Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Published by: Hutchinson Heinemann
Publication date: 3rd June 2025
Content warnings:

“I’ve always felt like, when I look at the starts, I am reminded that I am never alone.”

I am so glad I made time to read this when I did! It caught my eye as soon as it was announced and I absolutely loved my time with it. It’s such a powerful read, an exploration of love on Earth and beyond it. It’s a celebration of women and their strength and resilience. And it was an absolute dream to spend time with Joan and her crew. Forever in awe of space exploration! I’m so happy to be sharing my review of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which is somehow my first TJR book! (I know, I know…)

About the book

In the summer of 1980, astrophysics professor Joan Goodwin begins training to be an astronaut at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond; mission specialists John Griffin and Lydia Danes; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer. As the new astronauts prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined and begins to question everything she believes about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changes in an instant.

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.

The beginning

I’ve been wanting to branch out into space-y books for a while and ever since I first saw this on socials, it’s been on my mind. It’s nothing like my usual reads, but it is instantly beautiful and I couldn’t help but be in awe of it. Despite some technical space language throwing me off at the start (I expected it 😆) we experience such a scary, intense scene which gives us a hint at the heartbreak that was to come, but I gently put that information aside to settle myself into Joan’s story. It’s 1980, and after dreaming of the stars, she’s chosen from hundreds of applicants to train up to be an astronaut alongside some exceptional candidates; Hank, Griff, Lydia, Donna and Vanessa. The build up was a little slow for me, but I do think it worked well in terms of character development – because it was so bloody good. We learn of Joan’s sister, Barbara, as well as Joan’s niece, Frances. She has such a special bond with her niece that I completely adored yet a somewhat strained relationship with Barbara. Joan’s relationships before her time at Houston’s Johnson Space Center as well as those relationships she nurtures along the way were already such a highlight for me.

“Joan knew who it was before she saw her face. She also knew there was a scientific explanation for these moments in which she felt she could sense the future. Information was being received at such a rapid speed that it felt as if the reaction was coming in before the stimulus. But the sensation was eerie, nonetheless. She understood why people got confused sometimes, started calling things fate.”

Joan gets acquainted with these candidates, people she would soon work alongside and call close friends, people she could laugh with, share everything with. But Vanessa was most intriguing to her. From the first time these characters interacted on the pages, I was rooting for them in every possible way. They become friends and share such a special connection, so fun, yet gentle. These women were empowering, such fantastic role models, and Joan herself was an incredibly strong protagonist. I loved her, and I can’t remember loving a character this much in a long time. It completely fascinated me seeing these characters get trained up for future space missions and how the author speaks about space and stars in general. There are some mind-blowing space facts thrown in and you just can’t help but think of the universe, what’s out there, and how much we don’t know about it all. It’s always so thought-provoking whether space is the focus, or whether we’re getting to know more about Joan. You just know this book is going to be something pretty special.

The middle

I loved the back and forth narrative between 1980/81 and 1984, but the emotional trauma I just knew I was going to experience by the end was already making me choke up! I was fascinated by the sometimes gruelling candidate training these characters had to complete, as well as the consistently wonderful relationship building between Joan and Vanessa. That feeling of euphoria and awe, as well as the nerves churning away about the mission and the unknown of space exploration always kept me invested. But I was also horrified just knowing what Vanessa would have to go through in a few years time. The chapters in 1984 had me holding my breath, but Joan’s role as CAPCOM keeps Vanessa steady, helps her to do what needs to be done, to save lives and to save herself. I kept thinking about this whole ordeal when I wasn’t reading, what would happen, whether the outcome would be a positive one or not. I could feel the weight of it all in my bones, like these characters were real and this whole intense space mission was happening in real time.

“Being human was such a lonely endeavour. We alone have consciousness; we are the only intelligent life force that we know of in the galaxy. We have no one but one another.”

