Book Review: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rating: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
I was really looking forward to reading Atmosphere because I wanted to explore a genre that was completely new to me—astronomy. The premise of a woman astronaut as the main character immediately caught my attention, and I was excited to learn more about NASA, astronaut training, and life in the space program.
The novel begins by introducing Joan and her niece. I enjoyed their relationship, and I found it interesting that her niece was just as intelligent and curious as Joan. Joan's sister, on the other hand, is much more disorganized, creating an engaging contrast within the family that made me want to keep reading.
As the story moved into Joan's astronaut training, it became even more compelling. I was especially intrigued when Joan started paying close attention to another female trainee. At first, I assumed this character would become Joan's closest colleague or an important partner in her career as an astronaut.
However, as I continued reading, it became clear that the relationship was developing into a romantic one. At that point, I was surprised because I hadn't seen the book categorized as LGBTQ+ fiction or queer romance. I searched online to better understand the novel and discovered that the central storyline is, in fact, a romance between two women, with the astronomy and astronaut setting serving as the backdrop.
Personally, that wasn't what I was expecting when I picked up the book. I had hoped for a story centered primarily on space exploration, astronaut training, and the challenges of pursuing a career in astronomy. While I understand that many readers will appreciate the love story, it wasn't the direction I was looking for, and I found the marketing and categorization didn't fully reflect the novel's central focus.
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a literary novel that combines an astronaut's journey with a queer romance, Atmosphere may be a great fit. If, like me, you're primarily seeking a novel about astronomy or the experience of becoming an astronaut, it's helpful to know in advance that the romantic relationship is a major part of the story.
