Atmosphere cover art

Atmosphere

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Atmosphere

By: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrated by: Kristen Dimercurio, Julia Whelan, Taylor Jenkins Reid
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

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, 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 listeners 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.

'Tipped to be this summer's big read' Sunday Times

'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.' Cosmopolitan

'An ambitious novel that explores human limitation, sacrifice and the essence of love itself.' Woman & Home

©2025 Taylor Jenkins Reid (P)2025 Penguin Audio Editors Select Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction 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

All stars
Most relevant  
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I felt all the feels in this book.
Excellent performance and the story was interesting. You don’t need to be a space expert to enjoy this beautiful story.

Another masterpiece by TJR

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved this book it had me sucked in from the beginning to end. Lots of intriguing subplots and so well written.

Best read this year, almost out of this world

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved Jenkins Reid's latest. The central relationship was beautiful. Would have liked more about NASA and space though. Always enjoy Julia Whelan as a narrator.

Great new story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
My new favourite book. I cannot recommend this incredible book enough. The story building, the characters, the narrators - a work of art.

INCREDIBLE

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
TJR knows how to write a love story as we all know. This feels more grown up than any of her other books. The different love stories are so intricately interwoven and they all carry equal weight and you are invested in every carefully selected word. You won't look at the nightsky the same way again. This book is a gift.

just wow

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Honestly just incredible, a work of art, loved every second of it, I would love to re read fresh if I could

Everything

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Another winner by this author. Great story, great narration, great blend of drama and history. Truly enjoyed this.

Fantastic start to finish

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Beautiful, captivating, affecting. I love all of Reid’s novels but this is my new favourite. I will immediately re-listen to this!!

Breathtaking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.