
Member Reviews

Taylor Jenkins Reid is back with another stellar read! When I first heard she was writing a book based on astronauts, I was definitely intrigued. Reid can make me read anything as long as she’s the one holding the pen. Atmosphere is an incredibly well written book. Reid does a great job with the technical aspects of this book and you can tell how much research went into writing this book. And of course it’s not a TJR book without interesting characters all around. Not only did I love Joan and Vanessa but the side characters also held their own. I really appreciated the slow and steady development between Joan and Vanessa.

I want to write something punchy and smart, but can you imagine a book so good you have to finish it in a crowded rideshare pickup lot, crying openly around 40 strangers?
The cover calls this "Atmosphere: A Love Story" and I can see TJR with her smile and a knife in her hand. A LOVE STORY. And so much more than what you think.
Thanks NetGalley and PRH! I assume you gave me this title as a mistake and it was the best mistake all year. Sorry to my seatmate as I wept on a plane.

Taylor Jenkins Reed does it again with Atmosphere. She finds a way to make you so attached to the characters that you feel all the emotions they do. I loved that it was set in the early 80s and addressed many of the issues at the time. I also love all the information about space that was included in the book. Highly recommend!

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! I love this author's take on the historical fiction genre -- each one of her books is fresh and unique, and ATMOSPHERE is no exception. I had no idea I'd love a story about NASA and space, but of course TJR has made that possible!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Publishing for the ARC of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Atmosphere was an incredible book, with a myriad of emotions embedded in the reading experience. In fact, I read this book a few weeks ago, and even today, as I ruminate about the book, I think of the layers that it contains. This would be a GREAT book club choice, especially a woman's club who wouldn't shy away from talking about tough topics.

Taylor Jenkins Reid writes another hit. This time taking us back in time to outer space and following the intricate details of a time period when women weren't at the forefront of anyone's mind. Following in the footsteps of The Women, we see the challenges and pitfalls of women in a male dominated arena and the successes they made. From work and personal challenges, Joanie finds ways to succeed and come out on top. Great read!

I loved this book. Which isn’t surprising since Taylor Jenkins Reid wrote it! I’ve always been fascinated by space exploration so I really enjoyed that part of it. I adored the characters, and their journey.

This which is missing something her previous books I’ve had. I felt like their relationship was pretty predictable like I knew it was gonna happen as soon as they met. The just has not impacted me as much as some of Reid’s other books.

This book was such a delightful read! From the very first page, I found myself completely immersed in the story. The writing was so approachable and warm, making it easy to connect with the characters and the plot. I loved how the book felt both inviting and engaging, without ever being too complex or hard to follow. It was just the right mix of comfort and intrigue, and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. It’s a wonderful read that I’d happily recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming escape!

Oh my GOD this was so good.
Set in the 1908s, this story follows Joan, a professor who finds that her dreams are bigger than where she ended up. When the call from NASA comes out that they are looking to expand their space program to women astronauts, she takes her chance and is selected. This story follows her struggles and triumphs throughout the program as well as in her personal life, trying to find love and help raise her niece. However, Joan ends up finding herself in the eye of the storm when a space mission goes awry and becomes deadly. The book opens with this and then the chapters jump in time from there, making this a fast paced read.
Nobody writes historical fiction the way Reid does. She can take any subject make it riveting. The addition of the love story really hit it home for me. Loved all of it. Highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Another great read by Taylor Jenkins Reid. This book follows Joan as she applies to NASA to become an astronaut and her journey in life. You learn a lot about her relationship with her niece, her friends, her NASA colleagues and her partner. The book has multiple points of view- first starting out at NASA, and then her in present time. 4/5 stars.

I consider this one of the greatest books I've read in my life! Taylor Jenkins Reid has done an outstanding job once again.
My full review will be available as we approach the pub date. For now, I just want to say how much I adore these characters and how amazed I am to be captivated by a story centered around a theme I rarely dive into.
Love, love, love! 5 STARS!

I would read TJR's shopping list if you let me. She just has such a beautiful way of writing well-rounded characters. I am a huge TJR fan, so Atmosphere was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint.
One thing I love about TJR is her ability to capture such raw human emotion. I swear I connect so deeply with her characters and the way they view the universe. Sometimes the simple musings in her stories become some of my favorite quotes.
Atmosphere follows the story of Joan, a young woman who is navigating family life, a nearly nonexistent love life, and her dreams of being an astronaut despite NASA's rigid views of who brings in space. Throughout the book, we see Joan really learn who she is and also learn to love herself as much as she loves others. TJR writes well-rounded female characters and Joan is no exception. Joan is driven, but prudish at the beginning of Atmosphere. Yet as she gets to know her fellow astronauts, she becomes more confident and unapologetically herself. I loved watching Joan grow into the woman she is at the end of the book.
I won't say much more other than the fact that Joan's relationships, both familial and romantic, were beautifully written. This book is a celebration of love of all kinds--and not just between people but between people and their passions too.
I am looking forward to future books by TJR! Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors & I have been waiting to long for a new book. This one did not disappoint. I gave it 4 1/2 stars. I am not a huge fan of books that go back in time & foward throughout the book, I prefer them to go in time order. Growing up in the 80s I was one of the kids who wanted to go to space camp after seeing the movie, like so many kids of my generation. My father is a pilot and so many things in this book resonated with me because of my personal experiences on that front. I loved the deep family friendships that formed within the group of astronauts who all stated their time at NASA together. I loved seeing Joan & Venessa’s love unfolding so naturally and so beautifully, how they truly were meant to be together. At the same time I was completely heartbroken they couldn’t live their loving happy relationship out loud like the rest of the team. I found myself googling when gay marriages were legal (2015) and hoping that Joan & Vanessa along with Frances were there at a courthouse the very day it was legal to make their relationship official to the rest of the world. This is a book I would absolutely love to have a part 2 to see what happened next. This book also shows a reminder on how far the LGBTQ community has come since the early 80s & how hard they had to fight and how much pain they had to endure to get to this point, which still isn’t perfect buy any means.

