Atmosphere – Taylor Jenkins Reid

Taylor Jenkins Reid did it again. First she made cry real tears with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, now she made me cry with her beautiful novel Atmosphere. I did not expect to read another novel by her that would make it to one of my lesfic recommendations. Well color me wrong. I’m glad someone close to me pointed it out to me.

In Atmosphere you read the story of Joan Goodwin a professor of physics and astronomy. You learn how she as one of the first women scientists joins NASA’s space shuttle program in the 1980’s. Joan is a thoughtful and reserved woman, caring almost exclusively for the stars and her niece Frances. Until she meets the enigmatic aeronautical engineer Vanessa Ford.

You read about the program, the people Joan meets and befriends during te program. The things she learns about herself, about love, about life. The story unfolds in reverse order. The first chapter makes you want to go straight to the last one. But the wait is worth it. Taylor Jenkins Reid tells a beautiful story so after reading that first chapter it only builds and builds until that final chapter is just… wow. Can’t say anymore without major spoilers.