Taylor Jenkins Reid's new release was a fantastically unique story of perseverance for women in a time where traditional gender roles were expected.
My history with TJRs books is up and down. I loved The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo but didn’t love Carrie Soto. I find with her books I either love them or they just kind of fell flat. Atmosphere was one that I ended up loving.

During the space race of the 1980s, Joan an incredibly intelligent woman, finds herself earning a position in NASA. With two different timelines taking place throughout the book one follows a critical and catastrophic accident that takes place on a space mission and the other follows Joan through her journey qualifying as an astronaut but also discovering her sexuality and falling in love. Joan is used to taking care of everyone else. Her sister got pregnant young and Joan was very involved with the upbringing of her niece, Frances. Barbara was an incredibly selfish character and she clearly did not want to be a mother. At times, she was supportive of Joan's career but other times it got in the way of her having a free babysitter and the chance to carry on with her life as if she’d never had a child. Balancing the role of caregiver and a career driven woman was difficult initially. Whereas the other training astronauts were finding love, partying and training for the new positions, Joan was primarily focused on her niece and her career until she met Vanessa Bold a fellow training astronaut and headstrong woman. Through the beginning of the novel it’s clear Joan doesn’t understand her sexuality and in all honestly she doesn't seem interested in romance at all.
In the current timeline, Joan is communicating with a space mission taking place. Vanessa is currently on this mission and after a catastrophic accident damages the aircraft leading to the deaths of the majority of the group and longtime friends of the pair, Vanessa is determined to save the remaining astronauts life regardless of her own safety. Joan is on the ground providing advice from her command station and at the beginning of the novel, the reader has no idea of the history of their relationship. As you progress through the novel the profound stress and worry from both characters becomes even more important.
Overall I think it’s best just to emerge yourself into this work. Between the plot of the space missions and training to the romance between Joan and Vanessa and Joan's decision to take and remove Frances from her mother’s home, caring for her herself so she gets the love and attention she needs. It was just a pleasure to read. It didn't feel over the top or excessive. It felt brutal and honest and the portrayal of Joan as a complex character was really great to read.

The only thing that bothered me slightly was Joan's naivety, even ignorance to relationships and romance and the potential of different sexualities existing. Multiple characters try to discuss sexuality with her, with no judgement but concern and care and she completely did not see the meaning of these conversations. As Joan was a grown woman I found it difficult to picture someone not having any prior knowledge of different sexualities existing even in the 1980s. Was this a character flaw or did it aid in her discovering her sexuality? I think that’s up to the reader to decide. But for me it was a tad unrealistic that an adult woman of such great intelligence had no self-awareness or awareness of the different people around her.
I look forward to seeing what TJR releases next and I hope I love it just as much as I loved Atmosphere. It was a truly unique read and I loved being immersed into the space setting, the challenges each character endured,
Thank you so much, I really appreciated getting this advanced copy to review!

She's done it again! TJR has written another gem of a book. The character's in this go through so much self discovery and it's so emotive. Would definitely recommend!

I'm completely torn by this book as I am a huge fan of crewed space flight history and have read a lot about this subject as well as having had the chance to meet many astronauts (female and male).
The story itself reminded me quite a lot of the 1980s film Space Camp in that there is a lot of build up to an exciting yet implausible event and then an even more improbable finish - however because it reminded me of a loved childhood film I could look past that and enjoy the book on that level.

Knowing so much about the early space shuttle program and the first female astronauts I was frustrated with the clumsy way real history and people were woven into the story, as this kept pulling me out of the story (although most of this was accurate unlike in a lot of books like this).

I did find that Joan was impossibly good and saintly and even her one flaw of space sickness wasn't enough to make her seem real, and I also think that the way all of the astronaut relationships/pregnancies were handled wasn't great.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is already an auto-buy author for me but wow she still blew me away! I was a crying mess at the end. This was emotional and suspenseful. The romance was a beautiful and I loved how Joan's sexuality was explored.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of the eBook.

Wow. This book was just wow.

Taylor has this magic ability to create characters that I fall head over heels for the second I meet them. Joan was the most wonderful character and I loved getting to know her and watch her become the coolest astronaut.

This book made me smile and cry and it was the most beautiful love story and ahhh I just loved it so much.

You can just tell that Taylor put so much effort and time into researching for this book and making sure it read as I imagine NASA would be.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is and will forever be an auto read author for me.

I have read all her books and she has a special skill in creating really real, relatable, unique characters that evoke incredible empathy. This is no exception. NASA and the space program is the setting for this story and it really doesn't matter what the setting is, because it has the same special attention to people and how they relate to each other. The story is fascinating and engaging and unwinds at the perfect pace, providing glimpses of the present cleverly woven with backstory. Joan is Mission Control and her fellow astronauts are in danger, She needs to guide them to safety but at the same time, her heart is on the line and its taken a very long time for Joan to follow her heart. So combine fascinating information about space exploration and the very tangible complexities of following your passions and your heart. In case it wasn't clear, it was another TJR book that I couldnt put down and will remember long after the last page.

