Description
Atmosphere is a historical fiction novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, set against the real-world excitement and danger of NASA’s Space Shuttle programme. In the summer of 1980, astrophysics professor Joan Goodwin begins astronaut training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, joining a talented group of candidates preparing for the possibility of spaceflight. As the group trains together, Joan discovers a passion for space, forms deep friendships and experiences a love she never expected.
Four years later, Joan is part of the crew of a Space Shuttle mission when an event in December 1984 changes everything. Moving between the intensity of astronaut training and the extraordinary pressures of spaceflight, the novel explores ambition, friendship, love and the risks taken in pursuit of something greater than oneself. The book won the Goodreads Choice Award for Readers’ Favorite Historical Fiction in 2025.
A compelling choice for readers who enjoy historical fiction, space exploration, emotionally driven stories and character-focused novels inspired by real events.
