Definitely bought for Library and it has been flying off the shelf along with the other TJ Newman titles. Always a favorite author

3.75 stars, rounded down. Took me forEVER to read this one, unlike “Drowning” by her. This one read more like a movie script to me than a novel. I never really connected with any of the characters, despite their dramatic situation. The concept of this was intriguing and heartbreaking, but the writing didn’t live up to it in my opinion.

In a season of not wanting to read many thrillers, TJ Newman is an exception to the rule! This one is another plane based thriller, but most of the action is from people on the ground. I think this is the hardest of all of Newman's thrillers to read as a parent. There are several parent and child pairs here that are tested and I was emotional more than once listening.

Newman hits the right balance once again of tension, action, and human groundedness that define her books and will keep me as a loyal reader.

Content Warnings: Language, death, serious radiation sickness

Thanks to Hachette Audio for my audio copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

The novel "The Worst Case Scenario," by T.J. Newman, is exceptionally immersive, immediately capturing the reader's attention. The narrative's immediate dive into the story's core is sustained by a countdown format in each chapter, building anticipation toward "Zero Hour." Although not verified, the incorporation of various intriguing facts reflects the author's extensive research across diverse subjects. Drawing from her significant experience as a flight attendant, Newman's writing style avoids superfluous details, delivering an action-packed narrative that maintains taut tension, making it tangible and keeping the reader engaged and riveted.

The alternating focus between two rescue missions intensifies the suspense and adrenaline in the story, evoking emotional resonance, particularly with one of the missions. The book portrays a harrowing situation counterbalanced by depictions of unity and assistance for the greater good, offering a poignant and pertinent reading experience. The portrayal of diverse and poignant relationships, notably a father-son relationship, contributes to the narrative's depth and emotional impact.

The unexpected emotional depth in a thrilling narrative, combined with overarching themes of love and unity, renders T.J. Newman's work compelling and emotional, ranking it among my favourite reads for 2024. Moreover, I had a highly enjoyable experience with the audio format during my recent vacation. Joe Morton's narration was exceptional, imparting realism, suspense, and palpable engagement with the narrative, ensuring my sustained interest from start to finish. I found the author's note at the beginning of the audiobook to be quite engaging. The note provided valuable insight into the author's inspiration and journey to becoming an author.

This was a stressful read. It was good, but I had to take it slow because it was so realistic and could actually happen.

T.J. Newman is so good at turning the scariest airplane situations into nail-biting thrillers. In her latest novel, she writes about the aftermath of a plan crash into and near a nuclear power plant. It highlights the fact that no matter how much emergency planning is done, each situation is unique and needs to be handled by intelligent professionals. I love that there are plenty of strong brave women represented to help in this nightmare.

I kept reading snippets of the story to my husband - he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in nuclear engineering. He has read about the nuclear emergencies and has even visited the Ukrainian nuclear power plant which has been talked about in the news during the Russia-Ukraine war. I commend T.J. Newman in her research, since at no time did my husband say, "That could never happen", which is high praise from him.

After setting the bar so high with her first two novels, I was not disappointed. But I will admit to taking a little while to get into the story as the characters "on the ground" were introduced. Once the story really got moving, it was the propulsive thriller that I have come to know and love from this author.

I highly recommend Worst Case Scenario, but not while on an airplane flight :) For those who have not read this author's previous books, I would start with those, even though they are all stand-alone novels.

Whew, what an absolute banger this was. I knew the formula going in after reading Newman's last book- page turning thriller. What I didn't realize is that I would be almost sobbing throughout the entire book. It was gut wrenching and chilling, but also had so much heart. As someone who grew up in a small town like Waketa, I felt like I was watching my family and friends throughout this book being put into one impossible scenario followed by another. It does speak to the kind of people that live in towns like this, and helped me restore some faith in humanity and foster hope that is this horrific situation truly happened on American soil, we could all forgive our differences and come together. I don't want to spoil anything more, so I will just end the review by saying this- READ. THIS. BOOK!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

This book grabbed me from the first page. I quickly found myself enthralled with the complexity of the characters. I am partial to the wild, high stakes situations that this author always beings to the table. With this being the third book that is centered around planes, I would love to see the author do another setting for a high stakes scenario. Overall, this is a solid read!

TJ Newman delivers her best yet!

No one writes a pulse-pounding, emotional, high-stakes and race-against-time thriller like she does. I love the niche she has carved out in the thriller genre, where you have some the worst disasters you can imagine involving a plane. It's bold, imaginative and yet not implausible.

