⭐⭐⭐-1/2
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Atmosphere follows Joan Goodwin, a quiet, brilliant physics professor who stuns everyone—including herself—by joining NASA’s Space Shuttle program in 1980. The setup hints at a high-flying, STEM-driven narrative, but the story spends more time grounded in Joan’s personal relationships: her bond with her niece, her complicated family ties, and a romance that becomes central to the plot.
Reid’s writing is as strong as ever, and the ensemble cast of fellow trainees is engaging. There are moving moments and thoughtful themes about identity, love, and finding your place in the universe. But I was hoping for a deeper look at what it meant to be one of the first female astronauts. Instead, NASA serves mostly as a backdrop.
One major disconnect for me was Joan’s spiritual reflections. Her musings on the Big Bang and her version of God didn’t align with my Christian worldview, which made it harder to connect with the narrative. And while I respect the story TJR chose to tell, I wish NetGalley had clarified the nature of the love story—I wasn’t the intended audience, and that affected my experience.
This one had flashes of brilliance, but for me, it never quite reached orbit.
** Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a comp of the eBook. All opinions are my own.