Joan, Vanessa, Griff, Lydia, Hank and Donna are all training to be astronauts in America's space program in 1981. Women are finally being given the chance to go into space and the women of the team really want it to be them. The book opens on a major incident with Joan in Mission Control and the others up in space in 1984, and then takes us back to when they first met, recounting everything they've gone through to get to where they are. But this is far more than a tale of 1980s NASA and a battle for equality, it is also a forbidden romance, a woman discovering her place in a changing world as a lesbian in the 1980s and a story of family dynamics and found family. I fully sobbed through the final 20-30 pages when it finally made it full circle back to the incident again, this time with us knowing the crew's full history with each other. In short, it is deeply emotional and utterly brilliant. Now please make it into a film so that my husband can sob along with me instead of sitting next to me wondering why I am sobbing so hard that I can't speak!

I remember reading “Seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo” for the first time and wondering how amazing the story was, how easily you were dragged into the world the author created and how much you cared for the characters. I had the same feeling while reading “Atmosphere”, a story of human endeavour, fascination with space and love. The main protagonist, Joan, enrols in a training programme to become one of the first female astronauts and together with three other women dreams about taking part in a space mission. If, at this point, like me, you’re not sure the book is for you, fear not.
“Atmosphere” is not really about their training but about friendship, love and a feel of the community found amongst the like minded people,about chosen families and the understanding that sometimes what we are looking for can be just next to us, within our grasp. It explores the ways in which sexism and rigid gender roles were (and probably still are) a permanent feature in these women’s lives, and different ways in which they dealt with it. Joan's relationship with her niece, Frances is one of the most touching parts of the book, and so is Joan’s journey of self discovery. The characters sang to me from those pages and I was rooting for them from page one. The book is written in a dual timeline format, so it starts in December 1984 during a fateful space shuttle mission with Joan serving as a spacecraft communicator. As the unthinkable happens, we go back seven years, to the beginning of Joan’s journey to become an astronaut.
I think the main appeal of the book comes from the juxtaposition of the unknown and the familiar, dreaming of big things like travelling to space but also smaller ones, like home and raising family, and also from the realisation that we can be lucky just to find love.

I thoroughly enjoyed Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest book!

While it differed somewhat from her other novels, and Daisy Jones & The Six remains my personal favourite, this book offered captivating insights into space and the cosmos.  It also poignantly depicted the challenges women encountered in the 1980s, particularly within male-dominated environments and a world where they had to hide their true selves.

I found myself completely engrossed, eagerly turning the pages to discover how the story would play out in the end. The extensive research evident in the writing made for a very enjoyable experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

What an amazing read! I have read other books by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but this is hands down the best so far.

From the first line in I was hooked, and could not put the book down. I loved all the descriptions of space, the stars and becoming an astronaut - which surprised me as I knew very little (or had much of an interest) about any of them. I found the lessons’ captivating because they were delivered in such an accessible way, which I think is credit to the author and her research.

About a third of the way in, when Joan is getting to know her new colleagues, I did find the pace slowed down slightly and there were a lot of new characters to get to know - but it is worth the diversion as they are critical to the events that take place, and the relationships which develop.

This book made me cry the last section had me on the edge of my seat - there is a moment when Joan is described as struggling to breathe and I found my own breathing was laboured and mirrored hers so deeply felt was my emotional connection with the characters. Bravo!!! This was such an amazing read. I have tried not to give too much away in this review; this is a story of human connection, endeavour and love in all its forms. It mattered to me how this ended and I can’t wait to see it be made into a movie, which surely it has to be?!

In would give this more stars if it was possible!

I discovered so much from reading this book. The constellations were explained concisely in a manner that even I could understand, and the ancient stories behind them were interesting.
I was reintroduced to space exploration, the dangers, the comradeship, the struggles and hardship of being a woman in a male dominated environment.
I find that Taylor Jenkins Reid prose is fluid, the descriptions informative and interesting and crucially easy to read. In fact I love everything about this novel, the way time was used to gradually introduce characte4s and allow them to grow into their personalities. I found myself invested in their futures and that of the shuttle programme.
At times the emotional tension was unbearable but this only improved the reading experience .
This book will remain on my favourites list for a long time.

A truly stunning read that left me feeling heartbroken but hopeful.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

It’s unusual to have a book about science and the space race and have the story based around women but Taylor Jenkins Reid seems to be able to choose any setting and make it work.

Atmosphere is set in 1984 and the second intake of women to the space shuttle programme. Misogyny is still rife among the male astronauts but the women are just as qualified and able and win respect. There is an extra pressure, though, knowing that any mistakes they make reflect not only on themselves but their entire sex, unlike the men.

The main character is Joan, an astronomer who has always yearned to be in space among the stars. She is single minded and confident in her abilities, focused on achieving her aim (the book focuses almost entirely on women and their relationships, mainly Joan, her sister and niece, and fellow astronauts – all very different, with different issues and strengths). The story is split between the present and a mission which has gone badly wrong, and a love story. I don’t want to say too much and give anything away but both are beautifully told (although I would have liked a little more about the mission as that was so tense).

