The Setup: A Journey to the Stars with Heart
The story kicks off with Joan Goodwin, an astrophysics professor who’s always been starry-eyed—literally. She’s living a quiet life in Houston, teaching and doting on her niece, when NASA opens its doors to women scientists in 1980. Joan jumps at the chance, joining a crew of astronauts-in-training that’s a total mix of personalities. There’s Hank Redmond, a chill Top Gun pilot, and John Griffin, a laid-back scientist, plus Lydia Danes, who’s all business and no nonsense, and Donna Fitzgerald, a warm soul with her own secrets. Then there’s Vanessa Ford—magnetic, mysterious, and an engineering genius who can fix anything. As they train for their first missions, Joan finds herself falling hard for Vanessa, a love that’s as thrilling as it is risky given the 1980s vibe where being out wasn’t exactly safe. The plot jumps between their training days and a tense moment in December 1984 during mission STS-LR9, where everything goes sideways fast. I was on the edge of my seat, thinking, “Oh man, what’s gonna happen up there?” It’s got that unputdownable pull, like a space shuttle launch you can’t look away from.
Characters That Feel Like Friends (and Frenemies)
Joan’s the heart of this book, and I was rooting for her big-time. She’s ambitious but humble, chasing the stars while juggling family stuff with her sister, and her quiet strength just gets you. Vanessa’s the wildcard—smart, bold, and with this vibe that makes you wanna know her secrets. Their chemistry? Off the charts. I kept grinning at their little moments, like stolen glances during training, but also felt that pit in my stomach knowing they had to hide it. Hank and John bring some lightness, always cracking jokes to ease the tension, while Lydia’s no-BS attitude had me nodding like, “Yeah, girl, you tell ‘em!” Donna’s the glue, though—her warmth made me tear up when her backstory peeked through. The group feels like a found family, which hit me hard ‘cause I’ve got my own crew I’d do anything for. Binge makes you care about every one of them, even when the stakes get crazy.
Themes That Stick With You: Love, Sacrifice, and Breaking Barriers
What really got me was how Atmosphere digs into love and what it costs. Joan and Vanessa’s romance isn’t just sweet—it’s a fight against a world that doesn’t want them together, and that tension felt so real for the ‘80s setting. The book also tackles sacrifice—leaving Earth, risking it all for space, and what that does to relationships back home. I loved how it showed women breaking into a boys’ club like NASA, facing sexism head-on, which made me cheer for their grit. The space backdrop isn’t just cool—it’s a metaphor for reaching beyond limits, though I gotta say, some of the technical stuff felt a bit heavy at times, like Reid was showing off her research a little too much. Still, the focus on found family and pushing boundaries left me thinking about my own dreams long after I closed the book.
Why You Gotta Read This
Atmosphere is a total standout, blending sci-fi thrills with a love story that’ll tug at your heartstrings. It dropped on June 3, 2025, and already snagged a Good Morning America Book Club pick—deservedly so, with praise from Kristin Hannah calling it “thrilling… uplifting.” At 352 pages, it’s a quick read that packs a punch, perfect for USA readers who love a mix of romance and adventure. It’s got echoes of The Martian’s tech vibe but with Reid’s signature emotional depth, like in Evelyn Hugo. If you’re after a book that’ll make you laugh, cry, and stare at the stars, this is it. Grab it from your local bookstore or check our other WTF for more.
Already read it? Swing by our WTF and spill—did Joan and Vanessa’s love story get you, or were you more into the space drama?
Quick Facts
- Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Published: June 3, 2025
- Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance, Historical Fiction
- Key Themes: Love, Sacrifice, Breaking Barriers
- Length: 352 pages
A Little Side Note
Reid’s take on NASA’s ‘80s era is gripping, but I wonder if she glosses over some of the real struggles women faced—those sexism bits felt a tad polished, like she wanted to keep it hopeful. The love story’s beautiful, though, and that’s what’ll stick with you, not some textbook history lesson.