Oh Taylor….. Taylor , Taylor, Taylor………. You do this to me EVERY time!!! But this one?!? This one hit so much harder!!! I felt so many emotions….. I was mad, I was engrossed, I was scared, I was so so so sad, and yet, I was happy. Our country has come so far, in so many ways….. I tried to savor this book…. I wish I could read this again for the very first time. My four year old was sitting beside me while I was sobbing, and side note- I do not cry at books. She flipped the book back over and said “mom! You can start it over!” She knew I was sad it was over; but then I got to tell her that I was also crying happy tears. This one is my top read of the year, and it will be one of my very favorite books of my life!
I really wish I could give this book 100000000 stars!

I am OBSESSED with anything and everything TJR and that doesn't stop with Atmosphere, which I must say was the ugliest cry I've ever cried at the end of a novel.

The star (wink) of Atmosphere is truly the romance between female astronauts Joan Goodwin and Vanessa Ford, two of NASA's first female astronauts in the (somewhat fictional) 1980s. Considering that, I would not recommend this book for those that are more interested in the astronaut/NASA piece. I've followed TJR's postings about her research for this book, and that research also shines through, at least in the beginning of the story as Joan is beginning her journey at Houston's Johnson Space Center. What also makes this book work is the alternating timeline, between the "present-day" climatic scene and the seven years leading up to that point.

Atmosphere is a sweeping queer love story (FINALLY, a queer love story that is a bit more mainstream/less gimicky) and about the ambition and sacrifice of women during this era.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The world Taylor Jenkins Reid writes in is one I never want to leave. Her intertwined stories and her characters are always gripping and this was no exception.

Excellent book, five out of five stars! I can’t wait to recommend this. Thank you for providing the ARC.

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a fast-paced, heartfelt journey that blends NASA history, friendship, love, and the thrill of space exploration. Joan’s path from professor to astronaut is inspiring, and the cast of fellow trainees is unforgettable. TJR delivers yet again—emotional, vivid, and impossible to put down.

Atmosphere is the story of Joan Goodwin, one of the first women accepted to NASA's space program, and her background in the program that alternate with the present day story: Joan is calling a space flight from Houston, and things are going wrong in outer space. As the book develops, we learn more about her relationships with the space crew, making their plight more and more tense as the layers of this story are pulled back.

Ultimately, I wanted to love this but something fell a little flat for me. Between Joan's time in the space program and her budding romance with one of her classmates, the writing felt a little too removed and the story didn't quite pull me in the ways Reid has with her other books.

Another amazing release from Taylor Jenkins Reid. What a journey! Reid takes you through an emotional story full of love, suspense, and heart. While I am not someone who has an extreme interest in space, this book had my attention from day one. Reid is a master at creating characters that readers connect wit, creating a powerful reading experience.

Another great book rife with training details to be in NASA, multi-dimensional characters, and suspense until the last page. I truly appreciate the fact that TJR includes realistic humanity such as heartache, insecurity, and hardships along with celebrations, healing, and resilience. In this 1980’s setting, it’s easy for those of us who remember Challenger to relate to the book. Putting a great story to a unique but not often thought about setting is one of the reasons Taylor Jenkins Reid is a renowned author.

📖: Atmosphere
✍️: Taylor Jenkins Reid
format: physical

💭: Dare I say this is my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid? She had me on an emotional roller coaster from the very beginning. The characters. The women. Space. This book was fast paced & tugged at the heartstrings so many times. I adore how TJR creates real & raw & human female main characters. This is a story about human relationships with the backdrop of space. I adored every single second of it. I miss this world already.

5/5⭐️

thank you @ballantinebooks for the advanced copy!

Well, TJR has done it again. An absolute smash hit that had me bawling my eyes out at midnight finishing up the book.

