Review by astoriareader - Atmosphere

astoriareader 's review for:

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

5.0

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

SYNOPSIS

-It’s 1980 and NASA is finally letting women scientists into the Space Shuttle Program.

-Joan Goodwin, a professor of physics and astronomy with a quiet life and a big love for the stars, applies on a whim—and gets in.

-She joins a training group full of big personalities, hidden secrets, and some very complicated relationships.

-As the crew preps goes through the program together, Joan finds herself falling in love, facing major sacrifices, and questioning everything she thought she knew.

-Then, one mission changes everything.

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MY THOUGHTS

-This is the sixth Taylor Jenkins Reid book I’ve read—Atmosphere, Evelyn Hugo, Carrie Soto, One True Loves, Daisy Jones, and Forever, Interrupted—and she still blows me away every single time.

-Joan is a phenomenal main character—smart, loyal, brave, complicated in all the best ways. You root for her the whole time.

-I was obsessed with Frances and Vanessa. Barbara, on the other hand… she was the worst!

-The pacing is fast. It never drags.

-TJR clearly did her homework. The NASA and space program details feel so real and immersive without being info-dumpy.

-The character development is what makes this book shine. The way relationships evolve—especially between Joan and her sister, and Joan and Vanessa—was so layered and emotional.

-The ending? 100% worth the journey. Emotional, earned, unforgettable.

-It’s also deeply about love—romantic love, yes—but also family, legacy, and what we leave behind.

-TJR proves again that she’s one of the best storytellers writing today. Full stop.

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TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Loved this. It’s smart, heartfelt, fast-paced, and emotionally layered. One of my favorite reads this year.

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THANKS: Thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine | Ballantine Books and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on June 3, 2025.

Content Warnings