Taylor Jenkins Reid

A Love Story 

Atmosphere 

Amelia

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.

Larissa Campos

Lindsay

“When somebody’s too smooth, there’s nothing to grab on to. Now that you’ve got a little edge to you, I can hang on.”

You could develop your personality your entire life— pursue the things you wanted to learn, discover the most interesting parts of yourself, hold yourself to a certain standard— and then you marry a man and suddenly his personality, his wants, his standards subsume your own?

“I mean, it’s 1981, Joan,” Lydia said. “It’s time to stop getting upset at stupid jokes and start getting stuff done.”

“I would say the exact opposite to you,” Joan countered, her breathing shallow. “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.”

Supposedly, children are resilient. But Joan suspected this was merely something we tell ourselves because we are terrified they are just as delicate as we are.

Why was it that when you let someone that far in, you learned to be okay with all the ways they saw you, even if they weren’t flattering?

“Happiness is so hard to come by. I don’t understand why anyone would begrudge anyone else for managing to find some of it.”

For a moment, Joan couldn’t look at her. But that’s what was so nice about talking about big, deep things outside at night. You just looked up at the stars.

começou assim mesmo taylor jenkins?? vai tomar no * então fodasse meu deus como eu amo os livros dela (primeira página) 

But I think it is also the relief I feel that those stars are immovable. Nothing you or I could do will ever alter them. They are so much bigger than us. And they will not change within our lifetime. We can succeed or fail, get it right or get it wrong, love and lose the ones we love, and still the Summer Triangle will point south. And in that way, I know everything will be some type of okay—as impossible as that can seem sometimes.

atenção estou namorando o futuro namoro dessas duas e literalmente arrepiando de animação 

 “Yes, it’s all very interesting.” 

Joan wasn’t sure if Vanessa was making fun of her. But her gut said she wasn’t.

Your commitment to the world around you. How much you care. You are so thoughtful. About everything." 

Joan suspected that liking the view of herself through Vanessa's eyes was dangerous. She just wasn't sure how.

as coisas que a vanessa fala PELO AMOR DE DEUS

 Where I know I'm mortal but I'm not sure that you're not a god" she said. 

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Joan said. “You do not want me to say what I’m thinking.” Joan knew that this was true. But she also couldn’t resist the temptation. “I don’t know about that. I feel like I could know you forever and still be curious about what you’re going to say next.”

How did people do this? How did they go through every single day with this kind of excitement inside them? How how how how how. Poor Donna. Having to hide this for so long. It was the single greatest feeling Joan had ever felt.

conhecer alguém que desesperadamente quer te ouvir, alguém que você desesperadamente quer ouvir, apenas, amor! to apaixonada nelas 

And I want to hear you tell me anything you’ve always wanted to tell someone. Because you know that you’ve met someone who desperately wants to listen.”

parece bobo mas poucos livros que eu li descreveram tão bem a sensação de estar apaixonada, na minha humilde opinião 

I want to show you every good thing I’ve ever found,” Joan said.

No matter how easy it was for Joan to lose herself in this new life, she was constantly aware of the cold, hard borders of it. The world would not care for her and Vanessa as they cared for each other. It wouldn’t matter how pure the warmth in her chest felt. It wouldn’t matter that Joan had loved and accepted so many others. There were people—many people—who would never return that kindness. It was too early, in all of this, to know what the future held. But what Joan understood already was that what they had together was a lit candle, and the wind could be fierce.

Joan beamed and tried to hold back her smile. In all of her time spent watching others, she hadnt picked up on this part of falling in love, that someone could look at you as if you were the very center of everything. And even though you knew better, you'd allow yourself a moment to believe you were worthy of being revolved around, too.

Ralie Sutton

To look up at the nighttime sky is to become a part of a long line of people throughout human history who looked above at that same set of stars. It is to witness time unfolding.

She'd been surprised to find that Coors Light was delicious.

