Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins is a captivating read, earning a solid 4-star review because it really pulls you in with its vivid world and characters you can actually relate to. Jenkins is a pro at crafting a story that makes you feel like you're right there with the people in the book, feeling all their ups and downs.

Why I Loved This Book:
One of the best things about this book is how beautifully Jenkins writes. She has a way of painting pictures with words, whether she's describing a buzzing city or a quiet moment of someone thinking deep thoughts. This rich writing style creates an "atmosphere" that truly lives up to the book's name, pulling you into the emotions of the story. You can practically feel the tension when things get tough and share in the characters' peaceful moments.

And let's talk about the characters—they're fantastic. They're not just simple, one-dimensional figures; they're complex and feel real. They face everyday problems, sometimes make questionable choices, and actually grow and change throughout the book, which makes them incredibly believable. You'll find yourself rooting for them, even when they stumble. The relationships between them—whether it's friendships, family ties, or romance—are also explored in a way that feels genuine and true to life.

The story's flow in "Atmosphere" is another reason it's so good. Jenkins perfectly balances exciting, dramatic moments with quieter scenes focused on the characters. This keeps the story moving along without ever feeling too fast or too slow. You'll stay hooked and eager to turn the page, always wanting to know what happens next. The plot, while not super complicated, is engaging and unfolds naturally, leading to a truly satisfying ending.

Bottom line: "Atmosphere" is a great read because it offers a truly engaging experience thanks to its masterful storytelling, well-developed characters, and vibrant setting. While it might not reinvent the wheel when it comes to the plot, the way Jenkins tells the story is top-notch, making it a very enjoyable read.

Many thanks to.Netgalley and Random House Ballentine Books for sharingbthis advanced read copy with me.

STUNNNNNNING! If I cried, that must mean it was good right???? I was in a slump and unsure of what to read before picking this up. Having been a fan of TJR’s previous historical fiction and romance books, I did have high expectations!! And she met them!!


Thank you for this arc!

TJR’s books have been hit or miss from me, but one thing I’ve been able to rely on is fabulous pacing. I found this book underwhelming partially because I found that hallmark of her writing missing and partially because I think it was incorrectly marketed.

With the promise of exciting space missions and descriptors like “epic,” “thrilling,” and “face-paced” I was hoping for Carrie Soto levels of intensity or Evelyn Hugo levels of drama and was left with neither. What I got was a sweet, but mostly sad romance with a very small NASA side plot.

While I liked the main character and her love interest well enough, I actually found the most engaging relationship in this story to be Joan’s with her niece, Frances. Perhaps I’m just a sappy auntie, but Joan’s love for Frances was incredibly touching (and relatable.)

If you’re a big fan of TJR or in the mood for a slower romance with a space backdrop, I’d give it a go. I was just hoping for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc!

This book turned out to be so much more than a story about the first women to go into space. It’s also a beautiful love story. I know that many people have rated it 5 stars and it almost was, but for me, the story started a little slow, but it became unputdownable about half way through and I then finished it quickly. I’m not surprised - Taylor writes amazing books and this one is no different!
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing group for the digital ARC!

More Romance than Rocket Science

⭐⭐⭐-1/2

Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere follows Joan Goodwin, a quiet, brilliant physics professor who stuns everyone—including herself—by joining NASA’s Space Shuttle program in 1980. The setup hints at a high-flying, STEM-driven narrative, but the story spends more time grounded in Joan’s personal relationships: her bond with her niece, her complicated family ties, and a romance that becomes central to the plot.

Reid’s writing is as strong as ever, and the ensemble cast of fellow trainees is engaging. There are moving moments and thoughtful themes about identity, love, and finding your place in the universe. But I was hoping for a deeper look at what it meant to be one of the first female astronauts. Instead, NASA serves mostly as a backdrop.

One major disconnect for me was Joan’s spiritual reflections. Her musings on the Big Bang and her version of God didn’t align with my Christian worldview, which made it harder to connect with the narrative. And while I respect the story TJR chose to tell, I wish NetGalley had clarified the nature of the love story—I wasn’t the intended audience, and that affected my experience.

This one had flashes of brilliance, but for me, it never quite reached orbit.

** Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a comp of the eBook. All opinions are my own.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is such an amazing writer! She really makes you feel for all of the characters. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

I absolutely loved the setting of this book! I thought the science bits were so well done, detailed without being laborious.
The characters were beautifully drawn, and I was surprised when halfway through this turned into a love story. But of course. It was there all along.
The final sequence was suspenseful and made me emotional. The use of dual timeline was seamless, and I was engaged throughout.
I highly recommend this book.

✨Book Review✨
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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This was definitely one of my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid books. I am always a sucker for a good space story. While it was infuriating, I did like how this story jumped between timelines. I really loved the characters and their passion. I will say I was excited for what I thought was going to be some ACE rep, but the romance ended up being lovely as well. The love story felt a little too good to be true, but it was very sweet. If you like realistic fiction/romance with a NASA setting, I would definitely recommend this book.

If you would have asked me if I was interested in a book about space, I would have said no. I would have been sadly mistaken. From the beginning, Atmosphere was captivating. The detailed story of not only the fight for women in science in that time, but the push and pull of navigating a field that was not built for you all while learning about yourself and unexpectedly falling in love. It all comes at a cost.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in space, love and the complications that life gives you all while being literal lightyears away.

ATMOSPHERE was so good. Period. I love TJR and her writing so much. The way the story went back and forth in time was flawless and helped build up all of the anticipation and drama of the final pages of the book. This is a wonderful and emotional story of two strong women, with excellent character development, a strong pull on the emotions, and a lot of NASA info/talk (but didn’t take away from the story for me). TJRs way with words and perspective on the world is so beautiful. While I wish she wrote novels more frequently, I am content to wait a while between if every book is as good as this one!

