Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Atmosphere
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Historical Fiction | Fiction | Romance
352 Pages
Released June 2025
Rating: ★★★★1/2
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Content Warnings
When I put this book on hold at my library, I did so entirely on a whim because I found the cover and title strangely intriguing. It’s the first Taylor Jenkins Reid book that really caught my eye and boy was this one a treat!
Joan has always dreamed of becoming and astronaut, so when she is finally given the opportunity to go through astronaut training to earn a spot among the select few that have lived among the stars, she jumps at the chance. Despite the challenge of being a woman in the astronaut program, Joan soon forms close friendships among the other candidates, plus one relationship that catches her by surprise. But when a harrowing event occurs in the Winter of 1984, her relationships and secrets are put to the ultimate test.
I went into this book relatively blind, knowing only that it involved astronauts (which I love) in the 1980s (which I also love). Needless to say, I adored everything about this book.
First, I really love the way this book is structured. Reid throws us right into the action at the start so I found the story to be immediately gripping. But then the book jumps back in time, following Joan as she enters and goes through the Astronaut candidate program. I really enjoyed this method of getting to know the characters and I found myself connecting with many of the women throughout this book.
There was also something about following Joan through the astronaut candidate program that just really scratched an itch that I didn’t know I had. It was a fantastic blend of factually realistic and character dynamics that kept me engaged for the whole novel.
I really adored all the relationships in this book, specifically between Joan and Frances (her niece) and Joan and Vanessa. Reid does such an incredible job of slowly building up these amazing relationships throughout the novel and it really allowed me to get close to many of the other tertiary characters as well.
And while this book didn’t fully give me the 1980s vibes I was hoping for, it was still wonderfully atmospheric (ha!) and the perfect read for mid-summer. There’s definitely a nostalgic undertone to this story and this story tugged at my heartstrings in so many ways.
I really loved this book, and if you are looking for a solid summertime book with sapphic romance, all sorts of astronaut-y goodness and lovely friendships, definitely pick this one up.