'FALLING' by T.J.Newman

Thank you to NetGalley, Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster Canada and the author for a complimentary eARC for my honest review.

What a Ride! From start to finish, this was a very suspenseful thriller. It was difficult to put it down. I was rooting for the pilot and crew, trying their best to keep the plane and all the souls on it safe. Will he be able to land it safely and keep his family from being killed? I wasn't sure which way it would go.
With the author's experience as a Flight Attendant, the role of the crew seems very authentic. Quite the thriller!

#NetGalley #AvidReaderPress #Simon&SchusterCanada

Synopsis: Captain Bill Hoffman is not supposed to be flying today but a phone call from his supervisor requesting a favor has him flying to New York City. Little does he know that he has been set up. After takeoff, Bill gets an email with a picture showing his wife, Carrie, and his two children. They are being held hostage and Bill is given the choice to either crash the plane and kill everyone on it or his family will all be killed.

My thoughts: The author was a flight attendant for a number of years, and while not a pilot, she certainly used her background to add authenticity to the book. I thought it was a good thriller – the last half of the book really held my attention and I liked how she wrapped up everyone’s story by the end of the book. I would definitely recommend if you are looking for a quick reading thriller (maybe just don’t read this on a plane!).
Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon and Schuster Canada for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

FALLING by T.J. NEWMAN

A fast-paced, torturous and believable thrill ride at thirty thousand feet!

*Special thanks to #NetGalley and Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster Canada for a free, electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*
All opinions are my own.

As usual, I went in blind. This time I was grabbed by exhilaration and totally knocked for a loop. I am blown away by the epicness of this novel! I devoured this book in less than 48 hours – I laughed, I gasped, I shook my head, I bit my nails, I held my breath and I was completely drawn in to the believability of this scenario.

Let’s discuss…

The action begins with the first sentence and I must say- I certainly would not want any such thing falling in MY lap! (You’ll just have to read it to find out what I’m referring to – no spoilers here!)

After what can only be called a harrowing epilogue, chapter one opens and we meet our MC Bill Hoffman, an airline pilot who suffers from nightmares. Horrible, traumatic nightmares. We meet his family – wife, son and ‘oopsie’ baby daughter. A nice, normal family getting ready for the day the same as we all do. Bill is heading out for a routine cross-country flight as Captain, from California to New York and his wife is home with the kids, supervising a visit from the cableman. Nice normal morning.

Bill arrives at the airport and we’re treated to the before flight aircraft inspection along with a flashback that gives more insight to our MC. We’re introduced to one of the flight attendants Jo, a seasoned veteran of the air who has seen and dealt with pretty much everything. Pretty much.

Later on, seated in the cockpit his First Officer at his side, our MC is leisurely enjoying the calmness of the steadily cruising aircraft when his laptop bings the sound of an incoming email. Just a picture, no text, a picture of his wife and son, tied up, his wife with explosives strapped to her chest. Then another email comes in instructing him to put in his headphones for a Facetime video, this time he sees a man, also strapped in an explosive vest - and it is then we learn that Bill’s family has been taken hostage and he is to crash the plane or they will be killed.
And thus begins one of the most hectic, nerve-wracking and unpredictable reads I have had the pleasure of consuming. Ever! This book is a non-stop, anxiety inducing, hold your breath, epic of a novel that plays out like a blockbuster movie. Fast, furious and fun. If your idea of fun is being strapped into the seat of an inflight disaster.
The pace is brisk and unwavering, the dialogue is witty and fun, the characters – from the wife and son, to the MC, to the flight attendants, to the kidnappers, and even a few passengers are developed enough that we can almost relate to them or at the very least imagine what their lives might be like if their story was able to be developed. But this is a story about a pilot forced to make a choice – a loathsome, beast of a choice – who lives and who dies. His family or the 130 plus souls trusting their lives to him?

What would you choose?

** I would be remiss not to call special attention to the character of ‘Big Daddy’, one of the flight attendants and my absolute favourite! The lines out of this character’s mouth had me in stitches.

”Karen, I swear to god,” he said
“My name is Janice.”
Daddy wrinkled his nose. “But is it?”

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this character!

I could visualize it, even! I actually put the book down and laughed at the image.

