Atmosphere

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

It’s not really summer unless I have a Taylor Jenkins Reid novel in my hand. This summer, Reid graced us with Atmosphere, a space adventure no less. Well, a sort of space adventure. It’s the 1980s, and ever since she was a little girl, Joan Goodwin has been enamoured with space, and now she finally has the chance to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Joan is faced with complicated family responsibilities and the threat (or promise?) of ‘forbidden’ love.
Atmosphere isn’t my favourite Taylor Jenkins Reid novel, but I still really liked it. I always find it easy to slip into the plot and become interested in her characters. Jenkins Reid impressively and convincingly includes science, physics and astronomy without bogging down the plot (including diagrams and tables as an appendix). My favourite part was the evolution of Joan’s relationship with her niece; I found it heartwarming and at times heartbreaking. The love story isn’t the centre of the story; instead, it seems to exist to further develop Joan’s character, making her a fascinating, dynamic protagonist.
Atmosphere is definitely a title to add to your summer TBR list!

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