Taylor Jenkins Reid

A Love Story 

Atmosphere 

Baylea Fancher

How entirely undemanding of yourself it was to believe that everything happened TO YOU. And everything was ABOUT YOU. And that YOUR feelings were the only ones that mattered. Worse yet, to afford yourself the role of the victim always — regardless of if how grotesquely it required you to twist reality — so that you never had to look in the mirror and admit you were the perpetrator. 

I would go so far as to say that as human beings, we are less of a who and more of a when. We are a moment in time— when all of our cells have come together in this body. But our atoms were many things before, and they will be many things after. 

“I want to show you every good thing I’ve ever found,” Joan said. The way Vanessa’s eyes crinkled at the sides… Joan knew that she would not need to find a way to tell Vanessa how she felt. Vanessa would understand it. Which meant Joan would not need to learn how to be anything other than who she already was. 

It’s like trying to describe the color blue to someone who has never seen it. And then you come along it’s like you are describing the color blue to me and I feel such… relief. I’d have followed you anywhere just for that. 

“I feel like I could know you forever and still be curious about what you’re going to say next.”

“But if all I’m doing with what I’ve learned is using it for myself, what kind of legacy is that?”

“This way, I’ll help you, and you’ll help another ASCAN, and she’ll help another, and on it will go. And then one day, decades from now, when we get to Mars, I’ll be long gone. But I’ll still be a part of it.”

It’s 1981, and I’m done pretending sexist jokes are funny just so men will give me a chance at something I’m probably better at than they are.

He laughed as they got in. That was another thing she liked about him: he laughed at women’s jokes.

Bravery is being unafraid of something other people are afraid of. Courage is being afraid, but strong enough to do it anyway .

Joan had disagreed and said that she was “glad to get the hard part done first.” At which point, one of the pilots, Jimmy Hayman, said “I’ve got a hard part you can do first.”….. Didn’t Lydia get that this was how the men kept them separate and underestimated? With these small jokes that made them look petty if they got upset? Couldn’t Lydia see how it worked? “Hayman,” Griff had said as he walked into the room, “cut that out.”…… "Thank you," she whispered to Griff when she sat down. He shook his head. "Don't thank me for doing the bare minimum," he said. "It does a disservice to us both."

… my mom said that if I was going to be proud of myself for being generous, that l had to do it even when it meant I might lose something. She said, “You have to have something on the line, for it to be called character.”

Larissa Campos

What a gift. To have known Vanessa, and to have loved her.

That her life was complete only if lived next to Vanessa’s. They say love isn’t always enough, but Joan knew, in that moment, that it could have been.

But, for once in this godforsaken day, Vanessa doesn’t feel sad at all. How could she? She had asked the world to please let her earn the love of that gorgeous, brilliant astronomer with that beautiful smile. She had asked the world to let her leave a legacy she could be proud of. She’d been given everything. “Do you know why I kept saying the best song was ‘Space Oddity’?” Vanessa asks. “Because of your favorite part.” “When he says, ‘Tell my wife I love her very much . . .’ ” Vanessa says. “And then he says, ‘She knows,’ ” Joan says. “Yeah,” Vanessa says. “That’s it. That’s the best part of that song. But do you think she knows? Do you really think she knows?” “She knows,” Joan says. “She absolutely knows.” “Okay,” Vanessa says. “I can live with that.”

is possible that Vanessa has asked too much of the world, pushed it too far beyond its limits. But if Joan’s voice is the one with her now, she must have done something right.

Vanessa wishes, so badly, that her mother could see her now. To see and feel how incredible the life is that she has made for herself, and how desperately she wants to live

If character was built through bones breaking and healing, Frances had earned some.

Joan marveled at how easy Barbara’s inner life must be. How entirely undemanding of yourself it was to believe that everything happened to you. And everything was about you. And that your feelings were the only ones that mattered. Worse yet, to afford yourself the role of the victim always—regardless of how grotesquely it required you to twist reality—so that you never had to look in the mirror and admit you were the perpetrator.

If you’re in bed next to me, I will take your hand. If you are not, I will go find you. I will spend the rest of my life, if I get that lucky, seeking you out. Not because I promised you or because you’re there. But because I will want to. I will want to be beside you. Every day. Forever.”

“You can’t miss something you never had.” It had sounded good at the time. It had a finality to it that she had liked. But it wasn’t true, was it?

She wanted what they had. She wanted what Donna and Hank had. And what every marriage in the whole godforsaken country had. The right to exist and to love and be proud and happy. The right to live.

