Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Jul 18
- 3 min read
I have been waiting for Atmosphere to come out ever since I finished Carrie Soto is Back and I was so excited when June finally arrived. Despite only being published at the beginning of June, it is already a New York Times Bestseller and was chosen as a Good Morning America book club pick. A more science based book than the other Taylor Jenkins Reid novels that I've read, this book deals with biphobia, homophobia, and lesbophobia, death, emotional abuse, sexism, vomit, grief, pregnancy, abandonment, and toxic relationships.
Astronomer and college professor Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars ever since she was a child. To her, they have always held all of the universe's possibilities between them, and the answers to all of her questions. When NASA announces that it will allow women and people of color to apply for their astronaut training program, Joan applies - and is not accepted... until their second round of picks. Suddenly she finds herself surrounded by people who are just as smart, just as passionate, and just as motivated as she is... and a lot more ruthless at times. Every one of them wants to go to space and there is only so many spaces available. But even though the competition is fierce, Joan finds her family within that group of people and feels accepted in a way that she never has before.
This is (hands down) the most anxiety inducing book that I've read by Taylor Jenkins Reid and I. LOVED. IT. I have not stopped raving about this book since I picked it up. I started raving before I had even finished it. Taylor just cannot miss with me. It destroyed me from the very beginning (in the best way possible). The story is so different from the other books I've read by her but just as tender, just as well presented, and just as addictive - I couldn't read it fast enough. There is a large cast of characters that I loved getting to know, but this story starts and ends with your heart in your throat. Luckily, there are large sections of the book that are not nerve-wracking so your pulse can get back to normal, something that cardiologists everywhere are thankful for. I have two notes. 1: some of the jargon in this book is not as well explained as I would have hoped for. I don't think it detracted from my understanding of the story as a whole, but I would have liked some additional information on some of the more technical aspects of NASA's terminology especially. 2: the ending felt jarring. To be fair, all of the wrap up that you would normally get at the end of a book happens towards the end, but not at the very end, and I did really enjoy the way that was laid out. But then the ending just... happened and there were no more words and if felt very sudden and stark. I was not prepared.
Even with those notes, I'm giving Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid 5 stars. I don't think it is my favorite Taylor Jenkins Reid book, I think that spot is held by Carrie Soto is Back with Malibu Rising close behind it, but it was incredible and I loved reading it. A solid choice for anyone who enjoys reading. And Taylor Jenkins Reid now holds the distinguished title of being the only author that has made me cry while reading the acknowledgements.
For more from the author, check out her website at https://taylorjenkinsreid.com/
Pairs well with a strawberry milkshake and having a legacy to carry forward.
A quote from the book that struck me: "Her mother told her that she and her sister had their own strengths. Barbara's were loud and Joan's were quiet, but both were powerful in their own way."
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