Bad On Paper Podcast: Atmosphere Book Club Summary
Episode Title: Atmosphere Book Club
Hosts: Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter
Release Date: July 30, 2025
Join Becca Freeman and Olivia Muenter as they delve into "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid in this engaging episode of Bad On Paper. The hosts share personal updates, provide in-depth analysis of the book, compare it to other works, and discuss their upcoming book club picks. Below is a detailed summary capturing all key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.
1. Introduction to the Book Club
The episode kicks off with Becca and Olivia announcing the book club day, highlighting that "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid was selected as the listener's choice from their Facebook group poll.
- Becca Freeman [00:17]: “Hi, everyone. Welcome back to Bad On Paper Podcast. I'm Becca Freeman.”
- Olivia Muenter [00:21]: “And I'm Olivia Muenter.”
2. Highs and Lows
Before diving into the book discussion, Becca and Olivia share their personal highs and lows of the week.
Olivia's High [00:58]:
Olivia expresses joy over discovering and frequenting an independent movie theater in her town, finding it a healing and comforting experience after past traumas related to movie theater shootings.
- Olivia Muenter [00:58]: “I love it so much. It is so comfortable and cozy... And I just love movies lately too.”
Becca's High [04:55]:
Becca shares her excitement about receiving minimal and manageable feedback from her editor on her book draft, alleviating her anxieties about the publication process.
- Becca Freeman [04:55]: “I am thrilled. I'm still waiting on feedback from my UK editor. So there's like a little bit of uncertainty around... but oh my gosh, I feel like I can see a very bright light at the end of the tunnel.”
No Lows Shared
Both hosts mention having a "lowless week," extending well wishes to their listeners for the same.
3. Advertisement Breaks
The podcast includes brief promotional segments for Cozy Earth and Quince. These sections are skipped in this summary as per guidelines.
4. Deep Dive into "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Book Overview [10:18]:
Becca provides a spoiler-filled summary of "Atmosphere," introducing the protagonist Joan Goodwin, an astronomer turned NASA astronaut who develops a secret romantic relationship with Vanessa Ford, another female astronaut. The plot fast-forwards to 1984, where Joan manages a perilous space mission involving Vanessa.
- Becca Freeman [10:18]: “So the year is 1980, and astronomer Joan Goodwin leaves her job in academia to join NASA...”
Choosing the Book [11:09]:
Olivia discusses the selection process of "Atmosphere," noting it was a runaway favorite in the poll, surpassing even Becca’s initial expectations.
- Olivia Muenter [11:09]: “I was not surprised. This one was the runaway pick from the very beginning.”
Discussion on Taylor Jenkins Reid's Works [12:45]:
The conversation shifts to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bibliography. Olivia admits to having read only "Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" before, while Becca shares her extensive reading history with the author, rating her books and expressing preferences.
- Olivia Muenter [12:45]: “I have only read Seven Husbands.”
- Becca Freeman [14:12]: “I have read most of her books...”
Critique of "Atmosphere" [16:00 - 22:24]:
Becca and Olivia delve into their critiques of "Atmosphere." Becca feels the main character, Joan, lacks relatable flaws, making her difficult to connect with. Olivia echoes this sentiment, suggesting Joan's perfection might contribute to the emotional manipulation felt throughout the narrative.
- Becca Freeman [16:00]: “This was a three and a half star. I think that I preferred definitely the Seven Husbands, which is my favorite.”
- Olivia Muenter [18:19]: “The main character, though I loved her, I felt had no flaws.”
Emotional Impact and Ending [25:15 - 50:00]:
The hosts discuss the emotional climax of the book, where Vanessa’s fate is a central point of tension. Both anticipated Vanessa's death due to the buildup but were ultimately led to a more nuanced emotional resolution. They debated the effectiveness of the ending and whether it necessitated additional chapters.
- Becca Freeman [25:15]: “I felt like Vanessa was gonna die.”
- Olivia Muenter [26:20]: “It really killed me. It really killed me.”
Comparison with "Project Hail Mary" [50:47 - 54:25]:
Becca and Olivia compare "Atmosphere" to "Project Hail Mary," with both expressing a stronger emotional connection to the latter. They discuss why "Project Hail Mary" resonated more, citing its immersive and unexpected elements.
- Olivia Muenter [51:03]: “It felt more transportive to me.”
- Becca Freeman [52:12]: “I adored it.”
Space Facts and Realism [33:08 - 37:06]:
The hosts humorously discuss their limited understanding of space, debating facts such as the altitude of space and the number of people who have died in space-related incidents. This segment adds a light-hearted tone to their analytical discussion.
- Becca Freeman [35:07]: “The actual amount of people who have died in space, I think it's one guy.”
- Olivia Muenter [36:03]: “A total of 21 people have died during space flight incidents.”
5. Upcoming Book Club Pick
Becca announces the next book club pick for August, "The Night and the Moth" by Rachel Gillig. She describes it as a Romantasy novel with a unique atmospheric setting, diverging from their usual literary-heavy selections. The book features a female prophetess and a skeptic knight in a multi-god realm, promising a fresh and engaging read for the hosts and listeners.
- Becca Freeman [68:14]: “... this is our August book club pick is the Night and the Moth by Rachel Gillig...”
6. Personal Interests and Obsessions
Towards the end of the episode, Becca and Olivia share their current obsessions outside of books. Olivia is captivated by Alexander Skarsgard's interviews and unique sense of humor, while Becca has developed a passion for watercolor painting, finding joy in creating art without the pressure of skill.
- Olivia Muenter [58:25]: “I'm obsessed with Alexandra Skarsgrd's current media circuit interview circuit...”
- Becca Freeman [60:02]: “I am so into this hobby, but specifically... I really unlocked something.”
7. Closing Remarks
The episode concludes with Becca and Olivia encouraging listeners to join their Facebook group for further discussion and reminding them of their social media handles for updates and interactions.
- Becca Freeman [71:36]: “You can find us on Instagram and see if Maddie has been able to concoct a graphic...”
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- Olivia Muenter [00:58]: “I feel very healed by this movie theater near us. Like, it's so comfortable and cozy.”
- Becca Freeman [04:55]: “I am thrilled. I feel like I can see a very bright light at the end of the tunnel.”
- Becca Freeman [16:00]: “I think that first of all, sometimes when I'm reading for the podcast...”
- Olivia Muenter [18:19]: “The main character, though I loved her, I felt had no flaws.”
- Becca Freeman [25:15]: “I felt like Vanessa was gonna die.”
- Olivia Muenter [26:20]: “That it just… it killed me. It really killed me.”
- Becca Freeman [50:59]: “I adore Project Hail Mary.”
Conclusion
This episode of Bad On Paper offers a heartfelt and critical examination of Taylor Jenkins Reid's "Atmosphere," balanced with personal anecdotes and future literary plans. Becca and Olivia provide listeners with thoughtful insights into character development, emotional manipulation in storytelling, and the intricate balance between high-stakes plot and personal relationships. Their candid reflections and engaging dialogue make this episode a valuable resource for book enthusiasts seeking deeper understanding and community engagement.