“Plenty of women bring friends to weddings,” Vanessa said. “It’s not like we’re going to slow dance with your head on my shoulder.” Joan did not say anything for a moment. And then: “It’s not fair,” she said, finally. “That part is not fair.” “No, honey,” Vanessa said. “It isn’t.” Later, before they fell asleep, Joan said, “Happiness is so hard to come by. I don’t understand why anyone would begrudge anyone else for managing to find some of it.” “That’s because you’re too good for the world you love so much,” Vanessa said.

Joan felt, so acutely, that the incurable problem with life was that nothing was ever in balance. That she could not have toddler Frances and fifth-grade Frances at the same time. She could not meet adult Frances and have a moment to hold baby Frances all at once. You could not have a little of everything you wanted.

I liked the main character and I liked her story. She wasn’t perfect, she had a rich inner life and personality. She certainly seemed to be relatable. I enjoyed the secondary characters and the author did a good job at letting the reader care about them and their struggles and whether they succeeded. I think the author did a good job at letting the reader experience why the main character fell in love which is something I struggled to see in other books I’ve read by her. The ending felt like it needed an epilogue.

Tansy

GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK 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 about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.

 Thrilling . . . heartbreaking . . . uplifting . . . the fast-paced, emotionally charged story of one ambitious young woman, finding both her voice and her passion. Kristin Hannah, author of The Women

 NASA? Space missions? The 80s? This is a collection of all the things I love. Andy Weir, author of Project Hail Mary and The Martian

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 pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easygoing even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warmhearted 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, it all changes in an instant.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers to iconic times and places, creating complex protagonists, and telling a passionate and soaring story about the transformative power of love this time among the stars.

A Love Story

Atmosphere

LOVED!! The storyline made me feel like I should apply to NASA?? Need this to be made into an Apple TV show like tomorrow!!

Kyra Cracchiola

I totally understand the hype around this book. I loved it. I don’t know how she does it, but with every TJR book, you’re always so connected and invested in the characters and their relationships. Read it, it’s fabulous! 

Aims

This may be the best book I've ever read I don't know if I can explain the beauty and pain of this book. I went into it with zero expectations, mainly because I feel like I dont "get" authors like Reid or Rooney. 

But this book was so fantastic, so complex and so beautiful, I just ugly cried my way through the happy and sad parts of this book.

The romance backdrop of astronauts; men and women who wander into the sky, past our atmosphere and above our world is already a romantic notion in itself. But then for us to thrust into the world of romance between people who risk their lives every mission purely for the sake of the stars, t makes this book standout from everyone else. 

Joan Goodwin could be the most sweetest, innocent and straightup character I've ever read about. She's so polite, so kind hearted yet not naive in any way. Her sister Barbara is probably the worst scum of the earth. She's selfish, and disgusting and it absolutely shocks me people like Barbara exist. That they truly belive they're entitled to everything they want. Forcing her sister to care for her daughter as though Frances is Joan's is just one of the many despicable things Barbara does. And she's so well written it's not even a case of this is so inaccurate it would never happen, but the way Barbara tries to justify herself,and demonize her TEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER and her sister who's done nothing but be by her side her whole life... It's absolutely bonkers. 

And then there's Vanessa Ford. The minute you meet Vanessa, you can tell what type of woman she is. Feminine and Powerful. Masculine and Brave. It's obvious how Joan feels about her, although Joan herself doesn't even realise until a specific outing they go on. Their romance is incomparable. Romeo and Juliette, eat your hearts of, Ford and Goodwin are paving the way! 

The book is complex in the way we explore gender in science, how different relationships shape our lives, homophobia and family. 

Honourable mention for Lydia Danes; a misunderstood woman who was a bitch, but was also a woman.

surtified™

This may be the best book I've ever read I don't know if I can explain the beauty and pain of this book. I went into it with zero expectations, mainly because I feel like I dont "get" authors like Reid or Rooney. 

But this book was so fantastic, so complex and so beautiful, I just ugly cried my way through the happy and sad parts of this book.

The romance backdrop of astronauts; men and women who wander into the sky, past our atmosphere and above our world is already a romantic notion in itself. But then for us to thrust into the world of romance between people who risk their lives every mission purely for the sake of the stars, t makes this book standout from everyone else. 

