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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.
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.
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Community Reviews
In Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid takes readers on a journey into the vastness of space and the complexities of human connection. The novel follows an astronaut who finds unexpected love in the most isolated of places—at NASA, with a fellow astronaut. As the two navigate the intensity of their connection, their relationship deepens, pushing them to confront their own identities, desires, and the powerful, sometimes painful, consequences of being in a career that has many observers, and dominated by years of male ego.
Reid beautifully captures the tension of working in such a high-stakes environment while exploring themes of secrecy, self-discovery, and the fragility of human connection in a setting that feels both infinite and confining. The romance between the two characters is tender and raw, with the isolation of space adding an emotional weight that makes their bond feel even more profound.
While the plot could be considered a bit more niche compared to Reid’s previous works, her trademark character development shines through. For fans of stories that combine emotional depth with a unique setting, Atmosphere is a must-read—but be prepared for a slower burn as the relationship slowly unfurls under the pressure of both their professional duties and their evolving feelings.
Well this broke me in a million pieces… I don’t think I’ve ever sobbed so much for a book… the last 10%.. my goodness…
‘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.
I stand by the fact that Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favourite authors. EVER. This book has feminism, love, heartbreak, NASA and OMG - Joan's relationship with her niece, Frances. I loved it ALL. The research that has gone into this book to describe NASA, the missions, the shuttles - it's impeccable and I'm sad it's over.
This would be a good vacation read as it is really picks up half way with its love story. I liked the unique aspect of being strong female role model astronauts taking you on the journey of training and waiting to hear if they will be one of the rare people who get a chance to go into space. Following the main characters and their life on earth and careers to space, the reader gets to feel the emotional rollercoaster the character feel tethered to both.
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