Joan begins to understand and accept her sexuality and the author has absolutely nailed this development in her character. The way she is accepted by those around her was beautifully written, yet she is made aware of ways she could find life difficult in her role if it wasn’t kept secret, something completely ridiculous. But that’s just how it was back then. Joan learns to speak up for herself, to fight her own corner, to speak her mind. I so admired her and everything she did, and I loved seeing her passion ignite. Joan and Vanessa give in to their feelings and they enjoy every stolen moment they can. It was utterly perfect. I just loved them both with my whole heart. But there was one character who I just seemed to hate throughout the entirety of the book. Barbara just becomes more and more insufferable with how she takes Joan for granted, how she belittles her without even realising, the hurtful comments, her lack of common sense when it comes to Frances. I wanted to shake her! Joan keeps things civil for the sake of Frances, but I did wonder how long she would keep it up for.

The end

I felt the book slow down again at this point and as nice as it was seeing Joan and Vanessa’s happiness with each other, it felt like nothing was really happening for a while aside from them spending time with one another and trying to keep things secret. But when each of them are accepted onto separate space missions within a month of one another, I could feel the atmosphere of the book change; there was excitement, there were nerves. But after years of training, years of learning, they were finally going to space. At this point, all I could think about was what we’d learnt in the chapters we’d read from Vanessa’s space mission, everything she was about to endure with Joan as CAPCOM. I felt the anxiety creep in and I began to wonder what life for Joan would look like in a few months time. I did hate Barbara even more at this point, and at the same time, I was in awe of everything Joan does, what she sacrifices for her niece. Their bond was utterly beautiful and I had a lump in my throat multiple times towards the end! I honestly don’t think I could love Joan more.

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

I can now understand why the ending of this book seems to have broken everyone who has read it. It is so tense for so many reasons, so bittersweet, so incredibly moving that I completely binged those final few chapters through teary eyes. I told myself I would not cry, but that soon went out the window. How can you not?! I won’t even say what happens (no spoilers here!) but my god, the power of love, the intensity of Joan and Vanessa’s connection was so pure, so urgent, so real that I was so moved, so filled with hope. And that final page?! CHRIST. The emotions I felt in the space of about 20 seconds was absolutely mental. As soon as I finished, I daydreamed for a while about Joan’s future, what it looked like, who was in her life, where she would be ten years from then. It’s certainly a book I won’t forget in a hurry. It blows my mind that this was my first ever Taylor Jenkins Reid book, and I am so glad there are many more books for me to catch up on! Do you have a favourite, or have any recommendations for which I should read next? I would love to know which ones have stuck with you!

Overall thoughts

Atmosphere was such a wonderful escape for me, and as someone who is fascinated by space and wanted a very gentle introduction to space-y books, this was the perfect book for me to pick up. But jesus christ, it felt like TJR ripped out my heart, gave it a little kiss on the forehead and then put it back into my body with surgical precision and with a little more love in it than before. It’s 1980, and astrophysics professor, Joan Goodwin, begins training to be an astronaut at Houston’s Johnson Space Center. As these new astronauts prepare for their first space flights, Joan becomes intrigued by one particular crew mate; Vanessa. She finds a love and a passion she never imagined she’d experience in her lifetime, and begins to question everything she believes about her place in the observable universe. But one space flight in 1984 threatens to take everything away, with so much left unsaid.

These characters were exceptionally well written. Every single one of them, whether you love them or dislike them (and I really didn’t like you, Barbara!) They’re realistic, flawed in those weird and wonderful ways that make us human. Joan was probably one of my favourite characters from all the books I’ve ever read and I loved how she saw the world. Being homosexual in the 1980’s and in a role like hers was so difficult, and to be honest, so was being a female astronaut. My heart broke for what she and Vanessa had to endure. To prove themselves capable, to keep their relationship a secret. But what a life they lived. They had such a deep love for one another, for the universe and beyond. And to share and experience all that together was more than either of them could have imagined.

There were so many wonderful relationships, including the beautiful bond Joan has with her niece, Frances, that completely took my breath away. Some parts of the book were a little slow moving for me though, but I knew this was to build up these characters and their connections that I loved so dearly by the end. It’s an immersive read, it’s emotional, hopeful and unforgettable. And that last page? CHROIST. TJR, you have a brand new fan for life. Hi 👋🥰

Thanks so much to my lovely friend @kimandakindle for my copy of Atmosphere! You can grab your own copy now from Amazon* or wherever you buy your books. Make sure you’re following the author over on Instagram for more updates!

* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks so much for your support!

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