Joan Goodwin could be the most sweetest, innocent and straightup character I've ever read about. She's so polite, so kind hearted yet not naive in any way. Her sister Barbara is probably the worst scum of the earth. She's selfish, and disgusting and it absolutely shocks me people like Barbara exist. That they truly belive they're entitled to everything they want. Forcing her sister to care for her daughter as though Frances is Joan's is just one of the many despicable things Barbara does. And she's so well written it's not even a case of this is so inaccurate it would never happen, but the way Barbara tries to justify herself,and demonize her TEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER and her sister who's done nothing but be by her side her whole life... It's absolutely bonkers. 

And then there's Vanessa Ford. The minute you meet Vanessa, you can tell what type of woman she is. Feminine and Powerful. Masculine and Brave. It's obvious how Joan feels about her, although Joan herself doesn't even realise until a specific outing they go on. Their romance is incomparable. Romeo and Juliette, eat your hearts of, Ford and Goodwin are paving the way! 

The book is complex in the way we explore gender in science, how different relationships shape our lives, homophobia and family. 

Honourable mention for Lydia Danes; a misunderstood woman who was a bitch, but was also a woman.

Finally a gay lovestory from tjr again. I dont know but this book had so much substance. I love how complex the relationships and characters are. The open ending killed me. The Highlight being within the last 40 Pages and not getting a slow resolvement was Perfect.

Celina Irena Kuhn

“I would give you anything, if it wouldn’t cost us everything.”

That line right there will stick with me for a very long time. Atmosphere is a love story, but one about many loves: space, science, duty, family, and what your heart truly wants. The NASA parts are brutal, as are a lot of the parts about family. However, it’s the longing, the desire, the passion that salve those wounds that give this book heart and soul. 

**Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.”

Cindy McKee

“I would give you anything, if it wouldn’t cost us everything.”

That line right there will stick with me for a very long time. Atmosphere is a love story, but one about many loves: space, science, duty, family, and what your heart truly wants. The NASA parts are brutal, as are a lot of the parts about family. However, it’s the longing, the desire, the passion that salve those wounds that give this book heart and soul. 

**Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.”

I loved this book. The NASA elements were interesting, and the love story was honestly one of the most real and emotional I’ve ever read. 

I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and I was on edge every time we went back to December 1984. I felt every emotion right alongside the characters which made it impossible not to be invested.

Taylor Jenkins Reid did such an incredible job making all the characters feel so real. I don’t know how they’ll ever compare, but I can’t wait to read more of her work. 

I loved this book. The NASA elements were interesting, and the love story was honestly one of the most real and emotional I’ve ever read. 

I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and I was on edge every time we went back to December 1984. I felt every emotion right alongside the characters which made it impossible not to be invested.

Taylor Jenkins Reid did such an incredible job making all the characters feel so real. I don’t know how they’ll ever compare, but I can’t wait to read more of her work. 

DNF 30%. Disappointing, and I loved Evelyn Hugo. 

The structure of the book didn't work for me. The book opens with the most riveting scene, but the alternating timelines made me lose momentum, especially because I thought the flashbacks were painfully dull.

As a big sci-fi lover, the setting of NASA, the pioneer generation of astronauts, and the exploration of space should have enraptured me, but everything felt so regurgitative. 

Joan is perfect on paper but as interesting as white bread. None of the other characters were particularly interesting too, and I'm wondering if character development will need to be sacrificed to make space for the large cast. 

There's also a sub-plot around Joan's relationship with her (awful) sister and niece, but I've never been interested in themes of motherhood.

At this point, I had no reason to continue reading. Not for me.

halfmoon

DNF 30%. Disappointing, and I loved Evelyn Hugo. 

The structure of the book didn't work for me. The book opens with the most riveting scene, but the alternating timelines made me lose momentum, especially because I thought the flashbacks were painfully dull.

As a big sci-fi lover, the setting of NASA, the pioneer generation of astronauts, and the exploration of space should have enraptured me, but everything felt so regurgitative. 

Joan is perfect on paper but as interesting as white bread. None of the other characters were particularly interesting too, and I'm wondering if character development will need to be sacrificed to make space for the large cast. 

There's also a sub-plot around Joan's relationship with her (awful) sister and niece, but I've never been interested in themes of motherhood.

At this point, I had no reason to continue reading. Not for me.

Wow. What a wild ride - the tension and sadness from the flashing back and forth was crazy. I’m so glad we got that final happy twist at the end. My only qualm is I want someone to slap Barbara silly, how horrible of a sister. 