I had a such a great time with this book. Love the depiction of a smart and ambitious women, and her own story with the addition of following her journey to actually be herself and love who she wants to. Queer love, especially in the time it's depicting was not so open and the fear and hesitancy written in the novel regarding that is very much felt.

Two women astronauts, Joan and Vanessa, fulfill their dreams of going into space. The story goes back and forth between present and past of their lives revolving around their love for each other. Audiobook is excellent (Julia Whelan).

All eyes are to the sky as Taylor Jenkins Reid takes us inside the 1980’s NASA Space Shuttle program in her new novel, Atmosphere. This book deftly combines both the thrill of going into space with the shock and awe of falling in love for the first time, while also discovering your true and honest self.

Joan knows she is not like the other girls. Joan most certainly has her head in the clouds, but it’s not over love like many of her peers. Rather, she has one passion in life - space and science. But all of that changes when she is selected for NASA’s elite Space Shuttle program. As Joan trains alongside other brilliant minds in the hope of someday going into space, she begins to realize that she hasn’t been honest with herself about life and love.

I went into Atmosphere knowing that it was a love story as it professes it blatantly across the cover, but not knowing that the romance at the center of this story was sapphic in nature. However, I was quickly able to figure out that this is where the story was headed within the first couple of chapters. While I generally do not read sapphic romances, Reid presented the love story between Joan and Vanessa so authentically and beautifully that I could not look away from their compelling, yet tragic relationship and everything that they meant to each other, but couldn’t share with the world.. Reid brilliantly writes on what it was like to be out to a select few who would not inform on you in the turbulent 1980s, a time when being anything less than straight was vehemently frowned upon and shunned.

I walked away from this book with a newfound appreciation for Reid and her uncanny ability to transform herself with every novel. I never know what to expect from her books and marvel at her talent in writing across a multitude of genres and subjects.

In my mind, Taylor Jenkins Reid can do no wrong, and once again, she has written a stellar novel. The time and setting is the 1980s astronaut candidate program (ASCAN). We get to meet the newest recruits, including only the second group of women accepted into the space shuttle training program. The hero of our story is Joan Goodwin, an exceptional candidate who is smart and level headed. She is also the central character in two very different love stories.. One is an aunt/niece relationship with Frances. Frances' mother, who is Joan's sister, is not the most stable parent and relies heavily on Joan to help raise her daughter. The other love story is between Joan and another astronaut candidate. Joan discovers her true self through this relationship and struggles with the rules and mores of the time in this relationship. Things run somewhat smoothly through training, but when members of their group start to get selected for space missions, not everything on earth or in space goes smoothly. The secondary story of a mission gone bad is heart wrenching and suspenseful. This is a beautiful story that demands to be read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ecopy. My opinion is my own.

This was maybe my favorite Jenkins Reid book yet. The queer love story was compelling, as was the high-stakes space travel and the found family with both the scientists and the cute niece. I was absolutely holding my breath through the entire end.

A great ride as always with TJR. Its all about the characters, though the plot never suffers. This one is also nostalgic (or historical depending on your age). You don’t need to be a space nerd to understand and enjoy the premise. I needed this hopeful feminist jolt. I’d recommend the audiobook too.

Atmosphere is a beautifully written story - Taylor Jenkins Reid’s prose is strong - but the story felt a bit overstuffed and uneven. I went in most excited for the space element, and while those chapters (especially the ones set on December 29, 1984) were gripping, had energy and tension, they were too few and felt rushed. The most anticipated aspect—the space storyline—was compelling but disappointingly brief and underused. I wished the novel had spent more time exploring the technical and emotional intensity of the space mission.
The romance between Joan and Vanessa had emotional weight, particularly given the constraints they lived under in the 80’s in a male dominated field, but it didn't fully land for me and I felt it overshadowed the space mission. Joan was a standout character - strong, empathetic, and complex. The relationship between Joan and her niece Frances stood out as the most layered part of the book.
There are great themes here: ambition, gender inequality, sacrifice and it is apparent that TJR put a lot of research into space and NASA for writing. Just know this one leans more literary drama than sci-fi/space.

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid and when I say I love her books it means I will put down whatever I'm reading to pick up her new book. I've waited to write a review because this book felt like work for me. It went into too much of the technical part of what it's like to be an astronaut, which I understand, but I just couldn't get into it. The "people" story line I absolutely loved. The relationships and the building of these relationships are great. It focuses on the taboo relationships during that time period.

That being said Taylor Jenkins Reid is still an amazing storyteller.

Thank you #NetGalley for the advance copy!

On the fence of this being rounded up to a 4 star book, but I think 3 is fair.

I went into this for the sweet sapphic love story, but stayed for the gritty experience of being a woman in the early 80’s space program. The romance was TOO sweet, and quite sickeningly so at times. The space program storyline was on point, and started out strong. And ended strong - until the cloying romance took over again and ruined the ending 🤣

I will say I shed a few tears along the way, and especially loved the Francis portions of the storyline.

I am not a big space nerd, but fully appreciated it here, especially the realistic view of Joan’s realization of where she belonged in the program.

My new favorite TJR book, literally in love, had me bawling near the end. I was so lucky as to receive this as an Arc copy and I have never read a book faster. The time jumps were absolutely fascinating and made me want to read faster so that I could know what was going on in present time. The way TJR handles the controversial ideas that the characters have for the time period is so well done and encapsulates exactly how I think many people felt at the time. I also love the side story about Joan and her sister. 100% recommend to everyone!!