Ever since I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid back in 2018, I have been on the lookout for more books. I have been spoiled nearly every year, because most books after were a hit. Of course, not everything was up my alley, but with Carrie Soto is Back, the author delivered for me once again, even though I was in the middle of my annual reading slump. Atmosphere has been one of the most anticipated releases for many this spring/summer, how did it work out for me?

About the book

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Published by Ballantine Books on June 3, 2025
Pages: 337
ISBN: 9780593158715
Genres: Adult, General fiction, Historical fiction, Literary fiction
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six comes an epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program and the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.
 
Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.
 
Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilots Hank Redmond and John Griffin, who are kind and easy-going even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warm-hearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.
 
As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.
 
Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant.
 
Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, with complex protagonists, telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love, this time among the stars.

My review

Expectations

Whereas I stated that this author’s books were a hit for me most of the times, this doesn’t apply to One True Loves which I read last year. I think this was a reprint, because this book is certainly older. However, it didn’t really resonate with me and this made me quite nervous for Atmosphere. Furthermore, the story being set against the backdrop op NASA’s 1984 “Women In Space” program made me hesitate as well as space and astronomy do not really have my interest. I think there’s too many physics involved, and I dropped that subject as soon as I could back in high school. However, I still wanted to try this novel since I deep down know that Jenkins Reid would deliver on characters, storytelling and themes being touched upon. As you probably could already guess from my rating, I’m so glad I gave this book a fair chance.

Characters

This book revolves around Joan and Vanessa. Vanessa starts out as a secondary character but gradually transforms into a main character. This is due to the story’s progression, which is also why she has her own POV which the author shifts to on multiple occasions. Although the majority of this novel is told from Joan’s POV, doesn’t mean you don’t get to know Vanessa well. The author has developed them both equally. These characters are important to each other, and little by little it becomes clear why. At first glance, they seem like two very different women, but it soon becomes clear that they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. Joan adores her cousin Francis, and this love forms a common thread in her life. However, her relationship with the rest of her family is much more complicated, and this also plays a prominent role in the story. Gradually, you see this character grow from someone for whom numbers and statistics provide a foundation to someone who finally finds her calling and gathers the right people around her. The supporting characters, however small their roles, are also well-developed. That is precisely what makes this book so bittersweet. All these characters complement one another and really need eachother, they are really tight-knit.

Plot

Jenkins Reid is known for weaving serious and important themes into her plots. This is no different here. The story is set against the backdrop of the “Women in Space” program launched by NASA in 1984. Because astronauts have to complete a rigorous training program to actually participate in this program, it all begins in 1980. The author slowly builds towards the climax in 1984. Throughout the story, there are frequent shifts to that moment, which seems illogical at first. Yet, this is far from the case, because the events from the past and the development of the relationships in this book are incredibly important for understanding the characters’ development. The characters face a lot of challenges. Family ties, fighting the stereotype that women have no place at NASA, and finding your identity are just a few examples. These themes make the book the intriguing novel it is. The climax is anything but predictable. It leaves you gasping for breath and your heart pounding in your throat.

Writing

As before, this author’s writing style is pleasant. Although the story’s structure can be a bit confusing at the start, it’s a smooth read. Once you’re hooked, you can’t put it down. You have to know what happens next. This is mainly due to the intriguing prologue and first chapter, which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the novel. The time jumps are also unconfusing. Besides being necessary for gaining more insight into the story’s progression and Joan and Vanessa’s development, they are also clearly indicated. They form an essential part of this book.

Final thoughts

Fortunately, my initial apprehension about Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere was unfounded. This book is, as I’ve come to expect from this author, as consistently good. The fact that the English audiobook is narrated by Julia Whelan also helps; she narrates all of this author’s books and has a pleasant voice. Although the backdrop this story is set against didn’t immediately appeal to me, I realized that it’s just a backdrop; it revolves around so many other things. It’s about the characters, their relationships, and how they cope with their struggles in the zeitgeist of the 1980s. This is far more important than the NASA space program. The ending is horrific; it destroys you. This book gave me a book hangover I definitely needed to recover from. Are you ready for that and do you value character driven books with sublime character development? Then this is a novel suits you right.