Paige Paul

it was a little too corny for my liking, but the ending was deadly … seven husbands supremacy tho 

petrina

Beautifully written, with lovely complex characters and it does not shy away from the reality of what life would have been like for two women astronauts in the 1980’s. If I wasn’t in emotional shambles I would read it again right away. 

Daniela Ramirez Madrid

two things i love: space and romance. tjr can never disappoint me but my heart was broken and somewhat put back together 

debbie <3

Fuck you Taylor Jenkins Reid. Thank you Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Emma

&  audiobook ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mar Or

O amor silencioso de Vanessa e Joan ecoa em todas as páginas e continuará ecoando no meu coração, sem sombra de dúvidas. De todos os livros de romance que já li, esse foi o que eu mais quis viver, e o que mais descreveu a sensação de amar outra mulher de maneira tão suave, mas tão dolorida—diante uma sociedade atrasada pra tanto, mesmo que voe até o espaço. 

Esse livro não abriu meus olhos sobre o privilégio de viver no ano que eu vivo e poder ser quem eu sou, essa consciência eu tenho há um tempo, mas me fez ser ainda mais grata por isso. 

Além disso tudo, teve a relação da Frances, sobrinha de Joan... Fico sem palavras para a quantidade de nós na garganta que tive durante o desenrolar da vida dessa garotinha, que é a vida de Joan. A autora fez algo mágico que acho que é muito dela, o focar em várias histórias ao mesmo tempo e dar protagonismo aos sentimentos de maneira completa, sem pontas soltas e sim com vários E Se prontos para serem descobertos. Que leitura mais gostosa.

Que choro mais doído, que sentimento mais intenso. Que sorte e privilégio ter vivido tudo que eu já vivi como algo que foi feito só para mim e para minha insignificância.

O amor silencioso de Vanessa e Joan ecoa em todas as páginas e continuará ecoando no meu coração, sem sombra de dúvidas. De todos os livros de romance que já li, esse foi o que eu mais quis viver, e o que mais descreveu a sensação de amar outra mulher de maneira tão suave, mas tão dolorida—diante uma sociedade atrasada pra tanto, mesmo que voe até o espaço. 

Esse livro não abriu meus olhos sobre o privilégio de viver no ano que eu vivo e poder ser quem eu sou, essa consciência eu tenho há um tempo, mas me fez ser ainda mais grata por isso. 

Além disso tudo, teve a relação da Frances, sobrinha de Joan... Fico sem palavras para a quantidade de nós na garganta que tive durante o desenrolar da vida dessa garotinha, que é a vida de Joan. A autora fez algo mágico que acho que é muito dela, o focar em várias histórias ao mesmo tempo e dar protagonismo aos sentimentos de maneira completa, sem pontas soltas e sim com vários E Se prontos para serem descobertos. Que leitura mais gostosa.

Que choro mais doído, que sentimento mais intenso. Que sorte e privilégio ter vivido tudo que eu já vivi como algo que foi feito só para mim e para minha insignificância.

I'm so sad this is all we get from this book. Like how do you manage to present a wonderful set of characters and just rip them away from me like this... devastating, truly.

lily

I'm so sad this is all we get from this book. Like how do you manage to present a wonderful set of characters and just rip them away from me like this... devastating, truly.

we love LOVE

OMG I AM LITERALLY UNWELL TAYLOR JENKINS REID IS WAYYYY TOO GOOD AT WRITING THIS IS SICKKKKKKKKK MY HEART LITERALLY ALMOST BROKE AT THE END IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL AAA I FEEL SO AMAZED SO MANY GOOD QUOTES AND NO MICK RIVA THANK GODDDDD AAAA THIS WAS SO GOOD. The characters all had sooooooo much depth to them and their relationships were so complex in nature this book managed to capture the essence of what it means to be human while simultaneously took me to a world that has been my childhood dream to experience. The small struggles that women deal with was portrayed so beautifully in this book. So many good quotes and one liners oh my god I’m so happy to have encountered this book at this partircular time in my life 10/10

Anushree Taparia

yes women in stem!!! i will be sobbing for the next 38 business days about it

Ralie Sutton

This has been one of my most anticipated books of 2025 and knowing that it was from TJR I know that It was going to be an emotional roller coaster of a book and I was not Run. TRJ is literally an Author that just gets it – She really knows how to write a masterpiece.

Starting in the late 1970s, Joan Goodwin is our Strong female main character. She’s an astronomy professor at Rice University. She’s picked that school so that she can be close to her niece Frances, who’s been a big part of her life since she was born. Joan starts to hear rumours that NASA wants to get women into the space program. It takes a few tries, but she’s finally accepted and wants more than anything to go to space. She trains in Houston with fellow candidates and sees the divide early – between nerds and soldiers.

