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boba_nbooks 's review for:
Atmosphere
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spice Rating: 🌶️ / 5
My Summary: After years of looking up at the stars and wishing she could be among them, Joan Goodwin was able to finally join NASA's Space Shuttle program. Joan was one of a select few group of women chosen to participate in this program, and though she knows she has to prove herself, she always wants to do what's best for the team and for NASA as a whole. What she didn't expect was to find a connection she never thought she could have. A love that could expand beyond the bounds of space and time--and what Joan thought was possible.
My Thoughts: Atmosphere is probably going to be up there with some of my favorite reads of the year. I went into this book not knowing too much about the plot, so I don't want to give it all away in my review. Told in a dual timeline, we see Joan, a woman who has always dreamed of being amongst the stars, as she enters into and grows in NASA's Space Shuttle program. We see all of Joan's struggles as well as her wins and the confidence she gains as the years go on.
One thing that Taylor Jenkins Reid always does well is creating complex, multi-dimensional characters. I'm sure I'm not alone in my favorites coming out of Atmosphere being Joan and Vanessa. They both grow so much throughout the novel individually and together as they navigate prejudices both inside and outside of the NASA program.
Barbara and Frances are some other stand-out characters for very different reasons. The emotional manipulation and toxicity that Barbara puts her sister Joan through made me frustrated to no end, but the fact that TJR can get me to despise a character so much says a lot about her writing. On the other end of the spectrum, I adored the relationship Joan had with Barbara's daughter, Frances. Joan's love for her niece truly had no bounds--she was even willing to sacrifice the lifestyle she'd given up so much for already just to show Frances how much she was loved.
This will be a story I think about for a long time. I'm already looking forward to rereading it. If you've even thought about picking up Atmosphere, just do it. Know that you're going to go on an emotional rollercoaster. I hope you love every second of it just as much as I did.
My Summary: After years of looking up at the stars and wishing she could be among them, Joan Goodwin was able to finally join NASA's Space Shuttle program. Joan was one of a select few group of women chosen to participate in this program, and though she knows she has to prove herself, she always wants to do what's best for the team and for NASA as a whole. What she didn't expect was to find a connection she never thought she could have. A love that could expand beyond the bounds of space and time--and what Joan thought was possible.
My Thoughts: Atmosphere is probably going to be up there with some of my favorite reads of the year. I went into this book not knowing too much about the plot, so I don't want to give it all away in my review. Told in a dual timeline, we see Joan, a woman who has always dreamed of being amongst the stars, as she enters into and grows in NASA's Space Shuttle program. We see all of Joan's struggles as well as her wins and the confidence she gains as the years go on.
One thing that Taylor Jenkins Reid always does well is creating complex, multi-dimensional characters. I'm sure I'm not alone in my favorites coming out of Atmosphere being Joan and Vanessa. They both grow so much throughout the novel individually and together as they navigate prejudices both inside and outside of the NASA program.
Barbara and Frances are some other stand-out characters for very different reasons. The emotional manipulation and toxicity that Barbara puts her sister Joan through made me frustrated to no end, but the fact that TJR can get me to despise a character so much says a lot about her writing. On the other end of the spectrum, I adored the relationship Joan had with Barbara's daughter, Frances. Joan's love for her niece truly had no bounds--she was even willing to sacrifice the lifestyle she'd given up so much for already just to show Frances how much she was loved.
This will be a story I think about for a long time. I'm already looking forward to rereading it. If you've even thought about picking up Atmosphere, just do it. Know that you're going to go on an emotional rollercoaster. I hope you love every second of it just as much as I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Abandonment
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Vomit
Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, Pregnancy