From the Bookshelf of Mostly Sapphic…

Atmosphere

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Start date: November 1, 2025

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What Members Thought

Jun 10, 2025 Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, romance, stand-alone, look-at-the-pretty-cover, borrowed-from-library, 2025, fantastic-heroine, favorite-couple, 5-stars, f-f

5 stars. Sapphic readers rise up! TJR has given us another one. I find it strange that it’s not mentioned that the ‘love story’ that is referred to on the cover of the book is between two women. I had absolutely no interest in this book (I haven’t loved anything by TJR since Evelyn Hugo) but once I was told it was sapphic I immediately picked it up from my library and I’m so glad that I did. This was fantastic.

I loved the setting of the 1980s, that period of time has always been such a huge fas 5 stars. Sapphic readers rise up! TJR has given us another one. I find it strange that it’s not mentioned that the ‘love story’ that is referred to on the cover of the book is between two women. I had absolutely no interest in this book (I haven’t loved anything by TJR since Evelyn Hugo) but once I was told it was sapphic I immediately picked it up from my library and I’m so glad that I did. This was fantastic.

I loved the setting of the 1980s, that period of time has always been such a huge fascination of mine. I thought the writing was absolutely gorgeous which isn’t a surprise but damn does it feel good to enjoy a book from TJR again. Joan and Vanessa both work for NASA in their Space Shuttle Program. Both women are intelligent and felt very real. They get together and there is no real big drama in their romance except towards the end (we’ll get to that stressful shit in a moment don’t you worry) but they do keep it hidden because of their jobs and because it’s the 80s. I really liked both characters and how flawed they are. They had great chemistry and the love story between them is so incredibly touching and tender.

The ending drama though, TJR what the fuck? My heart was in my throat for the last 50 or so pages. I was nauseous as hell from the third act drama all the way to the ending. It got intense and my nerves were shot! Speaking of the ending, what was that? It just…stops. I get why she ended it like that but this needed an epilogue or something.

Other than that I did really love this. It’s slower paced and is a quiet type of story so don’t go in expecting some big huge things to be constantly popping off. It’s a lot of day to day life. There are definitely some hard hitting and emotional moments though because it wouldn't be TJR without them. I don't think this will hit for a lot of people as much as Evelyn Hugo did but the romance was absolutely lovely, and I love anything that has to do with space and NASA so this ended up working for me. ...more

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Aug 15, 2025 currentlyreadingbynat rated it really liked it

Atmosphere was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and while I enjoyed it, it didn’t land with the same force as Carrie Soto or Evelyn Hugo (to be fair, that’s a near-impossible act to follow). The romance between Joan and Vanessa is beautifully done—slow-burn, full of quiet tension, and completely believable in its 1980s setting. I appreciated those small, loaded moments between them.
The book opens with a gripping, high-stakes space scene that had me expecting an astronaut drama with ...more

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Jun 04, 2025 AGC rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I can’t stop thinking about this book, or recommending it to everyone I know, and random people I meet on the street. Gut wrenchingly beautiful. It’s tied with Madeline Miller’s, The Song of Achilles, for the #1 spot in my top ten list. I can’t give it any higher praise than that.

FYI: The audio version is even better!

3 likes · Like · see review