Book Club Night: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Some books stay with you long after you turn the last page, and Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid was exactly that kind of read. Thoughtful, emotional, and completely immersive, it brought us into a world of ambition, love, and what it meant to chase something extraordinary in a time when women weren’t always welcome in the room, let alone in space.

Book Summary

Atmosphere follows a brilliant and determined young woman navigating the high-stakes world of NASA in the 1980s. Set against the backdrop of the space shuttle program, the novel blends science, longing, risk, and deep connection as she strives for greatness while also facing the complexities of relationships, identity, and what it costs to live boldly. It’s both inspiring and tender, and it gives such a vivid glimpse into a decade where love, career, and personal freedom felt especially intertwined and fragile.

This became one of our group’s most loved books almost instantly.

A Night Hosted by Sarah and Lidia

For this book club, Sarah and Lidia hosted, and of course it turned into another unforgettable evening.

They wanted to plan an outing that felt fun and special, but the whole “space theme” isn’t exactly easy to build a night around. So they did what the best hosts do: they polled the group and asked if we’d be interested in something totally unique… a river tiki bar cruise as our final goodbye to summer, followed by dinner under the stars on a rooftop patio.

Instantly, we were all in.

We’ve all seen those Ottawa river tiki cruises floating by and always said, we need to do that someday… and this was finally the perfect excuse.

Tiki Cruise, NASA Girls, and the Most Perfect Details

The hosts showed up dressed as iconic 80s NASA girls, and from the moment we arrived, the night went perfectly.

They had gift bags for everyone, filled with the most thoughtful touches:

• snacks (very appreciated on a booze cruise!)

• aviator sunglasses (a huge part of the book)

• star-themed keychains

• and even printed discussion guides for later

They also made a custom space-themed playlist to play onboard (think Rocketman vibes), which somehow made the whole experience feel even more magical.

We spent the cruise chatting, laughing, dancing, singing, and soaking up the last warm days of the season.

And of course… the drink of the night was a margarita.

It was such a fun way to see our city from the water, and the bartenders were honestly fantastic.

Downtown Moments + Dinner at Sterling

After the cruise, we walked through downtown together, stopped for a classic mirror selfie, took a full group photo on the steps, and made our way to the rooftop patio at Sterling.

Dinner was the perfect continuation of the night.

With cocktails flowing and plates of appetizers and mains arriving, we finally dove deeper into the book and into all the themes we loved most: ambition, connection, longing, and the atmosphere of that era.

The conversation was meaningful, the setting was beautiful, and the entire evening felt like such a gift.

A Book Club Night to Remember

This was one of those book club nights that reminds me why I love this group so much. A book we adored, hosts who went above and beyond, and an experience that was equal parts fun, thoughtful, and completely unforgettable.

The whole night felt like summer closing out with the best possible send-off… and honestly, I think we’ll be talking about this one for a long time.