I couldn't put down this propulsive page-turner. Like her previous novels, it starts with a bang, never lets up, is filled with action and tension, and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I adored all the characters and their backstories, the theme of community and found family, of people coming together during adversity. This is a book that showcases the best of humanity and I loved every moment.

And yes, of course I cried.

Heart pumping adrenaline inducing read much like the authors other books. There are some heart wrenching moments and it was such a meaningful conclusion.

I'm discovering I am most likely not going to be disappointed by T. J. Newman. This book was almost impossible to put down with non-stop intensity. I'm not one to really tear up in books, but this one pulled it out of me emotionally! Well done!

I have been a mega, mega fan of TJ Newman’s work since her 2021 debut “Falling.” I thought it would be impossible to write another book like “Falling,” but she’s done it twice since. (Had to include some of my previous shots of her books!)

The premise of “Worst Case Scenario” is a commercial jetliner crashes into a nuclear power plant in small-town Minnesota after its pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet.

“Worst Case Scenario” is true to the author’s style of marrying a can’t-put-it-down storyline with a highly scientific disaster, though one is less about aviation and more about a nuclear meltdown.

In “Drowning,” Newman’s second novel, we saw her really expand her character development and that trend continues in this book. I’d say “Worst Case Scenario” is even more emotional than “Drowning.” It’s also incredibly anxiety inducing; my eye twitched for awhile after I finished it, and I couldn’t read it before bed because I could feel my heart rate picking up. 🫨 Trust me when I say that Newman puts you right there in the disaster with her characters — you feel like you’re fighting for your life right alongside them.

Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman was an adrenaline-fueled experience from start to finish. Newman masterfully crafts a narrative that plunges readers into a catastrophic event with relentless pacing and vivid detail.

The story begins with a commercial airliner en route to Minnesota, where the pilot suffers a fatal heart attack at 35,000 feet. With the co-pilot trapped in the lavatory, the aircraft tragically crashes into the Clover Hill Nuclear Power Plant near the small town of Waketa. This unprecedented disaster sets off a chain reaction, threatening a Level 8 nuclear event—an escalation beyond even the infamous Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters.

Newman’s portrayal of the ensuing chaos is both terrifying and compelling. She delves into the lives of ordinary individuals—power plant employees, firefighters, and local residents—who are thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Their courage and determination to avert a global catastrophe are depicted with authenticity and emotional depth.

What sets this novel apart is Newman’s attention to detail and her ability to humanize large-scale disaster. The technical aspects of nuclear power plant operations are presented clearly, enhancing the story’s plausibility without overwhelming the reader. The personal stories interwoven throughout the crisis add layers of emotional resonance, making the stakes feel intensely real.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THIS WAS SO GOOD! As a Minnesotan I was probably extra freaked out that this took place in Minnesota, but this book has me on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. A plane crashing into a nuclear power plant?!?! People risking their lives to save millions of others? Say less. Phenomenal book, highly recommend everyone read it!

I actually couldn’t finish this book, but loved Newman‘s others. It felt strangely slow to me and I just didn’t care about many of the characters. I tried multiple times to keep reading and finally decided to stop forcing myself.

This one was absolutely compelling. I knew after the first few pages that I couldn't put it down until I was finished. It's an "edge-of-your-seat" novel with Newman's incredible writing keeping you hooked.

If you just want a well paced thriller to pass the time, anything TJ Newman works will probably do the job. But if, like me, you’re not huge on thoughtless thrillers and are only here hoping to recapture the excitement and originality of Falling, this one just never gets there.

Maybe we just don’t need a whole series of thrillers about plane crashes that all seem to have the same voice and be populated by the same stock characters. While I loved Falling, I didn’t think this or Drowning really brought anything new to the table, and the cleverness of the detail and setting in Falling (the Yankee stadium scene, for example) has been absent from Newman’s last two books.

Newman writes well enough that I think she might successfully pivot to thrillers tackling a different subject, but these have more than run their course. The nuclear threat in this one really only adds stress to the reader experience, rather than any sense of something different. If Newman keeps writing (and I still hope she does), I hope she tries her hand at a slightly different subject.

TJ Newman's books always give me pause when it is time to travel, and this was no different! Her description and plot set up made this book so incredibly believable and frightening. Well-developed characters made me feel something for everyone involved, and I hope I am not going to be flying over nor located near a nuclear power plant any time soon!

This book is wild. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I couldn’t put it down. The Cheeto chapters (just one more!) are the perfect way to build and keep suspense. I have read everything Newman has written and I will continue to do so! This will be a great book for my high school library for those students who aren’t big readers but love an action movie.

TJ Newman is a master at delivering intense thrill rides that keep you on the edge of your seat throughout and Worst Case Scenario is no exception!