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Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid is easily my most anticipated book of the year. I pre-ordered the Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition and tracked my order entirely too closely. Of course, my order was delayed by almost a week, but when it came… Oh my word, it was beautiful. I couldn’t wait to dive in, and when I finally did, I couldn’t put it down.

Summary of Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Joan Griffin’s first love was the stars. For as long as she can remember, she’s been obsessed with what they mean and how long they’ve been there. It’s no surprise, then, that she grows up to teach astronomy and physics to freshmen at a local university. Surrounded by her family, specifically her niece, Frances, Joan finds herself content but wanting. That is, until her sister, Barbara, calls her to tell her that NASA is hiring its first round of female astronauts.

In the summer of 1980, Joan packs up her old life and heads to Houston’s Johnson Space Center to begin training. There, she meets fellow astronaut candidates who shape and change her forever. As Joan finds herself at home for the first time in her life, she discovers a love that she never knew was possible, with someone she never expected. Fast forward to December 1984, when mission STS-LR9 encounters catastrophe, Joan’s new life may just slip from her grasp.

Would I recommend this book?

Ugh, yes. I’m still recovering emotionally from this book. TJR did not disappoint.

A lot of people have been saying that this book is perfect, so my expectations were super high. And while I don’t agree that it’s the perfect book, I really enjoyed it.

The characters are deep and relatably human. I love the found family that Joan finds at NASA and rooted for her and Vanessa throughout the book. Some of the technical jargon lost me a bit, though it likely gives the entire plot more credibility. I also feel like there are a few sections throughout where the characters go off on tangents about something spiritual or philosophical that caused my mind to wander. Otherwise, Atmosphere lives up to the hype.

I craved picking this book back up every time I put it down. The cover is gorgeous, the endpapers are mesmerizing, and the star charts in the back create a more immersive experience. The 1980s setting excited me and sucked me in. Just truly such a great reading experience.



If you’re looking for a historical fiction or romance that’s different than other books in the genres, pick up Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. You won’t be sorry.

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Have you read any of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books? Which are your favorites? Leave them in the comments below.

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