Atmosphere

Taylor Jenkins Reid

Set against NASA's early-1980s Space Shuttle program, this novel follows Joan Goodwin, a reserved physics professor turned astronaut candidate, as she navigates grueling training, found family among her fellow recruits, and an unexpected romance with fellow astronaut Vanessa Ford. The story alternates between Joan's early training years and a tense mission-control timeline during a catastrophic shuttle disaster. It's a character-driven blend of historical detail, workplace sexism and homophobia of the era, and a slow-building love story that must stay hidden.