It's a wonderful tribute to the women who were pioneers in this field and, as always with Jenkins Reid, a wonderfully written story. Everything she writes feels so natural and real and I was completely caught up and couldn’t put it down. Superb.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

As my first TJR book I can say, it did not disappoint.

I love the friendships, the family dilemmas, the emotional rollercoaster you go through is unbelievable. But I also loved the whole plot, what the characters get to experience in space and on Earth is simply gorgeous.

She broke my heart over and over again but I love her for it.

I love, love, LOVED this book!!! It was a clever take on what it would be like in the 80s space shuttle program as a woman. The book just builds and builds, is so cleverly constructed how the emotions and tensions heighten. It was so heartbreaking and human and I loved it so much - I will always read anything TJR writes!

My book of the year.

Just finished the ARC and I'll be buying a hard cover to treasure forever. I was so completely floored by the book, I can't remember the last time I truly sobbed whilst reading. I thought my heart was going to break to two!

But it's not just about the story and the characters, I feel like this book has made the world a better place through its exploration of love and philosophy of religion. It's gong to help so many people see the universe in the most beautiful way, and I can't rate it highly enough for achieving that. A masterpiece.

Immaculate.

Taylor Jenkins Reid never ceases to amaze me. She goes from strength to strength. TJR shines so brightly. This book made my heart ache but also filled me with such hope I cannot put into words how much Joan, Vanessa and Frances mean to me.

If you are a fan of 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' you need to read this book. I know whenever someone comes to me to ask for a book with awe-inspiring romance, Atmosphere will be at the top of my list from now on. I will be putting this in everyone's hands this summer and beyond. Atmosphere is everything I needed and more!!!!! I can't wait to yell about this book with everyone I know.

If you want to experience joy and love and happiness and devotion and sunshine and perfection read this book! It comes with its heartache and sadness but as any TJR novel reminds you; love is worth it in the end.

TJR has the most profound way of capturing the most intimate of emotions, and this book is no exception. The connections within this story are tender, beautiful, and immense.

You can tell how much research has gone into this, and my little nerdy heart loved every ounce of scientific facts contained within!

I loved Joan, Vanessa, and Frances with all my heart and routed for them from the start! I hated Joan's sister, and the actions she takes as a mother will unnerve me for the rest of my days. My heart aches for those lost or facing their loss. It's rare but wonderful to find a book with so many characters that continue to sit in your mind long after you finish reading the final page, and these characters will sit in my heart for a very long time (except Barbara, she can run off to London and I'll forget she exists).

Those final pages really made me ache, made the tears prickle, and are simply the most beautiful words I've ever read.

A strong love story about remembering the little moments and finding the beauty in the everyday.

To have something as vast, expansive and enigmatic as space be the backdrop of this love story was so profound and beautifully executed.

TJR is a master of her craft, she has this ability to carve these gripping storylines, excavate these flawed players and seamlessly intertwine the two. Though some reviews have objectively argued that members of the wider ensemble did not get a lot of attention despite significant events impacting them, it is a testament to TJR’s writing that, these moments feel impactful through the sense of community and friendship instilled throughout the book even at early points.

The extensive research Jenkins Reid puts into all her books always provides a rich backdrop, and as a reader makes you feel as though you are in safe hands. However, this book ostensibly was a completely different ball game, the knowledge of space travel, astronomy, NASA as an organisation, aeronautics and aviation was impressive, informative and well-integrated into the storyline.

An aspect of TJR’s writing that is a recurring theme throughout all her works is women's ambition, a characteristic that is most often associated with a cruel viciousness in the context of women. Women in real life and in TJR books have ambition that is not an all-encompassing monster of a character trait but part of a multifaceted individual’s life that can co-exist with compassion, gentleness and other roles like motherhood. The differences in the portrayal of ambition in these different women was affirming to see and perfectly highlighted the ambition gap seen between men and women.

The portrayals of love in this book were patient, gentle and true in all their forms. The themes of progression through childhood, the passing on of knowledge, and the pursuit of life and science complemented the love story beautifully.

This book spoke to my soul, and by the end I felt as though my heart was out of my chest and I was holding it above my head.

This will be one that sticks with me for a long, long time.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Atmosphere is a story of love and ambition, set against the backdrop of NASA’s 1980’s space shuttle programme.

I knew very little about this era going in, but Taylor Jenkins Reid brings it to life in such a detailed and accessible way. I learned so much about the training process, space flight, and especially what it was like for women trying to break into such a male-dominated field.

The slow burn romance was so perfectly written, I was invested in every look and conversation. I genuinely got attached to the characters, and I didn’t want to leave them once I turned the last page.

This is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her absolute best, and this book was everything I could have wanted and so much more. If you love character driven historical fiction, stories about women breaking barriers, or simply a really good love story, Atmosphere is the book for you.