Atmosphere

Joan Goodwin has always found comfort in the stars, living a quiet life as a physics professor and devoted aunt. But everything changes in 1980, when she answers a groundbreaking NASA call for women scientists to join the Space Shuttle program.

Thrust into the intense world of astronaut training at Johnson Space Center, Joan finds herself among a remarkable team: a sharp-edged mission specialist, a charming test pilot, and a brilliant, enigmatic engineer named Vanessa Ford. As friendships form and rivalries flare, Joan is drawn not only to the promise of spaceflight—but also to a deep and unexpected connection that challenges her sense of self.

Set against the backdrop of a pivotal moment in American space history, Atmosphere charts one woman’s journey from the quiet confines of academia to the launchpad of her wildest dreams. With heart and insight, Taylor Jenkins Reid delivers a luminous portrait of what it means to reach for the stars—both literally and emotionally.