Atmosphere
*THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER 'Tipped to be this summer's biggest read' SUNDAY TIMES 'A richly drawn page-turner' OBSERVER 'Quite possibly our favourite TJR novel yet' COSMOPOLITAN 'I absolutely adored this' BRYONY GORDON 'A breathtaking, quietly staggering tale of female empowerment, desire, and our place in the universe' HEAT 'Unputdownable' GRAZIA READERS ARE SAYING... 'So emotional by the end that I could hardly speak' - Reader Review, 5 'Melted my heart by the end' - Reader Review, 5 'Taylor Jenkins Reid is the master of a really great love story' - Reader Review, 5 'Taylor Jenkins Reid's best book yet' - Reader Review, 5 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 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. 'Is there a popular fiction writer alive who conveys falling in love better than Taylor Jenkins Reid?' DAILY MAIL 'Packs a hefty emotional punch' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Thrilling ... heartbreaking ... uplifting. Taylor Jenkins Reid's novel Atmosphere is the fast-paced, emotionally-charged story of one ambitious young woman, finding both her voice and her passion ... I loved it' KRISTIN HANNAH, author of The Women 'NASA? Space missions? The 80s? This is a collection of all the things I love. Great story, excellent research and accuracy, and a thrilling conclusion.' ANDY WEIR, author of Project Hail Mary and The Martian
About This Book
Atmosphere is a historical fiction romance novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, first published in 2025 by Doubleday Canada. It runs 352 pages. Readers can expect forced proximity, forbidden romance, slow burn; hot heat; a slow burn and emotional tone.
At a glance
- Genre
- Historical Fiction
- Trope
- Forced Proximity
- Heat
- Hot
- Mood
- Slow Burn
- Published
- 2025
- Length
- 352 pages
Where to read or listen
Get Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- In the high-stakes 1980s NASA space shuttle program, an astrophysics professor finds a transformative love that challenges her understanding of the universe.
- Fans of historical fiction with high emotional stakes
- Readers who enjoy 'Women in STEM' narratives
- Reflective
- Features Workplace Romance
This may not be ideal if…
- Readers who require a guaranteed HEA (pending verification)
- Readers who dislike technical or scientific detail in fiction
- Potential for a tragic or bittersweet ending
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Historical Sapphic Romance
Pairing: Joan Goodwin / Vanessa Ford
Power balance: Equal (Professional Peers)
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Moderate comfort, high tension, mild humor, and a strong emotional payoff.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Moderate
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
May not suit
Recommended audience: Adult
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Joan Goodwin, an astrophysics professor, is selected as one of the newest astronaut candidates for NASA's 1980s shuttle program. Training alongside pilots and mission specialists, she encounters Vanessa Ford, a mysterious and brilliant engineer. While the narrative explores the rigors of astronaut training and the ambition of the era, it centers on the profound emotional connection developing between Joan and Vanessa. However, the story build toward a pivotal December 1984 mission, STS-LR9, which promises to alter the trajectory of their lives and careers.
Central Conflict
Joan must navigate her professional ambitions within a high-pressure, male-dominated space program while grappling with an unexpected and intense attraction to a female colleague in an era when such a relationship could jeopardize their careers.
Setting
Houston, Texas (Johnson Space Center) and Low Earth Orbit; 1980-1984.
Themes
Strengths
- Richly researched historical setting
- Compelling and complex female leads
- Cinematic atmosphere
- High emotional resonance
Consider before reading
- Potential for a tragic or bittersweet ending
- Comparison to the author's previous mega-hits
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Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
Which theme — The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo — resonated most strongly with you, and why?
- 3
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 4
Did the emotional payoff feel earned by the story's buildup?
- 5
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 6
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 7
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 8
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- August 30, 2026
- Confidence:
- High confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Doubleday Canada
- Published
- 2025
- Length
- 352 pages
- Language
- DUT
- ISBN-13
- 9781529152975
Atmosphere: quick answers
- Who wrote Atmosphere?
- Atmosphere was written by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
- When was Atmosphere published?
- Atmosphere was first published in 2025 by Doubleday Canada.
- What genre is Atmosphere?
- Atmosphere is a historical fiction romance novel, with forced proximity, forbidden romance, slow burn.
- How many pages is Atmosphere?
- Atmosphere is 352 pages long.
- How spicy is Atmosphere?
- EIKNA rates Atmosphere as hot heat.
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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