NASA's first female scientists in the Space Shuttle program. Joan deals with family, friends, lovers, and her career in this emotional, inspiring historical fiction novel. While parts of the novel are told through Vanessa's POV, most of the story is told through Joan's narrative; the reader watches her transform from a logical, detached narrator into one who embraces love and emotion, and it's a wonderful thing to behold!

Setting/topic: Like Reid's other historical fiction novels, this book immerses the reader in the setting, and in this instance, it is the 1980s space exploration time period at NASA. We see the (fictional) workings of NASA and the training that the astronauts and scientists go through. While most of it was very complicated to me, it was fun to learn about. Part of the story revolves around a space mission that most of Joan's classmates are on, while Joan is giving orders from the ground; this part of the story seemed unrealistic, but it added a lot of suspense to the plot. The rest of the story is about Joan's experience at her new job, learning the ins and outs of NASA.

Romance: This romance was adorable! Joan experiences a queer awakening near the middle of the novel, falling for one of her coworkers, Vanessa. The love Vanessa and Joan share transforms Joan's life. The bond and pull between Joan and Vanessa was palpable! I enjoyed these two characters coming to find and welcome each other into their lives.

Themes/Topics: This novel explored topics of feminism, misogyny, family, homophobia, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. Joan faces issues with her male coworkers at NASA and struggles to find out the best way to address the blatant sexism. As Vanessa and Joan fall in love, they realize they must hide their relationship in order to keep their jobs; this brought up the important discussion of LGBTQ+ rights throughout history. Finally, as Joan starts to transform her career, she must balance her work with caring for her niece, Frances. Frances and Joan have a precious relationship, but Frances' mother (and Joan's sister) Barbara is jealous, and she tries to tear the two apart. I feel like TJR offered great commentary on all these topics in a subtle but meaningful way.

Overall, I would give this book a 4.5! Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I DNF’d at 30%. I do not read books with lesbian subplots and I did not know there would be one when I went into it. This is a me thing, and I’m sure others will not be bothered by it.

Taylor Jenkins Reid has been one of my favorite authors for years and I was unbelievably excited to hear she has a new release coming out. Atmosphere is emotional, romantic and poignant and one of her best works. The story of Joan and Vanessa is beautifully written and when the book ended I wanted more. The suspense of the last few pages had me on the edge of my seat and I was so happy with the ending. This book is amazing and I am truly in awe of the writing.
4.25 stars

This was an absolutely incredible story. First woman astronauts, navigating a same sex relationship, family drama, and grief, this book had it all. Taylor Jenkins Reid really did her research on Nasa and the study of the stars/space. I learned a lot, cried a lot, and got frustrated with the sister character so much it hurt. Highly recommend!

Such a wonderful queer love story, in space! Everything I didn't know to even ask for from Taylor Jenkins Reid.