The Launch

1963. Cape Kennedy, Florida. The world is watching the skies—but five women are fighting battles no one sees.When Josephine Booker’s husband is chosen for NASA’s elite astronaut program, she leaves behind snowy Minnesota for a life of sunshine, press conferences, and expectations she never asked for. In Stardust Beach—a brand-new town built to support the space race—Jo is expected to be the perfect wife, mother, and symbol of American grace. But behind the smiles and poolside interviews, her marriage is quietly cracking under the pressure.The danger isn’t just in space. It’s in what this life demands.With her husband risking his life in the name of progress, Jo must decide who she is outside of the mission—and whether love is enough when the world keeps asking her to sacrifice more. As she finds friendship with four other astronaut wives—Frankie, Barbie, Carrie, and Jude—Jo begins to question everything she thought she knew about marriage, motherhood, and what it means to be a woman in a world that only sees the men.Set against the thrilling, high-stakes backdrop of America’s early space program, Stardust Beach is a powerful story of sisterhood, sacrifice, and the courage it takes to chase your own dreams—no matter what gravity tries to hold you down.Perfect for fans of The Astronaut Wives Club, Beatriz Williams, and Kristin Harmel.