While this started slow for me as it seemed bogged down with science (I mean, it is about NASA astronauts) it more than made up for it with the characters. They were so real to me and so lovely. Joan was so relatable while also seeming to be of a different world with her intelligence and kindness. Vanessa was just a bada*s and was so likeable. The other astronauts, Lydia included, became so dear to me. Overall, this was a beautiful love story peppered with NASA and life in the 80s. A must read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this title!

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again. Unforgettable characters and a plot that can somehow rip your heart out and also have you smiling from ear to ear. I really loved the begin-at-the-end format that made me fully invested in the story from page one. As an 80s baby, I've always had a fascination with space. The blending of the history of the space shuttle era with an incredible story about love and loss was just everything I'd hoped for and more. This one did seem to drag for me a bit through the middle.

Similar to some other TJR books, I love the beginning and the set up to the story and then it sort of falls . Not falls apart but drags a bit. I love the setting and idea of this one but I didn't LOVE it....just loved it. If that can make sense.

Incredible read. I’ve read a lot of her books so I knew it was going to be good, but this might be TJR’s best yet. Heartfelt and gripping. I loved every minute!

Atmospere is a classic Taylor Jenkins Reid novel, complicated families often as is here siblings, strong identiry with career and an impressive female protagonist whose drive moves the story. In Reid returns to the 1980's, not the sunsoaked beaches of Malibu but the Astronaut training program of Houston’s Johnson Space Center. Quiet Joan has always faded into the background and loved the stars. Atmospere begins with tragedy then backs up to trace how Joan in her reserved life ended up in such extraordinary circumstances.

Atmosphere is an emotionally charged novel set against the high-stakes world of 1980s NASA, following two women, Joan Goodwin and Vanessa Ford, who break into the male-dominated space program. Joan, a reserved astronomer turned astronaut, and Vanessa, a bold aeronautical engineer, form a powerful bond while navigating a system built to exclude them. Their connection, told through dual timelines and layered character development, evolves quietly but intensely, reflecting the novel's larger themes of identity, resilience, and sacrifice. TJR explores not only forbidden love, but also the personal cost of ambition, the weight of loss, and the courage required to step into rooms where women weren’t welcome. While rich in technical accuracy and historical nuance.

Though the pacing felt somewhat rushed and certain side characters could’ve used more development, the novel excels in its central relationship and the emotional payoff of its final chapters. The romance simmers under layers of professional tension, offering a slow-burn intimacy that’s both heartbreaking and affirming. Some of the earlier chapters feel overloaded with NASA jargon I had to skip ahead through or too emotionally distant before stakes are fully established. While it doesn't surpass Carrie Soto or Daisy Jones, Atmosphere still stands out as a bold, deeply personal love story. This read is perfect for you if you crave character-driven narratives and high emotional stakes.

One of my favorite books of the year. A fascinating look into NASA in the 1980s and the women who broke barriers. I also LOVED the love story between the two women in this book. It was so well done. This will be one of my favorites for the year.

This was my first book by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I'm intrigued enough to read more if I come across her books. I was very invested in the outcome, and felt that the emotional pull between the characters was realistic and romantic. I thought the dialogue and jokes were just ok. There is a reason TJR is a bestseller, and even though I didn't think I'd be interested in this era or space travel, I really enjoyed reading it. It's very well researched and quite a page turner!

Simply one of my favorite reads of the year. Taylor Jenkins Reid wrapped an amazingly emotional journey within an interesting historical/social context. Highly memorable, I bet it won't take more than one or two sittings for readers to finish this story!

Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again! "Atmosphere" hooked me from the very first chapter. The suspense from the present day held me though the entire book. I felt a connection with Joan through her love for her niece, her late in life discovery of love, and the passion she has for life and what she loves. Truly an amazing read and would recommend to everybody.

My Goodreads review is one word: "Yeah."

Unfortunately, Netgalley requires slightly longer.

Anywho, I loved it. I think I loved it less for the astronaut portions (although the in-space scary was good) and more for the realistic depiction of being gay and female in a high-stakes, macho federal agency in the 1980s.