**I would also like to mention that the author, T.J. Newman is herself a flight attendant and the firsthand knowledge of the workings of the aircraft from that point of view added to the tension immensely.

A heart-pumping, adrenaline filled debut novel by an author who will definitely be at the TOP of my TBR list.

A solid 5 stars!

5/5

#netgalley
#falling

What a roller coaster ride! Rarely do I read a book that I can’t put down but this was definitely one that kept me turning the pages. You’re better off not knowing too much about it, other than a pilot’s family is being held hostage and will be killed unless Bill (pilot) deliberately crashes the commercial airliner he’s flying, carrying 149 souls. This race against time thriller reads just like watching a summer blockbuster action film. If you’re old enough to remember the disaster films of the 70s & 80s, this book has a similar edge-of-your-seat vibe. And it’s so easy to picture the fabulous movie that will be made from this story.
The author is a former flight attendant and it shows. The attention to the technical details is skillfully done. And seatbelt extenders - who knew?! There are times when you do have to suspend belief but it’s so much fun that you just go along with it.
A memorable story that stays with you, definitely this summer’s must-read thriller, although I would avoid reading it during a flight!

Thank you so much Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance, complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book surpassed by expectations. I was surprised how much I loved this one! As usual, I went in blind, but knew it had something to do with a plane hijacking. This was Newman's debut novel, and wow, well done is all I have to say.

I fell in love with the characters in this book, I felt like I grew a connection to them. To the point that the end even brought tears to my eyes (despite being a thriller). I won't say if those are happy or sad tears to spoil anything, but the way the book was told was perfect in my opinion. It kept me intrigued the entire way through, holding my breath at some parts, not knowing what was going to happen. The way the crew worked together as best as they could, along with the FBI and everyone on the ground working to help, this felt real. I would love to see this turned into a movie ! If done correctly, I feel like it would be so good.

Let us talk about this MAGNIFICENT SUMMER READ MY FRIENDS!

An airplane captain takes off on what he thinks is a regular flight, only to have his flight hijacked with an impossible choice - crash the plane or his kidnapped family all die.

This is literally a book that you cannot, CANNOT set down once you pick it up. It’s addicting, rapid fire action, with nail biting tension and suspense that actually has you breathless with how it will all play out. It’s claustrophobic, terrifying and exhilarating. The kind of popcorn thriller that makes the perfect partner for a hot summer day, with a cool, refreshing drink. SO GOOD YOU GUYS, so so so so good.

I don’t really want to tell you more because you just want to be able to enjoy the hell out of this story, spoiler free. But you do, ABSOLUTELY need this on your summer reading list, it is a M-U-S-T have, without question.

It’s hitting shelves July 6th and just be SURE you are pre-ordering, adding this to your cart and getting those library holds in, because you don’t want to miss out!

A million thanks to the publisher for this copy, and to @tj_author for becoming my latest favourite must read author - this is the best kick off to my summer reading run I could have asked for!

In this suspense thriller, an airline pilot faces a terrible choice—save his family or save his passengers. . This novel tells the tale of his decision as well as the efforts of the flight crew, passengers and a maverick FBI agent. It also reveals the terrorist’s motivations.

The setting of this novel was a nice change of pace for me. I found the story engaging and it moved along quickly. I thought it was a decent read and would recommend it to others..

This incredible debut by T.J Newman is a relentless, tension-filled must-read for suspense fans.

With Falling, Newman has written a fast-paced story and filled with non-stop action that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and their hearts pounding. She skillfully handles multiple POVs, keeping the tension high throughout this impressive read about a hostage situation and a pilot who must make decision that has horrific consequences either way. I read this book over the weekend and the second half in just one sitting. 'Nuff said, right?

Newman draws on her years as a former flight attendant to give this story a chilling authenticity. While the action is at the forefront, I also enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at the responsibilities, skills, and professionalism of airline staff. Writing much of the book during her down times on Red Eye flights, Newman gives readers perspectives from the pilot, head flight attendant, and the FBI and Air Traffic Control. She skillfully balances these different POVs - those in the plane and down on the ground - with equal vigour making this a nicely balanced read. Her characters also have an impressive amount of depth which helped me to connect with them immediately - particularly the head flight attendant Jo.

