Review: 'Atmosphere' Could Be Taylor Jenkins Reid's Most Heart-Wrenching Novel to Date

      June 3, 2025

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      Some children grew up captivated by outer space, adorning their bedroom ceilings with glow-in-the-dark constellations (and given how well those stuck, they’re probably still there now), collecting every Buzz Lightyear toy, and dressing up as astronauts for Halloween multiple times. Personally, I found space to be utterly terrifying. The concept of infinite darkness, where our lives seemed so minuscule they nearly didn’t exist, kept me awake at night (and still does at times). Thus, when one of my favorite authors, Taylor Jenkins Reid, announced her latest book featuring the first female scientist entering NASA’s Space Shuttle Program, I was somewhat apprehensive.

      Rather than her usual glamorous settings in 1950s Old Hollywood, the 1960s LA music scene, or the elite tennis world of the 1990s, I found myself diving into a story about a realm I often prefer not to ponder due to its discomfort. However, trusting TJR, I picked up a copy of Atmosphere, and I’m so glad I did.

      For Taylor Jenkins Reid fans, her novels are known to engulf you and leave you profoundly impacted (in the best way possible). You enter fully immersive worlds, and just when you think you’ve settled in, an unexpected twist leaves you heartbroken. Although I typically don’t cry while reading, I did with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six. Therefore, I thought I had a grasp on what to expect from Atmosphere. Yet, I was unprepared for its emotional intensity—it stands as her most heartbreaking book thus far—and I relished every moment. Continue reading for my detailed review:

      Taylor Jenkins Reid

      From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six comes a grand new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program, exploring the extraordinary lengths we go to love and live beyond our limits.

      What is Atmosphere about?

      Atmosphere centers on Joan Goodwin, who has always been drawn to the stars. Completely satisfied with her role as a physics and astronomy professor at Rice University, she didn’t feel the need for anything more with her work and her niece Frances close by. However, when news breaks that NASA is accepting applications for the first female scientist in its Space Shuttle Program, she realizes she must be among the women embarking on space travel. In the summer of 1980, she is accepted into the program and begins her training, quickly bonding with her fellow candidates who turn from friends into family. Yet, her relationship with one astronaut makes her reevaluate everything she thought she understood about herself and the universe. Then, in December of 1984, a particular mission changes everything.

      My review of Atmosphere

      I seldom give five-star ratings, and for me to deem a book deserving of five stars, it must evoke such strong feelings that I ponder the story long after I finish reading. I want to talk about it in daily conversations, persuade everyone to read it, and endlessly check out fan reviews. Simply put, it occupies my thoughts. This doesn’t always equate to a book giving me positive, light-hearted feelings (though Atmosphere certainly provided those moments too). Sometimes, I close the book feeling a heaviness in my stomach, but the narrative transcends mere entertainment, reminding me of the powerful impact words on a page can have—Atmosphere was that kind of five-star experience.

      You shouldn't approach this book expecting a space novel akin to Project Hail Mary or The Martian. It doesn’t deliver a dramatic space saga, nor is it packed with the juicy gossip found in Daisy Jones & The Six. Instead, it offers a compelling character study, focusing equally on personal relationships and NASA. Taylor Jenkins Reid has a knack for crafting strong, developed female characters, and in Atmosphere, her talent shines even brighter.

      While I might be paralyzed by a fear of space, the writing drew me so closely into Joan’s mindset that I shared in her passion for astronomy. TJR immerses you in Joan's perspective so effectively that every decision feels authentic to her character. As a reader, I often find myself yelling at characters to recognize the obvious—that someone is in love with them or that a specific individual is the villain, or any other detail they’re willfully ignoring while I’ve figured it out from page one. In Atmosphere, I felt like I was right alongside Joan throughout her journey. Sure, we possess more information than she does, but I was so absorbed in her experience that I frequently lost sight of the bigger picture.

      Joan isn’t the only well-developed character. Every individual in the narrative is depicted with