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Atmosphere

A Love Story; The Number One Sunday Times Bestseller

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Atmosphere

By: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrated by: Kristen Dimercurio, Julia Whelan, Taylor Jenkins Reid
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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.

'Tipped to be this summer's big read' Sunday Times

'Quite possibly our favourite TJR novel yet...Even if you're not a big space fan, you can't help but fall for this cosmic tale.' Cosmopolitan

'An ambitious novel that explores human limitation, sacrifice and the essence of love itself.' Woman & Home

©2025 Taylor Jenkins Reid (P)2025 Penguin Audio

 20th Century Best of 2025 Editors Select Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Women's Voices Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Aviation
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Editorial Review

You can’t deny the gravitational pull
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s talent is awe-inducing: both her ability to tell deeply human stories, and the research and detail that she pours into her novels, effortlessly orienting the listener in time and place. In Atmosphere, we are in Houston in the 1980s, embarking on NASA’s space exploration program with its first wave of women scientists and pilots. Joan, an astronomer, is eager to become one of the first women in space, but she’s also enjoying the ride of discovering her own capabilities and growing her relationships with her fellow candidates. We jump between Joan’s early time in the program and December 29, 1984, when Joan is on the ground in Houston serving as capcom on a space mission, and something goes horribly wrong. The alternating timelines drive the suspense, as does the blossoming relationship between Joan and fellow candidate Vanessa, who is on the shuttle in 1984. Performed by Julia Whelan and Kristen DiMercurio, this book won’t let you go once you’ve entered its orbit. —Katie O., Audible Editor

Critic reviews

Tipped as the read of the summer
A richly drawn page-turner ... It would take a stony reader to turn away from its pleasures ... Melding action thriller emergency with star-crossed romance ... I'd be lying if I said my eyes weren't wet by the end
Quite possibly our favourite TJR novel yet ... Even if you're not a big space fan, you can't help but fall for this cosmic tale
A breathtaking, quietly staggering tale of female empowerment, desire, and our place in the universe
Is there a popular fiction writer alive who conveys falling in love better than Taylor Jenkins Reid?
You'll see this one on every sun lounger this summer
An ambitious novel that explores human limitation, sacrifice and the essence of love itself
Takes you on a journey to show the lengths we go to for love. Sure to be a must-read
Atmosphere is at once epic and intimate, heart-wrenching and hopeful. It's an escapist novel of the best kind with a final few pages that will leave you utterly breathless
Moving, pacey and a read that will stick with you
All stars
Most relevant
Pre-ordered this and couldn’t stop listening to it, if you love her other books you’ll love this, it’s up there. Great narrator too

Another epic TJR book

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I’m 6 hours to go but I can see this book like a movie. I usually don’t like TJR but boy this story is so good right now. And obviously Julia Whelan is kicking ass narrating this.

This book is freaking fantastic

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That is all you need to know from my review - very emotional indeed. I never cry at books!

I cried

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A great story by TJR, as always. Read this in a day. Fell in love with the characters, even Lydia. The dialogue!!!! My heart…..
Also special shoutout to Julia Whelan whose narration I ALWAYS enjoy.

I wanted an epilogue!!!!!

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Must be one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to. Heart-wrenching, informative, thrilling in equal measure, beautifully performed. I will come back to relive Atmosphere again and again. Thank you to all involved.

Breath-taking

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