Atmosphere: A GMA Book Club Pick
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrated by Kristen DiMercurio, Julia Whelan, Taylor Jenkins Reid
Why You'll Love This
Taylor Jenkins Reid has written something rare — a novel that feels less like storytelling and more like confession.
- Great if you want: stories about women's ambition colliding with institutional resistance
- The experience: emotionally propulsive with quiet, weighted pauses between big moments
- Narration: Whelan and DiMercurio carry the ensemble; Reid's presence adds uncanny intimacy
- Skip if: you want plot-first pacing — character interiority drives this, not incident
About This Book
When physics professor Joan Goodwin sees an advertisement for NASA's groundbreaking initiative to recruit women scientists for the space shuttle program, her quiet academic life transforms into an all-consuming pursuit of the stars. Selected from thousands of applicants in 1980, Joan enters the intense world of astronaut training at Johnson Space Center alongside a diverse group of candidates, each carrying their own dreams and secrets. As friendships form and romantic connections ignite within this high-stakes environment, Joan discovers depths of ambition and passion she never knew existed, forcing her to reconsider everything about her future and her place in the universe.
The multi-narrator approach elevates this story into an immersive experience, with Kristen DiMercurio, Julia Whelan, and author Taylor Jenkins Reid herself bringing distinct voices to the ensemble cast. Each narrator captures the unique personalities and emotional journeys of the astronaut candidates, while the author's own participation adds intimate authenticity to her meticulously researched portrayal of NASA's culture. The performance perfectly complements the novel's blend of technical precision and emotional resonance, making the listener feel present in both the training facilities and the characters' internal transformations as they reach for extraordinary heights.