This was a 'holy-cow-I-can't-believe-this-is-a-debut' kind of read. While this is definitely not a book you'll want to read before your next flight, I highly recommend this unputdownable, relentless thriller to all suspense fans.

Put your seat in the upright position and buckle up. It's going to be a very bumpy ride.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for my advanced complimentary copy given in exchange for my honest review.

Falling is T.J. Newman's debut novel. And I just have to tell you the story behind the book before I tell you how much I enjoyed Falling!
T. J. Newman, a former bookseller turned flight attendant, worked for Virgin America and Alaska Airlines from 2011 to 2021. She wrote much of Falling on cross-country red-eye flights while her passengers were asleep. But getting it published was a whole 'nother thing.... From the publisher:

"Bookseller turned flight attendant writes sensational thriller set on an airplane, gets rejected by forty-one literary agents before finding the right one, and then sells it in a major multibook deal to the first editor to whom it's submitted."

I am most definitely not a fan of flying. (You might not be either after this tale!) This isn't a spoiler, but is the publisher's description...." You just boarded a flight to New York. There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard. What you don't know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot's family was kidnapped. For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die."

Oh, great premise! There are so many ways this plot could unfold - and Newman gives us enough twists and turns to make you dizzy. Newman's familiarity with commercial flying gives her setting and characters detail and believability. The characters are all intense, from the captain, the flight crew and the 'bad guy'. I think Jo, the lead flight crew member was my favourite, but Big Daddy is a close second. Just as intense is the action - it just never lets up. And that means I couldn't stop turning pages. Easily done in a day.

Yes, you might have to suspend belief a few times, but just go with it.

Falling reads like an action movie - think Die Hard and Speed. The film rights have already sold to Universal Pictures. (Betcha those first forty one agents that said no are kicking themselves!)

Looking for an addictive read for the the beach bag? Pick up Falling! And I can't wait to see what Newman writes next.

Right from the start the story hits the ground running (no pun intended) and the action does not let up until the very end. The constant tension is one step away from being unbearable. Every page builds the suspense and tension. It is relentless and totally consuming. I did not want to put it down! I was so wrapped up in the story that I completely lost track of time and the outside world faded from my mind. After over a year of the pandemic, this was a much-needed distraction from real life.

Lest you think that action and suspense is all this book offers, let me assure you the characters are wonderful too. There is not time or need for a lot of character building, but they are revealed just enough to make you care about them and their possibly terrible fates. From the airline crew to the passengers, to the FBI agents and other authorities on the ground, I was fully engaged in the story and wanted very badly for things to end well and not in a fiery death.

It is difficult to believe that this is the author’s first book. This is the work of a master of suspense. It is so incredibly good. It is Linwood Barclay good; it is Harlan Coben good; it is Riley Sager good. If you have enjoyed any of those authors, I think you will enjoy this one too. “Falling” had perfect pacing along with characters I truly began to care about. This is as good as a thriller gets. I completely understand why the book world has gone crazy over it. I’m pretty sure it will be made into a movie immediately. I cannot wait to see where Newman goes in her next book. I will be first in line!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Avid Reader Press for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.

What a well written edge of your seat story. Everytime I put it down, I'd find another way to pick it back up to find out what happens next. Multiple heros means multiple emotions. An amazing rollercoaster that is sure to leave you with goosebumps. When Captain Bill says no, he means no.

Can we talk about how suspenseful this book is? Or how it's a debut novel? Or how about the fact that the author is an actual flight attendant? YES, YES, AND YES!! We are certainly going to talk about ALL of these things! Seriously though, this book is a must read and I honestly cannot get over how suspenseful it was. I literally finished it in hours because I couldn't put it down. What I loved the most though was the fact that although this was extremely action pact, we also got to see the softer side to everyone involved.
.
Bill is an experienced and dedicated pilot. However, even an experienced pilot sometimes faces things he never expected to face. Like being midair and finding out your family has been kidnapped and the only way for them to survive, is if he crashes the plane. I literally felt like I was apart of this story and at times the suspense was killing me so much that I had actual tears in my eyes. Who cried reading thrillers? Me apparently🤷‍♀️. But seriously, my anxiety was running so HIGH that I couldn't put the book down because I couldn't breathe until I figured out what was going to happen. Once I found out that the author is an actual flight attendant, it just made everything seem that much more real.
.
What I really appreciated about this story was the fact that it didn't just focus on Bill and his decision. We also got to see what was happening with his family, with the flight attendants and the FBI. Reading about everyone's POV just made everything seem that much more real, and seriously just kept me on the edge of my seat. This really didn't read like a debut novel, so I cannot wait to see what else this author comes up with

Captain Bill Hoffman’s family has been kidnapped and he’s been given an agonizing choice. He must crash the plane he’s flying, killing all 149 souls on board or his wife and children will die. This an excruciating decision he refuses to make! What follows is nonstop action from start to finish.