ugh, this is a confusing one for me. on a macro, structural, thematic level, this is a really, really beautiful and meaningful book. like yes it is top gun with space lesbians, but it is also just a really thoughtful exploration of what it means to be a person looking for a place, a home, and meaning in life, love, space, science, etc etc, especially when the world is prejudiced against you for things far out of your control. it’s truly lovely, i think a lot of people (myself included) will find meaning in it, i bet it will work a bit better on audio, and i cannot wait for the inevitable tv/film adaptation.
unfortunately, it is simply baffling on a line level. i’ve read and enjoyed most of taylor jenkins reid’s previous work, and never remembered her sentences and dialogue being *this* clunky. everyone says exactly what they think in the most strangely stilted, through google translate and back again, paragraphs. no one uses contractions. exclamation marks abound. it’s the 80s, we don’t need to be going for old timey Ye Olde English. and then every time i wanted to run up a wall and put this book down and read something that didn’t make me want to tear my skin off, she’d drop one of the most beautiful paragraphs i’ve read in a minute. are her previous ones like this and i just didn’t notice?? what happened here????
additionally, some of the themes were a bit repetitive and heavy handed, side characters stilted, the ending a bit abrupt, and there was a strange harping on God/religion that was at first lovely (how do you have faith and also be a scientist? is a gorgeous conversation) but eventually felt a bit uncomfortable for me—but the overall strength of narrative and joan as a character would easily have offset these if not for the really, deeply strange prose.
also: i am deeply, violently, existentially afraid of space, so i was definitely not setting myself up for success here.

I loved this book. I am an author and I am speechless at how to accurately convey my love for this book in my review. I thought the story was extremely compelling, I could NOT put it down, and I was on the verge of tears for probably the last fifty pages (in the best, most excruciating way). I cared so much for the main characters (although one of them I thought could have realized something a bit faster) and I thought the incorporation of space, NASA, etc. was so well researched and well done, and I am so appreciative of all the hard work Taylor Jenkins Reid put into this book. A masterpiece.

I’m a huge TJR fan and have been since I discovered her books. Her interesting and highly complex characters are a huge draw for me. However, it took me 2/3 in to get emotionally invested in this story. The ending was the best part- tense and full of emotions, and with tears in my eyes, I sadly finished. Disappointed to have to wait on her next book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the privilege and opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT ON EVERY LEVEL! This book was fantastic! The characters, the premise, the family relationships, the love and the sacrifice! STUNNING!
The setting of the story is the 1980's NASA space Shuttle program. At the heart of the story is Joan Goodwin, an astronomy professor with a passion for space and the stars. The story follows Joan's journey through the program and the relationships formed as a result. She must learn to navigate the grueling process while balancing her familial and personal relationships . To say anymore would spoil TJR's incredible story. She is able to weave the technical aspects of the shuttle program without sacrificing the emotion and love for these characters! Needless to say have tissues ready for the pulse pounding emotional ending! I wanted these characters to go on and on!
A must read!

Atmosphere is a breathtaking journey through ambition, love, and the boundless pursuit of dreams. Set against the backdrop of NASA’s 1980s space shuttle program, it captures the grit and wonder of those who dared to reach for the stars. Joan is a deeply compelling protagonist, her quiet determination colliding with the intense pressures of spaceflight and the unexpected complexities of love. The camaraderie among the astronauts, the razor-sharp tension of their missions, and the emotional depth of Joan’s personal evolution make this an unforgettable read. Taylor Jenkins Reid masterfully blends history, heart, and high-stakes drama into a novel that soars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.
Holy shit! My heart is bursting with love and anger along with a newfound interest in the interconnectedness of science and God.
“To look at the night sky is to look at parts of who you once were, who you may one day be."
Taylor Jenkins Reid is a creative genius. Daisy Jones helped me rediscover an appreciation of audiobooks. Evelyn Hugo taught me that real intimacy is being honest about oneself. And Atmosphere reminded me that when you love someone, you love all the versions of who they are. I can’t wait to continue learning life lessons from TJR.
4.5 out of 5 stars and my deepest respect to the author.