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A review by lolajh
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was really excited to read this book and explore the crossover of not only a lesbian romance but also being female astronauts in the 80s, but I feel like both of these concepts ended up feeling half-baked. The romance was definitely more focused on, which took away a lot of individuality from the two main characters in regards to their career and what is communicated to be their dreams. Constant time skips trying to squeeze four years worth into a relatively short book I feel skipped over so many important things in the development of both Joan and Vanessa’s careers as well as their romance that made both aspects feel half-assed.
I think especially going back and forth from 1980 to 1984 and skipping a lot to eventually catch up with the latter timeline messed with the flow of reading this. So many things were glossed over and there wasn’t a natural development from either of the characters, only mentioning core points in their relationship like them getting into severe verbal arguments,and when they each get hired for their respective space shuttle missions, the lead up to them is ruined a bit by making it explicit at the beginning of the book that they end up getting their dreams of going to space. This could have been fine if there was just more content provided about it, especially Joan’s mission which was hardly even a chapter and it was just her throwing up all the time. We also never see these characters individual from the other, apart from the first half of the book where it’s leading up to Joan discovering she’s a lesbian. When they get together, even apart they always overtake each other’s minds in both characters’ perspectives, which was very distracting especially in pivotal moments like them actually getting to go to space!
I felt like the second half of the book remained basically the same until the end.Joan and Vanessa are together but a secret, they go on their missions and remain a secret, and then it ends. The only thing that changes between them is development with Frances, who Vanessa gradually becomes attached to and Joan ends up basically adopting. I thought this plot point was a really nice touch to the story and the only thing really properly finalised by the end, except it’s unknown if Vanessa would end up having a bigger part to play if the pair of them moved in or told Frances they were dating. Joan and Vanessa’s actual relationship was not finalised. They were still together by the end but kind of still a secret and there was no pivotal moment in the book where the workplace explicitly found out about them and some accepted them and some didn’t, which I think would’ve showed a good test of characters among the side cast as well as a show of resilience to Joan and Vanessa, possibly causing for more delving into the sexism and homophobia of the workplace and their relationship becoming a sort of turning point perhaps. Nothing really changed upon the ending, and that’s what’s stumped me.
It’s also very difficult for me to not compare this to the author’s other works like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. That book blended the romance and outer world and plot so perfectly, and when this is practically a remake with lesbian romance among coworkers that received a much different development throughout their stories, it’s hard to not rate this book as subpar compared to Evelyn and Celia’s story. The passion and complex inner character of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was missing from this book’s plot and main characters, and I think it could’ve been fixed merely with just more time spent with the characters. Not skipping as much across time and rushing the story, making it longer, not having to squeeze four years into one book. When it’s known that the author can write such beautifully complex and passionate stories across time skips that flowed a lot better than Atmosphere, it’s hard not to be a bit disappointed.
I think especially going back and forth from 1980 to 1984 and skipping a lot to eventually catch up with the latter timeline messed with the flow of reading this. So many things were glossed over and there wasn’t a natural development from either of the characters, only mentioning core points in their relationship like them getting into severe verbal arguments,
I felt like the second half of the book remained basically the same until the end.
It’s also very difficult for me to not compare this to the author’s other works like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. That book blended the romance and outer world and plot so perfectly, and when this is practically a remake with lesbian romance among coworkers that received a much different development throughout their stories, it’s hard to not rate this book as subpar compared to Evelyn and Celia’s story. The passion and complex inner character of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo was missing from this book’s plot and main characters, and I think it could’ve been fixed merely with just more time spent with the characters. Not skipping as much across time and rushing the story, making it longer, not having to squeeze four years into one book. When it’s known that the author can write such beautifully complex and passionate stories across time skips that flowed a lot better than Atmosphere, it’s hard not to be a bit disappointed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Vomit
Minor: Death of parent