Joan has a calm, steady demeanour and really enjoys her time in Mission Control. As she continues to train, she’s finally tapped to go up on a mission. While a romance blossoms for her, life with her sister and Frances struggles. She builds strong relationships with her fellow astronauts, but there is also some friction and secrets.

I loved the pacing of this Story; we start off in Chapter one with a literal bang and then return to the past— to how it all begins. Slowly but surely, we are guided through the past and present in a way that helps us to achieve maximum understanding of the characters’ dilemma and the context of their situation. I just could not put this one down at all as I just needed to know and understand what was to come next

Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master at character development and creating richly layered characters that grab your heart and don't let go. This book cracked me open and put me back together with its gravitational pull. You don't want to leave its orbit, and you want to stay with the incredible characters after the last page.

Ian Brakspear

This has been one of my most anticipated books of 2025 and knowing that it was from TJR I know that It was going to be an emotional roller coaster of a book and I was not Run. TRJ is literally an Author that just gets it – She really knows how to write a masterpiece.

 

Starting in the late 1970s, Joan Goodwin is our Strong female main character. She’s an astronomy professor at Rice University. She’s picked that school so that she can be close to her niece Frances, who’s been a big part of her life since she was born. Joan starts to hear rumours that NASA wants to get women into the space program. It takes a few tries, but she’s finally accepted and wants more than anything to go to space. She trains in Houston with fellow candidates and sees the divide early – between nerds and soldiers.

 

Joan has a calm, steady demeanour and really enjoys her time in Mission Control. As she continues to train, she’s finally tapped to go up on a mission. While a romance blossoms for her, life with her sister and Frances struggles. She builds strong relationships with her fellow astronauts, but there is also some friction and secrets.

 

I loved the pacing of this Story; we start off in Chapter one with a literal bang and then return to the past— to how it all begins. Slowly but surely, we are guided through the past and present in a way that helps us to achieve maximum understanding of the characters’ dilemma and the context of their situation. I just could not put this one down at all as I just needed to know and understand what was to come next

 

Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master at character development and creating richly layered characters that grab your heart and don't let go. This book cracked me open and put me back together with its gravitational pull. You don't want to leave its orbit, and you want to stay with the incredible characters after the last page.

Yet another win for me from Taylor Jenkins Reid! I picked this one up on a whim at Target on vacation and fell into the story quick! Her writing just keeps me engaged in the story so well and, even thinking about the book until the next time I can pick it up the again! The way she can bounce between present day and past events flawlessly is one of my favorite things about her books. Highly recommend this one!!

Raquel I.

TJR is back, baby! After not even finishing her last book I had extremely low expectations but this was so good. Amazing character development, world building. Worked great as an audiobook. You 

Coley T

TJR is back, baby! After not even finishing her last book I had extremely low expectations but this was so good. Amazing character development, world building. Worked great as an audiobook. You will emote. 

I cannot express my admiration for Taylor Jenkins Reid enough. She is one of our generation's greatest storytellers and I devoured every word of this beautiful, beautiful book.

She writes things in a way no one else does, and just astonishes me time and time again. Her storytelling is just so impressive. Her passages about Joan's belief in science and God were so masterfully constructed.

Couldn't recommend this book enough. If I could have rated this 6 stars on here, I would have.

Emilia Vulliamy

I cannot express my admiration for Taylor Jenkins Reid enough. She is one of our generation's greatest storytellers and I devoured every word of this beautiful, beautiful book.

She writes things in a way no one else does, and just astonishes me time and time again. Her storytelling is just so impressive. Her passages about Joan's belief in science and God were so masterfully constructed.

Couldn't recommend this book enough. If I could have rated this 6 stars on here, I would have.

You can wait and wait and wait for a book to come along, hype up it’s release, start it and it be everything you’d hoped it would be, Atmosphere is one of those books. A love story, a story of the stars, a story of injustices and a not too distant path. This book made me laugh and cry, and then cry some more. Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again, this is in my top three books of hers for sure. She is a marvel at writing people, her characters jump right off the page and sell you their story so easily. The balance of how the narrative was told in this book totally swept me away and kept me desperate to know what was going to happen, which made me feel all the more invested in the incredibly climatic ending. I loved it, it blew me away. 

Atmosphere A Love Story

Reviews

Highlights