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Atmosphere

A Love Story; The breathtaking bestseller from the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

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Atmosphere

By: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrated by: Kristen Dimercurio, Julia Whelan, Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Summary

***THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER***

An epic novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.

In the summer of 1980, Joan Goodwin begins training to be an astronaut at Houston's Johnson Space Centre, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates. 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 a soaring story about the transformative power of love - this time among the stars.

'The read of the summer' SUNDAY TIMES
'A richly drawn page-turner' OBSERVER
'Beautifully written, immersive' THE TIMES
'Our favourite TJR novel yet' COSMOPOLITAN
'I absolutely adored this' BRYONY GORDON

©2025 Taylor Jenkins Reid (P)2025 Penguin Audio

 20th Century Best of 2025 Editors Select Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Women's Voices Heartfelt Tear-jerking Aviation

Editorial Review

You can’t deny the gravitational pull
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s talent is awe-inducing: both her ability to tell deeply human stories, and the research and detail that she pours into her novels, effortlessly orienting the listener in time and place. In Atmosphere, we are in Houston in the 1980s, embarking on NASA’s space exploration program with its first wave of women scientists and pilots. Joan, an astronomer, is eager to become one of the first women in space, but she’s also enjoying the ride of discovering her own capabilities and growing her relationships with her fellow candidates. We jump between Joan’s early time in the program and December 29, 1984, when Joan is on the ground in Houston serving as capcom on a space mission, and something goes horribly wrong. The alternating timelines drive the suspense, as does the blossoming relationship between Joan and fellow candidate Vanessa, who is on the shuttle in 1984. Performed by Julia Whelan and Kristen DiMercurio, this book won’t let you go once you’ve entered its orbit. —Katie O., Audible Editor

Critic Reviews

Tipped as the read of the summer
A richly drawn page-turner ... It would take a stony reader to turn away from its pleasures ... Melding action thriller emergency with star-crossed romance ... I'd be lying if I said my eyes weren't wet by the end
Quite possibly our favourite TJR novel yet ... Even if you're not a big space fan, you can't help but fall for this cosmic tale
A breathtaking, quietly staggering tale of female empowerment, desire, and our place in the universe
Is there a popular fiction writer alive who conveys falling in love better than Taylor Jenkins Reid?
You'll see this one on every sun lounger this summer
An ambitious novel that explores human limitation, sacrifice and the essence of love itself
Takes you on a journey to show the lengths we go to for love. Sure to be a must-read
Atmosphere is at once epic and intimate, heart-wrenching and hopeful. It's an escapist novel of the best kind with a final few pages that will leave you utterly breathless
Moving, pacey and a read that will stick with you
All stars
Most relevant
My new favourite book. I cannot recommend this incredible book enough. The story building, the characters, the narrators - a work of art.

INCREDIBLE

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Atmosphere is a moving and deeply engaging story that captures both the wonder of human ambition and the frustrating reality of barriers faced by women in science and exploration. What makes the book so compelling is not only its passionate storytelling, but the reminder that it wasn’t so long ago that women had to fight tooth and nail to break free from stereotypes and claim their place in fields long dominated by men.

Taylor Jenkins Reid writes with intensity and conviction, drawing the reader into a journey many only dream of, a journey into space. The narrative pulses with emotion, from the personal sacrifices to the collective triumphs, and makes you feel the sheer determination required to succeed against the odds. It is not just a story of space exploration, but also one of perseverance, resilience, and hope.

What lingers after turning the final page is both admiration and reflection. Admiration for the pioneering women who refused to accept limitations, and reflection on how far society has come, yet how much further we must go. Atmosphere is a celebration of courage and a call to keep pushing boundaries, making it a powerful and inspiring read for anyone who values passion, progress, and the pursuit of dreams.

An out of this world love story

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For a story that revolves around accomplishing a trip into space, the author is heavy handed with the 180degree flip at the end of the book. Still. It was a well crafted and lovely story.

A story that stuck to its guns.

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The final chapter ❤️ not being able to say I love you to eachother but somehow conveying their feelings in creative ways, expressing their feelings through songs. Taylor Jenkins Reid has such a way to make me feel so many emotions at once. I had to leave the office and go for a walk to truely focus and experience the journey. Gut-wrenching, beautiful. Relatable . A truely beautiful love story. Thank you Taylor, yet again.

What an ending - I need more!

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Seriously, I couldn't put this down, and that last chapter? Killed me. Dead. An emotional wreck and snot machine.
I can not wait to see who produces this for the screen, but this has been the best book I've read this year.

Wow

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