Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a love story about space, both figuratively and emotionally. Space is the driving force and the setting for part of the novel, about NASA’s first female astronauts. The love story in the novel involves two astronauts. They can’t be together in the same space because of their space program and the times. The novel takes place from 1977 to 1984. The love is forbidden and beautiful. The book is half a love story and half a story about the life and commitment of an astronaut. The book starts with a crisis in space in 1984, with a mission going very wrong. We will get to know both the astronauts in the shuttle and on the ground throughout the story. The crisis of the 1984 space flight is the constant story. It is broken with flashbacks. The flashbacks show how Joan, who is the ground control, got started in NASA. They also show how she met everyone on the flight crew. Joan is our only perspective on the past. 1984 is broken up into two perspectives: ground control with Joan and a member of the flight crew. The story is emotional, heartbreaking, and tense at times. The characters and the story got me very invested. I found myself on the edge of tears with a tight grip on my book at the end. The ending was very effective and written so well. The book’s pace was good for the most part. However, the middle dragged a little bit. Overall, it was steady. The book has an LGBTQ storyline that is handled with respect. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid was first published on June 3, 2025.

Why did I read Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid? I have been a fan of Taylor Jenkins Reid since The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I have read every book she has published since Hugo. Taylor Jenkins Reid can hook me so fast with her characters and plot. She writes love stories that are real and most often messy. But the love is always honest and feels real.

Plot Summary: Houston, we have a problem. After a failed satellite release from the Navigator shuttle. Two astronauts have to do a space walk and manually release the clamps. The mission looks safe and secure. But, a breach of protocol occurs. Space debris makes a hole in the ship and damages the outer door. Joan Goodwin is CAPCOM, which means the only person who talks to the Navigator’s crew. She must deal with this disaster at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Joan must hold back her love and loss and save the crew. We learn how Joan joined NASA and worked her way through the rigorous tests to become an astronaut. We learn how she met every member of the Navigator she now has to save. We understand what is said at Mission Control and everything that eats her up inside, and she cannot say.

What I Liked: The ups and downs of emotions in Joan’s life, both family and personal. The love story was done so well. I was very invested. The love story doesn’t follow the typical route. It is a forbidden love, but they fight for it and against it. I like that the fight was reasonable. The dialogue scene about pansies, the flowers, was wonderful. There was so much subtext about pansies, since it is used as a gay slur. The whole dialogue scene was about how strong pansies have to be and are. I liked the scenes discussing the philosophy of God and space. The scene where they have a debate about the best song to go into space. The ending was great. It hit all the right notes. I did like Frances and all the family drama. The LGBTQ storyline showed so much empathy and love. I hope it expands some minds.

What I Disliked: The pacing could have been better in the middle. All it needed was to cut back to the crisis with the Navigator one more time. The Navigator scene could have been broken up more. I feel the first scene is where we learn too much before meeting the flight crew.

Recommendation: Atmosphere is a wonderful emotional ride. The story is also educational. While the story is fiction, there are many factual details about space. I found how NASA works absolutely fascinating. Atmosphere has the most in common with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. However, you have to read it to find out. Taylor Jenkins Reid can hook me with her historical fictions so fast. Only Kate Quinn and Kristen Hannah can do the same for me. If you like their writing, you have to try out Taylor Jenkins Reid. I recommend my followers to read Atmosphere. I can see it winning the Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction.

Rating: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I rated 4.6 out of 5. The characters and the plot are written so well. The emotions I felt were real. I was hooked on the story from the start. The only misstep was the pacing and not breaking up the Navigator scenes more.

Ranking: I have read and reviewed 5 Taylor Jenkins Reid novels. I will rank them in order from favorite to least favorite: 1) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, 2) Carrie Soto Is Back, 3) Atmosphere, 4) Daisy Jones & the Six, and 5) Malibu Rising.