Complete with an ensemble cast of multi-dimensional characters, author T.J. Newman creates an authenticity based on her background in the airline industry. Falling is an immensely enjoyable read, which begs the question, what would YOU do in such a nightmarish scenario?

Well, after this book, I’m pretty glad that I won’t be stepping on a plane anytime soon. A whirlwind adventure at 35,000 feet. ✈️

Falling is the story of the seemingly impossible. A pilot is given a choice - crash the plane he is flying or his family is killed. Taking place over a few hours as the plane heads from LA to NYC, we see what is happening to both the kidnapped family and also in the air. As the crew becomes focused on getting out of this alive, they start to formulate plans. As you meet the characters, you get an idea on how this will finish so it isn’t necessarily gripping - but it was a good, fast read. ✈️

This debut author is a former Flight Attendent so she knows her way around an airplane. At times, it did feel a little too descriptive of the ins and outs of an airplane but ultimately, I sat - on a rainy day - and devoured the book. This story would be perfect as a movie - definitely has the adrenaline built right in. Recommend to those looking for an easy read - but perhaps don’t read it on a plane 😜. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley for a copy of this book to review.

Wow! That’s what I can say about this book! It was fast paced and it grabbed my attention right from the very first paragraph! The plot is full of tension and suspense, really difficult decisions and choices and so many emotional conflicts!
Since the pace of the book was so fast, I was able to complete it quite quickly! I really enjoyed this book. Thank you so much for the arc of this book. Please run out and grab yourself a copy ASAP!

'This is a debut novel from Newman who is an American. She previously worked as a book seller and flight attendant. The premise of this thriller is simple…terrorists have a pilot's wife and two children at gunpoint (with the wife wearing an explosive vest) and will kill them unless the pilot crashes the plane. The pilot's consistent response is he will not crash the plane and his family will remain safe. He just has to figure out how. The story is detailed and action packed with wonderfully memorable characters. The film rights have already been sold to Universal pictures. This is a wonderful recommendation for thriller fans or anyone wanting an exciting and entertaining story. I loved it.

This was a wild ride! What a thriller , heart pumping adrenaline filled book! I won't lie, it does make me nervous to fly again :)

LOVED this book so much!

Falling is a hold your breath, turn the pages, leave the lights on, non stop action and nothing gets done type of read.

Flight from LAX to New York City is never supposed to land.

Will the Captain crash the plane in order to keep his family alive.

No spoilers though I am tempted . The twists and turns come at you fast.

Falling would make a great movie.

Suspense on every page.

Put Falling to the very top of your TBR pile. I am about to preorder for my daughter.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada, Avid Read Press, Simon and Schuster for an exhilarating edge of your seat read.

As a fan of airplanes, I absolutely loved this novel! I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this, especially near the end. My only complaint was that the motivation of the antagonists were a little stereotypical. I like the attempt to humanize them, but I wish the author had used a different group.

WOW! Definite page-turner!!! For a first-time author, T.J. Newman hit this one way out of the park!!! The first couple of pages were so frightening, and involved every flier's nightmare of a badly damaged plane, body parts and death - and it only gets better from there.

I won't repeat what most of the other reviewers have summarized other than to say that this book provides for a unique form of terrorists hijacking an airliner. Even the bad guys have some redeeming qualities and the way that the author deals with their demands.

You'll find yourself physically holding your breath while reading this book; and it's well written from insights the author brings from the airline industry.

Definitely the best book I have read so far this year!! Highly recommend that you buy this one on the way to the summer family trip.

A HUGE thanks to NetGalley and the crew at Simon & Schuster Canada for providing this book in return for an honest review. I was not paid or compensated for my opinion and my opinion is mine alone and not influenced by any pressure.