7 Of The Best Books Like Atmosphere By Taylor Jenkins Reid

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“Bravery is being unafraid of something other people are afraid of. Courage is being afraid, but strong enough to do it anyway.”

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Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid blends love, ambition, and unforgettable characters. Joan Goodwin’s journey from a thoughtful physics professor to a pioneering astronaut in NASA’s space shuttle program is a perfect example of Reid’s talent for crafting emotionally rich, character-driven stories. Fans of Atmosphere often search for books like Taylor Jenkins Reid’s work – stories that capture complex relationships, transformative experiences, and the emotional highs and lows of chasing your dreams. Whether it’s contemporary fiction with strong female protagonists, novels about ambition and love, or read-alikes that evoke the same soaring emotional atmosphere, there’s a wealth of books that deliver that same passion and depth. Join us at What We Reading for the best books similar to Atmosphere, perfect for anyone craving more of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s unforgettable storytelling and the same mix of heart, tension, and inspiration. 

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Atmosphere Summary

Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars ever since she was a kid. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is perfectly happy with her quiet life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University. That is, until she discovers an advertisement for the first women scientists to join up with NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan yearns to become one of the first people to make it into space.

Chosen from a pool of thousands in the summer of 1980, Joan starts training alongside an exceptional group of talented candidates. As the new astronauts become close friends and prepare for their first flight, Joan begins questioning everything she thought she knew about her place in the observable universe. Then, in December 1984, on mission STS-LR9, everything changed. 

The Calculating Stars – Mary Robinette Kowal

Launching our list of the best books like Atmosphere is Mary Robinette Kowal’s The Calculating Stars. One cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to Earth and obliterated much of the United States’ eastern coast, including Washington, D.C. The ensuing climate cataclysm will soon render the Earth inhospitable for humanity, much like the last such meteorite did for the dinosaurs. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated effort to colonise space, and requires a much larger share of humanity to take part in the process. 

Elma York’s experience as a WASP pilot and mathematician earns her a spot in the International Aerospace Coalition’s attempts to put a man on the moon as a calculator. But with so many skilled and experienced women pilots and scientists involved with the program, it doesn’t take long before Elma starts wondering why they can’t go into space, too. Elma’s drive to become the first Lady Astronaut is so strong that even the most dearly held conventions of society may not stand a chance against her. 

Her Hidden Genius – Marie Benedict

Whether in her laboratory in Paris or toiling at a university in London, Rosalind Franklin has always been an outsider – brilliant, but different. As a scientist, when she is assigned to work on DN, she believes she can unearth its secrets. Rosalind knows that she can unlock the building blocks of life. Then it finally happens – the double helix structure of DNA reveals itself to her with perfect clarity. But what happens next, Rosalind could never have predicted. 

Similar to Atmosphere, Marie Benedict’s powerful novel, Her Hidden Genius, shines a light on a woman who sacrificed her life to discover the nature of our DNA, whose relentless drive advanced our understanding of humankind.

Lessons In Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus

Another one of the best books like Atmosphere about resilience, breaking barriers, and women in science comes from Bonnie Garmus in Lessons in Chemistry. Set in the 1960s, the story follows Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist whose career is constantly undermined by sexism from the male-dominated science world. Despite her obvious brilliance, she finds herself routinely sidelined and undermined – until life takes a very different turn. 

After a series of events, Elizabeth becomes the unlikely host of Supper at Six, a revolutionary cooking show. Except, she doesn’t just teach women how to cook meals – she teaches them about the science behind cooking, encouraging them to challenge social norms and think for themselves. Her unconventional approach attracts both controversy and admiration, but Elizabeth remains unwavering in her quest to spread knowledge, equality, and fulfilment. 

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Check Out The Best Books Like Lessons In Chemistry 

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Orbital – Samantha Harvey

Samantha Harvey’s Book Prize-winning novel Orbital deftly snapshots one day in the lives of six women and men travelling through space. Selected for one of the last space station missions of its kind before the program is dismantled, these astronauts and cosmonauts have left their lives behind to travel at a speed of over seventeen thousand miles per hour as the Earth reels below. 

We glimpse moments of their earthly lives through brief communications with family, their photos, and talismans; we watch them whip up dehydrated meals, float in gravity-free sleep, and exercise in regimented routines to prevent atrophying muscles; we witness them form bonds that will stand between them and utter solitude. Most of all, we are with them as they behold and record their silent blue planet. Their experiences of sixteen sunrises and sunsets nd the bright, blinking constellations of the galaxy are at once breathtakingly awesome and surprisingly intimate.

The List – Yomi Adegoke

Ola Olajide, a celebrated journalist at Womxxn magazine, is set to marry the love of her life in one month. She and her fiancé, Michael, are considered total “couple goals” on their social network, and seem to have it all – that is, until one morning when they both wake up to the same message: “Oh my god, have you seen The List?”

It began as a crowdsourced collection of names and somehow morphed into an anonymous account posting allegations on social media. Ola would normally be the first to support such a list – shed retweet it, call for men to be fired, write article after article. Except this time, Michael’s name is on it. 

Once More From The Top – Emily Layden

Everyone in America knows Dylan Read, or at least has heard her music. Since releasing her debut album, Dylan’s spent fifteen years growing up in the public spotlight. She’s not only honed her skills when it comes to lyrics and melodies, but she’s also learned how to craft a public persona that satisfies everyone. In the circles of fame and celebrity in which she now travels, the careful maintenance of Dylan Read’s pop star is often more important than the songs themselves. 

And so lots of people think they understand everything about Dylan Read. But what no one knows is that part of her origin story has been kept hidden: her childhood best friend, Kelsey, vanished the year before Dylan became famous. Now, Kesley’s body has been found at the bottom of her hometown lake – forcing Dylan to reckon with their shared past, her friend’s influence on her music, and whether there’s more to their story than meets the eye. Similar to Atmosphere, Once More From the Top is a propulsive and observant novel about friendship, ambition, and the cost of fame. 

Shoot The Moon – Isa Arsén

Intelligent but isolated physics graduate Annie Fiks feels an undeniable pull toward space. She has left behind her home, her family, and her first love in pursuit of intellectual fulfilment. When she finally lands a job at NASA as a secretary during the Apollo 11 mission, the work is everything she dreamed, and while she feels a budding attraction to one of the engineers, she can’t afford to become distracted. 

When her inability to ignore mistaken calculations propels her into a new position, Annie finds herself torn between her ambition, her heart, and a mysterious discovery that upends everything she knows to be scientifically true. Can she overcome her doubts and reach beyond the limits of time and space? Like Atmosphere, Shoot the Moon is an affecting, immersive, and kaleidoscopic experience, following one woman’s quest to honour both her head and her heart amid the human toll of scientific progress.