Atmosphere (by Taylor Jenkins Reid)
Lately, I’ve been taking advantage of Libby to max out my library holds. Whenever I have a spot available, I place holds on newer books. Fortunately, when Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid was added to Libby, I was able to place a quick hold on it. It’s been a while since I’ve read one of her books.
Based on the book description, I wasn’t entirely sure what the story would be about. It appeared to revolve around women astronauts in the early 1980s, and a love story was expected to unfold. Considering Reid’s previous books, I was more than eager to embark on this journey.
While numerous events unfold in the narrative, it undeniably revolves around a captivating love story featuring female astronauts, set against the backdrop of NASA. Joan Goodwin, a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University, stumbles upon an advertisement seeking women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Her acceptance into the program opens doors to an extraordinary opportunity to collaborate with a remarkable group of highly intelligent and accomplished individuals. The characters crafted by Reid are both entertaining and incredibly likable. Joan’s involvement extends beyond her professional life, as she plays a pivotal role in her young niece, Frances’, life. Balancing the demands of her relationship with her sister and actively participating in Frances’ life presents challenges at times.
Working her dream job and being part of this incredible team, Joan embarks on a journey of self-discovery. If you’ve ever meticulously planned your life and diligently worked to achieve your desired image, only to realize you yearn for something entirely different, then this novel will resonate with you. It’s a beautiful and emotionally heart-wrenching story that will leave you with tears in your eyes. I found myself choking back tears during the last hour of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am incredibly grateful for having read it. The narrators, Kristen DiMercurio and Julia Whelan, were simply amazing!
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