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

I really liked this book! The detail and vividness of TJR’s characters/story was a fabulous treat after being in a slump. Love, friendship and the importance of strong relationships was so beautiful to see unfold.  

Liv Markle

No words, great fucking book. As usual, her strong feat is in creating such real characters, for a moment, I felt like I was one of the reporters listening in to the loop during their final conversation as if that actually happened!!!

Diego

TJR's books just have this ability that can get you so very interested in a topic you didn't care about before - whether be it socialites, tennis, or astronauts. 

She weaves together scientific facts with topics of feminism, gay rights, falling in love  choosing to stay in love, in such a beautiful way to create this extraordinary ordinary love story ❤️

Hill

TJR's books just have this ability that can get you so very interested in a topic you didn't care about before - whether be it socialites, tennis, or astronauts. 

She weaves together scientific facts with topics of feminism, gay rights, falling in love  choosing to stay in love, in such a beautiful way to create this extraordinary ordinary love story ❤️

Hadley 

Very different from my typical reads, but I love anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid and this was no exception. 

Leah Diaz 

My first audio book. The last 100 pages of this book were a 4/5; such a great ending. I loved the aunt and niece relationship! A good read and good likable characters. 

Taylor Silveira 

I went into this book completely blind just knowing how much everyone loved it and I can see why. It is so far from my usual type but I loved everything about it. As a woman, as an auntie, just all the relationships/friendships had me in my feels. It was a wild ride and then the ending 🥲 What a start to the year 

Nicole Mills

“A love story” is the absolute perfect way to summarize Atmosphere. A love story between Joan and Vanessa. Joan and Frances. Joan and Griff. Joan and Lydia. Donna and Hank. Donna and Joan. Everyone. All of it. A love story amongst friends, peers, colleagues, family, and of course, lovers. 

Elyse 

“A love story” is the absolute perfect way to summarize Atmosphere. A love story between Joan and Vanessa. Joan and Frances. Joan and Griff. Joan and Lydia. Donna and Hank. Donna and Joan. Everyone. All of it. A love story amongst friends, peers, colleagues, family, and of course, lovers. 

TJR never misses!

Loved the care that went into the scientific/space references. 

TJR is a wonderful storyteller, and I enjoyed the pacing and organization of the story. 

I also appreciated how real and true to the time it felt. The characters’ behavior was aligned with how those in that time period likely would have acted. 

Read it in one afternoon- couldn’t put it down. 

Ashley Flitter

Loved the care that went into the scientific/space references. 

TJR is a wonderful storyteller, and I enjoyed the pacing and organization of the story. 

I also appreciated how real and true to the time it felt. The characters’ behavior was aligned with how those in that time period likely would have acted. 

Read it in one afternoon- couldn’t put it down. 

I think this is a book that emotionally destroys you, but you cannot put it down regardless.

I would admit that it was a slowburn in most aspects of getting into the story, the characters and the romance. Still, the wait is so worth it.

The only thing that I regret is that I feel we didn't see a lot of growth in Joan. or I guess it was also a slowburn in a way, but I don't know. maybe I had expectations that I didn't realize.

I'm so glad the end was not an open-ending, I needed to know, I really did.

I think this is a book that emotionally destroys you, but you cannot put it down regardless.

I would admit that it was a slowburn in most aspects of getting into the story, the characters and the romance. Still, the wait is so worth it.

The only thing that I regret is that I feel we didn't see a lot of growth in Joan. or I guess it was also a slowburn in a way, but I don't know. maybe I had expectations that I didn't realize.

I'm so glad the end was not an open-ending, I needed to know, I really did.

Didn’t love it, found there were some slow parts that didn’t add to the storyline.

KellyParmenter

Thought I was too cynical for a book that boldly states on the cover that it is a love story. Apparently when there’s queers, stars and space travel involved, I am not.

Emma Cragg

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

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. 

Baylea Fancher

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 

Atmosphere A Love Story

Reviews

Highlights