ATMOSPHERE A Love Story

Julia Whelan and Kristen DiMercurio beautifully narrate a queer love story. Whelan, the main narrator, portrays Joan, a professor of astronomy with a quiet life. But her whole world changes when she's accepted as an astronaut candidate at NASA in 1980. Whelan's rich narration makes each character come to life for listeners, and she excels at portraying Joan's romance with her fellow astronaut Vanessa, a confident and charismatic engineer. In periodic flash-forwards, disaster strikes on Vanessa's shuttle mission, and DiMercurio narrates with an intensity that conveys Vanessa's fear and courage as she struggles to return to Earth with the survivors. Joan is Vanessa's guide from Mission Control, and Whelan's performance of her desperate hope and anguish at the dramatic conclusion is heartrending. An absolute must-listen. E.E.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2025]