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Atmosphere: A GMA Book Club Pick: A Love Story

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • From the author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six comes an epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.

The stunning hardcover of Atmosphere features beautiful endpapers and a premium dust jacket!

“Thrilling . . . heartbreaking . . . uplifting . . . the fast-paced, emotionally charged story of one ambitious young woman, finding both her voice and her passion.”—Kristin Hannah, author of The Women

“NASA? Space missions? The ’80s? This is a collection of all the things I love.”—Andy Weir, author of Project Hail Mary and The Martian

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space.

Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easygoing even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane.

As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe.

Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, it all changes in an instant.

Fast-paced, thrilling, and emotional, Atmosphere is Taylor Jenkins Reid at her best: transporting readers 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.

BUY THE BOOK

Published Jun 3, 2025

352 pages

Average rating: 8.35

315 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Gail_71
Jul 08, 2025
10/10 stars
‘Atmosphere’ is a compelling character-driven romantic story with an emotional ending. The dual timelines provide insights into Joan's journey as she joins NASA, showcasing the challenges women faced in a male-dominated field. Themes of family, belonging, and identity are intricately woven into the narrative. While the love story is central, it also highlights Joan's deep connections to her family and friends. The convergence of timelines at the end heightens the emotional stakes, especially in the last 300 pages. TJR's characters are complex, and the exploration of space and personal yearning adds depth. The extensive research behind the writing shines through, making this book a worthwhile read.
MrsCarlson21
Jul 01, 2025
8/10 stars
I had my doubts in the beginning but it grasped my attention almost immediately and I had to know how it ended. Ultimately, I am in tears.
ZoeEpstein
Jul 15, 2025
9/10 stars
Starts slow but boy does it build to a grand finale. Will make you feel all the emotions
JennaPaints
Jul 10, 2025
9/10 stars
Great book, couldn't put it down. My first TJR read.
JL Reads
Jun 25, 2025
10/10 stars
TJR is another automatic read, so are audiobooks read by Julia Whalen. This was amazing. I love when TJR picks a subject, dives headfirst into research, and then weaves a fantastic story that’s both educational and fictional gold. This is hands-down, my favorite TJR book, possibly my favorite book of the year. I listened on audio, but will be buying the physical book so that I can see the words on the pages and reread them whenever I might start to lose face in humanity. Book #54 in 2025

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